PaulRB

If you look at Jeremy Howe, he was passed over in the 2009 draft, played a year at Dodges Ferry and then we pick him up at 33 in 2010. With Jayden Hunt we're looking to pick a player before they have to put in that extra year in the wilderness... GIven his underage background (i.e. equal to Kelly and Salam), growth spurt and injury, other focus in Tennis and school, plus families athletic culture, it would seem we have minimised the risk inherent with taking him early...

I loved his allusion to him and his mate watching "The Big Labowski" after he heard he was drafted. Boyle is the Dude!! The Big Lebowski: What makes a man? Is it doing the right thing? The Dude: Sure, that and a pair of testicles. The Dude: Yeah,well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

Key criteria seemed to be skilful kicks, line breaking and speed. Salam's left boot is a weapon (better than Freeman).

Hogan

From The Age "The 195cm, 18-year-old has been compared to Matthew Pavlich and Jonathan Brown." Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/jesse-hogan-must-earn-afl-spot-paul-roos-20131118-2xqan.html#ixzz2l4Rl4xQc

Agree Hogan, Howe and Watts rotating through middle / forward line would add a new dimension to both areas that may cause the opposition some issues...

If Hogan is instrumental in the MFC finally lifting the cup he'll have surpassed Nietz. We all live in hope.

I like that several of the players you list (Clark, Dawes, Tyson, Trenners) rely more on Misson and the health of their bodies than delivering on untapped or as yet unseen potential.

If Clark is running now why would he need more than 4 months to get fully match fit?

Comparing us with a top four side in Sydney was a bit distracting, I'd be keen to see how we compare to Richmond or Carlton. He also failed to note that we have a higher conversion rate once the ball is inside 50 than many teams, and with the addition of Clarke and Hogan this should rise further...

Exciting

Been reading about how excited we are about this young man, couldn't find his highlights, so... Feel free to add more...

Laidley or Williams.

I reckon our run up to the bye is sensational, with only Swans top 6, and the rest within the realm of possibility... Really need to used the first half of the season to build some confidence and momentum. Interesting.

1 - St Kilda (Etihad) 2 - West Coast (MCG) 3 - GWS (Giant Stadium) 4 - Carlton (MCG) 5 - Gold Coast (MCG) 6 - Swans (MCG) 7 - Crows (Adelaide) 8 - Doggies (MCG) 9 - Tiggers (MCG) 10 - BYE 11 - Port (TIO Traeger Park, Alice Springs) 12 - Pies (MCG) 13 - Dons (MCG) 14 - North (MCG) 15 - Dogs (Etihad) 16 - Freo (TIO Darwin) 17 - Cats (MCG) 18 - Port (Adelaide) 19 - Lions (Etihad) 20 - Hawks (MCG) 21 - GWS (MCG) 22 - West Coast (Patterson) 23 - North (Etihad)

Under review by Malcolm I think. Long shot, irrespective.

Rotate him and Hogan through the middle and HFF (assuming we have all three tall forwards playing).

If the Feds let them in, mark down Huawei as in play as sponsor...

I think Jack is the type of player who will rise with the tide (so to speak), as in when Melbourne are up and running he'll be a better player. The intro of Hogan and Clarke next year will lift the intensity of the forward line ( and provide JW with clear targets), the intro of a couple of seasoned mids will lift the intensity in the middle (where JW should play, i.e. on wing). Jack knows he has no more excuses and a rare opportunity to recast his reputation as a quality player under a well respected new coach in Roos... Everything is in place for him to succeed and finally have some of those career defining and game winning moments we all know he is capable of.

Is it coincidence the week we play Fremantle a rumour circulates that Fremantle in interested in Melbourne's Jack Watts? The most plausible reasons include: Melb thought Jack could do with a reminder that unless he lifts his game (and extends his contract) he might find himself at a new club next year of Melbourne's choice, and one potentially 3440.8 km away from his family and friends. Freo marketing thought it might get more Freo fans turning out for an otherwise lack luster Sunday late arvo game... Jack let slip that he'd always fancied moving to Perth's version of Geelong.

Agree, my biggest worry about JW is that he's still waiting for others to lift and lead the team into better times. Those players you mentioned seem to be taking public responsibility for turning it around. At the same time JW publicly laments our lack of selwood, hodge type players... makes me think he's painting himself to be a fringe player... Which we'd all hoped he'd be more than.

Every Auction needs a couple of bidders to up the price. We can say to GC and the other Vic clubs we'd take Caddy for Pick 13 (if GC play ball on JV). This would mean for Caddy to go elsewhere that the club would need to offer GC batter than Pick 13. GC get a good deal for a so so player.

I'd pass on Caddy for the sole reason that he wanted to go ONLY to the Dons last year and made too big a fuss about it all for a player with few credits in the AFL player bank... Over valued and we'd be likely to pay too much if we tried to out muscle other clubs ... for a so-so midfielder whose value has diminished since he was drafted, i.e Drafted at pick 7 & now struggling to justify pick 13.

Hold on. Gold Coast get Tippet for pick 13 and a second rounder, and we get Caddy for pick 13 (and some change). I'd prefer GC's deal for Tippet.

To use a PK line, Caddy is "all tip and no iceberg".