After three years without a pick in the first round of the draft, Melbourne enter the 2019 edition with two selections inside the top ten.
Trade period
Let’s face it: Melbourne’s 2019 was abysmal, particularly after the promise of 2018. The club knew it needed to address some of its weaknesses in the off-season, bringing in wingmen Ed Langdon and Adam Tomlinson.
Langdon and Tomlinson are both good players and should improve Melbourne’s midfield mix next year, including freeing up Angus Brayshaw to return to his favoured inside-mid position, rather than having to play on a wing.
The most interesting part of Melbourne’s trade period was its pick swap with North Melbourne. It traded picks 26 and 50 this year and its 2020 first-round pick for pick 8 this year.
Assessing whether it was a worthwhile decision or not will obviously depend a lot on ladder positions next year, but on face value it looks like a great deal for North.
Melbourne probably assessed that a) next year’s draft is a bit compromised (an unusually high number of players are tied to clubs as father/son or academy prospects) and they’d prefer to get two picks in this year, and b) they rate a top ten player highly this year.
They’re clearly backing themselves in to rise up the ladder next year, assisted by Langdon and Tomlinson, and are hoping for two draftees who can come in and make an impact.
Draft
So, armed with two top ten picks, who might the Demons look at? Their past form makes them a hard club to get a read on – they sometimes take best available, but sometimes also seem to look to fill needs.
Over the last few years they haven’t had particularly high draft picks, which is probably why they were keen to get an extra pick in this year, and why a specific draft strategy is hard to discern.
Many club recruiters feel that top 10 picks are so valuable, you take the best available player and move on. But that generally applies to midfielders more than taller prospects, as we saw last year when St Kilda and Gold Coast took the King twins at picks 4 and 6 respectively.
Having two top ten picks probably means the Dees can balance taking one player on needs and another on talent, if they so desire.
There’s been growing speculation this year that Melbourne might plump for Western Australia’s star ruckman, Luke Jackson, at pick 3.
On form alone, it wouldn’t surprise if Jackson was taken there – he’s an elite talent, and even played in the midfield for stints this year.
But some clubs would think that pick 3 is too early to take a ruckman, and that it doesn’t fit a need, given Melbourne already have Max Gawn and Braydon Preuss on its list.
I guess your view on that depends how you rate ruckmen, but looking at it objectively, Jackson has star potential, and players like him don’t come around too often.
If Melbourne don’t take him, he won’t remain on the board much longer.
(Photo by Michael Dodge/AFL Photos via Getty Images )
The other stand out option at pick 3 is Hayden Young, a half-back with an elite kick who all 18 clubs would love to have on their list. He’s a 200+ game prospect and would be a perfect fit for the Dees.
One other player they might consider here is midfielder/forward Sam Flanders, who’d add something different to their list.
At pick 8, they’ll have to wait and see who’s left. They’ve been linked to inside midfielder Dev Robertson, who brings leadership qualities but probably isn’t the type of player they need, given their plethora of young inside midfielders.
Cody Weightman is one they’ve been linked to as they search for a small forward, while Caleb Serong or a bid on Fremantle NGA prospect Liam Henry could appeal for similar reasons. Classy wingman Dylan Stephens would add to their depth of outside midfielders.
But the other consideration here is the possibility of a downgrade pick swap. It’s known that every clubs holding multiple later picks, such as Port Adelaide (12, 16, 18), Gold Coast (15, 20), and Geelong (14, 17, 24) are clamouring for a chance to move into the top ten.
The Dees have been touted as a club that might consider this, and in particular linked to a deal with Geelong. It will come down to who is left on the board at 8, and whether Melbourne feel like their player of choice might slide a little later.
Personally, given this draft really evens out after about the top 15, I would be hesitant to downgrade any top 10 picks, particularly given Melbourne won’t have a first-rounder next year. But, they may feel that three picks in the top 20 is better than two in the top ten.
If they do downgrade then a player like Weightman could again be in the mix here, or another small forward in Kysaiah Pickett, who has been invited to the draft. Miles Bergman, Will Day, Trent Bianco and Brodie Kemp will be other names to consider.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
Port are so desperate to get into the top ten they......traded pick 10 for pick 12 and 18 hmmmm.
Klompy
Guest
That I was talking about as well. I know that Luke Jackson is Talented by being drafted so high can risky. Because of Injury. I Just saying It would of been better in that time again to have a rookie Ruckmen with nothing to lose and was not even thought about. What I was trying to say and I think Don Freo Pick up about to is that Yes Mick Gardiner was talented but he was also injury prone. Like Nick Nait. Would if not be better to have Luke Jaackson at a lower pick and pick a very talented runner at Higher pick. But yes Luke Jackson is very talented and deserves to picked in the top ten.
Klompy
Guest
I sort of hope that Luke Jackson lands at the Eagles. But I know he will not.
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
Still doesn't matter the response was regarding rucks who'd been drafted within top five like Melbourne are apparently thinking of doing with Jackson, it's like discussing Brownlow winners selected top 5 in draft and you going how about priddas it has nothing to do with anything being discussed klompy, this wasn't a discussion about ruckmen but ruckmen taken in top five picks at the draft which nic and Gardiner where as Gard's went number one and nic number 2 and Melbourne are talking number 3 for Jackson, if the discussion is goat or best rookie list rucks then no doubt Coxy and Sandi would lead discussion.
Klompy
Guest
Yes but the best two Ruckmen were not in the draft but rookie listed. Cox and Sandilands. So it goes the best ruckmen were not drafted but put on the Rookie list. So it does not matter where or high picks the Ruckmen were the best WA Ruckmen in the AFl at the time were on the Rookie list. I know that they were not drafted but what I am saying is that if you draft a ruckman are the as good of those who can only get picked up in the rookie list. I know Jackson is going to drafted as was Nick Nait but being rookie listed ruckmen is just as good as drafted one.
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
Again the discussion wasn't who was the best but rucks taken in top five of the draft so Cox and as Don said Sandi weren't being discussed
Klompy
Guest
Yes I know that Cox was from the Rookie list that is why I think Cox is the best Eagles ruckman The Eagles had. Had a some injury but still played to change the Ruck work for all time. I think Cox is still away of Nick Nait. I think Even Sandilands leant from Coxy. So I think Cox was the best especially coming from the rookie list.
Powder Keg Pies
Guest
Melb are not selecting Green! Melb would have been better off moving 3 for 6 and future 1st from GWS, too late now. 6 and 8 was perfect - moving to pick 10 is risky. Carlton will take Serong at 9 if he is still there - bank it!
Powder Keg Pies
Guest
Melb trade pick 3 to Syd for pick 5 and 25. Syd actually want Green bigtime and a big FU to GWS. GWS cant take Green (match bid pick 4) as they have too many inside mids already. Any case 2 of Jackson/Young/Flanders available for Melb at pick 5 after SYD/GWS make their pick. Melb picks 5, 10, 25, 28.
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
Cox was a rookie list player not drafted top 10 so no need to mention him in discussion.
Cracka
Roar Rookie
Melbourne should pick Tom Green GWS will step in and if they GWS do Melbourne should then take the next best kid which would be ‘Ned’ Flanders or Young as for their pick 10 they should take what they feel they need long term like a small forward in Serong, Henry or Weightman. BUT if they want one out of the box Will Gould or Brodie Kemp. For me I don’t think Melbourne need a Luke Jackson right now they have Max Gawn and Braydon Preuss I know that’s about all they have ruck wise.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
That's possibly the argument. Both Cox and Sandilands were rookie selections.
Gerard Klomp
Guest
What about Dean Cox he changed the ruck work all time. He was the Eagles great Ruckman of all time. Yes Nick Naitanui is great but he will not be as good as Dean Cox. For nick he has terrible time with injury. .
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
Only two high pick rucks that where any good was nic nat and Michael Gardiner but he shot his talent away shall we say.
Footy Nerd
Guest
If I'm Melbourne I'm not taking Jackson at three. I know Jackson is meant to be one of the finest ruck draft prospects in years but 3 is too high. Top 5 picks are for midfielders though I have a feeling that Sydney might draft Jackson I don't know why, Naismith, Sinclair, knoll is all their ruck stocks, with trading out Cameron to the pies Naismith who is sydneys number one ruckman has been injured for the last two years. I'd draft Flanders or Serong or Young, I know the Adelaide crows have been very heavily linked with flanders
Paul D
Roar Guru
Dees took Max Gawn at 34. You don't take ruckmen at pick 3 - Lions drafted Leunberger at 4 and Longer at 8, both ruckmen, and both crap decisions. Even if Jackson winds up being the next Brodie Grundy he's someone an astute club can swoop on and trade for after his initial 2 year stint is up. I think they're going to have Harley Bennell on their list next year as well. Hopefully running around on the field as opposed to just being on the list.