Lolz... Yeah BIG FISH! Who exactly do you propose? What "big fish" are available? How many of them want to come to MFC? You claim others are living in fantasy land and then you say something totally unrealistic... Sheeeesh

We're on a slow build. At this stage none of the "big fish" or "A graders" want to come to MFC, so we go after some medium fish and some B graders so we can improve enough to start to attract the big fish.

If our timing is right in 4 years or so we could attract one of the highest paid fishes out the in Tom Scu...

If our timing is right in 4 years or so we could attract one of the highest paid fishes out the in Tom Scu...

That guy is more of a tadpole so far

Lolz... Yeah BIG FISH! Who exactly do you propose? What "big fish" are available? How many of them want to come to MFC? You claim others are living in fantasy land and then you say something totally unrealistic... Sheeeesh

We're on a slow build. At this stage none of the "big fish" or "A graders" want to come to MFC, so we go after some medium fish and some B graders so we can improve enough to start to attract the big fish.

Sorry but that's the kind of attitude that has kept us at the wrong end of the ladder for so long. We landed Clark because of a very different attitude. The fact we're looking at some B graders doesn't mean we can't attract an A grader right now. The thing is who is the A grader we want who's available? We have the money, we have a quality coaching staff, we play at the best ground in the world and we have some solid draft picks. We're not the right off you seem to imply we are.

Sorry but that's the kind of attitude that has kept us at the wrong end of the ladder for so long. We landed Clark because of a very different attitude. The fact we're looking at some B graders doesn't mean we can't attract an A grader right now. The thing is who is the A grader we want who's available? We have the money, we have a quality coaching staff, we play at the best ground in the world and we have some solid draft picks. We're not the right off you seem to imply we are.

Ok mate, so tell which "big fish" we're going to sign this offseason then? Come on, name an A grader you think we'll get?

Ok mate, so tell which "big fish" we're going to sign this offseason then? Come on, name an A grader you think we'll get?

Don't get offended. Read my post again. I don't know who it is the club wants but saying we can't land a gun recruit because of who we are and where we are currently at is only going to keep us here longer

Don't get offended. Read my post again. I don't know who it is the club wants but saying we can't land a gun recruit because of who we are and where we are currently at is only going to keep us here longer

Get back to reality mate. Not only are we having trouble attracting "big fish" but our own players are asking to leave.

The only way to get these A graders is to have cash AND success, and the way to get there is to get better players to take us to that stage, which is what this offseason is all about. So we will be signing B graders to help improve us to the stage where we will be an attractive proposition to A graders.

Get back to reality mate. Not only are we having trouble attracting "big fish" but our own players are asking to leave.

The only way to get these A graders is to have cash AND success, and the way to get there is to get better players to take us to that stage, which is what this offseason is all about. So we will be signing B graders to help improve us to the stage where we will be an attractive proposition to A graders.

You still miss my point which I'm not going to repeat for a third time. By the way who's asking to leave that The coaching staff want to stay? Don't come back with Moloney. Jones took his game to another level with sheer will and effort. Moloney wasn't able to so bye bye

You still miss my point which I'm not going to repeat for a third time. By the way who's asking to leave that The coaching staff want to stay? Don't come back with Moloney. Jones took his game to another level with sheer will and effort. Moloney wasn't able to so bye bye

No I get your point mate, but it's naive. You're one of those "we need to demand success" types who have no idea of what we need to do to actually get to that stage.

Well yes Moloney, a Bluey winner has walked out, Rivers looks likely to as well, and Green has left with rumours he will play elsewhere next year. In case you have a short memory, that's 3 of our BEST senior players in recent times. Of course, this doesn't include Bate who wants to leave, Lawrence who's left, Jurrah....

By the way, you didn't repeat your point, you just went on to another topic, maybe because you're not grasping this one.

Just ask the Swans on how to recruit players from other clubs & turn them around!

Little fish are sweet!

Sydney have 12 recycled players, Hawthorn 10. 'nuf said

Little fish are sweet!

Sydney have 12 recycled players, Hawthorn 10. 'nuf said

I get your point but you are probably over stating it a bit here "angry", not all are recycled players. Out of the Hawthorn GF team none are what could really be considered a recycled payer, all were actively traded from clubs where they were regular and required players reluctantly let go. Gibson, Burgoyne and Gunston would all be in the top 22 of the clubs they came from with Hale being borderline, he might be considered recycled.

From the Sydney team you could count a few, Shaw, Richards, Kennedy, Mattner and Morton. Mumford was a required developing player at Geelong, they didn't want to let him go but just couldn't match the offer from Sydney.

No I get your point mate, but it's naive. You're one of those "we need to demand success" types who have no idea of what we need to do to actually get to that stage.

Well yes Moloney, a Bluey winner has walked out, Rivers looks likely to as well, and Green has left with rumours he will play elsewhere next year. In case you have a short memory, that's 3 of our BEST senior players in recent times. Of course, this doesn't include Bate who wants to leave, Lawrence who's left, Jurrah....

By the way, you didn't repeat your point, you just went on to another topic, maybe because you're not grasping this one.

I'm trying not to jump in on you're argument - but I read this and wasn't sure if this was a point against or a point for

All the players you have named above are NQRs, good players on their day (note i used their day - ie when conditions are suit them) but you won't see me shedding a tear with their depatures. We need mature bodies I am not arguing with you there - but we need to target the right people as well to lead this club.

None of those MFC players are 'Top 50' rated, none of them are consistent and none of them will leave a massive hole at the MFC. (Apologies to Greeny - you are a club champion but even you laser left boot was letting you down lately).

To end my little rant - Neeld has elected to rebuild this list - it won't happen overnight in 1 offseason, if we don't get the FA we want we will go to draft or trade, and maintain development.

We are going to need a lot of good luck this offseason if we are gong to be competitive this year

Anyway back on subject - there is a lot of talk of picking anyone up on thie forum - and some scare mongering about we are de-listing so many so we'll have to pick up more rejects....

Neeld has come out and said that he'll target players they want at the club - I'll continue to back his judgement to the extent he starts building a competitive list.... It is noteworthy that we did lose a lot of games this year - but there were only a couple there we were truly un-competitive and had no chance

No I get your point mate, but it's naive. You're one of those "we need to demand success" types who have no idea of what we need to do to actually get to that stage.

Well yes Moloney, a Bluey winner has walked out, Rivers looks likely to as well, and Green has left with rumours he will play elsewhere next year. In case you have a short memory, that's 3 of our BEST senior players in recent times. Of course, this doesn't include Bate who wants to leave, Lawrence who's left, Jurrah....

By the way, you didn't repeat your point, you just went on to another topic, maybe because you're not grasping this one.

Moloney, Rivers, Green, Lawrence, Bate and Jurrah. I'm not going to say any more than just listing their names. It should be plainly obvious what they would offer the club if they were all to stay.

How about you name the A Grader who's available that we can't attract. How about we go back a year and relive the signing of Mitch Clark.

By the way I did repeat my point.

However I think that some people are in fantasy land(and I say that with the utmost respect as this forum is made of peoples hope) We currently have the dollars and draft picks so lets buy 1 or 2 big fish if we can coax them and draft the best kids. I dont think we are in a position to get players that cant get a game in a top 8 club and hope they become players that will take us to finals. I know people will say what about Josh Kennedy etc. Yes it happens sometimes but we cant afford to take a chance.

We need proven contributors and kids that NEELD can mould into his thinking.

OK lets look at some of the players mentioned on this site:

Shannon Byrnes - contributed to a premiership

Scott Gumbleton - has proven that he is injuury-prone, but can kick goals when fit

Koby Stevens - starved of oppurtunities, but certainly has some potential to be a quality player

Cam Pedersen - proven gun at VFL level, never really been given a genuine shot at AFL

Josh Caddy - tough midfielder who has been developing ok in a side he cleary hasn't wanting to be playing for

Sharrod Wellingham - he might not be Swan or Pendlebury or Beams or Thomas or Sideass, but he is a cog in the machine that is the collingwood midfield.

Living in "fantasy land" is thinking that Melbourne can just simply buy the best players. At this point in time, Melbourne is (or one of) the most undesirable club to play at.

Richmond, and I really do hate to say this, are a club that we should be drawing some inspiration from. Guys like Grigg, Houli and Maric aren't exactly 'big fish', but are players who were deprived of game-time at their original club and are now regulars in the tiges best 22. I have no problem whatsoever, if the club were to take a risk on some of the players mentioned on this site. We have nothing to lose, and cannot get any worse.

OK lets look at some of the players mentioned on this site:

Shannon Byrnes - contributed to a premiership

Scott Gumbleton - has proven that he is injuury-prone, but can kick goals when fit

Koby Stevens - starved of oppurtunities, but certainly has some potential to be a quality player

Cam Pedersen - proven gun at VFL level, never really been given a genuine shot at AFL

Josh Caddy - tough midfielder who has been developing ok in a side he cleary hasn't wanting to be playing for

Sharrod Wellingham - he might not be Swan or Pendlebury or Beams or Thomas or Sideass, but he is a cog in the machine that is the collingwood midfield.

Living in "fantasy land" is thinking that Melbourne can just simply buy the best players. At this point in time, Melbourne is (or one of) the most undesirable club to play at.

Richmond, and I really do hate to say this, are a club that we should be drawing some inspiration from. Guys like Grigg, Houli and Maric aren't exactly 'big fish', but are players who were deprived of game-time at their original club and are now regulars in the tiges best 22. I have no problem whatsoever, if the club were to take a risk on some of the players mentioned on this site. We have nothing to lose, and cannot get any worse.

Totally agree with this and Neeld has openly said that Hardwick is a bit of a blueprint for him. Similar situation regarding list management I think.

Too many people think we can just go out there, dangle some money and land a superstar but it just isn't realistic.

Oh come on. Pie in the sky speculation about other club's players and how they are coming to save us are part and parcel of posting on the 'Land. Where would the board be without it?!

.........................

Too many people think we can just go out there, dangle some money and land a superstar but it just isn't realistic.

Reality is that we HAVE to land at least 1 big fish. We have massive salary cap room (reported as $2m in one article), and unless the rules have changed, we have to pay minimum 92.5% of the full cap; and the clubs stated aim is to pay 100%.

You'd have to think that the club has some gettable targets in the frame. (If we don't, we will be going to the AFL asking for special dispensation to pay less than 92.5%.)

Reality is that we HAVE to land at least 1 big fish. We have massive salary cap room (reported as $2m in one article), and unless the rules have changed, we have to pay minimum 92.5% of the full cap; and the clubs stated aim is to pay 100%.

You'd have to think that the club has some gettable targets in the frame. (If we don't, we will be going to the AFL asking for special dispensation to pay less than 92.5%.)

I'd love it if we did but the reality is, as many have said already, there is nothing attractive (at the moment) about our club other than the money we can offer and for most players it seems money is the be all and end all.

As well as that, as Stuie has pointed out, there aren't really any top line players floating around at the moment.

I don't think it really matters if they develop into another Kennedy or not, they may become B graders or something similar and premiership teams (I know this is obviously a while away) are nothing without these sorts of players supporting their guns!

Let's all of us be realistic -MFC need the following-

Seriously try to retain Rivers.

Try to gain Pedersen & Stevens

Pick up two mids as well as Viney.

And furthermore pick up a tall forward like Membrey.

These are my thoughts.

I've been quite hooked on reading the possible trade and rumor threads. Its like trying to guess what Santa is going to bring.

However I think that some people are in fantasy land(and I say that with the utmost respect as this forum is made of peoples hope) We currently have the dollars and draft picks so lets buy 1 or 2 big fish if we can coax them and draft the best kids. I dont think we are in a position to get players that cant get a game in a top 8 club and hope they become players that will take us to finals. I know people will say what about Josh Kennedy etc. Yes it happens sometimes but we cant afford to take a chance.

We need proven contributors and kids that NEELD can mould into his thinking.

Why Neeld in Caps?

Melbourne's worry is the exodus of arguably our best players for the reason of discontent. Rivers(looks gone), Moloney and Jurrah just to name 3. It's speculation but others will follow. "Neeld can mould into his thinking". What does that mean? Apart from "rejects" and some young draftees, i.e. Viney, who is coming? To compound the worry is who would want to come in this climate? Sellar types aren't going to get us up the ladder.

Would be better off keeping Rivers(our best defender) and letting Sellar go. Problem here is obvious. No other team would touch Sellar with a barge pole.

Let's all of us be realistic -MFC need the following-

Seriously try to retain Rivers.

Try to gain Pedersen & Stevens

Pick up two mids as well as Viney.

And furthermore pick up a tall forward like Membrey.

These are my thoughts.

While I'd have no qualms in drafting Membrey, he can hardly be called a tall forward.

Anyway back on subject - there is a lot of talk of picking anyone up on thie forum - and some scare mongering about we are de-listing so many so we'll have to pick up more rejects....

Neeld has come out and said that he'll target players they want at the club - I'll continue to back his judgement to the extent he starts building a competitive list.... It is noteworthy that we did lose a lot of games this year - but there were only a couple there we were truly un-competitive and had no chance

Who cares if you back Neeld's judgement? Facts are we are losing our best players and no prominent replacements on the horizon. Very sad to say but things are looking like a train wreck for 2014.

While I'd have no qualms in drafting Membrey, he can hardly be called a tall forward.

188cms, pretty undersized. Would play good as a third option a la Gunston or Darling, but we need that second KPF first.

I agree with Mono. We need to land 1 Big Fish. Money must talk.

If Rivers goes & is not replaced i am not confident of anything. But i am not inside the walls.