Joel MacDonald still remains an unknown asset to the club. How long will he be a demon. The club has chosen him over three other options.

Bruce seems to be happily settled in at the Hawks. As usual is weekly in the best. A promise of one year, but knowing his fitness is superior to most others will certainly play a second and who knows as they continue to push for a flag maybe three. Will Joel still be at Melbourne.

Cheney appeared in the Hawks best this week. Maybe at such a young age he still has plenty of upside and might forge a long career at the Hawks. Yes we all knew he lacked a yard of pace, but certainly had more skill than someone I can name (but won't) at Demonland. Will he make it two, four, perhaps eight at HFC.

For fun, I'll throw in Simon Buckley. Hasn't broken into the pies machine and may never. I haven't watched his progress closely, but see he is still being persevered with there. Heard D's gave him away because he wasn't perceived to be tough and defensive enough, but he certainly had plenty of what we lacked the other night, speed and kicking skills. He's still developing and who knows might even survive the competition at CFC.

So who will be playing in 3 years time? This will probably see Joel and Cam out. What about Cheney and Bucley?

I'm really struggling to follow the logic if the argument here.

We are comparing 4 different players at different clubs in differed age groups because they all happened to play in similar positions while on our list?

And we are arguing the length of their career from this point forward?

And arguing over depth players is pointless.

I'm really struggling to follow the logic if the argument here.

We are comparing 4 different players at different clubs in differed age groups because they all happened to play in similar positions while on our list?

And we are arguing the length of their career from this point forward?

And arguing over depth players is pointless.

Who's arguing?

Such forums are for people to stretch there imaginations on topics of little significance because they haven't got much else to do.Lighten up

you have to back the club - in the last decade we have had a grand total of ONE player leave the club that has gone on to do anything of note. That player was Scott Thompson. They couldn't keep him and did fairly well to get Moloney as a replacement

Atmo,,, Joel MacDonald > Bruce > Simon Buckley = Cheney

Atmo,,, Joel MacDonald > Bruce > Simon Buckley = Cheney

And in 1014?

you have to back the club - in the last decade we have had a grand total of ONE player leave the club that has gone on to do anything of note. That player was Scott Thompson. They couldn't keep him and did fairly well to get Moloney as a replacement

Ahem... Dual-Premiership ruckman, Darren Jolly?

And in 1014?

No one knows.

And in 1014?

I like the forward thinking, and also the fact you are thinking of a realistic time frame, but I think we need a constant mix of developing players and experienced ones, sometimes the developing players might even be more skilled but there are those innate abilities and instinctive reactions that only come with experience, and having a solid, level-headed player like Joel handing down those things to our emerging players will help hold us in good stead for 2014 and beyond.

Ahem... Dual-Premiership ruckman, Darren Jolly?

oh yeah him too whoops

but even he was traded in 2004 for pick 15 used on Lynden Dunn, who will likely be of more value for a flag than DJ would have been/will be

Cheney appeared in the Hawks best this week. Maybe at such a young age he still has plenty of upside and might forge a long career at the Hawks. Yes we all knew he lacked a yard of pace, but certainly had more skill than someone I can name (but won't) at Demonland. Will he make it two, four, perhaps eight at HFC.

You are kidding right? It wasn't pace that ended his time at Melbourne, it was his abysmal kicking. This is a guy who could miss a 30m pass by so much that he had to run and fetch the ball himself and try again (note, he actually did this on quite a few occasions in matches at Casey). It was to his enormous credit that he was hard at the ball and was often able to win those misses back and try again, but his skill level was just too low to be persevered with.

I think all the 4 players do have a relevant link- they all pick up plenty of the ball but at times had their efficiency questioned. I remember last year against the Roos, MacDonald had 30 disposals but used them so attrociously he didnt stay in the team

J Mac has had a sub par NAB cup match, so what? He was one of many to play poorly at a stadium that we play poorly on. Of the four player's, Bruce was the only player that was superior, but he is at the end of his career and was much more expensive than J Mac. Losing Bruce has freed up a considerable amount of money in the cap at a time where we are trying to retain Scully. Wait until the season proper before you panic. Once Frawley returns to his best the backline will settle down.