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If a delisted pickup is dictating who you than take with pick 1, I'd suggest that club would have rocks in their head

Incorrect. He'd been told at his end of season interview that it was the likely scenario. They had simply just kept delaying the inevitable.

Without wanting to start any racial slanging match and I premise this comment with a note that I do not know a whole heap about aboriginal communities so I'd be happy for someone to give me real facts.. We regularly are told of kids heading back home to their remote small communities, and often hear how close and family oriented they are which makes me beg the question, how do they let kids like this.. Get like this?! These elders of the community must take some responsibility for these lads running amok. Jurrah heading home and us watching his life completely fall away by the wayside is just another example of a man who was seemingly flourishing in a stable environment and has gone home with no one to put any sort of brakes on his behaviour. It's truly hitting such a devestating stage because in such a media headline driven sport world we live in now, these bad stories do get far more publicity than the good deeds of others.. But the words of Matt Rendell do still ring true to an extent. This one in particular is just truly sad, because by all reports he did and always had one dream to play AFL footy, but the grog won the battle in good vs evil. Can't help but draw parallels with famous celebs over the years who's lives have fallen away in front of our eyes ala Amy Winehouse, fingers crossed he sorts his life out before its too late... Too many more videos going 200 down the middle of the road and it won't be long

McCartin's highlights resemble Hawkins. Hawkins took 3-4 years as a player to come on and be a strong AFL footballer. I wonder if McCartin will be given the same leeway these days with the must be elite within 3 years mentality.

I understand they were expecting him there Monday and he no-showed, and than did the same again today. Wouldn't expect to see him at many from now on.. A lot of players seem quite burned out at the club.. I'm sure it's a mixture of both personal frustration at not being good enough and the environment of the MFC but the few anecdotes I've heard recently suggest we still do have a way to go on a welfare level. Byrnes might be a handy hire, and it does seem to explain some of the Clark scenario.. Regardless sorry for going off track the first part re Tapscott does apply!

My very basic understanding of the scenario is that club wants him on rookie on same $. He doesn't want to be rookied, he said he'll retire but than that would involve club paying $$$ to not play. Quite a game of chess by the looks of the news reports. I think they'll pay him out and delist him.

Me too RB. Watching the highlights I really feel he's a better equip AFL player. There's always such an attraction to that X Factor player who can mark and kick goals and its why we were so enamoured with Sylvia for so many years but Brayshaw is the clear number 1 for me. Really, really hope we get him.

Funnily enough NB, 23. Young enough that I can tell him how hard working a 9-5 job for the rest of his life will be, I'm two years in, with 50 to go and that whilst living your life in the public eye, having a strict diet and not getting to party does suck, getting paid exorbitant money to do what he'll probably continue to do on a weekend is such an obvious choice. These kids grow up being the best player in every team they play for and when they hit the bigs and it doesn't go all their way, the cards seem to collapse. Alot who get delisted (Blease for my example) state how the game-plan was at fault, or the training didn't suit. This mantra that it should just fall into place is becoming more and more prevalent in the AFL. More to point, Dom is 20.. 2 years in the system and he's had enough. Eagles player Tom Swift I believe retired citing a true love for medicine as the reason he didn't feel motivated. He gave 5 years but his money hadn't improved and he was likely to get far better opportunities out there. That I can agree with 100%. I feel more sorry for Dom than anything, I think it's a rash decision based on the fact he was playing reserves footy more often than not and thought putting the effort in was too much for the return he was getting. Fair enough, his decision but I'd love an interview in 20 years asking him if he made the right choice because the kid who spent 18 years dreaming of that premiership on the 'G one day had an opportunity so many would dream of, and turned it away. Best of luck on future life Dom, I hope you find what you're looking for and am far more appreciative of this decision made pre-draft than post-draft!

Pleasantries and thanks aside, it does have to raise the question how we keep drafting players who don't have a true passion for the game and more importantly the club. Isn't this what the interviewing process is all about?! Why do we have development and welfare officials.. Knowing what we know, Melbourne needed one more position on it's major list and whether the club suggested this first or he did come forward we'll never know

You're that one friend everyone has Picket Fence, that when they leave the pub you go home scratching your head wondering how you're still talking. Every Melbourne selector would've told you that after 2 years Ollie would've had a better career so far comparatively speaking to Jimmy, we selected the latter because they believe he has the potential to be the better player. Rhys Palmer looked a great player for Freo in his first two years too, a far far better player than Cotchin in his first two years.. Didn't have the body shape or endurance to play permanent midfield but low and behold, at the prime of career the class has shown through. If we got that pick wrong, it wasn't the first and it won't be the last the club makes in the draft. Doesn't make your point scoring any less ridiculous though.

Fixtures comes out at 10am. We've been dudded the last few years, however this year I have a feeling we'll have a good mix on winnable games in reasonable time slots with high drawing clubs. The fact we're in the bottom 6 bracket means we are going to play a few bad clubs multiple times but hopefully it'll see us rise next year...

Hahahahah. Hahah. Ha

Spot on. There is no doubting McCartneys ability to develop young footballers, the knock on him was that he demanded too much and was 'too honest'. Quite frankly, the decision to sack him was so stupid but it will now be to our benefit. 6 mature players at the Dogs held all the power at that club and it shocks me that some of those younger players can look them in the eye. Watch Jason Akermanis on Open Mike as he explains exactly whats wrong with the culture & leadership at that club. Brendan will have a huge chip on his shoulder and hopefully a sour taste in his mouth.. Brett Ratten was treated similarly and now has Hawthorns midfield better than ever. If we can get that sort of development from McCartney we'll be laughing.

If we show no improvement, I know for a fact he'll be seeking greener pastures. That doesn't mean he'll leave but he won't be signing a contract before preseason let alone before we've played a game next year. This will draw out but the onus is on the other players to create a side he can see at least competing while he's still playing.

All good points McQueen, as I said, the message was relayed to me from a player so I'm unfortunately stuck with only being able to pass on what I was told. I have no relationship to Jack, but it'd be interesting to put it to him if I get the chance. In regards to the trade, if I understand the situation it wasn't so much that we actively looked to trade Jack, it's that Richmond came to us with an offer of pick 12 which we thought would net us a Danger, Kennedy-esque player. I like Jack and think he will be a good player but if he was the steak-knifes to get that sort of player to our club, I'm glad the club was willing to let him go for that 'superstar' footballer. As WYL said below, regardless both parties will be protecting their own image so don't expect the truth to ever surface, but I hold large hope that by July next year he'll be training and in good shape to really impact our team in 2016.

I've seen you draw long bows before WYL, but this one takes the cake. Keeping him will cement us at the bottom. Letting him leave and picking up someone at pick 53 will move us up into the 8.. Absolute horseshit. The good AFL clubs carry good football people because not only do they know that when they're back, they'll play good footy, but because they build the culture. The part of our club that's pathetic. Menzel, Max Bailey & LRT are all examples of players in the last 3 years.. From teams in the top 4... Insane.

Fairly ridiculous assertion. There was a reason Mitchell wasn't drafted for 2 years and when he was, he went pick 36. You're not drafting players necessarily for what they will do tomorrow. It's drawing a long bow to say he doesn't have he lateral movement.. He hasn't had an AFL training session and two he's 18 years old. We shouldn't be comparing any of these players to fully fledged footballers because they simply aren't that, but I believe we're allowed to enjoy what he does well currently which is make good decisions under pressure and execute good skills. Some people just aren't ever happy.

Not finished. He's had surgery again to fix the problem. It will see him likely miss all of 2014, but theoretically if we were challenging for finals he'd be back around August/September. I doubt that will be the case though. For those saying he's finished, I spoke with a player last night and asked how devastated Jack was etc etc. He said he was most devastated that previous to reinjuring it, he ran his fastest 3k & repeat sprints since draft camp. He felt like he regained a lot of speed that he didn't have in the years gone by. To me it suggested these foot problems were the reasoning behind his lack of speed, and hopefully when he's back in the red and blue he will show that on the field. He know he has the football ability, his first year proved that... He just need his body right.

Well we'll be 0-1. Let's hope Rd 2 is St Kilda

His carnival had him bolt up the phantom drafts. Most had him going 10-12.. Presumably only his height was the reason everyone overlooked him. He's well and truly showed those recruiters though.

Funny thread. At the end of 2012 Port Adelaide wouldve been having the same thread with arguably the same results. A traded player showing so much (Ebert), backing up their only good player (Boak) and a bunch of young and mature age players who mostly have shown nothing. A disappointing young player with a high pick (Wingard) and a another high pick. They'd turn that into Wines, Wingard would go bang and their bit players developed over that preseason. It's a natural progression of a young list. We could finish last, we could finish 8th. Tyson comes on, Jones reaches a new level. A mix of Gawn and Spencer can reach Lobbe levels. Lumumba plays as our Broadbent and McDonald and Frost are our Carlisle and Trengove. Viney needs to burst a game open like Wines, and we need the class of a Hartlett but we're not THAT far away. We have two picks in this draft and Ollie Wines showed one pick can change so much. There's no point crying over the one that got away, but look forward in the hope that these two young kids we bring in may change our fortunes immediately! Go Dees

I listened very closely to the Josh Mahoney interview where he was asked whether the Kennedy trade was legit. His answer was brisk and quick where he replied 'we will not be trading picks 2 and 3'. 2 AND 3 was all that stuck with me. It's the second language of the AFL, the ability to say something with saying it. If he wanted to squash the rumour he could've said we won't be trading 2 or 3... He didn't. If our trade goes through, it'll be for one of them and an extra pick. I think it's just about trying to find the extra pick now.

I've been made aware that there's a high possibility two contracted players have been told they won't be on the list next year. Be payed out and moved on

Well technically he is 29, but will be 30 by start of season next year.

Brian Tyson and Lynn Ralph are both Sydney board members. Jarrad McVeigh grew up in Knox, Sydney. He is over 30 however...