Watts Jurrah Dunn?

Spot on. Through developing McDonald and Jones, and great sales pitches to Clark and Dawes he has already built us a spine for the next 5 years. One can only imagine the position we'd be in today had someone like Neeld got Bailey's job. Clearly going strictly with kids was the wrong approach and Neeld has done a great deal to correct that in 12 months.

Horrible thread. Frawley takes the best forward. McDonald the second (its not about 2013 so doesnt matter if he's beaten). If there is a slow gorilla Sellar plays. Pederson could also play back there. Watts also seems destined for the back half given our recruits. Plenty of options. If Martin has another season like the one just gone he'll be worth a 4th round pick. Must cash in while we can still get something for this perennial tease. He is a very capable ruck but the club has put all it's eggs in the jamar basket and must move him on.

I agree that they are similarly talented but Dawes will work twice as hard as Sellar and make it to twice as many contests. Dawes down one side of the ground and pederson down the other gives us two gorillas that should crash packs and at least halve contests. We'll be much more bearable to watch than when we were kicking to Martin, Dunn, Bate, Petterd, or relying on Howe to take mark of the year every time we bring it out of defence. They should also help Watts development through training, and Watts getting the 3rd or 4th defender if he spends time forward.

Sam Edmund has written in the sun that his manager has hosed down speculation a deal has been done with the bulldogs. Will make up his mind over the weekend. Another article confirms that neeld today met with gumbleton in Perth.

Meredith is a smooth moving, skillful half back flanker/wing who has understandably struggled to get a game behind Shaw, Mattner, Malceski and Smith. He has been unlucky with injury such as doing his PCL last pre-season while out on the beer. I think it would be a win win for both clubs as they are two talented players that have both stalled who could benefit from a change of scenery. He just needs a bit of luck and to work a fraction harder off the field.

Great comparison. A mate of mine that watches a lot of North says he'd be a great pick up. Probably the only question mark on him is leg speed but Dawes isn't exactly Usain Bolt either. I'd be a lot happier with Pederson for a 4th rounder than Dawes for a 1st rounder. Brings into question Sellar and Davis' spots on the list as I believe Pederson could also play on the 'dinosaurs' and pinch hit in the ruck.

I admire your optimism mate, and I hope you're right, but we virtually played the Northern Bullants that day. They were missing about 6-8 of their best IIRC?

I disagree that Farren is not hard. There seems to be a view on here he's another Morton or Bennell. He goes really hard at the ball, as evidenced by that contest against Selwood which KO'd him. Ray also comes from Ross Lyon school of discipline, hard running and knows a defensive game plan. He's no world beater but I think he'd be a good pick up. Back on Thomas, I'm happy with him as a bargan priced battering ram. Just have to be mindful of too many inside midfielders with questionable disposal. I don't think Magner, McKenzie, Grimes, Wines and Thomas could play in the same side. But it may free up Pick 4 to use on picking up someone with a bit more class (McRae, Mayes etc.)

I can't believe people actually think Bail's kicking might magically improve for next season. The bloke's 24 and been on an afl list for 4 years. If he can't kick now he will never be able to kick.

Thank you for clarifying. 45 I am going on the interviews that I've heard where Harrington has confirmed we haven't given up hope of convincing Sharrod we're a worthwhile proposition. Clark at least gave us the time of day last year to meet with us and hear what we had to say. Unless you can confirm otherwise I don't think Wellingham has done the same. Regardless, I'm very pleased the Pies and WCE are close to a deal so pick 4 can be used on the 3rd best midfielder in the draft.

Dear MFC, Please stop desparately pursuing Sharrod Wellingham when he has absolutely no interest in playing for our club. I am sick of every radio update saying 'Melbourne is still confident it can convince Sharrod Wellingham to play for the club'. It is embarassing, and if we need to beg him then clearly he won't die for the jumper like I want our players to. It is clear that as soon as Wellingham is an UFA we will lose him to West Coast, and we are apparently going to sell the farm (pick 4) to get he and Dawes. Staggering.

These threads give me the brace and bits. "You're all geniuses in hindsight, the club are doing their best". Posters on forums have to use hindsight because none of us are full time recruiters. The clubs recruiting under Bailey was terrible. We must demand better from full time experts, and if they get it wrong as much as prendergast did, I'll use hindsight in calling him a dud as much as I like.

Wouldn't Cam Pederson at pick 45 represent better value than Dawes at 13? Pederson can also play back and, at a pinch, ruck.

My source at Sydney says he has a great footy brain but he has lost his pace and can't play the small forward role anymore. He's past it. At this stage I'd be paying Lonergan from essendon a bit more to come to us in the PSD rather than waste it on a slow 28 year old.

In the hope that someone provides the club with supporter feedback from this forum: If we give pick 14 for Dawes I will not sign up as a member next year. He is just a good ordinary workhorse. Cam pederson will achieve similar results and will cost pick 40.

Pick 14 for Luke Parker? Sounds a lot but a guaranteed 200 game inside midfielder. Pick 4 for Parker and Rohan?

You're right. I don't know exactly where Harrington's power lies and a lot of it can be blamed on Prendergast and Bailey's recruiting philosophy of gentlemen that were lovely kicks. But a List Manager has a lot of input into recruiting so decisions such as Cook over Atley are shockers. The gaping holes we have in our list (skilful half back, quality outside mids, gorilla forwards and small forwards), and the fact we've been on the bottom of the ladder for 6 years would indicate that our List Management has been poor. Morton and Davey being contracted for next year is an example of a terrible list management decision. Not sure who made the decision to hold onto Moloney last year when Essendon offered a 2nd round pick but I'd have thought a List Manager has a fair bit of input into that as well. And don't start me on a 28 year old lumbering ruckman being signed for 3 years when we are about to go to two subs.... The good news is that Neeld knows this which was why Harrington was moved this year into an 'Opposition Analyst/Free Agency' role. A 12 year old boy with a computer could go through opposition lists and highlight the ones that are 193cm plus...

Tim Harrington has managed this atrocious list for the last few years, Sue, so it makes sense that we wouldn't have much faith when he is still heavily involved. Hopefully McClardy comes out now the way McGuire would and says 'that's fine, bid on him, but watch out for the consequences when we launch raids on Prestia, McKenzie and any other Victorian boy on your list'.

Spot on mate. He should have said the exact opposite. "It will always be my dream to play in the red and blue", "I'm incredibly close to my family so I'm going to really struggle if I have to move". Sew the same seeds of doubt Luke Ball did in the 09 draft.

I agree with your sentiments but Harrington is one of the reasons we have pick 3 in this draft. Appalling list management and recruiting. He seems to want to use Scully as an excuse for our list being years behind where it should be...truck load of good Scully would have been with his tiny frame and terrible kicking.

This is supposedly a stronger draft and I would argue that Dawes has far less upside than Clark. He's much slower, doesn't have a leap. He's just a hard-working C Grade 'work horse'. It is debatable whether Dawes is any better than Sellar. If Sellar had Pendlebury, Swan and Thomas putting down his throat, and Cloke drawing two defenders how do you think Sellar would compare?

Gysberts for Gumbleton would seem pretty logical to me. They are after midfielders and they're probably both worth around pick 30 in this years draft. I would have no problems with a forward line including Clark, Pederson (Rivers compensation pick) and Gumbleton (Gysberts).

If the Dees were to give up pick 13 for Chris Dawes they can kiss my membership goodbye. I rate him more than most on here but pick 26 is the most I'd give. Based on the article in The Age this morning it doesn't appear that there will be a bidding frenzy.

Gold Coast have come out and declared Sam Day and Daniel Gorringe won't be traded for Tippett. It looks as though they will receive a Gary Ablett compensation pick from Geelong for Caddy, which isn't active in this years draft. If they take Viney with 2 then they go into trade week with only pick 25 to trade for Tippett. The Lions will be bidding their pick 8 without a shadow of doubt. Something doesn't add up.

Just how much are Melbourne's spuds getting paid!? The Toovey's and Johnson's at Collingwood's must be on $150k and we must have Bail's and Bate's on $300k. We haven't had an A Grader for years. I don't understand how we could be getting within coowee of 92.5% of the salary cap.