ChaserJ

I don't necessarily disagree with you WJ. My gut feel here is that that Melbourne may be a worried about picking a lighter framed kid who could be viewed as being too similar to Toumpas (I don't discount possible buyer's remorse here after passing on Wines). I don't view Kelly as all that different as a player, and we may see someone like Freeman jump up as he is physically more developed than the other two.I'd hate to think that our recruiters might be spooked into bypassing a player who they rate, but you can only guess the pressure they're under given the intense scrutiny on our most recent recruiting efforts combined with a pretty high turnover in that department over the last two years. I personally would take Aish at 2 as I rate him as the best midfielder in this years group, but is he the one that's most likely to have an immediate impact? Probably not (bear in mind that Aish is still only 17 and amongst the youngest players eliglble for this years draft).

Brett Anderson was pretty strong on it, a few of the Hun journos are convinced that we'd take Kelly over Aish, and the Ox in conversation with Pickering suggested Aish could go anywhere from 2 to 7.

Strong belief among journos that we will not pick Aish if we retain pick 2. Some chance he might even slide out of the first 5 picks. No firm reasoning given for the drop, might even be down to Freeman and Kolodjashnij bolting up rankings after the Combine.

Although one spot may be taken. George Stone has said goodbye to Sydney: http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/2013-10-10/swans-thank-departing-coaching-duo

Graeme Yeats has left the Stingrays after 10 years coaching. He apparently wants to get into recruiting. I’d say we’d have some vacancies.

Lots of chatter about Andrew Walker leaving Carlton. Believe it started with Bigfooty and now this on AFL trade updates (it's source is twitter): Solid Mail Malthouse and Andrew Walker have fallen out and will be traded to Dees for pick 2 #TradeDebate @barrettdamian @TripleMRushHour Very much a grain of salt rumour at this stage.

Pretty sure I read that he was Prendergast's right hand man when BP was head recruiter. It's been a fair turnover of recruiting staff in the last 2 years.

Hah hah, Dean Brogan was interviewed the other day on SEN, the Morning Glory boys asked him which teammate (Port or GWS) was the tightest. After a (very) brief pause, he named Tom Scully.

I've heard about the Roos - Freeman chat elsewhere. I know that Collingwood have told Nathan that they will pick him if he's there at 10, and I've heard that Port are heavily into him as well. I've watched Freeman play a few times and strongly feel that if he had been available to play more TAC Cup games in the last two years, he would have been in the conversation for top 5 a lot earlier. His speed is breathtaking, he would be an excellent addition to our midfield. Journo's are starting to go with the belief that we won't pick Aish, and that he may possibly even slide out of the first 5 picks. Kolodjashnij and Freeman appear to be bolting up the ranks. FWIW, when the Ox declared that Shiel would be at Melbourne next year, Brett Anderson said that there was 'a bit of smoke around that'. I hope your source is on the mark DE, Shiel is probably the only player linked with us so far that I would be absolutely comfortable with us trading pick 2 for.

Not sure that says all that much about Impey…Matt Crouch is a bit of a beast, especially at U/18 level. No one in this year’s draft pool would attack the ball with more intensity than Crouch.

I’d say Impey is the next best small forward/mid behind Billings and ahead of Kennedy Harris. He’s got quite a solid build for given he’s 176cm. Looks like he doesn’t mind physicality either. 2nd round would be about right for him.

Our needs can be met at various points of the draft, it’s not all about who we select at pick 2. We have needs across the midfield. Our run (both ways) and spread was as big a problem as our ability to win clearances. It shouldn’t be lost that players who gain metre age and hit targets are valuable in transition from defence to attack, just have a look at who Ross Lyon sends his taggers to on a weekly basis. Who do we have that can do this with any regularity? Toumpas will, but Colin Sylvia was our leading ball carrier last year. Our midfield needs a bit of everything.

In the scenario that we go to the draft with the picks we have, pick 2 should be reserved for best available. This may well be a skinny kid. Whilst the draft is being categorised as shallow, for the types of players our list requires (mids), I think there are likely to be good options a fair way down. No doubt the key position depth is poor and there may as well be no ruckman. This probably works in our favour as clubs may reach if this is their area of need (hello Richmond – pick 28 for Hampson). If we do go skinny running type early, I’ve jotted down some names of contested ball winners who should be good AFL players that have a strong chance to be available at our second & third round picks. Strong chance to be available 2nd round: Dunstan, Z. Jones, Cripps, Battersby, Tsitas (would have had Dumont here, but think he goes higher) 3rd onward: Holman, Harmes, Magginess, Franetic, Honeychurch, Jansen, Cavarra, R Knight.

I’d say developing the skinny kids would be a start.

Collingwood apparently about to have a crack @ Bugg.

Both were Dees fans.

Pretty sure I read that Shuey was a Dee's supporter when he was interviewed pre draft. Also said Nugget Jones was his fav player and the one he modelled his game on. Think you're right about Marcellin College, so unsure about any prior friendship with Viney (who was a Hawks fan when Todd was coaching there).

Shuey definitely a Dee’s fan pre-Eagles. Nugget Jones was his favourite player and the one he modelled his own game on. Eagles have supported him through tough times and he’s stated his gratitude for them on a number of occasions.

Not related to us, but hearing Daisy Thomas is off to Hawthorn.

I’d read that Shiel and Treloar were both Blues fans. Here’s a profile for Dylan when prior to pre-selection by GWS. His bottom age season in the TAC Cup was 2010 I believe, and was generally compared to Judd. Height: 180cm Weight: 81kg DOB: 9/03/1993 Recruited from: Dandenong Stingrays/Caulfield Grammar/Edithvale-Aspendale Bio: Shiel is a classy on‐baller who assured his place on GWS Giants list with an eight goal performance from the midfield whilst playing school football for Caulfield Grammar against Haileybury College on a wet Saturday in June 2010. In 2009 at the NAB AFL Under‐16 Championships, all his averages were elite ‐ 20 disposals per match at 78% efficiency, eight handball receives, seven ground ball gets and three clearances. He also broke the lines more than any other player. For Dandenong at TAC Cup level in 2010 he played seven matches with his averages again all elite, recording 30 disposals, 10 handball receives and 12 groundball gets per match. His 13 contested possessions per match also ranked number one in the competition.

Shiel was a 17 to pre selection, would have been a strong contender for pick 1 if he went to the draft. Is trade pick 2, he could be absolute top shelf.

Heath's cousin, can find the ball, but lacks footspeed. Surprised he didn't get more of an opportunity at st Kilda. I know a few saints fans who weren't happy he wasn't in the team.

It’s universally accepted that Colin hasn’t lived up to his potential, and it’s fair to say probably won’t ever meet those expectations. At some point we have to accept the player he is and forget what we hoped he would be. 157 games is a pretty good sample size. That said, he was still one of our most productive midfield rotation players this year. I’m not sure we’ll easily replace his 19 touches, 4.5 tackles a game. Allied to that is his one of the few players who generates run and carry along with consistent inside 50 numbers. We were horrible in those areas, and have been for two years. If Colin goes, we lose a productive member of the team. The upshot is that we may get something approaching reasonable compensation, free up cap money and it will create opportunity for someone like Rory Taggert to play some AFL footy.

He trained with us. Prendergast apparently didn't think he was up to it.

Speaking of cultural change, anyone else hear Barrett’s claim that Didak will sign a 2 year deal at Carlton. Any chance Mick will swing a trade for Heater?