LIST manager Tim Harrington says this week’s NAB AFL Draft Combine has been crucial to determining which picks Melbourne will keep and potentially exchange when the trade period starts next week.
Harrington said the Demons had done some “comprehensive” interviews at the Combine, held at Etihad Stadium, this week.
“We’ve already interviewed 20-plus prospective candidates from the draft this year,” he said.
“The information that we’ve gathered has been added to what we’ve seen throughout the course of the year, plus the information that we’ve gleaned from all the development coaches, coaches, parents, school contacts and other [people] around the players.
“So the information is coming to a pointy end, and then we weigh up how we assess the draft pool and the relative strengths of the picks that we hold. That can help us inform what we do during trade period.
“We weigh up what we think we can trade for, and the information is coming together. This is the period of the year where it really is an opportunity analysis, where we use the strength of the pick to work out what the value of the pick is - recruiting or trade.”
Meanwhile, Harrington said the club was being considerate towards defender Jared Rivers, who is an unrestricted free agent.
“The ball’s in his court and the club is being respectful of his position and he’s informed us that he’s had really good, open talks with Mark [Neeld],” he said.
“Mark’s been very open with him and we’ve respected the position that Jared’s in.”
Harrington said the Demons had done some “comprehensive” interviews at the Combine, held at Etihad Stadium, this week.
“We’ve already interviewed 20-plus prospective candidates from the draft this year,” he said.
“The information that we’ve gathered has been added to what we’ve seen throughout the course of the year, plus the information that we’ve gleaned from all the development coaches, coaches, parents, school contacts and other [people] around the players.
“So the information is coming to a pointy end, and then we weigh up how we assess the draft pool and the relative strengths of the picks that we hold. That can help us inform what we do during trade period.
“We weigh up what we think we can trade for, and the information is coming together. This is the period of the year where it really is an opportunity analysis, where we use the strength of the pick to work out what the value of the pick is - recruiting or trade.”
Meanwhile, Harrington said the club was being considerate towards defender Jared Rivers, who is an unrestricted free agent.
“The ball’s in his court and the club is being respectful of his position and he’s informed us that he’s had really good, open talks with Mark [Neeld],” he said.
“Mark’s been very open with him and we’ve respected the position that Jared’s in.”
