I haven't fallen into the trap of thinking we will stay on the bottom. I always expect us to do well until the season gets underway. I'm just trying to leave room for possibilities because my expectations tend to bring me down.
Lots of reasons for us to surge back up the ladder a little. We haven't had a decent run with injuries in years. I firmly believe it only takes a bottom 3 out, top 3 in scenario for game results to be flipped on their heads.
Just reading around I'm seeing those outside the top 2 being ranked anywhere from 3 to the end of the first round. It's that lack of a stand out #3 that concerns me. Francis sounds great but his role isn't key at the moment. He's a versatile 3rd tall at either end with the potential to play midfield but no exposed form there.
Really want a gun midfielder to help Cripps, Murph and Gibbs out.
I think the draft depth is somewhat misrepresented - there is a definite top 2, a few that would be definite top 10 (francis/parish etc) and a few others that could drift.
Francis is just a name plucked from phantom drafts - you could replace that with a mid like parish if you wished. Whilst I'm not a draft watcher, francis appeals due to the descriptions of his competitive streak and elite long kicking.
Certainly agree that that we need more gun mids - if thomas shows any form, he will help out - as will graham/boekhurst with another pre-season. I'd be relatively comfortable running with what we've got in 2015 and then loading up on mids with the 3 X 1st round picks in 2016