btdemon

Sorry to bump this thread up but I really think this guy may be the bargain of the draft. From the video footage he seems to have no obvious deficiencies, just pure talent and application, size and speed. Most of the others being touted as pick 3 have a weakness. Laverde, his kicking, McCartin his goal kicking and health issues, Lever disposal etc. Cockatoo has not had enough chance to wow all of the observers but he looks like a gem to me. Have another look at the footage on the AFL site. Take him or not, we'll certainly hear about him in the future. Not nearly as big as Adam Goodes but gee he sure plays like him. Beautiful 'don't argues', great lateral movement, evasion, good hands and great disposal. What's not to like? http://www.afl.com.au/draft/draft-machine.workstation

Highlight reels show a lot of kicks not hitting targets.

A forward line that reads: Garlett, Hogan, Howe Watts, Dawes, Kent looks a great deal more potent. Especially if it is being fed by a well-functioning midfield and back line.

I Agree with Roosy. Wright looks great but is inconsistent. McCartin may be Ok but I'd rather have a super midfield and build from there. Geelong had so many great mids that they were able to play them as half-backs and half-forwards. You have to get the ball first and then be able to do something with it. The successful premiers of the past few years have always had the best midfields. Geelong showed that you could have a patchy forward line and still win the big one, three times! Build us a Rolls Royce midfield Roosy and the rest will follow.

Cockatoo looks like the bargain of the draft to me. He looks like a potential superstar. Unfortunately he won't be going to us unless we are prepared to use pick 3. I, for one, wouldn't think it outrageous if we did. Players like him don't come along that often. Anyway, I'm just dreaming, as he won't be available at our third round pick.

Paddy Dangerfield is a fantastic player and a great football commodity, but he is just one player. The idea that we should do anything it takes is to get him is the Messiah thinking that has got us into so much trouble. Dom Tyson and Bernie Vince were good examples of the way we should go about this. Expecting one player to change our fortunes is misguided. Having said that, I would love to see Paddy in Demon colours. While he has been disappointing in the last couple of years, Trenners represents something really good and wholesome. I am very wary about letting him go unless it is for a very well considered deal.

Despite all of Jack's shortcomings, the interview says something about his character. It would be difficult to remember a player who has had the burden of as much expectation as Jack, and his failure to deliver on those expectations has placed him under more critical scrutiny than any player I can remember. The negative commentary, speculation and slurs on his character have been a steady flow over the past few years with the derogatory comments peaking after his notably poor games. I too, don't claim to be innocent in this regard. My daughter told me off for loudly bagging his apparent lack of effort at a game earlier this year. What impressed me about the interview is his willingness to cop that criticism on the chin and remain positive. That in itself, shows a real strength. Some on this forum would claim that he just doesn't care enough to be troubled by it but I doubt very much that that is the case. He appears to be aware of his reputation and still manages to remain positive. i can't help but admire it. His team mates obviously value him also. I agree that maybe he is a pet project of Paul Roos and would be disappointed to see him traded. He is the most skilled player, with ball in hand, that we have. I agree with all those who state that he needs to get his own ball more often though.

Wow! I'd forgotten how great the football was back then. So much more exciting than today's stultified scrums. No wonder crowds numbers are dropping now. I hate to say it, but i am starting to agree with KB! The parallels with Richmond's run this year are also very obvious. The momentum that the Dees took into that finals series swept all before them, until of course, that fateful moment in the prelim. They were overrunning teams with a play on, knock the ball forward at every opportunity style. It was breathtaking and the they steamrolled their way to that prelim. they used the same style in '88. PS they had some guys who could play as well.

Have a read of this. You would swear the author was from the MFC until you read that he experienced only one coach sacking. The article says so much about where have been. Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/how-losing-creates-culture-of-misery-and-selfishness-20140513-zrbcu.html#ixzz31jADwWka "Our replies were well rehearsed: "We’re 100 per cent supportive of the coach. We believe in the structure and game plan. We understand it’s a rebuilding process that will take time and we believe it’s actually the players that need to lift and show more effort on field." - Sound familiar? Melbourne under Neeld? Apparently not. These "Secret Footballer" articles have all been really interesting.

I suspect that Jack doesn't realise that he is not going in hard. He definitely avoids hard body contact and until he learns to attack with the body rather than doing his "jazz hands" thing, he will be a frustration for us. It is not in his nature to attack with his body but I fear that he will never be a great player until he overcomes this. It is a mental thing and will require content vigilance on his part. The other thing that concerns me is how how reacts to forceful contact. He seems be be very easily knocked off balance and a decent knock is enough to put him off. I still have high hopes for him but I'm starring to doubt whether it will happen.

JKH was great. This guy will be a footballer

We got Toumpas and not Wines. Now it's up to Jimmy and the club to make him the best player he can be. That is where the future lies, not with lamenting what might have been. That is so pointless. Natanui Vs Watts Dangerfield, Rioli Vs Morton Martin Vs Scully, Trengove Vines Vs Toumpas These things are in the past. The future is the future

I say we recruit Shane Watson.

For those who thought Jeff Kennett would be a good president at Melbourne.....read this: http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/former-hawthorn-president-jeff-kennett-takes-full-credit-for-2013-premiership/story-fndv8os9-1226830848453 We didn't just dodge a bullet, we dodged a crazy unguided nuclear missile! In his senility his hubris knows no bounds.

Howe is now a complete footballer.

Thank God

Again, some people on this site are so quick to point out what they see as "special treatment" for members of the indigenous community. I'm not aware of all of the work that Adam Goodes has done achieved in the community and I'm guessing many here aren't either, but I suspect there is a reason that he has been chosen beyond the fact that he is a magnificent footballer and wonderful role model to people of every ethnic background. The posters who respond to 'dog whistling' are very tiresome and make me feel sad.

If he really works hard he could be the new Cale Morton!

I don't think I took it there. if you go back through the thread you will see where it germinated.

Nutbean, this is not the first time i have agreed with you.

You don't know what sort of person I am. I don't know who you are either. I do know racism when I see it. The fervour with which people condemn Liam Jurrah is not just because he has done the wrong thing. many people do wrong things but don't inspire the hatred this situation has. The fact that the guy is on a dangerous trajectory is obvious to all, but nature of the condemnation by some posters is out of whack, as is the dismissal of posters who attempt to put forward a more nuanced viewpoint.

Exactly. We have all driven stupidly.

I rest my case

Again, the underlying driving force for much of the hatred on this topic is RACISM. You can dress it up as "this guy is a danger to society and should be locked away" etc. but it is driven by racism. It seems that when people express sympathy or attempt to understand the complexity and tragedy of the plight of young indigenous men like Liam, they are labeled as delusional do-gooders. The situation is complex. Let he who has not sinned cast the first stone

I, for one, would love to see him rookied. Are the rookie spots so precious that we couldn't have a speculative punt? Even with his difficult circumstances he is more of a chance to blossom than some of the guys we have recently rookied. He was a tremendously popular player with team mates and If he was living back in Melbourne it might be his best chance of living a stable life. Bring it on.