P-man

I doubt anything will top that highlights package. To be honest, Parish looks extremely vanilla to me. He's clearly rated highly by those in the know for a reason, but his highlights don't scream top 3 pick.

No way. Warnock is dreadful. He might win a couple more hitouts but he's even more useless around the ground than Spencer, and possibly less agile if that's possible. In his 2 games for the year he took one solitary mark, and he averaged 1.5 tackles compared to Pencil's 5. In the pecking order at Carlton he was behind Cameron Wood ffs. Pencil is also two years younger. He may not have the highest ceiling but he's about to enter his best couple of years I think. He's sufficient backup to Maximus. The less said about Daw the better. Amazed it took this long for North to cut their losses.

I don't personally think it's a case of poor development, I'm leaning more towards the second year blues theory. That said, poor development can't be ruled out just yet. Development isn't just down to the coaches. It's also significantly influenced by the more senior players who mentor and guide the younger ones. We still have some deficiencies in that regard.

Let's take a walk down memory lane to NAB Challenge 2014, Game 1, Richmond vs Melbourne. Some post game reactions to the debut performance of one Jay Kennedy-Harris: And on it went. What's happened since? Two years on, we have a player described by many on here as possessing no elite AFL traits. Small but not quick, sloppy disposal, little player awareness, poor endurance and little defensive accountability. Was that sparkling debut where he lit up the MCG just a pre-season flash in the pan? Is this the last we are seeing of the spectre of poor player development at the MFC? A talented kid going backwards? Most importantly, what is his role going forward? Where is he best suited, assuming he can work and improve upon areas of his game? For the record, I remain a fan. I think he is more creative and daring with the ball in hand than the majority on the playing list, but we simply haven't seen enough of it to date. Where to from here for the enigmatic JKH?

Selling him well. I think it might have been Healy who said the first thing to look at in a junior player to determine whether they will make it or not is how often they fumble the ball. Look at Brayshaw as a prime example. Hardly ever fumbles.

Dear god, stop. You are going from thread to thread talking in absolutes about how we MUST take player X or we'll be STUPID to take player Y. You've now confirmed that you are basing your opinions on highlight reels. You are in no position at all to be making such grand statements. If you are doing it purely for possible bragging rights about certain players that we don't pick, just save it. No-one cares. They really don't.

"However, the Magpies opposed the new fixture, describing the Anzac Day calendar as already over-subscribed . Club president Eddie McGuire likened the April 24 night game at the MCG to "having Christmas twice"." I really don't dislike Ed the way so many others do, but that analogy is in very poor taste.

Felt a bit the same. He also went overboard in how bad things are now. The "not trying" thing is outdated, and we did finish 13th. You can't still be deplorable and have five teams finish below you. But he conveyed the misery of being a Demons supporter pretty much spot on and it didn't alter my opinion of him. He's a top shelf football satirist with an extremely sharp mind.

You said Pedo "kept Dawes in the VFL" which isn't just an overstatement it's completely incorrect. Dawes was injured and was brought back via the VFL as happens all the time. In all likelihood he would've come back the following week regardless of Pedo's wrist injury. Done with talking about something this minsicule.

No, he didn't. Dawes injured his calf in Round 7 and was out for a few weeks. I think he might have played one game at Casey on his way back from injury.

Richmond are into him. Just for something different.

It merely confirms what we already knew - he still has a connection with his home town. It's not a clear sign of anything when you don't know any of the circumstances around the purchase. The kid is a pro and is hungry for success. If we're in the top 8 by 2017, he'll stay. If not, he could go, and not necessarily back home. He'll go where he feels he can achieve onfield success.

You can um and ah over Pedo v Dawes but it's six of one and half a dozen of the other. It's a hole in the side that needs to be filled. For the time being, Hogan likes playing with Dawes and he's first choice. You can place Pedersen there but it won't change the fact that Dawes is clearly ahead in the pecking order.

Yes. Melksham will play in Round 1. Whether he keeps his spot as the year goes on remains to be seen but as of right now he's best 22 in the role they will be allocating to him. Bugg and Kennedy are less certain, but Bugg is in my best 22. Hard at it competitor that Roos will love and a definite upgrade on the likes of Riley and Jordie in the skills department. Kennedy will have to earn his spot but will be given an opportunity early. I love Jeffy, but if he qualifies as a "bonafide AFL player" then I'm not sure why Melksham wouldn't with the number of games under his belt. He's had a torrid two years in terms of onfield performance, but his absolute best footy puts him in the frame for the longer term. List builds require strategic recruiting. It can't all be top end players and going to the draft. While Hawthorn were recruiting Burgoyne and Frawley they were also recruiting Hale and Gunston. We actually have a decent crop of highly talented youngsters being assembled, and with two more to added to the crop this year, that job is very near completion. It's now a matter of improving the depth and giving the kids a more competitive team in which to develop. An A grader or two would be nice but we're not in a position to land one of those yet. Check back this time next year.

If anyone's the expert on not being taken seriously... Dawes will be picked when fit. Get used to it like I have.

FB: Jetta Dunn Garland HB: Melksham T McDonald Salem C: Vince Tyson Stretch HF: Petracca Hogan Watts FF: Garlett Dawes Kent R: Gawn Jones Viney INT: Brayshaw, vandenBerg, Trengove, Bugg Depth (in order of call up): DEF: Frost, Lumumba, White, Grimes, O McDonald, Terlich MID: Michie, Neal-Bullen, Kennedy, Newton, M Jones FWD: Pedersen, Harmes, Kennedy-Harris, King, Hunt RUCK: Spencer

That name though. His nickname could actually be "Diddums". "Aw, did Diddums lose the football? He better go get it then.."

I'll be cheering for him even while wearing a poos and wees jumper. Hope he makes the most of his chance.

Deja vu. I had this exact exchange with OD today.

We've also given up our 2016 first round pick, for accuracy's sake. Still a big win.

Clearly fostered a productive relationship with GWS from an early stage. Great stuff Mahoney and co.

Will win the fans over this lad.

Wow. Very nice work.

That isn't really surprising. How many Melbourne players are genuinely rated by non-Melbourne people? Hogan yes. Brayshaw probably. McDonald in some circles. They admire Jones but few really rate him that highly. Outside of that it's a blanket of ignorance and indifference. They are no doubt taking a wait and see approach with Howe.

Haha ffs. YOU brought up Darling in saying that similar criticisms were made of him before he was drafted as were being made of Weideman, which I pointed out wasn't exactly the case. Edit: If you're referring to the GF comment as "criticism", it was a light hearted jab. Darling is obviously a gun. This is a bizarre tangent.