IMO the part of the ground in todays football that has the most influence on winning games of football is the midfield

Geelong has the best and although beaten in the GF is still IMO the most effective team in the competition

As it happens both the Hawks and the Bulldogs are also up their which reflects their home and away ladder position

Hawthorn has the Franklin / Roughead factor which makes them an excellent forward line

The Bulldogs have a similar situation as Geelong although the cats are still hoping Hawkins takes the next step

The Cats score heavily enough without a talented forwardline anyway

Brisbane also have the Brown and Bradshaw combination yet their season was poor which is a reflection on their inconsistent and ineffective midfield

Defensivley the Cats has as good a backline as anyone which makes that midfiled even more potent

We only have one consistent ball winning midfileder in Mclean while the others are very raw

Melbournes ladder position will still be bottom 4 until we get players taking the next step in the all important midfiled

Confident we are heading in the right direction and IMO the future is bright

I expect Rohan Bail to surpise many next year

Melbournes ladder position will still be bottom 4 until we get players taking the next step in the all important midfiled

Confident we are heading in the right direction and IMO the future is bright

I agree we're not as bad as we appear - it may take a little time but the seeds of a good team are there.

I'm flexible with Garland because he adds flexibility, the spines:

Garland-Martin-McLean-Watts-Miller (Emergency: Warnock)

or

Warnock-Martin-McLean-Garland-Watts (Emergency: Miller)

both work for me, particularly with Rivers and Frawley; Dunn and Bate added.

Plus Newton and Zomer with question marks.

I'd love to get some better quality KPPs, but better ones than Miller, Martin and Warnock are likely to come at the pointy end of the draft not at pick 51, the PSD or the Rookie draft. We are likely to have an early pick and 2 in the top 20 in 2009. If the best players are an inside mid and a KPP that would start to round out our list nicely.

How many seasons has buckley been with us for?

Personaly think hel be one of our better players.

We are likely to have 2 early picks and 3 in the top 20 in 2009.

Edited for accuracy!

How many seasons has buckley been with us for?

Personaly think hel be one of our better players.

Recruited in the 2005 draft.

Debuted in 2007.

Edited for accuracy!

I'm not against that idea - but don't tell anyone ...

9 early picks in 3 years is half a team

2007: Morton, Grimes, Maric

2008: Watts, Blease, Strauss

2009: ???