Fat Tony

Me too. At 194cm Van Rooyen will need a decent leap to be a key forward at AFL level (which is small for a key forward these days) and he looks to have excellent judgement/timing.

We are the reigning AFLX champs as well!

The main issue with the rules and umpiring is there are too many areas of interpretation. Holding the ball and tackling are always going to be difficult and I think the umpires do a decent job overall. (They always seem do a much better job when I am watching on TV, which gives a closer view, than when I am at the game.) The main area I think they need to amend are the rules around out of bounds/deliberate to be more black and white. i.e. make last possession over the boundary a free kick and introduce a rule where all rushed behinds result in a ball up at the top of the square. They may also need to put some extra markings on the field to help the umpires measure 15m. They also may need to change the rules to allow throwing in the future. A lot of the reason why tackling is dangerous is that players cannot dispose of the ball with one hand and protect themselves with the other. Allowing throws would increase the pace of the game and reduce congestion. I am also a fan of reducing number on the field to 16.

Tell Nathan Jones to keep fit!

I know it’s a highlights package but he looks like a great prospect. Great size, decent athletically, good skills and courage in the air.

Armstrong was caught in the Bali Bombing but survived? Is that what Max is referring about?

The AFL clearly have hidden agendas in the draw. i.e. not playing against Essendon as the home side, because they have not had a proper away strip until recently. The WCE/Freo ones are the most perplexing. Being shunted to Hobart against North and to Geelong are explainable due to crowds/finances. We have played Adelaide in the NT.

I don’t like how the AFL uses the draw to equalise the competition. The fixture should aim to be even and the Draft and Salary Cap should be strengthened to do the job of equalising the competition properly. Our draw is tough because we play most of the other top sides twice, with Port away twice (AO and Alice) and the Cats at Kardinia. Still, we’d be favourites in 18/22 games if there was a market today, being underdogs away against the Dogs, Cats, Port and Lions.

The Dogs and then the Lions and Giants are our biggest threats IMO. The Dogs will potentially add Bruce, JUH and/or Darcy to the forward line next year. They were the only top side to beat us last year. The Lions were well on top of us in Sydney and will get Rayner back from his knee. The Giants have never had a decent run at it with injuries but have an excellent midfield. Of the other main challengers, Port are not good enough and the Cats too old. The Bombers would also be a sneaky chance, especially if Rance makes a comeback. Sydney have a chance but would need Buddy to maintain his health. The Blues don't have the midfield depth. WCE and Richmond look cooked. I think the market has our odds right at around $4. (Maybe we should be $3.50.) The Dogs at $7 looks overs IMO.

With Jordan and Rodman in the team we will win 72 games next season!

Drafting for needs makes a bit of sense after the top few picks because the talent pool is skewed and flattens off. That said, each recruiting team has emphasis on different things, so every club thinks they picked up a player who was better (or at least worthy) of their pick. Hawthorn would only look at good kicks in the late 2000s. The Tigers have favoured speed and pressure. We have favoured players who could win contested ball. Howes and Van Rooyen were almost certainly higher on our draft board than selected. I think we are in a bit of a unique position with our inside midfield, ruck and defensive talent being so strong. It meant that only outside midfielders and forwards would improve our best side.

The top 20 picks receive $90,000 base, picks 21-40 a base of $82,500 and 40+ receive a base of $80,000. He does not look 77kg. Even if he takes 2 years to build an AFL body, he will still be ahead of his father in terms of age to play his first game.

I think the first round salaries are a bit higher. Taj will need to put on a lot of muscle by the look of it and is a long way off it in terms of size. Hopefully he has a few more cms of growth as well.

The best midfielders are fairly short.

Looks a good pick up. Could be Fritsch II. Fits our needs pretty well and looks versatile.

Are we able to take a regular Rookie selection this year? Or is the list/cap full? Or are we just saving a spot for mid season? Who are the best players left undrafted?

Van Rooyen looks more likely to be a key defender at AFL level given his athletic profile and size. 194cm without great speed or endurance or leap. Who is the best current comparison as a AFL forward? Tex Walker? If he becomes a defender, hopefully he can turn into a Petty or Hurley type player.

To get real value out of the draft we should consider trading out of #17/19 to GCS who have a stack of future picks. They need to take another pick with Greenwood heading to North. I know everyone wants to open their Christmas presents early, but there is a price for that. Look at what GWS managed to receive by trading out of a similar pick last year. If GCS were to offer the GCS F1 for #17/19 plus Mel F2 we should consider it. Or #17/19 for 2xF2 & 2xF3. If we do go to the draft, I would prefer it we go for a midfielder or small forward with our first pick. I think we have shown that we can recruit good/great key position players via trades and I think Weideman can still make it with a bit of luck. Also, Jackson is such a unique player that he (and Gawn) enables us flexibility to play a forward line with one or two other talls.

Robbo kicked 419 goals and is fourth on the all time goal kicking list and only 7 behind Garry Lyon. He was the only 24 since 1964 to win a B&F (I think). I didn't see Ross Dillon play but Robbo has a much better CV for Melbourne.

Hawthorn looked dead in 1990. Carlton looked dead in 1994. Geelong looked dead in 2010.

Think we’ll be close or be able to swap a future fourth rounder to make it work. It will also depend on where Woewodin goes. I don’t think it matters that much if we get pushed back a pick or two next year anyway given we have already traded out of the first round.

Love how the skipper has used his first born child to put the heat on Clarry to sign a contract extension.

I highly doubt we would take him at pick 17->19. If he is still there we will hope he slides an extra pick to pick 21 and we get him for a discount.

The season opener should always be the top two Victorian sides at the MCG.

The Norm Smith Curse is over. The Clarkson Curse has begun. Long live the Clarkson Curse!