Young Dee

I like the pattern - can't believe how pathetic our midfield was the last couple of years on paper. I also have big hopes for Taggert but then again I see the same for Strauss so call me an optimist if you wish. A Sylvia mould might be a good idea - he can kick goals. Will need a big injury free preseason and will struggle to crack into the midfield now but hopefully will get a handful of games next year.

Everyone here seems to have pretty mixed views - I haven't studied this years draftees much but it seems we did the right thing acquiring pick 9 if the top 10 are very similar. Won't name a player because I don't know enough to say but I would like a player who is both inside and outside mid and have and someone with some pace/height. (I think thats what we lack). I would also like someone who could come on quickly - not a long term prospect that we could stuff up (Morton) but thats purely because I can't be bothered waiting not because I don't trust Roos. Who ever we draft I will be comfortable knowing they have a midfield around them that can protect and guide them.

Its probably already been posted but: This is a really good AFL webpage with a whole lot of Draft analysis etc. (looking forward to the draft machine) http://www.afl.com.au/2013-draft/draftees/midfielders/

It's a tough one but I just don't think he is built to be a midfielder. I just get the feeling that he is not a natural mid. Played some great footy down back early and was forced into the midfield due to lack of mids. Hard one to call because 1. he is always in and out of injury and 2. because I don't know his true influence on the midfield (behind the ball stuff). Only time will tell.

Yes I was going to say that exact same thing. Fact is he had the attributes of a very good player and I think was held back by a poor midfield. I don't blame him for wanting to move and think he will be a good player for Freo. Very strong and had a beautiful kick. He was never going to reach his best at Melbourne.

I thought Sylvia took the game on.

I forgot how agile he is at ground level. I hope the injury has not taken any of that away. My worry is if Trengove missed out on 6 weeks last preseason and struggled all year because of it how long will it take Clark to return to full fitness. (would be a good one to ask Misson)

In my eyes: Saints - will definitely be there GWS - should show quite a bit of improvement but still probably bottom 4. Western Bulldogs - I don't know if they are going up or down? Brisbane - same as bulldogs Adelaide and West Coast look on the down? That's about all the possibilities but in footy anything can happen and that's why I love it.

Yer I agree that we are going in the right direction for sure and that we have potential but I am just saying we should keep a lid on our expectations. I don't care how many wins we get next year - I just want to be able to go to the footy and watch a competitive side week in week out. If we win games along the way then I will be stoked.

I think you might have to wait till end of trade/draft period. "The pre-season draft is a place for any uncontracted players to nominate that missed the AFL Draft or who were delisted after the main draft." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AFL_Pre-season_Draft

Yer I did the last 2 years and it only ends in tears

Wow - I think people need to take a big breath and remember that we won 2 games last year. Lets keep the expectations bottled at least till round one - for everyone's sake.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-10-09/phantom-draft In this recent phantom guide from the AFL web site they have him as 184cm and 85kg. And they have him at pick 9 "Freeman is the bolter of this year's draft having quietly crept up on a few of his contemporaries and he has done it through being dynamic. The strong-bodied midfielder finished the year well with the Sandringham Dragons, is a reliable kick, and loves to win the ball at stoppages and then burst from them. Showed his running prowess at the combine when he was ranked quickest for the repeat sprints (23.62 seconds), second for the 20-metre sprint (2.82 seconds) and 10th for the beep test (level 14.10)." Don't know if the draft combine results have already been posted but he did well: http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-10-04/draft-combine-results

........... yer. Nah - McKenzie is okay but he will never be part of the "nucleus". Could be a good honest footballer - if he learns how to kick.

Damn - looks like I will have to say good bye to that little glimmer of hope that I had. I agree we have to move on. Close the thread up!

Interesting to see some still rate Jamar as first ruckman (or was that just a mistake?) I personally think Jamar is undervalued on Demonland. Has had a couple of injury interrupted seasons. Still has 1-2 years left in his body I think. Don't forget his amazing tap work with Moloney and ability to go forward and kick goals.

Looks like that back 6 is set in concrete now that we have brought in mids (Grimes can go back). I really want Strauss to come on but he would have to take either Grimes, Clisby's or Terlich's position so that won't be easy. He has got a better body, pace and kick then those three though.

True I agree.........but then again you could say the same about fans - its just in our nature and part of the game to pay out/criticize the actions of every other club. Same goes for umpires - we all hate and criticize the umpires but without them we would have no one to blame but our beloved team. It's just the nature of footy and I love it.

I think once we appoint a successor he really has no choice but to hand it over - he can't just say "oo I'm quite enjoying this do you just want to sit this one out." If after 2-3 (more likely 3) years he has belief in the direction of the club then I can see him staying on in some kind of overseer role like Craig did for Neeld (or maybe a less official role).

what do people think - should we still make a play for Vince and Myers/Lyons? I would say definitely get Vince but at this stage it looks like we might get Vince and Cross and use the rest of our picks. Or we could try and get Vince and Myers or Lyons and forget about Cross. We might need to put a player on the table to get both though (if we want to keep pick 9). It depends if Roos wants to chase a small forward or a ruckman (don't know if there are any decent ones in this draft) Maybe Vince and Lyons for our Sylvia pick (hopefuly 21ish) + pick 53 and a player?

That's what I thought - then I went on the Collingwood website to check and it said pick 12 so I changed it. I guess it comes as no surprise - they can't count for [censored]. Sorry could not help myself: Collingwoods 2014 membership campaign has launched:

Here is a relevant article: http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-10-18/who-will-land-josh-kelly

Great just realised we are going to have a Dom problem. At least it wasn't another Jack

Does anyone know if we ended up getting pick 53? Trade tracker has us only getting pick 9 but the MFC website has 9 and 53. I guess they just forgot.

We just have to hope there are a few teams that won't pick mids or have unusual picks. Wasn't Grundy rated 2nd best in the draft last year but ended up going 12 because of clubs fulfilling other needs first. What are the teams ahead of us most likely in need of? (Boyd and McDonald are already gone - so that leaves 6 players) I think this is a great move - we have picked up a potential star who can have an immediate impact, have the ability to pick up another potential star with pick 9 and upgraded our pick 72 to 53. Better than putting all our eggs in one basket I think (pick 2).