DeeSpencer

Most likely either just balancing the list profile and/or salary cap space and contracts. If you look at our existing rookies Tim Smith, Keilty and Corey Wagner could all easily be on the senior list. They are experienced VFL players who might well be handy enough depth on an AFL list. So it's not like we are short on experienced players in the 44. We've just added 4 kids and 1 mature age player in Hore, we've got 2 more picks. It's probably better to have both of those picks as rookie picks on 1 year deals so we can take chances on guys who might not work out. I think rookie base wages aren't counted in the salary cap either so it probably saves 80k you can use elsewhere.

We don't have to fill the main list. Can go 39 and 5. I assume we'll pass in the PSD and take 2 rookies. Have 39 main list. 5 A rookies. 2 B rookies.

I like his overhead ability, grabs a few big marks for a medium or even smaller sized player (whatever 184cm is these days). Looks to kick on both feet and releases team mates in to space with his hands. Might not have the tricks to be a star but doesn't seem to be much wrong with his game either.

Going to be a struggle for some to spell his name correctly! I love a country kid with a pure kick. From Jason Taylor's comments I'm not sure he's really targeted for any particular position, maybe more of a gamble on some skills and athleticism. 20th December, would have to be closest to youngest player in the draft.

Really like him, whenever I've seen Pies VFL he's been solid as a rock. For all the talk of 'how will he get a game in our backline' the reality is we had Fritsch, Lewis and a raw Joel Smith play half back in the finals. Not to mention the number of games Wagner and Vince played during the year! Now we don't have to rush Lever back in round 1, Fritsch can go to a half forward or wing spot that really suits his game. Joel Smith can be pushed for a spot. Lewis can get in the bin.

I thought we needed another kicker from half back to take the pressure off Salem and Hibberd. Particularly a guy with penetration and length with the new extended man on the mark and kick in rules. Nice intercept size as well. No issue with the pick from a needs based decision. Plenty of runners left to find the wingmen we need.

Teams giving up 2nd round picks to move up 4 or 5 spots. I’d happily trade down for a 2nd rounder

Jags, Pats, Steelers Great to wake up to the Bears stealing a win with a back up QB on a short break. Usually that's the Bears throwing a game away like that.

Jason Taylor and co will know right now how many of the top 20 of his draft board are gone. Obviously whether it matters will take years to find out. Inside Melbourne Podcast. http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2018-11-20/midfield-depth-a-focus-for-the-draft

Think the clubs before us have picked up a lot of the versatile highly skilled mids in the 10-20 range. Now we're looking at guys who do a few things well but aren't as complete. McKenzie and Hamill would be nice, warming to Kennerley as well

Not sure that's a great result for us. Ely Smith, Sturt, O'Halloran all gone. Ian Hill, Curtis Taylor, Luke Valente, Luke Foley the highest media rated still left I guess. Nervous with Sydney ahead of us as well as West Coast and Adelaide. 3 of the better drafting sides.

That whole intersection is being altered with a series of new lanes and p turns to create continuous traffic flow up Punt road. The limited amount of space there is probably all being used up. Not going to happen.

Yes and no. They did trade pick 13 to Carlton in a 3 way deal with the Crows for picks 26, 28 and 40. They'll probably get a top 5/top 7 player for pick 13. Not a bad return for employing John Blakey for a decade. When added to Mills and Heeney it allows them to never go down the ladder to acquire elite talent, although the other main aspect of rebuilding - bringing in bulk picks to get younger - is a little harder for them.

No they won't. They've got plenty of picks this year to match an early bid without going in to deficit.

Barring a trade the Eagles will effectively have picks 1 and 3 of the second day which might mess with our plans a bit. Any obviously slide will have clubs calling the Eagles and offering a decent deal and given they have the 2 picks they are likely to entertain offers. They have the advantage of the night to sleep on it and negotiate a trade. Makes it less likely that we'll secure a slider.

Depends on your definition of success. Sam Reid has been a success for the Giants. Useful depth player they very much needed and important culture guy. I forgot the best one of the bunch recently in Sam Menegola. I wouldn't be overly keen on Wagner if we were an older list and didn't have as many list spots because I agree the odds are against him being a long term player. But considering we still have 7 list spots to fill with kids and we had a lot of delistings as well as trading Kent and Tyson it makes sense to get him in. I'll be calling him a success if he helps Casey win games and can come in and provide some cover when needed.

Sam Reid at GWS maybe spent a year only as a coach and NEAFL player before resuming as a player? Michael Hartley was cut from Collingwood, played at Coburg then to Essendon. Sam Collins is doing it this year going up to the Suns. Same with Brooksby to the Eagles. What about Shannon Motlop back in the day under very unusual circumstances. As list management gets more flexible and teams get more creative in the ways they fill their list I think it will happen more often. No way to confirm but I've thought at least part of North delisting Wagner was to get as young and cheap as possible to make sure they had as much salary cap space as they could get to offer Gaff et al.

East Melbourne residents are truly a special brand of entitled. They live 10 minutes walk from the CBD yet expect to live without traffic, without development, surrounded by parks and gardens like they live on the urban fringe. I guess that's what happens when your property values increase something like 100 fold over the course of your life time. Things can change after elections so we shouldn't completely write it off but it does make it harder. I wonder if it's possible to build the facility and still train at Gosch's? I understand why people don't want to change the character of Yarra Park, but the argument against building over the train line and making use of underutilised space isn't as good. Maybe get the funding for the facility and get a proper stand alone base at the MCG and then work on reclaiming part of the park for an oval at a later stage.

What do you like about him Jay? I see a neat player but apart from a little extra height does he have more to offer than someone like Billy Stretch? I'm getting very Dave McKay vibes about Kennerley. Maybe not the same endurance but McKenzie seems to have more burst and maybe more penetration on his kicking. The other thing that stood out from his highlights was excellent hands on both sides and the creativity to get it to guys in space. I see the trademark Jason Taylor grunt in Sparrow. Good athleticism too. Worry about a lack of polish. Where does Tom Joyce rank in the inside mids list, he looks full of class.

This is such a bad rule. I like that every club has to have 3 national draft picks a year to make sure they bring in young talent. I like the rule requiring 2 first round draft picks in 4 years, even with the vague notion that the AFL can allow teams to break it with permission. That's enough restrictions. If a team wants to trade 1st, 2nd and 3rd round picks from a future draft then let them. Particularly if they are using those picks to move up in the current draft and bring talent in. The AFL have brought in trading and tried to spice up the draft, it's not only a fun idea but it's good for clubs as well. Teams can back themselves and pay the price for a certain player and bottom teams can get full return for their valuable picks if trading down. Silly to add a protection that restricts top teams from making bold decisions.

Jason Taylor on the Inside Melbourne podcast never went in to specifics on players but was asked about whether we needed a key forward. Can't read too much in to his response which was basically if they're good enough we'll look at the key forwards, but he did mention we've got Austin Bradke coming on to the list and it might be a case of reassessing the tall talent in 12 months time. I wouldn't hold your breath expecting Williams to be picked at either of our early picks.

The state leagues certainly have salary caps. Not sure how it works for AFL sides. I will say that I don't think AFL teams are going to load up with delisted players in their reserves. Aside from the expense it takes away development opportunities for your own young players. I think this rule favours the WA and SA teams more than anyone else. They have strong local leagues to watch a number of delisted and undrafted players in and can then offer them a second chance without needing to relocate. The VFL isn't 5 times stronger than the SANFL/WAFL, nor is the NEAFL as strong as those leagues. Still, it will more be about opportunity. Brooksby the ruckman is off to West Coast because they have an opportunity greater than what other teams can offer. As far as I can tell he has no links to Perth or the Eagles, he's just going to a team that wants him.

Welcome Corey, Good physical attributes and sure to benefit being back full time after losing that chance with North. Not sure if he has the skills to make it long term but he’s a nice depth addition, effectively replacing Kent. My only question is are teams limited to one rookie addition or can we leave another spot open after the draft and add another player over summer?

What's the chance he's just signed with us? Surely high.

Liked the look of him last year, good to see he had a strong 19 year old season. His class shines through his highlights, draft him, work out if he has the physical tools or grunt later.