DeeSpencer

They are used as a 2nd ruck because we don't have any better options and they are also too slow and cumbersome to play forward as 2nd rucks. It's going to have to be more than 10%. Gawn can't do 90%. Goldstein and Jacobs are the only 2 who can do 90% and even then I don't think it's ideal. With the sub going and the extra bench spot I don't think clubs will play 2 dinosaur rucks but I do think if they have 2 good rucks who can pinch hit forward they'll play them and play them longer spells on the ground before rotating. Also Curnow will be starting his career at the 191 (or apparently 193) mark. With players heights growing over time the average ruckman will get bigger and bigger.

The Hawks also had Gunston, Schoenmakers and Roughead in the grand final team as well as the 2 rucks and all 3 are listed as 193cm. Obviously Roughy played a lot of midfield and Gunston usually does a bit of time on the wing but I think Curnow and Hogan could easily play with 2 ruckman due to their mobility and endurance.

He won't be a 2nd ruck at AFL level. Much too short. But his endurance and mobility means that alongside Hogan there's room for him and a 2nd ruck. If you have 2 tall forwards who can both play inside 50 and up the ground then they can play big minutes in Time On Ground and you can rotate 2 proper rucks through the ruck, bench and 10-20% each sitting in the goal square.

Better locker between Wattsy and Dawes instead of stuck between the McDonald brothers. That would be the main benefit of the swap. I like the symbolism of numbers, but I'd put our new draft picks in the 40's and let them earn good numbers. Petracca has done sensationally in his rehab, he can have number 5. Good for him, good for the fans.

We always bring out the best in Darling. West Coast beat us by ten goals+, he's too strong for Garland, too quick for McDonald and has a field day with his defensive pressure against our under pressure and poorly skilled backline. Combined with his draft position and Lucas Cook I doubt there would be a group of supporters who ranks Darling higher than we do! So whilst he's a very good footballer (despite his poor grand final) I think Curnow has a few aspects better than Darling. He looks like he has long reach in the air. His endurance could become first class given the families athletic ability and he just seems to have an x factor with the way he reads the play as a forward and in his decision making. No doubt he has more rough edges than Darling as well and I'd gladly settle for a Darling start to his career for Curnow as pick 7 (a marking forward capable of 40 goals next to Hogan would do wonders) I see enough potential for Curnow to be every bit as good as Darling if not better.

There were 4 or 5 clubs linked to this kid in the article and every club would've checked out an 18 year old playing great footy in a top line senior league. As for trade week I don't think there was a trade done in the entire period that hadn't been speculated upon. There's only so many clubs, managers, uncontracted players etc and with thousands of media personalities covering the game almost everything gets out. I'd look at the manager and Essendon before I blamed the club. Both Bugg and Kennedy were kept under wraps, although neither are likely to be big stories.

Moncrieff is a key forward I think. 7 goals in 6 senior games this year. 7 goals in 10 Development league goals. Invited to the state combine so clubs are obviously looking at him. Jordan Moncrieff Casey Scorpions VFL 24.7.1992 Height: 197cm Weight: 92kg Keilty a tall forward as well who was eligible for the 2013 draft http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-10-20/declan-keilty

I think you get as many chances to do damage from half back as you do in the midfield and you don't have to contend with all the stoppages and inside ball. I'm not in a hurry to move Salem, I think he needs a full season at half back and we need him there.

I think we should be. But we are also hoping a lot of players have better seasons than last year and we have brought in 2 ready made players in Melksham and Bugg who have the attributes required to fill the spots left by Howe and Cross. I agree it's silly to read too much in to one individual result, but at the same time we need more players capable of consistent top 15 performances and hopefully Watts can do that.

Ball use without pressure - A Ball use with pressure - C+ Uncontested ball winning - B Contested ball winning - C Contested marking - C Tackling - C/C+ Defensive work rate - D All he has to do is get his competitive efforts up to an ok baseline and then make sure he's winning enough of the footy and he'll be a valuable and consistent part of the team. Maximise his strengths and round off his weaknesses. It was close to happening for him this year and then he dropped away late.

It's interesting that it's a shallow draft AND clubs don't seem to be in to any DFA. It might not be a coincidence. In a stronger draft clubs would delist more players and have more picks. This year everyone is holding on to their players so there isn't the same quality out there. Clubs won't want to have late round rookie picks so I think a few will get picked up then.

Watched most of that video. Think it's important to realise it's seemingly lost of his disposals not just highlights. I'm still a fan. He makes things happen. His athleticism is obvious, he seemingly has go go gadget arms and has strong hands in a contest, which of course is what you need at TAC level to be any chance at AFL level. He's certainly a long way off as a midfielder, the repeat efforts around a contest are lacking and his play below his knees is poor. His kicking is interesting. He takes risks and pulls a lot of them off. Ball drop is a bit high and therefore he doesn't lace it out but he certainly makes things happen and doesn't blaze away. Yeah he's a bit of a risky prospect with plenty of development to do but at the same time I think he has a heap of potential and natural ability. We've got Brendan McCartney for a reason and if he can't sink his teeth in to this bloke and make him a footballer then no one can. Pick 3 might be too high, but if he's still there at pick 7 I'd be keen.

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.

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.