sylvinator

some really nice footage of him here... looks a really neat player. clearly a good decision maker with nice skills. Great height. Nice mover http://www.afl.com.au/video/tabid/76/video...px#VideoPlayerB

Quigley had Steven Hill at 32 in his phantom draft last year... enough said

According to Josh Mahoney, Martin is going to be developed as a Tall forward into the future to compliment Watts, with Jurrah and Bate to be the more versatile X-factor forwards. He also noted that Maric, Jetta, Sylvia and Tapscott are should be goal-kicking midfielders/high half forwards. None he considered true full-time forwards. He said Wona is very highly rated, but don't want to limit him to the small forward role. Hope he turns into a Davey type, playing everywhere. Josh thinks we need an extra gun crumming forward, but that he didn't think there were any major deficiencies with our forward line. Fitzpatrick will be developed as a tall forward. He said that the only tall forward worthy of a first rounder was Butcher, and even he had deficiencies. The other tall forwards available- Black, Panos and Tahlia- were 192cm mobile type forwards in the mould of a Bate or a Dunn. None of them were true key forwards. Thus, none of them were really worthy of pick11, and they also wouldn't have filled any 'need' for the key forward.

According to Josh Mahoney, Martin is going to be developed as a Tall forward into the future to compliment Watts, with Jurrah and Bate to be the more versatile X-factor forwards. He also noted that Maric, Jetta, Sylvia and Tapscott are should be goal-kicking midfielders/high half forwards. None he considered true full-time forwards. He said Wona is very highly rated, but don't want to limit him to the small forward role. Hope he turns into a Davey type, playing everywhere. Josh thinks we need an extra gun crumming forward, but that he didn't think there were any major deficiencies with our forward line. Fitzpatrick will be developed as a tall forward. He said that the only tall forward worthy of a first rounder was Butcher, and even he had deficiencies. The other tall forwards available- Black, Panos and Tahlia- were 192cm mobile type forwards in the mould of a Bate or a Dunn. None of them were true key forwards. Thus, none of them were really worthy of pick11, and they also wouldn't have filled any 'need' for the key forward.

I think it is clear that MFC plans Morton to be our future CHF when he bulks up fully. Morton has been quoted as saying this. Garland is another one CAC and others have mentioned might make a move forward. We have now added Fitzpatrick who according to all coaching staff at the draft event, has been recruited as a forward. Martin is also being developed as a swingman who can play forward. With all these, options is makes sense we didn't just pick up a KP forward in the draft bc we didn't rate any of them! Future forward line: Morton Bate Pettard Jurrah Watts Wona Then add Maric, Jetta, Sylvia, Tapscott as medium forwards floating through. Also Garland, Martin and Fitzpatrick as potential big forwards also!

AGREEE!!! Sylvia and Tapscott... hard bodies on the flanks. Both can kick goals from anywhere within 60m. Both can add grunt with stints in the midfield. Real impact players. Opposition will be seriously scared. Add to that Trengove is also a goal kicking midfielder. It's always important to have midfielders that can kick goals so that don't rely on your forwards to kick big bags of goals to win matches. Just look at Geelong and WCE

Well midfielders and ruckman always play huge roles in a team winning premierships... and our midfield and ruck stocks are pretty crap atm... so we actually filling our needs. I agree I would have taken 1 KP forward... however clearly they are looking forward and are putting faith in Watts, Jurrah, Bate and Martin/Garland.

Overall happy- 4 quality mids- Scully, Trengove, Gysberts and Tapscott 2 ruckman- Gawn, Fitzpatrick Doesn't look like we overpaid for anyone, although I would like to know more about Gysberts. Happy that it looks like we went best available for pick 1,2,11,18. Biggest surprise to me is that we didn't go any key position forwards (although Fitzpatrick apparently can play forward/ruck). They are putting a HUGE amount of faith in Watts, Jurrah and Bate. Our midfield will be A-class in a couple of years

Gysberts was always considered a second round, at the edge of the first round. Burgan put him pick 24. If people are obsessed with how players were rated then they should be happy really.. Burgan had: Scully at 1- pick 1 Trengove at 2- pick 2 Gysberts at 24- pick 11 Tapscott at 19- pick 18 Gawn at 18- pick 34 Fitzpatrick at 48- pick 50 We got some super talent

Interesting that we took 2 ruckman in a draft renowned to be shallow for rucks. However both these guyz are great value at 34 and 50 so definitely can't complain. At 34 and 50 you are always relatively speculative, so these guyz have huge potential. If one of these 2 become great afl players, we'll be happy

short answer= NO. Joel McDonald has been confirmed at PSD1 by Connoly. 2 remaining rookie spots have been committed to Meesan and Newton.

Apparently McKenzie was going to be upgraded, but agreed to be on the rookie list for another year so that we could get an extra draft pick. Bloody good on him

From the Draft event Connoley said they were going to toss up between Lucas and Gysberts at pick 11. I want to know why they picked Gysberts above Lucas bc Lucas was widely rated higher.

I don't have Aaron Black in here because I haven't seen him play and the only time I have seen him is in those AFL highlights which always look good.

Burgan's picks would be my ideale draft! Look over picks around 18 mark in previous years... the chance of getting a gun are very low. Going for a highly rated needs based pick is pretty reasonable strategy. I really want Scully, Trengove, Tahlia and Taylor. Strengthens significantly our midfield and forward-line. Pick 18 will almost certainly be a ruckman- both Gawn and Vardy seems worthy of pick18. Pick 50 will probably be a smoky preders has his eye on. Patrick Smith is a perfect smoky. Darwin factor as well.

I think we'll pick up Ball at 18. Pick 18 is a gamble even in the strongest draft. Here we can pick up a proven AFL performer, only 25 yrs old, with tons of leadership to mentor our youngsters. He will be in our starting 18 for sure each week. He will add alot to the team. And if he HATES playing for melbourne, then next year we can trade him for a pick between 20-30. Considering next year's draft will be strong, this is a good scenario anyways! all it means is that pick 11 we have to pick up a tall

I'm starting to think that Ball will almost definitely be taken at pick 18. Thus, considering that midfielders will be taken pick 1 and 2, our only opportunity to draft talls will come at pick 11 and 34 (pick 34 being much more speculative). I think pick 11 will be Tahlia. He seems a really great prospect who I believe could definitely be developed as a forward, much like Hurley last year! If they decide to pull the trigger on a pure forward's forward, then Black, Griffiths and Butcher are the obvious 3 choices. Pick 34 will probably be a guy Prendergast lhas his eye on, like Bennel or Strauss last year.

Joel McDonald has agreed to a 2 year deal according to Caro and has started training with the demons. I believe he is a handy inclusion and fills a definite hole in our list. McDonald is a medium sized defender who can also offer some rebound from defence. The only other players we have in that position are: - Cheney (promising but quite limited... not huge upside) - Bell (dump) - Bartram (a tagger/midfielder really) As we can see the current options in this position are not great. We have plenty of KP defenders: Warnock, Frawley, Martin, Rivers, Garland, McNamara We also have plenty of options for midfielder type options who can play as attacking rebounders but aren't defenders: Strauss, Bennel, Davey etc Now we have a medium sized defender who can shut down the oppositions medium forwards!

i definitely see the benefit of Luke Ball... however these benefits are purely short term. He will take heat off our young guns and be a role model to them for the next 2 years. However our strategy has always been long term. We've committed to it, we've come close to the bottom for 3 years now... we may as well see this strategy soon. Thus, in the spirit of continuing what we've started, I would be for youngsters pick 1,2,11,18,34. I think 2 forwards for pick 11 and 18 would be the way to go. Griffiths and Taylor could be good combination... as would Black and Tahlia, or even Butcher if he slipped. 2 of those 5 would see our forward line chockablock full of awesome talent. Watts, Jurrah, Griffiths, Blacks, Bate, Wona, Maric and Green would be a supremely talented forward line. We all know our backline is shaping up well and our midfield is too with Scully and Trengove added to Grimes, Morton, Sylvia, Davey, Moloney, Jones. Vardy or Gawn at 34 would be ideale!

I agree we'll probably win about 7-8 games this year. The reason we won't win many more than this is because of our rebuild, we are relying on too many inexperienced and young players in key positions. If all these guyz step up and take hold of their position, we will do well, but obviously that won't happen with so many teenagers. To evince this, I have in my starting 22: - Bennel, Jurrah, Watts, Wonaeamirri, Grimes, Morton, Maric (with strauss, Blease, Scully and Trengove the next players into my 22)- all these guyz are teenagers! - Garland, Frawley, Bate, Pettard, Jones, Marin are also in my 22... they are under 22 even though they are sometimes treated as experienced players Basically we have lots of young players, which all clubs do, but OUR young players are all in our starting team! Add to that list picks 11,18,34,50 and PSD1... of which 1 or 2 of those guyz will surely play games in 2010... plus Jetta and McNamara Our rise to the top half of the ladder will only happen once the guyz I have mentioned above have played around 50 games, have strong AFL bodies, and the new teenagers in our team are able to be protected by the experienced players by playing more peripheral role in the team. I feel sorry that guyz like Watts, Jurrah and Morton have to play such huge roles in the team... but i guess that just shows where we are at atm. I just can't wait for all these guyz to mature together. We will be scary good in 2012.

Last 2 PSD picks have been awesome. Jurrah= freak Martin= ultra agile swingman. Has shown he is capable as big man in defence, attack and the ruck. Will be very useful player at 198cm 100kg

1. Tom Sully 2. Jack Trengove 11. Black/ Tahlia- whichever slips and whichever we rate highest 18. Taylor/ Griffiths- whichever slips and whichever we rate highest 34. Max Gawn 50. Grimes PSD. Mitch Thorp - pick 11 we really have to go for a KP player... although if a guy slips like Lucas, Rohan or Jetta then i'd be tempted. - Pick 18 reserved for a forward who could be HUGE gain, but potential nothingness. Both these players would be excellent calculated risks considering their potential upside. Pick 18 isn't an unreasonable pick to take this kind of risk. - Pick 34 has to be a ruckman- god help us if Jamar moves on next year or is injured - pick 50- like the family connection, like his athletic ability and love that he's a mad demon supporter - Mitch Thorp worth the risk and is a KP forward Unstoppable midfield 2012= Sylvia, Scully, Trengove, Grimes, Davey, Morton, Strauss, Blease, Jones, Moloney

My hope is that next year we'll have compiled talent in every area of the ground such that we ideally wouldn't need to draft anymore. Basically, so that every hole is filled, and any draft picks in future years will simply add to our current talent crop and be bonuses. I know that doesn't really make much sense, but I hope some people sorta understand what i'm getting at... EG. Tall backs covered- Rivers, Garland, Frawley, Warnock, McNamara Running backs- Bennel, Strauss Midfielders- Grimes, Morton, Blease, Davey, Moloney, Jones, Scully, Trengove, Sylvia half forwards- Maric, Jetta, Pettard Tall forwards- Bate, Watts, Jurrah, pick 11 Rucks- Jamar, Martin, Spenser, (PJ), pick 18 Small forwards- Wona Basically.... with that list we should be able to develop them together. Any further talent we get from now on in just a bonus. Hopefully we are now set!

We actually have a very clear need for a defensive minded quality rebounding defender. At the moment, the only ones on our list that are options for that position are: - Cheney--- honest trier, but unsure if he'll be quality - Bell--- delist next year - Bartram--- no star - McDonald--- 34 yrs old The only other options are Bennel and Strauss who are both 1st year players and whom I would think both would end up in the midfield. Mcdonald would be a nice fit... 22 yr old, strong physically and already experienced with 80 games

Biggest fallacy in football. great midfielders are not dime a dozen. We haven't had a champion one since Robbie flower... in fact the last midfielder we had to making AA was probably Adem Yze on a wing, and he was an outside midfielder who kicked goals as well. McDonald the next closest on the bench of the AA