Nascent

True, and I agree that there probably won't be any picks awarded to GC or GWS. However, who knows what the AFL will do. I would imagine too they're would be a massive outcry from all 16 clubs if either GC or GWS were awarded early priority picks. Anyway there is a lot of time for this all to play out so not point stressing over it now I guess.

I'm fairly certain a formula for priority picks have been done away with, however the AFL can allocate them as they see fit... this worries me with Gold Coast, if they don't improve we could very well see them with picks 1 and 2 and that kisses any chance of Viney to the 2nd round goodbye. With the access of 1st round draft picks GWS had and they way they went about building their list re out of contract signings, their position on the ladder shouldn't be surprising and in my opinion shouldn't be worthy of being awarded more picks by the AFL, however nothing would surprise me.

I like both of these posts, you can tell because I pressed the like button which I also like. I also like igloos. And hipsters with all their underground culture, but before they became popular. I don't like coffee though.

I agree he'll be in a Melbourne jumper at the end of the year... but I don't think GC will be risking much by bidding pick 2 on the toughest inside clearance specialist that junior footy has seen.

Believe me I agree with the sentiment but both GC and GWS have already locked away long term contracts for a lot of their players already and that includes the extremely homesick Harley Bennell. Only one player has expressed a desire to leave in that time, that being Josh Caddy, and he may still yet sign with the Suns.

I think they would back themeselves in to keep their recruits at the club, much like west coast and adelaide who have no problem retaining their talent. Say Viney still wanted to come back to victoria after 2 years, we still have 8 other clubs to contend with to get him to our club and they won't give him up lightly.

Obviously engineered to put doubt in the mind of GWS. However, I'm more concerned about GC bidding on Viney than GWS. Ultimately I think GWS will finish last and they won't risk sacrificing Whitfield, while GC could use another tough inside midfielder and I don't think they will hesitate using pick 2 on Viney. Melbourne are leeking the appropriate stories to create doubt for our competitors but ultimately I think it will all be in vain... at least they're trying though.

and the mind games intensify...

Well Juda$ has already left with his 30 pieces of silver so we shouldn't have trouble retaining him

Clubs clamouring for kids It seems clubs have already made contact with GWS to start negiotiations over mini-draft selections. Jack Martin and Jesse Hogan from WA appear to be the standouts with Matt Crouch, brother of Adelaides Brad (also a mini-draft selection), not far behind.

Good to see Strauss get through a full game... he does something well that a lot of melbourne players don't, provides a shepherd.

Blease and Morton not playing, maybe a late change tomorrow?

Article on Wines. Interesting to read that he is best mates with Jack Viney. Described as a classy and clean strong bodied midfielder, he is averaging 26 disposals in the TAC cup. Last two games for Vic country netted him 31 (17 contested) and 24 disposals (7 clearances) and rated in the top 3 for Vic country (Whitfield taking both BOG honours). Worth Bottling

Jack Watts plays his 50th game this week. Would love to see him, more so than anyone else, lay a bone crunching tackle on scully, from one #1 draft pick to another.

Or we could do this... with russian accents [media=]

It seems this year will be largely dominated by midfielders at the pointy end of the draft. I reckon Wines is another that could be considered. Another competitive tough inside midfielder/clearance specialist. Would pair up nice with Viney I would think. I agree with the suggestions that we should aim for 3-4 midfielders in this draft... wouldn't mind it if we could nab Stringer as well.

Round 3 South Australia vs Vic Metro : Match Report SOUTH AUSTRALIA 2.2 7.4 10.7 12.13 (85) VIC METRO 6.3 9.5 14.5 16.7 (103) GOALS South Australia: McDonough 6, Grundy 3, Stark, Gill, O'Brien Vic Metro: Billings 5, Hunter 2, Macrae 2, O'Rourke, Haynes, Ballard, Daniher, Salem, Lennon, Tyquin BEST South Australia: Kennedy, Scharenberg, Stark, McDonough, Colquhoun, Montgomery Vic Metro: Hrovat, McDonald, Billings, Vlastuin, O'Rourke, McKenzie, Kelly Western Australia vs Vic Country: Match Report Whitfield leading the pack WESTERN AUSTRALIA 4.3 7.5 9.9 13.14 (92) VIC COUNTRY 1.1 6.5 10.6 11.8 (74) GOALS Western Australia: Shaw 4, Hogan 3, Paparone 2, Martin 2, Deluca 2 Vic Country: Whitfield 3, Garner 3, Hartung, Martyn, McCartney, Saunders, Morrison BEST Western Australia: Martin, Howson, Deluca, Hogan, Shaw, Lim Vic Country: Whitfield, Garner, Wines, Wright, Crouch, Pierce, Gardiner Queensland vs Tasmania: Match Report QUEENSLAND 1.4 4.11 4.13 6.17 (53) TASMANIA 3.1 5.3 7.6 9.7 (61) GOALS Queensland: Bourke 3, Wardle, Tickner, Coleman-Broome Tasmania: Z Webster 2, Van den Berg 2, M Walsh, Douglas, Grant, Kendall, K Kolodjashnij BEST Queensland: Boston, Conway, Grewar, Rutledge, Skennar Tasmania: Van den Berg, Hibberd, Nankervis, J Kolodjashnij, M Walsh, Lonergan NSW/ACT vs Northern Territory: Match Report NSW/ACT 0.4 3.5 4.9 6.11 (47) NORTHERN TERRITORY 4.3 9.7 12.7 20.10 (130) GOALS NSW/ACT: Flaherty 3, Redfern, Clothier, Weir Northern Territory: Anderson 3, Assan 3, Roberts 2, Williams 2, McEwin 2, Tipungwuti 2, Alice, Barry, Ankers, Stokes, Neade, Hatcher BEST NSW/ACT: Flaherty, Clothier, Hampton, Redfern Northern Territory: Neade, McEwin, Tipungwuti, Anderson, Wasley-Black, Alice

For those of you that are interested, Knightmare from bigfooty puts a lot of work into producing mock drafts this year and has a great knowledge of U18's football, it is a fantastic read. He has updated his rankings from his last report that was done pre-season. Knightmares 2012 Mock Draft For what its worth he has Jack Viney only behind Lachlan Whitfield and Jaeger O'Meara essentially rating him as the 2nd best player available in the draft.

Big thank you to the people that give there time to attend these games and provide some futher insight into the potential draftees. I believe Emma Quayle has questioned the much reported depth of this draft. This can only be beneficial to us as we'll have at least 3 quality picks where it counts, compared to 2008 where we had some good picks but every club was able to snag a quality player at some point in the draft.

Round 2 results Western Australia Vs NSW/ACT: Match Report WESTERN AUSTRALIA 3.3 7.7 12.11 14.17 (101) NSW/ACT 1.2 3.3 4.4 5.5 (35) GOALS Western Australia: Shaw 3, Simpson 3, Paparone 2, Hogan 2, McKenzie, Chalmers, Sheed, Martin NSW/ACT: Hampton, Hargreave, Taylor, Vearing, West BEST Western Australia: Lynch, Garlett, Simpson, Hogan, Lowrie, Martin NSW/ACT: Williams, Robinson, Hargreave, Harper, McGillivray Vic Country Vs Queensland: Match Report VIC COUNTRY 2.3 5.8 10.11 15.15 (105) QUEENSLAND 1.1 1.1 1.4 1.5 (11) GOALS Vic Country: Whitfield 3, Close 2, Hans 2, Martyn 2, Bourke, Herbert, Taylor, Pierce, Taylor, Tsitas Queensland: Brown BEST Vic Country: Whitfield, Wines, Taylor, Wright, Close, Hans Queensland: Conway, Wardle, Jones, Power, Wolbers, Boston South Australia Vs Northern Territory: Match Report SOUTH AUSTRALIA 6.3 11.6 15.9 16.13 (109) NORTHERN TERRITORY 2.2 5.3 7.6 12.8 (80) GOALS South Australia: Menzel 6, Murdoch 3, O'Brien 2, Colquhoun, McDonough Toumpas, Kennedy, Wilson Northern Territory: Anderson 2, Barry 2, W Rioli 2, Tipungwuti 2, Stokes, Lawton, B Rioli, J Williams BEST South Australia: Colquhoun, Grundy, Menzel, Kennedy, Montgomery, Luccon Northern Territory: D Williams, Tipungwuti, Neade, Anderson, Barry, J Williams, W Rioli Vic Metro Vs Tasmania: Match Report VIC METRO 6.4 9.7 17.8 21.11 (137) TASMANIA 2.2 5.3 5.3 6.5 (41) GOALS Vic Metro: Jaksch 6, Macrae 6, Temay 2, Stewart, Hunter, Tyquin, Wood, Ballard, Corr Tasmania: Smith, Kendall, Hibberd, Z Webster, Van Den Berg, Bones BEST Vic Metro: Macrae, Vlastuin, Ballard, Jaksch, Hrovat, Temay Tasmania: Thurlow, Templeton, Van Den Berg, Z Webster, Walsh, Murphy Highly rated Vlastuin is again up there in the bests for Vic Metro while Troy Menzel, brother of unlucky Geelong midfielder Daniel, stars for SA two weeks in a row, this time booting 6 goals (for a total of 15 in 2 games). Top draft prospect and touted No. 1 pick Lachie Whitfield dominates for Vic Metro with a BOG performance. Garlett and Simpson from WA are receiving some praise and may be players to look out for come draft time.

With full time doctors and dieticians on the payroll, he is probably in the perfect environment to manage his diabetes.

Jack Viney talks about the bump that broke his jaw And then... Bam!

Some interesting results at the completion of round 1 with Div 2 teams troubling the Div 1 teams and WA going down to Queensland. NSW/ACT Vs Vic Country: Match Report NSW/ACT 4.2 4.3 4.7 7.9 (51) VIC COUNTRY 2.2 4.6 7.7 8.12 (60) GOALS NSW/ACT: Flaherty 2, Vearing 2, Hampton 2, Burgess VIC COUNTRY:Crouch 2, Scott 2, Tsitas, Martyn, Garner, Lockyer BEST NSW/ACT:Williams, Robinson, Weir, Hampton, Keogh, Baker VIC COUNTRY: Crouch, Graham, Hartung, Kearns, Close, Garner Crouch is the younger brother of highly rated Adelaide mini draft selection Brad Crouch and was BOG with 29 disposals (22 contested, 10 clearances). Tasmania Vs South Australia: Match Report TASMANIA 1.3 3.4 4.7 7.8 (50) SOUTH AUSTRALIA 8.0 13.3 25.10 30.14 (194) GOALS Tasmania: Walsh 2, Hanson 2, Linnane, Ling, K. Kolodjashnij South Australia: Menzel 9, O'Brien 6, Kennedy 4, Grundy 3, Toumpas, Amato, Stark, Dumont, McDonough, Broomhead, Mayes, Scharenberg BEST Tasmania: Jeffery, Thurlow, Blight, Webster, Grant, Van Den Berg South Australia: Colquhoun, Menzel, Toumpas, Kennedy, Broomhead, Scharenberg, Montgomery, Grundy Troy Menzel, rated as a possible top 20 choice at this early stage, is the brother of unlucky cat medfielder Daniel Menzel. Interestingly, Troy has also done an ACL when playing Under 16's. Queensland Vs Western Australia: Match Report QUEENSLAND 1.0 3.3 7.5 10.6 (66) WESTERN AUSTRALIA 0.5 4.8 6.12 8.16 (64) GOALS Queensland: Tickner 4, Bourke, Grewar, Gribble, Jones, Power, Wardle Western Australia: Shaw 2, Yarran 2, Hogan, Garlett, McKenzie, Stokes BEST: Queensland: Tickner, Wylde, Ives, Skennar, Power, Jones, Allir Western Australia: Taylor, Ramsay, Garlett, Lynch, Hogan

Hmmmm, explains why a few have been languishing at VFL or haven't been seen at all. A massive culture change is needed and those that you are alluding to must be the first to go unless they can change their attitude and "buy in" to what Neeld is trying to achieve. Sadly I think most will be set in their ways. Btw thanks for sharing what info you could, really appreciate it. Interesting times ahead.

Taking you on face value and what you're saying is true (which doesn't take much to believe)... in your opinion do you think a huge list turnover will, by and large, remedy the problems down at our club? Or would I be too niave to think that a player list change will solve anything? From where I sit, Mark Neeld is testing the players physically and mentally to see who has the resiliance to stand up under pressure and put in 100% effort for 4 quarters. At the moment, not many people would be passing the test. Just my thoughts.