MadAsHell

Difficult to say until Casey have played but at this early stage I'd go with: IN: Bail, Watts OUT: Dunn, Hughes (Hughes unlucky).

6. Scully 5. Trengove 4. Warnock 3. Bate 2. Frawley 1. Bennell *Appologise to Bruce and Grimes

Don't get me wrong, I agree he's yet to reach his full potential, but the ability is definatly there, it's just a matter of him reaching his full ability. I agree, the back line is certainly where he is most comfortable and I believe he is already very capable down there, he'd be holding CHB down if it weren't for our depth back there, I believe he'd walk into at least half a dozen other AFL teams in that position in their starting 18 (Richmond, Hawthorn, North Melbourne, Adelaide, Port Adelaide & West Coast). Ruck is where he has the most work to do I agree but if you re-watch the Melbourne-v-Brisbane match he does quite a few good things in there, our 2nd goal of the game to Sylvia was set up by his ruck work. And in the forward line while he is yet to kick a bag or look fully at home, he does show some signs. He's quite good at holding the ball in there in contested situations and he can take a good mark and he creates a contest which is one of our flaws in the forward 50 at the moment. Spending some time at Casey playing as the 2 ruckman and resting in a forward pocket is probably the best place for him to learn this role, and I for one think he has the talent to learn it. He has more upside then PJ, Meesen and even Spencer IMO.

Jones and our first round pick, will probably be about 18ish..... For Boak Maric for Gray. Wouldn't offer any more for either.

We've always been good at getting rookies to come through: Jolly, Simmonds, Woewodin, Robbo (I think?). We seem to be very good at getting ruckmen off our rookie list in particular. And if people remember Damien Peverill I believe was on our rookie list back in the late 90's before he got his go at Essendon.

Thanks for the update Keajai, I know I've said it a few times but I'm a really big fan of Fitzpatrick, watched him in a Casey 2nd's practice match earlier this year and he moves so well for a big man and is a great mark. I know from experience (through my mother) just how debilitating chronic fatigue sydrome is so I really hope this kid can work through it. If he can I think he could be something really special and that missing link (tall forward/2 ruckman) that Melbourne are after.

I think you being a bit harsh, he hasn't been playing for long at all don't forget and (a bit like Dunn) he isn't getting the chance to settle into 1 position, instead he's being rotated around from forward line, to ruck, to back. I think he's very valuable to the club because he does have the ability to play in all those positions, but it would make it difficult for him to settle. He's probably best suited at CHB, but with all the options we have down there he wont get to play there to much I'd think. Lets not forget Malcolm Blights comments about Martin in the Melbourne-v-Collingwood match, rd 2 2009. "You can build a team around this kid!" I'm a big fan and hope he can force his way back into the team shortly as our 2# ruckman with the ability to play forward.

Lucky to say I haven't had that problem with name a game before. When I ordered the Melbourne-v-Collingwood 2000 Queens Birthday match they had the first half labled as the 2nd and vice versa, and my copy of the 2000 Qualifying final v Carlton is labled Melbourne-v-Collingwood but otherwise I've had no issue. Having said that I'm currently waiting on 22 DVD's to come in that I've ordered so I might have something to complain about then.

Along with Strauss, anyone know what's going on with Fitzpatrick? He dominated the Casey 2's two weeks ago and he missed last week and now this week also. Anyone know if he's carrying anything serious?

First of all I'd say it's far to early to say Rivers is trade bait, with Frawley and Garland having the ability to play tall and small I still think our best defence has all of Frawley, Garland, Rivers and Warnock all in it. As far as our 2nd ruckman goes, I still think Martin is the man for that job, can play ruck, forward and back and soon enough Fitzpatrick will be able to do this also, from what I've seen of him I like a lot! And of course Gawn as our long term prospect, wouldn't be suprised if he isn't our 1# ruckman till about 2015, but he'll be worth the wait at his size! Another tall forward would be handy, Beau Dowler would be the best bet out there in my opinion. Although that would only be until Watts hit his straps and nailed down FF by 2012, Dowler could still be a handy back up on the list though.

And I've got no doubt the GC17 officials would love to see Pia around the new club. That's the only reason why I'd miss Miller if he did leave! hehe.

This has been mentioned in other posts. The club had to re-draft them as they were contracted, we were just demotiing them to the rookie list. Only way we could have picked up someone else would have been if another club had of picked them up in the national draft, pre season draft or rookie draft before our picks.

He'll get his run soon enough don't worry about that, I have no doubt he'll play at least once this year, even if it's just to give him a taste.

I went for Maric in for Petterd as a small forward and to provide that X factor that we're missing with Petterd & Jurrah out. I also voted for Rivers to go down there as a key forward and give us something to kick to. I'd love to see Rivers and Green deep with Maric lurking inside the forward 50.

I didn't notice it but it doesn't suprise me. He's one tough customer and wont back down from any contest. I'm really looking forward to watching Chris Judd (Scully) and James Hird (Trengove)over the coming years in the red and blue.

I'd expect Cale probably wont play this week but will then have 1 or two outings at Casey. I'm expecting a round 10 return against the Cats at Skilled, the venue where he kicked his first goal!

Fingers crossed Ricky means it, makes a full recovery and we do see him next year. I'm looking forward to our round 1 2011 forward line reading: HF: Sylvia, Bate, Petterd FF: Green, Jurrah, Wonna Maybe even throw Watts in there in place of Green?????

Agree, with Petterd now most likely out for the season, Jurrah still 10 weeks away from senior selection at least, Watts not physically being up to it yet and the writting being on the wall for the likes of Miller and Newton, Green needs to be a permanant forward at least until Jurrah comes back. He's a very good mark, good lead and he's also good on the ground. While his set shot kicking isn't anywhere near as good as it once was, I'm still a fan of his over Miller or Juice. Keep Green forward I say, although they still do need either Martin or Rivers down there to create a contest in my opinion.

Warnok to Hall Frawley to Hahn Garland to Johnson (if he plays, if not probably Hill) MacDonald to Murphy Rivers to FF, I'm dreaming I know!

Shattering news, he's setting himself up nicely to become one of the most dangerous forwards in the comp in the coming years. All the best in your recovery Ricky and please say with Melbourne at seasons end. I'm getting a dejavu feeling, Scott Thompson 2004 with his foot injury when he was having his breakout year, got injured and never played for Melbourne again.

I agree, that's why I had Frawley and Jamar in the poll along with a section for any other uncontratced Melbourne player. You do have to admit though, that surely the go home factor does play into it. I know if I was drafted interstate and then had the chance to return home I'd look at it very seriously. Especially if I was a player on Sydney's list. I hate that city!!!!

We may need to fudge the B & F results and have him finish 3rd or something despite only playing the 6 games. Ala McLean in 2008.

I think with the way the comopeenstaion system will work we'll get a second round draft pick only in a few seasons time.

Agree, he's effectively 2 years behind Nik Nat, first of all 1 year in age and second of all the year before they were drafted Nik Nat was playing seniors in the WAFL while Watts was only playing high school footy, so right now Watts is where Nik Nat was in his WAFL year. If this logic works (and I hope it does), we should see Watts starting to have a decent influence on AFL matches in 2012. This year and next year there's still a lot of development for him to do, but I have no doubt we'll see the odd flash of brilliance at both VFL and AFL level.

I thought they were on the mend around draft time and that he had a set back in early Jan, otherwise he would have been right to go for season proper? I might have been wrong and thinking of someone else though I guess. Must admit Meesen's injury progress wasn't one I was following to closely.