DeeSpencer

If I’m the Dons I’m inclined to call our bluff and see if we pick Kako at 5 (6). Could happen, but I’d say odds on it doesn’t. They probably have to flick St Kilda something to get 9 to 8 or guarantee a non Saints bid.

I agree, but the Hawks chucking a future first in the Eagles/Richmond pot diminishes the likelihood Freo or Richmond end up trading one out. It might be 9 or bust

I think the Eagles will want the Carlton first rounder (not the Hawks one) and more. Honestly it’s the perfect deal to change the rules and let the Eagles get the best of the 2 first rounders (Carl or Hawks) next year but the afl rules don’t allow that. Eagles would be mad to offer their own first but they’ll on send the Carl/Haw first rounder for Baker. It’s smart from the Hawks. They didn’t want to offer more than 14. Can now offer a future first and future 2nd. It’s worth the same thing but reads better!

With Wilkie and Howard the Saints don’t need to play 3 experienced talls, depth would help but the smart long term play for them is to expose some kids.

Honestly a little surprised we didn’t jump at that. Must be either more up in the air with other deals or a degree of confidence that we can do better. Let’s hope so

You don’t think anyone watched Tomlinson the last few years and thought he was a best 22 player right? Moving from Steve May’s back up to competing with Billy Frampton would be a smart move for him though.

So Brisbane have made their moves and now have 32 and 34 and some other junk (43, 45, 60). We have 28, 40, 49, 54 and 65 I doubt we go backwards but we could just give them all 5 of those picks for 32, 34 and Sharp Most likely result is we combo 2-3 of the 40/50’s later picks for one of 32 or 34 and Sharp. We have to keep flexibility for Oliver trades and getting another first round pick in this draft but I do wonder just what pick GWS can’t turn down for a guy they’ve never played (or what offer we can realistically make).

Hope we can get Sharp and 32 for our combo of late stuff (whilst also keeping flexibility to get a future 1 and a late throw at the stumps for the Derka)

18, 13 (both wing), 12 (half forward) in his 3 full games this year, averages about 20 touches in his VFL games. It’s not his strength but I don’t think he’ll struggle to get the ball.

Brown, Brayshaw, Hunter, ANB, Schache out so far. Likely: J Smith? Tomlinson? Possible: Hore? Oliver? At least 7, could be 9 out. Plus Cat B rookie KFW. 3 ins: Kentfield (r), Campbell, Sharp Still 4-6 spots plus cat B. Mentha is cat B at best IMO. 4 good picks in the national draft, Yze or another rookie maybe, Derksen or some other mature player (perhaps Hore).

Please explain the moneyball aspect to this recruitment?

Not bidding on Sam Marshall with either 5 or a second first round pick will be part of the trade value for Brisbane. I really like him and would love to bid with a pick in the 9-11 range. I doubt this deal will happen quickly. We need to secure that extra first rounder if we can. Brisbane need to do a deal with Richmond for pick 20 out and a stack of picks worth points in. Then we'll probably look to do some kind of trade where we give them 40, 49, 54, 65 in return for 32 and Sharp.

I think he fits 6-12 but we are telling Essendon we are taking them until they trade us pick 9.

His VFL highlights has some really nice kicks on both sides but it’s not a strength from what I’ve seen of him at afl level. Not a lot of power in his game, great endurance but not the fastest. He’d be wing/high half forward depth and good players who excel defensively in those roles aren’t easy to find. I suggested Ned McHenry because that’s how hard it is to find super hard runners with any talent at all. Nibbler wasn’t Nibbler for a very long time in his career either remember. Contracted, you’d want Brisbane to do the right thing and let him go for a bag of chips.

It might’ve been a 2 year deal with a trigger that he reached in year 1, but yep, welcome to Melbourne list management. Everyone gets at least a year they don’t deserve

Please google Isaac Kako and get back to me

Started the year very well but had a poor champs and trailed off as the season went. Statistically ended up having a worse year at both Coates league and champs last year which are big red flags. Was linked to Box Hill who have a strong side but never got a VFL game which honestly is AFL draft system malpractice. Work rate is iffy, ball use is iffy, doesn’t mark the ball like a 194cm player should. Cripps is a beast but he’s had to do a power of work to keep up with afl speed and skills. A Cripps close without the two way running and with lesser skills is a liability. Maybe Smillie just wasn’t challenged enough and got complacent after being the number 1 pick in May but I’m not sure I’m risking a top 6 pick to find out.

BJ Wigglesworth reporting Kangas are smitten with Tauru and the Eagles are linked to Draper. No update on Richmond but not dispelling the Lalor links. The Eagles could potentially risk a trade down, I don’t think North could, the risk of a team picking Tauru or coming up to snag him would terrify them. Crows would have their choice of FOS, Langford and perhaps Jagga or even Armstrong and we’d go next. One of FOS or Langford would be a nice result.

Kozzie’s the only high quality forward on that list and he’s pretty keen to get out of Melbourne. We need to add a mature mid and draft another one with a decent pick at least, but forward talent is just as important.

The age report the other day seems to think so. I'm not as high on a few of the top mids as soon people are. We are desperate for forward talent no matter the size and shape and Kako has power, aggression, class and is a good ball winner up the ground. I think he'd be in the frame

Trading up will be their priority but if we are a serious threat it gets very hard for them. Richmond aren’t going to 9. North, I suspect they want the best tall and aren’t going that far down. Eagles tried the trade back thing a couple of years ago, I bet they want another gun mid. Crows tried it with Fish McAsey, doubt they do it again, maybe if they are certain Draper is available, otherwise unlikely.

Oliver’s opinion is largely irrelevant. All that matter is whether Geelong are serious or totally taking the [censored] as usual. If they make us a reasonable deal then we can have a conversation.

If we’re the team to bid on Kako and Essendon can’t get ahead of us (hard to see anyone from 1-4 willing to go down to 9) we might have them panicking. The bonus for them is if they deal us pick 9 obviously we don’t bid on Kako

I think they’re trying to compensate bad teams because they know how much free agency screws them, even if the net result is it encourages players to cut and run. The league had no choice but to agree to free agency. But I’m sure they hoped the cap space would be used by bad teams to bring in good players not the other way.

Not just one! They have Jayden Nguyen too who I think is very draftable late