For years and years our most important player was Neitz.

If he didn't kick at least 4 we were going to be in trouble.

You could also make the argument that our most important player was Robbo, as he could ignite us and kick 6 goals any day.

I always thought Joffa was one of the most important players to our side, as he rucked by himself and if he lost, we lost.

But im wondering, with Neitz gone, Robbo in trouble and White nearing the end.

Who is our most important player? Also who is our best player?

To answer question 1. Id say it's still as I thought last season, Jared Rivers.

He is the main bolt in our defence that holds the other smaller pieces together.

However he has struggled to get on the park which makes it harder to judge, it's strange as 3 weeks ago I didn't rate Garland, right now he is definately one of our most important players, things change quickly in football.

I am talking right now. In the future I would suggest Bate will be an incredibly important player as will whoever is the person who will attempt to fill the void of Neitz/Robbo at FF.

Our most important player is still, despite injury, Jared Rivers. Although running a very close second and the reason I started the thread is Aaron Davey. He has (to answer question 2) become officially our best player in my opininon. He does it all for us as a genuine midfielder. He is quick, runs and carries, always breaking the lines, sublime skills, defensive pressure and goal kicking ability.

I have often over the past 2 years began to dislike Davey as I thought he would never ever make it in the midfield. But in the past few games he has become a player who I think we can truely see as our best player, who is better? I'll admit I think Bate will easily be our best in 2 years time, and Mclean/Jones are good for us but Davey is the player that if he is killing it, so will we, he will kick the momentum changing goal, he will lay the tackle he will provide the spark, I think Rivers is the most important part of the team but surely Davey would get a look in at 2nd......

Whats your thoughts?

Naitanui

Naitanui

Agreed

For years and years our most important player was Neitz.

If he didn't kick at least 4 we were going to be in trouble.

You could also make the argument that our most important player was Robbo, as he could ignite us and kick 6 goals any day.

I always thought Joffa was one of the most important players to our side, as he rucked by himself and if he lost, we lost.

But im wondering, with Neitz gone, Robbo in trouble and White nearing the end.

Who is our most important player? Also who is our best player?

To answer question 1. Id say it's still as I thought last season, Jared Rivers.

He is the main bolt in our defence that holds the other smaller pieces together.

However he has struggled to get on the park which makes it harder to judge, it's strange as 3 weeks ago I didn't rate Garland, right now he is definately one of our most important players, things change quickly in football.

I am talking right now. In the future I would suggest Bate will be an incredibly important player as will whoever is the person who will attempt to fill the void of Neitz/Robbo at FF.

Our most important player is still, despite injury, Jared Rivers. Although running a very close second and the reason I started the thread is Aaron Davey. He has (to answer question 2) become officially our best player in my opininon. He does it all for us as a genuine midfielder. He is quick, runs and carries, always breaking the lines, sublime skills, defensive pressure and goal kicking ability.

I have often over the past 2 years began to dislike Davey as I thought he would never ever make it in the midfield. But in the past few games he has become a player who I think we can truely see as our best player, who is better? I'll admit I think Bate will easily be our best in 2 years time, and Mclean/Jones are good for us but Davey is the player that if he is killing it, so will we, he will kick the momentum changing goal, he will lay the tackle he will provide the spark, I think Rivers is the most important part of the team but surely Davey would get a look in at 2nd......

Whats your thoughts?

Davey, rivers, mclean, jones. all important for different reasons. davey is the only one who has the ability to find the ball in traffic, run around a couple of opponents and deliver it to a forward or kick a goal. rivers is the general of the backline and our best contested mark, also makes good decisions and puts himself in the right spot. mclean and jones are the engine room and we need them to get the ball moving forward. I would say with our lack of depth they are all equally important. Davey is the one who has the ability to turn a game, but even when he wins the footy and looks forward he needs a target to get it to. These will be our established senior players the next time we play finals.

I agree with the sentiments on Garland and Bate. Garland is now an important player and will get the most athletic forward from here on in. He is the only "athlete" with the height and speed that can play this role. Hopefully his rebound game can develop. There is also nothing surer that someone unexpected will come through the ranks to stamp his importance on the side. That is the exciting part of watching the rebuilding. How good will Bate and Jones get. Will Austin play up the ground and make an impact?, Will Buckley develop. Valenti, Maric, Meesen, Martin?? Mcnamara is apparently one to watch. There are a lot of doomsdayers on this site. We have seen plenty of recent teams in the doldrums in the last decade that have rebuilt to have a crack under intense criticism. (Geelong and Hawks). Hold your nerve people and be patient. Honestly I would rather be Melbourne than St Kilda at the moment.

Quite frankly we do not have a star on our list. Therefore I argue no one is the most important player at the end of the day. There are players I would prefer not to leave the club, but no one I would stop. We need pick 1 or 2 next year – that looks our best chance of acquiring a star.

Honestly I would rather be Melbourne than St Kilda at the moment.

So true right there. I agree completely.

People don't seem to understand this.

Morton, Buckley, Jones, Mclean, Bate, Wonaeamirri, Rivers, Garland, Davey.

Just some of the reasons it's great to be a Melbourne supporter.

Quite frankly we do not have a star on our list. Therefore I argue no one is the most important player at the end of the day. There are players I would prefer not to leave the club, but no one I would stop. We need pick 1 or 2 next year – that looks our best chance of acquiring a star.

Enters Natanui

Honestly I would rather be Melbourne than St Kilda at the moment.

That's an interesting POV. I was chatting to a Dees supporter last night, and we agreed that it was better to bottom out now, rather than in a few years. With the impending draft concessions for the new team/s, if you're on the decline now you might hit bottom at a pretty unfortunate time.

I agree that Melbourne is in a better situation than St. Kilda. It's a pity that 2008 is our 150th year, and not our 146th or 147th year because this is a much 'better' year to have a shocker than the following few.

In terms of our most important player, for me it's a tie between Rivers (for holding the defence together and reading the play so well) and Davey (for providing a spark and being able to kick goals). But over the next few years Bate will probably increase in importance.

My thoughts are if your two best players are Davey who is inconsistent and Rivers who is constantly injured then we are in big trouble.

Both have potential to be our most important player but need to perform week in or week out otherwise they simply cannot be relied upon and therefore not our most important.

I agree with previous posts that Bate also has the potential to be our most important player. He gives us a lot accross half forward.

I think we need to find somebody that can give us the equivalent accross half back. My nominee would be Petterd but again, injuries.

Cale Morton is the other. Once he is developed I can see him being a Pavlich. A target up forward who can go onto the ball. The only problem is his body is at least four or five years away.

In summary our five most important players going forward:

Bate

Davey

Morton

Petterd

Rivers

That's an interesting POV. I was chatting to a Dees supporter last night, and we agreed that it was better to bottom out now, rather than in a few years. With the impending draft concessions for the new team/s, if you're on the decline now you might hit bottom at a pretty unfortunate time.

Yep, the saints have had thier chances. it is our turn to not only build up our list but to develop the young guys in the current list. I agree we don't have the stars, with more consistency and less hamstring twanging davey could develop into one, maybe austin. but you dont need a team full of stars to win a premiership. you need a couple of matchwinners and a good mixed batch of fit, disciplined, focussed uncompromising players hell bent on success.

Development and recruiting. Leadership and winning culture. These are the keys.

What does the Melbourne Football Club really need ? They need a star. They need a marquee player that drags people through the gates. How many members do Hawthorn have on the back of Franklin ? My Nephew inexplicably still barracks for North, despite a rabid Father who's a Dee, because of Wayne Carey. How important are players like Dale Thomas to Collingwood and their merchandising sales ? Already the best buzz I get from going to see Melbourne is the expectation of how Wonaeamirri, or Morton might go. Not much else gets me excited.

This is why the MFC must recruit Naitanui if they receive pick one in the upcoming draft. Sure there's a risk, but we don't have much choice. This guy has marketing appeal with a capital M. As I stated in another thread, Scott Clayton who's widely regarded as the best 2 or 3 recruiters going around stated that people won't believe how much money they'll pay to watch him play. Wayne Hughes who took Kruezer at one last year said he would've taken Naitanui if he was available. I've seen only brief footage of him, but the upside to his football is extraordinary.

I suspect that there won't be much middle ground with Naita. He'll either be a once in a generation freak, or a complete disaster. I think we have to go for broke.

Morton

Rivers

Davey

Bate

Woneaemirri

NATANUI

Naitanui

interesting what Mike Sheahan said last night about this bloke and l reckon he was thinking about Demons when he said it, "he would be a great acquisition for any club as a player and as a marketing person for a club(marquee player). Sheahans been saying for years we have no-one player that can drag people in the gate's, well this is the bloke and if we continue the crap we dished up last week we will have him for sure.

Elite mids are value but our deficiencies are not in midfield: McLean, Jones, Moloney, Davey, Batram, and Grimes are good enough to demand games even if they are a little one paced. With exception of Davey, and possibly Batram.

To that end we need a pacy wingman to break the lines as McLean, Jones and Moloney will get enough out of the stoppages we need some pace for them to handpass to.

With that in mind the top 3 pick that we will have should be used on a KPP as wingman are easier to find further down the draft.

Elite mids are value but our deficiencies are not in midfield: McLean, Jones, Moloney, Davey, Batram, and Grimes are good enough to demand games even if they are a little one paced. With exception of Davey, and possibly Batram.

To that end we need a pacy wingman to break the lines as McLean, Jones and Moloney will get enough out of the stoppages we need some pace for them to handpass to.

With that in mind the top 3 pick that we will have should be used on a KPP as wingman are easier to find further down the draft.

everyone keeps talking about Grimes and he hasn't even played a game, like your confidence but reckon its a bit premature.

Davey

there is no one on the list that we'd miss, Brad Green is probably the closest

So true right there. I agree completely.

People don't seem to understand this.

Morton, Buckley, Jones, Mclean, Bate, Wonaeamirri, Rivers, Garland, Davey.

Just some of the reasons it's great to be a Melbourne supporter.

I am wondering what type of players are required to fulfill "the grand plan" I am hopeful that our 4 most important players will come from this years trading period and draft. With Connolly back at the club I am anticipating one or two mid 20's players and 4 guns from the draft.

What makes you think the MFC will get the Next years AFL Draft right, I wouldn't hold me breath, They've farked everything else up so we'll probably end up with another pile of poo

I am wondering what type of players are required to fulfill "the grand plan" I am hopeful that our 4 most important players will come from this years trading period and draft. With Connolly back at the club I am anticipating one or two mid 20's players and 4 guns from the draft.

Others will have a different idea. I believe that we need a dangerous marking forward first and foremost. Secondly a pacy midfielder.

Next I would say some classy and pacy half backs (these could come from our current list).

These are the players that I think could feature in our next finals side

B: Petterd Garland Warnock?

HB: Rivers Mcnamara/Frawley/ Martin Green?(age)

C: Davey Mclean Morton

HF: Bate ?????? Sylvia??

F: Woneamirri ?????? PJ

Foll: Meesen/Martin(Natanui/Warnock??) Grimes Jones

I/C from: Wheatley, Miller, Moloney, Buckley, Maric, etc

Not expected to be there: Bode, Carroll, Dunn, Jamar, CJ, Bartram, Bell, Newton. I would love some or all of these blokes to make it. My feeling is that they probably won't.

There will be those expected to make it but won't and those who surprise.

Obviously we lack key forwards and on looking at these guys I would say that we have some good strong six footers but need more pace. A few years ago we very much recruited players to give us strength over the footy. We now need to look at getting speed over the turf. The CHB possie is a worry also but heres hoping that Mcnamara, Frawley or Martin can make it.

Not meant to cause a riot. Just looking at what we need.

Be great to get four guns from the draft but I cant see it happening. If you get a star and a couple of very good -good players you are doing pretty well.

Bailey said long term he saw Zomer as a backman.

He played CHB at Ranges til their ruckman went down and he did pretty well against a couple of the guys that played Metro

Others will have a different idea. I believe that we need a dangerous marking forward first and foremost. Secondly a pacy midfielder.

Next I would say some classy and pacy half backs (these could come from our current list).

These are the players that I think could feature in our next finals side

B: Petterd Garland Warnock?

HB: Rivers Mcnamara/Frawley/ Martin Green?(age)

C: Davey Mclean Morton

HF: Bate ?????? Sylvia??

F: Woneamirri ?????? PJ

Foll: Meesen/Martin(Natanui/Warnock??) Grimes Jones

I/C from: Wheatley, Miller, Moloney, Buckley, Maric, etc

Not expected to be there: Bode, Carroll, Dunn, Jamar, CJ, Bartram, Bell, Newton. I would love some or all of these blokes to make it. My feeling is that they probably won't.

There will be those expected to make it but won't and those who surprise.

Obviously we lack key forwards and on looking at these guys I would say that we have some good strong six footers but need more pace. A few years ago we very much recruited players to give us strength over the footy. We now need to look at getting speed over the turf. The CHB possie is a worry also but heres hoping that Mcnamara, Frawley or Martin can make it.

Not meant to cause a riot. Just looking at what we need.

Be great to get four guns from the draft but I cant see it happening. If you get a star and a couple of very good -good players you are doing pretty well.

We have lacked Key forwards and Backmen for years, I would have been looking for a Neitz replacement four years ago

Bailey said long term he saw Zomer as a backman.

He played CHB at Ranges til their ruckman went down and he did pretty well against a couple of the guys that played Metro

I'm just thinking that Bailey overestimated the lists ability to carry out "the plan" I am predicting that he will hand pick and draft for 6 players who can. If players have utility like skills then they will be retained.

We have lacked Key forwards and Backmen for years, I would have been looking for a Neitz replacement four years ago

=Luke Molan, Nick Smith.

We tried. We failed. Bugger.

As for most important player,

Rivers is a yes - he's been off the field, and it's hurt massively. His courage and reading of the play saves the day over and over. He'll also be even more valuable once we have a more dependable backline in general - his loose style of play driven by his ability to anticipate will have less downside. So Rivers now, and Rivers in future.

But it's precarious to try to rate them in particular order, given the diversity of roles.

Davey - does something special, when he's good, he's sensational.

Mclean - yeah, last year was fairly poor, and he's only 'building up' to something truly special again now. But there's no denying that he can turn a game in a quarter of berserk football.

Green - His contribution all over the place is priceless. Leading our inside 50s is a big deal given how few we get from others, as is being one of our few goalkickers.

Bate - actually ahead of Green on inside50s per game, and that is his main job and he does it very well. Also gets those long goals which mean defenders have to think twice. Also pretty versatile. Solid Gold.

Miller - Controversy! Important, not neccessarily best. When he has a great day, it makes a big difference. I'm excitied to see the beginnings of a new stage of improvement from him, too.

It'll be interesting to see what becomes of Garland and Warnock, if they both keep improving like they have been the last month, we could be looking at our best defense since... well...