Hale is better than what PJ, Spencer and Martin are at the moment, and Fitzy and Gawn are nowhere near ready for senior footy yet. As far as stop gaps go, considering we'll most likely be delisting all of PJ, Meesen and Newton (the last two off the RL), we'll lose a lot of ruck 'depth' this year. Picking up someone who could at least fill the #1 ruck spot better than Spencer or PJ, should Jamar get injured, as well as be able to provide a deep contest in the forward line as a 2nd ruckman/forward (2 things PJ, who i was a big fan of for a long time, just hasn't been able to do at AFL level), would be a wise move. I'd imagine the football department feel the same way.

Although no world-beater, Hale represents an improvement on what we currently have in the way of ruck stocks, 3 of which are likely to be delisted anyway.

Hell... if someone like Wade Skipper can resurrect his career, get a game, and have an impact in a side like Hawthorn (whose ruck stocks are woeful at full strength, let alone when they're down to 1 fit ruckman on the list), Hale or even that dopey Kosi, could provide at least some solid insurance for Jamar, and a some KP depth.

IMHO i think both Hale and Kosi are better than what PJ, Spencer and Martin are at the moment, and Fitzy and Gawn are nowhere near ready for senior footy yet. As far as stop gaps go, considering we'll most likely be delisting all of PJ, Meesen and Newton (the last two off the RL), we'll lose a lot of ruck 'depth' this year. Picking up someone who could at least adequately fill the #1 ruck spot should Jamar get injured, as well as be able to provide a deep contest in the forward line as a 2nd ruckman/forward (2 things PJ, who i was a big fan of for a long time, hasn't been able to do at AFL level), would be a wise move. I'd imagine the football department feel the same way.

Although they aren't great footballers, both Hale and Kosi represent an improvement on what we currently have in the way of ruck stocks, 3 of which are likely to be delisted anyway.

Hell... if someone like Wade Skipper can resurrect his career, get a game, and have an impact in a side like Hawthorn, whose ruck stocks are woeful at full strength, let alone when they're down to 1 fit ruckman on the list), maybe Hale or even that dopey Kosi, could provide at least some solid depth for us.

I reckon as weak as Johnson has been he's got to be better than Hale. I reckon they'd be better off taking another young kid than paying $400,000 a year to someone who has hardly set the world on fire. It reminds me of when we gave up pick 20 in a strong draft to get that spudnik Ben I can't kick over a jam tin Holland.

Do we still want him after the rule changes? Can we afford to carry two pure rucks with a 3 man bench or are better off running with a mobile pinch hitter.

Who would are mobile pinch hitter be?

The back-up ruck MUST now have an alternative position that is his speciality, that is for certain, but that doesn't mean my desire for a tall forward with some rucking ability is misguided.

You have to hide your back-up ruck somewhere now.

Why not up forward?

Who would are mobile pinch hitter be?

The back-up ruck MUST now have an alternative position that is his speciality, that is for certain, but that doesn't mean my desire for a tall forward with some rucking ability is misguided.

You have to hide your back-up ruck somewhere now.

Why not up forward?

It's how it's going to be for all 17 clubs now. A genuine ruckman, and a second ruck who's not as good but who's good enough, but more importantly who can hold down another spot.

Most of them will be forwards. Where else can a ruckman play? Robbie Campbell used to play defence, but you wouldn't really want your FB or CHB to be regularly leaving his position to ruck.

Who would are mobile pinch hitter be?

The back-up ruck MUST now have an alternative position that is his speciality, that is for certain, but that doesn't mean my desire for a tall forward with some rucking ability is misguided.

You have to hide your back-up ruck somewhere now.

Why not up forward?

I would like to think Stef Martin will be back next year.

He is a quick, big unit and can take a grab. If he can make it as a backman,we can trade Warnock.

Not sure about the ruck but if he has put on some muscle while injured most of this year he would be OK.

No Hale please...Martin has more upside at no cost and we can draft 2 more kids to finish off our list

I think it's a matter of starting to 'formulate' the 'Game style', that Bails wants us to develop. If we get him, or someone else like him, very tall, forward/ruck combo, then we can finally structure, the style of onfield team that Bails has had in mind.

so far I think we've been doing the obvious List building,,, & teaching the skills to the young, & mature players. Some of the mature players, I think seem to have struggled to pick up the change game style, or it appeared that way.

By putting Hale/or similar,,,1&1/2 rucks... We can structure the forwardline the way they've been recruiting towards. Small forwards, with 1 or 2 medium forwards, a leadup classy tall forward & a big tall forward/ruck. Fitzpatrick & Gawn won't be ready before 2 or 3 years & Spence, if still around will take at least next year to bulkup some more & build his engine & get some confidence.

the rest of the teams structure seems to be taking shape, except for the change of personnel here & there along the journey.

So if we can get a temp, experienced and capable ruck/forward option, that just like putting a jig template over the forward zone, & say there it is boys, go for it.

IMO the recruiting strategy is right. Just don't spend too much getting it.

HI MATE-

Can you just imagine Spence thirty metres out on a slight angle- Colliwobbles 5 points in front in the 2011 G/F and he has to dobb it after the final siren has gone.I would not be here to see it- dead from a heart attack..

the new rule makes it imperative to have a multifunctional big ( not beanpole ) tall. How astute of MFC to get in first

I don't want Kosi anywhere near our boys. I have nothing against him but he is obviously a major klutz. He could easily accidentally fall on LJ or Watts and badly injure them. He has a bad record when it comes to injuring himself and his team mates.

Hale could be anything and if the club says he is worth going for then I back their decision. I could see a Jamar/Hale combination being very solid.

With the change in the interchange rules, i think someone like Hale could be very important to Melbourne as he would be a far better forward/ruck relief option for Jamar than Spencer, PJ or Newton have or will be.

I don't want Kosi anywhere near our boys. I have nothing against him but he is obviously a major klutz. He could easily accidentally fall on LJ or Watts and badly injure them. He has a bad record when it comes to injuring himself and his team mates.

Didn't he almost once take out Riedwoldts eye with a mis-directed high five? The guy is unco, I would consider him a work hazard on a construction sight, that is for sure...

Ironically from a Nth Standpoint Hale is probably a list clogger ( of sorts) Hes not quite what they want..( only they know what they want ) hes not exactly in favour there..and hes chewing up dolleros.

I dont think theyll haggle too much if even a so -so deal can be made. Its win win.

Well, we could help them out of that financial hole, but they would need to help us regarding the cost of the pick. 30 something.

HI MATE-

Can you just imagine Spence thirty metres out on a slight angle- Colliwobbles 5 points in front in the 2011 G/F and he has to dobb it after the final siren has gone.I would not be here to see it- dead from a heart attack..

HaHaHa,,,yeah but we used to say that exact same thing about Jamar. I can't comment on Spence's kicking, just yet, but I feel very confident about something else re him.

That Is,,,, he has [censored],,, plenty of go, I feel, & he Is the type I would back in to crash a pack to drag down a big mark in the goal square. My gut instinct seems to tell me.

I would keep the big Spence, but I don't imagine him being a No 2 ruck. He seems to me to be the sort to battle along until needed to fill in as the 1st ruck. He strikes me as the type to rise to the demands required when the side is desperate. I get the feel that he is the loyal, "I won't let you down sort of person"... That is the type to have 'courage under fire'...

Not a Montania or a Caustic Cozzie....

Stick with him, I see a player in 'Bud', just as I did re Jamar. (pardon the pun - Bud spencer) I didn't mean it!

Who knows? Maybe in 2 years,,, we could see Spencer running in the ruck with Jamar crashing packs in the goal square,,, as Gawn is 1st ruck @ Casey with Fitzparick crashing bodies in the Casey forwardline, taking Marks & kicking goals.

edit 2: Bud Spencer, I just looked it up,,, the old trinity duo.

I would like to think Stef Martin will be back next year.

He is a quick, big unit and can take a grab. If he can make it as a backman,we can trade Warnock.

Not sure about the ruck but if he has put on some muscle while injured most of this year he would be OK.

No Hale please...Martin has more upside at no cost and we can draft 2 more kids to finish off our list

And here I was thinking I was starting a bandwagon but instead I've just jumped on one. You're a good couple of hours ahead of me in expressing the view that Stefan Martin should not be forgotten. I can feel the momentum. Fullback round 1, bring it on!

And here I was thinking I was starting a bandwagon but instead I've just jumped on one. You're a good couple of hours ahead of me in expressing the view that Stefan Martin should not be forgotten. I can feel the momentum. Fullback round 1, bring it on!

He not forgotten,,, just a season from hell. He's a good kid, young man, & I reckon he'll fight back hard, and repay the faith & show some tricks next season.

Stef Martin kicks the ball like a basketballer.

He won't be FF/FP worth his spot.

I'm afraid he will be a defender or not much else.

It reminds me of when we gave up pick 20 in a strong draft to get that spudnik Ben I can't kick over a jam tin Holland.

That would be the 2003 draft - I reckon the worst ever.

Have a look at what we missed out on from pick 20 on.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_AFL_Draft

Nada

Ricky Nixon - David Hale's manager said on SEN this morning that he had a club inquire about Hale's interest in a trade in July.

With the change in the interchange rules, i think someone like Hale could be very important to Melbourne as he would be a far better forward/ruck relief option for Jamar than Spencer, PJ or Newton have or will be.

Totally agree with this, with 3 on the bench you can't have a ruckman taking up one of those spots. It is turning back the clock to a time where the resting ruck played in the forward pocket so we need someone that can play that forward role. PJ can't mark, Spencer can't kick and Martin has been injured. We are well positioned with Gawn and Fitzpatrick but they are a few years off but both these guys can play forward.

Hale deal far from done. Wants to head to Dees but Roos holding out for a pick in the mid 20s. GC lurking

http://twitter.com/SpyandSource

Mid 20s pick!

Roos are dreaming.

Looks like they'll wait til the last day of trade week and accept a pick around 40.

Mid 20s pick!

Roos are dreaming.

Looks like they'll wait til the last day of trade week and accept a pick around 40.

They must feel that the overall lack of ruckmen will have much more of a bearing on how clubs approach this trade than facts like Hale having played just 12 AFL games this year and having failed to kick a goal after Round 8.

If they can get a pick in the 20s I can only applaud them. It would be daylight robbery.

And if that sways the FD to pay over the odds for Hale, so be it.

If Hale comes to the Demons and can break even in the ruck, and create a genuine contest up forward, I'll be stoked. I just doubt his ability to do either consistently, let alone both on the same day.

Hmmm ... I think you might be a Hards marker.

Don't forget North have been the trade week bunny's and are starting to want a few wins. They got smashed by Hawthorn in the Hay and Thompson deals.

Hmmm ... I think you might be a Hards marker.

Not at all. If he becomes a more valuable player than he has been over the last couple of years and does it in the red and blue, I'd be ecstatic. Apart from anything else, it'll let Jurrah, Watts, Petterd and others become even more dangerous.

It would surprise me, but I'll be hoping it happens.