Bring-Back-Powell

I wouldn't be upset if we got him on the cheap at PSD pick 1. It's not as if we're sacrifising a valuable draft pick and he's more proven than Thorpe and to a lesser extent MacDonald. However you'd imagine the Dees will take the common sense approach and let him head to Freo.

Good call. It's kind of disrespectful to the clubs with picks ahead of Sydney. If we are going to 'trump' clubs in the draft, I'd rather we did it with Bradshaw than Ball.

With regards to the original poll is there a both option? I'd love him to be one of those players that does the job in defence for 3 quarters, and then is swung down forward in a tight last qtr and be a wild card down there. I see him and Hurley (Ess) being very dangerous swingmen in the future.

I agree. Talk of giving him a 1 year extension is way too premature. If we're 4-8 during the spilt round, then I'd entertain the thought.

Jumping the gun on Martin IMO. The guy hasn't worked out how to kick a footy yet, therefore he's not in my "22" for the start of next year. Ofcourse Jurrah at pick 1 has been super and very lucky!

Yeah wouldn't be surprised if they expect to get both Luke Ball and Taylor. Taylor at pick 34 would be nice for the Dees.

That would be no.

Yeah the AFL draft should attract far more interest than cricket. The Luke Ball factor should make it even more exciting. Cricket is the most boring sport in the world. I get more aroused watching croquet than I do cricket.

Firstly, I've been advocating the recruitment of Luke Ball at pick 18 not 11! Maybe the Dees are desperate to make a bold statement to the AFL community and pick up a high profile player at the expense of youth. Maybe they honestly believe Luke Ball at pick 11 is better than any kid. Maybe they're only seriously interested in 8 other players - and they may all be gone at pick 11. Maybe Scully and Trengove are that special that they more than make up for sacrificing youth at pick 11. Although I doubt Luke Ball will end up at the Dees, I'll back the club selecting Ball regardless of which pick. Jon Ralph (senior writer at the HUN) writes a more "pro Luke Ball @ Melbourne" story than Hutchy did the other day: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/adam...f-1225798382559

I'm now over Luke Ball. I won't be arguing in favour of him anymore. If the club picks him at 18, great, but I fully expect the Dees to overlook him due to Ball openly stating Essendon or Collingwood. I'm also over Melbourne being linked to high profile players, all to no avail. Judd, Prismall, Warnock, Ball etc...

Any confirmation of this? I can't seem to find any.

Must admit I'm surprised that we're 9-20 against picking up Luke Ball at pick 18. I doubt we'll pick him up, but if we do I'll be interested to see if the anti Luke Ball scibes around here will be praising him next year if he has a good game.

If we only had 3 top 20 picks, then I'd be using them all on 18 year olds. But now that we have one extra pick, I feel that we have the luxury to select a proven mature age quantity. And it must be said that that the probability of selecting four 18 year olds that will all be future guns are very low. Daniel Bell (poor awareness and disposal), Lynden Dunn (yet to cement a game) and Luke Molan (career killed by injuries) have all been top 20 picks and look how successful they've turned out Three 18 year olds and Ball is a safter bet than four 18 year olds.

Sorry I was being a bit of a smart ass by saying end of discussion. Ball at pick 18 would be a 7 pick upgrade on McLean. Ball will provide clearances for the 16th ranked club at clearances. Ball is a proven quantity who's won All Australian and Best Fairests, and was commendable in the Grand Final. Ball is a quality person who would have a positive impact on our young midfield. Seems like a no-brainer to me.

The club must take Luke Ball at pick 18 if he's available. End of discussion.

Port offically out of the Luke Ball race according to club manager Peter Rhode.

Port Adelaide (pick 16) officially out of the Ball race. Jon Ralph mentions that there is a feeling within Melbourne that it's time to take a high profile player if given the opportunity. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/matt...f-1225797099158 C'mon Dees, take Ball at pick 18. You're in the the box seat, you have a free hit at him. Don't give contenders like Essendon, Brisbane and Collingwood a free pass. Oh and did I mention we were 16th in clearances in 2009?

Probably the best piece of literature pertaining to the Luke Ball situation. People need to get over themselves about Luke Ball not nominating for the PSD and realise what an asset he'll be to our midfield next year. Now that McLean has gone, I can't think of one player who will go in and get a consistent clearance. Until Luke Ball and his manager publicy state that he doesn't want to play for Melbourne, then he's open slather as far as I'm concerned.

Ball at pick 18 would be the best possible scenario for the Melbourne footy club. We keep our first 3 picks, snag up a proven quantity (All Australian and B&F) at pick 18, select some smokies at 34 & 50 and take Thorp at PSD 1. I fail to see how any red blooded Demon fan would be upset at the above outcome when they leave emotion out of it (ie - everyone worrying that Ball doesn't want to play for the MFC)

I'm budgeting for 6-7 wins and I wouldn't be surprised if the club is too. We play a total of 6 games against North, Freo, Richmond and West Coast (MCG), play Port on neutral territory and a total of 14 games at the G. Surely some wins will result from there! I'd expect to finish 13th-14th next year and get pick 10 in 2010.

It appears that Joel MacDonald will be nominating in only the PSD. North and Freo are keen according to the HUN. So we are in pole position for MacDonald. I'm super keen on him and would be the less risky option than Thorpe.

I don't subscribe to the theory from the "anti Ball party" that he doesn't want to play for the MFC. Ball is a 100% pro, an intelligent young man (who aced year 12), never put a foot wrong on and off the field and will represent his new club with the utmost profession. Remember kids, he's not a cancer like Fev, Andrew Lovett or Nathan Carroll. Also if he really didn't want to play for Melbourne, he'd sit out of footy next year to avoid that possibilty. Luke Ball's Dad appears to be the problem anyway, not Luke Ball. While not my preferred option, I'd support the club picking up Ball at pick 11*. It would essentially result in a straight swap for Brock "Clanger King" Mclean which doesn't look so bad on paper. We'd still get the big 2 in Scully/Trengove, use pick 18 on the best available or ruckman, draft for needs at 34 and pick up Thorpe in the PSD to strengthen our fwd line. Would cap off Melbourne's best off season in many years. **The ideal result IMO would be if the MFC picks up Ball at pick 18 so we don't sacrifice the valuable pick 11.

This is what is annoying me about Melbourne supporters lately. We've won 12 games in 3 years and we're automatically assuming that the MFC are going to be awesome in a couple years on the back of a few high draft picks. Can we at least wait 12 months too see how 'awesome' we're going to be in the next 5 years.

With the 18th pick in the 2009 NAB national draft, the Melbourne football club select??? Only Melbourne can control if Luke Ball comes to Melbourne. If anything we control Luke Ball's destiny, not Luke Ball. I don't see him nominating for the ND as disheartening. Luke Ball is a pro, and if the Dees select him at pick 18, he will give it his 100% and will be one of the central figures to our revival. I don't buy into this "he doesn't want to play for the Dees". He has put himself into the draft so he understands he's open slather - from Freo to Brisbane and anyone inbetween. Pick him up at 18, Dees. 1) Scully 2) Trengove 11) Butcher 18) Ball PSD - Thorp, McDonald or a hidden gem of a kid. Now that will sign memberships!!!

If Luke Ball enters the National draft and he lasts at pick 18, the MFC selects him, regardless of whether he wants to play at Melbourne or not. End of story. I don't give a fats rats if he wants to play at Essendon or Magpies. What's that saying - 'best available'.