ChaserJ

The things that seems to have Petracca lower in a lot projections than what he really should be are his lack of height for a key position player (which is where he played last season, at an extremely high level), underdeveloped engine (for his new big-bodied midfield role) and questions of pace. Based on what I’ve seen from him over the last couple of years, I think he’ll dispel those doubts over the course of the season. On sheer ability Petracca is among the first few in the draft, and I think his competitiveness and ability to win one on one contests will probably see him selected quite early come November. He has good skills for a contested ball winner, and I can see him developing into a Tom Rockliff type down the line.

8 clangers amongst his 30 touches. A bit more care with his disposals and his hurt factor will skyrocket. Already such a good player for a 23 game player. Tyson has a bit of work to do yet to get past Jonesy, who is pushing for an All Australian guernsey on current form.

Thanks mate, that's excellent. Really appreciate the report, glad to hear Petracca had a strong game, he and Smith are the points of difference in this draft.

Some footage of Pickett here, as well as a little pump up of Maia Westrupp: http://www.afl.com.au/video/2013-02-15/eyecatchers-ais-afl-academy-new-zealand-tour

Remember the game. He went in low to get it, but his ankle was hurt in the collision and went off when he couldn't run it off. In his favour is that he was willing to cop some contact and he has shown the ability to win his own ball and compete. Want to see more myself before putting him up as high as top 5, there are some big raps on him out there. I would imagine an exception could be made for skilled speedsters ala Lewis Jetta.

Brett Anderson's first mock for the year. Mainly a primer to get folks familiar with some of the names in the mix to be drafted this year. Liam Duggan will move up over the course of the season and Laverde will push up into consideration pretty soon. Western Jets have some pretty good talent this year. Mock Draft

Correct. They get these blokes for peanuts and can warehouse them because their first team is still stacked with quality. Tom Mitchell's picks up 64 touches and 4 goals last weekend and probably is still weeks away from getting a look in. They'll be up top for a while yet, with or without COLA.

My feeling with Brayshaw is that he has an enormous work ethic. Will always try to make the tackle and will continue to run hard all day. Not in the Viney/Wines crash, bash contested beast clearance winner mould, relies on his reading of the taps, game sense and out and out work rate. Wins a pretty reasonable amount of possession outside of the contest too. Where he could be marked down (just on Sunday’s performance) is the number of kicks he wasted whilst in space. He’s shown neat disposal in the past, so hopefully that’s not habitual. The great benefit of the new extended Championship format is that players have greater opportunity to play against the best in their age group. Could well be that Sydney get the most rounded, and possibly talented, of this year’s midfielders, Isaac Heeney, as a virtual free hit Academy selection.

He reads the play well, is very good around stoppages, but just blazed away too often on Sunday. Brayshaw has previously shown he is a good kick on both sides, so maybe the increased pressure yesterday saw him slam it on the boot more than usual. His work ethic is very good, but seems to lack a little bit of pace to get separation. At the moment I’d rate him at around 5 or 6 in this year’s crop. The talls this year are just too good to be picked below Brayshaw. Measuring against last year’s group (which was very strong in the first 10) he’d probably rank at around 12 or so. He has some very nice traits, but I wouldn’t be surprised if other mids crop up and overtake him by years end. Corey Ellis showed signs and if Liam Duggan can show off more of an inside game, they could get into the conversation of which mid is first off the board.

Penciled that one in from a long way out. I’ll be there if you fancy some company PSD.

Was at today's Championship opener, was a good game, if a little scrappy at times. Each of the highly touted Vic falls showed glimpses without really taking over at any stage, McCartin probably the best of them today. Looks the most natural forward ahead of Wright and Goddard. Talent with all three is obvious though. Brayshaw racked up the stats, but I thought the most impressive mid was bottom ager Darcy Parish for Vic Country. There's a pretty accurate summary of the game here: Vic Country vs. Vic Metro Game Notes Vic Country Scouting Notes Vic Metro Scouting Notes

Didn't know that. Where did you hear that? Makes sense given their penchant for left footers who are strong over the ball. Hawks also have a habit of not going with popular opinion when it comes to drafting, and generally it works out well for them.

Wouldn't be surprised if Billings was rated at 2. I think we were shy on Kelly and Aish because of our history with the skinnier types. Those guys have shown that they are be able to win their own (which was in question, particularly with Aish) , but Salem already has a pretty good frame for a new draftee.

Really liked Honeychurch as a player last year, very good clearance winner in junior football, but also very small. I think most clubs shied away because the perception was that he wouldn't put on the size to play that game in AFL. Plays pretty well as a small forward, hope he makes it at the Dogs. To be fair to Durdin, that was his first game in months after a hand injury, and I hear that the conditions weren't all that favourable for talls last night. Looking forward to seeing Goddard this year. Was impressed after a couple of viewings last year, the type that doesn't like losing a contest (never mind a game).

Our lack of structure and ineptitude in the first three rounds is an example of that good kpp’s are still important in the modern game. We couldn’t cover for the absence of Clark, Dawes and Hogan, and Fitzpatrick and Pedersen couldn’t cover their absence. Our depth isn't great, and agree that there are too many unknowns with Jesse and Max, who is yet to ruck a full season at AFL level. At this stage though Wright has played more of his football as a forward, and has been dominant at times there. There's still a fair bit of football to be played to assess his potential and worth. Pick one is fairly open this, he could well be overtaken. Besides, I still think (and hope) that we don't finish last this year. If Frawley stays, I hope we take the best available. If it’s Wright, he looks like he has a very solid body for a 202cm kid and is quite quick for his size, with a good tank. I’ve only seen video, so look forward to seeing him play live. Durdin can play across all key positions (back, forward, ruck), so offers the best versatility, if Frawley goes, he might be the KPP draftee I lean towards. I also hope that whomever we pick, competitiveness and aggression is part of that players make up, and of the KPP’s tipped to go high, Goddard seems to display the most aggression (haven’t seen enough of Durdin and Wright to know whether they are competitive beasts or how much aggression they have in their games). I’d be happy with any of those at this stage. If we get a FA compo for Chip, I’d look to split the player types and draft a mid. Really hope Clem Smith pushes himself up into contention for a selection this high. His aggression and thirst for the contest is inspirational and he makes things happen. A quick player who can use the ball, make good decisions AND does the hard stuff is pretty rare. I hope he can show more of a midfield game this year, because he is a point of difference player in this draft. He does have a bit of work to do push himself up that far in the order, but I like the kid.

AFL.com.au's Callum Twomey's take: Who will be this year's No.1 draft pick?

On early rankings, Wright seems to be consensus no.1, with McCartin around the mark as well. From there opinion varies, but Goddard is up there with Sam Durdin from SA (probably the best key back in the pool, can play forward too). Brayshaw and Petracca are probably in the next bracket, but Brayshaw is climbing. Probably the highest rated midfielder at the moment. Petracca needs to show he can run in midfield on a full-time basis. Was excellent up forward last year, but probably not tall enough to play key position at AFL level. Wins most one on one contests and has mongrel, but queries would be on tank and whether he is quick enough. If can show that he is, he's a lock for a top 5 selection. Pickett is one to monitor. Has great pace, but it looks like he has a go and can win his own ball on the inside. May move up if he shows this consistently. The early feedback about this draft pool is the higher end talent isn't as outstanding as last year, but greater key position talent, and greater depth of talent.

Emma Quayle's write up on Friday night's match. Teenagers show promise despite big loss to Collingwood

Bit more on Angus Brayshaw: http://boundforglorynews.com/angus-brayshaw-the-bull-in-a-china-shop/ Look forward to seeing a bit more of him in TAC Cup and NAB Champs this year.

Player’s have a relatively short earning capacity to the rest of us working folk as well. If they are lucky enough to have a 10 year career (average AFL career is 5 years) they will earn something like 90% of their lifetime earnings between the ages of 18-30. The average person will earn the bulk of their lifetime earnings between 30 and 55, so it’s hard to decry a player too much for wanting to put themselves in the best possible position to set themselves up. That said, I’m more sympathetic toward Frawley and Sylvia’s situations, as they have spent enough time at Melbourne to either qualify or approach qualification for free agency. They’ve done the time at Melbourne with varying degrees of success, and each have one, maybe two high earning contracts left in them.

As much as I hated (and still hate) the Scully sideshow, I knew we made out like bandits when the compensation was confirmed. Thank you GWS for your great big wad of cash. Where the potential situation with Watts differs is that I can’t see how Melbourne can mount a case to receive anything close to fair (or favourable) in trade for Watts given his lack of proven performance. I would suggest he is nowhere near his peak value. I expect other clubs to know this and they will offer low. I’d be very surprised if we’d be able to even pry Mitch Robinson from Carlton for Watts. Never mind the humiliation of losing two number one draft picks to add to our failure with Morton in the preceding draft. It will be a damning indictment on our club. It seems that we are failing at selling the future to our players. The club needs to make a decision on Neeld fairly soon. I agree with GNF that if Neeld stays, we will lose players that we should be keeping. I honestly find it hard to believe that he is the man for the long haul, and if the club believe that’s the case, he must go sooner, rather than later. If he is not to be there next year, he must be gone prior to the player exchange period. The club must be clear in the direction it’s moving and clear in its vision, because at the moment the rudder’s all over the place and the crew seems ready to jump ship. The wait and see approach will damage our club and set us back further by years.

Yeah, watched him on the U\16's coverage on Grand Final Day. Looks the goods. Quick and powerful, good second efforts. So does that DOB put him out of our reach under next years draft eligibility? Scully's 17 touches in the TAC Cup GF were all class. I'd love it if we got him next year. Pickering and Sheahan were likening him to Voss and Rob Harvey. Courageous and highly skilled. Definately top 3 in next years draft.