FarNorthernD

Like everyone else I have watched interviews with the country kid, Clayton Oliver and all those other awe struck, innocent 18 year olds living the dream and had forgotten about the murky goings on in this thread. Back now to the reality of Essendon injecting unknown substances into their players and the fact we have picked one of those players up. Does my head in

And last year was the 2014 draft - Brayshaw Petracca Stretch ANB O Mac White and vandenBerg Let's talk about this one

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.

Completely agree KDA although I'm quite happy talking about last years!

I actually liked the way he picks himself. He obviously knows he had bit of a shocker this year and believes he can play substantially better. There is no reason why he can't become a key member of an up and coming Melbourne side. He did come 3rd in the Collingwood B &F the year he left. But the thing I absolutely love about that video was how pretty much everyone was picking Petracca. There is a fair bit of genuine excitement surrounding him. Next year could be the funnest year to be a Melbourne supporter in a long time

Anyone mentioning the 2003 draft needs to take a good, long, hard look at themselves. Our two picks in the top five of a draft that turned out to be one possibly the worst ever. Typical of Melbourne's luck that the same picks the next year would have yielded Ryan Griffin and Lance Franklin instead of the Sylvia and McLean. No we are a different club making our own luck these days. All we need to do is get within cooee of our drafting from last year which I reckon will end up being our very own super draft; Brayshaw, Petracca, ANB, Stretch, vandenBerg and even both White and O Mac could prove to be more than handy. I'm going with Oliver at 3, not because I know anything, but just because I like big, bustling and aggressive mids. But whoever we pick, I honestly believe these days, we will nail it

I imagine not even the Melbourne hierarchy could have hoped for a better result. As others have said before (Ron Burgundy) it was more of a solid gold gift from Carlton than a trade. Love it when the footy is in Garletts area, interesting and fun things happen. It would not be difficult to picture him in the forward line of a premiership side. He is an integral part of our next finals side.

Professionalism, consistency and stability in administration of a football club won't guarantee on field success but you can't have success without it. Inch by inch we are looking more and more like a proper footy club

If Watts, Dawes and Lumuba all begin to "rip up the opposition" then it would be safe to assume that Norm Smith's curse has left the building

New Angus vid up on the MFC site - 2015 Review: Angus Brayshaw It is funny looking at the highlights packages of the mids in the upcoming draft and then looking at Brayshaws 2015 highlights. The kid is a winner. Love how he wants to tackle, do all the defensive stuff but also backs himself, runs and attacks. He is a brilliant size for a modern day footballer, is tough, looks like he has leadership qualities and seems genuinely excited at our prospects. What a fantastic pick up for this club.

I'm not necessarily expecting it but I'm hoping Max King comes on with a few leaps and bounds. We know he has good hands and neat kicking skills. At 200cm he can fill in that important mobile tall forward cum 2nd relief ruck role. If, and yes it is a big if, he could become a vital cog in our next finals side (nice thread too)

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

Imagine what this administration could do with a successful team and bigger crowds. Please let it be so.

Thanks very much for that Hells Bells. It is a wonderful insight into the intricacies of drafting. Taylor certainly comes across as a smart and thorough operator but also one who respects all potential draftees. Brilliant listening for all footy fanatics which I assume we are all on here.

I've always maintained that the All Blacks have a small psychological advantage just because of the jumper they wear. And, yes, I know they would be a formidable team in any colour

Yes agree Ron. Last 4 rounds of this year he averaged 20 touches (9 contested), 3 tackles and 4 marks. Not huge numbers but promising enough for a bloke who has only played 18 games. Viv almost certainly offers more over the than pick 46 in a shallow draft.

If there is going to be a Brisbane team, West Coast team and an Adelaide one surely there will be a Melbourne side. I hope the women's league works and hope our Club is a big part of it

Given that it will be only 1-4 year players out there for the next week it will be interesting to hear who the leaders are of this group.

I don't know about generational but I was told by someone in the media that the Club rates Christian as only slightly behind Hogan for talent.

Or maybe he just sees it as a fresh start. I think 5 will suit him

I just put $10 on Trip to Paris using this red and blue reasoning although when I explained the thought process to my wife she sniffed "you realise that is more of a reason for it to come last than win?" Harsh

Honestly mo64 I don't think I have read a more irrefutable sentence on Demonland than the one bolded from jnrmac. One of the major problems of our club in the 2000's was a huge lack of on-field leadership. Our senior players often went missing. I don't think I have met any Melbourne supporters who would disagree with that. The situation then became even more dire as Brock McLean, Colin Sylvia and Moloney moved up in the team hierarchy We have suffered from a quality leadership vacuum for many years. Hopefully as jnrmac alludes to we have now turned the corner.

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. .

Yes, that annoyed me no end too. I believe he was an overrated footballer who was lucky with the team and era he played in. Unfortunately though on the way out the door he could throw us a premiership medal, stow one up his clacker and still have one to wear around his neck. History will remember the winners and the rest can please themselves