It's going to make for an interesting spring. The next post will be Morton is gone

We can only hope!

I almost want Scully to go to GWS.

Think about it.

He has chronic problems with his knee.

We'd get two priority picks for him.

We'd free up millions of dollars we'd otherwise be able to spend say trying to get Clarkson or Malthouse to the Club.

We're getting a belter of a midfielder Jack Viney next year

Inconsistent players like Sylvia just eat into our salary cap and should be getting paid less not more for what they provide the club on the field.

I agree

Let him go now and get something for him. Hes far from irreplacable.

Melbournbe need to take the front foot on how it will shape its team in the coming years. The playing field will how changed beyond recognition. Free agency will bring opportunities for players...as well as clubs. We simply have to adopt a forward thinking positive view of this and sieze it.

Many fans will struggle to adapt to the mercenary nature of the talent pool, but that will be life.

Sink or Swim......

Fact: Bate wants to leave at year's end.

I can guess.

They'll come from - Green, Bate, Bartram, Dunn, MacDonald, Sylvia, Rivers, Warnock.

hahahaha ... is that wishful thinking ?

Why didnt it come from Sylvia, Jamar, Martin, Scully, Morton, Gawn and anybody else out of contract?

Imagine you lost all of these blokes in one year for next to nothing. How happy would you be then.

Fact: Bate wants to leave at year's end.

I think he should be more worried that he may not continue to be an AFL footballer next season. The market is limited for slow players with wooden skills.

I think he should be more worried that he may not continue to be an AFL footballer next season. The market is limited for slow players with wooden skills.

Geez you have a real knack of talking about our players positively & constructively dont you? B)

Fact: Bate wants to leave at year's end.

open the door for him will ya !!! B)

hahahaha ... is that wishful thinking ?

Why didnt it come from Sylvia, Jamar, Martin, Scully, Morton, Gawn and anybody else out of contract?

Imagine you lost all of these blokes in one year for next to nothing. How happy would you be then.

No, they are all either underperforming or not getting played at all, and would therefore be worried about their immediate future with the club.

Easier to jump ship and go somewhere that offers a bit more security (see Bruce, Cameron).

I was tempted to add Davey, but I don't think he'd leave.

I don't want to lose Sylvia. He'd be a gun in a quality side. But Sylvia is a crap midfielder. He's a great finisher and outside player. Despite his strong frame he isn't good in close with his hands or decisions. Unfortunately he's been required to have extended bursts in the midfield, but surrounded by quality mids in a strong side he'd be a stunning half forward flanker.

I think he should be more worried that he may not continue to be an AFL footballer next season. The market is limited for slow players with wooden skills.

So many people seem to rate Bate outside our supporter base......i dont agree with them but there was that article on the afl website, a couple of my mates said they wouldnt mind him player for Sydney etc

I can see him getting a go somewhere

So many people seem to rate Bate outside our supporter base......i dont agree with them but there was that article on the afl website, a couple of my mates said they wouldnt mind him player for Sydney etc

I can see him getting a go somewhere

Your Sydney mates may be right. Small ground which somewhat negates his mobility issues and his strength and long kicking will be useful.

I don't want to lose Sylvia. He'd be a gun in a quality side. But Sylvia is a crap midfielder. He's a great finisher and outside player. Despite his strong frame he isn't good in close with his hands or decisions. Unfortunately he's been required to have extended bursts in the midfield, but surrounded by quality mids in a strong side he'd be a stunning half forward flanker.

TWP

You are exactly right. Sylvia has never been damaging in the centre square. He will become a far more effective player when the likes of Gys, Trengove, Scully (?) and Mckenzie can hold down key midfield roles. Sylvia is a natural forward who can move up to the wing and rotate through the midfield if needed (and he is needed in the midfield atm). Col is one of the best overhead marks for his size in the competition, has speed, strength, has become a good set shot on goal, and is a thumping kick (He is one of the most accurate shots for goal outside the fifty in the comp). His second efforts and tackling - his major flaws in the past - have clearly improved.

He is a burst player who will add real value to a good team - to me the kind of player who could kick 3-4 in a final and make the difference (ie Didak).

His form up to the middle of the season was very good, but it noticeably dropped off during the Doggies game and hasn't returned. Personally I think he is carrying some form of injury. I've watched him pretty closely the last couple of weeks and he seems to be favouring his left side (he has strapping around his left knee). During the Dogs game he could hardly jump (although he was certainly jumping high against the Hawks with that boot to Cheney's head). In other words, he is better than his form is showing, and is being played out of his best position (not to mention being a little disenchanted like the rest of the squad)

We shouldn't be paying a ridiculous amount for Col, but in three years time when we are starting to contend, he will have more value than Green, Davey, Rivers or Moloney. We need to retain Sylvia.

When he plays what used to be the traditional Wingers role he can indeed turn it on..

Will this position be part of our modus operandi going forward ?? Would oppositions allow him such largesse ?

It seems to me that the sticking point about a new contract is supposedly the performance based components.

Whats the matter Col...not prepared to back yourself in to earn the money ? just asking

Fact: Bate wants to leave at year's end.

I don't think clubs will be lining up to get him. GWS are the only chance for him. And we would trade him as he is under contract so it's a win for us!

Boy oh Boy is it all going to happen this year at seasons end !!

Say what you or they like...its never dull at Melbourne Not overly successful...but not dull !!

Might be easier for some in this thread to identify who they'd actually keep as they hold forth on trading/ pushing out players like Sylvia. We've gone through the supposed period of bottoming out (not tanking of course as shown by the recent in depth AFL investigation) to be able to gather quality young players....have had to make cuts to experience to fit them in. Now you think we can afford to push a player like Sylvia out....but weep and wring hands for the impact of Juniors departure...Are you completely deranged? Sylvia is a quality player in any side.

Sylvia can be a very good player.. He can also be very inconsistent.

He aspires to a paypacket that looks to one aspect without regard to the other.

Where shall we all draw the line ?

He aspires to a paypacket that looks to one aspect without regard to the other.

Says who?

Says who?

Its been noted in the media that hes not happy about some apsects of the new contract offered. In particular areas of performance based payments.

So its fair to say he wants his money unconditionally. Bugger that !! No one ought to get that sort of hand out without accountability.

I'm all for performance based payment but it cuts both ways...maybe players should hold the club's management accountable for their performance....perhaps they are

I can live with Sylvia gone.

Given the time it has taken for him to develop but still be inconsistent, and still be unaccountable, and still never appearing to play for anyone but himself,and never to be leadership material, and over inflated with regard to what he's worth, we can live without him and develop others.

He will be a great player in a developed team, if they can live with him.

I'm all for performance based payment but it cuts both ways...maybe players should hold the club's management accountable for their performance....perhaps they are

Thats exactly what I think it's could be all about.

The selection and development coaching style could effect and lower senior players KPI's & hinder their performance based payments. Or maybe thats what the players fear.

And also the security angle of their Careers last Years.

Problem is Col has been a V. Good big game player and big games we should be playing more nxt yr. ..he could lift other younger players. But the problem is his quiet games are just that & consistency has been loose. Rid him with Dunne & 2nd pick and get D Thomas...stick that up your ass Eddie and just think about it

Sylvia has never finished in the top 3in the B&F in 8 years.

TJ only had 2 top 10 finishes in the B&F in 10 years (a 1st and a 3rd).

Sylvia wants the bucks but has not performed. This is not the time with GWS to push the line. But we gotta be realistic - there are likely better offers on the table. Every PLayer Manager will be circling Melbourne players out of contract. We will get shafted.