seventyfour

Reminder to everyone that it's a scratch match. We lost comprehensively to the Bulldogs in the 2021 preseason game. Geelong lost to Gold Coast in 2022. Collingwood barely scraped past Hawthorn in 2023.

I can see us missing the top 4. There will be a lot of good teams this year. That's fine. It'll be frustrating during the year, but we can go under the radar, then win it from outside the top 4.

The talent and athleticism is there, no doubt, question is whether he can hold up physically. I mean this both in terms of playing out a full season without tiring, and being able to compete with established AFL players. It's rare for first-year draftees to play in a premiership. Bowey and Jack Graham the only ones I can recall in recent years?

Not now, but I don't mind the idea of him playing at Casey, with the option of a mid-season draft pickup. He has some elite traits - his agility testing at the WA Combine would've had him #1 in the country.

This is great to hear, been mixed reviews so far. Hopefully it's a sign that he's a quick learner?

We'll have three White's to fit in the ruck before that.

The was very hyped about getting Howes with pick 39. In the 2021 mock drafts, Cal Twomey had us drafting him with pick 19 (where we took Van Rooyen) and ESPN had him going at 15. He was also apparently very close to debut in 2022. A forgotten man, but could be the next James Jordon. He will be important to our depth, hopefully competing with the likes of Woewodin for spots.

Yes to Turner, no to the other two. Seen only flashes of Laurie but there's nothing in him that suggests he is anything more than depth. McAdam is clearly the Melksham replacement. Happy to give Jefferson a game but only if we're playing against a struggling side and need to rest the other talls.

Melbourne is now the largest city in Australia. Any land available of the size we need is either way out in the suburbs or nowhere near public transport. Yes, the ideal sitaution would be a home base at the MCG, but it's just not feasible in the real world. IMO Caulfield is a fantastic option. As far as transport goes, obviously Caufield station is right there, 6 stops from Richmond. In the long-term future, a proposal exists for a trackless tram connecting Caulfield to Rowville via Chadstone and Monash Clayton. The first part of the suburban rail loop to open will be the SRL East, which links into the Frankston, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines.

Mine arrived last week. I quite like the 2024 scarf. The red seems better too, I still think it can be more red though - mine had a pinkish hue last year, it's better this year but still a little bit that way.

197cm at 16yo. Probably stops growing now but we might get lucky and see him get to 200cm.

How many list spots do we have left after we pick up Brown and Hore today, plus moving Melksham to the rookie list? I don't think we'll have any? Quietly hoping we could pick up Van Rooyen's younger brother as a project, but I don't think there's room.

Gee wizz this guy on the fox draft compared him to Rayner, Petracca and De Goey.

Gold Coast academy players. For example, North bid on Walter with pick 3. Walter gets drafted at pick 3 to Gold Coast, but North still has their pick, so it pushes back to 4. Two academy bids so far, so our picks slide back 2 spots.

78

Outside game and speed is what we want. Ready to play next year? Not sure.

Pick is in, it's Windsor. Welcome Caleb.

FYI the AFL website seems to be ahead. My Foxtel stream is behind by about a minute. Sanders taken at 6. https://www.afl.com.au/draft/draft-tracker

The AFL probably forces it to be that way for fake drama.

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2023/10/28/the-brother-of-demons-forward-receiving-draft-interest-from-interstate-clubs/ Article says we have spoken to him. If he attacks the ball like his brother, then he'd be worth a look as a rookie project. Hopefully has a cm or two growth left in him. I'd prefer to take a punt on SVR than keep Schache on the list for another year. No idea why we gave that contract. If Schache is playing in the AFL, even just to cover an injury, we're cooked.

That's kinda my point though. Reid could also get struck down with injury, and suddenly all of that draft capital is gone for nothing. At the end of the day AFL is a team sport. Recent flag sides have shown that you need truly elite players to win, but also need talent across every line. Three first-round picks gives us a chance to find an elite player AND strong talent to fill other roles. Pick 1 just gives us Reid who could be the next Ablett or could be the next O'Meara.

Colin Sylvia had 37 and 4 in a game once... Billings has only kicked more than two goals in a game four times. If he plays for us, he's a midfielder, not a forward.

I have been very open for years about not rating Billings at all. Has all the skills but is too inconsistent. However, he provides the depth we sorely need after the departures of Harmes, Dunstan and Jordon. Would be OK trading our future third. We need to keep pick 41.

If we trade for pick 1, there is no doubt i'll be excited to have such a talent on our list. But he is one player. Imagine he has a career like O'Meara or Rayner. We could use 6 and 11 on our next centre bounce midfielder and our Steven May replacement. Nail those picks, plus some trades or free agents in 2024/25, and perhaps our premiership window extends.

We need to develop a tall who can play at the other end of the ground in 2-4 years. Tommo is cooked, May doesn't have long to go, Petty might keep playing forward and Turner is no certainty to be a regular AFL player.