DeeMfc

This kid is uncannily like a young Dustin Fletcher. Except .......a much better kick. He along with Lever will create a wall and carve the opposition up on the rebound. Inspired drafting and a steal at this pick in my opinion.

http://m.afc.com.au/news/2014-11-26/recruiting-files-walker Take a look at the ‘circumstances’ in which Walker got to his beloved Crows.... Hypocrite of the highest order. No other team had the chance to draft him and if they did he’d be the first to request a trade to Adelaide if he had the chance. Plus the fact that there’d be no go home factor to Broken Hill anyway....

If our mids aren't lowering their eyes when delivering inside forward 50 then put TMac back to take the big forwards and slot Joel Smith in at full forward.

Let's get this thread pumping. Paging Grand New Flag - any intel?

Melksham is seriously underrated. Great skills on both sides of the body. Certainly doesn't lack pace (check the chase down tackle in this clip) He will thrive under Goody and is EXACTLY what we need off half back. We will be a 2-3 goal better team with him in it. Hibberd on the other flank and we have 2 goal kicking half backs.

Whichever way one looks at it there is no escape for young Rhys. He has openly stated numerous times that he 'models his game on Joel Selwoods'.....

This^ I agree that although Oliver has impressed a tiny bit better so far we have to take into consideration the team he has around him compared to the team Trengove did which we have the benefit of hindsight with. I really hope Trengove can pick up from where he was pre injury.

The full package. Hard as nails and oozes class. Will age like Grange Hermitage. A very rare commodity.

So does that make Jordie a 'Clayton's Clayton'?

Convinced yet Mo?

Having said that I believe the people more responsible got off very lightly......

It's all very black and white. The problem is the 'massive' grey area in between. For example (in my opinion only) the weight should bare down on the senior players mostly. They are generally responsible for the culture provided to the young up and coming players who look to them for inspiration and direction/directives. Any players who were under say 23yo(?) at the time are the the ones I feel should've received a slightly lesser penalty.

In mo64's defence he may not have seen the footage that was released closer to and after draft day. I remember watching one clip earlier in the piece that was ok but nothing really stood out as elite. Some of the later footage though had me in no doubt that Oliver was raw but unquestionably the best 'non academy' mid.

I backed Toumpas while he was a Dee but I did choose Wines in the D'land poll. I wanted Wines because he was a bull and built for Rnd 1 duties. One thing he wasn't though was elite. He just did everything with unquestionable gusto and wasn't below average at anything. Just what we needed at the time. A low risk pick with potential for high rewards.

Ok here is my 'assessment'. Leaving Olivers strength out of it, he has the best inside awareness of any kid I have seen. He doesn't need time like most to assess the situation. He has assessed the state of play 'before' he gets the ball. This cannot be taught. (See Jimmy Toumpas). He also has lightning hands so the balls is gone 'before' opponents can dispossess him. This too cannot be taught. Parish' natural football nous is unquestionable. But there are 2 things that stood out to me that had me a little concerned. 1. He was pushed off the ball 'waaay' too easily. Even by opponents who were smaller and lighter than him. 2. His ball drop was way too high. So from an AFL pressure perspective could lead to most kicks either misfiring or missing completely. The 2nd point 'may' be fixable but the 1st, very rarely. Both should have above average AFL careers but I think Oliver doesn't have any glaring deficiencies. Only upside IMHO.

Someone with good photoshop skills should put the current Demons guernsey on them both then put it up on Ollies Twitter feed. Imagine the PA fans response.....

Spot on.Even with his lack of genuine conditioning he managed to come third in the agility test. The kid is unbelievable in traffic. In fact probably the best I have seen for an 18y/o. Also came equal first (30/30) in the goal kicking test. Can't wait to see what he can produce after a couple of preseasons.

This^ I really do hope for Toumpas' sake that his career is revived at PA. He's a top bloke by all accounts. The reality is that although he looked great as a junior in SA with his skills the speed and intensity of AFL football was something he couldn't handle or transition to.

The sad case is that the 03 draft was a stinker.If you look at the players in the top 40 taken after them the only players better were David Mundy at 19 and Jed Adcock at 33. Hell, better players were taken in the rookie draft. Our own Aaron Davey at 3, Andrew Carrazzo at 2, Nathan Foley at 4 and Paul Duffield at 10.

Collins reminds me of a young Danny Hughes. Back to Weideman though, I think we would take him if he was still there at 7 as we need someone to form a long term duo with Hogan. Imagine Hogan, Weideman and a jack in the box Smith in the forward line! Question is who would we take if Weideman is gone at 7? Even though he is slated to go late first round I would take Riley Bonner from SA. Plays as a backman but IMO he will develop into the best mid from this draft.

I agree.I added the clip of Weideman talking about Collins as someone else had mentioned Collins if Weideman went before 7. Only problem is that other than Weitering and Schache, Weideman is the only other potential tall forward around the 7 mark. Although we do have Joel Smith as a tall forward addition. I think he was kept under wraps and is going to be twice the player Howe was.

Do you even know of Collins? Have you seen him play? The kid will be a gun. I was just constructively adding to the conversation and replying with information worth adding. Also Viney played in the same team as Toumpas. Collins was playing on and against Weideman. Watch the video before making flippant remarks.

On Collins. Weideman himself mentions that Collins is the hardest player he has played against.See Here -

Found it! Over to you GRRM.

Someone here mentioned they went past goschs paddock and saw Viney, Petracca and someone who looked like Daniel Mcstay all having a kick. I'll bet it was Joel Smith. Same height, weight and similar looks etc. I wonder if they could shed some more light on the subject?