Mondê

Why wouldn't Ablett play?

Awful deal. Second rounders are underrated. What are we playing at?

Dodoro on why Cooney chose the Dons: ""It was his relationship with James Hird." but, more importantly..."Our indoor facility was something Adam was really impressed with because of the sponginess of the floor."

kennedy

Even so, that's operating under the assumption they even want both talls. Yes Patton is out for the year but they still have pretty handy KPF's in Cameron and Tomlinson

The difference between McCartin and Wright isn't worth trading a very good player for 'steak knives'

Why would GWS give up a very good player for a one pick upgrade when the guy they want will be gone at pick 1?

Why sad dd? The transformation of the list is a long term proposition not a short term fix. I for one am excited that this upcoming crop of draftees are going to have a seriously good mentor in Roos to show them the ropes in their first and second years. All the players crucified on these forums over the past few years are being weeded out, minus a couple. It's nothing but positive steps for mine

He personifies everything I have grown frustrated with about the club since 2000. Inconsistent and a generally displays an unforgiveable lack of intensity around the contest. Trade him and draft a player who attacks the footy and the man

I feel really uneasy about this, simply because Jack has been a beacon of loyalty through some really rough times. He seems like a cracking bloke. However, from a list management point of view I can see the angle, especially if they are in talks with a third party about potentially packaging 3 + 12. Jack's performances have been largely underwhelming considering the hype that was surrounding him as an U/18. Until we know the complete picture I will reserve my judgement...

Agreed re. the one paced midfield. Hypothetically, if we were to downgrade to a pick around 6 would we entertain taking Jarrod Pickett? Talk about adding zip this guy is about as dynamic as they come. High risk, high reward situation which we probably can't afford at this stage. Interesting nonetheless

Not for a second saying Dahlhaus is worth the 3 spot downgrade, but size is perennially overrated. A good footballer is a good footballer.

Aware that it's now quite common knowledge that we will take Angus with either our 2nd or 3rd pick. Just thought I'd put my two bobs in. Been lucky enough to be employed in an environment which gets me quite familiar with the recruiting side of AFL, watching a lot of TAC, VFL and NEAFL. Having keenly followed Brayshaw this year knowing that we would be up around the mark again, I can comfortably say that this kid is the best pure mid of the draft by quite a stretch. Watched Eastern v Sandy late in the year where both Petracca and Brayshaw were playing, and even better were matched up on one another for about 60% of the match - Brayshaw won the battle, not hands down, but wore Petracca into the ground over the duration of the match with a work rate I've only seen in one other kid before and that kid is Joel Selwood. Absolutely elite disposal on both sides of his body (both hands and kicking), much like Sam Mitchell where you really are bemused as to what his preferred side is. Clean hands and a freakish ability to be where the ball is after the initial ruck contest. I think we are going to get an absolute gem in Brayshaw and I will be keen to see if we can develop him into the player I know he's capable of becoming over the next few years. Go Dees.

Agree, the proposed trade didn't sit well with me. Pick 2 is a shot at a Cotchin type midfield star, Bugg and Buntine are role players. Pick 9 is hit and miss.

I work for CD as a casual employee capturing stats over the footy season weekends, but have contact with full time staff who write the AFL prospectus and write up the draft profiles. Post draft profiling, the general consensus was that Aish's contested possession numbers were a clone of the aforementioned players (Morton, Gaff, Toumpas, Lucas) all of whom struggled, or are struggling, to find their feet in the AFL. For numbers similar to this, take a look at the prospectus facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AFLProspectus

master - those numbers are strictly from his junior career + U/18 champs. CD don't capture SANFL stats, I would imagine his contested possession rate would be even lower in SANFL as, like you said, he would be playing a more outside role.

I will be highly disappointed if we waste another top 5 pick on an outside player. I believe you should all have a close look at the numbers captured by Champion Data over James Aish's junior career regarding his contested possession rate %, and it ain't pretty. We have him ranked 8th in the draft, with Kelly at 2. When questioned as to why they had him slipping outside the top 5 their response was damning: "Think Aish is a good player and a good user of the ball but we have looked at the correlation between low contested possession rate as a junior and eventual AFL output and if you're too 'outside' as a junior you will struggle to find the same amount of ball at AFL level. His CP rate falls in the same bracket as Cale Morton, Kane Lucas, Jimmy Toumpas and Andrew Gaff." For the record, I have wanted Kelly at the Dees since mid way through this year after covering some of his games for CD in the championships...poised and tough, can find the ball inside, as well as spread and use it outside. He's exactly what we need and don't be surprised if we go down the Kelly path on draft day.

Couldn't agree more DZ. Morton is as soft as they come, a deer in the headlights and a terrible decision maker with ball in hand. Martin is athletic but has terrible skills, Pedersen will fill the same role in the team but has clean hands and actually knows how to kick. A more natural footballer. Gysberts was lazy, one paced, and has no penetration in his kicking. Easily replaced by Viney and whichever midfielder we snare at 4. Also, frees up the number 5! I'm bloody happy with these trades, anybody who has watched the team play week in week out over the past 4 years should feel the exact same way. Go Dees

Oh ok in that case yes Toy would slot nicely into that backline, especially if Rivers decides to leave... And I am also a little bit sceptical about pick 13 for Caddy, but I saw quite a bit of him as a junior and he was just a wrecking ball clearance machine. Obviously that hasn't translated into the AFL yet but he is only 20!

Just a couple of points, Caddy is a tough inside midfielder not a backman, GC will want nothing less than a first rounder for him so pick 30-50 will not suffice...I agree we have yet to see him at his best - maybe due to the homesickness and adjusting to a different lifestyle. Could flourish in Victoria so personally I would be willing to part ways with pick 13.

Contract negotiations with Port reported to have hit a stalemate. Hard at it Victorian midfielder, who at 23 years of age is in the perfect age bracket to be a leader within a developing list such as ours. Definitely going to have the means to get a trade done, would really like to see us have a crack at him.

Is it our development of players? How would our top draft picks be fairing at a powerhouse such as Collingwood, West Coast, or even Hawthorn? I'm getting fed up with our alleged next generation rotting in the reserves every year. Morton, Cook, McDonald, Tapscott etc. I realise a couple of these boys are recovering from injury but gee its time to get games into these guys rather than guys like Joel Macdonald who has peaked as an average AFL player. Jackson Paine a raw 18 year old kid played on Friday night for the pies and had an impact up forward, why is Lucas Cook yet to get a game? I just don't understand where the improvement is supposed to come from. Tynan had a crack on Saturday. The faster we get these kinda guys up to 50+ games the better. I was willing to cop some beltings during the Bailey rebuild of 2007 and 2008 and I am willing again this year, as long as the young draftees get the nod to learn Neeld's way as quickly as possible ahead of consistently underperforming average senior players.

I think the Neeld connection, along with the extra money and draft picks left from the Scully departure gives us a significant chance of landing Chris Dawes or someone of his ilk. What would we be willing to give up for him, or would we rather go all out after Jaeger O'Meara? I like Dawes, but think his success is a bi-product of a brilliant midfield...which we don't exactly possess. I would prefer the club to get the midfield right first before they invest so much in a key forward. Thoughts? DAWES A WANTED MAN

Would we be willing to trade our 2 compo picks for Jaeger? It would end up being Scully for Jaeger, which from all reports would be a fair trade. The expansion clubs place a premium on compo picks as they know they will be bottom four for the initial years. I think this trade would be a win/win.

1) Vomit 2) What's with the love fest for Rohan? Injury plagued and largely unproven 3) Who?