Whispering_Jack

You shouldn't confuse the selections with their outcomes. At best there are in my view, about three possibilities for serious consideration at #3 and not that many more when you get to #7. A recruiter's mettle is determined by who they select with the lower picks. Of course you can fail with your selections but at the time Morton was picked, he was universally considered as a potential gun footballer. I recently saw vision of Nat Fyfe in his first game and there was a physical resemblance. Fyfe's body matured, his game developed and he turned into a champion. Morton did not. I was one of those who was thrilled that we got Toumpas and that was based not on his highlights reel but on seeing him play for SA Under 18's. I don't think he ever recovered from the two lots of hip surgery he had after those championships. On the other hand, Chris Judd had dodgy shoulders and Joel Sellwood had a bad knee. It didn't stop them. The fact is that no one can definitely predict the outcome of any particular draft selection at the time it's made.

Thanks for that.

There have been suggestions that Fremantle have hidden this kid away in order to pick him up on the cheap - Buzz about Exmouth boy

By popular demand -

Could you please run through that again?Carlton doesn't have picks 23 and 24 but it has 19. West Coast has 23 and Essendon has 24. How do the calculations work?

I can only go on what I've seen and I noticed no similarities to Jordie's disposal in Mathieson and (although I advocate judging for one's self) neither did the author of that article above who wrote:"Possibly his biggest strengths are his ability to kick multiple goals from the midfield and clean disposal by foot. " The similarity with Jordie in my view was with his discipline and courage but, as I said in my earlier post, I have a bit of viewing in front of me and I will keep a special eye out for Mathieson's decision making and disposal skills when I watch the Vic Country games. And if we're looking for a taller mid, the best I've seen on limited viewing is Mitch Hibberd from Tasmania. I know he's an outside chance for a pick at # 7 but he really impressed me playing for the All Stars on grand final day. Sadly, he won't be available at 46.

I confess that while I've retained a keen interest in this year's draft pool almost from the moment last year's drafts took place (see the opening post here and I like to read up on the opinions of the draft experts in the media, I continue to maintain that the best way to assess the players is by seeing them in action. The best way is in person but in that regard, I've seen a limited number of games this year - the two TAC Cup semi finals and an Oakleigh Chargers game I happened upon where they didn't have any records and I couldn't identify a single player (ironically, they won the premiership in the end). I did manage to tape (on Foxtel IQ) the seven Under 18 National Championship games they telecast plus the TAC Cup Grand Final and I watched some other games streamed on the AFL site (one of the U18 champs games and the grand final curtain raiser) and I hope to revisit these in the lead up to the draft. I want to add one thought about a few of the players said to be among the leading candidates to be drafted in the top 10 range. Don't necessarily take what you read as gospel. I know there are some great wraps about Charlie Curnow and how he's a 191cm forward who could potentially become a midfielder but I've seen him play and on what I saw, he's a long way from being a midfielder. Put it down to him having a bad day in a losing team (the TAC Cup semi) or not fit enough for the high pressure of a final after missing part of the season to injury but he was a long way off the pace that day. The dropped marks and poor kicking didn't remind me of the Bont or Stringer in any way, shape or form. The same can be said of Aaron Francis. He looks to be versatile and he's tall but there's no proof that he will be an AFL standard if he went into the midfield. On the other hand, given that we continue to be deficient in the midfield and we spent credits in the trade to get pick 3, I can't go past Darcy Parish for that selection. In that losing semi final, Parish might have lowered his colours on the day but he is all class and will bring the outside running quality needed to complement our once third world midfield. We have no control over what happens with the next four picks. My choice of player who I think might be around at 7 is Rhys Mathieson (ironically the first player mentioned in the post I quoted in December 2014. Here's what I wrote about them after that semi final:- UPSETS IN TAC CUP "Darcy Parish wasn't prolific but he is all class, can play inside and out has a great future in the game. His partner in crime Rhys Mathieson has great presence, works hard and can hold his head high despite his team's loss. Although they played in a losing team, I've seen enough of them in the middle for Vic Country in the Under 18 National Championships to be able to say that, along with a couple of northern academy midfielders (Mills and Hopper), they are the cream of the crop in this age group. The third of the noted Falcons Charlie Curnow had a poor day after a solid start with some early marks but his kicking let him down." Finally, the two Geelong midfielders look like they will be able to work together on and off the footy field:- Parish and Mathieson's perfect double act

Here are a few phantom draft top tens to give an indication of the thinking of the draft devotees - Callum Twomey 1. Jacob Weitering 2. Josh Schache 3. Darcy Parish 4. Aaron Francis 5. Sam Weideman 6. Charlie Curnow 7. Harley Balic 8. Wayne Milera 9. Ryan Burton 10. Darcy Tucker Knightmare 1. Jacob Weitering 2. Josh Schache 3. Darcy Parish 4. Sam Weideman 5. Aaron Francis 6. Mitch Hibberd 7. Charlie Curnow 8. Rhys Mathieson 9. Harrison McKay 10. Darcy Tucker Chris25 Phantom Draft 1. Jacob Weitering 2. Aaron Francis 3. Darcy Parish 4. Josh Schache 5. Kieran Collins 6. Ryan Burton 7. Harley Balic 8. Charlie Curnow 9. Sam Weideman 10. Darcy Tucker

Apparently Moore, like the Bulldogs' Jarrad Grant and quite a few others, was shopped around during the trade period but no takers.There are three delisted player Free Agency Periods over the next month with the first starting on Saturday 31 October and ending on Monday 9 November.

Everyone's taking about Picks 3 and 7 but really ... these selections are fairly routine. You don't need to be a genius to determine who they are likely to be - there are only about half a dozen prospects who are rightful fits for these selections and the ones chosen will be good chances to be A grade footballers (and I say that notwithstanding some of the howlers made by previous recruiters at the club over the past decade or so). The real test however, will be what happens with picks 46 and 50 which we welcomed to the club this week along with 3 and 7. These lower selections in what is described as a "shallow draft pool" will really test the mettle of our recruiting people if they are in fact utilised in an open drafting system - it's here where the really tough decisions have to be made. The first set of tough decisions comes with the final assessment of a couple of players yet to be contracted. What to do with Viv Michie and Jayden Hunt who are said to be uncontracted with less than a week to go before the end of season deadline on 30 October. There's also the possibility that the club might delist a player and pay out his contract as sometimes happens (last year Michael Evans was paid out with a year left on his contract) and then there's also the delisted free agency period to come. The end result might leave us with additional draft picks to fill and again, there is the decision to make with rookie James Harmes as to whether he is to be elevated to the primary list. That's one that shouldn't be too difficult given his late season form. Assuming we finish up with those two selections of 46 and 50 on draft day, they still won't be or feel like the picks of the past at that level because some of the picks in advance of these selections will vanish in the bidding process for academy players and father/son selections. It's been estimated that this might remove around 10 selections from ahead of our third pick making it more in the nature of a normal late second round selection around the mid 30s. And given that last year Melbourne took Alex Neal-Bullen with pick 40 and Billy Stretch at 42 under the father/son rule, picks 46 and 50 this year are not to be sneezed at.

Yes ... let's keep it that way and concentrate on the impact of this news on football and the draft.

I think the club would go for him if it could place him on the rookie list but otherwise, I don't see him as a top 50 contender which would rule him out for us in the national draft. Pity because his father was a late bloomer in that he spent a couple of seasons playing in the reserves at Hawthorn before crossing to Melbourne where he wasn't an overnight sensation.

Not mine but Knightmare's from bigfooty:- I believe that he might have a rethink about the assumed selections with Carlton and Melbourne unlikely to bid against GWS but Essendon might. This would cause some rejigging of places but not change the club selections significantly. Once those bids do start to kick in however, there will be some effect with picks in the 40s turning into 30s as the northern academy clubs make their choices.This in turn could tempt Melbourne to make some more changes in its lists to enable space for the picks currently at 46 and 50.

Highlights - it's over After several weeks of haggling, Carlton's Chris Yarran was today finally traded from Carlton to Richmond. The Blues had their hearts set on a better pick, but eventually relented, accepting pick 19 from the Tigers. James Aish got his wish to move to Collingwood, with the deal eventually being a complicated three way trade involving North Melbourne and Brisbane, as well as an exchange of several draft picks. As part of the Aish trade, North Melbourne's Ryan Bastinac got the fresh start he was after, moving to the Brisbane Lions. After several weeks of controversy, Western Bulldogs defender Michael Talia moved to Sydney in a trade lodged with just minutes to spare. Carlton made a last-minute pitch to land GWS key position player Adam Tomlinson, however, they were unsuccessful, with the Giants unwilling to let another one of their stars leave. Cam McCarthy will be playing at the Giants next season, despite his wishes to be traded to the Dockers. His manager saying that he will definitely be back again in 12 months time looking to get the trade done. EVERY TRADE COMPLETED: Matthew Suckling moves from Hawthorn to the Western Bulldogs as an unrestricted free agent. Scott Selwood moves from West Coast to Geelong as a restricted free agent. Patrick Dangerfield and pick 50 traded from Adelaide to Geelong in exchange for picks 9, 28 and player Dean Gore. Jack Redden traded from Brisbane to West Coast in exchange for pick number 17. Lachie Henderson traded from Carlton to Geelong in exchange for Carlton's first round pick in the 2016 NAB AFL Draft. Harley Bennell and pick 22 traded from Gold Coast to Fremantle in exchange for picks 16 and 35. Callum Sinclair traded from West Coast to Sydney in exchange for Lewis Jetta. Jake Melksham traded from Essendon to Melbourne in exchange for pick 25. Matthew Leuenberger moves from Brisbane to Essendon as a restricted free agent. Jed Anderson, pick 38 and pick 40 traded from Hawthorn to North Melbourne in exchange for pick 15 and pick 55. Dawson Simpson moves from Geelong to GWS as an unrestricted free agent. Curtley Hampton traded from GWS to Adelaide in exchange for Adelaide's second round pick in the 2016 NAB AFL Draft. Jacob Townsend and pick 120 traded from GWS to Richmond in exchange for pick 70. Tom Bell and pick 41 traded from Carlton to Brisbane in exchange for pick 21 and pick 60. Zac Smith traded from Gold Coast to Geelong in exchange for picks 49 and 53. Daniel Currie traded from North Melbourne to Gold Coast in exchange for pick 53. Josh Walker and Jarrad Jansen traded from Geelong to Brisbane in exchange for Brisbane's third round pick in the 2016 NAB AFL Draft. Steve Johnson traded from Geelong to GWS in exchange for GWS's fifth round pick in the 2016 NAB AFL Draft. Jonathan Giles and pick 62 traded to West Coast in exchange for pick 57. Paul Seedsman traded from Collingwood to Adelaide in exchange for pick 32. Jimmy Toumpas traded from Melbourne to Port Adelaide in exchange for pick 50 and pick 68 Jeremy Howe and pick 68 traded from Melbourne to Collingwood in exchange for Ben Kennedy and pick 32 Pick 32 traded from Melbourne to Port Adelaide in exchange for pick 29. Nathan Freeman and pick 68 traded from Collingwood to St Kilda in exchange for pick 63 and St Kilda's round two pick in the 2016 NAB AFL Draft. Charlie Dixon and pick 49 traded from Gold Coast to Port Adelaide in exchange for pick 10 and the club's round two pick in the 2016 NAB AFL Draft. Pick 31 and the club's round two pick in the 2016 NAB AFL Draft traded from Richmond to Gold Coast in exchange for pick 19. Jake Carlisle traded from Essendon to St Kilda Pick 14 traded from Sydney to St Kilda Pick 5 traded from St Kilda to Essendon Craig Bird and pick 24 traded from Sydney to Essendon Pick 23 and pick 44 traded from Essendon to Sydney Pick 3, 10 and 43 traded from Gold Coast to Melbourne in exchange for pick 6, 29 and the Melbourne's first round pick in the 2016 NAB AFL Draft. Matt Rosa traded from West Coast to Gold Coast in exchange for pick 31 Troy Menzel traded from Carlton to Adelaide in exchange for Sam Kerridge and pick 28 Pick 28, 77, 95 and Carlton's round one pick in the 2016 NAB AFL Draft traded to GWS in exchange for Lachie Plowman, Jed Lamb, Andrew Phillips, Liam Sumner and the Giants' round one pick in the 2016 NAB AFL Draft. Adam Treloar and pick 28 traded from GWS to Collingwood in exchange for pick 7, pick 65 and Collingwood's round one pick in the 2016 NAB AFL Draft. Jack Fitzpatrick traded from Melbourne to Hawthorn in exchange for pick 94. Tomas Bugg and pick 7 traded from GWS to Melbourne in exchange for pick 10, 43 and 64. Pick 55 and 58 traded from Hawthorn to GWS in exchange for pick 48. James Aish traded from Brisbane to Collingwood in exchange for pick 26 and Collingwood's round two selection in the 2016 NAB AFL Draft. Pick 34 and 53 traded from North Melbourne to Collingwood in exchange for pick 28 and pick 47. Ryan Bastinac, pick 38, pick 40 and North Melbourne's round three selection in the 2016 NAB AFL Draft traded from North Melbourne to Brisbane in exchange for pick 17 and 26. Pick 36 and 37 traded from West Coast to Sydney in exchange for pick 23. Pick 11 and the Western Bulldogs' round three selection in the 2016 NAB AFL Draft traded from the Western Bulldogs to Carlton in exchange for pick 20 and 21. Chris Yarran traded from Carlton to Richmond in exchange for pick 19. Pick 34, pick 53 and pick 63 traded from Collingwood to GWS in exchange for pick 27, pick 66, pick 77 and pick 84. Michael Talia traded from the Western Bulldogs to Sydney in exchange for pick 69 the the Western Bulldogs' fourth round pick in the 2016 NAB AFL Draft. Pick 56 and Fremantle's round two selection in the 206 NAB AFL Draft traded from Fremantle to Gold Coast in exchange for pick 35 and pick 61.

Now that the trade period is done and dusted the draft selections have changed dramatically. Hardly a pick is left at its original position:- 2015 NATIONAL DRAFT ORDER ROUND ONE 1. Carlton 2. Brisbane Lions 3. Melbourne (received from Gold Coast in an exchange of picks) 4. Essendon 5. Essendon (received from St Kilda as part of the trade for Jake Carlisle) 6. Gold Coast (received from Melbourne in an exchange of picks) 7. Melbourne (received from GWS as part of the trade for Tom Bugg; originally received by GWS from Collingwood as part of the trade for Adam Treloar) 8. Carlton (received from GWS as part of the trade for Lachie Plowman, Jed Lamb, Andrew Phillips and Liam Sumner) 9. Adelaide (received from Geelong as part of the trade for Patrick Dangerfield) 10. Greater Western Sydney (received from Melbourne as part of the trade for Tom Bugg; earlier received by Melbourne from Gold Coast in an exchange of picks, originally received by Gold Coast from Port Adelaide as part of the trade for Charlie Dixon) 11. Carlton (received from Western Bulldogs via a pick exchange) 12. Richmond 13. Adelaide 14. St Kilda (received from the Sydney Swans as part of the Jake Carlisle-Craig Bird trade) 15. Hawthorn (received from North Melbourne as part of the trade for Jed Anderson) 16. Gold Coast (received from Fremantle as part of the trade for Harley Bennell) 17. North Melbourne (received from the Brisbane Lions as part of James Aish-Ryan Bastinac deal; originally received by the Brisbane Lions from West Coast via a trade for Jack Redden) 18. Hawthorn END OF ROUND ONE 19. Carlton (received from Richmond via a trade for Chris Yarran; earlier received by Richmond from Gold Coast as part of the Charlie Dixon trade; received by Gold Coast from Greater Western Sydney via a trade in 2012; traded to the Giants by Fremantle in 2011; originally received by the Dockers as compensation for Rhys Palmer) ROUND TWO 20. Western Bulldogs (received from Carlton via a pick exchange) 21. Western Bulldogs (received from Carlton via a pick exchange; originally received by Carlton from Brisbane Lions as part of the trade for Tom Bell) 22. Fremantle (received from Gold Coast as part of the trade for Harley Bennell) 23. West Coast (received from the Sydney Swans via an exchange of picks; received from Essendon as part of the Jake Carlisle-Craig Bird trade) 24. Essendon (on-traded from the Swans as part of the deal for Jake Carlisle, originally from St Kilda) 25. Essendon (received from Melbourne as part of the trade for Jake Melksham) 26. North Melbourne (received from Collingwood as part of James Aish-Ryan Bastinac deal) 27. Collingwood (received from Greater Western Sydney via a pick exchange) 28. North Melbourne (received from Collingwood as part of James Aish-Ryan Bastinac deal; received from GWS as part of the trade for Adam Treloar; received by GWS from Carlton as part of the trade for Lachie Plowman, Jed Lamb, Andrew Phillips and Liam Sumner; received by Carlton from Adelaide as part of the trade for Troy Menzel; received by Adelaide from Geelong as part of the trade for Patrick Dangerfield) 29. Gold Coast (received from Melbourne in an exchange of picks, originally from Port Adelaide as part of the trade for Jimmy Toumpas) 30. Western Bulldogs 31. West Coast (received from Gold Coast as part of the trade for Matt Rosa; received from Richmond as part of the trade for Charlie Dixon) 32. Port Adelaide (received from Melbourne as part of a pick exchange in Jimmy Toumpas trade; originally from Adelaide) 33. Sydney Swans 34. Greater Western Sydney (received from Collingwood via a pick exchange; received from North Melbourne as part of James Aish-Ryan Bastinac trade) 35. Fremantle (received from Gold Coast via a pick exchange; originally received from Fremantle as part of the trade for Harley Bennell) 36. Sydney Swans (received from the Sydney Swans via an exchange of picks) 37. Sydney Swans (received from the Sydney Swans via an exchange of picks; originally received as compensation for losing free agent Scott Selwood) 38. Brisbane Lions (received from North Melbourne as part of James Aish-Ryan Bastinac deal; originally received from Hawthorn as part of the trade for Jed Anderson) END OF ROUND TWO 39. Brisbane Lions (received as compensation for losing free agent Matthew Leuenberger) 40. Brisbane Lions (received from North Melbourne as part of James Aish-Ryan Bastinac deal) received from Hawthorn as part of the trade for Jed Anderson; originally received by the Hawks as compensation for losing free agent Matthew Suckling) ROUND THREE 41. Brisbane Lions (received from Carlton as part of the trade for Tom Bell) 42. Brisbane Lions 43. Greater Western Sydney (received from Melbourne as part of the Tom Bugg trade; received from Gold Coast in an exchange of picks) 44. Sydney Swans (received from Essendon as part of the Jake Carlisle-Craig Bird trade) 45. St Kilda 46. Melbourne 47. North Melbourne (received from Collingwood has part of James Aish-Ryan Bastinac deal) 48. Hawthorn (received from GWS) 49. Port Adelaide (received from Gold Coast as part of the trade for Charlie Dixon; originally received by Gold Coast from Geelong as part of the trade for Zac Smith) 50. Melbourne (received from Port Adelaide as part of the trade for Jimmy Toumpas) 51. Western Bulldogs 52. Richmond 53. Greater Western Sydney (received from Collingwood via a pick exchange; earlier received from North Melbourne as part of James Aish-Ryan Bastinac trade; earlier received from Gold Coast as part of the trade for Daniel Currie; earlier received by Gold Coast as part of the trade for Zac Smith; originally received by Geelong from Adelaide as part of the trade for Patrick Dangerfield) 54. Sydney Swans 55. GWS (received from Hawthorn, originally received from North Melbourne as part of the trade for Jed Anderson) 56. Gold Coast (received from Fremantle via a pick exchange) 57. Essendon (received from West Coast as part of the trade for Jonathan Giles) 58. GWS (received from Hawthorn) ROUND FOUR 59. Carlton 60. Carlton (received from Brisbane Lions as part of the trade for Tom Bell) 61. Fremantle (received from Gold Coast via a pick exchange) 62. West Coast (received from Essendon as part of the trade for Jonathan Giles) 63. Greater Western Sydney (received from Collingwood via a pick exchange; originally received by Collingwood from St Kilda as part of the trade for Nathan Freeman) 64. Greater Western Sydney (received from Melbourne as part of the Tom Bugg trade) 65. Greater Western Sydney (received from Collingwood as part of the trade for Adam Treloar) 66. Collingwood (received from Greater Western Sydney via a pick exchange) 67. Geelong 68. St Kilda (received from Collingwood as part of the trade for Nathan Freeman, earlier received from Melbourne as part of the trade for Jeremy Howe; originally from Port Adelaide) 69. Sydney Swans (received from the Western Bulldogs as part of Michael Talia trade) 70. Greater Western Sydney (received from Richmond as part of trade for Jacob Townsend) 71. Adelaide 72. Sydney Swans 73. North Melbourne 74. Fremantle 75. West Coast 76. Hawthorn ROUND FIVE 77. Collingwood (received from Greater Western Sydney via a pick exchange; originally received from Carlton as part of the trade for Lachie Plowman, Jed Lamb, Andrew Phillips and Liam Sumner) 78. Brisbane Lions 79. Gold Coast 80. Essendon 81. St Kilda 82. Melbourne 83. Collingwood 84. Collingwood (received from Greater Western Sydney via a pick exchange) 85. Geelong 86. Port Adelaide 87. Western Bulldogs 88. Richmond 89. Adelaide 90. Sydney Swans 91. North Melbourne 92. Fremantle 93. West Coast 94. Melbourne (received from Hawthorn as part of the trade for Jack Fitzpatrick) ROUND SIX 95. Greater Western Sydney (received from Carlton as part of the trade for Lachie Plowman, Jed Lamb, Andrew Phillips and Liam Sumner) 96. Brisbane Lions 97. Gold Coast 98. Essendon 99. St Kilda 100. Melbourne 101. Collingwood 102. Greater Western Sydney 103. Geelong 104. Port Adelaide 105. Western Bulldogs 106. Richmond 107. Adelaide 108. Sydney Swans 109. North Melbourne 110. Fremantle 111. West Coast 112. Hawthorn ROUND SEVEN 113. Carlton 114. Brisbane Lions 115. Gold Coast 116. Essendon 117. St Kilda 118. Melbourne 119. Collingwood 120. Richmond (received from GWS as part of trade for Jacob Townsend) 121. Geelong 122. Port Adelaide 123. Western Bulldogs 124. Richmond 125. Adelaide 126. Sydney Swans 127. North Melbourne 128. Fremantle 129. West Coast 130. Hawthorn 2016 DRAFT SELECTIONS Adelaide - no future picks Brisbane Lions - round-two selection (received from Collingwood as part of James Aish-Ryan Bastinac trade; originally received from St Kilda via trade for Nathan Freeman); round-three selection (received from North Melbourne as part of James Aish-Ryan Bastinac trade) Carlton - round-three selection (received from the Western Bulldogs via a pick exchange) Collingwood - round-two selection Essendon - no future picks Fremantle - no future picks Geelong - round-three selection (received from Brisbane Lions via a trade for Josh Walker and Jarrad Jansen); round-five selection (received from GWS via a trade for Steve Johnson) Gold Coast - round-one selection (received from Melbourne in an exchange of picks); round-two selection (received from Richmond as part of Charlie Dixon trade); round-two selection (received from Port Adelaide as part of Charlie Dixon trade); round-two selection (received from Fremantle via a pick exchange) Greater Western Sydney - round-one selection (received from Collingwood via a trade for Adam Treloar); round-one selection (received from Carlton via a trade for Lachie Plowman, Jed Lamb, Andrew Phillips and Liam Sumner; received by Carlton from Geelong via a trade for Lachie Henderson); round-two selection (received from Adelaide via a trade for Curtly Hampton) Hawthorn - no future picks Melbourne - no future picks North Melbourne - no future picks Port Adelaide - no future picks Richmond - no future picks Sydney Swans - no future picks St Kilda - no future picks West Coast - no future picks Western Bulldogs - round-four selection (received from Carlton via a pick exchange); round-four selection (received from the Sydney Swans as part of Michael Talia trade

Highlights - Picks 3 and 7 come home to roost Jake Carlisle today finally got his wish to be a St Kilda player. The Bombers managed to also get pick 5 from the Saints for him - with the help of Sydney - who came to the table late to form a three-way trade. Despite revealing it online overnight, the Pies today secured Adam Treloar from the GWS Giants officially. The Pies had to give up both this year's and next year's first round picks to get him, but also received back pick 28 in the process. In order to get Jake Carlisle to the Saints, Sydney premiership player Craig Bird will also be traded to the Bombers. Troy Menzel was today traded to Adelaide in exchange for pick 28 and Sam Kerridge who move to the Blues. Carlton eventually secured the four youngsters from the GWS they've been after all week, with Liam Sumner, Lachie Plowman, Andrew Phillips and Jed Lamb all moving to the Blues. Matt Rosa will be a Gold Coast Suns player next season after being traded to the Suns in exchange for pick 31 which goes back to the Eagles. Gold Coast and Melbourne today executed an exchange of draft picks which saw the Demons get pick 3 in the draft, while the Suns also strengthened their position to secure local Academy Players.

Almost dejavu as far as the Saints are concerned with players recruited from Essendon although Carlisle might not be as bad as Andy Lovett.

Damn. I was hoping we would hold on to Pick 94 to trade on to Carlton for Pick 1 and a steak knife. The way they're going, it would be a definite possibility.

Apparently Josh "Superman" Mahoney will be on SEN in the next 15 to 20 minutes. I'm at dinner* so reports would be appreciated. * I could listen in on my iPhone but knowing she who must be obeyed the thing might end up in my soup

If we do pick Darcy Parish with # 3 then we owe it all to our dear friend Chris from Camberwell who, although somewhat misinformed, did raise the call for us to get him and in their own way, the recruiters at Melbourne went out and made it happen.

I believe the bookies have the Northern Blues sitting as firm favourite for the VFL premiership at this early stage.

Highlights - plenty of activity today. Charlie Dixon has officially been traded from the Gold Coast Suns to Port Adelaide in a complicated three-way trade which also involved a trading of picks with the Richmond Football Club. Collingwood's Nathan Freeman was today traded from the Pies to the Saints, with the Saints also sending next year's second round pick back to the Pies. Essendon midfielder Brent Stanton is set to finally sign a new contract with the Bombers. The contract is expected to be for one season, with a "reachable" trigger to see it extend into two. Troy Menzel's future is up in the air, with all the talk this afternoon surrounding a possible trade for the Blues' forward to the Crows. Expect that deal to get done. As part of the potential Menzel trade, it is expected Sam Kerridge will be traded from the Crows back to the Blues, as well as a second round pick. Carlton looks set to secure four youngsters from the GWS, with Liam Sumner, Lachie Plowman, Andrew Phillips and Jed Lamb all a chance to move to Victoria from Western Sydney.

Joke might be on Oxley because he was hot and cold as well after that impressive performance on QB. He might be playing on the ground formerly known as Olympic Park.

Knightmare from bigfooty I have a feeling (and I've expressed it before) that we may not be going after Prestia all that hard.

If Kennedy turns out to be the next Ablett, be it Gary Snr or Jnr, I reckon we win.