I don’t want to compare codes coz there’s that other thread we’re debating in at the mo, but why do clubs not actually go about having a farm system like the NFL has…rather than simply nationalising it, putting it in a nice suit and then selling it. Maybe if fans were actually a fan of their club they would attend the ‘farm club’ and that support could be just what the juniors who are about to come thru need to acquire true confidence (not the showponying) that the televised draft seems to perenially hype up

Better yet watch the draft if you’re interested but treat the lower clubs with the same interest. Now I’m not saying you don’t but c’mon having everything packaged for you leeches the fun out (a la McDonald’s?)

They could have had Brad Ottens (Premiership with Geelong), Croad (Premiership with Hawthorn), Luke Power (part of the fab 5 that won 3 Premierships), Chris Tarrant or Dean Solomon (Premiership with Essendon) with their first pick.

After their second; Nick Stevens, Simon Black (Triple Premiership winner, Brownlow & Norm Smith Medallist, Captain of Brisbane), Adam Goodes (Premiership with Sydney & Dual Brownload winner), Mathew Scarlett (Dual Premiership winner with Geelong), Andy Kellaway, Nathan Thompson and Richie Vandenberg (captained Hawthorn) were all still available and later drafted.

The current draft system must be changed, I can’t stand to see crap teams perform so damn poorly only to pick up the best talent the next season.

Good night at the office for North Melbourne me thinks.

Cunnington looks ready to go, and Bastinac and Black look pretty good. Also MacMillan, Kennedy and Norris look interesting, with some exceptional athletic attributes at very least.

For those who are unaware – to spin around onto your non-preferred foot, and with a split-second to execute, to hit a target barely glimpsed at 40m is quite challenging.

Redb

I loved Demetriou putting on his Brownlow voice. The jumper presentation part also worked well.

As for production values, etc. I think this is something that will get better over time. The AFL now have the experience of doing it once, you’d expect it will only improve. I would send someone from the league over to the NBA draft next year to take notes. That’s the level we should be aspiring to.

Richmond picked up Fiora at no.3, and along came Freo and picked up Pavlich the very next selection.

Fiora is now playing surburban footy and Pavlich is one of the best key position players in the game.

Funnily enough, Richmond and Freo had picks 3 and 4 this year as well, with the Tiges hoping things work out a bit better for them this time around.

Agree that the reverse order is somewhat ridiculous half the fun is watching a guy slide to your team in the middle of the first round.

Liked the top ten and jumper presentation. Big tick.

Thought we could have gone through round 2 and 3 live though with the focus on coaches/clubs making their decisions.

Funny with Demetriou adding a pause (brownlow style) to pick 18 for Melbourne – Luke………….Taspcott.

Redb

2. hope – each draft pick of your club, even if it’s names of kids you’ve never heard of gives you renewed hope for the following season – every supporter thrives on hope, otherwise it’s pointless being a supporter;

3. traditions – this was the AFL’s 24th draft, and with each passing season, it becomes an even more important part of the Australian sporting calendar, not to mention that every draft thows up familiar names, this year we saw the names N. Winmar and Long, all going around pick 30.

I loved every minute of last night’s presentation – I agree with the reverse order of the top 10 – I’m not too sure about it, and by the time no.2 is called, we all know who no. 1 is anyway.

I agree that a bit more attention could have been given to the 2nd round choices, but on the whole, I didn’t mind the chatter and ad-libbing.

I enjoyed the intereview with Lindsay Gilbee (naturally), and some of the historic quirks of previous drafts.

Like that fact that of the top 10 choices exactly 10 years ago, about half went on to become big names in the game, and the other half, have virtually dropped out of the game.

In that very same year, they showed that both Geelong and the bullies each had 3 drafts in the 40s and 50s who are all now stars of the game.

This is the great thing about the draft – you just don’t know what you’ll pick up – all the way up to no. 90 – once in the system, different kids will take their opporutnity to varying extents – it’s all fascinating stuff and just another element of interest in following the AFL.

And the Swans have landed a recruit they desperately need – a ranga!

Prediction: Melbourne to be in the finals within 3 years, contend by 2013.

I don’t think there are many supporters of other clubs who wouldn’t like to see Melbourne rise again if for no other reason than to honour Jim Stynes.

Redb