manny100

I think the he said/she said, he did/he didn't is now irrelevant. The issue which is very relevant is the compensation we receive via trade for picks or player if he comes back. May be the reason Roos met with the magpies player!!!

It was said on 'Ed and Dermy' she was doing a course and that was why he was likely to play for a Vic club. No mention of who is paying for the course but it was mentioned that MC received a very generous payout from the Dees!! Unlikley we would be paying for the course direcly - not an issue anyway.

According to 'Ed and Dermy' it will be a Melbourne based club. His partner is doing a course here. The Dees will play hard ball and seek a trade.

Reported on 'Ed and Dermy' that MC's manager stated he would come back but not with the Dees'. He is still listed and the Dees were likely to play hard ball and seek a trade. There was some shock/horror about the hard ball which softened just a tad when it was revealed that he had received a very generous pay out from the Dees. Mentioned that it was likely a Vic club. No mention of value in terms of picks or players. Maybe around 20+ or a swap for Labamba - maybe why the meeting with Roos???? Hmmmmm, Roos would get the quick line breaking half back he wants, a swap for Mitchell boosts the midfield he says needs class as does the return of Trengove. That still leaves pick 2 for Brayshaw, Petracca or one of the talls - plus Stretch!!!! All we need to do then is to fluke a gun with our second rounder!!! Oh, and don't wake me up as I am enjoying this dream!!!!!

The swans will make a list decision. They have Mitchell struggling for a game. PLUS they get Heeney at pick 18 this year (touted as a top 3 - 5pick!!!!!!). PLUS next year they get Mills - academy and Dunkley - F/S both touted as potential tops 10 mids (Mills top 5). They will have an oversupply of mids. So if they want to maximise value for Mitchell and recruit another type eg tall with a good pick the swans will need to do it this year. So its a chance. Pick 3 is to much so we will want a sweetner. Don't forget under normal circumstances he cannot get a game - a gun walks in straight away. Playing mid for the swans is a tad easier than the Dees!!!!!! And we do not want to talk him up to much!!

If we get a 1st Round compo pick for Frawley then we have to pick up Wright if available at that pick. Jamar is jogging towards the finish line and both Gawn and Wright will be able to play forward and ruck. It will be our luck we rate Heeney as the best at our pick, we nominate and he goes to Sydney on the cheap. We are judged just to miss out on a first rounder for Frawley and get unders as a second round. We are then told by the AFL that other clubs have rated our list on the verge of being the greatest team of all time so we do not get a priority. In 2015 we finish bottom and Sydney Academy player Mills is clearly the top pick. We nominate and naturally we goes to Sydney on the cheap at pick 18. The AFL again reject our PP application on the basis that other clubs judge that out list is on the verge of greatness. This process repeats over and over. Eventually Nathan Jones is forced to retire aged 53 and is cranky because he believes he had a couple of seasons left despite the doctors saying they could not find his knees. The following season the Dees % falls to less than 3% due to missing their most experienced player. Sadly the Saints have had the same fate. Reiwoldt is forced to retire even though no one can remember how old he is. Apparently dementia had set in and he could not remember which way the Saints were kicking. It was reported on AFL 360 that the coach was furious because he was the only player getting a kick and did not care if went the wrong way. The Dees and Saints games have been moved from Fox Footy to the comedy channel and have out rated reruns of Benny Hill.

The young kids are tired and when kids get tired they lose concentration. Most of our young players would fail 'sandpit' at Kinder garden at the moment. The problem is AFL is so intense you can't drop off a tiny fraction. No 2 way running, confusion when in possession, poor kicking and hand passing. That is why Roos wants a mid with a couple of preseasons under his belt. I just want this season to stop!!!!! All the above and compared to other clubs we have had a reasonable run with injuries. Trengove and Hogan to come back in should help a lot providing another couple of key players do not fall off the back of the truck with injury.

The young kids are tired and when kids get tired they lose concentration. Most of our young players would fail 'sandpit' at Kinder garden at the moment. The problem is AFL is so intense you can't drop off a tiny fraction. No 2 way running, confusion when in possession, poor kicking and hand passing. That is why Roos wants a mid with a couple of preseasons under his belt. I just want this season to stop!!!!! All the above and compared to other clubs we have had a reasonable run with injuries. Trengove and Hogan to come back in should help a lot providing another couple of key players do not fall off the back of the truck with injury.

If the Swans will not talk seriously about a 2 for one trade we should nominate Heeney at our number 2 pick. The Swans will pick him up at 18 but at least we can say we ranked him at pick 2 and where is the draft equality.

The problem is while Father/son and academies exist the draft will never be equal in any case. The AFL says its ok to get players on the cheap via those venues but no PP to poorly performing clubs. It does not add up. The Cats won premierships via F/S and Hawks and Magpies via PP's. The Saints almost pinched one through PP'S. If the AFL was serious about an equal draft it would get rid of the F/S rule and fund Academies so players could be available on an equal basis. We could get really screwed this draft especially if we get a second rounder for Frawley. Ironically the Academy system could help us this year in that the Swans may wish to deal for our pick 2 given that they will get an elite mid this draft and 2 in 2015. Tom Mitchell cannot get a game!!!! With the early picks even and so strong GWS may also wish to do another 2 for one deal. Problem here is the Saints may compete with these clubs to deal.

Evans said it was less likely rather than likely that we get a PP. Yet the AFL allow quasi PP's in Academies and father/son. It seems a little odd that a team that wins only 9 games in 3 seasons cannot get a leg up when the Swans get a top 3 pick this year (Heeney) and next year (Mills) as well as a top 10 next year (Dunkley) on the cheap. It seems there will never be another PP given for poor performance. Wish we had an Academy!!!!

A draft analysis showed that the worst drafts were 2003 and 2009. Howz that for bad luck!!! It has to all turn and soon!!

We should get a PP after 1st round pick - no question about. Hawks set up an era with a PP and some good drafting. The magpies in 2005 thanks to a PP got 2 very good mids and later a premiership. The Saints almost got there with a PP and other good drafting. Geelong got there on the back of father sons - and other good drafting. Swans (although Academy helps), Freo just good drafting in general. Basically assistance of some sort is a common thread for most top teams. So why not the Dees?????? If you look at the top teams and look back through the drafts you can see they all had at least 2 drafts where everything turned to gold which set them up going forward!!!! A little luck needed as well.

See Wikipedia for history of the PP. Interesting the secret AFL formula considers % and wins. We far exceed the 2006 - 2012 formula for a PP after the first pick. As has been said in this thread if we do not get one then there will never be a PP again. The only club hoping we get one will be the Saints. Ironically under different circumstances swapping forwards and backs as we did against GWS, ie Garland, Dunn and Frawley would have caused a tanking uproar and investigations. In a MEDIA LED 'witch hunt' environment as we had in those days the Saints 'now' trading of players to obtain draft picks to draft kids which in turn will knowingly effect on field performance which will no doubt eventually lead to a good case for a PP could be construed as tanking. Fortunately those days are behind the AFL. The FA compensation should be considered separately to the PP. Although in reality losing Frawley (if he goes) should help the PP case as we will be replacing quality with an unknown, untried kid.

Clark and Byrnes already gone. Strauss, Blease, Nico, Evans, Clisby. Tapscott a possibility.

Saints via Pelchin has said they are going for the draft this year and next and going free agency next year as well (draft positions for 2015 will be settled by then). They are a monte for a bottom 2 finish in 2015. The problem is their are not quality talls up that end of the draft like there is this year. Also a low finish may see them get a priority pick in 2015. Given this it is a big call to pass on McArtin (kicked 5 yesterday) or Wright. If Frawley goes it looks like picks 2 and 3. We will have 9 wins in 3 seasons. If that does not get us a priority then a priority will never be given again!!!! Could have 2, 3 and 4!!!!! Petracca, Wright and Brayshaw!!!!! - dreaming of course!!!!

If we get a compo pick don't rule out a trade with GWS or Swans. Despite what the Swans say Mitchell will be offloaded for the right deal. Swans get a gun mid in Heeney this year and another gun mid in Mills - and Dunkley next year. No one in their right mind would not give up a pick 3 or 4 for a guy who cannot crack it for a regular senior game. Mitchell and another player, say Rohan would probably be about right. The Swans would get Heeney and Durdin (they need a young developing gun key back). Anyway trading/drafting season should be entertaining regardeless.

Stretch a bargain 3rd Rounder. He is very quick and with Barry is an alternative to Blease who may not be around much longer. Toumpass is a different type of player and not as fast. The top teams are adding express pace, eg, Hill and Smith, Rohan and Jetta. The way the Lions are going we may well get pick 3. Petracca will go top 2 so that leaves us with a tall.

I agree best available at our picks. Luckily Brayshaw or Petracca should be available. Usually bottom teams are so ordinary kids that play outside struggle big time. Usually those kids that are already strong, talented and win their own ball do better at least early, eg Wines, Dunstan. Generally the very early mid picks distribute the ball well which is where bottom teams usually fail. That is why Roos is trying to build our mid area up with bigger body mids. Win contested ball and use it well - helps forwards.

Lets see how Riley, Salem, Viney and Tyson go with a full preseason. A fit Trengove. Toumpass should hopefully pick up as well with a preseason.

After seeing the Saints in action they are absolutely deplorable - and some of their better players are heading towards the end. We were just as bad last year and did not get a PP - and one of our best players Clark retired this season. If the Saints get a PP there is no justice in the system. But for the good of the game they probably need one but I think the AFL will want to wait and see how they pan out next year before considering a PP.

Every season there is the odd upset or 2 or 3 lowly side wins in the last 6 or 7 games of the season. I think are likely to win 2 games at minimum. As a poster said earlier we have not been to far off in a few games including yesterdays. Roos is not massive on draft pick position. In yesterdays media conference he said the reason why so many high draft picks do not make it is because while they are offensively talented they have deficiencies at AFL. He meant defensive skills. That is why the club is treating Toump like a first year player trying to develop that side of his game. Offensively he was tearing up a lesser SANFL comp at 17 - but AFL's a different level requiring super defensive skills. Barry got his first game based on his ability to put into practice at Casey the defensive skills taught - his disposal count at Casey was regarded as secondary. Ability to put these skills into practice and play a role 'to the letter' of what the coach requires has seen Jetta become an important player - he showed enormous courage on occasions yesterday. Some players will just not get it and as a result will find themselves looking for a new club at seasons end. This year is about finding out who on the list wants to buy into Roos style as much as it is about winning - although nice to win!!! Brayshaw or Petracca plus a fit Hogan and Trengove plus?? should see further improvement next year. Roos looked gutted at the presser.

Saw the draft analysis by Wallace as well. 85% success rate for inside mids makes sense. The top 10 go to the lower clubs where it helps if you can get your own ball. The early insiders can win there own ball plus dispose ok. That is why Roos is desperate to build the midfield with class inside mids who can get the ball to outsiders and KPP's. No doubt if he was there we would have picked Wines. No knock on Toump its just that the Team needed insiders way more than outsiders at that time. I expect Brayshaw or Petracca to be drafted at year end (if available at our pick).

Got mine as well, cheers, have to be their early though????

It seems players who want to wait until seasons end to talk end up leaving. Chip is a really good player but not elite. I would very much prefer him to stay as good talls are hard to find especially if they can play KPP at each end. If he wants to leave then he will go - simple as that - players love the $$$$$ (and I don't blame them!!!) and I guess a chance to play finals soon/next season would be a big/massive bonus. All we can hope for if he goes is a pick after our first rounder. Then what do we do??? Two mids from the draft??