deelusions from afar

You might be right - but unless you're one of the players, how could you possibly know whether the "quiet word" from these players is any different than from anyone else. My sense is that for a young player, it would help to hear it from someone who is seen by the football world as a start of the game - which Petracca and May are - but so is Gawn. They're all doing it - does it make a difference if they're captain when they're doing it? On a related note, it think this is another reason BBB will make a big difference to our forward line - having been one of the leading goal kickers in the comp for a number of years in a row. Compare that to our previous leaders in the forward line - Melksham and McDonald who have both struggled (for various reasons) to recapture their 2018 form.

Are you just guessing what it says? seems about right

Not solely directed at you tiers as many here share similar thoughts but I think this is pretty unfair on max. Does anyone here really have a good sense of who are the best leaders at the club? People were crying out for Max to be added to be captain prior to last season and now we think he isn't the best leadership material because we didn't finish where we wanted to. It's not the be all and end all but to me it makes a difference that he's a captain that doesn't talk in cliches - love/d them all as players but Viney, Jones, Green etc never inspired me because confidence/words weren't their forte. Which you don't need to have to be a good player but I think it is important as a captain. And it's not as if Gawn doesn't back it up on the field. While he didn't necessarily stand up when we needed him most last season, we now know he was carrying some big injuries - if anything shouldn't have been playing at all. Gawn understands what it is like to struggle - with injury, in the VFL, being on the fringe of the list etc and also through hardwork has become a star of the comp. It is well documented the homework he has done on ruck craft, opposition analysis, diet and fitness to become elite - and has been at this elite level (aside from injury interruptions) since Roos final year. I'm not against Trac and May being part of the leadership team in some form - but is it really just because they were our best / most consistent players last year? If Trac can't keep it going / isn't suited to longer quarters - does he go out next season?They're big bodies and players that impact games. But I don't think so any more than Gawn - he has saved us with critical marks in defence in addition to his ruck craft consistently for years. I take your point about other captains, but in Trac and May you seem to be going for the best players in the last year aren't you? It's interesting how prior to the tiges winning premierships, Cotchin regularly got criticised as a player (his possessions don't count) and captain (isn't one of the boys / doesn't live and breathe footy etc etc) In my view, Gawn is best suited to be our captain but if we think leadership and captaincy changes is where we are going to make up the lost ground in catching up with the 8 / top 4, then i think we're on a hiding to nothing!

Yeah sorry you are right - I often get mixed up due to that last goal he kicked v Hawthorn in the 2018 final.

I disagree - I think he offers something with his field kicking ability and speed that many of our mids don't. He's obviously also very capable in the air and in one-on-one situations. Given he's a left footer, could he be a genuine option as the other winger to Langdon? I know people have said that Baker, Hunt and even the new kid should play this role but I think he offers more than Baker and Hunt at least IF he has the tank and has the desire - last two years he has looked like a player that's only willing to play on his own terms.

Yeah you only really should be back ending contracts if you are in the window or have some big contracts about to finish. I don't think either applies to the pies

For those that are unhappy with the first two selections (mostly due to their size) consider the following: 21. Melbourne: Jake Bowey Position: Small midfielder/forward Height: 175cm Weight: 67 kg 22. Melbourne: Bailey Laurie Position: Small forward/midfielder Height: 179cm Weight: 78kg Here are some of the players they have been likened to (at current playing size and weight): Caleb DANIEL (pick 46 in 2014) MEDIUM DEFENDER 24yrs 168cm 72kg Brent DANIELS (pick 27 in 2017) FORWARD 21yrs 170cm 74kg Shai BOLTON (pick 29 in 2016) MEDIUM FORWARD 22yrs 175cm 77kg Lachie NEALE (pick 58 in 2011) MIDFIELDER 27yrs 177cm 85kg Tom PAPLEY (Rookie 2015) MEDIUM FORWARD 24yrs 178cm 76kg

I felt the same... but apparently the knock on him is his kicking - not terrible but not consistent. Seemingly elite kicking was a non-negotiable for our first two picks

Don't like the tactic but i think it's been executed perfectly - if an interstate club was 50/50 with him and another player it will be enough to sway them. If they're set on him, I don't think it will make much difference.

Had to do a covid test i think

Isn't that Tim Lamb's job i.e. contract management?

Having a guess at what we might pick based on needs - obviously there's limitations when trying to fit some of these player in particular boxes. And of course there's the live trading of picks which I haven't taken into account. I think if any of the players in group 1 (wing / outside midfielders) are available we will select them with our first two picks but it's unlikely that more than one will still be there at our pick (and potentially none will be) Once all from group 1 are gone, I think we will try to find someone to help out Kozzie with forward pressure and improve inside f50 entry (essentially Spargo's position but maybe also Hunt / ANB). There seem to be a number of great options here - most likely one or two would be gone. Then there are a bunch of players that could be great value but don't exactly address a need eg an inside mid with explosive speed / excellent skills. Or a key forward that will take time to develop / the greatest player ever that JT has hidden through covid. I don't know a lot about Max Holmes but it sounds as if we are very keen on him. By the sound of things he might not last to our third pick (but who really knows), but if we picked him with our second, then small forward types like Bowey / Winder are still likely to be there for our third. So i'm thinking it might be something like: 1. Cook / Carroll 2. Holmes 3. Bowey / Winder Group 1 - Winger / Outside midfielder - Finlay Macrae - classy, composure, evasive - everything we need - Archie Perkins - explosive, x factor, run and carry, inside 50 kicking - Jack Carroll - classy LF, evasive, inside / outside - Brayden Cook - tall speedy winger / half forward with goof aerial ability Group 2 - Small forward / outside midfielder - Errol Gulden (Syd Academy) - speed, agility, crumbing, precise kicking inside f50 - Bailey Laurie - speed, agility & evasion, lowers eyes before entering f50 - Blake Coleman (Bris Academy) - speedy, high pressure, classy skills - Jake Bowey - speed, agility, evasiveness - Isiah Winder - athletic, good composure and skills Group 3 - Other / Smokies - Caleb Poulter - tall explosive midfielder - Max Holmes - speed & endurance - Connor Stone - medium forward with tricks, run and carry - Sam Berry - aggressive inside midfielder with great acceleration and precise kick - Ryan Angwin - competitive contested utility with great endurance - Kaine Baldwin - dominant KPF that has suffered 2 ACLs - Fraser Rosman - Key position size player with freak speed and agility - Jackson Callow - key position utility who excels in one on one marking

So are we taking 3 or 4 players - I thought with the players being shifted to the rookie list we could now take 4?

From what I observed Mahoney was a quality person that Jackson had groomed to be his replacement. Bartlett and Jackson didn't see eye to eye and so when Jackson left, he brought in one of his mates (Pert) rather than someone who had been mentored by Jackson. There's more than one way to get from A to B so it doesn't mean this is a terrible thing - Mahoney has been here a long time. But given what Jackson was able to do, I would have felt better had his choice got the gig rather than Pert. Once that decision was made, it was going to be hard for Mahoney to stay on long term. I don't feel particularly confident with Richo or Pert - especially when you look at where they've been and how they present in the media - but with all of this I'm only seeing the tip of the iceberg and i hope to god (or the devil ?) they prove me wrong!

I wonder if they had to negotiate Josh's salary? ?

Love your work - I haven't seen any of these boys live (so what do I know) but the idea of getting Macrae, Carroll and Winder from what I have read and seen would be a steal! Definitely addressing our biggest needs.

I remember you (and I think others) saying he's exactly the player we need much earlier in the year before many on here had heard of any of this year's draftees. Class, composure, skills sounds great - but the fact that he's actually winning a lot of his own ball and isn't known to be especially quick... does he really fit our need? I know to label players inside or outside is too simplistic but if you say he reminds you of Simon Black, wasn't he the guy that got the ball out at the bottom of the packs (admittedly had great finishing skills too)? Not being critical of your opinion but you've seen him a bit so can probably explain for the rest of us. The last thing we want is someone who we're hoping will play halfback / wing who ends up being an inside mid like Jordan (as he'll end up being behind about 8 other players). I'm probably also fearful of what happened with Trengove - was meant to be a class player that could do it all (inside / outside) but seemed to be a bit slow for AFL to show it in the end (obviously injuries and our development at the time played a huge part).

Could we trade 18, 19 and 28 for 14 and 16? Is that a win win given how many players the pies have to take - we might be able to get the two that we have our eye on most.

How has he made it into Vic - thought the border doesn't open until the 8th?

Is it just me or does it seem like this years draft is a giant lottery? Obviously it always is but there seems to be about 30 names that could be a first rounder. Obviously there's a group in the top 5, and then after that there's about 20 names to fit into the next 10 and on it goes... Seems like it's not a bad year to have multiple picks in the top 30 (even with the academy / father son selections).... or (hopefully not for us) it could be a very even draft of low quality

I think Sam will benefit from not having the number 1 defender in 2021. Will be interesting how this translates in terms of the targets that midfielders kick to* in 2021 - will he have less opportunities as he's not the main target. Having said that, I felt Fritsch was often a target going forward and had he kicked straight (prior to this year a very reliable kick) we would have looked much better. * this is assuming that our midfielders are kicking to targets and not blazing away.

Disagree - we'd be getting him for a late draft pick. If it were at the expense of drafting some good talent in, then sure but it won't affect our early draft picks.

Admittedly only seen highlights but don't see the resemblance with someone like petracca at all. I remember when petracca got drafted, he was heavier than most keyforwards (i think 8kg heavier than McCartin). Perkins may end up an explosive player but he's about 20kg lighter than Petracca was in his draft year at a simialr height!

Not sure if people are aware but I think KK has retired - apparently on his instagram and the club page

Thanks LH. Was kind of hoping we would draft 3 kids as a scatter gun approach might net someone who has slipped through this year. If what you say is true, they may also have their eyes on someone in the early teens and be prepared to swap 18 and 19 to get him knowing that at 28 we are still likely to land a player we would consider at 19. I think as others have stated, depending on how it plays out on draft night, a number of picks between 19 and 28 may end up being used as points for academy / father sons so there may not be a huge difference between 19 and 28 in the end.