Nascent

Addam Maric exceptional??

I'm not that disappointed, particularly if consider the following players: Tom Hill (passed over in 1st available draft, WB - pick 89 in his 2nd), Tom Swift (WC - pick 20), Matt de Boer (Freo - rookie draft pick 19) All these players were highly rated underage players expected to go early 1st round. Hell I even remember reading about Jack Fitzpatrick being a potential top 5 pick at one stage. I'm sure there are countless more examples. I'm more than content in saving our compensation picks for future drafts or to use for an experienced player.

I'm glad we haven't yet, there is no need to. No sense in delisting someone who might have some currency on the trade market, no matter how small. Better to negiotiate an upgrade of a late draft pick than delist a player and let a club pick him up for nothing (Buckley). We should have a firm idea of how many draft picks we want to use this draft so it's best to wait and see if we get any offers and move on a contracted player or two before making those decisions. I'm not 100% certain but I believe Warnock, Bate (Maric?) are contracted for next year. If one or two of them moves on I reckon it may provide a reprieve for Joel Macdonald.

This article suggest that Green, Frawley and Trengove may play as well although I haven't heard any confirmation of team selections as of yet. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/gold-coast-youngsters-picked-for-international-rules-team-to-play-ireland/story-e6frf9jf-1226158431737

Morton to finish top 5 in the B & F

If you were going to compare tapscott to anyone from west coast I would think Hurn would be a more suitable comparison. Tapscott just hasn't got his defensive capabilities up to scratch yet. I worry that he has/will continue to be found out by the more mobile medium forwards. Would much rather grimes, bennel and strauss of the half-back line. Big tapscott fan though, I hope he works on his engine and gets a run in the middle and half foward line.

Before anyone gets too excited its a glitch with the bigpond site that all clubs share... simply plug in the player ID number from their club site into a melbourne players profile and there you have it.

And on a related note... http://www.melbournefc.com.au/players/playerprofile/lancefranklin/tabid/8357/playerid/14265/category/senior/season/2011/selected/bio/default.aspx http://www.melbournefc.com.au/players/playerprofile/scottpendlebury/tabid/8357/playerid/14101/category/senior/season/2011/selected/bio/default.aspx

Makes sense. Think I was getting confused when they started throwing around the words "auction" and "bidding" when in essence it’s just more trade negotiations that happen every year, except you'll be trading for the right to select a player that won't be eligible to play until 2013.

In your scenario, if GWS only decided to give up two picks in the mini-draft and we were given pick 2, then we get to pick the second most talented player from a pool of 26 or so 17yr olds (with O'meara likely gone at no.1) The following year GWS have to trade the last of these 2 picks to clubs who then auction of for a new batch of highly rated 17yr olds born from 1 Jan 1995 to 30 April 1995. GWS can determine how many picks they will offer up to maximise their trade value to gain experienced players or more draft picks. The thing i'm not clear about is when GWS make it known how many picks are available this year. Would it be before bidding?

Indeed, I stand corrected. Played the following game against Hawthorn for his 2nd and last game. Don't remember him playing against us that day, but I guess he was probably standing side on from where I was sitting for most of the game rendering him invisible to the naked eye... listed playing weight of 71kg at 194cm, sheesh. Can only imagine the outrage on here had we picked up Morton and Notte in the same draft.

I believe we thought grimes would have taken well before 14, I remember reading that we considered using pick 4 on Grimes if West Coast picked up Morton. If that was the case I wouldn't be suprised if it we planned to draft Taylor with pick 14 but we couldn't pass up on Grimes when he was still available. Apparently we were keen on Tony Notte as a key position player who the Eagles had picked up at 20, one before Maric. He was delisted without playing a game. Now we just need Maric to cement that small forward pocket role (pending possible trade/delisting, lol).

He wasn't even on their list this year. Got delisted at the end of last year due to injury concerns if I recall. As for Kosi, I don't think I could tolerate the crap I would get from my St. Kilda mates if we picked him up. Not a fan and I think his career is rapidly coming to a close.

Cats by 22 Norm Smith: Selwood 1st Goal: Varcoe

He jumped on that bandwagon fairly late though. Here is an article from March. http://www.sportsnewsfirst.com.au/articles/2011/03/04/scully-to-stay-put/ "In fact, it is believed that GWS recruiting and list management head honchos Graeme Allan and Stephen Silvagni are already resigned to having missed any chance of luring the brilliant Scully to the Giants for their debut AFL season next year."

This... Exactly what we need in the midfield. Hard at it 100% of the time with a great kick. Not sure about Dawes, he reminds me a bit of Miller but with more size

1. Moloney 2. Jones 3. Sylvia 4. Martin 5. Garland Best 1st year player: Howe Most Improved: Martin

Haha, I think you give footballers too much credit. The other player I'm particularly keen to hear about with his recovery is Jack Grimes. Can anyone shed light on his progress??

Hey Deemitch, I may have misinterpreted your comment, can you please clarify? Are you suggesting that both Green and Trengove are having surgery, however minor it may be, purely for the purpose of altering/fine-tuning their kicking action?

Neeld and Craig in 2011 followed by Pendlebury and Dangerfield in 2012.... no need for redtube guys and gals, thats all the material you need

What do people think of Lewis Johnston from sydney? 20 year key forward and pick 12 in 08 draft. I seem to remember reading that we were hoping he would slide through to our priority pick. Can't seem to crack a game having only played twice this year so he will probably be looking for more opportunities else where (*unsure of contract status, but that doesn't seem to matter these days). Although maybe it's a bad sign that he hasn't been able to string more games together. I haven't seen him play at AFL level, is anyone able to shed any light of what type of player he might develop into, i.e. stay at home or lead up?

I'll back the club in on this one. I’d rather appoint a new coach than an Eade, Craig or Harvey. What will be interesting is the length of the contract (3 years is usually the standard for a rookie coach?) and which assistant coaches will accompany him in the coaches box in 2012.

What I don't understand is why St. Kilda doesn't make Ross serve his 3 months notice. AFL is getting more and more ruthless, why not make life more difficult for Freemantle and set their pre-season back 3 months. If nothing else it says we will not tolerate being pushed around.

I have no problem with clubs sacking coaches if it’s in the best interest of the club. Likewise I have no problem with Ross Lyon securing his future with a better deal if he goes about it the appropriate way. Incidentally, I have no knowledge to how this deal was done, so I'm reserving judgment for the time being. But.... if media reports are to be believed, while still coaching St Kilda to another finals series Ross Lyon contacted Freemantle and started negotiating a deal that would ultimately see Mark Harvey become unemployed. Is it acceptable to actively get a fellow colleague sacked for a pay rise? However this is all hearsay and the truth will likely never be known rendering everything I’m saying moot.

+1 on all points