Theo

I watched both games yesterday and the players that impressed me the most were: Vic Metro: Moore, Petracca,, Brayshaw,, Ahern, Cavka,,Laverde, Payne (grandson of Charlie that played for ESS) Ahern is a very classy half-fwd with very clean hands. Would love this kid. Cavka has a 16.8 beep test which is unheard of at AFL level. Laverde was very sound off half back.A good decision maker. Payne needs to add some weight but has natural football ability and a very accurate kick. Could be a dangerous 3rd tall at afl level.. S.Aust:: Daniel (best on ground but very small 168cm) Dominated the game and could be gettable in 3rd or 4th round. He is not mentioned on BigFooty phantom drafts. Gregson Captain (Mid) Johansson (Mid) Tom Read (developing ruckman 200cm but needs weight.) Declan Hamilton is the nephew of Andrew and Darren Jarman. Played well with Kevin Sheahan saying that he has inherited some of the Jarman traits. Stretch is going to be a very good player. We better not stuff this one up. Might have to use a second round pick.. Vic Country: Zero except for Miles and Marchbank. They were certainly not as good as the SA boys. WA: Were very disappointing. Garlett looked the best to me. Clem Smith seems to have gone backwards from last year.

Would love to have another key position player in the bank to replace Mitch. Key forwards and backs are much harder to find than midfielders. Once we climb up the ladder the chances of drafting a quality KPP diminishes significantly.

Dean Kent was also a midfielder when recruited. Given time and full fitness I think he could be a surprise packet that could play both half fwd and midfield..

Don't let these pedantic twits get you down. It happens all the time. I look forward to your comments in the future.

Agree with BH. He doesn't like the hard stuff. He is not instinctive and is caught in "no man's land" far too often. I've seen nothing to indicate he can impact games. It may well be a confidence thing but I've seen enough of him to believe his upside is minimal and others will and should pass him by.

I really like the look of Tsitas from the Falcons. High workrate and endurance. Rarely fumbles and excels at stoppages. http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-10-20/james-tsitas

Totally agree. He is a likeable guy but he just does not work hard enough. He has been given every opportunity but does not have the ability to be a consistent player at this level. At training on Wednesday he was last on every occasion in the 400's. His attitude annoyed me the most because instead of starting at the front he always started from the back and showed no desire to improve his position. In all honesty he plays the way he trains. As a Club we have been pathetic for so long we need to be ruthless at the moment and forget about "hurt feelings".. We should do everythng necessary to have a live pick in the PSD (priority no 1) and have a full 4 picks in the rookie draft. Only take Jetta if there is no else as a better prospect. No promises Nev.

Jetta can't get the pill either. It was mentioned at training today that he will be rookie listed should no other club take him first. His training mirrors his in field performances so I hope another club selects him first.

Listening to SEN draft talk last night Tristan Fernando mentioned that MFC were big on Salem.

Lennon and Sheed impressed me the most at the Champs. Lennon is a natural footballer that reminded me Ryan O'Keefe. I would more than happy to get him.

Forget about the romance. Based on his size I doubt that we would take him unless he was available in the second round at best.

Didn't I read that one ore more of the family owners (Wilson family worth $1.5 b) of Reece Plumbing is a MFC supporter but has not been involved in the past because of the clubs incompetance in many areas. PJ an Roos could do well in trying to nurture this relationship.

Neitz was a good player but not a great player. He dropped too many marks (Mr Falcon) and probably went on for 2 years past his use by date.

One option that could be considered if the Shaw swap doesn't go ahead is to offer pick 9 for Adams and get back pick 22 that we gave GWS for Tyson. Of course it all depend on how high we rate Adams with 2 years development against a speculative 18 yr old. Pick 22 could get us a Zac Jones or a Trent Dumont. We could even offer up Jamar, Jetta or Strauss as a sweetne. This would help free up our list and allow us to use pick 40 and have a PSD selection.,

Good idea with Bugg or Buntine as they may think they are not particlarly high in the pecking order at GWS. Otherwise I'd look at Shane Nelson in the WAFL. A ball magnet that continues to surprise phantom drafters with his non-selection in recent drafts.

Kent was also written-up as a clearance specialist in the pre-draft bios.

For a pick 20 we really need someone who could can play good footy for 5 or 6 years not 2 or 3.

Hope this kid comes good injury wise because as well as tearing his meniscus he has had a history of foot stress fractures. http://www.footywire.com/club/sports/player-3489-biography.html

Reported on SEN by a listener that Shaw was seen at Windy Hill yesterday.

Savage is contracted till end 2015. Unless he is unhappy or believes his opportunities are limited I doubt that he would request a trade. If he and Hawthorn could be convinced to trade we would probably have to pay overs for him. http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/afl/shane-savage-commits-to-the-hawks/story-e6frepf6-1226406222818

Should have taken Rockliff instead as he was training with us. The Club decided to take Rockliff in the rookie draft but were gazumped by Brisbane in the PSD.

Keep Boyd as it's not often that these type of players become available. Unless you finish near the bottom there is no chance of getting a player like Boyd. Like that saying at Hawthorn. "What would you do if God came to Hawthorn?" Answer: Move Peter Hudson to CHF. Hogan,Dawes,& Clark can all play different positions. Clark can play ruck, Dawes or Hogan could play a key back role etc. While is may take a year longer to get the midfield right it should not be at the expense of a Boyd.

I'm sure the AFL are doing everything in their power to ensure the players get off. Their own self interest is paramount in all of this because they want Essendon in the competition in 2014 and beyond in order to meet theit TV rights and sponsor obligations. However, Clause 62, 67 & 68 of the "Notice of Charges" should be a sticking point. (62) On January 18 2012 the Essendon FC was charged by Como for 7 vials of Hexarelin and 26 vials of Thymosin at a total cost of $9,860. (67) On 8 February 2012, at a meeting with players at the Club, Dank introduced four substance that were purportedly approved for use in accordance with the Protocol: namely AOD-9604, Thymosin, Colostrum and Tribulus. (68) Following that meeting 38 players signed "Patient Information Informed Consent" forms in relation to these four substances. In relation to these substnces 38 players agreed to. (a) one AOD-9604 injection per week for the season (b) one Thymosin injection per week for six weeks and then once per month © two Colostrum daily and (d) one Tribulus Forte daily If the dosages on the "Patient Info Form" were administered the playing group would receive more than 1,500 injections of AOD-9694 and Thymosin. In my lay opinion, unless Essendon can produce the vials unopened the onus of proof should be with Essendon and the players to prove that they were not injected with these banned or "not approved for human use" substances. If there is no documented information to support their assertions then infraction notices should be given to players. It seems pretty clear to me that these 38 players did receive some or all of these substances as per their signed "Patient Consent/Info" form.

This is a good website for AFL. Has good write-ups on draft prospects and a 2013 Mock Draft. http://boundforglorynews.com/2013-rising-stars-phantom-draft/

All I want for Xmas is for Jessie Hogan to fall in love with a Melbourne girl and they stay together for at least 10 years.