I thought Russian was terrific all night, and gave the mids terrific service.

We have no short term viable option as replacement, and the club must look to retain him as soon as possible.

Spencer, Fitzpatrick and Gawn need a role model to learn and develop from.

With other glaring holes the team needs to work on, the last thing we now need is to lose his experience.

Get the deal done MFC!

Totally agree...if we consider we have a surplus of Rucks then trade Martin or Spencer...

Spencer first

I thought we should have tried to trade Martin out last year - you buy low and sell high and Martin's value peaked last year.

I thought we should have tried to trade Martin out last year - you buy low and sell high and Martin's value peaked last year.

Agree Martin's value may have diminished. Sign Russian today!

Jamar said on channel 7 this morning that if there was a contract in front of him right now he would sign it.

Jamar said on channel 7 this morning that if there was a contract in front of him right now he would sign it.

Well let's hope they get something in front of him soon!

Would you take the deal if Carlton offered Kreuzer for Jamar?

I thought we should have tried to trade Martin out last year - you buy low and sell high and Martin's value peaked last year.

Not sure about that.

Sometimes a player's value peaks when he has a half-decent season, then is barely seen the next.

That half-decent season often becomes a great season in the memory banks.

Worked pretty well with David Hale.

Would you take the deal if Carlton offered Kreuzer for Jamar?

In a heartbeat, but they never would.

In a heartbeat, but they never would.

Yes , but he may be saying would you take O'meara for Jamar?

If it's a choice between signing Jamar and losing him for nothing (as a result of his free agent status), then it's obvious we should keep him. But Jamar's got about 4 years left in the game, so he can still be a legit part of our future success, not to mention the things he can teach our developing ruckmen. Maximum Gawn's development would definitely be hindered with Jamar out of our club.

Love the way folk on this site take about 2mins to jump off or on someones bandwagon.

Martin has showed pleny of potential over the last year or two. He was one of the league's most improved players last year. Just because he hasn't come out of the blocks firing this year (as haven't plenty of others), people are rueing not trading him. Crist! Players of his size and agility don't come along that often. He's got the attributes to become the perfect mobile second ruck who can pitch hit in the forward or backline. He started in footy late, is still young-ish, and his general trajectory is up. Ease up a bit folks, and let him continue his development, without silly expectations like that he will continue to improve at the rate he did last year for ever. He's going to have some down times. Like everyone.

Jamar has the lock on first ruck. The next generation of first rucks are struggling with injury, in Gawn and Spencer. Our second ruck options are Clark, Sellar and him. Clark is most valuable playing the forward role, and should only be used sporadically in the ruck, or in case of injury to others. So, Martin is competing with Sellars, who is yet to prove himself. At their best, Martin wipes the floor with Sellars.

Back to the OP: Yep, we need to re-sign Jamar. It's a must.

We also need to keep our other rucks until one of Spencer or Gawn shows that they can consistently step up to first ruck, if needed. And, only if one of Sellars or Martin shows the same consistency for the second ruck position, would I consider trading the other.

The problem with Jamar is... (you know this post is gonna be a doozy when it starts off so well)... the problem is that I reckon he's only got about 2, max 3 years left in him.

Anyone disagree?

The problem with Jamar is... (you know this post is gonna be a doozy when it starts off so well)... the problem is that I reckon he's only got about 2, max 3 years left in him.

Anyone disagree?

I reckon you're about right. Maybe four.

The good news is .. that is plenty of time for another ruck (ideally Gawn) to step up to the plate.

Love the way folk on this site take about 2mins to jump off or on someones bandwagon.

Martin has showed pleny of potential over the last year or two. He was one of the league's most improved players last year. Just because he hasn't come out of the blocks firing this year (as haven't plenty of others), people are rueing not trading him. Crist! Players of his size and agility don't come along that often. He's got the attributes to become the perfect mobile second ruck who can pitch hit in the forward or backline. He started in footy late, is still young-ish, and his general trajectory is up. Ease up a bit folks, and let him continue his development, without silly expectations like that he will continue to improve at the rate he did last year for ever. He's going to have some down times. Like everyone.

I think you misunderstand - I didn't want to trade him because he was rubbish, it's quite the opposite. Because he had a decent year when thrown into the first ruck role other clubs may have been prepared to offer something half decent for him. You can't go to the trade table with Jamie Bennell or Nev Jetta and expect to get anything other than a late 4th round pick, that is if the other clubs don't laugh you out of the building first. Martin showed something and it seemed like he was getting more praise from external sources than his form (while good) seemed to warrant. Considering our ruck stocks I thought we should have tried to trade one of him or Jamar (especially after Jamar's AA in 2010).

Having said all that I can't see Martin improving much beyond what he showed last year - he seems destiend to spend his career going back and forth from the seniors to reserves. He may prove me wrong but I just see too much uncoordination and lack of footy smarts.

If it's a choice between signing Jamar and losing him for nothing (as a result of his free agent status), then it's obvious we should keep him. But Jamar's got about 4 years left in the game, so he can still be a legit part of our future success, not to mention the things he can teach our developing ruckmen. Maximum Gawn's development would definitely be hindered with Jamar out of our club.

If a player leaves through free agency the club gets compensation from the AFL.

http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/default.aspx?newsid=130820

I thought Russian was terrific all night, and gave the mids terrific service.

We have no short term viable option as replacement, and the club must look to retain him as soon as possible.

Spencer, Fitzpatrick and Gawn need a role model to learn and develop from.

With other glaring holes the team needs to work on, the last thing we now need is to lose his experience.

Get the deal done MFC!

You mean we shouldn't listen to the recent desire amongst about 20 Demonlanders to trade 'high' on Jamar?

Absolutely, we shouldn't trade him. What is it with people wanting to trade Demons simply because of two things - age and value.

I would like to keep valuable players and his age is irrelevant unless you have someone to step in for him.

Otherwise, you are constantly rebuilding on potential.

If he only has three years left well then - great. We have got three years to find a replacement for one of the best ruckmen in the game.

If a player leaves through free agency the club gets compensation from the AFL.

http://www.afl.com.a...x?newsid=130820

Oh. That's good to hear.

I reckon there's no way " The Statue"(Jamar), will be in our next premiership team.

Fitzpatrick and Gawn could be.

It's well known that big guys need bulk experience before they play well at AFL level.

It doesn't matter about winning,now, this season. It's gone!!

Let's get Fitzpatrick as much AFL experience as possible this year, because Big Max will be back next year, and if we're stuck with Jamar, the'll both find it hard to get opportunities then.

Is there any way we can get some compensation for "losing" an All-Australian ruckman due to free agency?

I'm really sticking my neck out here, BUT.......

if we didn't ever have the Russian............ we would have given Jolly chances, and realised he was better, and kept him.

You mean we shouldn't listen to the recent desire amongst about 20 Demonlanders to trade 'high' on Jamar?

Absolutely, we shouldn't trade him. What is it with people wanting to trade Demons simply because of two things - age and value.

I would like to keep valuable players and his age is irrelevant unless you have someone to step in for him.

Otherwise, you are constantly rebuilding on potential.

If he only has three years left well then - great. We have got three years to find a replacement for one of the best ruckmen in the game.

such a pity this will still be lost on some despite their reading of it !!!

I reckon there's no way " The Statue"(Jamar), will be in our next premiership team.

Fitzpatrick and Gawn could be.

It's well known that big guys need bulk experience before they play well at AFL level.

It doesn't matter about winning,now, this season. It's gone!!

Let's get Fitzpatrick as much AFL experience as possible this year, because Big Max will be back next year, and if we're stuck with Jamar, the'll both find it hard to get opportunities then.

Is there any way we can get some compensation for "losing" an All-Australian ruckman due to free agency?

I'm really sticking my neck out here, BUT.......

if we didn't ever have the Russian............ we would have given Jolly chances, and realised he was better, and kept him.

No, then people would be wanting to trade Jolly..

We can't keep trading out players just because they are seen to have value and won't make our next premiership window. We can't be a team of young kids every single bleating year!

Jamar stays. Trading him will do more damage to the club ala Junior- learnt nothing from that fiasco? By the time Jamar is ready to hang up the boots Gawn/fitzy/spencil will stand up, or we find a ruckman struggling for opportunities from another club- like mumford etc.

You mean we shouldn't listen to the recent desire amongst about 20 Demonlanders to trade 'high' on Jamar?

Absolutely, we shouldn't trade him. What is it with people wanting to trade Demons simply because of two things - age and value.

I would like to keep valuable players and his age is irrelevant unless you have someone to step in for him.

Otherwise, you are constantly rebuilding on potential.

If he only has three years left well then - great. We have got three years to find a replacement for one of the best ruckmen in the game.

Not only that but demonlanders are forever bleeding that the current list doesn't have enough senior players to learn from.

3 year deal a must

No, then people would be wanting to trade Jolly..

We can't keep trading out players just because they are seen to have value and won't make our next premiership window. We can't be a team of young kids every single bleating year!

Jamar stays. Trading him will do more damage to the club ala Junior- learnt nothing from that fiasco? By the time Jamar is ready to hang up the boots Gawn/fitzy/spencil will stand up, or we find a ruckman struggling for opportunities from another club- like mumford etc.

Spot on!

And the last thing we need is players believing they have no future at the club past a certain age, and jumping when they are required players.

I recently authored a reasonably favourably responded to post on trading Jamar, so I think I'll respond to some of the whacking...at least in my personal case.

There's far too much "This guy is terrible, move him" crap on 'land...but the case for moving Jamar for me, has more to do with some of the flexibility offered by Clark/Martin/Gawn and the value vs. cost which Russian brings.

That thread can be found and read pretty easily.

The Bottom line

If Jamar plays like he did vs. St Kilda for the majority of his next contract than it's almost assured that it will be money well spent. The guy is a top 3 AFL ruckman, perhaps many have judged his decline from his peak a little bit early. As an eternally positive Melbourne Supporter I hope so