Dee-licious

I've been thinking this as well. I wonder if they are just finalising their message. Odd they didnt have a statement ready to go.

Perfect score on the goal kicking test at the combine. Agree that his kicks look odd at time, but with space and time looks like he nails them. Also he has had multiple 10 tackle games. Cant wait to see him paired with Viney at training.

Very quick. Agility, Beep, and 20m sprint are there. Really it is the height and the questionable disposal at times that mark him down. Although with a lot of disposals some are bound to be bad (same argument can be used for good). At late 40's in a weak draft if he is there, there is no reason why not. "Earlier in the year he tested for the Tasmanian state team. On the beep test he got a 14.9 which puts him up there with the best inside midfielders of the draft. He has a burst of speed coming out of stoppages and he also broke the AFL agility test record by 0.17 seconds in an unofficial Tasmania testing day on September 2. To add to his absolute elite agility, he has a sub three second 20 metre sprint. Lovell averaged 34 disposals during his TAC Cup games and 35 during the u18 Championships.In all of his under 18 games this year he has only dropped below 30 disposals twice."

Cal Twomey on his podcast rated Parish as the best footskills in this draft. Talked about others with great foot skills from previous drafts and made mention of Salem and Petracca.

SAM LANDSBERGER’S EARLY TOP 10 1. Jacob Weitering (Carlton) 195cm key defender 2. Josh Schache (Brisbane Lions) 199cm key forward 3. Callum Mills (Sydney) 188cm midfielder* 4. Jacob Hopper (GWS Giants) 186cm midfielder* 5. Darcy Parish (Melbourne) 181cm midfielder 6. Matthew Kennedy (GWS Giants) 187cm midfielder* 7. Wayne Milera (Essendon) 185cm half-forward 8. Charlie Curnow (Essendon) 191cm midfield/forward 9. Eric Hipwood (Brisbane Lions) 202cm swingman* 10. Clayton Oliver (Gold Coast) 187cm midfielder *Academy selection MELBOURNE is set to spoil Essendon’s national draft party by taking the best midfielder for the second year in a row. The Demons and Bombers are both believed to be keen on the most polished onball talent available and have zeroed in on Geelong Falcon Darcy Parish. But Melbourne sacrificed its first selection next year in a complicated trade with Gold Coast to rise from pick No. 6 to No. 3. That has ensured the Demons can scupper Essendon, which holds picks four and five. Tough midfielder Parish has been likened to Adelaide jet Rory Sloane and averaged 129 SuperCoach points per game for the Falcons. The dual All-Australian is the standout midfielder outside of the three NSW academy stars. Other Stories Ultimate Melbourne Cup form guide Ultimate Melbourne Cup form guide How bikini model gave police the slip How bikini model gave police the slip Why Hayne should be relieved by 49ers cut Why Hayne should be relieved by 49ers cut If Parish is gone the Bombers’ pair is expected to come from clever half-forward Wayne Milera, prototype Charlie Curnow, powerful utility Aaron Francis and key forward Sam Weideman. They all shape as gold selections. Milera had minor heart surgery before a brilliant three-goal senior SANFL final in September while some believe Curnow could wind up the draft’s best player. The brother of Carlton’s Ed Curnow is a 191cm marking forward who can play in the midfield and will also be discussed at No.3. The Demons, also armed with pick No. 7, are fans of the injury-plagued Weideman and can see him forming a lethal partnership with Rising Star Jesse Hogan. The imposing goalkicker is the grandson of Collingwood legend Murray Weideman. Demons football boss Josh Mahoney said the club would take the best player available at both early picks. The Bombers could pounce on versatile big man Charlie Curnow with pick Nos. 4 or 5. Picture: Mitch Bear Marking forward Harry McKay is unlikely to get past Carlton (No. 8) and Adelaide (9).

"He tests sub 2.80 [20 metres]. Given his basketball , hes got good speed, agility and vertical leaping. Hes also got a solid endurance base, he said." This made me think, hmm thats fast: 20m sprint 2015 Alex Morgan - 2.88 seconds Kurt Mutimer - 2.88 Liam Jeffs - 2.89 Daniel Rioli - 2.89 Thomas Glen - 2.90 Declan Moutford - 2.90 Callum Moore - 2.91 David Cuningham - 2.91 Hisham Kerbatieh - 2.94 Jordan Snadden - 2.94 2014 20 metre sprint results (sec) Marvin Baynham 2.81 Oleg Markov 2.87 Jarrod Pickett 2.87 Reece McKenzie 2.87 Connor Menadue 2.88 Nakia Cockatoo 2.90 Ed Langdon 2.92 Paddy Brophy 2.93 Conor McKenna 2.93 Nathan Drummond 2.93 Best at the combine of all time: Top Combine performances (seconds) Joel Wilkinson 2.75 2010 Jonathan Marsh 2.78 2013 Danyle Pearce 2.79 2004 Ashley Smith 2.80 2008 Marvin Baynham 2.81 2014 Nathan Freeman 2.82 2013 Jack Watts 2.82 2008 So, yeah he is seriously quick.

Joel Smith | Victoria | 64 | SG Smith was a member of the Australian U19 squad in last years Pacific Championships and was one of the key players coming off the bench, averaging 10.3 ppg & 3.3 rpg on 49% FG. Smith was also a member of the Australian squad that attended the 2014 Nike All-Asia Camp in June. You can watch him score 18 points here - Somehow I don't think we are going to find any footy highlights ...

Been watching a lot of footy and have never seen his highlights look like that. Well played Melbourne's editing team, well played. Welcome young Jake. Looking forward to 8 years of great service.

Weiderman and Curnow are the experts bet. Weiderman a key forward. Curnow a 191 forward / mid with speed

[censored] Ex-Bomber Melksham lands at Melbourne MELBOURNE has secured midfielder/half-back Jake Melksham from Essendon in exchange for selection No.25 in the NAB AFL Draft. General manager of football operations Josh Mahoney said Melksham, who played 114 matches for the Bombers from 2010-15, had been targeted to play a specific role at the club. “During this trade period we were looking for players who could come in and play straight away and Jake was identified as a potential player that fit into that category,” he told melbournefc.com.au.

OCTOBER 15, 1.55pm: DEAL DONE - MELKSHAM A DEMON Reports coming through the paperwork has been lodged that will send Essendon's Jake Melksham to Melbourne for a second-round pick.

Trade Radio are saying it is done in principle but there is still a possibility we are getting something back in return

AFL releasing a video of Robbo and Parish today. http://www.afl.com.au/video/2015-10-15/draft-hopeful-versus-a-champ Is it fate or are they laughing at us?

I agree. If we can finish this week with our second and third rounder for Melksham, Kennedy, and Bugg we are on track for a big off season.

You can talk and agree but tabling of trades need an afl signature. Which you can't get (to my understanding) between 5pm and 9am.

Reported yesterday and still no deal on the table. Trades have closed for the night so we will have to speculate for another day. If Collingwood are the ones who are getting Howe, then 25 for Melksham does look like it will get done. Maybe we need to hold off to make sure we get Kennedy. I cannot remember when we've had such a long drawn out process for what we thought was an open and shut trade. Freaking Essondon - just take a 4th rounder and be done with it

Barrett believes that we are asking for something back for 25. So that is why it is taking a while. Dodorio expected it to be done today and we only have 150 minutes left

Deal hasnt been tabled yet. It needs to be officially lodged at AFL house. Now we could just be dragging our feet or maybe the Dons need to wait on St Kilda before they can finalise Melksham.

Might get traction for a mid to late second round pick. Cannot imagine we'd be interested - but probably an upgrade on our bottom 5. If they want to give us Melksham, Kavanagh and a pick to take them both off their hands, I'll consider it. (In all seriousness, he can play football and if there was a suitable nothing trade e.g. if they were interested in Bail or Jamar(?) I wouldnt set demonland on fire).

I'd be thinking that Frost might be that full back you are looking for. Possibly Weiderman as that full forward but no idea where the rest will come from. It's exciting though.

I think they will again as well. Thinking about our trades under Roos we've had one big trade which was the Tyson deal. The rest have been great, but we've won out (paid unders, got overs) Vince, Harry, Garlett, Cross, Frost (ish), and then Newton, Michie and Riley for next to nothing - not that we have got a lot (yet?) I think we will be looked after because I don't see us landing a big free agent (or one at all). Unless we get an old cat to come to us ala Cross I don't see us yet as a destination for any 2015 free agents. Collingwood would be the place I'd be looking if I was Danger et al. You'd need to offer Patton $1m a year on a Boyd type deal. Make it a 4 year deal - he got through today in the NEAFL and he'll be back and ready to dominate the competition. On the Prestia debate - yep he'd be great but he is not what we need. We have in and under ball winners. We need speed, we need spread, we need some height. I'll be the first to put his number on my back, but Bennell is the type of player we need (not character). Essendon is my other destination of poaching. I'm a big fan of Kavanagh and would love to see him in the red and blue next year.

I'd agree with you and make that trade but feel it would cost us our first round and Howe to get Patton. Maybe we pay a club to take Garland at a HUGE price and get a 1st round compo

Watching Aish play for Brissy makes me think. He's exactly what we'd be getting in Parish but he has a couple of seasons under his belt. Brissy will need another pick for Dixon - maybe there is something we can work out there with our first rounder. Probably a little high on what I'd want to pay - but depends on what we get back in return. Also Patton came back from injury today. He is contracted but they have a packed forward line over at GWS. Once again, pick 4 + Howe might make them think considering they are going to need a few high picks to pay for Hopper, Kennedy et al.

The question is what will we get for him? I'd be asking for no less than their 2nd round pick (30ish) as we have developed him, there is plenty of upside and he is tall and quick. Maybe they have a mid they could trade us. Geelong have screwed sides by paying overs for Stanley. Knowing now what we have seen with Mumford, Jacobs, etc tall guys 196+ who have shown they are competent will be going for a higher price than the 3rd round they used to go for. In saying all this I want to keep Fitzpatrick - too much upside to get rid of him.

I just laughed the whole time. These boys are just so happy to be at the demons