Davos

Mundy is a great comp.

Didn't measure fast at the combine, but ran a good 2k time.

Looks to be more Sidebottom than Pendles to me. Good outcome either way!

I personally wouldn't split it if he's there - I've been sucked in by the potential. I think I'm higher on Jagga than you, but down on FOS.

Have a feeling that if North want to trade down and still grab Tauru, they won't want to trade down past our pick 5. Jagga isn't a typical Melbourne pick, and there's a chance that we have Draper rated lower than consensus. That leaves FOS, Lalor and Langford as a clear top 3 on our board. All guesswork of course, but I don't think it's hard to imagine a world where we have Tauru at 4 based on the above scenario, and if we get wiped out on the aforementioned top 3 (good chance as it stands today) pick him at 5. Think we'd do the above deal if we think there's a clear top 3 in this draft.

Chandler probably a HHF, no? Either way, that breakdown highlights the need for a second dangerous small forward alongside Kozzie. Are we certain we need another out and out big bodied mid at pick 5? If fit and in form (big if, maybe) that's still a good group of 4.

Good St Pats boy. Get him in.

If the reported interest in Kako is true, it seems the club agrees with DS. I've floated it before, but I won't be surprised if Hannaford is picked if we managed to obtain another first round selection.

We are having a great offseason. Go Dees.

Butters upside, but I'm concerned that he hasn't proven himself to be a massive ballwinner yet. I know he's had an injury riddled year, but it's a huge risk to take someone top 5 who hasn't dominated a contest in at least 12 months. Alternatively, you could end up getting crazy value, where a clear number 1 talent slips due to short term injuries a la Joel Selwood. I like others ahead of him, but can see how I can / will be proven wrong in 3 years time.

Yeah, I can see Merrett. I can also see Parish. I think there are 5-10 small accumulator mids you could compare him to. That archetype is obviously valuable, which is why I'm higher on him than @DeeSpencer. I think we have to pick him if we're wiped out of Lalor, Langford and Tauru.

Lachie Neale is also my best case comp for him, although Neale was pretty well built when he was drafted. I don't see Butters or Daicos - the best Butters comp in this draft is FOS.

I wonder if Hannaford at 9 would be an option in that scenario.

Gonna be pretty flat if that how it ends up panning out - was hoping Lalor would be available at our pick. Makes sense that he wouldn't be though. Not keen on O'Sullivan. A lot of water to go under the bridge yet.

Well done Gary. Bloke is about as subtle as a sledgehammer.

Bailey is a forward who can run through the middle a la Kozzy. Ashcroft and Neale are fine kicks, not elite. Rayner is a Petracca level user, capable of the sublime but rarely pulls it off. Lyons sucks. Ah Chee ain't a mid. Neither is Zorko. McCluggage and Fletcher are wingers. Point is if it's pure mids that we're after (it should be), being an elite user shouldn't be the make or break attribute that determines who we draft at 5.

Rucks don't matter, unless they're a total difference maker eg. Gawn. A battler who competes hard would be fine, and they aren't that hard to find.

Brisbane has one midfielder who you'd classify as an elite kick (McCluggage), and even then he is probably still more of a wingman than an out and out mid. The Brisbane mids are all stoppage guns, and that's where they killed Sydney on Saturday. Having said that, we do need better users in the back half. They're the guys pulling the trigger on the 20-35m corridor kicks, and outside of McVee we are devoid of talent in that area. Bowey hasn't developed, Howes has yet to prove himself, Salem is practically a corpse at this point and Rivers is an overrated user who is now probably a full time midfielder anyway. I'd say the club has identified this, hence the pursuit of Houston. Not sure if anyone fits the bill in this year's draft - seems to be a lot of mids, small forwards or key position players.

Take it to the bank if Twomey is reporting it. Thanks for the many memories Claz. Praying those in charge know what they're doing (not confident).

The Harmes deal was a mistake, and likely contributed to this decade's poor track record of AFL recruitment and the depth erosion we've seen post premiership. You can't pay role players overs (speculating in Harmes' case) on long deals when you already have 4/5 guys on top end coin - go and find yourself a Tom Atkins on $100k if you need a defensive minded midfielder who's never going to be a needle mover.

We should be taking a close look at this kid with the ANB pick. Given his performances since moving from half back to the forward line, and how valuable small forwards have become in modern footy, he may not even be available at pick 25.

It doesn't need to be verified by Petracca or his team to still be true. He's obviously not going to publicly state he wants/wanted out, without first lining up a move to his preferred club.

Tom Morris has nailed everything relating to the CP saga. Hate him all you want, but you can't deny he gets good mail.

Very normal stuff Christian...

Nice summation. Seems worth the punt. Don't think we'll be giving up a second though - probably only worth a later pick given he's never featured at AFL level.