This is an article about Collingwood - Magpies need leadership and midfield firepower - but it also discusses an issue that many clubs face in their quest for success. Jake Niall asks what path will Collingwood take in its trading and drafting strategy.

"The Magpies can continue down the patient long road they've undertaken since 2004, or they can aggressively pursue Daniel Kerr, Jonathan Brown or whoever might plug either of the club's vast voids — leadership and the midfield. And filling one hole is likely to be at the expense of the other."

If it's a risk for the Pies to seek out Jonathan Brown, then what diabolical path might Paul McNamee have led us down with an offer of $1m a year for five years to get the Brisbane star?

It's clear to me that the better alternative for the Demons is to pursue a youth policy rather than expend resources on chasing high priced players from other clubs - especially those who are getting on in terms of their age.

It's clear to me that the better alternative for the Demons is to pursue a youth policy rather than expend resources on chasing high priced players from other clubs - especially those who are getting on in terms of their age.

I agree - that should be clear to everyone by now.

Collingwood might feel that they're close enough to bring to a flag to bring in a star, but we're nowhere near it, and thus it'd be a waste.

I agree - that should be clear to everyone by now.

Collingwood might feel that they're close enough to bring to a flag to bring in a star, but we're nowhere near it, and thus it'd be a waste.

Collingwood had a 3 to 4 year period where they either traded for the window in 2002 and 2003 or they just drafted duds. The failures in those years are coming home to roost for the Pies.

Collingwood had a 3 to 4 year period where they either traded for the window in 2002 and 2003 or they just drafted duds. The failures in those years are coming home to roost for the Pies.

And aren't we loving that!

It's clear to me that the better alternative for the Demons is to pursue a youth policy rather than expend resources on chasing high priced players from other clubs - especially those who are getting on in terms of their age.

Agree. If it was Mathouse's premiership clock, we are at about 2 o'clock (some may say 1 o'clock), Collingwood on the other hand are somewhere between 9 o'clock and 11 o'clock. But with Geelong so far and strong in front of the rest, Collingwood may as well be at 9 o'clock. (Even if Collingwood did beat them by 80 odd points last time).

Draft strategy...............................although alot of people wouldn't like this, i think that Brad Green should be put on the table.......he is 27 and currently playing the best footy of his career (i believe).

I also believe that our window will only start to open in about 4 years.........which will make Green 31. So why hold onto him? I know people will be saying that we don't have many players in his age group and that we need his leadership for the youngsters(although i believe that you either have leadership or you don't, and with the likes of McLean, Jones, Miller & Bate i don't think it will be a problem).

If you were to wind the clock back 4 years, Yze had value.......now he doesn't. We should have traded him, but now all we have is a VFL player.........i don't want that to happen to Green..............so i believe in the best interest for Melbourne and Green for that matter is that he should be traded.

Green gets the change to be a premiership player which i'd love to see (even if it was for another team), and Melbourne would probably get a pick around 15 or so. win win i believe.

Would anyone put Aaron Davey on the table at trade time? And if the MFC did do that, what do you reckon it would take to secure a deal for the MFC?

Draft strategy...............................although alot of people wouldn't like this, i think that Brad Green should be put on the table.......he is 27 and currently playing the best footy of his career (i believe).

I also believe that our window will only start to open in about 4 years.........which will make Green 31. So why hold onto him? I know people will be saying that we don't have many players in his age group and that we need his leadership for the youngsters(although i believe that you either have leadership or you don't, and with the likes of McLean, Jones, Miller & Bate i don't think it will be a problem).

If you were to wind the clock back 4 years, Yze had value.......now he doesn't. We should have traded him, but now all we have is a VFL player.........i don't want that to happen to Green..............so i believe in the best interest for Melbourne and Green for that matter is that he should be traded.

Green gets the change to be a premiership player which i'd love to see (even if it was for another team), and Melbourne would probably get a pick around 15 or so. win win i believe.

Green fits the untouchable category. MFC's best player. Total versatility, can play forward, midfield and back. Has stepped up to becoming one of the most couragious marking players in the comp. Does not butcher disposals. Always presenting and supporting.

I'm happy to be greedy and say Green does not deserve to play in a premiership with any other club. He can damnwell help our boys to a flag even if our depth by then causes him to miss a spot in the grand final team.

Then we'll rightly give him the accolades he derserves for being a champion demon along the lines of Robbie Flower.

Then we'll rightly give him the accolades he derserves for being a champion demon along the lines of Robbie Flower.

Brad Green has a long way to go if he's to get the accolades along the lines of one Robert Flower, who is a Champion Demon.

Green fits the untouchable category. MFC's best player. Total versatility, can play forward, midfield and back. Has stepped up to becoming one of the most couragious marking players in the comp. Does not butcher disposals. Always presenting and supporting.

I'm happy to be greedy and say Green does not deserve to play in a premiership with any other club. He can damnwell help our boys to a flag even if our depth by then causes him to miss a spot in the grand final team.

Then we'll rightly give him the accolades he derserves for being a champion demon along the lines of Robbie Flower.

Green will be 33 and retired when our window opens. He is expendable if the deal is good enough.

Stop thinking about careers and start thinking about the club...and a flag.

Green will be 33 and retired when our window opens. He is expendable if the deal is good enough.

Stop thinking about careers and start thinking about the club...and a flag.

totally agree on Green and Ratten is meant to be interested. Having his best year and I reckon a player who might peak a short period so happy to off load him when he is cherry ripe as we need to build this young list. Pick aound 20 would be fair and he would do well at a Carlton and kick a few goals for them.

I think we need to be aggressive as no doubt we will bounce back up in future years, but we need to get youngsters in now like Hawthorn did when they off loaded Thompson and Hay.

The same headline applied to Geelong circa 2006. The article is hardly mind blowing, because each year, every club has to decide on their draft strategy.

Drafting a big name player is always fraught with danger, because unless you win a flag, the move is judged as a failure. In McNamee's defence, he probably saw the off-field benefit of signing a Jonathon Brown as a short term fix to our financial woes.

BTW, Collingwood's list is actually quite healthy, with a group of talented young kpps and 3 damaging mids in Thomas, Pendlebury and Davis, all of whom haven't reached their peak.

I'm happy to be greedy and say Green does not deserve to play in a premiership with any other club. He can damnwell help our boys to a flag even if our depth by then causes him to miss a spot in the grand final team.

Then we'll rightly give him the accolades he derserves for being a champion demon along the lines of Robbie Flower.

Here Here!!!! To be honest with you, I really dont think Brad would be too keen to move on ether. He can see exactly what Melbourne is capible of in a few years, and he will be a premiership captain!!

I think that Silvia would be a great trade to the Flith. Might even flurish there. Or at least do something.

Collingwood had a 3 to 4 year period where they either traded for the window in 2002 and 2003 or they just drafted duds. The failures in those years are coming home to roost for the Pies.

There is a very good reason why we're currently one game clear on the bottom of the ladder.

Collingwood are currently in the top 8 with a team full of youngsters.

Somehow I don't think they're too worried.

Would anyone put Aaron Davey on the table at trade time? And if the MFC did do that, what do you reckon it would take to secure a deal for the MFC?

YES!!! I know it wouldn't be a popular decision but we could definitely secure a first rounder for him.

There's a couple more that I'd trade away that would probably raise the odd eyebrow or two.

Green will be 33 and retired when our window opens. He is expendable if the deal is good enough.

Stop thinking about careers and start thinking about the club...and a flag.

You might get strung up as a heretic for saying this, I've got the rope burns to prove it!

YES!!! I know it wouldn't be a popular decision but we could definitely secure a first rounder for him.

There's a couple more that I'd trade away that would probably raise the odd eyebrow or two.

I think he's worth a first rounder too. The thing is he's played nearly 100 games, and how would he be in 3-4 years time - what would he be like then approaching 30, have we already seen the best of him, he has the X-factor that other clubs will clamber over each other for him.

YES!!! I know it wouldn't be a popular decision but we could definitely secure a first rounder for him.

There's a couple more that I'd trade away that would probably raise the odd eyebrow or two.

In this year's draft, Davey won't be worth a 1st round pick.

In this year's draft, Davey won't be worth a 1st round pick.

And your absolutely sure of that?

And your absolutely sure of that?

According to some respected officials at under 18 level, the talent pool at the top end is deep. Unless a trade for Jono Brown or Kerr is negotiated, no 1st round picks will be traded.

According to some respected officials at under 18 level, the talent pool at the top end is deep. Unless a trade for Jono Brown or Kerr is negotiated, no 1st round picks will be traded.

So what IYO would a player the calibre of Davey fetch? pick 20-25? Remembering T.Johnstone = 14.

what if (won't happen)..........but what if we offered Green & Davey? would we get say a pick 8?

Would anyone put Aaron Davey on the table at trade time?

If the deal is right then i would. No one at the MFC is 'Untouchable'. Bar Aussie

keep davey. wait until the GC team come in and want tobuy experienced players, and 'cult players' and trade him for a very early 1st round and a 2nd round pick together. they will need to buy experienced players for their list, we will get well above the odds for him because he is rated outside of melbourne and GC will have picks to throw around...

If the deal is right then i would. No one at the MFC is 'Untouchable'. Bar Aussie

Ive got to agree with the sentiment of DD. Surely only young players that havent developed yet are untouchable. Anyone that has currency that cant possibly play in a flag for us (and lets be realistic, its at least 2-3 years off) should be more than considered trade bait.

The fact that we were stupid enough to hold onto Robbo instead of trade him to the dogs is only testament to the problem and a great example of MFC's constant pilgrimage to mediocrity.

Im a big fan of Brad Green and he may well be the next captain of MFC. I have no problem with that either if we argue that his leadership skills are good enough reason to keep him, thats fine. But to argue that someone is untouchable and not consider offers is just downright pigheaded and not going to get us a flag.