furious d

Because O'Rourke is 183cm and 75kg.

First I'd just like to point out that this is all pretty hypothetical at this stage of the year. People stating that this kid is rated here and that kid there are only guessing this far out. Whitfield looks a standout #1 but there is a lot of conjecture after that. There's plenty of footy left before the draft and finals alone will see some bolters and sliders, then it's off to draft camp, and after all that we'll have a much better idea of who is truly rated where, but we'll still be guessing. For me, with Grundy, it's more a case of not ruling him out, rather than wanting him at this stage. I agree the midfield is the priority right now and if we are forced to use pick 3 on Viney I'd rule Grundy out straight away. We desperately need some class and pace to compliment young Jack and we'll need early picks to do that. If Viney does make it through to the second round it opens the door a bit to consider a tall or some other type. It's no secret that Neeld would like another big body down in the forward line to compliment Clark. Chasing Cloke is clear evidence of that. If we can't land a ready made through FA or a trade Grundy may be the next best option. He's 100 kg's already and would provide a much stronger contest in the fwd line than either Cook or Fitzpatrick right now. He has a good engine, can take a contested grab,is good below his knees, kicked 9 goals during the champs, is a good kick and has a bit of mongrel in him. He doesn't have to be a worldbeater early, just provide a foil for big Mitch, take the odd contested grab and kick the odd goal. If Cook and Fitzpatrick can't get in the side while our forward line is so devoid of options, they are unlikely to be ready next year. Grundy might be. Long term we need more ruck options and Grundy would provide good competition but short term I'd consider drafting him as a stopgap KPF if the recruiting dept thought he was up to it. He could provide that missing piece to the structure Neeld wants in the forward line.

I agree our midfield needs strengthening, rucks play in the midfield. Our predicament right now shows there's room for another big man on our list and I'd only consider him if Viney slides to the second round. He can play forward, is a decent size already and has some mongrel in him. Pick 3, 13 and Viney should provide a significant boost to our midfield.

Tac cup future stars just did their first round mock, some interesting selections. Their top 10 was: 1 GWS Lachie Whitfield 2 GC Jonathan O'Rourke 3 MEL Jack Viney 4 MEL Brodie Grundy 5 WB Jimmy Toumpas 6 WB Sam Mayes 7 PA Oliver Wines 8 BL Troy Menzel 9 RIC Dayle Garlett 10 FRE Lachlan Plowman They had us taking Ben Kennedy at 13. Vlastuin slid to 19 and Stringer didn't make the first round. Make of it what you will but it's all pretty speculative this far out in my opinion. Personally I like Toumpas, Wines and maybe Grundy with our early picks if Jack slips through. Mayes is another I like but he's not a natural accumulator of the footy and we need to use our early picks on kids who can get their hands on the footy. We should be able to land another very good player with 13 if we don't trade it. Any or all of Colquhuon, Simpson, Kennedy, and Stringer could be available IMO.

Where does this fascination with all things Collingwood come from? I'd have Boak before both these blokes, give Beams the no. 1 tag each week and see how he goes. It's easy to fly under the radar when you're 5th and 6th best in a top line midfield, when Ball gets back they're 6th and 7th best. NO and NO

Wellingham? I can't understand why he is even mentioned. He's not in the top 5 mids at the Pies. He'd be worse than Heffernan.

His brains

They said they would elevate rookies that were in the mix for selection. Couch was obviously in the mix early in the year before he got injured. It's not surprising he hasn't been picked since he had that injury. Casey has had nearly as many byes as games lately and Couch's form hasn't been as good. There is no "situation" as far as I can tell.

Toumpas for me. Sounds like the perfect match for Viney at 3. Class and pace to go with Jacks mad attack at the footy. If we are KOTD and Viney makes it through to the second round I'd take Toumpas and Wines. Stringer could be a slider imo and he might still be there at our mid round compo pick but I'd take Mayes or Colquhuon before him if they were available.

Wish list? You blokes'd be useless if you found a genie. If you're going to fantasize, you might as well go hog wild B:Scarlett Satan Frawley HB:Deledio Ganesh Goddard C:Black caviar Cat d9 Makybe diva HF:Messi Franklin Bolt F:Rioli Clark Cox R:Apache chief Ablett Dangerfield Int: Grimes Trengove Jones Sub: Jesus Satan will put a bit of fear into the opposition forwards and Ganesh should be able to get one of those 8 arms in for a spoil. I've gone for run, run and more run on the wings and the d9 ahold be able to push the ball forward from stoppages all day. Messi is a goal scoring freak and Bolt, Usain not Andrew, will create good defensive pressure up forward. Cox to relieve in the ruck for Apache Chief who should be enupchucking the hitouts all day. A bit controversial to start our captains on the bench but good for balance. Jesus is the sub in case we need a last quarter miracle.

Put yourself in Jacks boots for a minute RR, do you remember being 18. A year is an eternity for a kid that age. Won't happen and shouldn't happen

How about we just take Jack at the pick we're forced to. The kids been itching to play AFL footy and by all reports would have walked into our team this year. There is no way the kid will put his life on hold for a year just to satisfy the greedy idiots on here. This is the worst idea yet proposed and it's had some pretty stiff competition.

Want to buy a bridge?

I could be wrong, but if we match an offer made to Moloney aren't we obliged to keep him? i also think there is some compo with FA, but we get nothing if he walks to the draft. The only reason I can see to not let Moloney walk would be spite. Davey and Sylvia are both contracted but I want them gone. I'd offer to pay some of their salaries if someone would take them off our hands. Bate, Bennell, Dunn, Petterd, Jetta, Macdonald and Spencer could all be shopped around, you never know who might bite. I'd like to see us go hard after free agents, we have cap space and they don't cost draft picks. We'll need to bring in at least 3 senior players and I'd even consider a GWS style move if a Black or someone of that caliber is delisted at years end.

I don't know if Neeld is the man to help us find that elusive 13th flag, or even to drag us up into finals contention, but I'll back him 100% for now. I'm 40, I've supported the dees since the mid 70's and while we might've looked good at times, we've always been fickle. Even during the Northey years, which are mythologised a bit around here, we'd manage to lose 3 or 4 on the trot with insipid performances at some stage during the year. Our players have always seemed to relax whenever they get a pat on the back, the hunger has never seemed to be there. We've all heard the rumours over the years, "hollywood boulevard", arrogant players that think being an AFL player is enough. Our culture is pathetic, and as much as it hurts us fans, we all know it's the truth. Finally we've got a coach that is willing to take that on. Willing to butt heads with our soft, pampered, arrogant, senior players before they pass that poisoned mindset on to yet another generation of Melbourne players. I'll back Neeld because the players have lost me. I can handle being crap, 08-10 wasn't that bad because you could see the effort, especially from our senior blokes, but it hasn't been there for a long time. The players have a choice, get on board or GTFO. The AFL is a tough competitive environment, we need tough, competitive players. If training is too hard, if adhering to structures is too hard, if going when it's your turn is too hard, if being disciplined on and off the field is too hard, then playing for Melbourne is too hard, GTFO.

0-8 and nearly dead is still better looking than Mitch Robinson's head

If we are serious about getting a free agent we should be looking at St Kilda. Their window has slammed shut and they have cap problems. Leigh Montagna or Brendan Goddard would look fantastic in red and blue. I don't think Nicky Dal is available this year but he'd be another worth looking at. I'd even consider doing a GWS if they delist Hayes but that is unlikely. It would be easier to pry someone out of a club that isn't in the mix for a flag IMO.

Excuses, excuses. You're not the only one to have copped injuries Striker, and they're hardly stars.

Vic Metro's first game in the Champs is Saturday week. It's pretty safe to assume Jack will miss round 1. Then they have a week off before playing 2 in a row. I don't see any point in rushing him back just so other recruiters can have a look at him against his peers. We should be very cautious managing this injury to a contracted player. I'd suggest 6 weeks off, followed by a week of APS and he should be ready, and hopefully a little rusty, for the final 2 rounds of the Championships. No point making it ant easier for other clubs. Let's worry about the subterfuge we can control for now.

I'm waiting for the AFL's next announcement. Moving goalposts are to be installed at every ground and only activated when MFC is kicking to that end.

How's that working out for you now robbo? Sorry, couldn't resist. Offering me Kennedy for Goodes after this post was a tad cheeky. If you still want Hampson I've sent a counter offer, but Kennedy isn't part of it.

Not sure how I'm going to replace him IWAP, he's been one of my best so far. Jamar killed me last week, if he hadn't let Minson help himself to 40+ hitouts I would have knocked off the stonecutters, lost by 1 hitout.

As I said at the time, I assumed Ablett would be gone and didn't rate Pendulbury high enough to do the trade. As far as I'm concerned there's Ablett, daylight, then everyone else. If you were offering pick 1, I might have done the trade. I didn't think there was a huge difference between pick 2-8 because I couldn't see anyone passing on Gary jr. Kennedy was a good get in round 5, but he won't kick 7 every week like he did against me.

Josh Kennedy was pick 4 in the 2005 draft, a KPF with 1 year in the system. He was hardly "a bit of extra stuff". Sorry Billy but there is no way in hell you'll get a player of the calibre of the names you mentioned with just a pick 3, throw in Watts or Trengove and you might be a chance. Maybe 3, 12 and player like Strauss or Howe would get it done, maybe not. Without a marked improvement onfield we have zero chance of attracting anyone anyway imo.

Surprised me too robbo, might have taken your pre draft trade offer if I thought gablett would still be there. Big upset by the eyeballs this week. Sending an underperforming Hannebry to the bench had the desired effect on the boys. Dan picked up 36 touches after averaging 10 in the first two weeks, he's forced his way back in this week