John Dee

I think you'll find that we are in complete agreement, Rhino. PJ does not have the attributes to be a #1 ruckman, however, he does have serious football gifts and is well worth his place in the side as a second ruck/midfielder. Jamar and Meeson are VFL material and Spencer, although raw and a year or so away, has surpassed them both. We will have to put up with Jamar as first ruck next year, which is a worry.

Discount Spencer at your peril; he has all the attributes to the goods. Jamar and Meeson are servicable at best and will need to really show something to survive; PJ is a very good second ruck and we need somebody to step up as a tap ruckman - my bet is Spencer.

I don't think the AFL will object. It will further increase the publicity and the anticipation for the event. Their only proviso should be that it is referred to as the NAB National Draft at all times.

I just heard KB talking to Campbell Rose on SEN; Scott West is at Melbourne next year.

Martin is being groomed as a tall defender to combat the Franklin like skyscrapers that look like populating forward lines in our current stage of evolution; Spencer has big raps on him as a ruckman/midfielder. Martin played in the ruck a few times at Sandy owing to him being the tallest option available; this has led to a lot of pundits describing him as a ruckman. They seem to not notice that he played in a key defence position any time Jamar/PJ/Spencer was available. Martin to solidify a key defensive position. Spencer to be promoted to replace Jamar.

Safely stored under the stairs at home is Robbie the red and blue teddy bear; I bought him for ny son when he was born and he passed him on to his sister. Both my kids are devoted demons; like they had a choice.

Check out the key dates thread that is pinned at the top of this forum.

The second list lodgement has to be done by all clubs by 1400 today.

I went to the Melbourne/North game and took my own seat as I had seen the mound on the other side of the ground when the ABC showed a VFL game there. No problem with the view at all. However, the toilet facilities need serious upgrade.

Usually this is the case as precocious 16 year olds make the state teams for the first time and are drafted high up.; look at Cotchin, Morton and Watts. Next year the landscape will change somewhat in that clubs will no longer be allowed to draft 17 year olds born in the months January, February, March or April; Gold Coast will be allowed to nab 10, I think, of them as the first of their concessions. With this in mind, it is probable that Butcher and Scully will still be considered top draft picks next year.

Whelan, Garland, Warnock Petterd, Martin, Rivers Wheatley, McLean, Morton Bruce, Miller, Green Wonaeamirri, Bate, Maric Jamar, McDonald, Jones Johnson, Grimes, Davey, Buckley The real problem is first ruck, we need somebody to stand up; Spencer?

This begs the question; what you are implying is that we are unsatisfied with Bailey. After one year in the job, and having made no great gaffes, why would we consider that he is doing a bad job?

That's because the VFL are not allowed to play any AFL listed players in representative matches. Most VFL sides have 10-15 AFL listed players playing in any given round thus increasing the standard dramatically.

No cricket on either, goal posts on both all year round.

GC are only allowed to preselect 12 17 year olds next year; clubs will also not be allowed to draft 17 year olds. Any player who is eligable to go into this years draft will be over 17 next year and beyond GC's grasp.

He turned 19 yesterday; I hope we don't have to wait four years.

Watts, 195.8, 17, 7th repeat 20M sprints at 25.44s; winner 24.82s, 2nd agility at 8.03s; winner 7.77s (new record), 5th standing vertical jump at 70cm; winner 78cm, 2nd 20M sprint at 2.82s (3rd fastest ever); winner 2.80s. #1 Pick - End of story.

In 2009, GC17 have the capicity to sign 12 players born from January to April 1992. This means that the 2010 draft is a real bust; the 2009 draft is still reasonably OK.

Lighten up. Oh, sorry, was that in poor taste.

My information is that we rated Cotchin as the standout and had Morton at two, Kruezer at four or five and Masten at seven or eight. We rated Grimes very highly and if Cotchin, Morton, and Kreuzer or the other guy I can't remember had gone by pick four, we would have very likely chosen Grimes. The slows on him regarding his injuries, stress fractures in his back, scared of a lot of other clubs ans he was still there at 14. We then got Maric at 21?, some one else that we rated very highly. That was why a lot of good judges were saying after the draft that Melbourne was the club that had done by far the best out of the draft. Time will tell, but things are looking good.

I agree that when Bell has a target he kicks to it, more often than not hitting the target. I also agree that the midfielders/forwards are at fault for not presenting a target. The problem is that when the target is not there, standing on the spot like a stunned mullet is not the answer; he should swivel, and pass laterallly or back so that the situation can be re-evaluated and a switch considered. This would also give him the added field of view of what was behind him. Whatever, just keep moving; if all else fails - kick it to the boundary side of an upfield contest.

His basic problem is that he does not appear to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time. Too often he gets the ball then breaks into space and stops, looking for a target upfield. When this target does not materialise, he just stands there like a stunned mullet and is invariably caught cold.

Without over analysing, and looking through rose-coloured glasses, I would imagine that the clubs are not wanting to get their announcements caught up with, and overshadowed by, all of the hoopla surrounding the Grand Final; look for an announcement in a week or so.

A part of me is hoping that we draft Steele Sidebottom; what a name for a footballer!

I for one hope that VCAT get all they deserve over this. I understand that the council did not approve the development and that VCAT overrode them, as VCAT is want to do. I have been involved in a VCAT dispute, which the developer won. I don't know of too many that the developer has lost. The legal counsel from the council told us, informally, before the hearing started that we didn't have a chance, and boy was she right. Three days of enduring the supercillios attitude of the "judge" did not improve matters.