Dr Jekyl & Mr Hyde

and shes now official: http://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/newsarti...44/default.aspx

In all honesty, he's likely to be around at Pick #34 anyway. Clubs would be put off over his injury history.

Don't forget - this was all written before Thorp came clean about his debilitating hip injury to the Hawk medico's. On talent alone - he was justified in his selection at Pick #6. Had a very good campaign during the Carnival in 2006 (the highlight was probably seeing him KO'd by a left hook from Albert Proud, after he gave Rhan Hooper a cheap shot IIRC).

That used to happen on the Essendon table when Sheeds was around

Beau Dowler is an interesting character. I bet after 2006/2007 99% of Hawthorn supporters would have opted to keen Thorp over Beau.

Thorp gained a reputation early at Hawthorn for being smug and 'over confident' in his own abillities. He got off on the wrong foot with Hawks upon arriving when they realised he hadn't been 'entirely truthfull' about some of his previous medicals conducted. I have no doubt he will be forced into an early retirement before he hits 28.

I'm hearing word that Mitch has been given his marching orders by Hawthorn. I think he will no doubt get a lifeline elsewhere, despite the problems associated with him and his persona. What say ye? NB: Now official http://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/newsarti...44/default.aspx

LOL ... this thread has me in stitches ... I've heard Temel compared to Buddy :D

Best available. *start drafting for need from round 2 onwards.

One this is for certain ... Carlton need to sort out their forward line as a matter of priority. Defence: Sorted - they were ranked #3 for points against untill Round 9 this season (when Jarrad Waite was injured) - and still finished #10 overall, despite missing their two major pillars in Waite and Jamison. However, with their loss of the main focal scoring point - they'll now need to tighten up even more and concede less. Midfield: Judd, Murphy, Gibbs, McLean = sorted Rucks: Sorted - Warnock, Hampson, Kreuzer - given that Kreuzer and Hampson will probably alternate on the forward line, they may need one more ruckman for depth (given Warnock is made of paper). Forwards: Now missing 90 goals, I dont think it's necessarrily a bad thing for them as they are now unpredictable in their forwardline (ala Western Bulldogs), they were becoming much too Fev centric, and his dominance was cramping the styles of some of their other forward options. HF Walker ............ Henderson ........... Yarran/Gartlett. FF Betts ............. Cloke/Waite .......... Kreuzer

Nick Stevens knew he wouldn't make it to Collingwood - as such prior to the PSD, agreed to terms with Carlton and made them his preference.

Carltons attempt to cover up the gap left by Fevola was foiled by none other than Rodney Eade. IMHO Carlton beleived they would cover Fevola's loss by slotting Waite in at FF, and recruiting Andrejs Everitt to take over Waites current - tall/agile rebounding defender. It is no suprise they are looking to recruit Simon Buckley and Crows discard Aaron Kite (who was taken as a very bottom aged Victorian boy in 2007) to cover Waites role, as a tall'ish rebounding defender.

seconded.

No worries. I've got some concerns over Carlisle's movement and pace off the mark - but I think it could be hammered out of his game and identified as an area that can be improved. As previously mentioned, he comes from a basketball background and grew 22 cms in 18 months! - with some estimated growth still left in him. Griffiths I've been a fan of for a while now - is the best aerialist in the draft, an imposing size at 197 cms and 95 kgs with a booming kick .. however, he seems to be made of paper and I fear that while he has the size and strength .. he could become Scott Gumbleton or Adam Hartlett mk II, their bodies just break down too often, but again - nothing that can't be fixed (I think? ) , he would be available in the 2nd round one would think.

Lets face it, The PSD is a Clayton's version of Free Agency, the AFL will ensure that Bradshaw will get to where he wants to go in order to display to all and sundry that 'The system works' and as such we don't need free agency in AFL. Of the clubs that select before Carlton (Melbourne, Richmond, Fremantle, North Melb, Sydney) with the exception of Sydney ... no one is going to sign a soon to be 31 year old to a 3 year contract to play for a club that he doesn't want to be at. You shouldn't act so surprised, this happens every year: Keplar Bradley declaring he wanted to join Fremantle in PSD 2007 - and was bypassed by all the other clubs. Josh Car declaring he wanted to join Port in PSD 2008 - and was bypassed by all the other clubs etc. Aside from 2004 (Trent Knobel) they get to their preferred destination.

Hey mate, I think he could definately make it as a key forward at AFL level. As mentioned before he has all the right tools - can leap, run, move and kick (although his agility scores at DC werent great). I saw footage of him playt 2 games in the WAFL where he was moved all over the shop - yet still managed to kick 6.4 (when he played as a forward). I think the key with Black .. is that he needs to be harnessed and played in ONE position (ie. FF/CHF) for him to develop it as his own. I have no doubt if he had of been exposed to this earlier - and played solely as a CHF/FF with his physical and athletic attributes - he'd have been a lock for a top #6 selection.

Not a problem. I think with Aaron - teams may be taking him early - purely on what he 'could' become. I think teams identify Black has having all the necessary tools (neat disposal, height, athleticism, good leap) but given his lack of exposure and the way he's been played at Peel (jack of all trades, master of none) - they may have him earmarked as a permanent CHB/CHF/FF. He needs more time to come on, but has all the tools to make it. hmmm not sure. Carlton would be keen at #12 one would think (they will most likely take whoever may fall to #12 out of: Lucas, Jetta, Butcher first - and then opt for Carlisle/Black). I don't think he'd make it past Sydney's #14.

His reaction testing when changing movies on the in-flight screen was sublime !

I like Moloney but .. his comments come across as hypocritical especially given the current time frame. At least Melbourne were compensated decently for McLean .. meanwhile his very own club are trying to convince Luke Ball to ditch "the straight and narrow" with St. Kilda and jump ship to Melbourne for free. Glass houses. But boy .. I cant wait for the opening bounce: Melb vs. Carlton

No worries at all. I agree with you re: his height for ruckwork. He really is a mixed bag: he tested well for a few things at draft camp, and conversley he tested poorly in some others. Still .. 1st rounder IMHO.

LOL ... sarcasm missed ! but you're right ... it would be a dream.

There was one instance where he swooped down the aisle and scooped up a pack of peanuts from the ground, carried it down the aisle and evaded 2 hostess'.

The hypocrisy of the AFL makes me laugh .. Its bordering on disgraceful. Typical AFL bending the rules to make this GC experiment work. I'd be interested to know whether the GC will pay David Swallow for 2010. I assume they will place him on a first year draftee salary? Melbourne can't have Scully or Trengove train with them this year pre-draft, in fact Vlad wont even let the Demons declare their choice to the media before the draft because it will "ruin the event" that is the draft and take away from the spectacle on Foxtel. Yet he will allow GC to ruin the 2010 draft by naming their players early? What a joke. Perhaps the concessions to GC should be changed and GC can name picks 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 in the 2010 draft from now onwards and take them whenever they want? That's basically what's happening.

He would have qualified had the rules not have been changed (he's 17). Swallow would be a top 5 pick this year if he was allowed to be in it. One of the reasons for the drafting age changes was to keep guys like Swallow, Toy and Darling for the new GC franchise. Next year's crop appears to be as good as this year's is ordinary. Gold Coast have a number of options up their sleeves as to how they get kids up there, and it's pretty obvious that the AFL is falling over itself to make it work for them. (ie. allowing them to name Swallow a year early so that he is allowed to train with them). Looking at this year's U18 carnival, Swallow really looked the goods. He's a much a better all round player, younger .. and more highly rated than Kane Lucas - yet Lucas looks to be a likely Top 10 selection.

Hey mate, sorry for the incredible delay in response - but I'd previously been reluctant to offer too much of an opinion on Aaron Black given that he was an unknown (as I hadn't seen any of his Colts/WAFL games). BUT ... in true form .. I've gained some of his DVD's from a friend in Perth and can now soundly offer the following: Aaron started off the year fairly slowly at Colts, worked his way into form and mid-season booted returns of 6 two weeks in a row, the latter was 6.4. He continued good form which saw him promoted into Peel's senior side for the last 3 games of the season (albeit Peel not being overly strong at senior level) where he was named in their best 2 of those 3 games. He then went back to Colts level for their finals campaign and was named in their best in the losing grand final, he gets thrown around in various roles and seems to take to each and is competitive without being at Hurley like levels. His athleticism is quite good as you have probably been reading, but despite his leap he won't ruck at AFL level apart from some forward line work I'd imagine, so it's kind of frustrating not seeing him settled in any one position for Peel, but we see that he adapts and takes to any role he was given with little fuss. IMHO he's a hard one to pin for mine, I reckon he's worth a first rounder in this pool on his athletic attributes and some upside given he has come from basketball and his footy smarts are ok (i.e. not a case of athlete trying to convert to footy). His agility, turning circle and recovery from initial contest are very good and keep him in the contest with second and third efforts. In my small viewing, I haven't seen him get into a lot of dangerous positions and look like he'll really impact a game given the expectations I had from reading about him he just seems to float through playing bits and pieces cameos, but that might be harsh given it is his first seniors experience and the way Peel used him. I reckon in this pool he might slot in to the first round somewhere, but at this stage it might be on upside. However it's important to note that from what I've seen of the juniors this year, the TAC is a stronger comp, the Colts a rung down and what little of seen of the Maccas cup (SA) probably another rung and a half below Colts. That being said, Blacks game would translate to TAC and who is to say he wouldn't be just as good if not better with better players around him? Hope this helps mate.