Whispering_Jack

With the trade period out of the way, the next five weeks will see more discussion on the prospects in the forthcoming draft. The Herald Sun has kicked off with Gary Buckenara's top 30 - Recruiter Gary Buckenara names his top 30 draft prospects for 2017 AFL draft The top selections are well out of Melbourne's reach but here's the player who Bucky thinks will fall at the club's first selection # 29:- 29. JACK PETRUCCELLE Half back/half forward, 184cm, 73kg, Northern Knights/Vic Metro Buckenara says: Petruccelle is one of the most exciting prospects in this draft because of his potential. A former basketballer who took up footy in his mid-teens, he is a bit raw at the moment in terms of his footy knowledge but has some special traits clubs will love. He runs 20 metres over 2.82 seconds and that speed, plus his athleticism is certain to see him be the star of the draft combine. Petruccelle loves to take the game on from half back and half forward when he plays there — he tries to make things happen and can do that because he’s powerful and has great breakaway speed. He needs to find more of the football, tidy up his kicking and get more involved in games consistently because there are times he struggles to get into the action, which was the case during the championships. But when he kicked five goals for the Knights earlier this year, that showed exactly what he’s capable of with development in an AFL system. There is big upside. Plays like: Nakia Cockatoo Clubs suited: All clubs Apart from anything else, after recent player movements, the club is crying out for another player named "Jack" - an outside speedster who can kick goals would be handy too!

The first of the true phantom drafts thanks to Matt Balmer at AFL Draft Central. The Demons don't enter into proceedings until the middle part of the second round of the draft so the recruiting team has its work cut out for it. Here's Balmer's take on who we might pick ~ "Pick 29: Melbourne – A small forward or classy outside ball user would likely appear to the Dees. Ryley Stoddart, Matt Ling and Lochie O’Brien are three such classy outside midfielders/half back flanks. If they’re looking for a small forward, Dylan Moore and Charlie Spargo are two second round prospects that they could consider. The Demons also have Pick 31 and 36." My information is that the bolded trio might just be a tad out of reach for the MFC at #29. O'Brien in particular is a likely top 20 pick.

Knightmare's AFL Draft Power Rankings: October

I'm going to leave it to you all to argue the toss about whether we paid overs or unders. It's not relevant to me because we have finally secured a highly credentialled player who we were interested in getting some three to four years ago and who is going to fit perfectly into our line up. That's what trading and drafting is all about. In the meantime, I'm going to re-read The Draftees: How Five Boys Made it to the AFL National Draft The book's blurb " Meet Jake Lever, Peter Wright, Isaac Heeney, Tom Lamb and Clem Smith. In 2015, they played their first game. In years to come, they could become stars. But first they had to be drafted to a club."

Jack Viney would like that.

This one's always a good read from SEN/Inside Football. Brett Anderson's Big Board 2.0 Sadly (in one way), after whetting the appetite on some of the talent, its highly likely that the Demons might not figure in the draft at this level at all if, as expected, they offload their early picks to secure Jake Lever.

Was he allowed in to Freo's b & f last night?

Any chance you blokes can stay on topic?

So the situation is that Jake Lever has probably missed out on a top 10 placing in the Crows' B & F after finishing in 15th place last year and they're asking for a first round draft pick or two just like that?

Not such a big deal about Lever not turning up to the Crows B&F. At least he turned up for the Grand Final which is more than you can say about Tex.

My guess is that he won't be winning their club champion award tonight.

One of those Irish prospects Cillian McDaid has been impressive this week with his foot skills and athleticism and has attracted the interest of Essendon and Carlton. At this stage, no reports of any interest from the MFC in renewing what was once called "the Irish experiment".

Yes, great minds and all that.

The recently retired former Demon and Crow Scott Thompson would like to say "hello" to everybody.

North Adelaide youngster Jack Graham was drafted last November at pick 53. Last year's Larke Medalist, Graham took a while to get going at Tigerland but he's now a premiership player. Here are the scouting notes from the SANFL U18 Grand Final.

This is for next year actually - Exciting Rankine named best afield in 2017 NAB AFL Under 17 All Stars game

Terry Wallace finished off the season with his Future Stars top 20 potential draftees 1. Luke Davies-Uniacke 187cm 85kg Mid Dandenong/Haileybury 2. Paddy Dow 184cm 78kg Bendigo/Geelong Grammar 3. Cam Rayner 187cm 88kg Mid Western Jets/PEGS 4. Adam Cerra 186cm 85kg Mid Eastern Ranges/Wesley 5. Jaidyn Stephenson189cm 75kg Mid Eastern Ranges 6. Jarrod Brander 195cm 83kg Fwd Bendigo/Geelong Grammar 7. Darcy Fogarty 192cm 88kg Mid/Fwd Glenelg SA 8. Hunter Clark 186cm 79kg Half back Dandenong/Padua 9. Nick Coffield 190cm 83kg Half back Northern Knights 10. Andrew Brayshaw 183cm 80kg Mid Sandringham/Haileybury 11. Aaron Naughton 194cm 84kg Key Def Peel Thunder 12. Lochie O'Brien 184cm 75kg Mid Bendigo/Geelong Grammar 13. Jack Higgins 178cm 78kg Mid Oakleigh 14. Sam Hayes 203cm 93kg Ruck Eastern Ranges/Rowville 15. Patrick Naish 180cm 67kg Fwd Northern Knights/Ivanhoe 16. Oscar Allen 191cm 83kg Fwd West Perth WA 17. Jordan Houlahan 185cm 78kg Fwd Sturt SA 18. Connor Ballenden 199cm 95kg Fwd/Ruck Lions Academy 19. Lachie Fogarty 179cm 75kg Mid Western Jets/St Kevins 20. Ed Richards 184cm 77kg Def Oakleigh/Carey

Once upon a time, the Melbourne Football Club led the push to recruit players from Ireland but we haven't recruited from there for a decade and a half. Have we given it up? There was an Irishman, a Sherrin, and an AFL dream

Quiet here for a few days but I'm tipping there'll be some joy on this thread with the demise of the unmentionable for the second year in a row.

You never know. We might trade for some club's 2018 #1 pick and gain a bonanza if that club finishes down the ladder.

Jack Lukosius turned 17 in August and is not eligible for this year's draft ... but wait until this time next year. The 194cm South Australian key forward prospect starred in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships and last week kicked four goals on debut in a SANFL final for Woodville-West Torrens. I thought I'd go early with a thread on him because every AFL club is going to want this kid on their list

The Thai place. Reputation for being on the cheap side so if we want to attract classy people to the feast like BBO, Biffen and your good self OD, we have to take that step up and provide a classier venue. Now that the Gat's been sold and all but forgotten, I don't suppose it's once sumptuous dining facilities are available?

Seeing that Mr. Redleg appears not to be engaged in one of our courtrooms today, perhaps it's time to start organising our now biannual post season dinner. As reported recently, Wongs of Elsternwick have closed their doors after almost 60 years but a new Chinese food establishment has opened in its place Yuchu. Could you chew that over and start organising please?

Matt Balmer's 2017 AFL Draft: September Power Rankings

Yes ... well and truly. He's been eligible for the last 2 or 3 drafts and overlooked every time.