192?

174 cms and 69 kgs.....meh, pass!

Emmas lateral radar must be on the blink. Gws could grab him by devious means . ( could have) GC could have prelisted himmand GWs could have been the recipient of the on trade. They'd have the most picks to trade and WOULD have to secure such a talent.

MFC have thought it all through. They just shut the gate. Well done

I don't know that's possible, Bub. The only club that is able to prelist players of Jack's age is GWS and they can't get him back through any means in 2012.

If you want an iron-clad guarantee that won't happen, then I can't give that to you. No one can.

But I've spent enough time among people involved with AFL clubs to know that goodwill and good character is as highly valued for club staff as it is for players.

As I said earlier, you're desperate to find the negatives in this situation. Good for you. But one of us in this thread is looking increasingly delusional and it's not me.

You assured me earlier that it would not happen, why the back flip?

All I'm saying, is what is the need to role this out today? We have made a commitment and announced it to the world. At a minimum, it puts us at a disadvantage when the father son bidding process happens. Worst case he blows his knee. What have we gained that we could not have by giving a private commitment and working closely on development like the bulldogs did with Wallace?

getting jack viney will surely upset GWS.

it will cost us our first round draft pick which is fine.

(can someone confirm this) BUT we could have a senario where GWS raid us of a player in 2012 we potentially get another first round pick, as compensation.

Yep.

My understanding is that they can take one in either 2011 or 2012, but not in both.

I have accepted the fact that it is exceptionally likely to happen.

You assured me earlier that it would not happen, why the back flip?

All I'm saying, is what is the need to role this out today? We have made a commitment and announced it to the world. At a minimum, it puts us at a disadvantage when the father son bidding process happens. Worst case he blows his knee. What have we gained that we could not have by giving a private commitment and working closely on development like the bulldogs did with Wallace?

How is that any different?

You have his father on the payroll and you are telling him you are going to take his kid and then the worst happens and you weasel out?

Well thought through...

You assured me earlier that it would not happen, why the back flip?

All I'm saying, is what is the need to role this out today? We have made a commitment and announced it to the world. At a minimum, it puts us at a disadvantage when the father son bidding process happens. Worst case he blows his knee. What have we gained that we could not have by giving a private commitment and working closely on development like the bulldogs did with Wallace?

* Wallis

I don't see what we possibly lose with the agreement not being private.

edit: beat me to the punch rfpc

getting jack viney will surely upset GWS.

it will cost us our first round draft pick which is fine.

(can someone confirm this) BUT we could have a senario where GWS raid us of a player in 2012 we potentially get another first round pick, as compensation.

* GWS have enough draft picks on their plate, I'm sure they would have been well aware of Mfc's deetermination in securing Viney by F/S. I doubt they'd be spewing considering what they can pick up and the luxury of a much bigger salary cap to secure such players.

* If they 'raid' us of an uncontracted player, we'll receive the required compensation as deemed fit.

You assured me earlier that it would not happen, why the back flip?

All I'm saying, is what is the need to role this out today? We have made a commitment and announced it to the world. At a minimum, it puts us at a disadvantage when the father son bidding process happens. Worst case he blows his knee. What have we gained that we could not have by giving a private commitment and working closely on development like the bulldogs did with Wallace?

I haven't backflipped in the slightest and I'm unsure why you're so worked up about an unlikely hypothetical.

I am happy to go on record saying that I am certain if Jack Viney suffered serious misfortune that rendered him an unlikely AFL prospect, none of the 17 other clubs would bid their first-round pick for him in the 2012 national draft.

However, you seem to adore hypotheticals, so here goes:

If that DID in fact eventuate and we followed through on the commitment that we appear to have made today, it would render untold damage to the offending club's brand and their standing within the AFL community. And if it DID happen, we would still have the (very unlikely) option of reneging on our apparent commitment and the offending club would be saddled with a player they did not want and could not use. And we'd still come off looking better than the offending club.

All that said, how likely do you think it is that Jack will not become an AFL-quality prospect in the next two years? I believe it would take a catastrophic injury to prevent that happening.

And for the record, if Jack's development does stagnate, I don't care if we end up spending a first-round pick on a player who is a third-round prospect come 2012. Heritage, history and the club are key pillars of the club and they're worth upholding.

Awesome news.

With 2 years of access to professional training and staff, he'll be an absolute jet by the time he's ready to play.

Considering his physical build, if he plays a full season of vfl in 2012 (like Swallow and other GC recruits did this year), he'll be ready to play round 1 2013.

* GWS have enough draft picks on their plate, I'm sure they would have been well aware of Mfc's deetermination in securing Viney by F/S. I doubt they'd be spewing considering what they can pick up and the luxury of a much bigger salary cap to secure such players.

* If they 'raid' us of an uncontracted player, we'll receive the required compensation as deemed fit.

As a result, we could essentially receive a compensation pick, used in 2012 would be immediately after our selection used on Viney, therefore as he isn't a "live" pick, we'd be getting the exact same pick as we were forced to use for F/S.

This is assuming it's an "after 1st round" compo pick.

An "end of 1st round" compo pick would only likely be a few spots later (this one seems to be the standard rate).

Meaning, if we lose a player, we could end up in a situation where we effectively trade Jack Viney for the player lost to GWS.

A situation not much different to the proposal I made last night and previously brought up by WJ.

In that example I used Bate.

To be brutally honest, I'd trade Bate for Jack Viney.

jack viney 2013 rising star!

Awesome news.

With 2 years of access to professional training and staff, he'll be an absolute jet by the time he's ready to play.

Considering his physical build, if he plays a full season of vfl in 2012 (like Swallow and other GC recruits did this year), he'll be ready to play round 1 2013.

I think it really has made a world of difference for Wallis and Libba at the doggies.

Fingers crossed we see similar improvement.

Well the decision has come and he's ours!!!!!

Great work MFC and JV.

Now all that is required is hard work........

Jack Grimes kicks long from full back, Jack Fitzpatrick takes a towering pack mark, handballs off to Jack Viney streaming along the MCG wing, Whack.....Jack Trengove lays out Dale Thomas with a wonderful hip and shoulder as Viney keeps running. A spearing pass down the throat of a hard leading Jack Watts who immediately turns onto his trusty right foot and goes BANG from 50..................Goal.

Sorry, just a little day dreaming...think i'm a little excited!

That is a lot of Jacks. Nearly 15% of our list!!! We're like a car really. We had a bit of a flat tyre that we couldn't repair for a few years. All we needed was a few jacks to help raise us up and get the wheels turning again.

I listened to him interviewed before and he said he was never going to Adelaide.

Toddy is on SEN after 4 on the run home hopefully someone can listen to it and give us a report.

As a result, we could essentially receive a compensation pick, used in 2012 would be immediately after our selection used on Viney, therefore as he isn't a "live" pick, we'd be getting the exact same pick as we were forced to use for F/S.

This is assuming it's an "after 1st round" compo pick.

An "end of 1st round" compo pick would only likely be a few spots later (this one seems to be the standard rate).

Meaning, if we lose a player, we could end up in a situation where we effectively trade Jack Viney for the player lost to GWS.

A situation not much different to the proposal I made last night and previously brought up by WJ.

In that example I used Bate.

To be brutally honest, I'd trade Bate for Jack Viney.

That's what I thought. Say we finish in 2012 in ~5th, we'll be pick ~14*. So effectively lose pick 14*, gain compo pick for uncontracted player ( ~ pick 19*); end result JV + pick ~ 19.*

-But that is IF we lose an uncontracted player to GWS - if not we use our first pick for JV.

* = Unsure on the number pick - it will depend upon GWS picks in 2012 (if they are given any - unsure) ? (or any other compo picks received/used by other club(s).

Sheesh, no pleasing some people.

We get criticised for not committing on a 2 year deal to an older player with an increasingly fragile body, but when we make a committment to a young, fit 16 year old ... we get criticised.

The "what if he does his knee" argument exists in ALL contracts in ALL sports ... and is a non-starter. Thankfully we gave Aaron Davey his 4 year deal ("eek .. but what if he does his knee!"), and thankfully we've managed the coup of coups with young Jack. Rising star or "best in the country" aside, he's obviously going to bring something special to the club.

Fabulous news.

And completely OT, and echoing thoughts earlier in this thread, and discretely hidden away here on page 5, concerned about our Jimmy.

SOT ENOUGH SAID

It's really difficult to find the negatives in an announcement like today but well done - you've managed it.

Rest assured that if serious misfortune befell Jack Viney in the next two years, no other club would be so callous as to force us to use a first-round pick on a player that was seriously crocked. AFL clubs are cutthroat environments, no doubt, but they are still in the 'people' business and a tactic such as that would be beyond the pale.

Further, Emma Quayle is right. Jack cannot be taken by GWS as one of its priority 17-year-olds as he is a year too young. He is eligible to be pre-listed by GC as one of four 17-year-olds born between Jan-April '94 on the condition that he is traded to one of the other 17 clubs. That's even less certainty than what is provided in the AFL draft.

Understand this: Jack Viney is probably the best under-16 footballer in the country. He is certainly among the top three. That sort of talent rarely goes wasted, and even more rarely when surrounded by a stable, supportive environment. Daniel Rich might not have been a No.1 pick but he's still an outstanding footballer.

If it makes you feel better to hunt for every possible negative in a situation like that, go ahead. But don't expect to emerge unscathed by criticism.

Spot on, very well said.

Confirmation of Viney wearing the red & blue come round 1 2013 is the best club-related news I have heard in ages. I don't understand how anyone can fault what's happened here, the club have secured the services of somebody who will definitely be an elite football player.

It's all good!

So you think if Melbourne did not deem Viney a first round pick due to unforeseen circumstances, other clubs are in the people business so they will say OK, you guys jumped the gun, but we're going to help you out and let you take him later? And you are able assure me that this is the case? Delusional or extremely well connected to be able to speak on behalf of all 17 club? I think the first

Thomo you would be the exact same person who would want to tear down the walls at Melbourne if they didn't pre-list him and he then turned out to be the star everyone thought. You want your cake and to eat it too. Get a grip you fool.

174 cms and 69 kgs.....meh, pass!

Ravi, a comment like that makes me tend to think your surname starts with W......

Surely after all this time people have started to trust the MFC football department and in particular BP. Talk about MFCSS. These decisions aren't made on a whim or with no intelligence gathering. MFC have been watching this kid for years.

This is nothing but good news for our club. It means we can keep a close eye on his development and for 2 years give him specialised training to continue his growth and ability as a footballer in readiness for 2013. Wallis and Little Libba were both talked about in the same vein as Jack Viney a couple of years ago and i'm sure the doggies are nothing but happy with their decision now.

An old photo from Schwabby's twitter of young Jack with Todd & family...

http://plixi.com/p/58612256

and also bizarrely Roland Rochiccioli, as it was some Footy Show thing.

Does this mean Jack has a younger brother..?

(feverishly hoping it's not a sister)

Good News, looks like we might get a good one here.

If he turns into a good player it will be an unusual event.

Can anyone tell me the last time a father and son combination at Melbourne

Produced a good result?

The last one I can remember was "Spud Dullard" back in the early eighties I think.

Spud was no champion but a useful player.

Over the years the Dees have not had too many "sons" play.

I figure the value of todays announcement is for the MFC to pitch to the AFL that Jack Viney be allowed to train with the MFC in 2012 and play with Casey in that year as GC and GWS have been able to do with their 17 yr old recruits... We have a year to convince the AFL to allow Jack Viney onto our "Permission to Train list" for 2012. Otherwise he might have to do loads of "work experience" with his old man...

Just on SEN. Todd Viney was on

Rundown.

Just said it was hard to believe he is in the afl system, still lots of work to go.

Club is excited.

The need to sign him early was because of.

New rule is that GWS can take up to 4 17 year old players without them going into the draft system, hence the early signing.

Other clubs had approached Jack to sign him, which made melbourne start early.

Jack has had to deal with media before.

Adelaide was hoping to get him, using nathan bock at GWS. Adelaide expected more compensation.

Jack will focus on school at carey grammar, he is part of the AIS academy squad, 3 week trip to europe next year, he will play some games for oakleigh chargers and or Vic metro.

Exciting time for Todd to be back with the dees'

Says there's similarities between hawthorn and melbourne before their grand final win.

Club's been training for 2 weeks, going not too bad, and most are healthy. Some have had hip operations, training well and enthusiastically.

AAMI park is much better than Junction oval, Experienced players now feel like they're professionals instead of a second tier team.

Played down the expectations of making finals, still learning and developing. BUT, the talent is there, the game plan is there, the game style is exciting.

No official timeline on new captaincy, its nominated by the players, then decided by the board of directors.

Likes the way Brent moloney goes about it, is a bit of a leader at training.

Callers

Max Gawn is on the mend, running well, not too far off being with full training.

....... more after the ad break

Can anyone tell me the last time a father and son combination at Melbourne

Produced a good result?

The last one I can remember was "Spud Dullard" back in the early eighties I think.

Spud was no champion but a useful player.

Over the years the Dees have not had too many "sons" play.

David Cordner would have been running around at about the same time - I presume he was son of Dr Don, or Dennis ? Definitely not a champion though..

The first of them was probably the best: Ron Barassi Snr / Jnr !!!