MadAsHell

So has everyone cooled on Butcher and wouldn't even consider him as a potential number 2 pick anymore? I still like the prospect of 1. Scully 2. Butcher 18. Jetta More so then 1. Scully 2. Trengove 18. Panos Think there's less risk with the first option as the go home factor wont play into it as Jetta will at least be over here with his cousin and the other two players are Victorian?

Melbourne side I would like to see play for round 20. FB: Frawley, Martin, Bartram HB: McNamara, Rivers, Cheney C: Morton, Moloney, Davey HF: Sylvia, Bate, Petterd FF: Watts, Jurrah, Jetta FOLL: Spencer, Dunn, McLean INT: Grimes, Johnson, Jones, McDonald ROUND 21 IN: Whelan OUT: Bartram ROUND 22 IN: Robertson, Wheatley OUT: Dunn, McNamara FB: Frawley, Martin, Whelan HB: Wheatley, Rivers, Cheney C: Morton, Sylvia, Davey HF: Watts, Bate, Petterd FF: Jurrah, Robertson, Jetta FOLL: Spencer, Moloney, McLean INT: Grimes, Johnson, Jones, McDonald This is all baring injury of course. Round 22 could be farwell game for all McDonald, Robertson, Wheatley and Whelan, also being the laters 150th game. Valuable game time given to Spencer, Watts, Jurrah, Cheney and McNamara. Not to mention Grimes and Jetta also. Let the planning for 2010 begin!

Is Miller out of contract? I thought he was contracted till end of next year, but maybe not? I don't like Rivers for Hale. I like our current core group of defenders. With Rivers, Warnock, Frawley, Garland and Bennell we're looking really solid. Don't want to mess with a good thing!

While he has been impressive I still don't know where he will fit in at the club as part of the future? Still see him as trade bait. Especially if Melbourne decide to draft Butcher with pick 2.

With talk of Trent Croad potentially not playing again maybe Melbourne could trade Miller and our 4th round pick to Hawthorn for their 3rd round pick. Hawthorn could try and re-invent Miller as a defender and we could free up some room in the squad for new players???

Also word is Sandilands wants out of Freo, so they may offer him for pick 2? Personally I don't think he's worth pick 2.

If all these players fit, should make these changes IMO. IN: Grimes, Jurrah, McLean, Rivers, Watts OUT: Bail (inj), Bruce (inj?), Miller, Newton, Valenti Valenti would be stiff, but I feel his role is that of McLean's. Thoughts???

I thought that was what German said about McNamara, not Bail. Have to say I'm suprised to hear Bail may be playing though. Pretty sure he played with Casey 2nds last weekend.

Just curious as to whether he's someone we may look at? I know he's taller then Jack, probably a medium sized/tall defender. Just curious as to if he's someone who may be a 3rd or 4th round draft selection and whether he's someone we may look at?

3. Woewodin - 138 games, 00 brownlow, very good in 98, 99 & 02 also. We wont mention 01. 2. Tingay - crippled by injuries otherwise would have been even better. 1. Viney - great tough player whom we still miss today.

Ok Kat, for the record this is my 16th year in a row as a Melbourne member. I was at the 88 grand final as a 5 year old and I was at 00. No one wants to see Melbourne win matches more so then I, however is winning up to 3 extra games for the year and finishing 12th or 13th worth missing out on potentially the best kid to come out of the draft since Judd!! Me personally I'd be willing to take a few more weeks of pain to set us up for a stronger 2010 and run at the finals potentially in 2011.

Agree! In a way it could almost be the worst scenario possible if Melbourne win that one. hehe.

FB: Frawley, Warnock, Bennell HB: McNamara, Rivers, Cheney C: Green, Moloney, Davey HF: Sylvia, Bate, Petterd FF: Watts, Jurrah, Jetta Foll: Spencer, Morton, McDonald INT: Bail, Grimes, Jones, Martin *If we win round 18 v Richmond Jamar, McLean, Robertson & Bruce should be put in cotton wool for 2010, any minor surgery they need should be taken. *Wheatley & Whelan (in their final seasons) aren't part of the future so should only play round 22 for a farewell match, possibly in for Bennell & McNamara in that match. *This way we are giving further experience to our young players and the team shouldn't need to tank as there'd be an increased chance of us loosing rounds 19 & 20. *Will make pick 1 and Tom Scully a lock to be at Melbourne in 2010! Thoughts?

Got to go to Jurrah! Not only did he have more influence then Masten but he's also more eye catching. Better story for the AFL also if he's the nominee for the week.

TRADE: Bell, Buckley, Dunn (all to improve 2nd/3rd round draft pick) RETIRE: McDonald, Wheatley, Whelan PROMOTE: Valentti DRAFT PICKS: 1, 2, 2nd round, 3rd round, pick 1 PSD.

IN: Bennell, Martin, Miller OUT: Bate, Bell, Cheney

11 kicks 5 handballs 2 goals 0 points 6 marks 2 tackles play half forward/forward pocket

Another one: Jumping Jack & Flash Watts and Davey combine for last minute goal to down pies.

Don't think Christensen will be top 5?

72,318

WATTS YOU TALKIN ABOUT MALTHOUSE? Jack Watts ruins Magpies hopes of a top 4 finish.

It's more about what his Vic Country coach said about him that concerned me. He talked about how his body language can be a problem and he's an odd sort of fellow. However I still do hope he does get drafted to us at pick 2 right after Scully.

Don't get me wrong I think Scully probably is the best player in the draft. However according to the latest media it sounds as though Butcher is closing the gap. If we got picks 1 & 3 and we drafted Butcher first then we'd still end up with a quality tall forward and quality midfielder. Otherwise if we drafted Scully at 1 we'd just end up with two quality midfielders (as Butcher would go at 2). Sounds as though there's day light after Butcher and the next best tall forward or ruckman which are areas we're lacking.

I'm hoping Grimes, Morton and Strauss can fill that void for us in the future or possibly even Sylvia if they ever release him into the midfield. Christensen could compliment these players with his run and carry along with Davey and Blease, however I to would rather Scully. I only think they should recruit Christensen if they end up with picks 1 & 3 so they will have a tall forward and a midfielder from the draft. If we were to take Scully at 1 in this scenario we would end up with 2 midfielders as you'd suspect whoever had pick 2 would draft Butcher.

I still reckon round 14 is the perfect time to debut him. Will bring a few extra people to a home game against West Coast at the G which helps the club financially. He gets to debut against a side with a weak back line and the following week against Port also at the G also has a weak back line. He would get to play 9 games for the year and still be eligable to be nominated for a NAB rising star award next year. Also waiting till round 14 he gets another 3 weeks with Casey to keep improving and would have played enough games to play finals with them at seasons end.