spirit of norm smith

Yes we might “defer” the rookie pick and keep the spot for a later SSP sign in post summer training ie. February 2021 signing. That way we can potentially invite players to “train on” and then give an opportunity, like we did with Lockhart, cWagner and Bennell over the last few years.

Yes I think we’ll go with 4 draft picks, leaving one rookie spot available for the SSP selection. Likely invite a few to the “train on group” over the summer.

Yes if Jack Carroll was available at 18/19, we wouldn’t or shouldn’t let him fall through the Saints. He ticks all our needs and his East Freo connection with LJ and Riv would help retention of the lads.

Yes AFL Draft Central was interesting reading and very comprehensive. Amazing coverage ! The Fox Sports “bargains and steals” highlighted a few youngsters highlighted through our DL posts. Isiah Winder and Zavier Maher are two youngsters who fit into our needs. Winder has impressed in 2020 and has that Tim Kelly ability to evade players and move at pace constantly. Maher is like a Luke Shuey type. Good inside but damaging with pace and disposal. The 2019 Futures mcg game last year showed he is as good as any and disappointing that he missed 2020. Might be a good pick for us if available.

It was interesting listening. Actually they had Dees making a bid on Reef Mcinnes. Nonetheless hoping Jack Carroll does find his way to the Dees. Aligns perfectly with our needs and I’d reckon he’d be a definite chance to get senior footy in 2021.

Thanks @DeeSpencer That mid point of the combined primary and rookie cat A list at 42 wasn’t in the article from Mitch Cleary on the AFL Website

AFL website says maximum 44 players being between 36 to 38 on primary list, 4 to 6 on rookie A list and up to 2 on rookie cat B list. So presume we can have 44 being 38 primary list, 5 rookies and Bradtke as cat B.

To clarify. Don’t clubs get 44 players all inclusive with max 6 rookies. So you can have 38 primary listed players, meaning we can still add 5 new listed players. Rookies would be mBrown, Chandler, Nietschke, Jordan and then a further 2020 rookie draft pick.

I thought he was very good at Northern Blues in 2019 and competed strongly against AFL listed opponents. I thought he could have earned himself a spot on an AFL list. Definitely was a good move to the WAFL in 2020 and from the YouTube games I saw this year, he’s got AFL standard skills, build and running power. One of our options for pick 50 ish imv alongside Mansell or Wehr if we opted for a potential ready to go type player.

Sorry @goodoil to clarify the reference was around youngsters with pace and skill, particularly for picks 18,19. Carroll and Bowey were your two nominated phantom choices. It’s the type of player I was drawing reference upon for @640MD. Perhaps I should have referenced Baldwin as a separate paragraph. He’d be a risk but someone will draft him imv. not particularly us.

AFL website featured a story on Jacob Wehr. He’s a good story and reminds me of Bailey Fritsch’s story. Some youngsters take a few years but their core skills and footy IQ is strong. Interesting to see where he ends up. His teammate Rhyan Mansell is also a great story and hopefully JT has him on his sights.

To assist our noble friend @640md. Here’s the listing of likely players with our picks 18,19,28. Just my opinion based on 2019 games watched and bits and pieces from 2020. Also hoping we go for pace and run and youngsters with good skills already. Baldwin is another youngster as a key forward who excelled at under 16s but, two knee recos later, he’s a punt by anyone. Hope this helps. Supported by @gawndog and @goodoil who have done excellent phantoms.

I think the Futures game last year at the G is probably one of the primary comparison points for many recruiters and dare say us posters with the guts to venture an opinion. Many of the top 10 picks excelled in that game. Jack Carroll was actually a standout for me just because of his sheer class and time. Simon Black like. Eddie Ford another for me that showed real AFL qualities. It was a good gauge against their peers. Having moved here to QLD last December (fortunately) I also got to see Blake Coleman first hand in the local league. He showed his speed and skill and footy smarts against bigger stronger opponents. I’d like to see us bid for Coleman with one of our picks. A combo with Kozzzzzzy would be exciting. Again just my opinion btw.

I saw vision of SA under 16s games in 2018 and he was very very good. A club will definitely take the punt on him.

Dr D. Settle down. It’s a supporters thread. Neither would @gawndogor @goodoil . Has Herald Sun journalist sat through the recruiter meetings or psych tests. Really. No poster here is. I based my opinion on watching 2019 under 18s games. Bendigo pioneers. From what saw, I’d take Jack Ginnivan who showed a lot more class and footy IQ in the 3 games I saw. It’s an opinion. FFS. Shutdown all opinion based on your view. Shutdown all views on our games given we don’t sit in match committee or watch 100 hours of tapes a week. We have our opinion. I think recruiters may go for more SA, WA, QLD kids this year based on what they have seen. Unfortunately many Vic metro and country kids may not be given the best possible chance and many are likely to slip through to the rookie draft spots. That’s an opinion.

Sorry didn’t see it on MFC club website or the AFL website about Jordan moving to rookie list. Though I think it makes sense and I reckon we might be in the market for a DFA (the Egg perhaps!)

Outstanding work @goodoil. Very creative. Good knowledge of the player types and club needs. Jack Carroll to the Dees. Probably more a hope than reality. I think GWS would be tempted to grab him with one of their multi picks. But you never know and he’d be the perfect addition to our midfield group. I like the bid on Coleman. I’d also bid on Errol Gulden to force the Swans to match. Bowey. I’m not sure. He’s very skilled but would get pushed aside against bigger and faster types. I would go for Zavier Maher. He’s got all the AFL qualities and I’d be amazed if we skipped on him. Has that burst of pace and super competitive edge. Poulter also is an option and I guess they’ll be up on your board shortly. Like to see who gets your nod for our pick 28 or other creative pick swaps.

And the new coach of Casey Demons is???? Has that been announced.

I didn’t read anywhere about James Jordan moving to the rookie list. Anyone seen this?

Time will tell gents.

But some of these blokes are already claimed - Hateley to the Crows - or will be rookied by their club Birchall, Gleeson, Ballenden, Kennedy. Strange analysis by the Knightmare!

I’m trusting JM and JT. I’ve called out Jack Carroll as a quality youngster that fits our team perfectly with his skills, reasonable pace, footy IQ and ability to win the footy. Saw him in the Futures u17s game on the G last year. Reminded me of a young Simon Black. Connection to MFC as he played for East Freo Colts last year with Riv and LJ. I think he was shot up the draft boards as he has been able to play WA Colts footy this year. We might have our radar fixed on him but he’s probably now ranked even higher than our picks. But you never know. So fingers crossed.

Seamus Mitchell not in Kevin Shifter Sheahan top 40 as expected. He’s a rookie chance if that. Hard to see us taking him when there is plenty of much more talented and stronger kids ahead of him.

Interesting to see the Lions have only cut to 40 and have 4 spaces available in their total list. Yet they have 3 quality zone/academy youngsters in Blake Coleman, Saxon Crozier and Carter Michael. All 3 had good years in 2020 as they played in the local competition and might tempt JT to make a bid. They are all have good skills and are fast running players.

The number of players delisted this year is amazing. Whilst the lists are being reduced, some clubs have got down to 35 players (pies and Roos) so they can add 9 additional players through DFA, draft or rookie draft lists. I think clubs will use the next few weeks to scan the DFAs or keep a 1-2 spots vacant and add players to train on lists for possible SSP selection prior to the start of the year.