Opinion Pick #4 Prediction Thread

[Topkent]

Looks like we are going to get toumpas in a steal, will really add some class to a midfield lacking polish and also with viney as well will free up trengove to get more of the footy, he seemed to struggle a little this year and with 2 more class kids around him will take some pressure right off... Toumpas looks like a great kid with awesome speed and doesnt mind snagging a goal or 2.. With Jones Trengove Grimes Toumpas Viney and then help from blease mckenzie magner and some other battlers our midfield looks a little better, probably still short one or 2 class players but the draft concessions could be the problem there, we might have to fill the other mid spots with more magner and mckenzie types

 

[Flyswatter]

why are the giants passing on Toumpas?

 

[Captain Jack]

why are the giants passing on Toumpas?

A very good question. Hopefully it's only because they don't want to overload on midfielders (hence Plowman)... But then why get O'Rourke?

 

[tasmanlvr]

Best player available >>> Viney's best mate

Toumpas hopefully will prove to be a steal but I still have doubts over how our last #4 draft pick turned out for us. Having said that it should be good to have a Jimmy running around in a Melbourne jumper again on the MCG. Let's hope he has the same impact for Melbourne that another Jimmy we know had while he was around.

 

[Franky_024]

why are the giants passing on Toumpas?

Maybe they just rate O'Rourke a higher priority for them as he can play inside and outside whereas Toumpas is pretty much a complete outside midfielder.

Toumpas suits our structure more than theirs imo, they already have enough of these in their midfield

 

[Viney]

Well aren't we just a bunch of heartless bastards, crushing Viney's fairy tale like that. Media will find a negative angle for anything about the MFC!

Cue the "Viney to follow mate" articles in good time if we don't pick Wines

Personally, I want Wines. He's a beast and have set my heart on it

Having said that, the club knows far better than I

 

[Marlowe]

Wines is looking good in the red and the blue!

Such is my confidence that the club will draft him, I will spend the entire draft day ranking the super hunks.


... unless Toumpas is available: gun.

 

[Crusty Demon]

Happy with either Toumpas or Wines. Would be surprised to see GWS pass on Toumpas. All reports suggest he's a real leader and has elite skills.

It's strange as both players are completely different. Toumpas predominantly an outside silky player with great skills. Wines an in and under type who loves the stoppages but lacks a little polish.

Personally, I'd go Toumpas ahead of Wines. God knows this team needs some class. With Hogan, Dawes and Clark floating in the F50 from next year on, we need someone who can hit them up. Plus with Viney coming in, I feel Wines is too similar a player. I know you can never have enough ball winners, but I'd go for a quick classy mid like Toumpas.

 

[Jordie_tackles]

Maybe they just rate O'Rourke a higher priority for them as he can play inside and outside whereas Toumpas is pretty much a complete outside midfielder.

Toumpas suits our structure more than theirs imo, they already have enough of these in their midfield

Toumpas is the more complete inside outside player, O'rourke has the soft tag

 

[Theo X]

why are the giants passing on Toumpas?

Because Phil Scully doesn't know his head from his arse.

 

[Wise Guy Sam]

Tin foil hat time:

GWS get pick 3 and 13
Melb get Hogan, Barry 20 (Dawes) Viney at 27 and Toumpas at 4.

There is every chance that this was part of the deal.

 

[CowboyFromHell]

Tin foil hat time:

GWS get pick 3 and 13
Melb get Hogan, Barry 20 (Dawes) Viney at 27 and Toumpas at 4.

There is every chance that this was part of the deal.

Actually makes a little bit of sense. I have no doubt that there were plenty of "side" deals done between us and GWS in terms of picks and who we will take.

I don't think we need to be worried about GWS passing on Toumpas. Kid is a gun.

 

[deeman87]

I'm having a hard time buying into this rumour that GWS will take O'Rourke over Toumpas and i think Wines is still the fav to go at 4. That being said i'd love Toumpas and feel like he'd add some much needed class to our midfield.

 

[dee64]

It's fair to say that GWS has already told their top 3 draftees that they will be selected, as we did with Scully and Trengove. And it's easy for the news to leak out.

GWS knew well before trade week who their top 3 picks were. I'm convinced that part of the strategy of us giving up pick 3 instead of 4 was that Toumpas wasn't going to be one of them, and so that GWS could inform their prospective draftees in advance. Remember that Plowman's name only came up in dispatches in the last few weeks.

 

[Franky_024]

It's fair to say that GWS has already told their top 3 draftees that they will be selected, as we did with Scully and Trengove. And it's easy for the news to leak out.

Meh unless it's became "official", then some people will continue to speculate until the blokes name is called out.

If we do get Toumpas then it's pretty obvious that this deal was done and dusted weeks ago

 

[melbournemartin]

I feel the same way, i like wines tho cause he is just so heavy, 90kgs not a bad start for a young kid

I don't think that's necessarily a good thing. He'd have to lose weight and come down to 85-87 as a playing weight.

Jones started strongly at 88 kg (admittedly he was 5 cm shorter than Wines) and was almost untacklable but could not run out games. Now he's finally a gun at about 83 kg.

I was very happy to hear Wines was 87 kg though.

 

[Demon JP]

Tin foil hat time:

GWS get pick 3 and 13
Melb get Hogan, Barry 20 (Dawes) Viney at 27 and Toumpas at 4.

There is every chance that this was part of the deal.

The last thing we need is to get done for draft tampering

 

[LeverPuller]

I think preferred order will be:

1. Toumpas
2. O'Rourke
3. Wines

 

[youngbear]

My bet is Wines at 4... only because GWS will not pass on Toumpas.

Every chance Toumpas' name could be read out first... He is a freak, and played senior footy.

 

[Praetorian]

Interesting take from Viney, obviously if we had this philosophy in place a few years ago our drafting would have been a bit different.

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7415/newsid/151345/default.aspx

When I talk talent, it’s not just about who can kick it the best, who can mark it the best or who can handball the best. We’ve got four key pillars that we try and identify. When we talk about talent, we talk about all four.

The first pillar is competitiveness - they’ve got to be highly competitive - no matter what role they play.

The second one is their football talent. There are football attributes that they have to exhibit in their role - that’s how you kick it, catch it, win contested ball or how you win handball receives - depending on how you play.

The third pillar is the physical attributes that you need to play the game of AFL, and they keep becoming more and more demanding. If the rules change again in the future with two [interchange] and two [substitute] players - then they must have the attributes that need to be ticked off.

And the fourth one is character - they need to be able to handle being in an elite environment, and strive to be the best. They need to be a self-starter and be resilient. It’s a tough environment, and it’s not for everyone.

So when we talk talent, it’s those four things rolled up into one. We just won’t take someone because he can kick it better than the next guy. I think there have been way too many mistakes over a long period of time, where people talk about how talent is about how they can kick it or catch it.

All four of those pillars are rolled into one, and that’s what we’re saying talent is.

Both Toumpas and Wines are obviously of high character, with Toumpas captaining SA and Wines being Wines. Toumpas probably edges out Wines in footy talent. Both have good physical attributes, and both able to step into senior footy straight away I think (Toumpas has already played and starred in SANFL). Wines would be a competitive beast alongside Viney, and I imagine Toumpas is pretty high up in that respect as well.

If it comes to a choice of those two, I think the club will take Toumpas. It will be interesting to see if he's available. I'd still love either though.

EDIT: also I'm thinking that depending on where the draft pick is, these 'pillars' may be weighted differently in terms of importance e.g. at pick 4 football talent may be considered more important, whereas at 53 you would search for a guy like Tom Mcdonald who has good character, physical attributes and competitiveness, but not so much football talent. In that case, Tmac would still be considered a pretty damn talented player at pick 53.

 

[CM Sean]

The only thing that scares me about Jimmy Toumpas is the go-home factor. We know he's from SA, he could do a Scott Thompson (in wanting to go home) and return home in two years. Whereas if we take Wines, we know he's more than likley to stay, being alongside Viney and all.

I hope Melbourne keep that in mind before making their final decision. That's all I'm going to say. The last thing I want is for us to take the perhaps 'better' player, only to lose him two years down the track.

 

[mrpez]

I think preferred order will be:

1. Toumpas
2. O'Rourke
3. Wines

+1

I don't understand why GWS wouldn't pick Toumpas, but if they do pass on him, they are my new no.2 team.

Scully + Pick 3 for Toumpas, Hogan, Dawes and Barry plus them not bidding on Jack Viney. Sheedy's alright after all!

 

[RandB]

I've got a feeling we'll go for Wines.

Just reading that Todd Viney article about the 4 pillars they look for in a player has garnered my suspicions.

 

[tryonthis]

The only thing that scares me about Jimmy Toumpas is the go-home factor. We know he's from SA, he could do a Scott Thompson (in wanting to go home) and return home in two years. Whereas if we take Wines, we know he's more than likley to stay, being alongside Viney and all.

I hope Melbourne keep that in mind before making their final decision. That's all I'm going to say. The last thing I want is for us to take the perhaps 'better' player, only to lose him two years down the track.

I know (indirectly) of the Toumpas family (not closely), but it's pretty clear that they're a tight-nit Greek/Cypriot family. You'd hope any draftee falls in love with the club and stays put, but it wouldn't surprise me if he wanted to come if he gets drafted interstate. He's an absolute star though - would very much like him to fall to our pick, but it won't happen

I think most of our supporters hold the same sentiment in regards to Wines. He'd slot straight into our 22 and would provide impact in his first year. However, the go-home factor (after the Jacobs saga) is somewhat off-putting when we may have players like Toumpas, Grundy or Mayes at our pick. Time will tell, I guess.

 

[fushy]

Agreed, Toumpasis a gun but has the go home factor and where as Wines will bleed red and blue for years to come