DeeSpencer

Without having seen a heap of either of them I think Parish has Francis covered for speed, agility, decision making and running patterns. Francis looks like a man amongst boys as a forward and midfielder. I think like Goddard he'll start off down back and might develop his midfield game in time. I'm not convinced of his midfield potential at the top level. I wish Parish was 190cm and 90kg with a strong intercept marking game, then he'd be a heck of a player. But just because he isn't doesn't mean he can't be better than the bigger, strong prospect. He's a natural midfielder who brings run, carry and skills with the right mix of competitiveness.

I'd rather Curnow, Milera or Clay Oliver. But I'd hardly say no to a 200cm agile physical left footer,

Vikings GB Seattle

I'm not a huge fan. I wouldn't compare to Curnow. Forwards are always going to have more rough edges and be more valuable than defenders. The comparison for Hibberd should be with Francis as that 3rd tall half back. Francis looks a bit thicker build and stronger. Hibberd might cover the ground a bit better. Both are nice kicks. From those highlights I wouldn't declare Hibberd an amazing kick just yet. I wouldn't be upset if we took him with pick 7 as he'd fill a need, but I'd prefer others. Maybe it's the strengths of the draft but Dan Howe went to the Hawks in the 30's last year and is a similar type.

I get that we wanted him in the draft, but he still wasn't exactly worth top 30 was he? 2 years, 3 knees and I'd say we'd be better off leaving him. I'd rather another Mitch White or James Harmes.

Sorry I can't help it.....But.. The Viney's holiday at Tumby Bay. Fair to say they'll know about this bloke. Could it be Wines all over?

If we go Parish then I think it goes: Ess: Mid - Mathieson, Oliver. Maybe Francis or Milera Ess; Fwd - Curnow or Weideman GC: Milera or Curnow Why do you think Essendon are so keen on Weideman over Curnow? If they plan on playing 2 rucks and Daniher then they won't want a 197cm forward, they'll want the more mobile option. Similarly I think Milera is a Scotty Clayton special on the Gold Coast but he might have some reservation about a SA boy and whilst Peter Wright will make a nice Dixon replacement I'm not sure they have a 3rd tall forward option. Depends on how much faith they have in Sam Day.

I'd take Curnow as a forward and see any versatility as a bonus. Brayshaw, Petracca, Vanders and Kent, whilst all speculative to some extent, have the versatility for forward/midfield. Versatility is a little bit overrated I think. The Hawks moved Roughy because they could more than because they had to and a lot of teams move guys around a bit. What I'd like to do is draft guys who have elite abilities in one position but have or will have enough well rounded ability to move spots. If you are a competitor, have skills and decent athleticism you can play in every zone of the ground. Parish could certainly play backine, midfield, forward.

Hope it's not like the Clokes where if you get one you get stuck with the rest. I'm not sure I could deal with Darcy, Cassidy, Fin and Indy.

Picks 50 and 46 (which will come in a bit) combine for pick 32 (which will stay similar or ease out a bit) under the points system. If we weren't playing on dropping someone back to the rookie list then I would've thought we might have looked to combine these 2 picks in trade week for 1 higher pick. Unless if we caught on to interest from another club in stealing whomever we were to drop back as a delisted free agency, which could happen with someone like Michie or even Hunt.

In these drafts I think it's worth it. And in fact with Michie's late season form I think it's worth it. Although I think it's a bit different as Jetta was being remodelled as a lock down defender and we weren't flush with backline options. In some ways we weren't drafting the same player who couldn't get a kick up forward for most of his previous AFL career. As an inside midfielder, and that's what Viv is, I think he's behind Jones, Vince, Viney, Tyson, Brayshaw, Vanders as the 6 I'd have in the team. Plus ANB and maybe Trengove if he gets back. Harmes and Newton can play that role and we are yet to see what Petracca can do. Just from watching a few trainings and games though I have been critical of the way Michie covers the ground and that improved late in the season, if the shock of being delisted really spurs him in to increasing his fitness he might surprise me and plenty of others. Personally I'd rather delist and re rookie Terlich because no one will want him. I wonder if someone like Richmond would make a move for Michie. He carved them up in the wet.

Did you read the article? Adelaide are pretty much financing him to have one last shot at cricket, before he then commits to them if it doesn't work out. As a gun junior he's a pretty decent prospect for a Category B rookie but I'm not big on paying guys who won't even commit. Plus he was likely to leave Victoria to get involved with another states cricket program.

I think the draft is our answer to the ruck problem. If Gawn and Spencer both go down we throw King or a draftee in and live with it. We aren't winning the flag next year, so better to take the risk than waste a spot on a guy we know won't be long term. That said if we took Gorringe as a rookie and gave him a month in the ring with Brock McLean tactics he could work out. There's talent there for sure. Just seemingly little heart.

I like the way he doesn't waste the ball but still goes forward. No sideways or backwards with this kid. Surely it's easier to teach a kid when to hold up and go backwards or sideways than it is to teach someone to take it on. Probably don't read this if you are a member of the Oliver family: but he's fat, pale, red headed with a face only a mother could love. He doesn't look like an AFL footballer, probably why he didn't get picked for Vic Country. But he plays like one. And if he has the work ethic he'll get the body sorted out and the AFL player standard haircut and fake tan. Their might be more skill, speed and athleticism elsewhere for picks 3 and 7. But if there isn't I'd take this guy in a flash.

This. He was everywhere in his first preseason. He put the rest of our players to shame. But they start late, do much less and are probably on a wave after the draft. I've seen JKH around town a couple of times. Not [censored], maybe not even drinking, but out and about. It might not be a coincidence that his good mate Luke McDonald had a down year as well. Rising stars one year, to the 2nd year blues, not a surprise. Anyway, he was top 5 in an early time trial last year. That's promising. I wonder if Garlett coming in as the first choice small forward took away a bit of his confidence. But forget all the negatives. He can find the ball, he can kick the ball, he has clean hands. There's plenty to work with and if it takes a year or two to come good that's ok. If JKH is our 30th best player then we are going ok.

I'm a fan of Josh Schoenfeld as an elite running outside player. Shame he went and smashed all the records at the draft camp. He's value might rise now.

We've just traded up to get 2 top 10 picks so we clearly value them. And the Hawks are still experiencing a period of dominance they set up with getting Hodge, Franklin, Roughy, Lewis, Birchall, Rioli with high picks in quick succession. I think our philosophy is to use these picks this year to find hopefully 2 but at least 1 high level player to go with the likes of Hogan, Salem, Viney, Tyson, Brayshaw, Petracca. And then from there we can draft and develop good players to complement the stars. The difference between pick 15 and pick 40 in terms of finding good players is often very small. The higher pick gives you a greater chance of finding the hidden star, but in terms of finding good solid B grade players the picks are similar.

Stats in isolation are often misleading. But at the same time sometimes the obvious is right in front of you. After 3 months out Curnow in his first 4 games went: 4 goals, 2 goals, 3 goals, 4 goals (5 behinds). With mark totals (contested) of 6 (3), 6 (3), 6 (2), 8 (5). Forget positional needs. With the 3rd pick in the draft we are after the best possible player. The guy who will add the most value to the team. Now if there isn't a complete player who does almost everything well then you look for a player who has the most upside. And the with modern defensive tactics so good the most valuable player is one who can take a mark and kick a goal. The scouting report says Curnow is likely to have top quality endurance, good size, the right amount of speed and agility to take his game to the AFL level. Over the last 3 years Jack Gunston has been one of the leagues best forwards and a super valuable player for the Hawks averaging just over 6 marks a bit under 2.5 goals a game. If that's the type of player Curnow compares with then that's a pretty strong case for picking him.

Do we get this London game on Yahoo tonight? Guess we will find out. Hungover as can be but might watch the first quarter if it's on.

Hard to see a Victorian club plucking a kid who doesn't even want to press his case for being drafted by preferring to play school footy and go home in the holidays instead of playing Colts. I don't really understand the benefit to him unless he's petrified of moving away from WA and Freo have worked out a deal to rookie him if he stays hidden. Which of course would be draft tampering. Without knowing anything more about him than the article states I would be surprised if he gets picked with that story. He'll probably end up in the WAFL and try for next year if he commits to it. Or Freo will take the chance

I'm a bit doubtful on if he has the skills or athleticism for a first round pick yet alone a top 10 pick. But he does look very big, strong and competitive. I reckon the Dogs would be over the moon if he lasted to their picks in the 20's. The Hawks might be keen with their 2 late teen picks to get a Lake replacement. Carlton could grab him as well, especially if they see Wietering as a CHF.

He mentions his versatility and compares himself to Hodge. But there's nothing wrong with being realistic about where you'll start your career and what your skill set is. He looks like a 3rd tall intercept defender to me. And his midfield potential is certainly up for debate but that's what development is for. But no matter what pick he is taken at if he has career like Josh Gibson as an intercept defender capable of playing on a man one week and rebounding with 25 touches and plenty of intercept marks then he'll be a great pick up. No one is ever plug and play but I'd imagine if he had a good run with injury that Francis would be good for at least 10 games at half back next year.

Rucks sure. Maybe the occasion key defender, especially if it's only for a back up. But J Pod is the only decent key foward I can remember coming from the state leagues. I think we will consider a state league ruck with one of our late picks just to add some depth

From round 23 last year: Melbourne: Missing: Tyson, Vanders, Kent, Jetta, Frost, Pedersen, Dawes, Watts, Lumumba, Petracca, Trengove* Out: Cross, Howe In: Melksham, Bugg, Kennedy GWS: Missing: Mumford, Shiel, Hoskin-Elliott, Coniglio, Steele, Davis, Patfull, Haynes, Griffen, Patton, Scully Out: Treloar, Bugg, Plowman In: Stevie J It's a little scary how much GWS had missing in round 23 last year. Mumford is huge for them and Shiel is a star. You could make a decent midfield with the rest of those players. Patton in forward (with Stevie J) and Davis, Patfull, Haynes are their 3 best tall defenders. Then again Vanders and Kent bring speed and hardness to our forward line and depth to our midfield. We haven't lost a gun like Treloar and if we get a 2nd tall forward in form that will help. I expect GWS to improve and not to do a Gold Coast, so it's going to be a huge test.

Clayton OliverOliver Wines. I want a forward and an outside running player as well. But at the same time I really like this kid. Wouldn't surprise me if he went top ten. He looks like a bull. Carlton would love to pair him with Cripps I think. Essendon should consider their future post Jobe Watson.