Recent ruckmen who nearly won the premiership if not for a Dom Sheed miracle kick from the boundary includes: Brodie Grundy!
Recent ruckmen who would've won a premiership and helped his team get a really high ladder position and home finals: Nic Nat.
And I'm a big NFL fan so I get the running back comparisons, but Jackson should be a runner and a receiver and there's not a team in the NFL that wouldn't have drafted Alvin Kamara in the first round with hindsight. If he Jackson can impact forward as well then he's like RB/WR/TE all in one.
I mean it's clear Melbourne need more forward talent and pressure to create mistakes, lock it in and drive repeat entries. Do they need midfield class - absolutely, but both is true.
Comparing the Richmond grand final midfield to the Melbourne likely midfield:
Martin - Petracca ---- ok, not impossible that Petracca can be about as good as a Martin clone as anyone
Cotchin - Viney ----- Cotch still has a gear in class but most of his best work is crash and bash and defensive stuff these days
Prestia - Oliver ------ Oliver in a fit team with forward options will hit targets
Edwards - Brayshaw ---- this ones a stretch, but Edwards' best is by hands and Gus has lovely hands, just needs to use them
Ellis - Langdon ------ Landgon will scrub more kicks but the same kind of run
Caddy - Tomlinson ------ Caddy a bit more powerful but Tomlinson is a nice kick in uncontested situations
Lambert - Neal-Bullen/C Wagner/Jones/Dunkley/James Jordon/Sparrow ---- options.
And the unlikeliest of stories: Pickett - Harley Bennell?
Yes there's a gap there and yes to eventually get where they need to go Melbourne will need at least 1 more classy inside/outside mid but Dylan Stephens might've been the best one in the draft, Liam Henry second best and after him it was a long way down to the next best option.
The important thing is with a preseason the inside mids will be able to run at a far better level, it's already on display at training. Langdon is a very similar player to Ellis. Tomlinson might not be much chop but he can run with anyone on the outside.
And I reckon Prestia, Ellis, Caddy, Lambert were all labelled as turnover prone at some stage in their careers. Amazing what playing with really good team mates and good development can do. The difference in Prestia's ball use from 2017-2019 was massive. The difference between Lambert when he was drafted and now is daylight.
The other thing that Melbourne does have is 2 very good medium forward mark and kick players in Fritsch and Melksham. Richmond are all run and gun and use Castagna as a third marking forward a lot. If Melksham and Fritsch are getting the ball outside 50 and making the inside 50 kicks then Melbourne have a very good chance of scoring. Melksham's about the best in the comp at it.
So yes, I'd love a classy mid, but not getting one doesn't turn me off the draft choices. Most good teams aren't perfect. And 18 years olds were unlikely to solve all of Melbourne's issues any time soon anyway. Get 3 really good kids in and work a trade for needs next year.
