Fat Tony

It is too early for me to do a proper 22 without seeing how the new recruits look. In saying this, my main thoughts are: Jones should play a high half back role. Vandenberg is first picked wingman if fit. Smith should be played in the forward line, although he would need to earn his spot in the 22. Hunt should be played in the forward line, although he would need to earn his spot in the 22. Jetta will need to win his spot. Petty, Weideman and Jackson will be fighting to partner with Tom McDonald up forward. Petty or Weideman could also fight for a spot at full back instead of Oscar McDonald. I cannot see spots for both Hore and Lever. Harmes should play in the midfield.

I don’t understand why people think Jackson is such a risk. He looks a bit like Stefan Martin as a player. If that’s his downside, we will still get decent value out of #3. His upside is Grundy, who is a top 10 player in the game.

I think a fit Davis is quicker than Weid. But I am not against experimenting.

I question if Weideman is fast enough to play in defence. In saying that, McGovern isn’t that quick and it’s much easier for players who can run and jump and take a high mark in the backline.

I am a bit disappointed to hear that Joel Smith is training with the backs. I would like to see him play forward, as I actually think a smaller forward line including McDonald, Smith, Fritsch, Melksham, Petracca and a small forward could be our best combination.

Rivers' highlights make him look a bit like Joel Corey.

Are we going to pick any players in the rookie draft?

We should not take Pickett unless he is best available at our pick IMO. As exciting as his highlights look, #10 looks like a big reach to me.

I see a lot of Stefan Martin in the way Jackson plays. I liked Martin when he was a demon so this is not meant as a criticism of the idea of picking him. In saying this, I still think we should nominate Green.

Where do they see Jackson fitting in with Gawn? It seems they think he is coordinated enough to make it as a key forward.

I hope we go for Green. He looks the safest pick in this year's draft. And he's a good size to be able to go forward and be dangerous.

The clubs need to have both a ranking and rating for each player to work out if they are willing to split or move up the board. This would be tinkered with up until the draft.

The points value differential between #3 and #4 is equivalent of #6 to #8. We could promise not to bid on Green so long as if Adelaide or Sydney bid GWS would then trade #6 for #8 and a late future pick. They could then trade #8 with a third party.

Taylor was referring to the selection of players in the draft and that we wanted to just take the player we felt was the best. But I think they aren’t doing their jobs properly if they don’t look to bluff in the lead up to the draft in a bid to maximise our draft hand. The academy systems are a rort that works against us and playing games like this is our only defence.

I wonder if all the media noise about us taking Jackson is intended to try and get Freo and/or GWS to offer us a better pick swap for #3.

I think GWS can trade it out after the nomination and #8 will actually drop to #9.

Green looks to have a great left foot. Hope GWS pass him up and we take him. He looks a certainty to be at least a good AFL player.

Stephens highlights remind me of Lord Voldemort.

We could promise not to bid on Green on the proviso that GWS swap #6 for #8 and a shuffling of future picks after he gets bid on. GWS could also swap #8 with Adelaide for a bunch of later picks for points.

The best player out of the 2017 draft was a mature age recruit with a chequered history and he went in the 20s. Last year, two of the best recruits were undrafted (Stack) and a mid-season draftee who had been in prison (Pickett).

What if we can get the same player we ideally want anyway at #6? Or if we don’t have a strong preference between the draft class?

Are we able to pass here and keep open the PSD, delisted free agents or the mid season draft? Or do we need to take 3 players at the draft?

Kemp looks a great prospect. Size, power, speed and balance. Only issue is the knee.

I hope the club takes a long-term view and doesn't overestimate the ability to judge 18 year old talent and how it will translate to the AFL. The best strategy for us is to blackmail GWS and Freo and be willing to slide down the draft to gain future assets. If we are clever about ascertaining the likely order of the draft, we could potentially have our cake and eat it too. I would also like us to take the best big bodied midfielders, given they tend to be the best players in the AFL and are the least likely to be busts. From all the draft bios, I think Green (GWS) and Kemp look the most sure-fire picks.

I still think a deal will get done before the draft. We will both come out ahead by doing a deal and the deadline was meaningless today without a player being involved.