Jaded No More

Make it happen, oh please make it happen!

To be honest I expected us to say nothing, and tell the members that a decision has been made but we are not willing to disclose the name of the player we're taking before Saturday. Had the club said that, I actually would be more comfortable that we'll take Watts. The fact that we mentioned both Watts and Naitanui, but didn't actually commit to anything, makes me nervous. Maybe it's just a silly gut feeling, and I do hope I'm wrong, but I have this strong sense that we're going to take Naitanui.

Oh gees, there's a surprise! I actually think that the lack of desire to commit to a name, might mean that we're taking Naitanui, because our decision to draft him will impact a whole lot of clubs and draft choices. Quick, someone get him drunk and make him talk...

I know for a fact that both St.Kilda and Brisbane were pressure by their sponsors not to draft Cousins. The Lions could still go ahead and take him, but one of their main sponsors will not be happy if this happens. There are way too many factors in play here, and as good as Cousins is/was, he is seen as too much trouble by most clubs.

Of course I'll be disappointed if we pass up on Watts, but I can't compare my knowledge of these kids to that of our recruiting team. I'd have to trust their decision because they would have spent practically the last year looking and researching their picks. Their balls are on the line here as well. And even if we end up making the wrong decision (and who knows, we may get Watts, and end up missing out on the biggest freak the game has ever seen), I'll still support this club and buy memberships and go to games because I'm a sucker for punishment and a sucker for this club (and you are too!). Besides, this is hardly the first or last draft we're likely to screw up.

I just hope that if we do choose to take Naitanui, that we know for a fact that he won't be asking for a trade home in 3 years time, because I have no doubt that if we pick him, it will be because we absolutely think that he's best available and will develop into a great talent. Our recruiters watch more junior footy than any of us, they talk to the players and their ex-coaches and their doctors, so at the end of the day we need to trust that whoever they pick at number one, is who they believe is the standout, and that things like marketability have absolutely no influence on their decision. I want a star player, not a marketing machine. A star player will bring us success, and there is no better way to market our club than to be successful. If the club thinks Naitanui is the man to bring us that success, than I'll welcome their choice with an open mind and a lot of hope. (and we better take Watts! )

We obviously don't think he'll be available at 17, plus we want to target midfielders given we're taking Watts at pick 1?

There's a lot of 'upholding' going on between the AFL and certain clubs. Our relationship with the AFL on the other hand, needs a lot of Viagra

Yeah never mind upholding the integrity of the salary cap, or anti-doping code, or general fairness of the draw... as long as the National Draft has integrity, the whole competition will be just fine

What a cruel and sad story. Goes to show that he really wasn't meant to be an AFL player, although it's so much easier to say that when you're standing on the outside looking in. To have your life dream shattered at 18/19/20, is just way too soon. He would have probably never been a superstar, and even without any injuries he may not be playing now, but I'm sure it's the not-knowing that hurts the most. When you look at it, only Brad Miller has really worked for us from that draft, even if he isn't a superstar at least he's still standing on both his legs.

New Years Day... everyone is way too hungover to care, or possibly sleeping in a gutter and using the day's headlines as a blanket :D

I guess if we decide not to take Watts it will give Demonlanders a few extra days to have a meltdown :D

We can take Naitanui, but can we keep him?

And a very short list of talent. Take a punt on a kid FFS.

Excellent news. Scott West's knowledge would be of enormous benefit to McLean and Jones in particular, as all three play similar roles but lack a bit of pace. Never stopped West from being first to the ball though. Finally we go after someone and actually get them. Amazing!

Miller is going to Carlton?

Fantastic news. Browny is one of those players who, regardless of their on-field success, leaves a really positive lasting mark on a football club. Having him back involved will be fantastic for everyone. Our young players will do well to follow his work ethic and attitude. I will never forget his reaction when we lost against Essendon in Daniher's last game as coach.

Yes, because West Coast, a richer and more recently successful club than ours, really didn't suffer any residual damage when Cousins "failed" (literally) Even if we were about to jump out of the premiership window, I still wouldn't want him anywhere near our list. There are 44 MFC listed players (or soon there will be), and every single one of them will do well to stay the hell away from people like Ben Cousins.

And may those two run into each other at the first bounce. I can see the headline now... "Crash, go Carlton's hopes"

Would be stoked if it was Roo, a real AFL champion who embodies everything I'd like to see in our players and also knows a thing or two about winning premierships. Buckley would also be an excellent choice, except you know he's out the door the second Malthouse leaves Lexus Centre.

Awesome! God I hope we take him

Who we decide to take with pick 1 will affect the draft choices of West Coast, Freo and Port. If we wanted it known that we're picking up this kid or that, we would have made it public knowledge. We didn't. Therefore nobody should be leaking this sort of information out. Don't you think that if clubs knew we were picking up a KPP that they could work out the probability of us picking say a midfielder with a later pick? Or if Niknat is our man than clearly we ain't targeting anymore ruckman. Every tiny bit of information could help an opposition side, and that's not good.

I find it very hard to believe that anyone has a source reliable enough, who would actually spill the beans. Early draft selections are highly- guarded secrets and as someone who works with a company that sponsors 4 AFL clubs, I can tell you that nobody with half a brain will divulge that sort of information (not even to people they work closely with).

It gives me so much comfort to know that, no matter how badly we're traveling on or off the field, we will never reach the same level of failure reached by the St.Kilda Football Club on a regular basis. Gardiner, Cousins and Carroll, plus Milne and... is Gehrig still kicking on?

Good news and good riddance. I think that on the field he was an ordinary player who tried really hard, but he has far too many issues off the field that make him, IMHO, unfit to play AFL.