old55

Down from livid?

The Derksen comparison in the thread is a good one, we would have traded something like 68 or earlier for him and no-one here would have batted an eyelid.

I like the way he pushes Crossley over in that centre bounce highlght.

How's AJ's pace and agility @dazzledavey36? It would be a bonus if he has the closing speed to be a key back option in future too.

It doesn’t make much sense. BBB and Schache gone and we're back playing 6 talls in the Casey forward line. Assuming Campbell rucks: Jefferson, Fullarton, Kentfield, Verrall, Johnson and Melksham.

That's true and probably what clinched the deal for Port.

@Nascent gave a very good explanation of this strategy re Essendon trading similarly with Geelong last year to get Caddy. Some other team was probably pitching a deal to WC for the pick to take Berry and Port needed to beat them to it.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/1066251

That's not correct. He only produces one actual phantom draft, with some late mail updates right before the draft. He has been incredibly accurate over the years, if anyone knows what's going on it's him.

Let's hope he can saddle up for some good performances this year.

There are good reasons not to bid. Pick 1 is a special award and also has a prize attached. Clubs may also want to signal to the player they pick that he's really wanted, not second choice. What goes around, comes around is a reason too.

There'll be a world where we pick each of them, it all depends which one "you" end up in.

If only we had goal songs like Brisbane ...

If the Tigers take him at 6 it could throw a spanner in the works.

It's Allan and Lindsay, Curt.

@Damo was just trying to give me some well-intentioned wise advice.

There's been no discussion of North sliding past our pick. The only discussion has been about them possibly sliding to Adelaide's 4 and that's before our pick too. Even that discussion has dried up. They either pick Tauru or someone else at 2 (or 4) independent of what we do. Cal and Fox both say they prefer FOS to Tauru. Our reported interest in Tauru is genuine, it's not a ploy.

I'm sorry but this Tauru ruse doesn't make any sense. North have one chance to take him at 2, it doesn't matter what we say we might do at 5, they either pick him or they don't, their next pick is in the 60s. The only "slide" discussion has been to Adelaide's pick 4 and the same as above still applies. Our interest in Tauru is not a ruse, it's genuine, I think we rate Langford higher and will take him if available but if not it sounds like Tauru at 5 - that's what Cal said today.

In that case who do you think we take? Cal suggests Lindsay or Berry assuming the Saints have already taken Travaglia.

Looks like a very strong consensus at least through to Richmonds picks at 10 and 11 in the AFL / Fox Sports phantoms: 1. Richmond: Lalor / Lalor 2. North: FOS / FOS 3. Carlton: Smith / Smith 4. Adelaide: Draper / Langford 5. Brisbane: Ashcroft / Ashcroft 6. MFC: Langford / Tauru 7. Richmond: Smilie / Smilie 8. Saints: Travaglia / Draper 9. GCS: Lombard / Lombard 10. Saints: Tauru / Travaglia 11. MFC: Allan / Allan 12. Richmond: Lindsay / Lindsay 13: Essendon: Kako / Kako 14: Richmond: Shanahan / Armstrong Looks like a Langford/Tauru and Allan double for us, depending on what Adelaide do re Draper vs Langford. That pick ripples down the same top 13s and then Richmond go for different tall forwards at 14.

It's interesting to note that Smith's birthdate is 28/01/2006, he's been 18 almost all of the year, finished school in 2023 and was very nearly eligible for last year's draft. He's had a full year to concentrate on honing his footy. Compare with Levi Ashcroft, 18/12/2006, he's still 17, he qualified for this year's draft by less than 2 weeks.

Yes agree, you could definitely simulate him.

You're probably pretty handy on the BBQ too - how hard can this Michelin chef stuff be anyway eh?

I'm scared you might actually be serious ...

No Saty, that "this year's draft is so even" means the various clubs rankings are less likely to be the same. If the players were more stratified then they rankings would be more likely to be similar.