Melbourne split on draft trio

[pezz]

http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=69116 MELBOURNE recruiting manager Barry Prendergast says the club has still not decided whether it will take Nicholas Naitanui, Daniel Rich or Jack Watts with the No.1 pick in the 2008 NAB AFL Draft. But Prendergast said the club would definitely be selecting one of the trio of young stars with its first pick in the November 29 draft. "I can tell you it'll come out of one of those three; that's no secret," Prendergast told melbournefc.com.au. "I've told those three boys at the recent draft camp that no decisions have been made and we're heading to Perth this week. We'll see the Naitanuis and the Richs and we'll do our homework and all of the factors that are involved." Prendergast said the notion Melbourne would select Watts because he hails from Victoria is not necessarily correct. "There is a lot of publicity that Jack Watts is going to be the No.1 draft pick because … he's the local boy. But the reality is, this organisation is changing and for the better and we're going to get a lot of things right in the next few years – I'm convinced of that," he said. "One of those things is that you don't have a 'go home' factor. That's because the players that you actually get into your organisation love your footy club. "We got Cale Morton at pick No.4 last year from WA and all reports are that he loves playing for the Melbourne footy club. That's come from independent sources. Daniel Rich said that because they're mates and that's the feedback we want to hear." The decision of top draft pick, according to Prendergast, would be based around the philosophy of long-term development, not just for the player in question but for the football club as a whole. "We'll just back in the best player for our footy club for the next 10 years. If that's Nicholas Naitanui, we'll pick him. If that's Daniel Rich, we'll pick him. If that's Jack Watts, we'll pick him. "The big thing about them is that they're all different – character and positional. There's nothing final." Prendergast said the club will select its players based on addressing the club's needs, although he conceded that was quite open in Melbourne's case. "In some respects, we've got some really good developing talent in the place, but we're still a bit of blank canvass in terms of what we need," he said. "Hawthorn turned up at last year's draft thinking: 'We need an inside 50 crumber' and there's Cyril Rioli sitting there – bang. There's the stars aligning for you. The impact he's been able to make – well done to them, but there is an element of luck with it." Despite the focus on the Demons' No. 1 pick, Prendergast was keen to highlight the club's desire to obtain quality players later in the draft, as former recruiting boss Craig Cameron did with Simon Buckley (No.53) and Clint Bartram (No.60) in 2005.

 

[McLean_4_Captain]

Barry is just towing the company line.

No clubs ever really give anything away, especially the club with the No.1 pick. If he's says "we've made our decision, but you'll find out on draft day" the media would go nuts and the only question they would ask until they found out would be, "who's going to be No.1?" They may well just be going through the motions and keeping the illusion alive by visiting WA.

There's every chance that they've already decided, but playing a bat straighter then Ponting makes the media easier to handle.

 

[On the bench]

For me our first need amongst many is a long term KP forward,therefore Jack Watts should be our first pick!

 

[cannons]

I would suggest that Barry and the recruiting staff would have made their decision at this point, however there is no sense in confirming their choice at this point.

A great thing for Melbourne is the hype and speculation surrounding the number 1 pick, especially considering the openness of this draft. The club should try and generate some awareness and excitement about the club and its future around this time, as opposed to losing it all through saying 'we're going to pick X.'

This is a good marketing opportunity, so we should take full advantage of it.

 

[The Demon]

Barry is just towing the company line.

No clubs ever really give anything away, especially the club with the No.1 pick. If he's says "we've made our decision, but you'll find out on draft day" the media would go nuts and the only question they would ask until they found out would be, "who's going to be No.1?" They may well just be going through the motions and keeping the illusion alive by visiting WA.

There's every chance that they've already decided, but playing a bat straighter then Ponting makes the media easier to handle.

Agree.

The fact that Watts nominated for this draft makes me think the MFC have already had a word in his ear re their intentions to draft him.

IMO he is the ideal choice for the MFC and the smart money is on him to be drafted at No.1.

 

[HBF]

This is nothing new. Carlton have done it now for the past 3 years. Still think they will go for Watts personally.

 

[Bartram_Class]

This is nothing new. Carlton have done it now for the past 3 years. Still think they will go for Watts personally.

I thought the Kreuzer move last year was confirmed by Carlton officials days before the draft?

 

[McLean_4_Captain]

I thought the Kreuzer move last year was confirmed by Carlton officials days before the draft?

I don't think so, i'm pretty sure Kreuzer himself said he didn't find out until the night before.

I definitely remember them saying that because both kids were from the knights they called up to get both of their phone numbers, so not even they could tell which one they were going to take.

 

[strategy]

They need fwds , they will go Watts .

 

[whelan=legend]

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[bringbackschwarter5]

WattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWatts

What?

 

[Headless]

WattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWattsWatts

You're not making yourself clear.

 

[Top_4_Tiger]

Watts looks great but I wouldn't mind Naitanui!