old55

I know what you're saying but I'd still prefer 3 mids - midfield wins flags. Small back is different from midfielder, engine is less important but overhead strength is a must. Pace is also a must. Bartram's kicking is not good enough and Cheney's too unknown. Frawley is most likely and he's a taller version like you note at Geelong. I think leaving out Wojcinski hurt Geelong in the GF btw.

I want best available at 1, 17, 19 and 35. The chances are we'll get someone we rate in the top 20-25 at 35. Last year I believe we rated Grimes well inside top 10 and got him at 14 and would've been happy with Maric at 14 and got him at 21. That said I'm strongly in the Watts camp and we need to assume he solves our KPF problems - he will make Miller and Newton better players simply because the opposition defence will need to go 2 and 3 up against him. I think we're good for key backs and small forwards but poor in the midfield in every area - pace, good kicking skills and ball winners. True midfielders need a decent engine - otherwise they're small forwards or backs. We'll need a spread of players to cover our midfield deficiencies - I'd be very happy if best available at 17, 19 and 35 are mids and there appears to be plenty of talent available. And yes, for the smartarses out there if BA at 17, 19, and 35 are all KPBs then I'd still take them at least at 17 and 19 anyway - we can always trade a good KPB for an excellent mid later. 51 and plus can be for needs and we need a good small back - discipline, kicking skills, pace and strong overhead for his size - with Wheels on the way out we're missing here. That's also where I think ruckmen come into the frame - I think we should add to our inventory and the chances of picking up a decent one late are good based on history. I think it's unlikley BA at at 35 and earlier will be either of these types. 1- Watts 17 - BA (hopefully mid) 19 - BA (hopefully mid) 35 - BA (hopefully mid) 51 - Small Back 60 something - Ruck project 70 something - pass, I think there's still the possibility of a reasonable pick in the PSD e.g. Meyer

Greg Miller used to give a draft preview to premium Richmond members and name picks - Jack Riewoldt for one ...

Yeah it's mystifying to me too why Luke Hodge, Gary Ablett and Adam Cooney aren't on the list

Look the counter-argument to mine is that 3 yaers ago Bateman and Sewell didn't look like key players in the premiership either. Chris Johnson is not irrelevant if he's one of them.

He's irrelevant because the bottom 6 in our 22 have never been the problem and that's where he sits at best. We extend out to around 30 players capable of playing football - our problem (as mentioned in the best 22 thread) is that our best 6 are sub-standard. We need stars and hopefully we going to get some out of the 2007-9 drafts. 3 years ago Young, Guerra, Osborne, Ladson and Campbell weren't looking like premiership players - they're interchangeable with our bottom 6 and it's the Hawks top 6 that make the difference.

The problem isn't the bottom end - we played finals with NQR. It's the top end - no stars. Same as it ever was.

5 pages on Chris Johnson!

Stop the presses! Delisted player has problems. He'd have to be a monty for the Saints with Cousins and Carroll.

That's broadly true but not exactly true - the 2009 draft is "compromised". The qualifying age for the 2009 draft is being raised by 4 months so approximately 1/3 of players will roll-over into the next year. The pool will be approximately 2/3 of a "normal" pool. I'd still be keen - perhaps even more keen because of this - to have picks 1 & 2

What do you think of Danny Meyer goodoil?

I think the comparisons are: Woey v Bell Jolly v Dunn Johnstone v Grimes

I absolutely agree with you - I'm getting [censored] off with him too. We've offered him a very fair deal. He's using the trade period as an auction and holding us over a barrel knowing he has our bid in reserve. It just doesn't sound like the great guy he is supposed to be - maybe he's being ill-advised? Anyway if he's not going to stay then we need to get fair recompense.

I'd prefer that Brad Green stays at Melbourne - he's a good player, goes when it's his turn (contrary to some belief), is a good trainer and is supposed to be a good guy. Now we have offered him $1.1M over 3 years, that's a very fair deal - he should jump at it to be a one team player and who knows maybe even do a Crawf in 2012. By all appearances it's all about the money for him, or more likely for his manager. I'm unimpressed.

We could use that pick 30 on Art Vanderlay if he lasts until then. Wheatley for Vanderlay would be a good deal.

I agree that the uncertainty with him is his injury issues. That's only reason I can see that he's not going to the Draft camp, but he'll definitely be at the Qld State screenings and I expect we'll have someone up there looking closely and as you say - the interview is important. I liken him to Tom Swift - dominated at U16 level but since then he's been hampered by injury and has slipped off people's radar. Just because his injury is listed as "groin" doesn't mean he's got OP, there are other groin injuries than OP that players can make a full recovery from. I think his alleged lack of pace is deceptive and wouldn't be surprised to see a sub 3 secs for the 20m at the screening. There's a risk drafting injured players and for every Selwood there's a Muston but the possible upside of a Selwood is huge. We've got the priority pick at the end of round 1 and possibly can afford to take a risk if we bank two certainties at 1 and 17.

Look I think Sam Mitchell shows that if you've got elite endurance, a football brain and quick hands there's a place in today's game, Valenti just doesn't excel in these areas and that magnifies his limitations - where as someone like Mitchell who does excel is captain of one of the GF teams!

I'll PM you with my e-mail address if you can send it thru that would be great, thanks! I've got Wisbey's profile if you haven't seen it - unfortunately can't post it or I'll never get see another one.

Where's Art Vandelay? You're showing your complete ignorance of phantom drafting by leaving him out. He's an absolute certainty to go first round.

As Jacka points out - no nickname for a late merge and the colours of the Demons, Roos and Dogs are all covered. Personally I would have gone for orange but maybe West Sydney will head there.

Fullback

Carlton tanked. They're not the first. It will be impossible to prove unless someone at Carlton did something incredibly stupid like record their intention to lose. There'll be no penalty for Carlton. The AFL will have to directly address tanking - there's a few strategies ...

That's what your wife said.

It's Jared Rivers.

Groundhog Day ... Others have done the research and opinion remains divided. The only final proof one way or another is how our players performs over the next few years with our new coaching department including the beefed up development department.