How many articles have the HS written that have turned out to be wrong about the trading/drafting period??

Neeld has denied Gys and Cook are unwanted. Denied that we wanted Cloke.

The HS has 500 footy writers that have to justify a job. Don't believe this shiite

Soccer fans will see that this time of year is fast becoming like the European transfer window. It works like this: The Sun/Daily Mail/other tabloid says 'Club A need a striker', then 'Player X is a striker', therefore 'Club A is interested in Player X'. Once the idea is published, it becomes a rumour. Once the rumour is repeated, it is now a fact. You can't prove that the Club A were not 'interested' in Player X, therefore the paper cannot be accused of anything.

Of course, player managers get in the ear of journos who need stories in order ot inflate value of their players...

Chapman and Byrnes

Rivers has been my favourite player since early 2004 so I would be disapointed to see him go.

However I can't blame him for exploring his options. He's given 10 years and 150 games of service to the club and his body has taken a battering. If he reckons he's only got a couple of years left and wants to taste some success before retirement I wont hold that against him.

I have no doubt the club would like him to stay, but if he were to walk we're lucky that we're in a positon where KPD is probably the only area that we have some depth with Frawley, Garland, McDonald, Sellar, Davis, Shehan & the born again Dunn so we would be able to replace him, although he'd still no doubt be missed.

If he were to go to Geelong I'd enjoy seeing how good he could be in a succesful club. Wouldn't be suprised if he pushed for AA in his first year.

Fingers crossed he stays.

Rivers at geelong = gibson at hawthorn

I don't think we'll lose either tbh. Trade period is always all hype, no substance. Not much will happen.

Rivers at geelong = gibson at hawthorn

Oh dear. Don't suppose you saw Rivers playing forward for half the year? Don't suppose you notice that Hawks play with a spare man in defence a lot...we barely did it all year. Have you seen Gibson's disposal compared to Rivers?

Now this is the kind of interesting stuff I want to read!!

Very interesting prospects - would love to know what the offer is from G-Town (i haven't read the article yet) and what we could use the picks to gain elsewhere???

Interesting times ahead.

I don't think we'll lose either tbh. Trade period is always all hype, no substance. Not much will happen.

Disagree.

I think the trade period is coming into a new dimension and we will see much more activity with free agency now in play.

Melbourne must be mad to get rid of all these players who have brought us oodles of premiership success.

I have heard that it is Rivers that is weighing up his options - not us 'getting rid of all his experience rah rah rah.'

Too many people jumping to conclusions.

Disagree.

I think the trade period is coming into a new dimension and we will see much more activity with free agency now in play.

This is totally different to the trade period, this is free agency. The free agent system gives players a lot more bargaining power than they would have under the trade period where clubs determine the outcomes. Though I'm firmly in the camp of "I'll believe it when I see it" with respect to a number of these rumors, don't dismiss how much could change during this new era of free agency. Just look at some of the team sports in the US. In the NBA you can have teams trade away half their roster (6 players) in order to pick up 3 or 4 plus cash. Then they spend the cash on another player they want and enter the new season with only half their original roster retained. Though we wouldn't see half a list turnover yearly, don't underestimate how much change could happen in free agency. Players now have the capacity to find their way to premiership calibre teams without their current clubs holding them back.

Becoming a player manager just became a much more attractive, and possibly lucrative profession.

Edited September 10, 201212 yr by pm24

Melbourne must be mad to get rid of all these players who have brought us oodles of premiership success.

lol.

In fairness Riv is in the upper half at the club. Im not sure what that says more about though ?

I would think it nigh on impossible for Riv to fill Matty's boots so I can only suppose he would be playing a support role in Defence , possibly, at the Cattery.

Gys has done 2/3 of 3/5 of not much.

What many need , i feel , to understand is it's all but irrelevent what player X might do at another club if they dont do it at ours.

Rivs case is probably different, just seeking different climes with a chance of finals. Fair enough. Come home when ya finished

I have heard that it is Rivers that is weighing up his options - not us 'getting rid of all his experience rah rah rah.'

Too many people jumping to conclusions.

I've heard the same, the club wants to keep Rivers and it is Rivers that may be considering his option, I believe he will stay. On the flip side Gysberts wants out and the club is happy to look for a trade, hopefully we will get a pick inside 30 for him.

I have heard that it is Rivers that is weighing up his options - not us 'getting rid of all his experience rah rah rah.'

Too many people jumping to conclusions.

yep.. and hes entitled to.

Whilst Riv might be weighing his. I suspect WE are the ones weighing Jordans !!

This is totally different to the trade period, this is free agency. The free agent system gives players a lot more bargaining power than they would have under the trade period where clubs determine the outcomes. Though I'm firmly in the camp of "I'll believe it when I see it" with respect to a number of these rumors, don't dismiss how much could change during this new era of free agency. Just look at some of the team sports in the US. In the NBA you can have teams trade away half their roster (6 players) in order to pick up 3 or 4 plus cash. Then they spend the cash on another player they want and enter the new season with only half their original roster retained. Though we wouldn't see half a list turnover yearly, don't underestimate how much change could happen in free agency. Players now have the capacity to find their way to premiership calibre teams without their current clubs holding them back.

Becoming a player manager just became a much more attractive, and possibly lucrative profession.

This is what I am alluding to.

It's not the trade table but FA will influence and create much more activity during the trade period.

You cant really separate the influence of FA now to Trade week. One may precipitate events at the other. Some players may pre-empt events others might watch and wait.

All things are joined

I've heard the same, the club wants to keep Rivers and it is Rivers that may be considering his option, I believe he will stay. On the flip side Gysberts wants out and the club is happy to look for a trade, hopefully we will get a pick inside 30 for him.

Correct on Riv.

People are talking Stef Martin to Collingwood, which may be true but I think we will possibly see Gysberts in black and white next year.

You cant really separate the influence of FA now to Trade week. One may precipitate events at the other. Some players may pre-empt events others might watch and wait.

All things are joined

Correct.

How many articles have the HS written that have turned out to be wrong about the trading/drafting period??

Neeld has denied Gys and Cook are unwanted. Denied that we wanted Cloke.

The HS has 500 footy writers that have to justify a job. Don't believe this shiite

Just because Neeld denies things dosn't mean they arn't true. At the current rate according to Neeld we arn't keen on anyone...

I have a feeling that all reported are in the radar, this is just Neeld little way at getting back at the media for all the crap they've given him and the MFC this year.

Edited September 10, 201212 yr by olisik

Just because Neeld denies things dosn't mean they arn't true. At the current rate according to Neeld we arn't keen on anyone...

I have a feeling that all reported are in the radar, this is just Neeld little way at getting back at the media for all the crap they've given him and the MFC this year.

Id actually give this some credence.

If for no other reason than astute trading why broadcast your intentions to all and sundry. Thats amateur hour.

I don't think the club want Rivers out.... I am happy for him to explore his options, I have tremendous respect for Jared and believe he deserves some finals footy with Geelong and he will be able to play a significant role.

If he stays. great.... If he leaves, then good luck Riv, I hope you play some finals.

We all tear our hair out at how bad the culture and standards have been at the MFC now for 10 years. We have been constantly told this year that we are only now becoming an 'elite' club and 'training with match-like intensity'. Rivers has been there during this entire period, and just like Moloney, Green, Jamar and Davey, is supposed to have been a leader and driven the standards. When Neeld demoted all those guys it was a clear statement he expects for that to now happen from Grimes, Trengove, Jones, Clark etc.

I think the writing was on the wall for Rivers when Neeld threw him forward, as Sellar is better at playing on the dinosaurs and can ruck, and Frawley and McDonald are 10 year defenders. Throw Watts and Garland into the mix as well as '3rd tall' defenders. I'd wish Jared all the best as I think he can be easily replaced back there.

We all tear our hair out at how bad the culture and standards have been at the MFC now for 10 years. We have been constantly told this year that we are only now becoming an 'elite' club and 'training with match-like intensity'. Rivers has been there during this entire period, and just like Moloney, Green, Jamar and Davey, is supposed to have been a leader and driven the standards. When Neeld demoted all those guys it was a clear statement he expects for that to now happen from Grimes, Trengove, Jones, Clark etc.

I think the writing was on the wall for Rivers when Neeld threw him forward, as Sellar is better at playing on the dinosaurs and can ruck, and Frawley and McDonald are 10 year defenders. Throw Watts and Garland into the mix as well as '3rd tall' defenders. I'd wish Jared all the best as I think he can be easily replaced back there.

I rate Rivers but it's pretty hard to argue with your post. If anything, Jared is just another product of an overarching culture of mediocrity. It's just plain unfortunate that the best part his career has been during this period.

Did he have the ability to change it by himself? No, and this is why the young blokes have been handed the reigns.

I'd be happy to trade gysberts if and only if we get a decent player in return. IMO draft picks should be out of the question we have enough of them we need players with afl pre seasons behind them Maybe Simon hogan?

I think some here are being "apologetic" MFC supporters and bracing themselves to lose a good player, that's the only explanation I have for some seeming to not care about losing a guy who's probably been our most consistent and underrated player. Did you notice a difference in our backline in the 2nd half of the year? Frawley struggled and had no rebound, Tommy Mc seemed a bit snowed under, Watts struggled, Joel Mac was probably our best backline player in the last 2 months. That all relates to Rivers. He's a supreme reader of the play, and great spoiler, really holds that back unit together.

Who will be the leader of the backilne if he goes? Chip needs to focus on his game for now, as does Watts and Tommy, Bartram may not even play again, Grimes is moving into the midfield, and the rest aren't really leaders as such. Make no mistake guys, Riv would be a HUGE loss to us in many ways.

Also, you guys seem to forget, we may not get anything for losing him. If we sign a free agent (high possibility) that the AFL judges to be of a similar level to what we've lost then we don't get any compensation.