deelusions from afar

I remember when we draft kozzie people said it's too high for a small forward. he only averages 9 touches a game etc... look at him now. Happy to trust Taylor and co (but I am very surprised)

The current version of myself LOVES this as this means we get another crack at a prospect I've wasted too much time reading about (Pickett, Dovaston etc) I fear that the Nov 2026 version of myself will be like "we traded the chance to get Y or Z so that we could draft X last year?? Really? What the hell were we thinking?"

That clip where he talks about Farrow and Nairn highlights that they like the idea of players with the versatility to play multiple positions which fits what we know about King (and the Cats where he has come from).

It's probably for a reason but at the same time, once Cal's drops, its brave to go against it - so could be a bit of group think? I also think Marc McGowan seems one of the more intelligent AFL journalists out there - once he said we were into Nairn, everyone else has gone along with it. In the case of someone like Cal, he prob looked into it and realised Marc was spot on with his intel.

Don't have anything against Farrow but liked the sound of Taylor, Robey and Cumming more. I reckon there's a chance one gets through - to me it seems odd that Richmond would go Robey, Cumming when they got Lalor and Smilie last year. Am hoping that Grlj would suit their mix better. It probably won't matter for us given essendon will pick whoever Richmond don't out of the players we have an interest in. Fill be fascinating to see how it plays out. Love the sound of Taylor but surely he's gone before us.

For those that watch training, do we practice pulling the kick at the last minute much? I see this happen sometime from set plays (a player pretends to be lining up for goal when at the top of their range) but not so much in general play. I think this is what makes players like Miers so dangerous as he ends up kicking it where the defender's aren't expecting. Obviously takes a lot of synergy between the forward and the kicker, good awareness and skills from the kicker and movement from all forwards.... but it all comes with practice surely. Do we practice it?

The interesting thing for me was that when I watched his highlights (which yes I know are limited for any player), he seemed to get almost every possession from marks. That makes me think he has exceptional hands (and tank) to be able to rack up the sort of numbers he does - but equally query his ability to win ground balls. I'm sure others are far more familiar with him and would know.

Thanks Bing - I probably wasn't clear in my comments. Don't have anything against Richo. He's had a number of senior roles at various clubs and was clearly pivotal in our premiership. My query was more that if the club know he's not going to be there beyond this year, wouldn't it make more sense if those that are there for the next 3-5+ years be the ones that make the decision on key hirings as they are the ones that will have to live or die by their choices.

Thanks SJ (and others). Wondering when the team meetings happen about how they're looking to play this year in terms of game style, the game plan etc. Presumably that doesn't happen until the rest of the players get back... or has that already happened?

I find it amazing if they know Rich is in his last year, that he is so central to so many big decisions.

Interesting - new role with Richo staying on. Anyone with inside word - how does this all fit together? is this where the likes of Bartel could get involved? ---------- https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/gather-round-opener-confirmed-blues-face-crows-as-afl-resists-grudge-match-20251112-p5nerz.html

Hopefully for Kolt this translates to better performances on the field. While I haven't seen much to get excited about in his games so far, he did miss a chunk of the pre-season and early part of the season last year. In only his second season, this is likely to have a big impact on his performance. The fact that he is in the pointy end for running today and according to Ghosty has "grown up", these are everything we could hope for from him at this point in time. Seems like a fantastic young bloke - hopefully it can translate to his performance on field.

Have seen a few posters post something like this... is next year's draft meant to be awful? If not the GCS F1 is worth more than a pick in the teens in this year's draft on its own. I'd love to get Pickett too but if we're not using 7/8 from this year's draft on him then surely GSC F1 is also too much?

It's a good question - something I've been wondering. Given how well he did this year playing on the wing and given he is a good kick, maybe he is better suited not to be our main inside player. Seemingly a few on here assume he will be it. Some say he's similar to Bont... but Bont has had Libba (and others) feeding it out to him for years (not that he isn't capable of winning it inside). Also think Lindsay seems more natural / effective inside on what we've seen - and that's his first year with limited preseason. Once he's had a few full pre-seasons....

Would have to be pretty special to trade our F1. That could be a top 4 pick in a stronger, less compromised draft

This guy seems to know his stuff. Interesting he seems to think West Coast would need to get one of Melbourne's picks to get Dovaston - he doesn't think he'll last to their third pick (I think 13).

IF (and that is a big if as I have no idea) this draft really is poorer than most drafts particualrly next years, this sort of strategy makes a lot of sense to me. The players would have to be really really good to combine first round picks for - and from what I've read / seen, this years' crop don't warrant it. Imagine heading into next years draft with 3 first round picks if it were similar quality to last year or Pickett's year.

That's fair... although it seems like the club was happy for afl journalists / commentators to say that on their behalf eg others saying in the media "From what I understand, they want a player. They don't want just picks." Which probably was a tactic to try and get Humphrey / Walter etc

It's a good article - obviously full of spin - but that's ok. Guerra is still in the honeymoon phase which in some ways is amazing given all the change that has happened in the last 2 or 3 months. He seems like a very good operator - eg knows it doesn't do any harm to give a shout out to player managers etc and seems a safe pair of hands and an excellent communicator. The tricky thing will be how we go with this spin if the onfield results don't match (eg "we don't want to finish 14th again"). I've got faith in the list but wouldn't surprise me if it takes most of next season for the game plan to click, for younger players to take on the new responsibility etc. So a finish at 14 or below wouldn't surprise me given the evenness of the comp. But I guess they've shown they will move the goal posts in messaging as needed (eg "both Clarry and Trac are in King's 22", "we won't be accepting picks for Trac, we want at least one player" etc). Not criticising moving the goal posts in these contexts as much of that is related to getting the best return in trading - but interesting to note.

Agree 100%. To put things in perspective for Dees fans, Nathan Jones was dominant for years in terrible Melbourne teams and never got an All Australian. This guy has been an All Australian twice. This isn't a slight on Jonesy - it's more to indicate that yes he brings a lot of leadership qualities... but also he's been a damn good player. And young enough to have solid years left ahead of him. 2nd for clearances and contested possessions at the saints this year (to Macrae) - he will be very handy for us!

How many years away from draft year? Is he a genuine chance?

That's fair. It has a nice ring to it. But it's also just PR. We're bringing in lots of new players this year regardless and it would still mean the same number of first round picks in a 4 year window - just more weighted in stronger drafts? Not saying we should do this, just raising it as an idea. Eg if we are really keen on Dovaston who is said to likely go in the teens, then you could effectively split one of our picks say with GWS (12) or Dogs (14) for their first next year (maybe we give our second back which is tied to GC or whatever). Maybe they wouldn't do it... but it could mean we get the players we want this year and have 3 first round picks for next year which is useful for Butters / Humphrey etc or just to load up on the draft (particularly if next year is similar quality to last year)

Why have two when we could have three? Maybe a silly idea - others who understand draft quality will know better than me - but if this years draft is really lower than most, then maybe it is better to load up for next year? There are only 3 teams that have live picks before us (as WCE, Rich, Ess all have two picks in the top 6). This means many clubs don't have first round picks. Plenty of teams may be interested in bringing next years pick forward to get a top 10 pick this year like we often do. Obviously some have deliberately traded out of this draft. But would we rather have (for example) pick 8 this year, or Collingwood's first round pick next year (their first pick this year is 39)? Are they really going to finish top 4 / top 8?

With all the picks used for academy / father sons, would it come in enough anyway?

I'm not Buckley's biggest fan but I heard this interview a few weeks back - at the end he talks about Brody. He mentions him playing through injury and being banged up this year and then said: "...If I was coaching Melbourne or at another organisation and Checkers was available.. I'd get him over... definitely... just cause of his character, the way he goes about it, the way he trains, his attitude, his selflessness... I know he's a great team man... whoever he goes to will get great benefit from him - both on and off the field" https://podcasts.apple.com/co/podcast/jamarra-ugle-hagan-jamie-elliot-brody-mihocek-nathan/id1198117448?i=1000729419016&l=en-GB And also this: "Brody Mihocek is "one of the toughest blokes I've seen play the game", says Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley" https://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/6880465/brody-mihocek-is-one-of-the-toughest-blokes-ive-seen-play-the-game-says-nathan-buckley/ Brody is a perfect fit for our young key forward group! If he imparts all of that on to them - look out!