Dee-licious

I assume you are all posting from home - he was really strong tonight, ran into right positions, ran hard, especially in the 4th when the game was over he was one of the few who kept running.

Townsend tagged Lever (interview with Townsend at the end of the game). An intercepting defender was tagged by their forward line. Our defenders don't get tagged. Just sayin'

Not really relevant to the thread but it's headed that was. The King boys, Walsh and Lukosis would all be top 7 this year and they are 16-17. If I was a bottom team I'd want 2 x top 5 picks in 18. This year, I like Raynor I like LDU but the development of the U17 boys next year should blow Raynor out of water

14 of 15 disposals hit the target including 2 kicks that went on to be goals in under a minute. in a game that was one sided he played a rebounding role really well

Didnt make Eastern Rangers in his draft year (2014?) as he was too skinny. He dominated junior league in Coldstream, then back fracture in 2015, then knee in 2016. So really this is his first chance to show what he has got. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/localfooty/his-kicking-is-long-his-marking-his-strong-and-bayley-fritsch-is-one-of-the-vfls-best-prospects/news-story/f0eec01914d13ecf2064ca25ff9212fa

Was the same guy (or gal). However does have some runs on the board, but then again so would I if I made 100 predictions a season. He is an insider, same as McClure, Barrett etc. so who knows what's going on but it does feel like Lever is gone and all the mail is he is heading to us bar Waldron. Plus with McGovern signing as predicted it just passes the sniff test No doubt that we'll be knee deep in it and here is hoping he is keen.

Be ready for this thread to go nuts again....

Really good foot skills and has pace. He is not his brother, he doesn't find it like Gus does but a great kick and good acceleration out of a pack. Is what we need plain and simple. Hoping we pick him up. Right now draft range 10-20

Couple of things here. 1. On the Mac Block thing - OMac dropped much further down the draft than anyone expected. Tom (and Oscar) thought that he wasnt going to come to the Dees once we used 40 on ANB as everyone was surprised Oscar fell so low. So Tom didnt say you have to draft Oscar or else and he isnt here because Oscar still is. They are independent men. 2. Frost is great, I like him, but Lever is an upgrade. OMac and TMac have been the 1 on 1 guys and OMac is the guy down there who understands the backline spacing. Frost has been the 2nd or 3rd tall for the last couple of years and that is his role. That is also Lever's role as well, and he is much better at it (sorry Sam). 3. We rated Lever 5th in the draft. (Heeney, Petracca, Brayshaw, McCartin, Lever). Lever was interviewing with us a lot coming up to the draft and he was the only other one in the conversation for picks 2 and 3. At one stage he thought that he'd end up at the Dees over McCartin. We know the injury dropped him a long way down the draft board and if you think about it right now, this kid was number 5 on our board. 2 years ago we had pick 4 for Clarry. Hypothetically, if Carlton came up and said for pick 4 you can have our pick 12 and our third key defender (Liam Jones?) we wouldnt have taken it. If the Crows are willing to hand over Lever for a first rounder and Frost, as much as I'd hate to loose Frost, I'd be asking where I could sign.

I think we are reading waaay too much into the interview, but because everyone else started I shall too. I dont think it was a forgone conclusion, clearly feels Nathan is stitching him up a little. But didnt seem like it was decided at all either way. At this stage of the season with Sydney right up there for the premiership, you'd think that he'd be a little more committed to a team looking to loose back to back grand finals.

Second this. All the Under 18 coaches I've spoken to always talk about Lever as one of the most coachable guys they have ever had and what a great bloke he is. I cant remember if he was the one with issues with language or not (I actually think it was Touk Miller who needed to calm down on that...). Anyway, main thing is Lever will be an asset for the dees and would love to see him in Red and Blue.

Yep. The Trenners trade might as well have been called the Lever trade. Up until a couple of days before I kept hearing that they were flipping between McCartin and Lever as pick 3 (Trac, Brayshaw, McCartin/Lever) and possibly even Lever over Brayshaw at one stage. To the point that one of his coaches at Caulder thought he was a lock at Melbourne. I think you are right Dappa, if Lever is on the market, we are going to be up to our eyeballs.

Hey team - I dont think that you will see us part with 2 first rounders for Lever. Basically, there are a heap of talls in the next 2 drafts in the first round (maybe not as good as Lever) but I cannot see them handing over 2 for him considering what we've seen with Caddy, Prestia, Trealor, Adams, Mitchell, etc. The first rounder and something in the back end. ANB is now too valuable to us, Ben Ken maybe and something like a second rounder (or swap of 2nd and a 3rd). If Lever wants to come to the Dees we shall get it done without selling the farm.

I forgot to give you the links: Zak Jones: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/sydney/zak-jones-set-to-remain-in-sydney-shunning-interest-from-home-state-victorian-rivals/news-story/bbbc917a60aeb672c862eb05f8f2488d https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/essendon-melbourne-north-melbourne-and-st-kilda-all-interested-in-outofcontract-swans-midfielder-zak-jones/news-story/a00adbc617e1288857027890117e6938 Jake Lever: http://www.sportingnews.com/au/afl/news/report-three-victorian-clubs-making-big-money-offers-to-jake-lever-afl-collingwood-melbourne-western-bulldogs-adelaide-crows-magpies-demons/16u1fd28z82fw18grjmhpc4qyx https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/adelaide-coach-don-pyke-confident-jake-lever-wants-to-be-at-the-footy-club/news-story/39bdcb7e6a698f6c309ad3804304d467 http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/jake-lever-likely-to-remain-at-adelaide-despite-big-offers-from-rival-clubs/news-story/febf1ccec421f2c1247c973fd67b6993

@Moonshadow nothing personally since May at a demons lunch but McLure et al have had us linked all year along with Saints and Dons. I recon it is fair to say any out of contract player who has the ability to be an A grader we are interests in (like everyone else). I'm sure other clubs are waiting to see what happens with Salem.

Just wanted to bump this up the thread. Assuming we are still interested, he played well again yesterday on top of a really good season. He along with Lever are the two we are apparently into in the offseason. Jones can just be a handing over of a first round pick (depending on how high it is, we might get something back), Lever looks like he will cost a mint. Next year's first rounder and ??? If we can deliver both of these boys into our side next year it solves our outside run and key defender issues.

What I find hilarious is that he clearly has a lot of one-liners ready for these media conferences but because all of the journos are focused on their job (I guess that is what they are paid for) a lot of the times they are gawn unnoticed and Gawn just stands there waiting for someone to laugh. The comment above saying he was best on, nothing at all from the journos. His pre-surgery press conference was hilarious as well.

End of the day we want the best 22 players in the league on our field. If May is gettable, he is an upgrade on present day OMac and Frost. I cannot help but think though that we might be making a mistake there as Rance and Hurley are the only two KPD who are better than Tom Mc and O Mac is progressing roughly the same as T Mac. I dont know what we do here at all. I've heard that Lever is happy (only one source so not confirmable) but May is very gettable. As the last poster said, first rounder and something at least.

1%ers. Sits after Rance and Jonas as the 1%er kings of the AFL (in front of McGoven, Hurley, May). His 92% game time ranks him 30% in the league (endurance).

Interesting. At the time we were into McCartin (as Roos said we would have taken 2 of the top 3) and also Lever which we had rated at 5 (remember Heeney would have been in there). McCartin would have filled our hole at full forward that we are now filling with Weiderman. Saints at that time had no Bruce, no Membry, and an aging Nick (didn't he turn it around) so I understand when there was only a little bit between the 2, you go the guy who you really need. Plus they were worried about Trac's arrogance (I personally love it). For dees supporters, the choice between Petracca and Weiderman or McCartin and Curnow/Milera is a no brainer to me. I think Weid will be better than McCartin as a key forward and I know Trac will be the pick of the lot. Gee it is good being on the end of good drafting for once!

Been thinking about this. I wondering if with the bottom end of the draft being so open where you could end up with someone in your top 30 at pick 60 if a 10 pick upgrade is worth it? Maybe having 2 stabs in the 50's is better than 1 stab in the 40's? I'd keep our next year picks because this is not a great draft year. We need to take 3 picks this year - I dont mind putting Smith on the senior list (cheap). and go with the 57 and 59 (or make a call on the day to upgrade?).

One year not going to the draft is alright by me. If you think about it, Oliver would be in the top 3 this year, and Weid would be the number 1 forward this year (if they were in this draft class, all things being equal) and we got them both last year. We have also added Lewis and Hibbard which is a big win for us. Not worried about the draft picks this year, we will get who we get it doesnt matter if they dont go on to be guns. We have a first rounder again next year and a free agency period with a lot of juicy free agents. We're in a good spot.

It is the equivalent of pick 35 (186 points), so while we dont get into this draft until the end of the third round, I think that we can all agree that we would have been happy with this at the start of trade week.

Ok, ok. I know this is a Hibberd thread but I wanted to pick up on this. 2013 included getting Sylvia out for Vince (tick); Bringing across Cross (tick), Dom Tyson (tick), I'll ding him for Riley and Michie but we paid pick 54 for this. In terms of that draft and you are saying Salem is a disappointment. Salem has been injured which is beyond his control and when he has played he has been very valuable. Now - lets crystal ball this and look at who else was taken after him Freeman (no), Sheed (WA boy), Cripps (well would have liked him but no one would have guessed this, everything thought 13 was reaching), McCarthy (WA boy), Jones (Salem's showed more), etc etc. The only one I'd say would be good would have been Matt Crouch at 23 but he is a poor man's Viney. Salem is what we needed and is still very young. Remember JKH started like a house on fire and again injuries have let him down. He's been very good at Casey the past few weeks so lets let the 21 year old have an injury free pre-season. After him was Kolodjashnij, Alir, Byrne-Jones, and Fantasia - all of which have only showed something in the back end of this year. Also nailed Hunt, nailed Harmes, Max King we can say might not work out (Rookie), Georgiou was a bust but played a role in his first year, and the faith in Nev to rookie was paid off. That is more ticks than crosses from 2013 and if Salem and JKH develop he has nailed 2013. 2014 Garlett (tick), Frost (tick), Lumumba (injuries), and then you cannot help but look at this draft and smile. Trac (tick), Brayshaw (tick). Now you can say they picked themselves, but so did Wines. You need to be brave enough to pick the player and not think what could we develop Wright/Lever/Ahern in to. Stretch (tick), McDonald (tick), AVB (tick), White (tick - he has played AFL games as a rookie, that is enough for a tick when you see that most Rookies dont), ANB has played really well in the 2's but hasnt transferred that to the big stage. I believe this is because he is playing out of position in the AFL and in another side where he can play as a midfielder he'll have a greater impact. Time will tell and I'll leave that as open ended. So from this year we'd say that H might have been handled better and ANB could have been Caleb Daniel. Overall that is a great strike rate. 2015 Melksham trade (TBC) but for the record if I had that pick I would have got Kieran Collins or Rhys Mattherson. The next deal which was Howe, Toump, 6, 1st rounder for pick 3, 7, Bugg and Kennedy, is a little harder to gauge. If it is Howe for Bugg - we have lost as Howe is having a better season. Toump for Kennedy - we won that. 3 for 6 means Oliver over Weiderman (I dont see us taking Ah Chee, maybe Curnow if you want another player in here rather than Weid) and Weiderman over this year's pick 8 which according to Knightmare could be Josh Battle which already I think we've won. So you probably say we've come out of top here as the sum of the parts is better. As for the draft Oliver (big tick), Weideman (jury is still out but has all the traits of a very promising footballer), Mitch King (injured), Hulett (too early, but signs are good). In terms of later picks than those too, Wills and Menengola have done well the past month, but they are VFL players. Markov has looked good, and Sam Collins has done well for Freo. Dont think we missed much here though. The upside of our draftees is still there. Rookie draft - Wagner (tick) and Michie has been good in the VFL and played some AFL games. There was nothing else after him that was really worth drafting, maybe Marbior Chol. The big question is that of the 22 that beat Hawthorn, how many are Taylor's: B: Jetta (2013 - R) Frost (2014) Hunt (2013) Bugg (2015) McDonald (2014) M: Petracca (2014), Vince (2013), Tyson (2013), F: Garlett (2014), VDB (2014), Weideman (2015), I: Brayshaw (2014), Oliver (2015), Stretch (2014), Harmes (2013) That is 15/22. For the record, those who werent playing that day it is a 9 - 8 split (senior list) with 8 being Taylor picked. My final point is that we are the youngest most experienced side and until last weekend, the only one's who had a chance to get into finals. Sides that have lists that are badly managed dont get that close to finals that young.

And St Kilda. Nothing from the Dees as yet. Now I get we are in Queensland, but I wonder if we are just making sure that we organise everything before we make our statement. I just cannot believe that we wouldnt have had something ready to go on this though.