Nascent

ESPN Chris Doerre continues to dislike our performance at the trade and now draft table. Melbourne Picks: 15, 38 Players drafted: Matthew Jefferson, Jed Adams Grade: E Rationale: Melbourne's first selection in Matthew Jefferson was a speculative one for the stage in the draft. Jefferson is an athletic and strong marking key forward who doesn't need a lot of the ball to hit the scoreboard heavily but will also need to start finding more of the football more often to become a consistent key forward. Adams was a surprise choice in the second round given his injury history though is an athletic defender who has played a competitive brand of football when available.

Has he given us a D- or F yet in his ratings? Just checked, he gave us an E 😅

Cal Twomey didn't know who this guy is. Looking forward to a highlights package if one exists.

An article linked us to him earlier and we're allegedly keen on a young ruck so wouldn't be surprised to see us pick him assuming he's available. Also on board with @Pennant St Dee and hope we look at Sam Gilbey as a medium defender. Not a real need for us but I really like Blake Drury as well while Jonti Shuback might add more depth to our wings if we go down that path.

We're only taking one more pick so this won't work. Maybe f1 and 37 for 22 and a f2?

I think more sizes from previous season 6 Jackson to Grundy 12 Bedford to Hunter 19 Rosman to Schache Mostly like for like height wise. I reckon Jefferson would look good in 12.

Looking at our list it I think our needs are ruck, medium defenders, small/medium forwards and perhaps a key back to future proof life beyond May. Ruck: Barnett, Foster, Verrall, Knobel, Northam and Madden (would probably put a line through the last two). Medium defenders: Cowan, Ryan, Gilbey, Teal Small/medium forwards: George, Clarke, Burgiel and Hotton (both mid/fwds), Long Key back: Hayes, Van Es, Davies Obviously not an extensive list but some of the more well known/talked about prospects. Be interesting to see what sort of player we will prioritise for the national then positionally fill at the Rookie. No doubt there will be other names in the mix with most likely some smokies most haven't heard of.

Wasn't about the future firsts as you rightly asserted. Given the uncertainty of where the future firsts will end up with all clubs vying for finals, you'd take the deal that offer this years pick 11 over pick 13 would you not?

They probably have us beat if they're offering both future firsts along with pick 11. Think Essendon hold onto pick 4 regardless.

37 was originally the Swans pick but given to the Bombers in the Francis trade. Interestingly the trades between Swans, Bombers and us were all done separately, I.e. not part of a 1 x 3-way transaction. Not sure if that means we can trade it back to them or not though.

13 and 15 would be a good outcome if we cant get in the top 6/7. George is more a Petracca style forward. If we wanted a small forward type we could look at Konstanty or Charlie Clarke in the later stages of the first round with Darcy Jones probably in that range as well. Clarke and Jones have also rolled through the midfield a bit. I would be happy with any of them. Noah Long is someone else that might appeal later in the draft as well. If Kozzie goes next year then at this stage Nick Watson would be the ideal replacement with Jack Delean also showing talent in his bottom age year. Obviously a lot can change in a year.

Awesome win in probably the highest pressure game I've seen from this comp. We stood up after Brisbane threw everything they had at us in the first quarter. So proud of this group and happy we could do it for Daisy and Paxman, who I hope will go around again next year.

Indeed, I think he went 9/9 for the first picks then was a bit more hit and miss. West Coast selected Chesser at 12 where Cal had him going at pick 24 while he predicted Matthew Johnson, who was highly rated and invited to draft night, to go at pick 10. He didn't get selected until pick 21 which was the first pick of the second round. I wonder what this year's "curve ball" will be?

Most likely, that's why it would be a nice surprise if he did. He could even go as early as the Suns pick 5. However, despite Twomeys prediction I don't think Allan makes it to their second pick so they will have a decision to make there. Wouldn't rule us out of moving up a few selections to get ahead of West Coast second pick as well.

Would be happy with that as well. I'm alsp hoping for some surprise selections that puts us in the frame to grab either Ginbey or Mackenzie.

Will be suprising if we dont pick up at least 1 ruck or ruck/forward in the national or rookie draft.

Just looked this up and you are correct. They have 2 x 2nd round picks, 3 x 3rd round and 3 x 4th round. They are well sorted for next years academy bids.

Brisbane would be loving that outcome.

Didn't miss much to he honest. Only other thing of note was he pretty much said we won't be able to trade into the top 5-6.

Not much given away from Jason Taylor on afl.coms draft stream today. However he did infer that it's highly unlikely we will be able to trade into the top end of the draft.

Highlights of a player we have been loosely linked to.

Not sure I understand the logic behind our alleged interest in pick 19 before the draft. It's a good pick to have coming into the draft as you can leverage a lot out of it come night 2. So GWS are in a good position to capitalise there. Obviously we won't know who's available until the first round is done, so if we are targeting a player we would make a play for 19 after the first round is done. Doesn't really make sense either to pay a premium to get pick 19 just to then try and on sell it again for more draft capital.

The "for some clubs" part is interesting...

Pick 13 would have to be included as well I would imagine otherwise I can't see a team even entertaining it for a top 5 pick.