DeeSpencer

The age say 3rd round pick for Toumpas. That's even more depressing. The pick 29 was looking like decent value.

Carlton might be planning on drafting Schache as well. Hard to pass up on a dominant tall forward. Or playing Wietering forward. But mainly if they follow the Hawthorn model under Bolton then they will want 2 rucks and Kreuzer is a handy 2nd ruck/forward, I think he's more suited there than as a first ruck where he gets monstered. Then the tall forward spots should be filled with versatile, quick and skillful players who are useful when the ball is on the ground and win 1 on 1's by the ball coming in quick to space. Casboult is very much a lead up or pack marking forward. He provides a good contest for kicking long down the line or bombing it in to him deep, but if you don't plan on playing that style of footy then he's not much use. Walker isn't a hell of a lot better but he is more mobile. I'd suggest Casboult isn't so useful to us either as hopefully we plan on moving the ball quicker and opening up our forward line as well. If that's the case then despite his terrible hands maybe Dawes can do as much as Casboult would anyway when using his motor to play in space. The lack of skills, mobility and ruck ability make it a no from me and I think I understand where Carlton are coming from.

Maybe we see if Adelaide get involved with the Saints pick 5 and if so then we go harder for pick 3. Wayne Milera should be the guys for us. He's got all the moves, tackles well enough and almost always disposes the ball to a team mates advantage.

Every chance Mills and Hopper get bid on before then so our pick 6 would go to pick 8. By moving up we still wouldn't get either of those 2 academy so it's a bit irrelevant to the swap, but relevant to the superstition.

Because that could be as high as pick 19 in a good draft! We will get something for Howe and I still think Toumpas is more likely to leave than not. If Port are serious about giving us their 2nd rounder for him I think we will take that. If we trade those 2 then we will have plenty of currency for Kennedy and Melksham (and Bugg). So no need to rush.

Hoping he's a bit like Colyer from the Bombers who's really come on the last two years (when not injured). We need speed, hopefully this works out well.

they want to bend us over before we wake up to our own stupidity

Bastinac would be a complete waste. He's a depth mid. We have plenty. Even if we don't get Ben Kennedy and/or Bugg I fail to see what the point of getting him is or how he improves us. Time to risk drafting some players with skills. That's what we need to improve.

The man swallows helium like it's going out of fashion.

The half back talk does give me some hope, with Howe and Cross leaving. If we play 3 talls defenders and Jetta in a back pocket then we are left with: Salem, Lumumba, Mitch White, Grimes, Terlich. The last two aren't AFL grade. White is a rookie who might be good enough to play more next year but probably isn't a full time starter. So Melksham would slot in to a starting role. I just hope he can adapt and play it well. He's ok but not amazing in the air and doesn't make good decisions under pressure from what I've seen. But maybe the space at half back and being able to kick off both feet might help him.

Later picks I agree, but even in a weak draft you are a chance at a good player with pick 25 and there should be ways to find guys good enough to fill gaps with late picks. I think the need to find more quality players should trump the need to find decent depth in the 22, especially when it's a player in Melksham who hasn't demonstrated any leadership ability or other intangible quality as far as I know. We are banking on improving Melksham and/or reinventing him in a new role and that's a dangerous game to play I think.

Should've gone Bills or Cardinals, darn it. I thought the Lions turned it around last week, obviously not. Cincy and Dalton getting it done in a big game might be the story so far, particularly with the Ravens losing again. Can anyone else see parallels between Denver and Freo? Are the 4 AFC divisions and the NFC North all decided?

Anyway. Pats Broncos? And why not. Jaguars!!

The Colts are the anti-Melbourne. They've swallowed all our bad luck. They dodged Ryan Leaf, tanked for Luck, can't draft any decent talent for the O line or defense but play in such a dumpster fire of a division they still make finals every year. We are the oldest team in the comp, the Colts stole a historic team from another city. It all makes no sense.

The biggest innovation and risk we've done under the current regime was signing Roosy for a short term deal and handover on 1.5 million a year. Got to spend money to make money. I wouldn't say Vanders was either safe or risky. He was the best player available, there are good 18 year olds who dominate TAC who would've been just as safe in many regards, or a good VFL player. Most of our other picks, including the next pick were for 18 year olds. Bennell is risk/reward and the risk was too big for the potential reward, but I see it more as an age profile/window thing than due to our shaky footings as a club. We are just too far off a flag for the reward to mean anything giving it's unlikely he fully turns it around. Personally I find it hard to believe we can't scrape together 100k it might cost to have an international/category B rookie. We are choosing to have 1 less player based mainly on the money. I really don't believe the difference between 44 or 45 is anything much for coaches, sports science, list management etc. But when every cent counts I can understand it. The one thing that surprises me is that these american ruck prospects attend the Roos draft camp and often get looked at by Sydney. With the need for a developmental ruck prospect I'm surprised we haven't had one on our list outside the usual 44. Maybe when Roos goes the extra cash will be distributed in to signing one. Maybe our recruiters are just waiting for the right guy and none of the category B athletes, Irish or American prospects have impressed them.

I doubt we will get anywhere with either of those combinations. No club is giving up an A grader for either of those deals, they aren't crazy big offers and we haven't been able to attract the A grader to start with. If we did then pick 6 would be on the table for sure and we'd be able to find whatever it is that needs to go with it. I think Howe's value is around pick 20-25. I'm not too fussed if we get that in a straight pick or in a pick +/- a further upgrade or down grade. With the value of draft picks now established for the bidding process we know the comparative values of each pick. And I fancy there will always be at least 1 club who's willing to move back or forward a few spots at one pick to move the other way at another.

Because Suckling is probably the only running player who will go from Hawthorn's best 22 and he's in competition with Langford and Hartung for that spot. At West Coast you could put him in the best 22 almost immediately and take out either Hutchings or Hill. Plus he'd be ahead of the grand final emergencies in McGinnity and Scott Selwood (who's gone). As a traded in player West Coast can all but guarantee him a spot in the team without upsetting their current players, where as Hawthorn have to stay loyal to the current order of things and go by form. Of course opportunities is almost always code for cash!

I actually think he runs 2 ways well when down back. Just gets lost and has no idea how to compete as a forward even if it's his most dangerous position. Going to be interesting to see what other coaches can do with him because for the last decade plenty of players have left Melbourne and some have had success, but I can't think of many who's flaws improved. Even Frawley in the grand final did exactly what he has always done - win one on ones, use his athleticism to get the ball, lob wedge it 45m down the line.

It doesn't quite specify the exact positions but I see he mentions McPherson mentioned as a development coach. So we might be in the market for a new forwards line coach. (or it could be a slip of the tongue). Either way I like that we have an experience and quality coaching group around Goodwin and we can add younger coaches in through the development position and at Casey. I like the theory of this Jennings guy coming in and evaluating the coaching. You can have the greatest footy minds but if the message isn't getting across then it's wasted. The one surprise I have is that we (and every club) don't have a specific kicking coach. Things like tackling, marking, ground balls, handballing can be taught through repetition and a pretty basic technique. If a player can't do those then they're unlikely to get drafted. But kicking is a very difficult skill that almost every player has to improve on from when they are drafted. Even the most natural kicks have to work on their penetration and execute under a much bigger pressure. I don't know who instructs our players with kicking. Is it one of the development coaches? Do they just work on it by trial and error and repetition?

Pick 4 v Pick 10. Cale Morton v Patrick Dangerfield. What does that matter. Same for 3 years v 6 years. Neither look all that likely to make it at their current clubs. I rate Melksham at about pick 40 and I'd rather something a little more than Toumpas but I wouldn't be holding my breath. If we end up trading Toumpas for either of Kennedy or Melksham that doesn't bother me too much even if it's slight unders.

HB: Salem ####### ???? C: Stretch Jones ?????? HF: Brayshaw ###### Vanders Foll: Gawn Vince Viney Int: Tyson Possibles: Petracca, ANB, Harmes, Newton, Trengove, Michie How the 2nd year kids will go will be interesting. I think Brayshaw will have no troubles backing up. Petracca should find a spot as well but it's early days for him. I really like what Stretch brings as an outside runner and with a preseason in the gym I think he'll be every chance to lock down a wing spot. ANB and Harmes might have to take a step back but I'm sure both will be working hard for a spot. As for trade ins: Melksham: I heard his manager talking about having a spot for him at half back/wing and I'd imagine he'd get a good run there if that's the plan. Bugg: He could take a spot in the back 6 or could take the tagging role. I think he'd be good at half back when a team has a dangerous high half forward/midfield type player like a Boomer Harvey. I'm not sure he's automatic best 22 but he wouldn't be far off as Grimes or Mitch White would be his main competition for a half back spot and he's a chance as a tagger. Ben Kennedy: He'll be competing for spots in the half forward mix if we get him and likely rotating up to a wing. There's definitely a big gap for another star midfielder as well but there's not much point entertaining that right now.

Howe wants to be Jack Gunston. Using his endurance and repeat speed to get up the ground on to the wings. Roos is happy to play him at half back where he can play off a man and intercept mark. Jeremy obviously doesn't like that. It is what it is. You can't play guys where they aren't getting a kick but players can't dictate positions. He'll definitely be more successful in a team with better ball movement and spread but I have big doubts about his ability to compete as a forward, just as Roos obviously does. He's gone. I hope whatever we get in a trade is enough to help us bring in a chunk of Melksham/Bugg/Kennedy and still have useful picks in the draft.

His best days are gone. No thanks.

A quick fix that just isn't a smart or skilled enough footballer to get it done in big games. I'd rather keep Pedersen and Dawes and put our resources in to drafting a proper fix. One of the McKay boys in the 2nd round of the draft would be worth a shot.

I live locally and just happened to be meeting a mate at the tan today mid morning and walked by Goschs' and who do I see? Christian Petracca and Jack Viney jogging a lap, having a kick to kick and even practising ground ball gets. No taping or support on Petracca's knee. Three other guys down by the goals having shots for goal. 1 wearing an MFC singlet but I couldn't work out who he was. 1 quite clearly looked like Daniel McStay from the Lions, who's probably back in town and just having a kick. Likely mates with Petracca from Vic Metro days. Anyway, at one stage McStay (or the McStay like figure) turns from down near the goals on to his left and kicks a good distanced kick out to Petracca, who not content to mark it normally spins around and marks it with both hands behind his back.