Dee-licious

Just got home. From the game it was Clarry above all else. 6. Oliver how many did he have in the third? 5. Gawn (49-18. That's all) 4. Lewis (he marshalled and told OMac what to do) 3. Jones - really tough game 2. Vince - just a rock in defence 1. Stretch - has become the wing we needed

Random musings for you to think about: Gawn played 59% game time and Spence 48%. So basically they were rarely on the ground together. Max will play around 80-85% game time in the season - does this mean that we wont play two rucks because effectively we didn't yesterday? Our leading contested possession winners were Viney (12), Oliver (10), Brayshaw (9), Salem (9), Smith (9) - great signs that Salem is getting a hard ball. O-Mac took 9 marks for the game. Which was more than Cloke and he is a marking machine. Salem had 4 clearances. Which was more than Jones or Oliver. Melksham was blowing out the cobwebs but had more rebound 50's than anyone else in the game. He also had 3 1%ers. While I'm not convinced he is playing round 1, not a bad effort from him. Brayshaw had 5 inside 50's which was only behind Dalhaus for the match. Jones (6) and Viney (7) led the way with tackles but not to be outdone were Brayshaw (7) and Stretch (6). The boys are adding a defensive mindset as well. What this all means? We moved Lewis, Jones, and Vince out of the fire and the young boys stepped up. Specifically Salem and Stretch who are outside mids, who showed a little more balance. Our top performers are becoming our under 23's and that is only going to make us better.

I find Essendon the most interesting case of 2017. I think they will beat Hawthorn in Round 1. They will beat Carlton and Brissy in 2 and 3 and be on top of the ladder. And then I believe it will fall apart. By the time they get to Carl and Bris again it is Round 15 and 20 and the legs will be out of steam. Essendon supporters tell me that only 5-8 of the banned 12 are in their best 22. So add 5-8 in. That doesn't make you a finals side, and probably doesnt add too many extra games won. This is especially the case when you have young kids (heavily drafted last year and this year), and you have 12 players who have sat out for 12 months. Remember, every other club who had banned players eased them into training, Essendon didn't. While I might be biased towards Melbourne, I don't think that Melbourne, St Kilda, Port Adelaide, and Western Bulldogs all got it wrong and the Dons got it right when to bring them back....

All. Up, muscle and skill. Didn't go too much into it other than really excited about Lachlan getting a go, understands about Brayshaw not being drafted but can see him getting a go in 2018 if he has an injury free season, and very proud of so many top 10 picks.

Had a chat to Sandringham club mate last night about Lachlan. Said has worked really hard this year as he spent his 17th year injured. Filled out much more and they feel he has growth left in him. Very coachable and a very good kid.

With Frankston not playing VFL the Dragons are looking for homes for 15 of their boys, including Allsop. I wonder if he will end up playing with Casey regardless?

Just on Spencer, he is a tap ruckman who follows up with tackles. If Max was to go down, I dont believe that we would loose out dramatically on centre clearances from our mids. Our big issue would be the contested clunks that Gawn takes and his possessions. Yes he is not in the same league, but he is a very different player. Lets just hope Max doesnt go down. Plus Max would have given the all clear on Lachlan so interesting to see what Max sees in him.

Casey's strength is going to depend on who they pick up and our injury list. If H plays 22(?) games for Casey, then they are going to have a really good injection of VFL class there. If he doesnt come back, then there is a question of which VFL player is going to come in and play in that spot. I'm hoping that we are already talking to Hamish Brayshaw about playing for Casey next year. Xav Richards would be another I'd like to see down at Casey. We do always have a little new draftee bias and lets face it, Grimes and Michie dominated at VFL level; but do they make the AFL team stronger when they were unable to have an impact this year on it? Again, we dont know what our new draftees can do yet once they are in a system. Melksham is the one that is really interesting because he is a new draftee for us (same age as Tim Smith) and could take his game to the next level or just do a Kennedy and bob between Casey and Melbourne. I think we are a stronger AFL side after trade and draft because of Lewis, Hibbard and Melksham. I'm just glad that for the first time in a decade we are not all talking about how much stronger we are because we added an 18 year old first rounder. We can take 12 months off and then get excited about one again. On another point, gear up for the 2017 free agency class. While Fyfe and Martin arent linked to us, there is Trengove (PA), Rockcliff, and Reid (Syd) on the table which might be of some interest.

I'm going to take out Melksham for the comparison as I am thinking we are not as strong as we were - hoping to convince myself otherwise. Jordan Lewis > Michie - Yep I'll just leave that one here. Michael Hibberd > Dean Terlich - No explanation here. Pat McKenna = Grimes - when you factor in age, I dont think we have lost anything here. Mitch Hannan > Ben Newton - felt that Hannan had a better 2's season than Newton did and offers a little more than Ben. Dion Johnstone < Matt Jones - This isnt a great like for like, but Dion is a project, we know what we were going to get from Matt. Lachlan Filipovic = Max King - both developing ruckman, Lachlan is younger so hopefully will surpass King Declan Keilty < Dunn - he is younger so there is some upside, but based on this year, Dunn had the better year in the VFL. Tim Smith < Chris Dawes - While Smith plays a different role, I wonder if he is better than what Dawes would have given us? I count it as 3 better, 2 equal, and 3 less then but age offers upside. While I think 6 players were just shuffling deck chairs, the 2 big in's of Lewis and Hibberd are seriously above what we had. I'm happy to take this year as a win.

We didn't pick him up. AFL website has the nominations up and Allsop isn't there sadly.

There is also the possibility that Taylor misspoke as we were only taking 2 in the ND and we are still taking 3 in the rookie draft. Anywho gunning for Brayshaw!

While I was underwhelmed last night, I've looked at the highlight packages and thought about what I wanted coming into the draft - speed, hardness, and the ability to kick the football. While I didn't know these 2 existed I was worried that we were going to get 2 boys without kicking skills as most of this draft were average at best kicks. The highlights and scouting reports show great kicks, speed, hardness for the contest (great tackles) and a disregard for anything other than the goals (which we dont have a lot of). While I hope that our best 22 is so strong they struggle to break in, I hope they put on a lot of pressure with Hulett in a dominant Casey forward line.

Yep. 3 rookie spots with white the only one staying on. Hannath will probably make his way to the rookie draft so there is still a chance

Been thinking about this a lot throughout this year. If we were to have had our first round pick, Marshall would have been it but he's not as good as Weiderman. English is a different player all together. Really happy with the pick swap and wouldn't be surprised if we do it again next year (eg 2018 first rounder out for another 2017 first). 2017 is already shaping up to be a talls draft. That Lobb type we all crave could come from there.

Predictions for 2017 Ladder Position: 8th - I"m going to go on a limb here and say that the AFL will give us and St Kilda a dream draw later today to see us both make the 8. Which will leave only BL and GC as the clubs in the last 4 years not to play finals. Best & Fairest: Viney - I feel he is ready to take the competition by the throat and have already penciled him in to my dreamteam side for 2017. Runner Up: Watts - I can see that his trajectory goes up and will move from 5th to 2nd. Leading Goal kicker: Hogan (65) will come 4th in the Coleman and will be in the AA squad. Who Goes To The Next Level?: Billy Stretch. There were moments last year where he just looked like he was going to that 'how did he get drafted so late' player. Expecting a 3rd year breakout from him. All-Australians: We will have 3. McDonald, Viney and Gawn. Best Rising Star Chance/Best Young Player: Weiderman will play 18 games, poll some votes, but I cant see McLuaggage loosing it. Surprise Round 1 Selection: I was going to say Trenners, but I dont think it will surprise that many. I think that he and H will be in our Round 1 side which will have a few people on here in shock. Demonland's new favourite player: Joel Smith - feel that we are going to see another Hunt like breakout from this young man this year. Has everything that is needed and a good back story. Watch the fairy tale happen. Best win: St Kilda round 1 - sets the season off in a big way. Worst Loss: 1st week of the finals - we are up and about and we get a reality check.

PSD is somewhat redundant now. With the de-listed free agents group, you can pick up these players now. And the draft is now open to anyone, not just 18-19 year olds. The PSD is basically a thing of the past / a mechanism to scare people to get deals done.

In Mahoney's interview today he seemed to indicate we were not going to use 84 (Pat McKenna was better in our mind than what we would get at pick 84 - I think he said from memory). So 2 in via the draft and one upgrade. We should start taking bets on Wagner, White or Smith. 2 or 3 picks in the rookie draft. Wonder if McInerney, T. Smith, and Keilty are in our sights.

Cleary reporting that Dawes is no longer a Melbourne player.

That is now 3 in and 3 out. We now need to see another 3 out..... Dunn is one, who will be the other 2?

"McKenna isn't especially quick, but at 186cm and 76kg has played a number of different roles through the season, where his game sense, overhead marking and foot skills impressed."

Is he inside or outside and does he have leg speed?

Just looked at the stats. Much, much better.

On the question (thought it was a good one) of what we'd take from other trades (because you cannot just pretend that we missed out on Fyfe or Rocky ) Getting Hawthorn's first rounder next year and 2 second rounds for a first round pick (St Kilda for the win) Nankervis for 4th round - we do need a ruck, but he does want to be 1st ruck. Ahern - for a 4th rounder, yep! Hanley - but he wasnt going to leave Queensland Brad Hill - would have loved but WA bound Lewis and Mitchell for nothing. Lewis is the better one in here and we got him. Hibbard - exactly what we need. Wish we got him.... oh wait! Tuohy - he is what we need of half back, but I think we got a better version with Hibbard and without the 1st rounder. No interest in: Marley Williams (heading to North apparently) - meh I wouldnt have taken Prestia for the money or the trade. I think that Lewis works well for us here and we have a strong inside team building. Same reason for Mitchell. Would be great, wouldnt say no, but dont care because of $ and picks. Lids - great player but not at the $, not at the draft pick. Hamling - no need Nathan Brown - if we are keeping Garland, no need for Brown Steele, Hrovat, Stevens - really only depth for us and our depth is just as good as these guys. Mayne Wells Vickery

It's over now. He's committed back to Brisbane - press release just came out.

Mahorney on Trade Radio: Dunn - In Collingwood's court. We are after the best for Lyndon, not the MFC. Dawes - see what happens this trade period and then make a call Lamumba - playing next year. Rockcliff - Never spoke to him - we have his type and want to give more time to Brayshaw, Salem, Oliver rather than bring in Rocky. Hibbard - held up because of Lewis trade. Need more ruck options (No mention of Max King, just Mitch King) looking at the draft for this.