FarNorthernD

I know what you mean Ethan. I appreciate that Hogan is a very different case but I used to feel the same about Jurrah's 36 appearances in the red and blue, the Wiz at the height of his powers, the shooting star that was Allen Jakovich and the head-banded Ox. They were all players that had more talent than any one else on the field and there was an anticipation as to what they would do next. Not in the same class is Jeff Garlett but, for me, there is that anticipation when he is near the ball. i love the Hogan/Garlett combination

So given the MFC now want to add a top up player to the rookie list rather than the primary and they have also stated that getting late in the pre-season for a new player to learn the game plan. Putting 1 + 1 together gets you Daniel Cross. He knows the game plan, is still super fit, training with the team and could be brought in if injuries are worse than hoped for. Also I like the completing the circle aspect with Daniel handing over the number 18 to Jake who then hands it back to Daniel who then gives it back at the end of the year..

Excuse my ignorance but is Jake getting paid by us this year? I assume the Essendon 12 are as they are getting salary cap relief. Does not seem right

Fairly harsh comparison there Maximus. Hercules, Schwarzenegger and your brother, Brutus, could all feel in need of a few gym sessions standing next to Petracca. The kid has a freakish build doesn't he Hopefully it will be a lot of fun watching them both develop as explosive midfield/forwards over next decade

This is what Knightmare said of Oliver on his draft board on bigfooty a couple of weeks before the draft. Whatever you think of him it makes for good reading “Others noticed Oliver before I did, but I may have been one of the few to move him up high earlier and move him up as extremely high as I have. And next update I'll even have Oliver ahead of Schache and my second rated non-academy player after only Weitering. Just such an exceptional contested ball winner and stoppage player. Moves well. Ball use good by hand and foot. Can go forward and take a mark and offer scoreboard impact. He can be one of the very best in this draft. I'll be interested to see at the end of the day where AFL clubs rate Oliver and whether anyone rates him nearly as highly as I do”. And then the day before the draft he released a combined top 10 of the last two drafts. Given a number of players in this list have already played good AFL footy Knightmare has a fair opinion of our new mid. “Clayton Oliver (VIC – MID) Jacob Hopper (NSW - GWS ACADEMY - MID) Jacob Weitering (VIC – KPD) Christian Petracca (VIC – Mid/Fwd) Angus Brayshaw (VIC – Mid) Isaac Heeney (Syd – Academy - NSW – Mid) Callum Mills (NSW - SYDNEY ACADEMY – MID) Darcy Moore (Coll - F/S – VIC – KPF/KPD) Patrick McCartin (VIC - KPF) Joshua Schache (VIC – KPF)” Pro Dee passed on from his brother. You have to love this description from training on the 11th Dec “Oliver was pitted against ANB, and Jones and Petracca went head to head. Petracca and Jones pretty much squared the ledger. Oliver beat ANB at least 9 times out of 10. He was adamant it was that lopsided, such was Oliver's effectiveness.” Surely it has to be time that the footy gods smile on us. Our 2014 drafting is shaping to be possibly our best ever. If this years crop, particularly Clayton, can match it we will be well on the way to playing finals consistently in the near future.

Yep, perfect nickname Welcome to the M.F.C Clarry Oliver

Many player highlights you look at wonder how their skills will translate into an AFL environment. They either have too much space that they won't get at AFL level or they will lose a size advantage or they take advantage of lesser skilled players.Those Oliver highlights (and yes they are highlights) look like he is playing AFL style football already. Check out the centre square handball whilst being tackled at the 2.28 mark. I have no problems picturing that at the MCG with the handball receive going to Viney or Brayshaw who hits up Hogan 30m out.

Emma Quayle has Darcy as the 11th best footballer of this draft. Hopper Weitering Mills Schache Kennedy Hipwood Francis Weideman Milera Oliver and then Parish

Whilst most seem to believe Parish is going to come to us via pick 3 there maybe an argument believe otherwise Firstly the appearance of Brendan McCartney in the Geelong Falcons rooms during the season and our need for high quality mids that fuelled some of the Parish to Melbourne speculation. Given Brendan's history in the Geelong region, having both played and coached in the area, it may not be unusual for him to be in the area. Of course, as well as Parish, Curnow and Mathieson play for the Falcons too. Also during the season we were looking at having access to pick 6 not pick 3 as we have now. If we had of finished the year off as the Club no doubt hoped, rather than losing 4 of the last 5 games, then pick 7 would have been our first go. If Parish was being considered then perhaps it was at 7. These are the mids that Roos has bought into the club; Tyson 186cm, Michie 185cm, Bradshaw 187cm, Melkshum 185cm, Vince 186cm, Cross 187cm, Petracca 186cm and vdB 188cm. We all know that Roos loves his solid, big bodied mids and whilst he's probably not going to knock back one just because he's a skinny, and shortish at 181cm you would think he would have to be something special. Is Parish something special? Honestly I'm just playing devils advocate here and have not seen any of these young kids play live. For the sake of the argument though I think a player like the 191cm/94kg Curnow who can play forward and then graduate back to the midfield in a couple of years time more likely to be playing in the red and blue from pick 3. .

Melksham V Draft pick 25 Draft pick 25 Age; 18 Average games; 58.6 (all picks 21-30) Pros; Could be a late blooming Nat Fyfe type. Cons; 2016 = a development year, mainly Casey, some MFC. First 20 games spent picking up the pace of the game, getting stronger Best football, perhaps 30 games worth, from 2018 onwards Super unlikely to be next Nat Fyfe Melksham Age; 24 Games; 114 to date. Pros; Mature, seasoned body, ready to play Rnd 1 2016 We know he can actually play at this level should/could get 4-6 seasons (60-100 games out of him) Has played good AFL footy Cons; Hasn't played good AFL footy consistently since 2013 Not Nat Fyfe WADA There has to be the assumption that our footy dept is confident that the WADA issues are covered. If this is the case then Melksham is the smarter choice. He can play first game next year and Roos believes he will immediately make us a better side. Pick 25 is a long term lottery ticket that is very unlikely to give us a better return than Jake.

Yes he is one of us now. Support him and our footy department and hope that Jake will make us a better footy team Go Jake!!

Exactly!! It would be indefensible if we picked up one of the tainted 34 only for him to get banned a couple of months later. The other reason I hate this idea is because for the past 2 years I have fervently hoped that everyone involved in that disgraceful cheating program would be given maximum penalties. If we have one playing for us I'm going to have to barrack for him

And he has got that natural football timing thing that you just can't teach. He instinctively knows when to body his opponent and how to give himself the advantage. He is sort of the anti Col Sylvia who was always half a beat behind most others whereas Jesse is has it sussed well before everyone else. Edit. And thanks for the clips HH. He is going to be making defenders look silly for a long time to come Edit 2. And whilst I would like to have Cripps in Red and Blue is there a supporter in the comp who would rather have him than Hogan? Jesse has had the number one defender play on him since the first round, the best, strongest and most experienced of every team and has lowered their colours more often than not. Honestly just call the press conference, apologise for the delay and give him the rising star

Is Chook aware that Batman isn't real?

Exactly. NicNat is easily the most overhyped player in the comp. If he did exactly the same things and had the same stats but was wearing a Melbourne jumper and looked like Max Gawn then we would be moaning about his lack of tank and woeful disposal. The degree that the commentators dribble on about him his nauseating.

Melbourne got the chocolates, Casey seniors and their development side too. There cant be too many times of late where all three Melbourne aligned sides won on the same weekend.

Nope

And the good news is that Jack is not alone in "loving that [censored]". We were as hard as them today and weren't intimidated when they tried to rough us up in the third term. Watching the Stretch/Neal-Bullen interview and there is a whole group of younger players in this Club who don't carry any scars and believe in the process. They won't be easily swayed. Then there is the likes of Hogan and Brayshaw who, to be honest, I'm probably most excited about since the arrival of Scwarz and Neitz. We will make the 8 next year

Only need four Old. We have Brayshaw and hopefully Petracca makes it three

It was a brilliant era when Schwarz and Neitz burst onto the scene. For a short time we had two Hogans, one at CHF and the other bookended at CHB. They were the two best young key position players in the country. Unfortunately the moment was fleeting Fast forward twenty years and whilst McDonald doesn't have the talent of a young Neitz he may end up also becoming an All Australian CHB and Hogan, well, he could be anything. Just need a couple of Jesse quality young mids and the future will be bright

I am happy to say that I was a Tom Mc believer from early on but have also had statements that I wish I could take back. Most of those involved Cale Morton and phrases such as "quintessential modern day footballer". I also briefly entertained the thought that Addam Maric could be a ten year player with us As for the KFC prediction Spirit I think I can top that. I was convinced bottle water would never take off in this country. Who, I reasoned, is going to pay money for something they can get free from a tap? Hmmm

Easily Lockett and Dunstall good Oldfart? Good thing you aren't getting ahead of yourself or you may have said......... actually who is better than those two? Carey? Hudson? Anyway I'll jump on that bandwagon

Love the fact the Club arranged the Hulk drop by and love that the players are enjoying themselves so much. I would imagine it is a way better place to be an AFL footballer than a couple of years agoOnwards and upwards

Who got it? Cripps? I can't imagine there will be too much whinging. It isn't as if any of us need to be told Jesse may have a bright future. He has pretty much skipped the rising bit and gone straight to star

Tomorrow's obituary column will include the death of the group formerly known as "The keeping a lid on Jesse Hogan hype" movement. Paul Roos, their spiritual leader, attempted to keep the movement alive last night by declaring Hogan was just one of the new, tough kids at the Dees and it wasn't as if he had kicked ten (goals). He was last seen in a giggling fit after leaving the media conference