Anything else?

Yeah.

You changed your name.

And, yeah, our midfield is awful, but, hopefully, not in a few years?

I'd say realist should apologize, but it seems as though his apologies would be going to an Arsenal fan, so it's not necessary.

I think our midfield will be alright - but as you say it's a fair way away from knowing.

Moloney I rate but needs to keep improving.

Sylvia may move into the midfield but still needs to cement his consistency.

Green will probably have to stay in the middle save an explosion from the youngsters.

Jones looks to be a decent-good player (many seem to forget how good he is)

Grimes looks to be a gun though is still very young and we haven't seen much of him in the middle.

Blease - who knows? Maric - who knows? Bennell - who knows? Scully/Trengove - who knows?

I think at face value there appears to be a lot of potential with our mids, but I feel like I've been saying that about Melbourne players my whole life - injury management and player development seems to have crippled all future aspirations at various stages.

Just on player development 45HG16 (like it). Under player development I have these areas in which a couple may intertwine: -

(i) facilities (equipment, gym, recovery, injury management)

(ii) coaching (basics; technique), theory (ie. game plan)

(iii) high performance (advanced coaching - specialist skills resources, monitoring recovery limits etc);

Where do we stand compared to other clubs in these areas ? Facilities is probably an obvious one in terms of available $ spent in these departments. But how big a difference is it bewteen Mfc and other clubs like Adelaide, West Coast & Collingwood in the other areas (ii) and (iii), do you think ?

Because if there is a significant difference, I'm hoping that the club closes this gap asap with so many young draftees entering the club. Also, that the club acquires the best coaching methods possible (ie. the best credentialled coach(es) too).

Edited November 25, 200915 yr by High Tower

The stats HSOG gave had us earning $538k per week less than Collingwood - so obviously our facilities and coaches will not be the best in the AFL. However money does not necessarily make an efficient player managemet set up, but definitely gives you the upper hand and the ability to latch onto new breakthroughs or training ideas IMO.

Edited November 25, 200915 yr by 45HG16

I think the draft choices are great from a structural viewpoint. We needed the midfielders early because

1) we need midfielders to give us quality in the center

2) History shows a midfielder from picks 11 & 18 have a good chance of making it

As I have argued elsewhere we do not need any mediocre to good KPP. We already are overrepresented with that sort of player with some really quality KPB.

The draft picks look good.

we have 6 midfielders to debut next year all of whom we picked in the top 20 (blease, strauss and this years crop)

give it a few years and some good coaching and i done think our midfield will need any help...

exciting times!

Scully, Trengove and Tapscott; I do believe the standard has risen substantially.

BP:

We're looking to build a strong midfield cause they will protect our defence and supply our forwards.

All mids picked are good kicks and decision makers.

Well, if our midfield was incomplete before, it sure as hell isn't now!

Plus two ruckman (one more of a forward-ruckman) added to the stock.

GM, you nailed it well & truly with the OP. The principles were there, if not the individuals. Good effort.