H_T

Blease wore No.28 for Vic Metro.

I wonder if Brad Miller would know of Bail?

JAMES STRAUSS = BRETT LOVETT, GARY AYRES. edit: Jetta = Peter Burgoyne.

KILO WATTS!! (Jack stacks on 6 kilo's over summer...)

Pretty good Alpha, I'll throw the spanner in the works, watch this space. 1 Melbourne Casey Sibosado (NT Thunder) 2 Port Adelaide Josh Carr (Fremantle) 3 Essendon Matt De Boer (Claremont WA) 4 Carlton Chris Johnson (Melbourne) 5 Brisbane Nick Davis (Sydney) 6 Richmond Ben Cousins (Southbank, Yarra River)

Putting a positive spin on things: - "Melbourne did remarkably well out of the National Draft, securing Jack Watts at No.1. The likes of West Coast, Fremantle and Port Adelaide all had their toes, fingers and legs crossed that the Demons recruiters would have stuffed up their first selection by nominating the risky propositions of either a Naitanui, Rich, Hill or Hartlett. Not only did the Demons strike gold with Watts who is touted to be the next big star of the AFL, but they hit the jackpot in securing talented Vic Metro duo Blease and Strauss - unbelievably at picks 17 and 19. Talk about a slide and a half!!! Some recruiters had these two pencilled in at top 10. Recruiters at other clubs between picks 7 and 16 are sure to face the scrutiny from their respective members for not pouncing on these two out and out guns. The Demons are certainly smiling down at Demon Land. If that's not enough, the Demons then trumped all other AFL sides in the competition in getting Binnell, Jetta and Bail with its remaining picks in the draft before showing great composure and very smartly passing on their last pick for the PSD on Dec 16th. How intelligent are those in charge at Melbournefc must be! They beat the West Coast Eagles to the punch on 6 occassions. That's right six! Binnell and Jetta were in West Coast and Fremantles backyard. The Eagles and Dockers were smarting on their morning walk to the draft, both teams having these two draftees on high priority. Absolute steals for the Melbournefc. Reports in the West say the recruiters jobs at the Eagles and Dockers are allegedly to become under review as a direct result of the Demons snatching their targeted picks from them. All other clubs recruiters are on notice for next years draft. Barry Prendergast is now being head hunted to head up recruiting at other AFL clubs. As far as I am concerned, that would be a waste of time as the Demons have turned the corner and are looking to secure his services further, as it is seen as unfinished business and the job has just begun." - Pull the other one and it plays Jingle Bells Media Outlets.

Where's the ATO when you need it......and the ACCC.

I think we can achieve 32,000 this coming season.

STYNES: Supporters are backing our decisions

Like you say we have added Watts to the list. We have the likes of Martin, Warnock, Garland, Rivers, Frawley to deal with the physicality of the opposition players you mention. We also have McNamara, Cheney still developing. I think you seriously need to re-look at our list if you are seriously doubting our needs in the draft and who we selected.

Yes, good post DD. The end of 2010 is not that too far away really. You sound quite confident we'll be well and truly out of oblivion. I have my fingers crossed we are out of that position by then.

It would fit Straussy nicely. Straussy however, did wear no.17 in the TAC Champs.

BL Whelan Warnock Martin HB Bruce Garland Buckley CL Morton McDonald Blease HF Sylvia Miller Wonaeamirri FF Green Newton Davey Rk Jamar McLean (Capt) Jones Int PJ, Grimes, Petterd, Watts Emergencies: Strauss Bartram Bate

As far as I'm concerned, some other club can help him out. We have West now. I wouldn't want him liasing with any of the Melbourne players. Great player in his day. Its a shame its come to this. He's had 12 months to get himself right and turn himself upside down. 16 clubs ignored him in the draft, his time is up.

Today in the Age Sport section there was a half page advertisement dedicated to announcing the No.1 Draft Choice, also asking the public or 'sponsor' to come on board. The footy guernsey is plain to see minus the sponsor. Good Advertisement I thought at an opportune time for a sponsor to put their hand up!

Indeed!

Agree with Krejza. Let's see what the Perth deck will be like. Lee is safe now.

Nugget.. Sam Blease reminds me of Nigel Lappins run & carry with the Lions. Apart from looking like a Daniel Ward. He seems to have the skills to match a N.Lappin, or even a young David King from the Roos a decade ago. I think he can play tall too, unlike a Brent Harvey.

Yes he was. he was one of the players Barry thought would be in the mix close to 17. It depended on a couple of the sides picks. StKilda's, Geelongs and the Hawks.

That's for sure. A new name change: "Blease Magic" perhaps.

Bring on the Sth Africans.... Observation: NZ have the longest tail in test history.

If he can brush up on some of his kicking and handballing, he should be a hell of a find. I noticed he played on Blease for a bit in the highlights against Vic Metro. Has pace. Loves a bit of the physical contest side of things - nice hip & shoulder I observed. Will be exciting with the likes of davey and Wonna, no doubt.

Would be one of the PSD#1 favourites, that's for sure...leading goalkicker (59 goals), went to the draft camp. Could be one that trains with the Dees.

"WATTS' SURGE TURNS OFF POWER" - subheading (WITH THE GREATEST OF BLEASE)

Well done WJ. From early August, I think we all had him in the gun. Well, nearly all. Some tried to stir the pot and were persistent with the view a source had us getting Naitanui. Don't want to name any names, Goose, Y_M. Personally, I was wrapped to get Blease. From the first time I layed eyes on him in the Championships, I wanted him. However, as September and October came around he was a popular pick and I thought for sure he would get picked up between 8-14. As November came around, St.Kilda was tipped to take him. Then come draft day, Adelaide sprang a surprise and elected to draft Phil Davis, who the Hawks wanted by some reports. The second little surprise was Tom Lynch to StKilda at 13. Blease then slid to 17 after the Hawks settled on a tall in Schoenmakers, due to the Crows snaring their target in Davis. Sam Blease provides the skill, run & carry the team needs for the game plan. Pace to burn. I'm delighted. Don't get me wrong, very happy with Watts and Strauss, all the same. As well as our other draftees in Jetta, Bail and Bennell.