Melbourne close to settling on its first draft pick

[Dave The Man]

MELBOURNE coach Dean Bailey says the club is close to finalising its decision on the No. 1 pick in the NAB AFL Draft.
As the football world speculates on who the Demons will take out of Jack Watts and Nick Naitanui, Bailey would not name names but says the club is close to making its final decision.
“We’re pretty close. The great Barry Prendergast (Melbourne recruiting manager) will still be very nervous probably up to draft day. We’ve spent a fair bit of time and Barry’s recruiting staff around the country have put a lot of time into it because it is an important draft for us,” Bailey said.
“We want to make sure that with the players we draft, we know not only a lot of information about them as players but also a lot of information about them as people and the character and value which is going to be really important for us. We look forward to that day and that announcement.”
Whoever the Dees draft, they will go into 2009 with one of the youngest lists in the League.
But Bailey says he and his players are not overwhelmed by the idea of being inexperienced.
“It’s not daunting, I can guarantee that. You never know what you’ve got until you play them. We unveiled a few kids last year that with another full pre-season under their belt they are going to be better,” he said.
“The games will determine where we’re at. At the moment training is going okay and we’re looking forward to the NAB Cup. With a young group they are going to develop quickly and we’ve got to make sure we give them the chance to do that. They’ve all got great strengths and we’ve got to allow them to play to those strengths and train to those strengths,” he said.
One of Bailey’s more experienced charges, Russell Robertson, is making steady progress from the horrendous achilles injury he sustained against St Kilda in round 10.
While he is not training with the main group, Robertson is ticking every box in his rehabilitation.
“Russell’s a little bit frustrated because he wants to get out there and train. He’s had a lot of time off but he is certainly advanced. He is coming back from a serious injury and we need to manage him well. He’s making some good strides.”

BS - Don't believe that. I think they settled on watts quite a while ago and Draft camp would just made it 100% certain

Story Here

 

[P.A.F.C]

I think you're gonna be in for a shock, Dave.

 

[Dave The Man]

I think you're gonna be in for a shock, Dave.

Well if the Dees don't take watts then I think they are making a BIG mistake

 

[P.A.F.C]

I think a lot of Melbourne fans will be feeling the same way.

 

[dutchy12]

I think a lot of Melbourne fans will be feeling the same way.

Who do you think they'll take P.A.F.C?

 

[P.A.F.C]

The big fijian.

 

[Cruiser23]

BS - Don't believe that. I think they settled on watts quite a while ago and Draft camp would just made it 100% certain

Dave, Barry wouldn't be doing his job correctly if he had chosen a while ago. He has plenty of time decide, it's a massive decision he has to make and i'm sure he would have explored all options. I can totally understand if they haven't made their final decision yet.

 

[bringbackschwarter5]

I would be shattered if we didnt pick Watts. There would scenes of outrage and looting from Melbourne fans

 

[Salaryman]

I would be shattered if we didnt pick Watts. There would scenes of outrage and looting from Melbourne fans

If you take the big fijian the scenes of looting will be fast replaced if you get a chance to see some WAFL footage where he is already monstering men

 

[Rookie Mistake]

Worst article ever! doesnt say anything of importance or anything new. By gosh you want your club to closer to who they will choose with the #1, but i ask this question; With all the hype with the first round do recruiting staff spend too much time on the 1st round and do less research in the other rounds?
I think a more positive step from bailey without revealling his cards, would be to have indiated that he was almost at a conclusion who he would draft @ #1, but we still have another 4 picks in a strong part and that they are equally as important as #1

 

[Trav 20]

The big fijian.

I'm happy to have a wager.

 

[Headless]

I would be shattered if we didnt pick Watts. There would scenes of outrage and looting from Melbourne fans

I reckon so. Much as I like Nat, hope like hell we pick Watts.

 

[strategy]

Watts

 

[Jimmy_the_Gent]

The big fijian.

I'm probably wasting my time asking but what you say that Nait will go to Melbourne?

 

[McLean_4_Captain]

Dave, Barry wouldn't be doing his job correctly if he had chosen a while ago. He has plenty of time decide, it's a massive decision he has to make and i'm sure he would have explored all options. I can totally understand if they haven't made their final decision yet.

You're on to something there. I'm sure Barry has a fair idea who he's going to go with, but i wouldn't think a "final" decision would be made until next week. At this stage we could well be 98% sure we're going to take Watts and all that's left to do is just tick it off, but as far as that article goes we still wouldn't have made a deffinitive decision.

If you take the big fijian the scenes of looting will be fast replaced if you get a chance to see some WAFL footage where he is already monstering men

I have a preference, but it's hard to be disappointed when this bloke is your consolation prize

 

[stickman11]

Watts it'll be. Down at Sandringham, they believe he has more talent than Judd. News from out west is that Nat is a great athlete but has very little footy smarts. Just doesn't know where to run on a footy field.

I think PAFC should stop pretending.

Can't wait to see Watts running around in the Blue and Red and kicking arse.

 

[lecca]

Gilly1972,Do you even watch the wafl?coz i can assure you naitanui doesnt monster men,in fact far from it.Its clear for all to see he likes to use his leap to win taps,coz when it it comes to boundary throw-ins,he wont body up with the opposition ruckman,he will come and leap from behind.So the comment that hes monstering men is bs.He sooooo overated its not funny,Daniel Rich is the number 1 player in this draft.

 

[Valve Bounce]

BS - Don't believe that. I think they settled on watts quite a while ago and Draft camp would just made it 100% certain

Story Here

Rumour has it that they will pick Benny with their first pick.

 

[Souup]

OMGGGG this years draft is soooooooo tough..........



what r ur thoughts??

Thats actually quite humourous

 

[Play by Numbers]

Gilly1972,Do you even watch the wafl?coz i can assure you naitanui doesnt monster men,in fact far from it.Its clear for all to see he likes to use his leap to win taps,coz when it it comes to boundary throw-ins,he wont body up with the opposition ruckman,he will come and leap from behind.So the comment that hes monstering men is bs.He sooooo overated its not funny,Daniel Rich is the number 1 player in this draft.

You don't have a clue do you......you don't watch the WAFL either I'm guessing.

 

[Underdog]

Gilly1972,Do you even watch the wafl?coz i can assure you naitanui doesnt monster men,in fact far from it.Its clear for all to see he likes to use his leap to win taps,coz when it it comes to boundary throw-ins,he wont body up with the opposition ruckman,he will come and leap from behind.So the comment that hes monstering men is bs.He sooooo overated its not funny,Daniel Rich is the number 1 player in this draft.

Beyond his leap, his physicality is his greatest asset. He is a fantastic tackler, really aggressive and quick enough to pounce on even the fastest players. When he tackles or bumps someone, he makes them feel like they've been hit by a car. This is a kid up against mature men.

In terms of rucking, why would he go body on body at WAFL level when he can play off them and jump over them? It makes no sense. That's like criticising Matthew Lloyd for not kicking goals with his right foot.

 

[}>-DEMON-<{]

Beyond his leap, his physicality is his greatest asset. He is a fantastic tackler, really aggressive and quick enough to pounce on even the fastest players. When he tackles or bumps someone, he makes them feel like they've been hit by a car. This is a kid up against mature men.

In terms of rucking, why would he go body on body at WAFL level when he can play off them and jump over them? It makes no sense. That's like criticising Matthew Lloyd for not kicking goals with his right foot.

by the sounds of things he will be like godzilla out there in a few years

I reckon we might take him too

Both are excellent prospects I will be happy with either

17 and 19 is where it gets dicier