Whispering_Jack

It's a mere hop, step and a jump from Romsey to Craigieburn. There should be no excuses for missing Jesse Hogan's return and you'll have ample time to make it to the G for the first bounce at 3.20pm. Not many people can say they watched the Casey Scorpions and the GWS Giants in the flesh on the same day. Now, here's your big chance. If you go you can be our official correspondent because KC's a doubtful starter on account of the fact that he hasn't been able to start the Kingswood for the last few days and it's a long drive from Cranny to Craigy. The only reason I can think is that the AFL and the Bulldogs want their reserves players to watch the games the seniors team's involved in later in the day so as to give the appearance that there's actually a crowd at their game. It makes for a better look on Foxtel.

Well ... it's quite possible that Freddie might have given up on his dream of ever playing AFL but what worth would a Demonland Trade and Draft board be if his name wasn't mentioned in dispatches?

Phantom draft form guide: August update

Big Cannon a draft delight

An article on draft prospect Angus Brayshaw who played his junior footy in the South Metro Junior Football League with Hampton Rovers.

Could have fooled me.

I can't mention the player in question but it looks like he's out for the season. Knee. Will spoil the forthcoming game v GWS for some.

2014 AFL draft combine list Some of these names will be on our list in about four month's time. 2014 NAB AFL DRAFT COMBINE LIST NSW/ACT Logan Austin Belconnen Nick Coughlan Murray Bushrangers Abe Davis UNSW-Easts Tom Faul Ainslie Jeremy Finlayson Hills Eagles Isaac Heeney Cardiff Jack Hiscox Sydney Uni Brydan Hodgson Murray Bushrangers Dougal Howard Murray Bushrangers Michael Mattingly Corowa-Rutherglen Tyler Roos Sandringham Dragons Jack Steele Belconnen NORTHERN TERRITORY Nakia Cockatoo NT Thunder QUEENSLAND Harris Andrews Aspley Liam Dawson Aspley Matt Hammelmann Morningside Nick Jackson Aspley Braydon Preuss Mt Gravatt Matthew Uebergang Ipswich Lachie Weller Broadbeach SOUTH AUSTRALIA Peter Bampton Norwood Caleb Daniel South Adelaide Sam Durdin West Adelaide Brett Eddy South Adelaide Josh Glenn Central Districts Dean Gore Sturt Cory Gregson Glenelg Declan Hamilton Port Adelaide Oleg Markov North Adelaide Alex Neal-Bullen Glenelg Keenan Ramsey Port Adelaide Tom Read Sturt James Rose Sturt Billy Stretch Glenelg Harrison Wigg North Adelaide TASMANIA Josh McGuinness Lauderdale VIC COUNTRY Daniel Butler North Ballarat Rebels Christian Buykx-Smith Gippsland Power Daniel Capiron Dandenong Stingrays Zaine Cordy Geelong Falcons Jordan Cunico Gippsland Power Nathan Drummond Murray Bushrangers Hugh Goddard Geelong Falcons Daniel Howe Murray Bushrangers Tom Lamb Dandenong Stingrays Jack Lonie Dandenong Stingrays Caleb Marchbank Murray Bushrangers Rowan Marshall North Ballarat Rebels Patrick McCartin Geelong Falcons Jaden McGrath Bendigo Pioneers Jackson Nelson Geelong Falcons Lukas Webb Gippsland Power VIC METRO Paul Ahern Calder Cannons Angus Brayshaw Sandringham Dragons Jason Castagna Northern Knights Damien Cavka Calder Cannons Josh Clayton Sandringham Dragons Jordan De Goey Oakleigh Chargers Harry Dear Sandringham Dragons Liam Duggan Western Jets Corey Ellis Western Jets Matthew Goodyear Calder Cannons Billy Gowers Oakleigh Chargers Ed Langdon Sandringham Dragons Kyle Langford Northern Knights Jayden Laverde Western Jets Jake Lever Calder Cannons Brayden Maynard Sandringham Dragons Daniel McKenzie Oakleigh Chargers Reece McKenzie Northern Knights Connor Menadue Western Jets Touk Miller Calder Cannons Darcy Moore Oakleigh Chargers Daniel Nielson Eastern Ranges Brenton Payne Western Jets Christian Petracca Eastern Ranges Marc Pittonet Oakleigh Chargers Ed Vickers-Willis Sandringham Dragons Dillon Viojo-Rainbow Western Jets Peter Wright Calder Cannons WESTERN AUSTRALIA Aidan Anderson Swan Districts Connor Blakely Swan Districts Jack Cripps East Fremantle Josh Deluca Subiaco Billy Frampton South Fremantle Jarrod Garlett South Fremantle Tyler Keitel East Perth Mitch McGovern Claremont Jermaine Miller-Lewis South Fremantle Jarrod Pickett South Fremantle Clem Smith Perth Francis Watson Claremont INTERNATIONAL Marvin Baynham USA Paddy Brophy Ireland Evan Bruinsma USA Connor McKenna Ireland

Terry Wallace did some minor re-jigging of his TAC FUTURE STARS Rolling Draft in today's programme:- 1. St. Kilda Patrick McCartin 2. Melbourne Christian Petracca 3. GWS Giants Peter Wright 4. Brisbane Angus Brayshaw 5. Western Bulldogs Sam Durdin 6. Carlton Paul Ahern 7. Richmond Liam Duggan 8. West Coast Jayden Laverde 9. Adelaide Caleb Marchbank 10. Gold Coast Jarrod Pickett

This was TAC FUTURE STARS Rolling Draft from today's programme:- 1. St. Kilda Patrick McCartin 2. Brisbane Christian Petracca 3. Melbourne Angus Brayshaw 4. GWS Giants Peter Wright 5. Western Bulldogs Sam Durdin 6. Carlton Paul Ahern 7. Richmond Jarrod Pickett 8. West Coast Jayden Laverde 9. Adelaide Liam Duggan 10. Gold Coast Caleb Marchbank

Durdin a draft diamond

Vic Metro coach praises TAC Cup coaches for producing another talented group of AFL hopefuls

Actually Bob. I don't think Jack Trengove's testing serves your argument very well here at all because if Petracca and Brayshaw test as well for their endurance, they would be definite shoe ins in terms of their ability as footballers to run in games.Also, one of the last players I recall whose style was criticised for relying on power at under age level was Ollie Wines. I believe there are some around Demonland who may have regrets that we overlooked him. Of course, it works both ways because others knocked Jackson McRae because he was a virtual unknown in junior circles and people had no idea about his stamina. Although physical testing remains important, there are other tests you need to apply and that is whether a kid can actually play football. I think we finally now have recruiters who can discern that a lot better than the mug who had the job a few years ago.

As far as Petracca is concerned, my information is that he ticks all the boxes except endurance running which he's tested at about average in the past. I'm told he's been making a very determined effort to improve his tank and I suppose the testing at the Draft Camp or whatever it's called these days will give us a good indication. What I like though is that he obviously has a desire to improve himself and to work very hard to get there. As for Brayshaw, one of my contacts at the Sandringham Dragons has compared him favourably with Ollie Wines saying he's similar on a number of levels but has silkier skills. Interestingly, Brayshaw was among the best for the Dragons today while Billy Stretch did likewise yesterday at Glenelg in the SANFL.

It's interesting to see that McCartin kicked 7 goals and Petracca 5 for their respective TAC Cup sides yesterday. Both made their teams' best player list in their first games back after the Under 18 championships. Goddard was among the best for the Geelong Falcons too. Yes, we did well with the Tyson/Pick 9 deal but I'm wondering why so many people are quick to shun the potential top five picks when we're crying out for star quality players? Despite the examples of the odd failure here and there, the stats show that you're more likely to pick up an elite player with a top 10 pick than with picks 11 to 20. If we trade out of a top 3 or 4 pick this time it's going to have to be a super deal as far as I'm concerned.

Sam Durdin

Have you considered that there's no guarantee yet that we won't be one of the teams with a top 2 pick?

I've been watching this kid and the more I see, the more I like ~ Eastern Ranges star Christian Petracca is leaving nothing standing in his path on the way to success.

An innovation you might wish to suggest on your return to the management of the Gat?

Mitch Marsh scored a double century for Australia A v India A yesterday combining with young wicket keeper Sam Whiteman (174) to help get their team out of trouble. These blokes could be on the test scene in the not too distant future.

I really don't care what's politically unpalatable. I'm more concerned with my club's self-interest which involves securing draft assistance based on an existing rule under which it's arguable that we qualify. I'm suggesting we go for an end first round draft pick, say #20 which is where Nathan Fyfe was drafted in 2009 (we had 4 picks before it and only two of those players are still with us, one of who hasn't played this year, the other, two games). We need star players desperately and Fyfe is a star so self-interest tells me we should go for it and not worry about whether something's politically unpalatable. Bartlett and Jackson owe us a duty of care to try to assemble the best list and if it potentially means we improve out chances of getting a star, then I say "go for it". Has any other club in the history of the game knocked back an opportunity for this sort of assistance?

There's an obvious reason why no money arrived. After you asked for it you wrote "stop", so he stopped.

The problem with that is that we will probably need to keep 21 or whatever aside for Billy Stretch under the f/s rule. Hence, why I maintain that we should apply for draft assistance for which any other club would be entitled based on our record over the past eight seasons*. If we ask for it and beg nicely we might be given a pick at the end of the first round of the draft which brings a Tyson-like trade back into play. Otherwise we would have to trade out another good player which is unlikely because we simply don't have that sort of trade material. In a way it's a pity we haven't given the likes of Blease, Strauss and Tapscott the opportunity to prove themselves on the big stage.* if we win more than three games out of the remaining seven we might have to have a rethink.

Thanks Goodoil. It's going to be another interesting period for the club. I never thought back 3 or 4 years ago that we'd be dealing in such early draft picks but that's life.

Also on Future Stars, Terry Wallace went with his Rolling Draft but based it purely on players available and not on what teams in particular positions might have as needs. He has Petracca (the Larke Medallist who polled in every game he played) as his number 1. 1. Christian Petracca 2. Darcy Moore 3. Isaac Heeney 4. Paul Ahern 5. Angus Brayshaw 6. Patrick McCartin 7. Sam Durdin 8. Caleb Marchbank 9. Peter Wright 10. Jake Lever