rpfc

Jeez, BB59. The kid was on the RL. He was clogging the list in place of the 2008 Rookie Selection 56.

I'm sure that Ball and Connors will be going over the scenarios over the weekend and they will come to the realisation that they have limited options. The ND option is fraught - he will not get to Collingwood, and I would not put it past Syd, PA, or us to spoil the party. It's Melbourne or St Kilda...

Betraying your footy IQ there.

Agree. We got a draw outside of what we deserve. Hopefully, 2010 will bring performances, on and off the field, that make us deserving of an even better draw. And by 'off the field' I am not saying 'profits equal a better draw,' I'm saying that 'better crowds equal a better draw.'

I believe Green can end his career the way his started it - as an effective lead-up forward. We will see whether those in charge agree... I know Matthew Bate will spend the majority of his time on a forward flank, or at CHF. Miller will most likely be CHF at the start of the year, but Bate should be in the same forward line. Miller's form will dictate whether Bate is required at CHF. Bate will push into the midfield from time to time but only to give a breather to our wingman - Davey and Morton - who will float forward. But why start Bate there? Will he not get in the way of all our young mids and their development? We all know Bate can play forward; he should play most of his time there and Scully, Trengove, Maric, and Blease should get as much exposure in the middle as we can afford. Don't add Bate to the list of mids is what I would say.

BB59 - I am absolutley astounded that Bate isn't in your first choice forward line. The presence of Green in the forward line is a prognostication of mine (I believe well educated), but the fact that Bate was our best forward in 2009 is a righteous fact above all argument to the contrary. He will be a starting HFF or CHF in 2010, of that I have no doubt. 24 goals and 26 assists were his returns, second in both to Robertson and Davey respectively. He is a very good player.

I'm even going to start with what's impossible about this desire of yours...

Yeah, it should be sorted out by the end of next week I would say. Still think it will be a Press Conference with Ross Lyon or Dean Bailey.

Thankyou! Someone had to say it.

"He only played 7 games this year" - DDDDC, Oct 29, 2009. Answered your own question.

Why do people keep bringing up the ages of players? Junior and Bruce are on the list next year and they will be in the best 22. Do you want them to get in the way of Scully or Trengove in the middle? Oh, you dont?! Then pick somewhere for them to play... A BP and HBF? Ok, then they are going to get in the way of Cheney and McNamara. They will be good value in those periphery roles and we can still develop our midfield.

I want to get Bruce, Green, and Junior out of the middle in 2010. Bruce and Junior to play the roles they played in the last half dozen games of 09 in the backline and Green to play in the forward line. We will see...

I would like to see those posts because my view is far from that. I believe if Miller is to play it is because his form warrants it, I do not want to see the MFC give people games because another player is too weak to stand on their own two feet. I have no doubt that Jack Watts is a capable young man who can deal with the burden that is about to be thrust upon him, but at the moment Brad Miller, with his confidence up, would command a spot in our forward line.

I've added two polls but I believe it is closed off for those who have already been polled. If the mods are able to fix that would be great, otherwise refreshing the whole thing would be the option.

I know it's early, but I am little surprised at the level of faith in Miller. I chose Miller and Watts, but was very close to Petterd and Watts. I wonder if posters choosing Miller are doing so because they see him as a protector of Watts? Does he need it? Is Miller capable of protecting him? What would it involve? Interesting...

I come on here to talk about our impending draw and end up having to read bad jokes about poorly timed AFL games that the MFC are forced to play. And I didn't start the two and fro on the apostrophes, I merely placed an addendum on my post apologising for a possible mistake. I'm getting a bit of noise my way because I readily admit that some of what I write is crap, while some on here should be more self-reflective of their own nonsense. If they were, they wouldn't be so hypocritical and unaware.

Assuming that the first 5 picked for the forward line are Bate, Sylvia, Jurrah, Green, and Wonaeamirri (as I believe we could almost all agree on) - who would be the last two 'forward players' to make the 22? I'm also taking out Morton, Martin, and Davey as variables as they will be in the 22 but not, most likely, as 'forward players' per se. I am also removing Dunn and Newton because I have made a judgement call that they would not get a look in. And I am well aware that Pick 11 may change things, I am also aware that it may not. I am more than willing to alter the poll if sane reasons present themselves. I understand we are going over ground already covered - I am just keen to see the level of desire for Miller as opposed to Watts, or the desire for both. Or neither...

Lovely. And from a moderator, no less. Just get back to talking about the draw. I hope we play on the weekends!

There is only one person with the power to reverse curse, and it isn't CB... There is no emoticon to describe the talents of Liam Jurrah. He's a very good football player.

The fact that Molan was struck by injuries is beside the point. The fact is, in a 'Superdraft,' we decided to draft for needs and we got it horribly wrong. Old is, as usual, right.

So I was right? Numbnuts?! You just made the list DemonDan.

Ablett didn't start out as a mid. To bring it closer to home: neither did Davey. I would be disappointed if we couldn't turn at least two of those three into consistent mids. My great hope for Maric is for him to become an inside/outside midfielder with elite delivery. Wonaeamirri has a very effective kick and is a solid body, and Bennell has the vision, pace, and skills to play on a wing. Those midfield options you point out are for 2010, yes? Why so short sighted? While we are rebuilding the players that will get more midfield minutes are Scully, Trengove, Petterd, Davey, Moloney, Morton, Jones, Blease, and Grimes. Maric and Bennell would be the next players I would look at for minutes in the middle. An argument could be made for those two to be placed ahead of Blease and Petterd. Macca, Bruce, and Green will play periphery roles. Dunn isn't 'the right' player to put games into, Ball hasn't committed yet, and Sylvia will play a high HFF. I see Wonaeamirri mirroring Sylvia's role. If that means a midfield role then so be it, but to me Sylvia plays a HFF that drifts toward the centre. In conclusion, HBFs and HFFs often graduate to become very good midfielders.

This discussion is going on in another thread, and I can understand why. It's a strange industry and the numerous list lodgements mean that there are a few periods where clubs re-evaluate and move people on, or give contracts. We may be waiting for Ball to commit one way or another before moving on one of our uncontracted. But I am certain that there will be players on Nov 1 unsure whether their club will give them a contract.

This is where we come back to an AFL conract being different from a 'real world' contract. Restraint of trade? Yeah, but the alternative has its own problems.

I think if we wait that long to give a contract, they may walk. If it was my decision I would be thinking whether Pick 34, in this compromised draft, would be worth more than Batram. And, all things considered, it's a hard decision but I would politely move on Clint and take a kid who can kick at 34. I guess we will know soon enough...