We need to rebuild our midfield

[Jesse Christ 2,884]

I was just responding to grandson's claims that a player has to want to go to a particular club in order for a deal to be done. Wave enough cash around and anything is possible.

[BAMF 3,787]

rpfc List Management 2012

Get Sewell and Black in Free Agency.

I just cannot see Sewell coming to us no matter how much money we throw at him.

[Grandson of a gun 276]

You mean like how Clark wanted to come to Melbourne?

Money talks Grandson.

I'd rather pay "overs" for an established star than roll the dice on a draft prospect or relying on player development. What has player development netted us thus far? And what "overs" are we going to pay? Both compo picks? So what!

I was just responding to grandson's claims that a player has to want to go to a particular club in order for a deal to be done. Wave enough cash around and anything is possible.

As RPFC said, Whilst it was great to get him, Clark is no star or elite player.

You talked about trading for elite players.

I ask you again. Who? How much? What would satisfy his club?

And what about the other 41 players and a little thing called a salary cap?

Instead of just making ridiculous blanket statements, either name names or try being a little more realistic.

[Macca 16,173]

As RPFC said, Whilst it was great to get him, Clark is no star or elite player.

You talked about trading for elite players.

I ask you again. Who? How much? What would satisfy his club?

And what about the other 41 players and a little thing called a salary cap?

Instead of just making ridiculous blanket statements, either name names or try being a little more realistic.

The biggest issue for our club is exactly how much room we will have in our salary cap at years end . We should have at least 2.5 million spare but I fear it probably won't be anywhere near that amount .

Our club should have been planning for free agency at least 2 - 3 years ago . Contracts such as Davey's should have been front ended for instance . We need to bring in 3 or 4 quality free agents ( providing they want to come ! )

I've said it before but our current lot of players are getting paid way too much , especially when you consider that the Pies , Cats and Hawks pay their players about the same as what we do . We have a number of players out of contract at years end including Jamar , Green , Moloney and a few others that would be eating up our salary cap .

My thinking would be to bite the bullet . Delist 9-11 players . Bring in 3 or 4 free agents and draft another 6 or 7 kids . Using our compo picks and our 1st round draft pick for the 1st three kids and taking a punt on the next 3 or 4 . Maybe 1 or 2 of our players we delist might have trade value but I wouldn't be counting on that .

Oh , and memo to Mark Neeld - abandon the around the boundary style . It's already outdated and our current lot of players have zero chance of implementing it anyway . The onus on contested possessions I like but the "bombing" to a dead pocket is utterly ridiculous . Stupid football .

Brisbane had nearly 100 more uncontested possessions than our team yesterday but they at no stage looked like they over possessed the ball . That "Bomb it long all the time" style might work at "Ocean Grove" but this is the big leagues Mark . It's a bit more scientific .

Cheers !

Edited April 1, 2012 by Macca

[Jesse Christ 2,884]

As RPFC said, Whilst it was great to get him, Clark is no star or elite player.

You talked about trading for elite players.

I ask you again. Who? How much? What would satisfy his club?

And what about the other 41 players and a little thing called a salary cap?

Instead of just making ridiculous blanket statements, either name names or try being a little more realistic.

http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/default.aspx?newsid=130821

these are the players who are free agents next year. Pick one. Davey and Green will not be offered another contract next year barring a minor miracle, most likely even more of our seniors will be shown the door. There's your extra salary cap space.

We are widely thought of to have a promising list of youngsters, it might be the seniors we have now that is a deterant for others to join us- well hopefully that is a problem we wont have for much longer.

[GOLF 13]

Before you get rid of our midfield players and start your wet dreams about who we can recruit, let's get a real midfield coach. Royal must go. Find someone to replace him.

[Grandson of a gun 276]

http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/default.aspx?newsid=130821

these are the players who are free agents next year. Pick one. Davey and Green will not be offered another contract next year barring a minor miracle, most likely even more of our seniors will be shown the door. There's your extra salary cap space.

We are widely thought of to have a promising list of youngsters, it might be the seniors we have now that is a deterant for others to join us- well hopefully that is a problem we wont have for much longer.

Name me that elite mid we are realistically able to trade for in that list. That was the whole thrust of your original post.

[Macca 16,173]

Name me that elite mid we are realistically able to trade for in that list. That was the whole thrust of your original post.

You don't have to trade anybody or anything to get a free agent . You just have to offer them lots of cash and they have to be willing to make a move . That's why they are called "Free" agents .

The AFL compensates the clubs that lose their free agents . There's 8 year restricted free agents where the original club can match the offer and there are 10 year unrestricted free agents that can go any club of their choice - unrestricted .

If you already know this 'Goag' , no worries , this post is mainly for others that may not know the system .

Cheers

Edited April 1, 2012 by Macca

[Macca 16,173]

Free agency explained ...............

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/89809/default.aspx

Cheers

[Bonkers 918]

We won't get a Judd, but this would be my plan for the end of the year:

rpfc List Management 2012

Trade Compensation Picks for a young interstate gun itching to come home OR trade them for top billing in the mini draft

Get Sewell and Black in Free Agency.

Draft Viney and use remaining comp picks on BA.

This is not a panacea but it will get us two things: more talent, and experienced stars to learn off and feed off.

There is no way Sewell will leave Hawthorn. I do agree we need to bring in players through free agency however.

[Bonkers 918]

http://www.afl.com.a...x?newsid=130821

these are the players who are free agents next year. Pick one. Davey and Green will not be offered another contract next year barring a minor miracle, most likely even more of our seniors will be shown the door. There's your extra salary cap space.

We are widely thought of to have a promising list of youngsters, it might be the seniors we have now that is a deterant for others to join us- well hopefully that is a problem we wont have for much longer.

From that list I'd target Chris Knights, David Wojcinski, Clinton Young, Steven Salopek & perhaps Gilbee as realistic targets.

[Grandson of a gun 276]

From that list I'd target Chris Knights, David Wojcinski, Clinton Young, Steven Salopek & perhaps Gilbee as realistic targets.

And none of them are the "elite" midfielders that the OP suggested we get.

My point in all of this was that it is very easy to say we need to trade for or target as a free agent an "elite" midfielder or two to build up our list when being realistic, it ain't gonna happen. The realistic targets who will want to leave their clubs are not elite. They are at best good players, and the question then arises that would they be good at Melbourne if they were the number 1 mid getting all the attention. No.

[Bonkers 918]

And none of them are the "elite" midfielders that the OP suggested we get.

My point in all of this was that it is very easy to say we need to trade for or target as a free agent an "elite" midfielder or two to build up our list when being realistic, it ain't gonna happen. The realistic targets who will want to leave their clubs are not elite. They are at best good players, and the question then arises that would they be good at Melbourne if they were the number 1 mid getting all the attention. No.

If you were an elite midfielder would you leave to come play for Melbourne when you can get double the pay at GWS? We need to develop the elite mids from the high draft picks we use & bring in sufficient talent around them. Sure none of the players I have listed are elite but if you look at the way Sydney have built their team they are at a minimum competitive from bringing in often NQR players from other clubs let alone B grade players. We have so many young players on our list I would assume it would be a lot easier for us to find room in our cap to entice a B grade midfielder to move clubs. I'm not talking about bringing across just one unrestricted player by the way I'm talking about bringing in at least three unrestricted players if possible.

[whatwhat say what 19,276]

we must try and trade for gaff.

our inside mids are solid, and with viney they could become quite good. we clearly lack polish, class and speed - three qualities that gaff possesses in spades.

of the free agents available, the only top line ones who would bring value to our club in the long term are travis cloke, jordan russell, and brendan goddard. everyone else is a two year player at best or a player who has proven time and again that they're not up to making their own side's starting 22 - eg. gilbee, salopek, knights.

i personally think someone such as jacob surjan - one of my fave players in the competition thanks to his ruthless attack on the ball and man - could be of immense benefit to the side. he's the sort of small defender he haven't had since whelan's body finally gave out on him for good.

oh, i'd also expect of our free agents that moloney and jamar as the only ones with genuine value for other sides, but rivers might offer something for someone out there too.

[Harrisonrules 273]

Because it is terrible. We all know the score- same types- we have extractors with no outside class. We have flat track bullies, we have no pace and the fact that a first gamer in Magner was BOG for us yesterday is pathetic.

I would keep Magner, Jones and McKenzie as they show heart. I would consider trying to turn Jones into a small forward because when Viney comes in we will have too many similar types playing mid.

It's been said before but we need a star. I know they are not exactly growing on trees but if we can't draft one we are doomed to fail until our next window is open.

I would put everyone on the trade table bar Jones, Frawley, Trengove, Martin, Howe, Watts, Magner and Clark. Our compo pics also.

Who could we get? Who is available? Proven midfielders with leadership and heart are our number one priorities.

Personally I struggle with McKenzie. Yes he plays tough in the pack, but there is little feed out to others for any advantage. I think our club has become obsessed with underskilled hard at it players. 'Tough nuts' does not mean no skill.

[daisycutter 28,636]

Before you get rid of our midfield players and start your wet dreams about who we can recruit, let's get a real midfield coach. Royal must go. Find someone to replace him.

funny that....about our midfield coach

wasn't he the backline coach last year who turned a good backline into a leaky boat?

of all the asst coaches replaced i couldn't understand why choco was kept

[Craig Drinker 179]

I think Gysberts will be a very good midfielder for Melbourne fairly soon. He is probably 3 to 4 kg too light at the moment unfortunately.

[whatwhat say what 19,276]

of all the asst coaches replaced i couldn't understand why choco was kept

my guess would be 'under contract'.