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I'd jump at Dowler for pick 34. He looked good in Hawthorn's last couple of games. But I reckon pick 18 is too much in this last uncompromised draft. The quality is going to fall away somewhere between 15 and 25 .You'd hope 18 would be on the right side of the line I wouldn't use Brock at #11 as a benchmark. I reckon that's a great deal for us. Ratten and Riley obviously remember him as a he was 3 or 4 years ago. The game has got quicker since then ... and pace has always been his problem

Hughes is the one on the rookie list that intrigues me. I don't think that he has any upside - especially now that he is in surgery again. He's 23 or 24.The word was the we only took him last year because we had some sort of obligation to him. I'd delist him quick smart in a favour of another big development player like Spencer

At the end of the day ,you right - that is the objective . Ideally we want to get extra picks to make picks 34 and 50 redundant. If we can't - and it really is a shallow draft - , we may do just as well delisting players like Bell and Buckley and redrafting them if they get a medical clearance. We don't want to take a kid at #50 just for the sake of it. The rookie list is the place for the long-shots. Another option would be to promote McKenzie to create more room to speculate with rookies. I hope Fev doesn't dominate trade week. We don't want half the clubs putting so much time into him - and side-deals around him - that they hold back on other options until it is too late

Agree ... too many unknowns at this stage - and the Newton situation is a bit anomalous. Our bottom line is the same - we really need to trade for a least two extra picks

In the context of a tight grand final McBurney's thin skinned over-technical decision against Milburn was probably worth 2-3 goals .The penalty was out of all proportion to the "crime" McBurney didn't think the "abuse" was serious enough to make a report ...yet he prepared to hand the opposition a bonus goal.... and with it possibly the premiership Geelong was half an inch away from earning Hawkin's 'non goal' - St Kilda didn't even have to run to the centre and back to be handed Schnieder's bonus. Chances are that the goal umpire will never make his mistake again. What worries me is that - given his ultra technical approach to the game - McBurney just might .

This analysis is getting pretty close - but I reckon you are discarding McNamara ( still only 19) a bit quickly - and Buckley (if fit) would be a loss given his ability to break the lines. We really need to aim to trade 2 players (net) for 2 picks (minimum) - so that only Bartram and Valenti have to be de-listed. Let's hope there really is some action next week - not 5 days of to'ing and fro'ing for no result like last year and the year before!

Garland is a potential champion - absolutely ridiculous to consider trading him. After several very ordinary years , Jamar is finally looking like an excellent ruckman who can go forward and kick a goal. If the whispers are right and he is determined to go home , we may have no choice but to trade him - but I'd certainly be trying hard to keep him. If you want a trade from left field, I'd work on Sydney's interest in Brad Miller. Miller to Sydney for Barry Hall - on-trade to the Bulldogs for Andrys Everitt.

History shows that you need two marking forwards to win a flag... Dunstall/Brereton, Carey/McKernan,Lloyd/Lucas, Brown/Bradshaw/Lynch, Treadrea/Lade/ Ottens/Mooney/N Ablett/ Hawkins,Riewolt/Kositzke, Franklin/Roughead Good big men are as rare as hen's teeth. What's Butchcher's attitude like?

If he could only kick.... In virtually every game he has had in the seniors he has 3 -4 gettable shots for goal - most of which he has fluffed 2-3 goals per game .... a bit of confidence .... 60 goals a year and he's away.... His kicking style doesn't look too bad - but somehow he miskicks more than any forward can afford to If they think they can get penetration into his kcking - keep him for another year. Otherwise pay him out or push him to the Dogs for a third round pick

Good to see that a pay-cut is on the cards. He's a good ordinary footballer - but he over-rates himself. Too many supporters remember that stand-out final against St Kilda. He hasn't kicked on since then He was always on the slow side - and the game has quickened since he started.Pace ( lack of) is his big problem Needs to forget about being captain - and concentrate on improving his own performance

I noted this too .... hopefully its just a sign that they are going to say something good about every player. If the whispers are right that Hughes was going to sue them unless he got re-listed this year - they'd be pretty careful not to say anything negative about him -

What right has Brock McLean to talk about a teammate''s future? He's got way ahead of himself. Juice , "what do you think of Brock McLean's future?Bit slow don't you think?"

Can anybody confirm that this list of contract dates etc is complete and accurate?Interesting that only seven are out of contract If this list is right, Bartram' s gone. He is a good hard-working bloke - but he simply hasn't got the skills to be part of our future. PJ is a useful member of the squad - Buckley has genuine pace to break the lines (if he can get himself fit)- Cheney must be safe for a 20 yr old - McNamara at 19 should be safe ( unless he's really hankering to go home as some suggest) I wouldn't want to give Miller and Dunn away for nothing One name you don't mention here is Meeson - who has another year to run on his contract. Big big question mark over him Very interesting times ahead

How should mit be worded then? Miller to Sydney for Hall and Pick 38 Hall on traded to Bulldogs (together with Pick 34) for Pick 15 ?

At the risk of sounding like Captain Obvious - "Serious injury ( and its effect on confidence etc) which he has now overcome"

As I've said elsewhere....Miller to Sydney for Barry Hall and Pick 38. Barry Hall and Pick 34 to Bulldogs for Pick 15 (They want take both Hall and Robbo - for salary cap reasons as much as anything else - and Hall offers a higher upside than Robbo)

He made a few mistakes in his senior games - but he didn't look overawed or out of place. He's had a bad run with injuries. Has a bit of a Dustin Fletcher look about him - long arms etc. He's still only a kid. He was the youngest player drafted in 2007 Unless anyone knows for a fact that he has attitude problems, I would definitely hang on to him

Very easy...on the basis that the Bulldogs won't get to the Grand Final Miller to Sydney for Barry Hall and Pick 38 Hall and Pick 34 to the Bulldogs for Pick 15 Also Bell to Port for Justin Westhoff ( or Danyule Pearce). I'd love Boak but I can't imagine them letting him go There is no way I'd trade Jarad Rivers.Don't forget it was touch and go whether he'd play this year He'll be better next year with a season and pre-season behind him

Make no mistake Jack Viney can really play At school umpires had to penalise him for fair tackles - because he hit so hard!. He's as tough as any schoolboy footballer I've ever seen - although he's not particularly big. He's also got great endurance He is a powerful left foot kick - not a classic action but effective. Actually it was boring watching him play. He'd just take the ball out of the middle - kick it to the goalsquare - run down - regather the ball and put it through.Back to the middle - same again Before he moved to Adelaide, he was quite conmforatble with the thought he'd go to Melbourne under the father son rule. Main thing is that he keeps growing

Ridiculous unhelpful thread. Kill rodents if you must - but leave Bailey to his work

Most of Joeboys assessments are OK. But much too tough on Grimes ( who did OK given the number of times loose players came bursting out of the middle toward him) and a bit generous on Frawley ( who has played better games than he did today). The main point about McLean is that he has been over-rated. He is too slow to be a top-line midfielder and makes too many mistakes to be captaincy material. Generally he is a good solid midfield option who gets a fair bit of the ball. He's definitely worth his place - but noting more

I'm no fan of Jamar- but I think he has improved. Still he's our best ruckman so he stays. Sadly, I think Wheels is finished - and Robbo has probably done his dash. Junior is a good influence around the club - but he was in decline last year - and has fallen further. I think one year as captain will see him out. They won't get rid of Bruce So three more to go.. Belly needs to do more to save his place. Then who? Of the regular senior players, Bate continues to disappoint. He must be more consistent. Grimes, Maric and Cheney all showed something today - and Jack was as expected in his first outing. LIam Jurrah might be next cab off the rank Just keep playing the kids

Why Darwin all of a sudden? We're supposed to have just strengthened our alliance with the MCC..... and we are about to announce a deal with Casey (apparently) Darwin's too far away - and too humid for AFL footy. The current Darwin deal seems to be causing the Bulldogs big headaches - why will it be any better for us? Speaking of the MCC and Casey ....... when is Jimmy going to give us more news?

You have to congratulate Barts for the way he handled himself through a lot of personal trauma. He is getting the best out his limited ability - but he has not improved since 2006 - and I think his days as a senior player are numbered. Quite simply, he turns the ball over too easily too often. Belly is a hard nut - with pace and physicality. I am still hopeful that at 24 , his best is ahead of him. I'd give him a game. Dunny might be first to go - but Barts will be next.

What is the story with Jurrah? Didn't play last week...and isn't on the injury list. Anybody have any news?