Draft Picks and Trading for 2014. "Best available talent and midfielders" - Taylor

[Gysberts2Bate]

Davis tears it up in the VFL almost every week from what I've heard, hope we give him a chance to play in the firsts before delisting him (before Chippa comes back, maybe). Is only a third year player as well, so plenty of time for a KPP and tall defender.

I reckon Aish is better than Boyd. Idk if it's just me but the latter looks a bit slow. Has a great leap, clean hands and a nice kick on goals but doesn't run too fast. Might just be his size causing an illusion of some sort.

 

[Blackas87]

Think you need 3-5 small defenders all up these days tbh. 3 in the firsts, 2 in the reserves. Tynan is young enough to be safe, Jetta will want to show something fast.

Fitzpatrick will surely get another year, we know he's a long term investment. Needs to keep plugging away in the 1's and 2s.

Can see Gillies and Davis getting the axe.

Disagree, you need midfielders. we lack midfielders because we are overstocked on less important positions, our small defenders can't really run through the midfield but midfielders are usually able to drop back. I would say next year Terlich and Strauss need to be in the best 22 and Tynan the number one back up, we can't go chopping and changing between 5 players all season.

Fitzy may have been a development player but now in his 5th season with players like Clark, Dawes, Pederson, Watts and now Hogan fighting for the same positions, once again we need midfielders, we can't keep too many talls on our list, Hogan is 5 years younger and a much better player to develop, Strait swap Hogan for Fitz.

Don't think we will get rid of 2 young developing key defenders, one will go though. I would stick with Davis. I don't get how you like Fitz in his 5th season as a development player but Davis not in his 3rd, his performance on the weekend was outstanding from I'm hearing and after bee named in the 25 a number of times this year it seems as he is developing ok

 

[Tulip]

Disagree, you need midfielders. we lack midfielders because we are overstocked on less important positions, our small defenders can't really run through the midfield but midfielders are usually able to drop back. I would say next year Terlich and Strauss need to be in the best 22 and Tynan the number one back up, we can't go chopping and changing between 5 players all season.

Fitzy may have been a development player but now in his 5th season with players like Clark, Dawes, Pederson, Watts and now Hogan fighting for the same positions, once again we need midfielders, we can't keep too many talls on our list, Hogan is 5 years younger and a much better player to develop, Strait swap Hogan for Fitz.

Don't think we will get rid of 2 young developing key defenders, one will go though. I would stick with Davis. I don't get how you like Fitz in his 5th season as a development player but Davis not in his 3rd, his performance on the weekend was outstanding from I'm hearing and after bee named in the 25 a number of times this year it seems as he is developing ok

None of Terlich, Strauss or Tynan are proven. What if one gets injured, and then another loses form? Hardly Matt Suckling or Corey Enright. I suppose we do have Joel MacDonald and Garland can play small if worst comes to worse - though he is much better as a tall. Clisby is there too, but will be delisted if he doesn't play a game.

Fitzpatrick is in his 4th year, first of all. He was only drafted a year before Davis and has been one of our best in the VFL for two years now. His ability to ruck (something Hogan, Dawes, Watts can't do, and that Pedersen can't do well at all) is a big ace up his sleeve. 200cm tall, a nice bit of modelling clay, do we groom his to be our first ruck/Gawn's insurance policy?

Davis: I never said I don't rate him. Posters on here will say that I've rated him too highly actually. Unfortunately for Troy this was his first excellent game at VFL level all season and he will have to really lift if he wants to get a senior spot. Good courageous kid, and I think he could actually be a good Rivers 3rd man replacement if groomed correctly. I believe he'll play soon after what Neeld said about blooding youth.

 

[Blackas87]

None of Terlich, Strauss or Tynan are proven. What if one gets injured, and then another loses form? Hardly Matt Suckling or Corey Enright. I suppose we do have Joel MacDonald and Garland can play small if worst comes to worse - though he is much better as a tall. Clisby is there too, but will be delisted if he doesn't play a game.

Fitzpatrick is in his 4th year, first of all. He was only drafted a year before Davis and has been one of our best in the VFL for two years now. His ability to ruck (something Hogan, Dawes, Watts can't do, and that Pedersen can't do well at all) is a big ace up his sleeve. 200cm tall, a nice bit of modelling clay, do we groom his to be our first ruck/Gawn's insurance policy?

Davis: I never said I don't rate him. Posters on here will say that I've rated him too highly actually. Unfortunately for Troy this was his first excellent game at VFL level all season and he will have to really lift if he wants to get a senior spot. Good courageous kid, and I think he could actually be a good Rivers 3rd man replacement if groomed correctly. I believe he'll play soon after what Neeld said about blooding youth.

Of course they aren't proven, 75% of our list is isn't proven, but we lack midfielders and we need to make room, the coaches need to make a call in which players they want to go with, there are only 40 spots on the list there isn't room for everyone.

Yeah Fitz is in his 4th, but still we are overstocked on players in his position on the senior list, but I do think though we need a senior ruckman on our rookie list, if he is the best available i would take him back in the rookie draft. Jamar has another 2 years after this year, that could allow someone like Fitz to keep developing on the rookie list and when Jamar retires and his spot frees up Fitz if good enough can be promoted. It's just going to be very hard for him to get a game next year.

I like Davis, his last game was his best for the year but he has been pretty solid all season which is why he has been named in the 25 a few times this year. Courageous kids is what we need.

 

[Tulip]

No use stocking up on midfielders if they're going to all sit in the reserves. Lists are big these days, we can accomodate a couple of prospective talls in their early 20's like Fitz and Davis.

Dunn really needs to go, meanwhile, but is there anyway we could just get rid of him a year early?

Oh Neeld, 3 years to Pedo and 2 to Dunn what the ****?

Meanwhile, a free agent proposal: Jason Winderlich. Thoughts?

 

[Blackas87]

No use stocking up on midfielders if they're going to all sit in the reserves. Lists are big these days, we can accomodate a couple of prospective talls in their early 20's like Fitz and Davis.

Dunn really needs to go, meanwhile, but is there anyway we could just get rid of him a year early?

Oh Neeld, 3 years to Pedo and 2 to Dunn what the ****?

Meanwhile, a free agent proposal: Jason Winderlich. Thoughts?

We wouldn't be loading up on midfielders, we seriously lack midfielders at the moment, we have quality talls either end of the field but we are getting smashed through the middle of the ground. Lists are small these days, I said on the main board a few weeks back that lists should be at least 54, with a larger list we wouldn't have had to force all our senior players into early retirement and it could give players like Jetta, Nicholson and Fitz more time to develop themselves.

Agree that dunn should be out of the team but is under contract so he won't be delisted.

I don't really think we should be going after any free agents, we are going to have to pay overs for them and no player is going to turn us around as much as we want, better off using the money to keep our younger talent at the club, eg. Watts and Gawn this year.

 

[d33my]

What's everyone's thoughts on Boyd? I'm of the mind that you always select the best available. Some people are touting him as a top two pick. Now I realise we're looking tall in the forward line, but with injury concerns over Clark and, to a lesser extent, Dawes, and another year into our young midfield, would it be stupid to pick him up? I just don't wanna look back in three years when Clarks knacked and Dawes can't get on the field and wonder what could have been.

It's certainly a tough one. I think, in the end, we need to address the holes in our list right now - and in this case it's mids.

I suppose every draft there are players that slip past and you always wonder 'what if' but that's the nature of the beast. I think I would probably take the risk and take some midfielders (something we know we need) than take Boyd (something we may want/potentially need in future).

 

[blitznu]

If Melbourne don't snag a PP no one ever will.
Six years of crap and no hope for the future surely would meet the criteria.
What has happened in past seasons should have no bearing on the granting of PP's this season, understand the angst regarding this situation but dead set if they are serious about granting truly terrible sides the chance to bounce back through an extra pick, I present the MFC 2013.

ummm what so 6 yrs of shit should count but the past shouldn't hahaha

 

[blitznu]

get rid of small defenders who cant push up into midfield replace with midfielders
get rid of small forwards who in the future cant push up into midfield with you guessed it midfielders
get rid of mckenzie turn some1 else into a tagger
go out and get cross from bulldogs cost us nothing but money which we have
get taylor adams from giants
get best possible midfielders in the draft
you want the hardest team to play against you need lots of midfielders who push both ways run all day and can kick the fukn ball and PRESSURE

 

[Crusty Demon]

Is anyone else surprised by Evans getting a contract extension? He's played 1 great game against GWS and a couple of ok games amongst some very average ones. Don't think he does enough tbh and was surprised to see him get another couple of years. I know we need midfielders, but personally, I don't think he will cut it at AFL level. He's got a bit of pace, but struggles to find the footy and only seems to run out a half.

 

[Topkent]

Is anyone else surprised by Evans getting a contract extension? He's played 1 great game against GWS and a couple of ok games amongst some very average ones. Don't think he does enough tbh and was surprised to see him get another couple of years. I know we need midfielders, but personally, I don't think he will cut it at AFL level. He's got a bit of pace, but struggles to find the footy and only seems to run out a half.

nah hes a good tackler and he gives it his all, and he was getting high numbers when he first came onto the scene , plus we know what to expect from him, why replace him with a pick 70 untried player.. We need 44 players or whatever on the list.. he is depth at worst

 

[SFebey]

I think the dees will go hard after Dunstan.

Info from an ex Dees player in SA I was talking to about Dunstan said this:

"Yes... I rate him highly!! He's great & has brilliant disposal. Strong body & very physical... and plays as an inside mid!! Finds the footy & has leadership qualities!"

 

[rhaz]

I'd really like to see us find another Matt Jones with a later pick in the draft. I'm positive that Neeld will direct the recruiting team to look to the state leagues to find an older player. A 22-24yo mid with pace would be ideal.

We also need another KPD. I'm losing faith in McDonald. If the right player was there, i'd be happy to use our 2nd round pick to snag one.

 

[Tulip]

I think the dees will go hard after Dunstan.

Info from an ex Dees player in SA I was talking to about Dunstan said this:

"Yes... I rate him highly!! He's great & has brilliant disposal. Strong body & very physical... and plays as an inside mid!! Finds the footy & has leadership qualities!"

I'm guessing Steven Stretch?

 

[Tulip]

We also need another KPD. I'm losing faith in McDonald. If the right player was there, i'd be happy to use our 2nd round pick to snag one.

After about a quarter of a bad season in his 3rd year?

 

[Cannon82]

Need mids, not more talls. Can't plan for Dawes and Clark to be injured for the rest of their careers. A priority pick would be great but the AFL would be stupid to give us one. If it were Port or the Bulldogs in our place, I reckon they would get another pick.

Not sure what the contract status of the players is, but we wouldn't lose much if the following weren't around next year: Byrnes, McKenzie, Dunn, Rodan, Pedersen, Gillies, MacDonald, Sellar, Jetta, Davis, Spencer, Bail. Twelve players there plus Sylvia still more likely than not to go so we can make room if we need to.

Would have liked to trade Sylvia to someone for something. Maybe GWS or Gold Coast for a decent pick or good young player. If he wants to show loyalty he could sign a one year deal and let us try and flog him around at the trade table instead.

 

[IanW]

GWS midfielders that might be available include Anthony Miles, Taylor Adams and Toby Greene.

Yup. Greene isnt an automatic pick for GWS any more.

 

[Tulip]

GWS midfielders that might be available include Anthony Miles, Taylor Adams and Toby Greene.

Yup. Greene isnt an automatic pick for GWS any more.

Second year blues mate, you'll be singing his praises in 6 months time. Someone does need to teach him how to kick, however.

 

[IanW]

Second year blues mate, you'll be singing his praises in 6 months time. Someone does need to teach him how to kick, however.

And thats why he might be available, because he'd play firsts for Melbourne and you'd deal with the fact he just cant kick straight.

But yeah, if you need midfielders, raid GWS.

 

[Tulip]

Two more names:

Nick Duigan and Jeremy Laidler. Not playing firsts, Duigan especially surprising.

 

[ThePuppetMaster]

Yeah, Duigan is surprising - in the leadership group isn't he?

Would take him if he came cheap, no other way though - he'd only be an improvement on some of our other role players.

 

[BETON5]

Some awesome posts here guys. I do think the club will take a aish or dunstan with our first pick
and possibly both if and when we get a 1st round priority. I see the bulldogs want Boyd badly so maybe we could trade pick 1 to the Bulldogs for a Griffin and pick 5ish..hyperthetically speaking that is..
Griffin,Dunstan pick 5 and 20 not bad I say....
Have to get that priority first so we have 2 top 5 picks.
Pederson getting 3 years, biggest booboo in a long while.
I really hope that FLASH has a great second half of the year.

 

[Cannon82]

I really hope that FLASH has a great second half of the year.

Who is "Flash"? Whoever it is, given the way we're playing it doesn't seem an appropriate nickname.

 

[Captain Jack]

Who is "Flash"? Whoever it is, given the way we're playing it doesn't seem an appropriate nickname.

Aaron Davey ring any bells? Has been his nickname for 8-9 years.

 

[ManOfClay]

I see the bulldogs want Boyd badly so maybe we could trade pick 1 to the Bulldogs for a Griffin and pick 5ish..hyperthetically speaking that is..
.

You've got a better chance of Demons playing finals football this year, sorry.

Griffen is untouchable. Signed up until 2015 and has resisted big offers from Adelaide and Essendon already. Loves the club and is looking more and more likely to be our next captain for a couple of years while some of the younger guys mature.

Even if he was available, him AND pick 5 is way over the odds for us given we also need to start drafting for the future.