Davos

I'd take those in bold, assuming we could get them for a bag of potato chips.

I know statistically a couple of these guys won't pan out, but that's a quality list of mids (not even accounting for Smillie). Not sure there are any talls worth taking that early, unless we love Trainor and think he can play early as a TMac / eventual May replacement.

Which would be your preference, accounting for our needs DS? I reckon Lalor waxing with Petracca as a FWD/MID early on would be pretty damaging, although Draper would bring an entirely different profile to our midfield mix.

Sam Lalor screams Melbourne midfielder. We should have some great options available at pick 5.

Has that been reported? I've only read that we were the sole Melbourne based team willing to offer two firsts. Thank god Houston appears to have saved us from ourselves.

But I was told on here that he has been lacking effort, and is lazy? Weird.

What's the big call Mark? Drop him? Who's coming in and performing better? Trade him? For what? Assuming he isn't still an off field liability, the club and sensible supporters know exactly why his output is down. It shouldn't take much work for someone who's paid to cover the game to realise why that might be, either.

Question for anyone across this draft - where's Thomas Sims expected to go at this stage? Averaging over 3 goals a game at Coates level, while also spending significant time in the ruck. 199cm and seems aggressive. Also appears to be a "one grabber", based on the limited footage I've come across. A few links - https://www.sen.com.au/news/2024/03/29/the-forward-ruckman-with-briggs-like-qualities-who-starred-for-the-knights/ https://www.afl.com.au/video/1156802/sims-sizzling-three-goal-day-catches-the-eye?videoId=1156802&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1719119206001&references=AFL_MATCH:6780 https://central.rookieme.com/afl/player/thomas-sims/ What's the story, why haven't I seen his name thrown around as a possible top 10 pick? Athletic limitations?

I agree with everything you've posted here, except the last sentence. I don't think the change is right. We lost to last season's premier by a kick, with no forwardline to speak of and with one of our most important players knocked out of the game in the first quarter. Tweak our system if you must, develop some new set plays for F50 entries (hello Greg Stafford), but we didn't and don't need to change our entire identity just because free flowing footy is sexy again.

We can bounce back to contention next season, but we won't without making some considered changes. Sacking Goodwin isn't the answer - 3 top 4 seasons in a row means he's earned the right to attempt a turnaround. I'd start by reverting to our method of the past 3 seasons. We built the team to play a heavily contested and defensive style of football, not to move the ball quickly via slick (skilled) ball movement. We aren't Pep Guardiola's Barcelona or Manchester City, but we can be any of Jose Mourinho's title winning teams at their peak. You'd hope Clarry can find his mojo again with a full pre-season - he's clearly out of shape at the minute and not playing with any confidence (like most of the team). Can't see how we continue with the same coaching group. From the outside looking in, it seems the players are tired of the same voices and some fresh ideas are required. Although I'm a fan of Choco, he's a big personality and can be overbearing. As has been discussed, Stafford seems to be a "good bloke" hire - the forward line constantly underperforms, even without elite personel to work with. We have to change the way we recruit via FA and trade. Although I understand the thought process behind pursuing AFL proven players for mid draft picks (Hunter, Billings, Fullarton, Schache, Dunstan), I think it's pretty clear now that we'd be better off taking the kids and using the cap space currently spent on bang average depth pieces to throw our hat in the ring for higher quality free agents and trade targets. We should be either getting a sure fire best 22 player, or we go to the draft and back our ability to develop over time. Of the players we've been linked to, I don't mind the noise around Josh Battle but Angwin seems extremely mid. Lastly, you would hope this is the worst our forwardline will ever look. Jefferson should offer more than Disco (and this season's version of Petty) next year, and JVR will have another pre-season under his belt. I can see a world where Petty becomes a competent forward again a year removed from his foot injury, or you could swing him back to the backline and get the premiership winning band back together (if he's still around). This season is a write off, but I'm not buying the "window closed" noise. Yet.

He's an absolute unit, and is pretty clearly too good for the VFL based on his GF performance last year. Far better ruck prospect than Fullarton, although he is a pure ruck and will offer nothing as a forward. Can't imagine we'd be the most attractive option given Max stands in his way.

That's a great call. A Cam Pedersen level player would be a good outcome.

Kane knows ball.

I hope Blake Howes is the correct answer here, but I think Laurie is the most likely given his reported early form on the track. There's scope for him to develop into a version of Brad Close this season, which would be a terrific outcome.

Hell yeah.

I wouldn't go as far as saying you should never take outside mids or small forwards high, but it's undeniably a riskier propostion drafting kids who have yet to prove they can win their own footy. I'm in on Windsor if JT is, because he's more than earned our trust and has a proven track record of nailing high draft picks, but it's a big call to pass on Curtin (which now looks likely) in favour of a kid who hasn't proven he can win the hard ball.

I'd be happy to draft him purely because I dread the thought of playing him for the next 10 years. He's going to be a Papley/Milne/Green level antagonist.

I'd implore everyone to go back through the past 3 drafts, take away academy kids, and assess the performance of every player taken between picks 25-35. Those picks are worth almost nothing to us - this deal is fine even if we sit on 6 and 11.

I'd probably do that deal.

I'd almost prefer to trade out of 13 in exchange for a future first + change given how this draft is shaping up. I'm not enamoured with any prospect likely to be available in the teens. Sit at 5 and pray McKercher falls, then pocket the extra asset for next year when we may be in a position to make a play for a true ceiling raiser (see - Z.Butters) or have a dip in a more favourable draft (have conducted zero research on next year's crop, but I assume it's less compromised at the top end than this one).

Yeah baby.

Draft Shaun Mannagh and prosper.

Mannagh is an AFL footballer. Unbelievable game. Chol has a really laconic on-field disposition. Stat sheet will read as if he played a good game, felt he was just too big for the Werribee defenders + GC did a great job getting him space inside 50.

Love Butters as a player, but reckon his chat would be horrendous. It'd be like us bringing Oliver to a meeting.

Bloke will be a absolute weapon in country footy.