Demon_JB

Seriously, the kid is incredible. You only have to look at the way he burrows in and wins the contested footy and knows how to fire out a handball over opposition players to one of our running players into space. His awareness is on another level, not many players have that in the AFL. He is very similar to Cripps but more athletic and explosive. I love Clarry!

I back the MFC to secure Hogan and develop a great future at the club. In saying that however, I also am backing the clubs stance to not pay overs for him which we have seen in the past destroy the list of teams. Roos has said it before, you don't build a list around one player and you certainly don't throw massive overs for someone when it will throw out a disturbance through the balance of your playing list. You build a premiership side around a collective group, not just one player. The Crows are doing that with Jenkins, sticking firm with the amount they have offered him, take it or leave it policy. At the start of the year I'll admit, I hoped the club threw MASSIVE dollars at Hogan to secure him. I thought losing him would be like losing a pet, shattered and left heart-broken. I would miss Hogan undoubtedly, but after witnessing the way we are playing - I am more comfortable in our future with or without Jesse Hogan. The amount of goal kickers we had against Gold Coast was amazing, including games like North Melbourne and GWS. Look at the way top teams do this with the likes of Hawthorn and Sydney before Franklin. You don't rely on one player to kick a bag to win games. You rely on a collective core. If Hogan does request a trade, and Fremantle offer big bucks, the quality we will get in return will be just as promising and helpful for our future in developing a strong healthy list with depth who will all play a part. Go Dees.

Don't forget that Fremantle have a mountain of players to attract/retain. Fyfe is coming out of contract and set to become a RFA at years end, Cam McCarthy is pretty much a lock to go there also and they have offered Hooker a monster deal. The more wins we have on the board, the more unrealistic it will be for Freo to lure him - so they will put majority of their eggs in the Fyfe, McCarthy & Hooker basket.

I love this kid haha

Honestly guys..don't want to toot my own here but I have a pretty good eye for talent and normally call whose going to turn out to be an elite player and nail them more often than not. Clayton Oliver will be a star. Without a doubt. I have never seen a debutant coming into a fast paced afl game and having the awareness and aggression to match it with seasoned veterans. His ability to shrug players off tackling him to get his arms free to fire out a handballl is ridiculous. It's extraordinary. The only other young players I have seen do this is Patrick Cripps. Both of these guys will be A grade elite stars of the future. We absolutely nailed this pick to a tee. GO DEES

Remember when majority of people on demonland weren't happy with the fact we traded up to pick 3 to land Oliver who thought he would have fallen to us at a later pick In Taylor, we trust.

I'm not sure if anyone else noticed this, but Oliver did two things for a first year player that really really impressed me. There was an instance where he ran and collected the ball and was immediately about to get tackled. Instead of just running into a player and getting wrapped up, he picked up the ball and jumped into the tackler, forcing him to tackle below his waist. He was able to fire out a handball over the tackler to one of our players in space. Another situation he was perfectly tackled and had no chance to handball the footy. Instead of just dropping it cold like a lot of players do, he guided it to his foot and did a neat little 3metre kick from the pack to one of our players into space. It's smart quick thinking attributes like this you want to see in an inside midfield player. Can't wait to see this guy in the home & away season. Go Dees

I completely agree. Melbourne of Old would have just played it safe and drafted Parish. So glad we are drafting men now.

A lot of players are signing extensions early despite waiting out the year. Zorko just locked away for a long term deal announced today also...hmm..

Maybe us trading out our future first round was the right choice then if this does eventuate?

And have to ensure they sign on Fyfe as he is set to become a restricted free agent.

SEN reported this morning that Cale Hooker has been offered a five year lucrative deal by Fremantle to join them at seasons end.

Oliver's first game on debut he lays a strong tackle and gets reported for it. This is the stuff I like to see.

He plays nothing like McKenzie...

I just had a squizz at the Fremantle board regarding Jesse Hogan delaying contract negotiations. Majority of supporters seemed very realistic that there is a very slim to none chance Hogan will go back to WA and more likely than not sign back on with the Dees. Playing it down that he has put negotiations on hold as it was the right decision for all parties.

The guy is a monster. His number one asset as a player will be the ability to get his arms free and handball over his opponents to our team mates. Will be a contested beast.

Look... Everyone has all the right to be cynical and look at the possibility he is leaving after putting contract talks on hold. But realistically, if my manager said to me in my current place of work "Hey mate. The CEO wants to keep you in the office.. Here is 5 years for x amount. Now.. You can sign that now and stay on or see out the year and have the opportunity to make even more money and sign an extension then." I know what I'd be doing.

I actually feel sick thinking about Hogan going to anther club. We have drafted and found a genuine once in a generation star..the thought of him playing for another team haunts my sleep.

GWS went down the road of recruiting blokes from the same junior club to keep a tight bond of draftees, rather than taking those who were rated at going No.1 and 2. Consequently seeing Toumpas slide to us at 4 when realistically he should have gone higher..

Oh Billy, Billy boy.. When are you going to find, whatever it is that you are looking for..

The guy can time his leads well but also take a massive pack mark. If he gets his body right and plays consistent footy he will be a very valuable asset for us.

A few things stand out for me when watching Oliver His ability to break tackles, get his arms free and handball out of congestion over players heads His ability to take contested marks His goal kicking ability as a mid The way he stops and props and allows his opponents to be drawn to him to allow his team mate to be free so then he can fire out a handball (Think Sam Mitchell) In one game he kicked 6 as a mid, he got 30/30 for the goal kicking in the draft combine meaning he can slot them on both feet. He has all the right attributes to be a massive player for us going forward. Sure, Parish has more speed, he can play inside & out but in terms of his contested marks, goal kicking and ability to break tackles and handball over people to clear congestion Oliver is the clear winner for me here.

Drafting someone like Oliver is less of a risk than Parish. I feel given the state of us needing to draft competitors and bringing in tall big bodied mids, we will go with Clayton.

Could there be a scenario where we get Parish at 3 and Oliver at 7 and disregard a tall completely? We will have Pederson & Frost coming back from injury, with Dawes as a decoy/support. Maybe we might look at drafting two mids (one with speed and outside class) the other a bollocking inside mid and see what happens next year in the draft of the year after where we haven't traded away our future pick to get a key forward? If we get a forward in Wideman this year, I don't see him making an impact for 2+ years. Do we sit tight, draft talented midfielders who are more likely to make an impact within two years. and wait until a key forward becomes available within the next year or two via a trade or free agency?

Is it at all out of the realm of possibly we take Weideman at 3 and we take the mid that falls to us at 7 out of Mathieson, Oliver & Francis given Parish would be snapped up prior to our next live pick? Is there more upside in landing a KPF to partner with Hogan and a mid who may not be as good as Parish now in his junior years? Is the gap between Parish and the other mids that great we MUST take Darcy at 3 and miss out on a chance at getting a KPF in the draft?