memo to Russian.....tear him a new one at first meeting with the Sqawkers lol

I doubt we'd rate much of a mention, seeing as we weren't involved in the actual trade.

Maybe a sentence or 2 and the only people to notice the vibe of our involvement will be MFC supporters themselves.

Hawks will try to paint it as a win to them, no matter what.

Good on them.

I think he'd help us and hinder them.

Win-win.

Is Minson still on the table ?

Is Minson still on the table ?

He needs a GPS to get around on the footy field. Provides as much frustration for Bulldog supporters as PJ does for Melbourne supporters.

It looks like it's happy days all round.

I saw the merit in pick 32, but didn't want to give up any more.

Good to see Harrington hold his nerve and let him go to the Hawks (hopefully).

I don't agree - I'll be disappointed if we don't get him.

I don't agree - I'll be disappointed if we don't get him.

What will be will be - the glass is always half full. B)

He needs a GPS to get around on the footy field. Provides as much frustration for Bulldog supporters as PJ does for Melbourne supporters.

Disagree...He causes much more frustration!

So if we don't land him, who plays the role that Hale had been targeted for?

I'm not saying that we over pay for him but he certainly would of added a new dimension to our forward line...

So if we don't land him, who plays the role that Hale had been targeted for?

I'm not saying that we over pay for him but he certainly would of added a new dimension to our forward line...

We hope and pray that by mid year one of Gawn or Fitzpatrick can do some senior ruck duties and let Jamar rest up forward.

What I like about this is that there is an air of desperation from the Dawks side and calm composure on ours.

Its reflective of the quiet confidence we take into the next fews years.

Roughhead must be confused by the attention given to a bloke from the VFL earning way more than he has ever put on the park.

The deal made sense for us at the right price but the Dawks? All I say is go figure they are less Hawks more headless chooks.

So if we don't land him, who plays the role that Hale had been targeted for?

I'm not saying that we over pay for him but he certainly would of added a new dimension to our forward line...

That's the beauty of not being hell-bent on the Premiership just yet. You don't lose quite as much by trying a kid and finding they're not quite ready. Or by experimenting with a bloke in a new position and finding they're not suited. Or by conceding that you've got a gap and deciding not to fill it in the short term because the circumstances don't suit.

Disagree...He causes much more frustration!

Ok. Hence why McKenna opted for Fraser over Minson. Less headaches. Do we agree on that ?

What I like about this is that there is an air of desperation from the Dawks side and calm composure on ours.

Its reflective of the quiet confidence we take into the next fews years.

Roughhead must be confused by the attention given to a bloke from the VFL earning way more than he has ever put on the park.

The deal made sense for us at the right price but the Dawks? All I say is go figure they are less Hawks more headless chooks.

The best comment in 22 pages.

So if we don't land him, who plays the role that Hale had been targeted for?

Paul Johnson or Michael Newton

It looks like it's happy days all round.

I saw the merit in pick 32, but didn't want to give up any more.

Good to see Harrington hold his nerve and let him go to the Hawks (hopefully).

Happy days of Paul Johnson and Jake Spencer...yippeee.

Paul Johnson or Michael Newton

Or Jack Fitzpatrick.

Paul Johnson or Michael Newton

Surely you jest... Unfortunately it is probably true for this year coming at least.

Has the fat lady sung yet ?

They cost us nothing and fill the role until we can develop someone else to take over.

We lose nothing and all it means is that we wait a bit longer to gain.

Callum Sinclair is also said to be a target of ours.

They cost us nothing and fill the role until we can develop someone else to take over.

We lose nothing and all it means is that we wait a bit longer to gain.

Callum Sinclair is also said to be a target of ours.

Possibly our last pick perhaps ? 201cm, 96kg giant. ID raised the possibility re: Sinclair.

Seems over now. We lose again. But this time it's not a player of much skill, just a role player who would have done a job, albeit an important one.

Now we have to look at our options. PJ is a hack, we all know it, but I suspect he's going to get a one year contract to do what Hale was supposed to do in 2011. Spencer I think will be delisted, and at some point in 2011 we're going to have to play Fitzpatrick and/or Gawn to progress our ruckstocks.

Hawks have not said anything about giving up the compensation pick.

At the moment this is as credible as the claim we offered pick 32 & a swap of first round picks.

Could easily be posturing and leakage by Norf in an attempt to get us to cough up more.

We don't know.

Don't give up hope / celebrate just yet.

I get the feel that Hawks have offered Hale, & poss' his girl, a bigger package, than we have offered, so sounds like Hales preference has changed in favor of the Hawks. Back to you.

I think if we don't get Hale it could be a blessing in disguise.

Realistically, next year we won't be a real challenger, probably gunning between 7th-10th. Our real challenge for the top 8 is going to be in 2 years time.

If that is the case, why not continue to use next year as a year of development. Try to unearth more youngsters, by blooding Fitzpatrick or Spenser, plus gysberts, Tapscott and Blease. Continue to front load contracts which will leave us a big amount of salary space in 2 years time, in which time we can go out and target a genuine gun!

I would be content knowing we will continue to have a few deficiencies next year by not getting Hale, knowing we can go out and get a genuine gun when we're actually challenging.

Possibly our last pick perhaps ? 201cm, 96kg giant. ID raised the possibility re: Sinclair.

Maybe our third pick.... If he is still available... Last picks will be used on upgrading rookies...

As I summise the impetus for garnering Hale was to provide that missing link of our structure, the big grabbing kicking forward who can help out in the ruck . This was to enable a burgeoning team to play a certain style of game. Without a Hale type we can't effectively as structure and matchups will be diifferent.

This ses lost on some