Jesse Smith

[Mr Mosquito]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/roos-just-couldnt-help-me-jess-smith/story-e6frf9jf-1225786062715

Is definitely on the way out of North. The teams that have spoken to him are Essendon Geelong Collingwood Brisbane and Western Bulldogs.

Seeing as we have the highest pick in the PSD, i would love to see him nominate Essendon and for us to pick him up there.

Nothing to Lose!!!

[bombersno1]

Will go in the National draft anyway

[Mecha]

I hope we get him in PSD or late in the ND. Take the gamble. Nothing to loose.

[bipolarbeaR]

I only want him so Collingwood don't get a defender :P

[Slattery_20]

Seeing as we have the first pick of those sides, he wouldn't have to nominate.
Would not be against using ND pick33 on him. Definite upgrade on Skipworth.

[daffo]

I would rather we target Ball then Smith.

[table tennis]

I dont know if we will use the PSD.

We would have to cut some unlucky player now that Jay Nash is gone.

I think we will only use the 4 picks and then the rookie draft.

Therefore we would have to take him at 33 in the ND.

[footycool]

Cats wont go for him because of salary cap

[hank31]

He is simply too good to not pick up id be tipping!! Well worth the risk, if he comes good, look out!

[HFF_07]

I dont know if we will use the PSD.

We would have to cut some unlucky player now that Jay Nash is gone.

I think we will only use the 4 picks and then the rookie draft.

Therefore we would have to take him at 33 in the ND.

I think this is the more likely scenario that is going to happen, and for us not to pick someone up in the PSD.

[THE BEACON]

Sounds good to me, player with lots of potential if we get him right fitness wise.

[Ludwig van Bertstare]

Pick 33.

[Slattery_20]

I'd be happy for us to use 33.
I would guess he wouldn't be on that good coin, hasn't played much in a few years & IMHO would be happy to get picked up on a 2 year deal.

To get a player of his class with a pick we got for Nash would be absolute gold.

[Barines1987]

Collingwood (30) and Brisbane (27) only have one pick before our pick 33.
Geelong (17, 28) and Dogs (15, 31) only have two picks before our pick 33.

Seems like us being able to take him with our 4th pick of the draft, rather than first or second is a huge advantage. If one of those four clubs were to pick him up with their picks, they essentially throw away any youth from this years draft at all. Just seems way more risky for those clubs than it does for us. I'd say that puts us in a fairly good position.

Similarly, if we took him with our pick 26, that effectively cancels out Collingwood and Brisbane, and would make Dogs and Cats use their first picks - which wouldn't happen. Pick 26 wouldn't leave anything to chance, but he should last until 33 as well.

[HFF_07]

Collingwood (30) and Brisbane (27) only have one pick before our pick 33.
Geelong (17, 28) and Dogs (15, 31) only have two picks before our pick 33.

Seems like us being able to take him with our 4th pick of the draft, rather than first or second is a huge advantage. If one of those four clubs were to pick him up with their picks, they essentially throw away any youth from this years draft at all. Just seems way more risky for those clubs than it does for us. I'd say that puts us in a fairly good position.

Similarly, if we took him with our pick 26, that effectively cancels out Collingwood and Brisbane, and would make Dogs and Cats use their first picks - which wouldn't happen. Pick 26 wouldn't leave anything to chance, but he should last until 33 as well.

We also have a pick before all those clubs in the PSD as well. If the clubs in question do not use all their picks in the ND then we could still get him before everyone else.

It seems more and more likely that he is going to end up at Bomberland :D

[Ludwig van Bertstare]

Since when is Jesse Smith a foward?

[AS9]

I don't see the need to pick him up, although i know he has a lot of talent, but we already have a ready made forward line with the likes of Neagle, Still, Gumbleton, Hurley (when needed),Monfries and now Mark Williams.
Instead i would like us to pick up a young and in and under midfielder that can help Watson around the clearances.

What are your thoughts ?

Jesse Smith is a defender. Good pick up if we can get him at 33 imo.

[gO_bOmBeRz]

Oh yeh sorry, i know its a weak draft but there has to be some kid at pick 33 that can play a Watson role.

In defence we have Hooker, Hurley and Pears and the last thing we need is an injury-prone player, were looking to over come our injury problems and getting Jesse wouldn't help us doing that.

[HFF_07]

Oh yeh sorry, i know its a weak draft but there has to be some kid at pick 33 that can play a Watson role.

In defence we have Hooker, Hurley and Pears and the last thing we need is an injury-prone player, were looking to over come our injury problems and getting Jesse wouldn't help us doing that.

So we dont get Jesse Smith, which could allow us to free up Hurley to go forward and help out Neagle and Gumbleton?

[gO_bOmBeRz]

Knighta has already said he is going to play Hurley as a backman


"Gun tall Michael Hurley, who shone in his first AFL season, can also play in attack but Knights indicated he was more likely to play back next season"



http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/scott-gumbleton-holds-key/story-e6frf9jf-1225785334676

[thorax]

Jesse Smith is a running back flanker type. Big engine and lovely kick. He is definitely not key position (there is a Josh Smith on Norths list who is a CHF/FF, had a good year at Nth. Ballarat that people maybe thinking of).

In saying that I think that is one position we can definitely handle another running player with great skills so well worth the risk in my eyes.

[gO_bOmBeRz]

I really don't know much about this guy, i've seen him play a couple of times and heard he has talent and that he is very injury-prone.

Any more details about him

[U Got Reimered]

This move would put us in another risky situation. There is a lot of talk about how good Williams will be for us IF he stays fit. Likewise, Smith would be great for us IF he overcomes his injury battles.

But, with risk can come great rewards. If they both become and stay fit, then we have two great players. If they both crumble with injuries, then it will hurt as they are taking the spots of young players that could be picked up in the draft.

However at pick 33 I would take a gamble... GO GET HIM!!!

[Kong]

Just to clarify, Smith is a 191cm running defender (read: not KP) who it is assumed will move into the midfield if/when he gets he engine to do so.

So for those asking for 'another Watson', they're the same height and able to play the same position.

[yaco55]

My prediction is that Essendon will use Pick 24 or 26 on Smith.

We may have a player earmarked for 24 but are hardly like to lose this player at 25.

I am leaning towards Pick 24.

Dont rule out Geelong selecting Smith - He is happy to play for little $ and Geelong has loaded up with picks in the 30's,40's and 50's because of their salary cap constraints.

[gO_bOmBeRz]

Sounds alright, i always thought he was a key position player :S
according to the sun there are 5 clubs thar are looking at him (Geelong,Pies,Lions,Bulldogs) including us.

Although i dont think Geelong,Lions and the Bulldogs would have enough space to fit him in.

Source: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/roos-just-couldnt-help-me-jess-smith/story-e6frf9jf-1225786062715

[abers47]

It will all depend on what the medical opinion is of his ankle. Lots of work to be done before the draft - let's hope results are positive, because he could be a great player for us.

[Barines1987]

My prediction is that Essendon will use Pick 24 or 26 on Smith.

We may have a player earmarked for 24 but are hardly like to lose this player at 25.

I am leaning towards Pick 24.

Dont rule out Geelong selecting Smith - He is happy to play for little $ and Geelong has loaded up with picks in the 30's,40's and 50's because of their salary cap constraints.

Surely if it was to be one of those picks, it would be 26. Pick 25 is North Melbourne, and they wouldn't redraft someone who doesn't want to play for them. They could however, take the player we wanted at 26 if we used 24 on Smith. It's a minor nitpick, but there's no gain in using 24 on him, while there's minor gain in using 26.

[Keza]

Jesse Smith has played predominantly on the half back flank in his injury stricken career to date. He is an extremely talented and classy player and can probably have stints on the ball/wing if he holds up. Interesting to note a talent scout in one of the papers today said that he has the potential ability to be 'elite' if his body holds up. I say we take the risk if we can.

Think of two guns who had doubts over them due to similar ankle injuries and then came good/became even better.. i.e. one James Hird and Steve Johnson (who we put through a medical along with Collingwood but decided not to go for due to his ankle being high risk).

In other words, yeah could be high risk, but the upside is massive. If we can use a late pick on him I think it could be ideal. He is still relatively young anyway.

[gO_bOmBeRz]

I've done a bit reasearch and apparently alot of people rate him really highly, but injuries have killed him.

This is all his info:

Jesse W. Smith
- 191cm, 83kg
- DOB: September 29, 1986
- Defender-Tall-General (Half Back Flank)
- Drafted Pick #42 (Father/Son) in the 2004 National Draft
- Has played 27 of a possible 115 games (including finals) (23.48% of club games) in 5 years with North Melbourne (2005-2009), including no games in 2006 and 2009.

Career Stats
Games - 27
Minutes per game - 91.33
Disposals per game - 15.33
Disposal efficiency - 81.97%
Kick-to-handball ratio - 0.99
Contested possessions per game - 4.43
Contested possession percentage - 31.77%
Uncontested possessions per game - 9.97
Uncontested possession percentage - 68.23%
Kicks per game - 7.63
Kicking efficiency - 77.03%
Handballs per game - 7.70
Handball efficiency - 88.27%
Marks per game - 3.22
Contested marks per game - 0.33
Uncontested marks per game - 3.17
Rebound 50s per game - 2.13
Spoils per game - 0.73
Tackles per game - 2.22
Hitouts per game - 0.11
Frees for per game - 0.70
Frees against per game - 0.63
Goals per game - 0.11
Behinds per game - 0.22

One more stat: He got the BOG in the 2007 semi final against the Hawks which saw him rack up 27 possessions (likes the big stage)

haha maybe if we get him he'll rip the Hawks again

[adii_7]

There was no intrest in Smith, He will go late.. mabye our 4th.

delist skippy .

[gO_bOmBeRz]

you sure ? there are 3 clubs including us as strong favourites to take him (Collingwood and Geelong) and he is a great player with alot of talent wouldnt be surprised if he went early 3rd round or late 2nd round

[The Donners]

you sure ? there are 3 clubs including us as strong favourites to take him (Collingwood and Geelong) and he is a great player with alot of talent wouldnt be surprised if he went early 3rd round or late 2nd round

Why didn't he go then? ;)

[gO_bOmBeRz]

Lol hows he going to go if he doesn't nominate for the draft, on what basis are they going to take him ?

[The Donners]

Lol hows he going to go if he doesn't nominate for the draft, on what basis are they going to take him ?

In a trade.

[gO_bOmBeRz]

Lol trade week is over and plus i dont recall the kangas putting him on the table.

Or did they :S

[The Donners]

Lol trade week is over and plus i dont recall the kangas putting him on the table.

Or did they :S

Smith requested a trade from North Melbourne during trade week.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,26185466-5018851,00.html

I bet the discussion with several clubs was a comment made from his manager. I think he's talented but I would suggest his injuries put a number of clubs off him otherwise he would've been snapped up.

[Kong]

Either that or clubs realised that they were a chance to get him for free in either the ND or PSD.

Why would you give something up for a player with no guarantee to ever play again, when you could get him for nothing?

[The Donners]

Either that or clubs realised that they were a chance to get him for free in either the ND or PSD.

Why would you give something up for a player with no guarantee to ever play again, when you could get him for nothing?

That may well be true too. If a club was that keen I would've thought they would've taken out the risk of losing him to another club but what you have posted makes perfect sense as he may never play again.

[Slattery_20]

Smith requested a trade from North Melbourne during trade week.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,26185466-5018851,00.html

I bet the discussion with several clubs was a comment made from his manager. I think he's talented but I would suggest his injuries put a number of clubs off him otherwise he would've been snapped up.
or North weren't happy with what they were offered in trades.
If we, Geelong, Pies & Dogs want him, we're in the box seat in terms of draft picks. They each have only 1 pick before our 2nd or 3rd

[Occawog]

He is struggling and has been for a number of years with injury. Why would any club rush to get him and waste a first round pick when there is no guarantee he will be able to play a game let alone a season.

[Mrs Mercuri]

Now that Skipworth has retired and John Williams delisted we may have an extra pick to use for him??

Dont know if its really worth the risk with all his injuries...

[drybones]

Now that Skipworth has retired and John Williams delisted we may have an extra pick to use for him??

Dont know if its really worth the risk with all his injuries...
I think it is worth it. If he can come good he'd easily be in our best 22 as a Goddard type player. Has a lot of potential. He said himself that North didn't have the facilities to fix him, so maybe we do?
I just think it is worth the risk and that's what a risk is all about, it could go either way. Even if he doesn't come good it's not that big a deal. There's not much to lose by picking him up and there's a whole lot to gain.

[Slattery_20]

He is struggling and has been for a number of years with injury. Why would any club rush to get him and waste a first round pick when there is no guarantee he will be able to play a game let alone a season.
Who even suggested a 1st rounder?
We've got 3 picks in the 2nd round remember. 4 picks to 33.
If it's only those 3 other clubs interested, then we're in the best possie by far, if interested. We may want 4 kids and I wouldn't be unhappy with that.

[BrunoV]

The 'lets take a young player' talk is really quite irrational.

It has long been since forgotten that this talk was started as a way of managing public and (more importantly) media pressure.

The irrationality (not even sure that is a word) in this case: Smith would be drafted as a 10 year player, a draftee is a 13 or 14 year player. Is the difference in age relevant at all? It is one draft pick among about 20 in the space of 4 drafts not taken on a player drafted on the first time. It is not as if the club will fall over if the Smith punt doesn't work.

[zen dice man]

Like many things in life, drafting is more art than science. The risk is that we could get another list hog like Williams or to a lesser extent a Nash. But with huge talent & at only 23 if this kid can pass a basic medical standard (leave that one to the club to decide what that is) the risk in recruiting this guy is not high.

Chuck him into the hyperbaric chamber for a month of sundays together with what ever surgery & phsio needed & get him right.

Get him with pick 24 - little pain in that..

[redandblackbomba]

I would rather we target Ball then Smith.


Spot on Daffo maybe look at JS at pick 69 or whatever we have if he is still available, kid can play just needs to get his body right

[Mecha]

The general feeling is that we want this guy at the club.
It's a little bit of a gamble but could pay off in spades.

The only issue is what pick do we use while Coll, Bris, Syd, and WB are also after him.


Is it the safe option with 26
or
Wait a little longer and hope he is still around at 33



NOTE: We also have pick 24 but there is no point using it as North has 25.

[Donakebab]

Exactly what the club needs, more injury prone players...

[The Donners]

I went pick 33 but that's only if he passes the medical tests of course.

If Luke Ball is available at pick 33 and he would like to come to Essendon, I'd take Ball over Smith in all seriousness. We don't particularly need Smith though he is tall and talented.

[Bombersoot]

I went pick 33 but that's only if he passes the medical tests of course.

If Luke Ball is available at pick 33 and he would like to come to Essendon, I'd take Ball over Smith in all seriousness. We don't particularly need Smith though he is tall and talented.
l totally agree with you there Donners, we will have only one pick in the PSD, so the club would have to weigh up the worth of drafting Smith, or an experienced older player like Wojo (if in the PSD) etc

[Occawog]

As i Stated in a previous thread, we do not need Jesse Smith. His inability ot recover from his injury so far would indicate it is a huge risk and not worth wasting a draft pick on. We should concentrate on picking up some young blokes wtih 26 & 33. I mean look at James Hird....we grabbed him at pick number 79. I would imagine taking a punt on a young bloke is less a risk.

[DogMclaren]

i would take Ball over Smith in a heartbeat. We know extactly what we are getting with Ball, and i know he will throw himslelf infront of a truck for the team when we play in the 2013 grand final :P

[ghostdog]

The general feeling is that we want this guy at the club.
It's a little bit of a gamble but could pay off in spades.

The only issue is what pick do we use while Coll, Bris, Syd, and WB are also after him.


Is it the safe option with 26
or
Wait a little longer and hope he is still around at 33



NOTE: We also have pick 24 but there is no point using it as North has 25.

??
...you don't think they'd be happy to have two in a row?

[TheDon35]

Well worth the risk at pick 33.

[saladin]

Do not want him. Williams is our older player, we've got him now, time to future proof the list against the new teams and get the best 4 kids we can find.

i'll be disappointed if we use #33, but if the club judge him worth having i'll begrudgingly accept it. i'd be furious if we use #26.

[Seb78]

I'd prefer Luke ball @ pick 26 tbh

[HFF_07]

Could Smith hold down CHB? or will we use him off a flank.

If this does occur, what will happen with T.Slattery in the reserves, another similar player to J.Smith (From all reports) will T.Slattery want to go home?

[Knight Ryders]

For those who were able to watch Bendigo, what was Tyson Slattery progression like last year?

Seems to me that the decision will come down to the medical staff but on face value, it seems like a risk to take him.

[FandangoDingo]

High risk, high reward.

Well worth a crack with 33, pending medical clearance.

[Kong]

l totally agree with you there Donners, we will have only one pick in the PSD, so the club would have to weigh up the worth of drafting Smith, or an experienced older player like Wojo (if in the PSD) etcNo, it appears that we won't have any.

The club has stated that we will have four selections in the ND, and are pretty much done, list alteration wise. We won't have a PSD pick.

[Ludwig van Bertstare]

Pick 33 providing the club is confident they can fully rehabilitate him.

[Kaiser Powser]

I would like to think the club had some specific kids lined up for those picks and unless the draft pans out so that all our desired players are gone before our last pick, then I would rather we selected the kid as planned.

If however things don't fall our way, then I would be happy to use the pick on Ball or Smith.

[Mrs Mercuri]

For those who were able to watch Bendigo, what was Tyson Slattery progression like last year?

Seems to me that the decision will come down to the medical staff but on face value, it seems like a risk to take him.

Tyson had a very good year for Bendigo, probably a little unlucky not to debut mid way through the year. We will definately see a lot more of him in 2010. Played mainly in defence in the VFL but could easily play middle and up forward as well.


As for Smith....nah dont really need him. Drafting him will probably put back the development of players like Myers, Houli, T.Slattery and co. His injuries are the main concern.

[bombersno1]

Could Smith hold down CHB? or will we use him off a flank.

If this does occur, what will happen with T.Slattery in the reserves, another similar player to J.Smith (From all reports) will T.Slattery want to go home?

Running defender, not a CHB. Smith could easily play up the ground a bit to accomodate Slattery!

[bombersno1]

How will Smith affect Houli and Myers? Myers is being groomed for an inside midfielder's position and Houli is a midfielder. Slattery, yes. But at his best Smith will probably be better than Slattery.

[U Got Reimered]

Could Smith hold down CHB? or will we use him off a flank.

If this does occur, what will happen with T.Slattery in the reserves, another similar player to J.Smith (From all reports) will T.Slattery want to go home?

I hope not.. Tyson Slattery is going to be great for our club when he starts getting game time. Although we haven't seen much of him, he has got one of the best kicks running out of defense I have ever seen (and I am not exaggerating.. much)..

When I saw him play for the first time in the NAB Cup game against the Bulldogs, I was very excited..

So from that point of view, if getting Smith cost Slattery game time, I am strongly against it.

[HFF_07]

I hope not.. Tyson Slattery is going to be great for our club when he starts getting game time. Although we haven't seen much of him, he has got one of the best kicks running out of defense I have ever seen (and I am not exaggerating.. much)..

When I saw him play for the first time in the NAB Cup game against the Bulldogs, I was very excited..

So from that point of view, if getting Smith cost Slattery game time, I am strongly against it.

I hope your right, just think that if we get J.Smith, we may be playing three similar players (when all fit and ready in the forms of Dempsey, J.Smith, T.Slattery) all medium sized running defenders. Can we handle that?

I hope we do get Smith, as I really think he is going to be a great AFL player, be it in defence or attack.

On attack, if we get Smith, could we play Dempsey off a HFF?

[saladin]

How will Smith affect Houli and Myers? .


well for starters, they'll have to queue up behind him in the injury line everyday!

[Knighta21]

Too Injury prone and not what we need.
No point wasting a pick on him when we could find a real roughy at 26 or 33. DON'T DO IT ESSENDON!!!

[The_Young_Gun]

Simon Buckley and Joel Macdonald are also available if we want them.. I'd definitely consider either 2 for selection.

[DaSawx]

If the medical staff are confident, thenby all means, have a crack at 33.

[yaco55]

Could Smith hold down CHB? or will we use him off a flank.

If this does occur, what will happen with T.Slattery in the reserves, another similar player to J.Smith (From all reports) will T.Slattery want to go home?

You are drawing a long bow suggesting that Smith's arrival could lead to the departure of T.Slattery.

[U Got Reimered]

I hope your right, just think that if we get J.Smith, we may be playing three similar players (when all fit and ready in the forms of Dempsey, J.Smith, T.Slattery) all medium sized running defenders. Can we handle that?

I hope we do get Smith, as I really think he is going to be a great AFL player, be it in defence or attack.

On attack, if we get Smith, could we play Dempsey off a HFF?

Dempsey is too important in defense in my opinion to be moved that far up the ground. I think we could handle all three. That's where we could do real damage, by running the ball out of defense with speed and delivering with effiency to our forward line.

Definatley up for debate, but I believe the running defender is one of the most important positions in a team, along with centre clearence players.

[mick4]

Dempsey is too important in defense in my opinion to be moved that far up the ground. I think we could handle all three. That's where we could do real damage, by running the ball out of defense with speed and delivering with effiency to our forward line.

Definatley up for debate, but I believe the running defender is one of the most important positions in a team, along with centre clearence players.

I think that Dempsey could be used further up the ground at times in the coming season to try and fill the void left by Lovett.

People are forgetting how good Smith was at under 18 level. He was the Larke Medalist in the old U/18 format even though he only played 2 out of the 3 games and he was the main reason that the father son selection was changed (Tom Hawkins may have been the straw that broke the camels back). It was said that he would have been picked up in the top 4 that year.

That being said if his ankle injury has set him back that far that he wont play AFL again it wont matter how much talent he has. Liam Pickering said on the radio last Saturday morning that he was aware that this would be his last chance at AFL level if he does not make an impact next season. You would have to think that to leave North that there must be a level of interest coming from somewhere and he must have some confidence in his body that he will be able to get out and play some games next year

[beev]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/86157/default.aspx

THE BRISBANE Lions seem best poised to snare former Kangaroo Jesse Smith, with the club heading a list of suitors for the injury-plagued midfielder.


http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/86157/default.aspx

[KaaN10]

They want everyone ffs.

[gO_bOmBeRz]

They want everyone ffs.

The coach is wayyyy over excited its like he doesn't believe his a coach, his taking everybody and he delisted 12 players, i don't know whats wrong with him lol, his off his head

[Kong]

If we could get Courtney Johns back on field we can do just about anything.Wasn't funny the first time.

[Enki]

Wasn't funny the first time.

Which? The joke, or Johns on the field?

Of course, it now occurs to me some would consider those two things one and the same.

[Slattery_20]

Wasn't funny the first time.
It wasn't intended as a joke.
The bloke had his hip muscles completely destroyed... what's a bodgy ankle or two in comparison?

[Kong]

Which? The joke, or Johns on the field?

Of course, it now occurs to me some would consider those two things one and the same.:D:thumbsu:

[Kong]

It wasn't intended as a joke.
The bloke had his hip muscles completely destroyed... what's a bodgy ankle or two in comparison?Ah, fair call.

My apologies.

[JimmyHird]

The coach is wayyyy over excited its like he doesn't believe his a coach, his taking everybody and he delisted 12 players, i don't know whats wrong with him lol, his off his head

I'm putting money on this guy being Prime Minister one day.

[Phat Toni]

The coach is wayyyy over excited its like he doesn't believe his a coach, his taking everybody and he delisted 12 players, i don't know whats wrong with him lol, his off his head

It's like they removed the 2 trades per week on Fantasy Footy and some 10 yr old kid has gone trading mad after only the first week!

[FandangoDingo]

The coach is wayyyy over excited its like he doesn't believe his a coach, his taking everybody and he delisted 12 players, i don't know whats wrong with him lol, his off his head

lol. Acting like a kid in some kind of store

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wgh3P0eqLmk/SOROmnb_8FI/AAAAAAAAA5o/qoQpJDWWKGY/s400/HomerSimpson+in+chocolate+land.gif

[teak]

Bump

There was a fair bit of interest on this bloke a little while ago, and just read this article about him training with the hawks

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/hawthorn-hawks-lifeline-best-bet-for-former-north-melbourne-player-jesse-smith/story-e6frf9jf-1225794046327

Again, typical HUN article, doesn't really say much that has been set in stone. I mean last month he was "set to go to Brisbane."
But, looks like he is bound for the Hawks, which makes sense as their backline has lost a bit with retirements this year.

[bomber69]

If we lose Mcphee and / or Welsh we simply have to take the risk and pick Smith up. By all reports, we are better off giving him that outside chance to get fit then draft a kid in the 60 + range of this draft.

[daffo]

I wouldn't mind if we get Smith. He is a class player.

[stay true]

I wouldn't complain if we picked him up at 33. I just don't see it happening.