Theo

Heard Mike Brady sing the song this morning. Thought It was really good. Should be podcast on 3AW later today or tomorrow?

Late pick at best but he looked mobile and can take a contested mark. Jamar and Spencer take very few marks. We are in need of a ruckman to assist Gawn down the track.

BigFooty phantom draft (Chris25) talking up SA kid James Battersby. Also, can I just talk up James Battersby a bit more? The kid is dominating every game he plays. He went from the U18 Championships, straight to a BOG performance for Sturt in the SANFL seniors. The only reason I have him so low in my draft is because I really want Fremantle to pick him up. He is as good an inside midfielder as you'll find in the draft. And if his performances for SA are anything to go by, he could also lay claim to being the best small defender. Some people might think he's got limited scope for improvement, I don't buy that - he just looks a footballer. Not many U18 kids can play the way he has at senior level, not even well built ones - and there's no way a guy reaches his footballing peak at 18. If I were recruiting for Melbourne, I'd seriously consider Battersby with their second round selection. Take James Aish at #2, and then get the inside midfielder with that second pick. A Battersby/Viney combination with Aish/Toumpas on the outside would be nice. No need to pay overs for someone like Sloane. Upon completion of the 2013 U18 Championships, James has established himself as the most in-form running defender prospect in the country. He is a known ball winner both at state level for SA and at Sturt, his SANFL club in which he has played both reserves and senior football this season due to his performances. He is one of the smartest kicks off half-back that I have seen this year, using his awareness and decision-making intangibles to effectively make a rushed decision on his feet and turn defence into offense. Not only is he effective off the flanks, but he is known to be just as influential when rotated in the guts, racking up clearances and getting his hands on it more than anyone would’ve expected! Another weapon in this young prospect’s arsenal is his ability to also move up forward and kick a goal, turning him as one of the best utilities come November, and with his strong core strength he could very well rise up in his draft stocks and sneak into being a 1st round pick. PLAYER PROFILE – JAMES BATTERSBY D.O.B: 7/11/1995 HEIGHT: 177cm WEIGHT: 78kg GRASSROOTS CLUB: Payneham Norwood Union SANFL CLUB: Sturt FC STRENGTHS: Versatiliy, elite kicking, decision-making, core strength, “accumulator” of the footy, great engine WEAKNESSES: Height, 1v1 aerial contests PLAYS LIKE: Andrew Walker (CARL) 2013 MAD MONDAY DRAFT PROJECTION: Late 1st round to late 2nd round pick AFL CLUBS THAT HE WOULD ATTRACT: Collingwood, Fremantle, Melbourne, Port Adelaide, St Kilda SEASON AVERAGES – JAMES BATTERSBY – SOUTH AUSTRALIA/STURT U18 SA 23.5 disposals Sturt Seniors 19.5 disposals

Agree. Good talls are like hen's teeth, they only become available to clubs at the bottom of the ladder i.e Boyd or through father/son. On TAC Future stars yesterday they said the Dogs and Saints are in need of KP players which are much harder to find. Whereas MFC can fix their midfield problem much quicker because the draft is loaded with midfielders. Liked the look of Tassie ruckman Nankervis who was featured on the show. Strong contested mark and good leftfoot kick.

Who cares about loss of points unless they win the premiership and that is taken off them. It's a meaningless sanction unless those points are in the future. Drafts picks and taking away future points is the only real sanction that would hurt Essendon. If this was MFC or the Saints would it matter if they took away our points this year. Not in the slightest. The same goes with Essendon as they are not likely to win this years premiership anyway.

Storm was Charlene Machin. Lives and works in NSW.. Nothing to do with the Jones boys. http://au.linkedin.com/pub/charlene-machin/15/674/733 http://now.msn.com/charlene-machin-struggled-to-love-son-born-with-half-a-face

If we look in our own backyard Dean Kent was recruited for his work in the midfield. Good size just needs to build his tank. Knightmare on BigFooty said thisabout Kent before he was recruited. Dean Kent (WA – Fwd/Mid) Height: 180cm, Weight: 81kg, DOB: 24/02/1994 Recruited from: Perth Style: Player comparison: Alex Fasolo Range: 30-rookie Profile: Very unlucky not to make the WA state squad. Powerful inside ball and is a big time clearance player who shines at stoppages. Inside work is just so effective and can be a serious difference maker with some of his inside work. Kent is a big time accumulator and getting is better as the season goes. Kicking ability very good and has some penetration and hurt factor but is very kick happy. Seems to have some selfishness in his play but that in no way takes away from the quality of his play.

After yesterdays game Adams may be looked at in a different light. Round arm punch to Cooney will get him weeks. Hot head.

Freeman is the love child of Knightmare on BigFooty. In his phantom draft he believes he will become the best midfielder in this draft.. Pick 9 Nathan Freeman (VIC – Mid)Height: 181cm, Weight: 85kg, DOB: 16/06/1995 Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons Style: Patrick Dangerfield Player comparison: Range: 5-25 Profile: Absolute dynamite midfielder and in my view outside of Jack Martin I strongly believe Freeman will become the best midfielder in this draft class. Other than Patrick Dangerfield and Chris Judd no player even compares with what Freeman does in the contest from an explosive standpoint. Freeman as Dangerfield does wins all the contested ball and is an absolute clearance machine but he’s a guy who has that rare combination of inside game and extreme explosiveness with his pace, agility and sidestep all as good as you’ll see. In addition to that explosiveness Freeman has a real hardness to him with the way he attacks the footy and contest. Also features of Freeman’s game is his ability to take grabs overhead and his 1v1 ability. He can push forward and hit the scoreboard in a big way particularly enjoying those finishes on the run streaming into goal or running to the 50 and going long for the goal. In short this guy has all the tricks and other than Jack Martin is that only other midfielder I see as a genuine game changer.

After watching all 4 games of the champs I am somewhat underwhelmed by the talent available. Sheed as an inside and outside midfielder was the standout in game one and Kelly was good but is seen as a light framed outside player. Aish didn't impress me but he is coming off shoulder surgery. Only teams that finish low on the ladder have a chance of snaring a player like Boyd. I.e Hawthorn with Buddy and Roughead and St.Kilda with Riewoldt.They don't come around too often and if you can grab them when available just do it. Lewis Taylor (VC) also impressed me as did Smith form WA. If these guys are available for our second pick I would look at them. Dayle Garlett will also be taken this draft and we should seriously consider him. I now wish we had taken a chance on him as a rookie last year..

Today on Finey's morning show (KB on hols) Tony Sheahan said that the MFC and Port are in a race to sign Mathew Drane as GMFO.

Josh played. Taggert didn't play. Dom Barry payed well early. Andrew Nichol (Backline coach) was very critical of Gillies and was giving him a constuctive earfull at 3qtr time. Saw Frawley, McKenzie and Toumpas together at the game. Seemed a happy group. Nicholson was out having a kick at half time.

No matter who is targetted to go unless this Club gets the recruitment and development right no one can bring this Club forward.

And McKenzie

Have always loved Hassa. If you respect this great player his comment in today's HUN is poignant: "I am terribly disappointed where the Club is today. I believe it comes down to poor recruiting" I remember John Northey saying the same thing in the HUN a few years back. It has always stuck in my memory.

Gerard Whately said this morning that he heard Neeld was given 4 weeks to prove himself. This ends after the Hawthorn game. A change is likely before the Collingwood game.

And who agreed to 3 yr contracts for Jamar, Pederson and McKenzie. Who recruited Gillies, Rodan, Byrnes and Pederson and failed to leave a spot on the list for Jack Hannath. The Coach.

Neeld recently agreed to a 3 year deal for Jordie. Total incompetance in his decision-making so far.

Players consistently not up to it at present: Bail Jetta McKenzie Spencer Sellar Nicholson Players that need to do more: Trengove Howe Tapscott Dunn Gawn

Enjoyed your write-up agree with plenty of it. In my opinion the imposters in this team that do just enough to get a regular game. I speak of Jetta that jogs up and down the centre of the ground and gets to contest just late enough to tackle or hopes a loose ball comes his way. Rohan Bail I have always liked but has no impact on a game and does not impose himself enough. McKenzie is just not good enough. Spends most of his time on the grass. Poor decision-maker, can't kick, can't create, can't handpass but a lovely bloke. Spencer = Spud. If he was small he would have been delisted years ago. Jamar = imposter with a 3 year contract T McDonald = Mathew Warnock Davey = Gone the day he signed his 5 year deal. Sylvia to good to get rid of unless we get a top 20 draft pick. Sellar = witches hat Gillies. What games did the FD see at Geelong that rated him a possible premiership player at MFC. Could have had Jack Hannath instead. Blunder! Blunder! Rodan- Nice guy taking up list space. Could have kept Brad Green, Rivers or even Moloney Trengove - Love the guy but he is not a midfielder. Prepared to work through his issues and pray that he comes good. We need more players that can win their own footy such as Matt Jones. 20+ disposals should be the norm for a mid-fielder.

Mathew Warnock was better than Mc Donald. We are soo bad

Can someone please tell me why Brent Moloney left the club?. Leigh Mathews during the commentary was intruiged by the fact that he was best and fairest in 2011 and is now at Brisbane. Please please tell me because Brent was a die hard dees supporter and is now at Brisbane. This team is doing my head in when I see Sam Mayes and Ollie Wines carving up the oppossition. We are 10 years behind the best and going further behind. No one is going to want to play for this club in the future. It is becomoing a joke and an embarassment to wear the red and blue. Mark Neeld blunders: Jamar 3 years McKenzie 3 years Gillies, Rodan & Pederson when we could have used these picks in the draft. Neeld has no idea and is in survival mode. His positive attitude to losses makes me pu'ck. The recruitment compared to other clubs is second rate even though we have picked up some gems in Howe, Hogan and Viney. Where to from here.........?

Did you notice after the game he was patting Scully on the head and back. It was like ' I want to be your friend or are we still friends'. It made me nauseous.

Gary Ayres for me. Had AFL and VFL coaching experience and a 5 time premiership player. I don't know why teams overlook this guy because he's been to the well and back many times over. I reckon the players could really play for him. Coached 116 games at Geelong for 65 wins and 107 at the Crows for 55 wins. Coached Port Melbourne to the premieship in 2011. A very mature coach who would have lots of contacts.

Masten had more kicks yesterday that jetta, Davey, Sellar, Jamar and Pederson combined. At least Masten works hard boy ways,not like these blokes. If you watch Jetta closely like I did yesterday, he gets to contests late and then just jogs up and down the ground without any real sense of purpose. Always waiting for the loose ball without going in for it himself.