We've had our own success stories in there too don't forget.

Simpson and Fisher in particular who in the long run might be as valuable players for their club as any First and Second Rounders from 2002.

And in the circumstances Norman was worth a shot and very nearly made it.

nytdog, I'm pretty sure that the reference was to Wayne Hughes recruiting efforts (last couple of years).

nytdog, I'm pretty sure that the reference was to Wayne Hughes recruiting efforts (last couple of years).

Picks traded during this period (player selected with that pick in bold):

2001 National Draft
Picks 14 & 30 (& Mark Porter) : traded for Corey McKernan (gone) and picks 23 & 39 (Ashley Watson & Rod Crowe)
Pick 23 : traded for Justin Murphy - gone (Charlie Gardiner)

2002 National Draft
Pick 16 : traded for Barnaby French (gone) & pick 31 (Stephen Gilham)

2003 National Draft
Pick 51 : Traded for Brett Johnson and Daniel Harford - both gone (Matthew Ball)

2004 National Draft
Pick 57 : traded for Callum Chambers - gone (Bradley P. Smith)
Pick 67 : traded for Troy Longmuir - gone (Tony Stribling)

Players picked the pick after ours:

2000 National Draft
Pick 4 : Luke Livingston - gone (Andrew McDougall)
Pick 11 : Trent Sporn - gone (Shaun Burgoyne)
Pick 31 : Blake Campbell - gone (Sam Hunt)
Pick 46 : Sean O'Keeffe - gone (Jordan Bannister)
Pick 61 : Callan Beasy - gone (Daniel Breese)

2001 National Draft
Pick 39 : Justin Davies - gone (Henry Playfair) Ablett Jr was a father son
Pick 75 : Sam Cranage - gone (Jared Poulton)

2002 National Draft
Pick 60 : Cameron Croad - gone (Daniel Sipthorp)
Pick 79 : Karl Norman - gone (Aaron Lord) PSD
Pick 84 : Mick Martyn - gone (Nathan Saunders) PSD

2003 National Draft
Pick 57 : Ricky Mott - gone (Ben Hudson)
Pick 63 : Glen Bowyer - gone (Shane Morrison)
Pick 72 : Adrian Deluca - gone (Shane Tuck)
Pick 75 : Stephen Kenna - gone (Andrew Raines)

2004 National Draft
Pick 73 : Chris Bryan - gone (Daniel Pratt)

There are some very notable misses. Sporn over Burgoyne, Deluca/Kenna instead of Tuck/Raines. But if you're trying to make out we've blown a bunch of sure thing picks over that 5 year period you're kidding yourself. 3 of those 22 picks we've either traded or wasted have turned out to be decent players.

We've had our own success stories in there too don't forget. So while I would have preferred we'd have traded and recycled less, I just don't think the situation is as bad as some try to make it out to be. We're paying the price now for our recruiting between 1994 and 1999. If we've really completely blown it between 2000 and 2004 then we won't be going anywhere at all for the next 4 or 5 years.

Yep, in that time we've added:

Bentick
Bannister
Blackwell
Carrazzo
Fisher
Hartlett
O'hAilpin
Raso
Russell
Scotland
Simpson
Stevens
Thornton
Waite
Walker
Wiggins

Not all will go on to be premiership players for sure. However I probably think better of our efforts between 2000 and 2004 now than I did before I actually looked into it.

More on the Board:

http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/real ... 44957.html

Interesting report in the HUN:

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/ ... 22,00.html

IMO it is clever politics from Smorgon.

I'm only guessing but from reading between the lines the opposition ticket does not have the numbers to challenge for a full spill. They were hoping to get a couple of new members in March and ally with a section of the current board to install a new president.

Smorgon has realised this and after earlier making coaching changes to appease the Brown group he has now installed one or two Brown people on the board to further shore up support from this group, and the extra numbers make the plans of the shadowy third group more difficult.

Only speculation, but if I am far off the mark those in the know should be able to set me straight.

IMO it is clever politics from Smorgon.

I'm only guessing but from reading between the lines the opposition ticket does not have the numbers to challenge for a full spill. They were hoping to get a couple of new members in March and ally with a section of the current board to install a new president.

Smorgon has realised this and after earlier making coaching changes to appease the Brown group he has now installed one or two Brown people on the board to further shore up support from this group, and the extra numbers make the plans of the shadowy third group more difficult.

Only speculation, but if I am far off the mark those in the know should be able to set me straight.

Believes he has never spoken to Tom Elliot before.

I have personally been in a room whereby both men have been present (I have known T.E for 11 years) and have spoken to one another.