Time to Decide

[drdrake 3,124]

It is time for the club to decide on the futures of a few players. They did it last year with Yze and White we need to do it again. If we are serious about developing our young players, it is time to end the careers of a couple of older ones. I honestly thought we had every chance of winning 5-6 games this year and we still might, but our list still has so many gaps in it we can't afford to win more than 4 and I have been dead against this we we need some class.

Robbo times up he needs to make way to give Newton the remainder of the year. Is Newton a better option, we need him in for 9 games as the key FF to find out.

Whelan he is tough as nails but we need to get Cheney in, Matty more than likely could go around again next year but that would be it so he needs to be cut loose.

McDonald, this bloke is great I kind off hope his injury keeps him out for the next 3-4 weeks, he like Robbo is done.

These are the three easy targets and we certainly can't blame these three for how the team is playing, but if Bailey and co are serious about developing players they need to make the call on their future now.

[deeflog 679]

It is time for the club to decide on the futures of a few players. They did it last year with Yze and White we need to do it again. If we are serious about developing our young players, it is time to end the careers of a couple of older ones. I honestly thought we had every chance of winning 5-6 games this year and we still might, but our list still has so many gaps in it we can't afford to win more than 4 and I have been dead against this we we need some class.

Robbo times up he needs to make way to give Newton the remainder of the year. Is Newton a better option, we need him in for 9 games as the key FF to find out.

Whelan he is tough as nails but we need to get Cheney in, Matty more than likely could go around again next year but that would be it so he needs to be cut loose.

McDonald, this bloke is great I kind off hope his injury keeps him out for the next 3-4 weeks, he like Robbo is done.

These are the three easy targets and we certainly can't blame these three for how the team is playing, but if Bailey and co are serious about developing players they need to make the call on their future now.

could not agree more with you Dr

[Jarka 767]

Forget the senior guys, they're going to be retiring soon anyway. These are the players that we need to make a decision on whether to keep them for the long term or not:

Bartram

Martin

Bell

Bate

P.Johnson

Jamar

Miller

Petterd

Dunn

Newton

Wheatley

Buckley

Valenti

Zomer

Hughes

Meesen

I'm sure I've missed a couple

[Geddy Lee 582]

Forget the senior guys, they're going to be retiring soon anyway. These are the players that we need to make a decision on whether to keep them for the long term or not:

Bartram

Martin

Bell

Bate

P.Johnson

Jamar

Miller

Petterd

Dunn

Newton

Wheatley

Buckley

Valenti

Zomer

Hughes

Meesen

I'm sure I've missed a couple

I've bolded the ones that are/could be AFL standard. Bate could go either way.

After Miller's disgraceful on-field leadership last night I couldn't give a stuff if he stays or goes.

[Freak 100]

Martin? what the hell...he is our best 2nd best defender in my opinion. agree on the rest though

[Little Goffy 14,027]

I've bolded the ones that are/could be AFL standard. Bate could go either way.

After Miller's disgraceful on-field leadership last night I couldn't give a stuff if he stays or goes.

Bate is a 'keep' for mine - at worst he'll be solid depth and a nice option for the booming long kick goal for at least 100 more games. At best he'll be a goof half-forward/forward. He's better than Miller already. Risk-reward possibilities say 'yes'.

Which brings me to your second point... Miller is in the leadership group and has been in the team for some time on the stregth of his 'great work ethic and leadership'. Certailny that's the reason I've put up with second rate actual performance from him over the years.

But if he wants to start being selfish and cutting at teamates, Carlton can have him. Though he might last long enough to go to Gold Coast (He's from Mt Gravatt after all)at some foolishly inflated price. After all, he'll still get games next year, probably close to goal, with Robbo to retire (surely?) and the rest of the forwards having hardly more AFL experience than me!

I think Petterd deserves a bit more time. At the very least until end of next year (another Queenslander, y'see?).

Paul Johnson has been doing so much right but making an abosulte mockery of it with the sheer number of outright screw-ups. He'd be in serious trouble if we had better ruck options, but I think he has to be kept for now, and it may yet work out...

Jamar deserves his spot, and I honestly thing he's improving despite the really annoying injuries in what should have been his break-out year as first ruck. I'm seeing a few more contested marks and a bit better running from him in the few games he's played this year. Persevere.

[Ryan Dee 140]

I think Petterd deserves a bit more time. At the very least until end of next year (another Queenslander, y'see?).

If we dont want Petterd at the end of the year either will GC17.

[DangerousDemon 3]

Forget the senior guys, they're going to be retiring soon anyway. These are the players that we need to make a decision on whether to keep them for the long term or not:

Bartram

Martin

Bell

Bate

P.Johnson

Jamar

Miller

Petterd

Dunn

Newton

Wheatley

Buckley

Valenti

Zomer

Hughes

Meesen

I'm sure I've missed a couple

Yeah and you should omit Martin from that list mate he has the most potential of any player on our list including Watts. Athletically and intellectually he is superior to quite a few senior players on the list.

[Jarka 767]

Yeah and you should omit Martin from that list mate he has the most potential of any player on our list including Watts. Athletically and intellectually he is superior to quite a few senior players on the list.

It's his kicking and decision making that concerns me, otherwise I agree with you.

[Jaded No More 67,771]

Bartram- try to trade, or keep as depth

Martin- without a doubt a keeper

Bell- try to trade, or keep as depth (either him or Bartram stay, not both)

Bate- keep

P.Johnson- trade/delist

Jamar- keep (best tap ruckman we have)

Miller- keep

Petterd- Gold Coast 2011

Dunn- try to trade, or keep as depth (I think Dunn presents good trade value)

Newton- delist

Wheatley- retire/delist

Buckley- delist

Valenti- ??

Zomer- delist

Hughes- keep him on the rookie list for another year

Meesen- he is contracted for another year, so he stays to try and prove himself.

Our ruck situation is pathetic!

[Guest Digga]

Bartram- try to trade, or keep as depth

Martin- without a doubt a keeper

Bell- try to trade, or keep as depth (either him or Bartram stay, not both)

Bate- keep

P.Johnson- trade/delist

Jamar- keep (best tap ruckman we have)

Miller- keep

Petterd- Gold Coast 2011

Dunn- try to trade, or keep as depth (I think Dunn presents good trade value)

Newton- delist

Wheatley- retire/delist

Buckley- delist

Valenti- ??

Zomer- delist

Hughes- keep him on the rookie list for another year

Meesen- he is contracted for another year, so he stays to try and prove himself.

Our ruck situation is pathetic!

Bartram - keep

Bell - Let go

Bate - Keep

Petterd - Why would GC17 want him ? Not that good of a footballer.

Dunn - Trade

Miller - We probley cant afford to let him go. Needs to lift big time.

Agree that our ruck situation is a worry.

Messen im still unsure about and jamar we NEED to keep.

[Bruce Almighty 0]

It is time for the club to decide on the futures of a few players. They did it last year with Yze and White we need to do it again. If we are serious about developing our young players, it is time to end the careers of a couple of older ones. I honestly thought we had every chance of winning 5-6 games this year and we still might, but our list still has so many gaps in it we can't afford to win more than 4 and I have been dead against this we we need some class.

Robbo times up he needs to make way to give Newton the remainder of the year. Is Newton a better option, we need him in for 9 games as the key FF to find out.

Whelan he is tough as nails but we need to get Cheney in, Matty more than likely could go around again next year but that would be it so he needs to be cut loose.

McDonald, this bloke is great I kind off hope his injury keeps him out for the next 3-4 weeks, he like Robbo is done.

These are the three easy targets and we certainly can't blame these three for how the team is playing, but if Bailey and co are serious about developing players they need to make the call on their future now.

Dont know what your planet your on but winning 5 or 6 games this year would the biggest embarrassment of the melbourne football club, we were already badly burnt by a caretaker coach who only cared about his own future rather than thinking about what was best for the club. the best thing for the club to do right now is get games into the kids and qualify for a priority pick! end of story

[Bruce Almighty 0]

Dont know what your planet your on but winning 5 or 6 games this year would the biggest embarrassment of the melbourne football club, we were already badly burnt by a caretaker coach who only cared about his own future rather than thinking about what was best for the club. the best thing for the club to do right now is get games into the kids and qualify for a priority pick! end of story

sorry drdrake replied to the wrong thing, agree with you

[jacey 333]

Bartram- try to trade, or keep as depth

Martin- without a doubt a keeper

Bell- try to trade, or keep as depth (either him or Bartram stay, not both)

Bate- keep

P.Johnson- trade/delist

Jamar- keep (best tap ruckman we have)

Miller- keep

Petterd- Gold Coast 2011

Dunn- try to trade, or keep as depth (I think Dunn presents good trade value)

Newton- delist

Wheatley- retire/delist

Buckley- delist

Valenti- ??

Zomer- delist

Hughes- keep him on the rookie list for another year

Meesen- he is contracted for another year, so he stays to try and prove himself.

WTF. Bell as keep as depth. He has had 7 odd years to establish himself. Talk about being a list clogger. I love him but Delist.

Delist Pau Johnson. Not a ruckman, not a midfielder, not up to it.

Wheatley, Whelan, Jmac retire.

Two more (maybe 3) from a list of Newton, Bartram, Robertson, Dunn, Buckley, Bail.

If you are considered keep as depth, DELIST NOW.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Bartram- try to trade, or keep as depth

Martin- without a doubt a keeper

Bell- try to trade, or keep as depth (either him or Bartram stay, not both)

Bate- keep

P.Johnson- trade/delist

Jamar- keep (best tap ruckman we have)

Miller- keep

Petterd- Gold Coast 2011

Dunn- try to trade, or keep as depth (I think Dunn presents good trade value)

Newton- delist

Wheatley- retire/delist

Buckley- delist

Valenti- ??

Zomer- delist

Hughes- keep him on the rookie list for another year

Meesen- he is contracted for another year, so he stays to try and prove himself.

Our ruck situation is pathetic!

We would look completely foollish trying to go to the trade table with duds like Dunn, Bell and PJ. How dumb could a Club be to offer more than a 4th round pick for the lot plus a set of steak knives? In this draft then why would you bother.

I dont know for sure who is contract for next year but........

Bartram- Keep because I have cut others

Martin- Keep

Bell- definite delist. Seven years and he battles in the VFL. Good bye

Bate- keep

P.Johnson- delist

Jamar- keep

Miller- keep

Petterd- Gold Coast 2011?? How tight do you reckon their blind folds are?

Dunn- Typical VFL tweener. Keep because I have cut others.

Newton- Contracted for next year. Bugger

Wheatley- retire/delist

Buckley- rookie delist

Valenti- rookie delist

Zomer- rookie delist

Hughes- rookie delist

Meesen- contracted.

We need seven off the list at year end. Its becoming easier and obvious who goes?

Any of the above being keeps will be done so on modest contracts.

[Jaded No More 67,771]

We would look completely foollish trying to go to the trade table with duds like Dunn, Bell and PJ.

I actually think Dunn would get something in a trade.

He can play as a forward or in the middle, and he is big and strong with a pretty good kick. He isn't what we need, but a club like Sydney might take him and turn him into something of quality. They love doing that sort of thing. At his age, with his height and skills, he could get us a late second or early third round pick (in what is a shallow draft).

Don't think we can get anything more than a 4th or 5th rounder for Bell or PJ, but the idea of trading them is more based on trying to offload players who might be contracted or a combination of player + pick in order to maybe move a few spots up in the draft, and avoid having to draft 7 or 8 players who will end up clogging our list just as much.

So for example, Bell + fourth round pick for a third round pick. We get rid of a list clogger, we move a few spots up in the draft, and we don't end up having too many open spots on the list that this year's draft simply cannot accommodate. We need to at least explore that option before we delist them.

As for Petterd, I wouldn't delist him just yet, and hopefully the Gold Coast will show some interest (long shot, but you never know). Otherwise, he has another year to show us that he is worth persisting with in the long term. If he can't learn to hit targets by foot, there is little chance of that happening.

[Carn dees 108]

Forget the senior guys, they're going to be retiring soon anyway. These are the players that we need to make a decision on whether to keep them for the long term or not:

Bartram

Martin

Bell

Bate

P.Johnson

Jamar

Miller

Petterd

Dunn

Newton

Wheatley

Buckley

Valenti

Zomer

Hughes

Meesen

I'm sure I've missed a couple

in Bold imo are uner the pump. And should be considered to trade if worth value

[Jarka 767]

2nd round pick for Dunn?

Ok, let's entertain that suggestion for a second, but let's look at other recent trades involved 2nd rounders.

Akermanis

Warnock

You know what, I can't do this, I just can't take it seriously. Why the **** would anyone want to give up a valuable 2nd rounder in what could be the last full draft for several years for a bloke who can't even get a game with the worse team in the AFL?

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

I actually think Dunn would get something in a trade.

Possibly a smirk and maybe a roll of the eyes from the opposition recruiting managers. Nothing more

He can play as a forward or in the middle, and he is big and strong with a pretty good kick. He isn't what we need, but a club like Sydney might take him and turn him into something of quality. They love doing that sort of thing. At his age, with his height and skills, he could get us a late second or early third round pick (in what is a shallow draft).

We have a terrible side all year and Dunn cant crack a spot in the team. He cant play forward or midfield because he is timid. And given Sydney has will lose two iconic forwards by year end, they will be rebuilding with talent not turnips.

And if you do believe that then you take Sydney for being bigger chumps than you're making out to be.

His value is akin to Chris Johnson.

Don't think we can get anything more than a 4th or 5th rounder for Bell or PJ, but the idea of trading them is more based on trying to offload players who might be contracted or a combination of player + pick in order to maybe move a few spots up in the draft, and avoid having to draft 7 or 8 players who will end up clogging our list just as much.

So for example, Bell + fourth round pick for a third round pick. We get rid of a list clogger, we move a few spots up in the draft, and we don't end up having too many open spots on the list that this year's draft simply cannot accommodate. We need to at least explore that option before we delist them.

Why would any Club accept two monumental NQRs like Bell or PJ and why would they take on either 7 year AFL failures for even a 4th or 5th round pick? Why would they be that stoopid? Well they certainly aint...at least.

As for Petterd, I wouldn't delist him just yet, and hopefully the Gold Coast will show some interest (long shot, but you never know). Otherwise, he has another year to show us that he is worth persisting with in the long term. If he can't learn to hit targets by foot, there is little chance of that happening.

If Petterd is not contracted this year then his name is on the list to potentially go. He wont but you are dreaming that GC will operate a family welfare repatriation program to reunite struggling Qld born footballers with their family. If he cant kick and cant get a game at MFC then he is no value to others.

Do you think we should have hocked around Isaac Weetra at the trade table before we cut him last year? You never know....

[Cards13 9,117]

2nd round pick for Dunn?

Ok, let's entertain that suggestion for a second, but let's look at other recent trades involved 2nd rounders.

Akermanis

Warnock

You know what, I can't do this, I just can't take it seriously. Why the **** would anyone want to give up a valuable 2nd rounder in what could be the last full draft for several years for a bloke who can't even get a game with the worse team in the AFL?

It is quite astounding Jarka what is mentioned as a) possible trade bait (Bell, Dunn, Newton etc) and B) what round pick they think we could recieve in return. How would any side offer up anything above a late late late round pick for any of our players bar Davey or some of the recent draft picks is beyond me. AFL clubs rarely trade at all let alone want many "fill up" players now days. Most sides besides your Swans and Powers do not top up any longer they take the young kids when they can, and it will be more prevelant this year as it is the last pre-ruined draft before West Syd and GC come into steal all of the young talent.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Within the next few years:

Bartram - Gone

Martin - Keep

Bell - Gone

Bate - Keep

P.Johnson - Gone

Jamar - Keep

Miller - Gone

Petterd - Keep

Dunn - Gone

Newton - Gone

Wheatley - Gone

Buckley - Keep

Valenti - Keep

Zomer - Gone

Hughes - Gone

Meesen - Gone

[Its Miller time 6]

I still think poor old PJ has too much upside to give up on him at only 25 years old. For a big man he is very mobile and can accumulate possesions quickly. I think a lot of time with where the teams at at the moment his decision making looks a lot worse because he has no options. As the team improves and people work to space more often his skills will improve out of sight.

I do tend to drink a lot when i watch footy, however i still think he could be a far more offensive weapon than Jamar or Meesen ever will be.

[Carn dees 108]

why is martin even listed

I hope we can do another major cut down at least 4-6.

Imo Bell, Whelan, Wheatley, Robbo as much as i love him, MCdonald, Petterd Thats already 6 mainly the oldies really so there should be more.

[Mono 455]

Forget the senior guys, they're going to be retiring soon anyway. These are the players that we need to make a decision on whether to keep them for the long term or not:

Bartram

Martin

Bell

Bate

P.Johnson

Jamar

Miller

Petterd

Dunn

Newton

Wheatley

Buckley

Valenti

Zomer

Hughes

Meesen

*Jones*

I'm sure I've missed a couple

Add Jones to your list.

I've 'lined through' the ones I think should not be on your list.

And FWIW, I'd keep Meeson, Hughes & Valenti. Contracts might mean we have to keep others. (Someone has to answer for Newton's 09/10 contract!)

[drdrake 3,124]

We don't have to decide on our younger players just yet, but what we do have to do is give them the opportunity over the next 9 weeks to show us what they really have. Play them in the positions they were drafted for give them a chance to play. To do that we need to stop playing the older players that will not be apart of our 2010 squad.