Rivers and Gysberts to Geelong?

[Weedster 174]

I fully understand the need to review and turn over our list. That said, criticism of our treatment of stalwarts Macdonald and I would argue Green, is valid. IMHO, Rivers is a lock. Why is he unsigned ? Let's hope Mark Neeld's hairy chest has not grown into his brain.

[rhaz 342]

Jared is unsigned because many players leave things until the end of the season... and the season only finished 4 days ago.

[cowboy_from_hell 2,390]

I agree he has to get a contract. Has had a pretty good year and I don't know who would replace him.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

Jared is unsigned because many players leave things until the end of the season... and the season only finished 4 days ago.

Riv has told the club he can see the light at the end of the tunnel but just doesn't know how long the tunnel is, he is weighing up his options and that's why he remains unsigned.

[Akum 2,660]

I fully understand the need to review and turn over our list. That said, criticism of our treatment of stalwarts Macdonald and I would argue Green, is valid. IMHO, Rivers is a lock. Why is he unsigned ? Let's hope Mark Neeld's hairy chest has not grown into his brain.

Neeld's played him out of position for most of the season. Pretty clear sign that Riv is another one that the boss doesn't like. He'll be smart enough to know the lie of the land.

[DeeSpencer 26,273]

I think Rivers playing forward was directly to fit a need. He was handy down back before that. Surely we can't rely on Tom McDonald, Sellar, Watts, Dunn and Joel Macdonald as our tall defending options away from Frawley.

I expect Rivers to get a 2 year deal and return to CHB or back pocket playing alongside Frawley and McDonald, possibly Watts and playing good footy. Of course if Clark goes down in absence of a mature CHF or drastic improvement from Watts I expect Rivers to go forward again.

[old dee 24,000]

Neeld's played him out of position for most of the season. Pretty clear sign that Riv is another one that the boss doesn't like. He'll be smart enough to know the lie of the land.

That is absolute imagination.

If Rivers leaves it because he wants to play finals football and does not see that happening at the dees in his football life.

Get over the obsession that Neeld is the devil incarnate.

[Pates 9,667]

With the loss of Green and Beamer, I feel it's very important to hold on to Rivers. He was playing some excellent football early on in the year and was moved forward because we had no one else, that said I feel the move lasted too long. He IS a defender, IMO a good defender, and is a much better defender than Watts (who should move out of there next year).

I hope he stays, he has good aggression and desire.

[demoniac 1,337]

Neeld's played him out of position for most of the season. Pretty clear sign that Riv is another one that the boss doesn't like. He'll be smart enough to know the lie of the land.

or allowed him to add another string to his bow by playing him forward...

[darkhorse72 1,925]

Neeld's played him out of position for most of the season. Pretty clear sign that Riv is another one that the boss doesn't like. He'll be smart enough to know the lie of the land.

Maybe he played rivers out of position as he felt Rivers was more versatile then only pigeon holed as a backman. Changes of roles often comes with a new coach.

Time will tell.

[tonatopia 278]

Rivers

Garland

Frawley

Tommy

Watts

Morton

Seller

We can't play em all.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Neeld's played him out of position for most of the season. Pretty clear sign that Riv is another one that the boss doesn't like. He'll be smart enough to know the lie of the land.

And he played 22 games this year. What is not for the Coach to like?

That is absolute imagination.

If Rivers leaves it because he wants to play finals football and does not see that happening at the dees in his football life.

Get over the obsession that Neeld is the devil incarnate.

Agree

Morton

You have to be kidding?

[Moonshadow 17,678]

Will finish top 5 in the Bluey (not that there is considerable competition for top 5)

Played 22 games this year, should not be on the outer.

Would stabilise the back line to have him alongside Chip, TMc, Watts, Strauss, Nico and hopefully Garland and a speedy HBF with good foot skills. Our back line has been a strength for the last few years until Riv and Garland went fwd when Clark went down and we had no other alternatives.

Would like to see him signed for 2. Plenty of others should go in the clean out before him.

That is, unless he want to go as a RFA.......

[tonatopia 278]

We did not have Clarke last year and I backline was pretty good.

Now we don't have a place for garland and rivers. Also, frawley has gone backwards.

I don't know what's going on with our backline, neither it seems, does the players.

I hope neeld knows what he is going.

[monoccular 17,642]

Neeld's played him out of position for most of the season. Pretty clear sign that Riv is another one that the boss doesn't like. He'll be smart enough to know the lie of the land.

Why is it so "Pretty clear sign that Riv is another one that the boss doesn't like", merely because he has thrown him a challenge and tried him in a position not familiar to him?

And what the hell is "playing him out of position"? Out of position is somewhere outside the boundary line - everything else is "in position" especially in a year in which "the boss" wants to see for himself what the guys are made of and whether they are up to challenges.

There is really a lot of nonsense and unfounded speculation going on around here.

Riv is one of a handful who has certainly risen to the challenges Neeld has thrown him and both should be very satisfied with his efforts.

[monoccular 17,642]

We did not have Clarke last year and I backline was pretty good.

Now we don't have a place for garland and rivers. Also, frawley has gone backwards.

I don't know what's going on with our backline, neither it seems, does the players.

I hope neeld knows what he is going.

Surely he is, as I mentioned above, just challenging various players to see if they are "too precious" to play in unfamiliar positions, and to asses the overall balance of the team going forward.

I would strongly suspect that those who survive the pressure test aka season 2012 and who are up to the challenge will be spending a lot more game time in their "favourite positions" but at least he has seen just what they can do.

Many complained that ND in particular, and DB to a lesser extent, had absolutely no idea of a plan B when things didn't turn out as planned....they would all too often just leave everyone where they started and let it all fester. At least Neeld will know who can do what when a change is required.

I repeat season 2012 is a huge pressure test and total player reassessment, an extended 2013 preseason. And that is not tanking, it is realism, a realism than all to many here, myself included in a major way, did not have at the start of season 2012.

[Deestroy All 14,266]

Rivers may want to play in finals, his body has taken a hammering over the years, who knows how long he has left.

It has nothing to do with Neeld not liking him (what utter BS, in fact if you went by what so many on this site think, you'd believe only Jones, Clark and Howe could be in the same room as Neeld, what a joke) I know for a fact Neeld rates him, and played him in a position foreign to him because he knew he'd compete and was the best option.

I'd be happy either way, we can cover losing him, and he deserves a crack at success. Whatever floats his boat.

[Nasher 33,617]

Riv has told the club he can see the light at the end of the tunnel but just doesn't know how long the tunnel is, he is weighing up his options and that's why he remains unsigned.

I think that's a cryptic way of saying the same thing I've heard. His body is stuffed and there's question marks over whether he'll be up to it for much longer. If that were the case, who'd blame him for wanting to eek out a year at a top club to try and pinch a flag before he metaphorically dies? I wouldn't.

[Striker475 696]

Whoever was saying that Riv was chucked forward because Neeld doesn't like him, pull your head out of your arse.

Riv went forward initially as an option because of Garland's success v Essendon, then stayed up there when Mitch went down.

He's been stellar. I want him here.

[Ron Burgundy 8,587]

I agree. I think Neeld wants him too. I don't expect Neeld would've given him key roles in every game this year if he was on the outer (unlike Moloney, Petterd, Cook etc).

[Chook 15,023]

I think that's a cryptic way of saying the same thing I've heard. His body is stuffed and there's question marks over whether he'll be up to it for much longer. If that were the case, who'd blame him for wanting to eek out a year at a top club to try and pinch a flag before he metaphorically dies? I wouldn't.

I've felt that this year, Jared Rivers was just about the only senior player who could hold his head high. If he leaves under anything but his own accord, I'll be very disappointed. I'lll be disappointed if he leaves in any case, but if his body is as close to the end as you say, then I can't blame him for wanting to (finally) get some success somewhere. I'll just be annoyed if we don't get much for him, because I rate him as just about the best loose/intercept backman in the AFL.

[satyricon 267]

Repeat, I will not let facts get in the way of a good rumour, I will not let facts get in the way of a good rumour, I will not.......................

I love the end of the season, some of the posts go "further out" than during the season.....

[MadAsHell 4,217]

Will be shattered if he goes but will not hold it against him after 10 years and 150 games of great service.

We do have the tall defenders to cover him which is something at least.

[Dr. Gonzo 24,442]

We did not have Clarke last year and I backline was pretty good.

Now we don't have a place for garland and rivers. Also, frawley has gone backwards.

I don't know what's going on with our backline, neither it seems, does the players.

I hope neeld knows what he is going.

The backline was good in 2010 - in 2011 it was just OK.

[Cheap Seats 3,310]

I am not sure I have much to add to this chat about Jared....

I personally think he is 50/50 at staying at Deeland....

My personal opinion on Jared as a player has been aired already - I will not be fussed if he decides to leave to chase money/success at another club. He is a good honest player who would fit in well with a good team where he isn't relied on to do a lot of the work.

Will be interesting to see where this one falls..... In saying all that his loss of experience would hurt the MFC - then again he is one of the party boy generation (not sure if times have changed for Jared) and one of the'leaders' involved in '186' (to my knowledge)

We are cutting a fine line by cutting experience off the list - but in my mind I won't be fussed if Jared decides to go