Random Task

Bluey has spoken.

When you think about it, isn't everything technically made up.

45. Melbourne - Kade De La Rue Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country FWD, 183cm, 79kg ESPN draft rank: 42 A balanced and smart forward-half midfielder, De La Rue weights balls to leading forwards and hits the target more often than not. His ball use is sublime, and it's an area of the ground the Dees were found wanting late in the year. If not De La Rue? Harvey Johnston is a chance here, and Melbourne will eye off small forward talent with Jack Delean and Jack Callinan appealing.

8. Melbourne - Dan Curtin Claremont/Western Australia DEF, 197cm, 95kg ESPN draft rank: 6 Curtin is the slider in this phantom draft, but the highly touted defender could go as early as North Melbourne at picks 2 and 3. He's a proactive interceptor with composure and skill in abundance, able to play on a variety of forwards and nullify their influence. Curtin played great football as an inside midfielder as well where his clean hands come to the fore, but he'll settle down back early in his career. If not Curtin? The Dees will likely pounce on Duursma or Watson if either makes it to this point, while a decision between Sanders and Curtin would be lineball. James Leake and Caleb Windsor are smokies at this point. West Coast could also consider a pitch for this selection if the homegrown product slides, but it would require their coveted future first round selection to entice Melbourne. 13. Melbourne - Caleb Windsor Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro MID, 185cm, 74kg ESPN draft rank: 19 The Dees will consider Windsor at pick 8, but they would be ecstatic to see him slide to 13. The wingman boasts elite speed on the edge of packs, able to use his burst to get forward of centre and hit the scoreboard. He holds his width and is damaging with his disposal, and he is likely to be a high metres gained player at AFL level. Windsor's speed and ball use forward of centre suits Melbourne perfectly. If not Windsor? The Dees are heavily linked to W.A. hard nut Koltyn Tholstrup, and could grab Darcy Wilson if the Crows don't. It's hard to see Windsor making it past them at this point, though

Fair point. But we've been shoved to the Sunday wasteland for decades when only 13000 people bothered to turn up to home games. I'll take some commercial success and relevance in the competition now which will only strengthen the club. I do hope there's enough family friendly games throughout the year so everyone can have a chance to attend half a dozen+ games.

Two Thursday night games is a great outcome for us so far. Start of the season gives us a good break into "round 1" and we get a bye around ANZAC eve game allegedly. More games in prime time are always welcome.

Herald Sun have a top 30 mock draft up online if anyone can access it.

One player that might be available at our first selection.

Cant remember exactly where but was one of these recent phantoms that stated we might have interest if he's still on the board for our 42. Could be without substance though but read like there was a known link from memory.

I'll hold fire until I see the full fixture. As far as I'm concerned it's just an away game in Adelaide and those living in Melbourne won't miss out on a Vic clash. I'm more concerned about the potential for a 5 day break leading into the game.

Not saying this is the case, but perhaps leaking interest in Curtin and Tholstrup is a way of making the Eagles look at our offer for pick 1 again. "This is what you could be getting Eagles, wink wink, nudge nudge..."

The article mentions Sydney and StKilda having interest in Tholstrup who have picks 12 and 13. Maybe not a coincidence we moved ahead of these two. Anyway we've been linked to Curtin, Caddy, Leake, Watson, Sanders, Windsor, Wilson, O'Sullivan, Murphy and now Tholstrup with potential interest in Simpson if he's available late in the draft. Still a bit to play out. What's interesting is I haven't heard any further speculation of us trying to move up for one of the Roos picks.

Yep, just read this on a foxsports article so you could be hearing correctly. "Powerful Subiaco prospect Koltyn Tholstrup is widely expected to be taken in the first round, with Melbourne considering taking him with its second first-rounder." https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/draft/afl-draft-news-whispers-trade-rumours-2023-riley-hardeman-essendon-taylor-goad-adelaide-nick-watson-hawthorn-where-does-dan-curtin-go-when-bids-will-happen/news-story/a20bec1504d1325bb116f9f24bb02c32

Equally you made a good point about clubs maybe not passing until into the 50s+. Something I didn't fully consider with the alleged limited draft pool. Particularly with Gold Coast and Bulldogs owning so many picks in the mid part of the draft, clubs that only take two picks may not have another one to pass on until the 50s or 60s.

If we wanted him, it would take 6 and 11 for 3 and perhaps a token late pick back. Also dependent on the roos willing to pass on him.

Thanks, hadn't seen this one. Find it hard to decipher if they have mail or just making educated guesses. It can read either way with some of these write ups.

I wouldn't say our pick would be greater than 73 at that point with great certainty. It could, but it could very well have come in further than that. Gold Coast will have all 10 of their selections wiped and Bulldogs will have at least 4 to match a bid for Croft. Hawks likely to have 3 selections wiped for McCabe. That's 17 selections for 6 players bring 93 into 82 straight away. That's before other NGAs and f/s's are considered and teams possibly passing before pick 50 with some clubs only taking one pick in. I'd further add that GC may very well have to trade out their early 2nd rounders/other picks for multiple later selections still with talk of Read being a top 5 candidate and Graham entering round 1 calculations. They wouldn't have the points to match on current holdings. A chance for us to rejig our hand here. This could all be moot anyway if we decide to take Brown at 42 and leave a spot open for a rookie or SSP player. I wouldn't be surprised to see us swap 42 with the Suns for pick 66, using this for Brown, and also gaining a future pick. Equally, it wouldn't surprise me to see Brown go without a bid and for us take him for free in the Rookie draft.

One factor to consider is how far pick 93 will come in once academy picks are absorbed and clubs pass later in the draft. Given its expected that roughly 50-60 picks will be taken this year we will likely have some points value added to that pick when it comes time to using it. 61 = 135 points. Not that it will make much of a material difference.

Hawks interviewed O'Sullivan this week as well. Sounds like due diligence but not sure it's a solid indication of their plans. Yet.

Speaking of preseason, anyone knows when it starts for us?

Interesting that they specifically stated we would strongly consider Caddy at 11, not 6. I doubt he gets that far.

Post in thread 'PMBangers 2023 Draft Thread' https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/pmbangers-2023-draft-thread.1348092/post-81752173 Pmbangers has his phantom draft up.

Cal twomey 12 hours before the draft most likely.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/draft/fox-footy-afl-draft-2023-rankings-top-50-afl-draft-news-2023-prospects-predictions-final-power-rankings/news-story/175d8013a2acd03ac01aaf1ce7d296f1