whatwhat say what

MELBOURNE'S new recruiting manager Jason Taylor is rapt the Demons have secured promising New Zealander Maia Westrupp on an international scholarship Dees' new recruiting manager signs Kiwi prospect

the second half of his season in 2012 was outstanding - he played the sort of football that earned him the early accolades that he earned at melbourne. be interesting to see whether he can recapture it across a full season.

Good grief. Remember when he was seen as the sensible one and Sylvia as the loose cannon?

What time?

Unless our first pick is #1! (Better not be.)

These figures are appalling.

Would love him at the Dees. He's a gem of a player.

Along with a host of others he's a player we NEED to be a star. His attitude is first rate, just a matter of getting his footy to match.

Amazing report all, I can almost smell the linament! I'm pretty pessimistic about our year ahead, but threads like this are just gold.

The role he played last year prior to his ankle knack reminded me of Andrew Mackie from the Cats. Mackie is a damaging user of the ball who doesn't shirk his defensive responsibilities and yet also pushes forward at times to be an offensive threat. If Watts can be our version of that he'll be a very handy player to have in the side.

Which commentator was it that was screaming for him to be played down back a few years ago? I know Malthouse said it in 2012 but I seem to recall someone saying it back in 2010 or so.

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I still think Scully will end up a star. He was rated the clear standout of his draft year for a reason.

Neeld has thus far shown a preference for a back 7 with one extra pushing back when possession is lost in the forward half. It's the classic Collingwood under Malthouse structure. I'd expect Frawley, McDonald and Watts to be certainties, Dunn and Garland likely, alongside Strauss and Nicholson also there as the 'smalls'. Watts is likely to play that too - think of him matching up on Greene, Swan etc last year - but he got turned inside-out a bit too much for my liking and had goals kicked on him. I prefer Garland in that sort of role, he matches up well on the likes of Milne and other dedicated small forwards. It's definitely going to be interesting to see how it all comes together down back in 2013.

Denham is off his rocker - North offered their second round pick for Ben Jacobs from Port Adelaide in the first week and when the deal didn't materialise in the first fortnight of trade month, they were never going to use it on Watts - it was effectively 'set aside' for Jacobs. Typical from that journo really, he's notorious for just making stuff up. Watts needs to work a lot harder with and without the ball, on the field and off. He had the skills but his desire to be a great rather than very good AFL player is my biggest query with him.

That's Billings I'd wager. Looks like he'll be a star.

Very interesting take on it.

kicks: grimes handballs: jones disposals: grimes tackles: mckenzie marks: howe goals: dawes

Read it on BPL earlier today - top work.

Age story: http://m.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/dees-charges-revealed-20130107-2ccw7.html Dees charges revealed Etc.

Boys will be boys? Idiots will be idiots, bogans will be bogans, discipline will be metered out!

I still think there will be punishment for the club in some way shape or form. The timing seems extraordinarily cynical but right in keeping with the AFL's modus operandi - it'll be designed to steal headlines from the tennis.

don't suppose you asked him whether he's expecting to be more a permanent piece of the midfield puzzle in 2013?

Saw Boyd, Billings and Aish this year - I actually thought Billings was the one with the most absolute class. He looked a gem. Boyd has all the hallmarks of a #1 pick about him - that classic big unit that can dominate a forward line.

very interesting that anderson is going this next week. the investigation must be over. results in february i'd guess.