RalphiusMaximus

I'm pretty sure we won't be calling them the next day though.

I also have often thought of things I'd like to get opinions on from the guys who go out and watch the u18 matches and actually have a good idea about these guys. I just never get around to making a thread about it. I think it could be really interesting to see a couple of phantom first rounds by them to get more of a feel for what is out there and where they are likely to feature.

Untrue. He repeatedly burned Ben Rutten on the lead a couple of years ago. Most of the leads weren't honoured, but he still smashed the guy on repeat 40-50m leads.

I'll take Hogan and leave Dawes thank. We would be paying slight overs for Hogan vs. massive overs for Dawes and only one of them has a chance at being a star.

Or was that a righty who worked really hard on his left? I keep getting them confused.

Pretty sure one of his teammates said he's a natural lefty but worked really hard to make both sides work the same.

I would have thought he'd be closer to a Mitchell

lol. I don't even know most of the names in the top 10. I hear O'Rourke or something mentioned quite often as being a chance for our pick 4. Wines of course. Stringer. Vlastuin. Apparently the top three will be Whitfield, Grundy and Toumpas. Some people have stringer outside the top 10 and he is said to be similar to Pavlich and able to dominate games, so I'd be thrilled to get him for pick 13/14 if possible, and people have mentioned Garlett, Kennedy and possibly Menzel at that sort of range as well. As for listing in order, I have absolutely no idea.

I wouldn't be overly upset by taking Wines at 4. As I said on Viney in another thread, it is so difficult to pick which of the kids from the 3-10 range are going to be great players, and he is rated in that area. He seems to have a philosophy in keeping with Neeld's plans, which will serve him well. The fact that he and Viney are friends and like to work together is a bonus.

This is one of those days when you're really happy to be a Melbourne supporter. We haven't had many the last few years, so I plan on enjoying it while it lasts. Welcome to the club Jack Viney and may you enjoy a long and successful career with us.

You put that as a deal that is already done. What is the source? I can't find anything on the trade tracker on the AFL site.

Wrong. I'm pretty sure compo picks were used last year for the mini draft.

I was on that side a while ago too. However, the more I saw of the kid and the more I saw of how our team conducts itself, the more I thought he would be worth paying a little over for, especially given how difficult it often is to accurately rank the kids in the top 10. It's just not possible to say with certainty that the player taken at pick 4 is going to be better than the one taken at pick 8. With Jack we know exactly what we are getting, we know he will be able to play and have an impact in his first year and we know he has an uncompromising attitude to training and professionalism. Given that many reports have him as quite similar to his father in his playing style, we even have a pretty good idea of what he'll be like in a few years. I know it would be great to get all that as a second round pick, but the reality is that he is worth the punt at pick three.

So does anyone think we will not take him if GC bid?

I don't think I have either.

Is it hate? Thinking back a couple of years, I'd say he was making a pretty accurate assessment of our list.

Why is it that when we are desperate for midfielders we seem to be chasing multiple talls? I really hope we snap up Pederson and then turn our attention elsewhere.

I was just listening to SEN and they say that the deal for Pederson is all but done. Hopefully this will end the insanity surrounding Dawes.

Apparently they're a cheerful bunch too.

Excellent point.

Fair enough.

My opinion of Schwartz when up considerably after the Scully mess resolved. He went very early on saying that Scully was already one and that the decision had been made. I bagged him for it, and I was wrong. Schwartz backed his information and was validated fully. Also, if that "you" was singular, then how is it not a personal slur?

I took this sentence to be you in the singular. If it was meant as plural, I apologise for the misunderstanding. While I am not an industry expert, I am quite capable of listening to others who are. David Schwartz on SEN radio suggests that Dawes is not worth a third round pick and his fellow callers could not find grounds to dispute that. We saw earlier today that Emma Quayle thinks Melbourne would be "mad" to consider it. Coupled with my own observations of the player I think I have reasonable grounds to form an opinion.

This plan I like. There are a couple of details I'd change, like swapping out Dawes for an alternative big-bodied forward and maybe Stringer at 13 if he were still there, but in general I think you've hit the nail on the head.

Do you really need to ruin an entertaining debate with personal slurs Bob? As for the rest of your comment, one prophet of doom may be an easily ignored madman but many are much more worthy of attention.