ChaserJ

This one? It's about Jack, Tom Curran and Toby Greene playing together for Ashburton.: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/ash-thursday-20111120-1npfc.html

Stumbled upon this on the weekend. Scroll past the rubbish about Razor Ray... http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/injured-umpire-ray-chamberlain-set-to-miss-entire-season/story-fndv7pj3-1226406550116 NEWS.com.au - 1 day ago MELBOURNE is seen by rivals as in the box seat to secure West Australian teens Jesse Hogan and Jack Martin, the 17-year-olds likely to be ...

Jack's back: http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/139149/default.aspx

In my mind Jack Martin is exactly the sort of player the club needs. Versatile, can play inside and out, good skills and can generate a bit of excitement (mind you Jesse Hogan would fit in nicely as well): http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/default.aspx?newsid=138983 I’ve read that Melbourne have been looking closely at Martin, along with Fremantle and Gold Coast (god I hope they don’t grab another gun 17 y/o, but they may have some attractive pieces to trade). Jake Niall mentioned that the mini draft picks could be crucial to the Travis Boak trade and that GWS have interest in picking up a key back. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/cats-compo-pick-crucial-to-boak-deal-20120619-20m6p.html#ixzz1yI7CDXLd I think they also need a ruckman. Our mid first round compensation pick would probably be a minimum inclusion + at least one regarded KPD/ruckman. Having signed Mark Jamar for three years, I believe it’s time to shop Stefan Martin. I like him as a player, but don’t see a regular spot for him in the side with Mitch Clark and James Sellar available as secondary rucks. We need to continue to develop Max Gawn as Jamar’s replacement, meaning Stef’s the odd man out, and he may still have currency due to his very good run in Jamar’s absence last year. We also seem to have reasonable depth in the tall defender department now as well (see Garland/Rivers playing forward in recent games), so perhaps we have room to trade one established KPD out either for a mini draft pick or as part of another trade deal. McDonald’s looked good so far this season and Troy Davis deserves a run at some point. Gold Coast have pieces to get involved, and it looks like Freo have something to offer now as well: http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/a/-/dockers/14001124/freos-giant-draft-coup/ With all of that in mind, what would people see as a reasonable package to obtain a mini draft pick? Which key position defenders would/should we look to include or shop around?

Agree. At times difficult to watch, but compelling viewing. Really felt for him. He's been strung up for trying to make a difference and do something positive, which wouldn't have been for personal gain, or purely for the benefit of his club. I think football stands to benefit from his proposal, and disturbing to see what came of it. I do note that a slight variation on this program was trumpeted in the Herald Sun as an Essendon idea.

Yes, particularly clubs with players drafted from other states. Gold Coast and GWS have recently referred to it as being part of their player retention policy. Gary Ablett was a high profile case last year. West Coast has given Luke Shuey plenty of time to come back to Victoria in the past (when he’s been injured and for other personal leave), and he’s publicly said he owes the Eagles for the support and flexibility they’ve shown him.

This is the game: http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_match_statistics?mid=3683

Correct. I’ve tried like hell to get this one (it was my first day at the footy), but no dice.

These games were confirmed as $10 games if anyone's intested. I'll be getting the bolded games if anyone's interested in trading. 1992 Round 2 Melbourne vs Geelong 1993 Round 15 Melbourne vs Geelong 1994 Semi Final Melbourne vs Western Bulldogs 1998 Round 2 Melbourne vs North Melbourne 1998 Round 8 Melbourne vs Collingwood 1999 Round 7 Melbourne vs Essendon 2000 Qualifying Final Melbourne vs Carlton 2002 Round 1 Melbourne vs Hawthorn 2005 Round 12 Melbourne vs Collingwood 2006 Round 6 Melbourne vs Geelong

Brett Lovett already making a contribution: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/magner-makes-melbourne-rookie-list/story-fn53khop-1226221084500

Sounds good. Keen to see him get a game in the NAB Cup. Demons leagues apart in recruiting key forward

That cuts both ways man. You have one belief, I have another, and that's ok, we're allowed to have them. Can we move on now?

The essence of moneyball is finding value in a player who's undervalued by the market. Sellar didn't play many games, so it's true, there isn't much statistical measure (in a footballing output sense). However it's a logical selection in a list filling sense. The stats applicable in this instance appear to be related to a type of player required to complete our list build. Specifically, having a certain number of players, of a certain age range in each position. A 195+ CM player in the 22-25 year old bracket, who can play multiple positions. Clearly Sellar's vital statistics played a massive part in his selection. Oakland used OBP, we used height and age.

Couldn't have said it better WJ, BT.

Nice deflection. So you've slagged off bogan's, pseudo-intellectuals and at last count 2 races. Did you not get hugged as a child?

Nice. Pigeon holing an entire race. Your assertion that the issue is purely down to players being indigenous is offensive. These boys aren't alone in underachieving. Underachievment has been a blight on our club for years and has nothing to do with cultural difference. A culture of indifference has been a bigger problem. A culture that has accepted mediocrity has been a bigger problem. What about the indigenous talent we didn't draft, but were in a position to do so? Were we correct in passing on Adam Goodes? Michael O'Loughlin? Cyril? Did we get those right? If Lance Franklin were a free agent and listed Melbourne as his preferred club, would you suggest we give him a miss? I'm not saying the boys you've singled out don't deserve a spray, but your focus is far too narrow. Far more players than you've named have been mollycoddled and given more leeway than they should have.

Some names to consider for 2012. The A-grade potential players will run deeper than this year (possibly deeper than any previous draft). I think we use our compo picks next year (no way will Viney get beyond our first rounder) and potentially fill our remaining holes in the list with the young guns on offer. Hope like hell that Port and Gold Coast win more than 4 games, don’t think I could deal with GC getting 2 of the first 3 picks after they jagged O’Meara. http://www.thisisafl.com/blog/2011/06/2012-afl-draft/

Watched Moneyball last night. Great theory, great film (great book by all accounts too). James Sellar, pick 54. That’s Moneyball theory right there. Someone that no one really rated because of what they can’t do ended up winning a Brownlow Medal (Dane Swan, pick 58), and countless numbers of high draftees have ended up busts. Not saying Sellar will suddenly become the player he was deigned to be, but… Sellar was a potential no.1 pick (rivalling Bryce Gibbs for the honour), a big man with pace, agility, good game sense and marking ability. Gun recruiters were effusive in their praise, after a bout of glandular fever he was picked by his hometown Crows at pick 14. 5 years, 21 games, delisted and redrafted at pick 54 in a shallow draft. Most Melbourne supporters are hoping he can plug some holes as a backup. He may not offer what most people expected him to when he was 17, but he could add something of significant value to the team. He’s 22 and he’s generally viewed as lucky to get a second chance. Interesting to look at Collingwood’s list and see how many players they’ve picked up who were passed over by other clubs (either in the draft, or through trade/delisting). Even their guns Thomas and Pendlebury were generally seen as bolters who only came into consideration as high draft picks quite late. Thomas’ late run of form saw him come into top 5 consideration in 2005, but Nugget Jones was still widely seen as a better prospect than Pendlebury going in. I love Jonesy, but recent history backs Collingwoods drafting decisions fairly heavily. Collingwood look to have been ahead of the curve for some time now. Anyone who has an interest in what happens behind the scenes at a sports organisation should see Moneyball.

This is an extract (on Rory) from a little article on prospective draftees from the Rebels. Interesting read, link to the full article is below. Rebels regional manager Phil Partington says: He has an AFL kick and AFL mark, very powerful legs that can accelerate quickly and a high vertical leap. There are certainly parts he needs to improve on but that will come. http://www.thecourie...spx?storypage=0

Demons keeping a close eye on teen

I pass on my sympathy to Dale Holmes. It may not be a great day for your club, but I’m sure as hell getting a kick out of it!

We weren't good enough for finals this year. The upshot is we were able to fill a structural hole with the subsequent draft pick. At least the year wasn't a total write off.

Waylen's on our radar at least. http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/a/-/afl/10849901/manson-soars-on-to-afl-radars/

Congrats to Scott West on his new gig as Werribee head coach.. Another coach trade completed for Melbourne. Got Bailey for Craig finalised earlier, now West for Satterley.

And was with the Swan's for their GF campaigns as well. Just finished reading Misson's book (The Bubble) on his time at St Kilda. Excellent read. He is bringing a wealth of IP into our club, I hope the boys embrace and respond. Bring on the pre-season!