Lord Travis

Thank god. We have our next star FF/CHF here :D

Even though he is a number 1 pick, we need to remember he is 17 and doing year 12 next year, so we shouldnt expect anything out of him. Hopefully he can just train well and injury free, Get some good experience against men in VFL, become part of the club and good mates with the team, and put on some size in the gym.

Then 2010 and beyond hopefully he will be in the 22 for good!

Welcome to the club Jack

On a side note, Hamish Hartlett is going to be a star, and is my pick for best player of this draft. He just does everything a mid should do perfectly IMO.

That would be a sensational draft for us. Pretty much exactly what I'd hoped for personally. Watts the KP forward, Blease the outside pace and skill, and Schoenmakers a second KP forward/third tall.

I'm still not sure whether Schoenmakers will be a KP forward yet, as he plays smaller and isnt very physical. He plays a more lead up forward very similar to Bate sort of? Wouldnt mind Mckernan instead possibly, but hey I wouldnt be complaining at all if that draft came to fruition tomorrow morning :D

Throw in another mid or a ruck at 35 and it will be another strong step forward in rebuilding our team.

One problem though, and pardon the pun, but Rich slipping to 11 is abit rich... The guy is seriously talented and I doubt clubs like Brisbane and North would overlook him if he dropped to them.

I've read I think on this forum that Swift and Morton are best friends? Any truth to that?

You read right. I posted this nearly 2 months ago.

Also, not that it should make much difference, but he is pretty much best friends with Cale Morton. Cale missed part of the end of year trip to stop in to Perth and see his friends (Swift). So they would want to stay together at the club, killing any go home factor if there was one.

I know Cales brothers (and possibly parents now?) are here in Victoria, so there is no go home factor there. But if there was for Swift, him being best mates with Cale would help to kill that off you would think?

I really hope we get Swift at 17. From all reports he tested well at draft camp, and the doctors tests came back positive, so I'm frankly surprised he's listed that low in the Phantom Draft. If we took him and it worked out, it would be a steal. This kid, had he not been injured, could have gone #1 or at least top 5. He has immense talent.

Take a tall like Mckernan or Shoenmakers at 19. Throw in a Strauss or one of the other second tier mids likely to be around at 35, maybe a ruckman, and that would be a very good draft for us. Would go a fair way towards helping the rebuild. Still more work to be done, but that would be a great start!

It'd sound like a Wrestlemania Tag Team Combination - Brockkkkkkk McLeannnnnnnn & Steeeeeeeeele Sidebottommmmm!!

Hahahaha! And Nathan Jones! Who was actually a wrestler in WWE a few years back, and also happened to be bald

Why is Sidebottom not going to go top 20? Did he test poorly at Draft Camp, or does he have injury concerns?

From what I understood, he has been touted as a top 20 pick all year, and was extremely consistent and solid well before that grand final. If he is there at pick 17, you take him. Doesnt matter if he is slow, he would very likely be the best available. Going to be a really solid player.

Bartel is a good comparison Eastie Boyz. He is already well built, and will fill out more probably. Add more fitness and he will be a hard midfielder, who can rest forward and be dangerous there too.

I really hope we get him. I was saying to my mate 6 months ago DRAFT TEH SIDEBOTTOM!!

I mean cmon! Motherf*ckers name is Steele! Hard as a rock he is !

Not holding my breath though. Cant see why he would slide out of the first round...

Really hope we can nab a great midfielder with pick 17!

I'm warming to Ash Smith.

He reminds of of Simon Buckley, but a good long kick. His body is a decent size, he has good pace, and one of the best long kicks in the draft.

I'd love if he was there at 35. Pick 17 or 19 is probably too high to grab him with because I expect some talented players will drop/be available there. Guys like Mckernan, Blease, Swift, Shoenmakers etc, so hopefully he lasts until 35. He seems to be one of those guys that is just outside the top 20, but is exactly what we'd love to grab at 35, abit like how Petterd fell even though he is a real talent.

As a player, he may start off on a HBF as he gains experience and builds fitness, which is one of his weakness' as he suffered mild OP, but seemed to be over it this season and getting better and better as it wore on. Once that happens I expect him to be a full time midfielder eventually, who can be thrown onto the HBF to give drive and long kicking in a sort of Jason Gram way. He has great run and a hunger to take guys on and break lines.

If people want to check him out, here's a youtube clip (yes I hear the groans )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4Uvjs4Wh1Q

Hoping he slips to 35 personally!

Enough about Benny anyway.

Who does everyone want to pick up in the National Draft??

He hasnt said anything about not wanting to play for MFC. But to be fair, there hasnt been anything to suggest he was going to, so he hasnt had to say it. Why would he want to play for us? He will come back and probably have 2-3 years in him due to elite fitness, so why would he want to spend it at a poor club who likely wont even make finals in that entire time?

We better take Watts. We need key forwards. Watts is a key forward, and a very athletic and talented one.

The ruck is less of a concern. We have Jamar and PJ there, and while neither are stars, we can get by with them there.

Without a key forward, what do we do? We have Robbo, who is smaller, is on his last legs, and wont have his spring anymore. Good player, but near the end. Then what is there. Newton? If he couldnt establish himself in our team this year, then he is useless. Shocked he got another 2 year contract so easily. Bate? He is more of a lead up player, and not someone who can take on the best defender each week and kick alot of goals too. We have nothing. The fact that Miller won our goal kicking this year with under 30 goals, and second was a small forward off the rookie list....that really shows how poor our forward line is now. What was once our strength is now our weakness.

So why wouldnt we take Watts? It'd be bloody stupid not to.

So that bargaining chip of #1 pick in PSD is looking like it was a big thing now....

Didn't help us net anything in trade week, and now it looks like we wont even get a decent player with the pick!

Even that random Bentley guy from Port is training with Carlton now lol

What a [censored] season.

I'd take any of Hill, Swift, Blease.

Hill is quickest and most agile, and also gets most ball. But I agree, his foot skills arent great. They're very hit and miss. Also he sometimes panics under pressure.

Blease is quick, has a great pick up on the run, but fades in and out of games. He's inconsistent and often only gets 8-9 disposals. I also think his kicking is poor when he's running full tilt, where as Hills is more reliable when sprinting. Blease has more potential though probably, will get fitter and hopefully not fade in and out of games.

Swift is an unknown. On his U16 form, he has the best skills of the 3, was quick, agile, ball magnet, both inside and outside, and just generally a beautiful all round package. Now, we dont know. I dont think growing to 192cms will alter his game like many have said, it's more whether his knees hold up (he did test well at Draft Camp), and how his development has been shunted do to barely playing the last 2 years.

In any case, we're basically hoping that one of those 3 makes it to pick 17.

I am sure there are still a few uncontracted players out there and if we were to act aggressively it should be possible to entice one that we want, to not sign and agree to go in the PSD.

Lololololol We'll get them in for another powerpoint presentation shall we? Fact is noone wants to come to our club. We are a basketcase. Off field we're in a mountain of debt and scrambling to come up with more ways to literally stay alive, not thrive, just stay alive. On field we were stone cold last and dont look a finals chance for at least another 2 years. Everyone has turned us down. There arent even any decent scraps to pick up in the PSD when we finally get the chance, let alone a decent player

#1 Watts. This one's easy.

#17 If anyone slides we take them here (Johnston, McKeenan, Yarran etc) otherwise hope for Hill, Swift, or Blease. Basically a good solid mid prospect, with pace. West Coast will be after a mid at 18 so we take a mid here, then go tall with 19 if we want another tall.

#19 Shoenmakers, Cornelius? Lisle? Maybe one of the prospective picks from 17 if they're still there.

#35 a ruckman? Roughead if he is there, if not we may pick up a guy like Suban, Zaharakis, Strauss, Ash Smith, Nick Heyne. Some of them may still be here at this pick, and they are all decent midfield (or flank) prospects IMO

#51 Dont really know who will go here. You dont hear much about later picks, and you're not watching for them when you're watching a match with Watts etc in it

I'd love for:

1. Watts - our next FF/CHF star

17. Hill - ridiculously quick and agile outside mid to compliment our slower inside brigade

19. Mckernan - ruck/forward. Id like for him to play as a gorilla type FF in the goal square, and have Watts be the agile leading CHF. If he grows abit more then he can switch between ruck aswell.

35. Strauss - midfielder/rebounding back with good skills

51. Redden - tall ruckman at 202cm and probably still growing. He's a decent ruck prospect who may take a while to be AFL ready, but could form part of a solid rucking rotation

Getting Murphy would be MASSIVE for us. He is a number 1 draft pick, who has shown he can match it with the best. Until this year, he, like Brock, was a teenager copping the number 1 tag every week and still racking up over 20 touches. He is a well rounded midfielder who plays both inside and out depending on what the team needs. His skills are his weak point, but theyre still better than most of our team, and are only a weak point because he is very good at most things!

Adding him to our midfield would be huge. He is a potential All Australian midfielder and star of the comp. For his age, there is noone better. Mclean and Murphy together would be a great pairing IMO The opposition would struggle with tagging then And we'd get alot more ball.

If we can lure him away from Carlton, it would be our biggest coup I can remember. I'd throw alot of money at him. He'd sure be a favorite at MFC. We'd effectively get two #1 picks this year then. Watts, a key forward, and Murphy, a star midfielder.

We'd definitely have to look at him if he was available. He is a talented player, and he'd probably go somewhere from pick 20-40 I'd suggest. Wouldnt take him with 17 or 19, but would have to seriously consider him at 35 if he were there still.

Probably not going to happen anyway. He will knock them back, then they will give up pick 49 for him. They're just trying to use the system to it's fullest potential.

Is that Moloney with his back to us, stretching on the floor next to Sylvia?

The one squatting next to Sylvia on his left, talking to Davey, is Moloney. He shaved his head recently and has earnt the nickname "Romper Stomper" from a few of the players lol

Hoping for a big year from Sylvia. I thought he was alot better this year, and seemed to have matured alot on-field. If he can get his fitness up and push into midfield, or even just work harder off the HFF, he will be very dangerous IMO

Also hope Moloney is fit and firing all of next year. I really think most people here under-rate how good he can be when he's up and going. He's one of the few who plays with real passion, and was one of our best alongside Mclean before copping the shoulder injury.

If we got a full uninterrupted year out of Mclean, Moloney, Davey and Sylvia, our midfield would suddenly be alot more dangerous. Those 4 right there in midfield would have ball-winning ability, long kicking, short kicking, goal kicking, hardness, pace, tackling, passion, all covered. They compliment each other well and I really hope they can start getting the best out of themselves....

Bails talks the talk, but is yet to walk the walk. 2009 is a very important year for the club. Let's hope both he and the players put in a better performance next season and we make some good progress.

Holy [censored] I should have known better than to come on here during trade week. *bails*

Watts #1 likely.

I would love it if the club took Swift with #17 if he is there. He is a speedy inside mid with good skills. We could grab an outside mid like Blease, Hill or Zaharakis with #19 if we desired. Swift is a real talent, obviously had the big knee reco, but he was the highest rated mid ahead of Rich before he did his knee. He has worked his way back from injury and will just keep getting better. Will be a real steal if he slides.

Also, not that it should make much difference, but he is pretty much best friends with Cale Morton. Cale missed part of the end of year trip to stop in to Perth and see his friends (Swift). So they would want to stay together at the club, killing any go home factor if there was one.

?? taps down to Swift who has been sheperded by Mclean. Swift bursts from the pack handballing to Morton who is sprinting past off the wing, he kicks long to a leading Watts who takes the mark on a lead. He walks back, composes himself and slots a set shot from 50.

The Dees are on the up :D

Bit extreme there YM How about this instead. To anyone who bothers mentioning Boyle again, read this post I made a little over a month ago. If you bring him up again, I'll just keep posting it, because I'm sick of hearing that people actually want to see this dud wearing the red and blue. Same thing goes for Murphy at Freo. DUD.

Let me put this in perspective for everyone with a few facts that should end this thread any ridiculous notion we should bother with this dud.

Boyle will be 25 in Rnd 1 2009.

He is a (soon to be) 25 year old who has only managed 31 games since he was drafted in 2002.

He has managed 39 goals that 6 years. In a Hawthorn side that until recently was very weak, he still couldnt crack a game.

He has managed 6 games this year for 6 goals in a Hawthorn team, that while Buddy conscious, sends the ball forward more than anyone (bar Geelong).

He averages less than 1 tackle a game. In a team where we desperately need defensive pressure, he has none.

So in essence, he is a Brad Miller, minus aggression, a shred of talent, somehow kicks LESS goals (never thought it were possible) and has the work ethic of a Mexican janitor.

If anything, I'd trade a pick NOT to have him on our list. He is a dud.

I hope you all realise how stupid it is to even bother talking about this guy.

33 Disposals

14 marks (4 contested)

10.3 goals

11 inside 50s

In a Grand Final too. Absolutely dominate performance. Long live teh Sidebottom!!!

Only way we'll get our hands on him is if we trade and get a pick in the top 5-6 now

I'm gonna stand up for the guy here. This year before his injury he was one of our best players, and was a real leader out there. Something we lack, and something I hadnt seen alot from him before. He also showed he can be a goal kicking midfielder. I remember a game (possibly vs North?) where we were getting done, and he just took it from the centre bounce ran straight at the goals and put it through from 50. Twice in 3 mins. And they were the only goals we had scored from memory (or close to ). And after he nailed them he was jogging round trying to fire everyone up. Was a really good thing to see and raised my hopes for him more for the future.

Bad luck for him on the shoulder injury. Thank god it wasnt his groin breaking down again though! We certainly could have used him out there this year, if only to take some heat off Jones at times. I still believe he can be a good AFL player, but if he gets injured again next year then it's probably the end for him

I do rate him though. In my opinion, he's our second best mid behind Mclean and head of Jones. I know alot of people will disagree, but I just think if he gets the body right (yeah yeah...) he could surprise alot of people.

10 goals now.

30 something touches (lost count), 10 goals, bunch of marks, some contested. Has Bartel like marking overhead for his size.

Amazing performance. You'd think he is top 5 material now possibly?

He's been my man from the start. Just ask Hards. I was on him 6 months ago (mainly for his name ) lol

Going to be a very good AFL player. Just got that build and hunger about him.

Not De Boer. PLEASE not De Boer.

The guy is a battler, not a talent. He isnt quick, his disposal is poor. He is exactly like Jones. We dont need another slow-ish mid with questionable disposal. We need some outside pace with good kicking skills.

Pick up Blease or Zaharakis.

I think the draft camp will determine Swifts fate. If he manages to test well, then he wont be around for 17 onwards. If he doesnt, then he will be, but you'd have to worry <_< Wouldnt mind taking him though as he is a super talent and was absolutely murdering it before the knee went.