I am saying he is the wrong type of player for us at the moment. We have a long way to go before a player of his type would be effective for us. Extremely poor value in our current situation.

Well then we must disagree. Neeld has 2 more years to turn this rabble around.

We do not have the luxury of time anymore.

We have already blown that avenue well and truly.

My point is a player like Cloke would be ineffective in a poor side. All my Collingwood friends say he is fair weather player. When things are tough he disappears, can't handle pressure and is almost a certainty to miss a crucial shot at goal. Not surprising they are always jeering him when things go wrong.

They didn't watch the 2011 GF??

I am saying he is the wrong type of player for us at the moment. We have a long way to go before a player of his type would be effective for us. Extremely poor value in our current situation.

I agree entirely. What evidence is there that this bloke is a team man? Can you seriously see him playing under Brown? Does he look like the sort of bloke to share the limelight with Clark? He is a disruptive influence centred on his own interest. AND he is an overrated footballer.

Yeah people are putting wayyy to much emphasis on 2012 Cloke who is clearly struggling for form under the pressure of his contract negotiation.

Cloke is the strongest contested mark in the league and is practically unbeatable one on one.

Plus he is bad this year.... so even when he is bad he kicks 45 goals? Well we could use some of that bad Cloke right now.

Check his stats for this year and his contested marks and marks inside 50 are at least double the next Pie player...

And that's him having a bad year in a premiership contending team.

An some here say "pass! he's not good enough for the MFC".

Wow. No really WOW!

Irrespective of where Cloke ends up, the last lines of this article "Pie Botch-up" has got to put a smile on your face...

And Trav playing for the Dees next year would salt that wound nicely...

Well then we must disagree. Neeld has 2 more years to turn this rabble around.

We do not have the luxury of time anymore.

We have already blown that avenue well and truly.

Neeld has as much time to turn this rabble around as the board allows him.

Eddie gave Malthouse a lot more than one contract.

Whether this coach's situation is the same is doubtful of course, but all he needs is the support of the Board and if they are thinking long term and developing a new club culture as everyone seems to imagine, then he only needs to keep his coaching team onside,the Board happy and show enough progress to keep supporters from storming the parapets.

Cloke wont come to MFC anyway so that points moot,as they say.

If I saw signs of the MFC getting a real oval to train on, and its own facilities to work from, I'd be happy to wait 5 years for a flag "window" to open myself, but then I remember when we always won them so perhaps I'm no judge

Neeld has as much time to turn this rabble around as the board allows him.

Eddie gave Malthouse a lot more than one contract.

Whether this coach's situation is the same is doubtful of course, but all he needs is the support of the Board and if they are thinking long term and developing a new club culture as everyone seems to imagine, then he only needs to keep his coaching team onside,the Board happy and show enough progress to keep supporters from storming the parapets.

Cloke wont come to MFC anyway so that points moot,as they say.

If I saw signs of the MFC getting a real oval to train on, and its own facilities to work from, I'd be happy to wait 5 years for a flag "window" to open myself, but then I remember when we always won them so perhaps I'm no judge

I agree with what you say. But we still need strong improvements onfield next year.

Neeld will get the players he needs. We won't get all our choices. But we will get some,and more next year.

but then I remember when we always won them so perhaps I'm no judge

I'm def jealous. For 16 years of my barracking life it was a fantasy to even imagine making the finals!....I didn't think ANYTHING could make me feel bad after we did in 87. Until...........but Ive well and truly forgiven him for that now...and Cambell and Yeats and Elshaug. ( well....almost forgiven them.) And I have no spot in my memory where a premiership ought to be. Must be wierd to follow them now after following them then.

I'm def jealous. Must be wierd to follow them now after following them then.

It helps if you go overseas,sit in a Himalyan hermitage,sail around the Pacific and come back for the Northey years ...a bit of Daniher and it just feels frustrating, but not the end of the world as we now it.

The 186, Jimmys' death, the 'tanking' and the new coachs' slash and burn dont help though.

I feel selfish saying "be patient."

I still think its all about the relatuionship between Neeld and the Board and there is no way Cloke is coming to the oval next to Punt Road in 2013...either of them

I feel selfish saying "be patient."

Patience is a virtue for the meek. Of course we know they will eventually inherit the earth, but in the meantime the sinners are winners.

Patience is a virtue for the meek. Of course we know they will eventually inherit the earth, but in the meantime the sinners are winners.

Yea well tanking worked well for the MFC didnt it.?

Patiently building a list seems to work though

I'm def jealous. For 16 years of my barracking life it was a fantasy to even imagine making the finals!....I didn't think ANYTHING could make me feel bad after we did in 87. Until...........but Ive well and truly forgiven him for that now...and Cambell and Yeats and Elshaug. ( well....almost forgiven them.) And I have no spot in my memory where a premiership ought to be. Must be wierd to follow them now after following them then.

Just for the record and no offence intended, but I think it was Campbell, Yeats and Eishold wasn't it? I swore I'd never forget!

Neeld has as much time to turn this rabble around as the board allows him.

Eddie gave Malthouse a lot more than one contract.

Whether this coach's situation is the same is doubtful of course, but all he needs is the support of the Board and if they are thinking long term and developing a new club culture as everyone seems to imagine, then he only needs to keep his coaching team onside,the Board happy and show enough progress to keep supporters from storming the parapets.

Cloke wont come to MFC anyway so that points moot,as they say.

If I saw signs of the MFC getting a real oval to train on, and its own facilities to work from, I'd be happy to wait 5 years for a flag "window" to open myself, but then I remember when we always won them so perhaps I'm no judge

I'm not sure Neeld or the Board have all that much time, but that's another story.

I fear Cloke may come to MFC - he's a very good player, but IMO not what we need right now and not for the reputed price or length of contract.

Our recruiters should be looking far and wide, perhaps at lesser leagues, seeking players who are lesser known, suitable for our needs, and at a much cheaper price - in short, smart recruiting, but leaving a good size kitty for 2 or 3 higher priced proven players, if they surface.

Just for the record and no offence intended, but I think it was Campbell, Yeats and Eishold wasn't it? I swore I'd never forget!

YES..lol. thats a positive sign that I got that wrong. My prognosis is improving...maybe I AM forgetting it.

I'm not sure Neeld or the Board have all that much time, but that's another story.

I fear Cloke may come to MFC - he's a very good player, but IMO not what we need right now and not for the reputed price or length of contract.

Our recruiters should be looking far and wide, perhaps at lesser leagues, seeking players who are lesser known, suitable for our needs, and at a much cheaper price - in short, smart recruiting, but leaving a good size kitty for 2 or 3 higher priced proven players, if they surface.

If Cloke isn't a higher priced proven player, then I don't know who is. He is exactly what we need right now as has been evidenced by our recent form once a key forward goes down with a long term injury. We have recently been getting the ball inside 50 on numerous occasions, only to fall at the last hurdle. There is no reason we cannot get Cloke and a couple of proven mids... and I'm really not keen on this idea of looking for cheaper, lesser known players; we are definitely not in any position to gamble on unknown quantities any more. In the wash up, that can end up costing us just as much as if we had spent the extra getting a Cloke or a Boak.

Yea well tanking worked well for the MFC didnt it.?

Patiently building a list seems to work though

I thought we been working on building a list for 5 years and now we have to do it all

over again.

I thought we been working on building a list for 5 years and now we have to do it all

over again.

Yep sad is it not.

If Cloke isn't a higher priced proven player, then I don't know who is. He is exactly what we need right now as has been evidenced by our recent form once a key forward goes down with a long term injury. We have recently been getting the ball inside 50 on numerous occasions, only to fall at the last hurdle. There is no reason we cannot get Cloke and a couple of proven mids... and I'm really not keen on this idea of looking for cheaper, lesser known players; we are definitely not in any position to gamble on unknown quantities any more. In the wash up, that can end up costing us just as much as if we had spent the extra getting a Cloke or a Boak.

Yeah, appreciate what you say Hardtack, but people have been screaming for several mids (with some justification) - all I am saying is that, in relative terms, money is better spent in that area than on one very high priced player (even accepting that he is very good), especially if we are going to get rid of as many players as some believe.

Yeah, appreciate what you say Hardtack, but people have been screaming for several mids (with some justification) - all I am saying is that, in relative terms, money is better spent in that area than on one very high priced player (even accepting that he is very good), especially if we are going to get rid of as many players as some believe.

Players like Cloke are not going to battle and scrap to get their own ball and kick miracle goals like Clark has been doing for us. He only thrives on gilt edged silver service. That is not an option at the moment.

Yeah people are putting wayyy to much emphasis on 2012 Cloke who is clearly struggling for form under the pressure of his contract negotiation.

Cloke is the strongest contested mark in the league and is practically unbeatable one on one.

Plus he is bad this year.... so even when he is bad he kicks 45 goals? Well we could use some of that bad Cloke right now.

If contested marking os what you want we have the third highest contested mark in the league playing for us, why do we need Cloke?? (J Howe)

Players like Cloke are not going to battle and scrap to get their own ball and kick miracle goals like Clark has been doing for us. He only thrives on gilt edged silver service.

I think you are being a little harsh on Cloke ADC - my point was that we should be careful not to put all our eggs in one basket (as Hardtack said, if that one player goes down then ...) - I am thinking more in terms of overall team building, and hence I'm not convinced on Cloke.

I think you are being a little harsh on Cloke ADC - my point was that we should be careful not to put all our eggs in one basket (as Hardtack said, if that one player goes down then ...) - I am thinking more in terms of overall team building, and hence I'm not convinced on Cloke.

As Miles from Nowhere said. Cloke is not going to be second fiddle to anyone. Either him or Clark has to be subordinate. I see a problem of balance there. Brown had his Lynch or Bradshaw. Buddy has his Roughhead. Cloke now has his Dawes. Two big forwards on superstar wages does not fit.

I thought we been working on building a list for 5 years and now we have to do it all

over again.

you have a better idea?

As Miles from Nowhere said. Cloke is not going to be second fiddle to anyone. Either him or Clark has to be subordinate. I see a problem of balance there. Brown had his Lynch or Bradshaw. Buddy has his Roughhead. Cloke now has his Dawes. Two big forwards on superstar wages does not fit.

Good point ADC - so we don't really need Cloke. Alternatively, if someone is determined to get him, how would we fit two such players into a team - where would we play each one?