Fat Tony

Terrible decision to play Spencer in Darwin.

Hogan is flying from Perth to Darwin to join the team. He isn't going all the way up there just to see crocodiles.

O'Meara would be up there with Hogan and Bontempelli as one of the best kids in the competition. He would cost our first two picks.

Planning who to sub off is a recipe for disaster. Dawes or Spencer need to make way for Hogan.

I am not sure you need 10-12 genuine midfielders. The Hawthorn premiership side had Mitchell, Lewis, Hodge, Langford, Shiels and Burgoyne as genuine inside midfielders (6) and Hill and Smith on the outside (2). It also had speedy small forwards like Rioli, Puopolo and Breust as well as Gunston and Roughead who all took turns in the midfield, but I wouldn’t call any of them true midfielders (and none of them were recruited as such). I am much more bullish on Vandenberg than you and feel Watts is starting to show really good signs. Also, it would be a complete disaster if Petracca does not come on. And Cross is averaging 91 SC points (5th for Melbourne) which is similar to last year, so I would be disappointed if he didn't play next year.

I think our midfield is looking much healthier now. Viney, N Jones, Vince, Tyson, Vandenberg and Brayshaw all look to be at least good AFL players, along with hopefully Petracca, Neal-Bullen, Salem, Toumpas, Watts and Stretch. Add in Cross, who is defying father time. And maybe even Trengove. I am not saying another quality midfielder is not wanted, but it is a vast improvement already and I think we should take best available.

I think Vince will play on Priddis and Viney on Shuey. I would look to start centre bounces with Nathan Jones loose in defence if NicNat starts to dominate the clearances.

Dawes or Spencer must make way for Hogan. Particularly in Darwin.

Maybe I am putting too much stock in Jack's four-goal game against Melbourne in 2013. But he looked a great prospect on that day.

After watching the last Vic Country game and thinking about it, I would consider trading up the draft to pick up Josh Schache. Trade our first and second round picks and Dawes to Gold Coast for pick 1 or 2. This move goes against the philosophy of generally only drafting inside mids, but this kid looks a total package. His kicking for goal is as fluent as any AFL player and he has good endurance and looks to take a reasonable mark. He and Hogan could set up our forward line for a decade and, at 199cm, Schache could also fill the role as a second ruckman. I also think we are looking pretty good for inside mids at the moment given the arrival of Tyson, Vandenberg, Brayshaw and Petracca, along with Viney, Jones and Vince. (Obviously I would love to pick up Patty Dangerfield but that is only a dream.) I also think we can probably pick up some outside runners relatively cheaply either down the draft or through trades. (i.e. Sam Dwyer, Brandon Jack, Courtney Dempsey) Edit: Spelling

Hopefully Stefan Martin appeals and gets three.

There will be a time when he gets Jack of playing NEAFL (pardon the pun) and Sydney have a pipeline of young midfielders through their Acadamy. My google search indicates he is out of contract.

Brandon Jack is one I would go after. I think he is out of contract this year and he has good pace. He was best on ground in the NEAFL this week and he may be keen to go elsewhere to play regular footy. He is only worth a late draft pick and Sydney won't be able to match a decent contract offer.

No chance. Sydney are banned from trading for players on above average salaries.

He did a running session the day we played Geelong. We were probably being cautious.

I feel Mathieson would be our most likely pick given our ladder position and Roos's preference for drafting inside mids. He was likened to Jordan Lewis by one of the commentators yesterday.

I didn't see much but Schache and Weitering looked the best players in a weak draft. Gach Nyuon also impressed in the ruck. Hopefully we trade our picks.

Every time we have played in Darwin the conditions have been hot and wet. Dawes and Spencer were ok on the weekend but we will not be playing in perfect conditions again. We need runners to keep our pressure up around the ball.

The ball is always wet in Darwin and we need to go small with runners. Hogan and Garland are automatic ins and JKH should come in given the likely conditions. Outs should be Spencer, Dawes and Riley. Toumpas to be sub. Watts/Howe to second ruck.

Gerard Healy was pushing the idea on On the Couch. Personally I think the AFL needs to do more to help struggling clubs. I know we were left to hang out to dry due to the tanking episode, but the competition needs to revisit the draft order as an equalization mechanism. It takes too long for clubs to rebuild and players can now manipulate the system to get to the top clubs.

Watts actually does pretty well in the centre bounces. He is a much better option than Dawes.

B Fitzpatrick, T McDonald, Jetta HB Lumumba, Dunn, Terlich C Cross, Vince, M Jones HF Brayshaw, Hogan, Howe F Watts, Dawes, Garlett Fol Gawn, Viney, N Jones Int Tyson, Toumpas, Stretch, Riley (sub) In: Fitzpatrick, Terlich, M Jones, Dawes Out: Grimes (inj), Pedersen (inj), Neal-Bullen, Michie • Terlich and Fitzpatrick should come into the back six for Grimes and Cross, who I much prefer seeing in the midfield. • Dawes’ VFL report doesn’t fill me with confidence. But he comes into the side due to the length and shape of Kardinia Park and because our structure fell down last week when Pedersen went off. • Matt Jones and Stretch offer more run and carry than Neal-Bullen or Michie. I also like what Riley offers as a substitute. • Bail in and starting if Hogan is not fit.

Was Pedersen injured? Our forward line had no structure in the last quarter. The only time we looked to have six forwards was when we hit the front. Also, the last quarter was very short and the runner should have been out on the ground giving instructions as Howe lined up for goal. Poor coaching IMO. Jones was out of the centre square a lot tonight and must be carrying an injury. ANB wasn't up to speed. Good to see Toumpas and Watts play well and Hogan is a star already.

B Fitzpatrick, T McDonald, Jetta HB Lumumba, Dunn, Grimes C Cross, Vince, M Jones HF Watts, Hogan, Howe F Viney, Pedersen, Garlett Fol Gawn, Tyson, N Jones Int Brayshaw, Toumpas, Riley, Newton (sub) In: Tyson, Grimes Out: Garland, Vandenberg We look to need outside runners more than ball winners, particularly with Tyson coming in. I don’t think ANB plays unless we drop Newton or Riley. I would definitely retain M Jones and start him. Is it possible that White gets a game ahead of Grimes?

Tendai Mzungu cannot get a game at the moment and is a big body mid that would really add to our midfield. He turns 30 early next year.