WELCOME TO THE MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB - CHRIS DAWES

[olisik 4,060]

He's not big or smart enough.

Garland can be extremely smart and nifty around goals i think. He was drafted as a Forward and could provide good support as a 3rd tall.

[pantaloons 2,019]

Nasher if Hogan becomes what we hope, then we will have him and Mitch Clark in the key forward posts, meaning Dawes won't get a game.

I cannot justify trading pick 20 in a strong draft for a stop-gap measure who we would hope doesn't make our best side in two years' time.

You cannot have enough quality mids and this is what we should target with 4 and 20. Previous drafts suggest that it is entirely possible to pick up A grade mids at pick 20.

Scoop, you've convinced me. I've been keen on getting Dawes across but my one concern was the one you raise with there being no room for Dawes with Clark and Hogan in the forwardline. I think you're right, and surely it has crossed Dawes' mind since the Hogan deal was completed that the very thing that is making him want to leave Collingwood, being effectively replaced, is going to be an issue for him at the MFC before his contract expires at the end of 2014.

If we do keep 20 and use it on a mid though, we still have a gaping cavity at CHF. Can someone who has spent precious hours of their life watching North Melbourne games please inform me as to how much of an upgrade over Sellar Pedersen would be? If he can perform the role semi-adequately and come across for a fourth or fifth rounder, then that's the way I'm leaning now.

[Bring Back Barassi 552]

.... hearing that Dawes doesn't want to be a Dee now

[Chelly 810]

Scoop, you've convinced me. I've been keen on getting Dawes across but my one concern was the one you raise with there being no room for Dawes with Clark and Hogan in the forwardline. I think you're right, and surely it has crossed Dawes' mind since the Hogan deal was completed that the very thing that is making him want to leave Collingwood, being effectively replaced, is going to be an issue for him at the MFC before his contract expires at the end of 2014.

If we do keep 20 and use it on a mid though, we still have a gaping cavity at CHF. Can someone who has spent precious hours of their life watching North Melbourne games please inform me as to how much of an upgrade over Sellar Pedersen would be? If he can perform the role semi-adequately and come across for a fourth or fifth rounder, then that's the way I'm leaning now.

Here's an idea. Why not get a bit of weight onto Jack Watts' body and try him in a key forward position. I seem to recall him being drafted four years ago to fill that role.

[lucifer 119]

.... hearing that Dawes doesn't want to be a Dee now

Who's saying that?

[spirit of norm smith 16,440]

Scoop, you've convinced me. I've been keen on getting Dawes across but my one concern was the one you raise with there being no room for Dawes with Clark and Hogan in the forwardline. I think you're right, and surely it has crossed Dawes' mind since the Hogan deal was completed that the very thing that is making him want to leave Collingwood, being effectively replaced, is going to be an issue for him at the MFC before his contract expires at the end of 2014.

If we do keep 20 and use it on a mid though, we still have a gaping cavity at CHF. Can someone who has spent precious hours of their life watching North Melbourne games please inform me as to how much of an upgrade over Sellar Pedersen would be? If he can perform the role semi-adequately and come across for a fourth or fifth rounder, then that's the way I'm leaning now.

Pedersen will be a VERY good player if we can do a trade. He is more versatile than such players as Dawes. Pedersen can play across half fwd, deep fwd or half back if needed. He is our next target IMO

[Hannibal 5,814]

.... hearing that Dawes doesn't want to be a Dee now

You mean he's already seen Hogan's highlights ?

[45HG 1,539]

Am I the only one amused by comparing the heading of this story with its first sentence?

[beelzebub 23,347]

Am I the only one amused by comparing the heading of this story with its first sentence?

What is it that they say, don't let facts get in the way !!! Lol

I wonder if much of the reason why we haven't done a deal is simply we aren't desperate for him so won't get sucked in. Walsh wil be pumping up all the tyres. Harrington knows there are options. We have far more options than they do here.

The best haggling often involves the the suitor being prepared to genuinely walk away. We can and might.

There's weeks to go lol

[Ron Burgundy 8,584]

Pick 20 for Dawes?

Don't do this Dees - too high a price for a mediocre footballer.

We need midfielders and I want us to use picks 4 and 20 on midfielders.

We've done very well so far, let's not spoil it by trading away a valuable pick.

I think we have enough talls on our list, but if they want some experience then I'd prefer a cheaper option.

Neeld knows we need quality mids more than anyone. After all, he was the Pies midfield coach and our midfield was useless last year, something I expect he also noticed.

But we don't just need mids - we need quality mids. Pick 20 won't ensure a bullet proof midfielder, even though it could get a really good one.

However, we also need an effective forward line. Again, we need quality forwards.

For pick 20, I reckon Dawes would be a fantastic get. We'll see a very different forward structure in 2013 if we manage to land him - and I reckon Clark would be high fiving literally everyone if we get him.

That said, I'm not sure we'll actually be able to get Dawes across the line. It's no certainty - and we don't necessarily hold all the aces like some here seem to think.

[Bring Back Barassi 552]

if the guy doesnt want to come, we are not going to get him, and from what im hearing from inside the club, he is not leaning towards us at this stage

[Longsufferingnomore 1,631]

if the guy doesnt want to come, we are not going to get him, and from what im hearing from inside the club, he is not leaning towards us at this stage

If the Doggies are the other Club after him why would you choose them over us. We have a better list.(They just dont play like it.) It would only be for a better offer - money talks. It was only a couple of days ago and the word was that he was leaning towards MFC.I thnk the Club has so far played the Drafting game very well and I would have confidence that we will not pay over the odds to secure him. Obviously the Club has taken heed of Demonlanders angst about giving too much away for Dawes (not). The unknown is how much Carlton want him and would he be in the same position at Carlton as he is currently at Westpac Centre. There is a longterm recruiting plan in play and far too much chestbeating here.

[picket fence 17,141]

I disagree I would definately part with pick 20 for a big bodied proven premiership player who would greatly assist Mitch Clark for a couple of years!!

Oh I forgot we already have this type of player in spades!!

Edited October 9, 2012 by picket fence

[Redleg 40,895]

If the Doggies are the other Club after him why would you choose them over us. We have a better list.(They just dont play like it.) It would only be for a better offer - money talks. It was only a couple of days ago and the word was that he was leaning towards MFC.I thnk the Club has so far played the Drafting game very well and I would have confidence that we will not pay over the odds to secure him. Obviously the Club has taken heed of Demonlanders angst about giving too much away for Dawes (not). The unknown is how much Carlton want him and would he be in the same position at Carlton as he is currently at Westpac Centre. There is a longterm recruiting plan in play and far too much chestbeating here.

Not to mention that he would be turning his back on a reunion with Neeld and Brown. In the last half of this season the Dogs were the worst team by a mile and with an ageing list. You are probably right, the Dogs are probably offering more bones at the kennel.

[PaulRB 6,362]

If the Doggies are the other Club after him why would you choose them over us. We have a better list.(They just dont play like it.) It would only be for a better offer - money talks. It was only a couple of days ago and the word was that he was leaning towards MFC.I thnk the Club has so far played the Drafting game very well and I would have confidence that we will not pay over the odds to secure him. Obviously the Club has taken heed of Demonlanders angst about giving too much away for Dawes (not). The unknown is how much Carlton want him and would he be in the same position at Carlton as he is currently at Westpac Centre. There is a longterm recruiting plan in play and far too much chestbeating here.

He'd prefer the doggies as he'd be more likely to be in their team for longer than at Melb given the Hogan recruitment.

Dawes is 24 looking to play for 6+ years at his next club and we've just recruited the "next" big gun forward to join Clark...

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

I don't see why we can't have three big forwards in the one team, especially as it is unlikely all three will be fit at the same time.

[hardtack 10,537]

If the Doggies are the other Club after him why would you choose them over us. We have a better list.(They just dont play like it.) It would only be for a better offer - money talks.

Well, I would have thought that money shouldn't be a real issue for us...with Cloke, Tippet, Wellingham etc out of the picture, our "war chest" is still in tact, so if $'s are the sticking point, we should be able to offer Dawes at least something better than the Doggies (worthwhile doing in my opinion); unless of course, there is an A grader waiting in the wings that we don't know about(?), which I highly doubt.

[picket fence 17,141]

And if IF Hogan takes time to develop????

Where are we then??

Given our great record of developing players( not) I would hope the DEES do the Daws deal TODAY!!

[olisik 4,060]

I was more for mids mids mids but after thinking about it compared to say collingwood they have 5 - 6 main ones and it trickles away

Pendlebury, Thomas, Sidebottom, Beams, Swan

we have who are capable of this

Grimes, Trengove, Viney, Howe, Blease, Sylvia, Pick 4 and Jones and we will probably look at drafting maybe Josh Kelly or someone similar next year.

I think Dawes would be good for 20.

Would have also made a world a difference if Green held out for one more season until Hogan was ready

[spirit of norm smith 16,440]

Our options are pick 20 for Dawes, or look at an alternative being getting Cam Pedersen from Kangas (for 3rd round pick around 46) keep pick 20 for a quality mid. Mids around pick 18-25 are Lowrie, Graha, Atkins and 22yo Dean Towers. My preference is Towers and Pedersen.

[Hannibal 5,814]

Neeld knows we need quality mids more than anyone. After all, he was the Pies midfield coach and our midfield was useless last year, something I expect he also noticed.

But we don't just need mids - we need quality mids. Pick 20 won't ensure a bullet proof midfielder, even though it could get a really good one.

However, we also need an effective forward line. Again, we need quality forwards.

For pick 20, I reckon Dawes would be a fantastic get. We'll see a very different forward structure in 2013 if we manage to land him - and I reckon Clark would be high fiving literally everyone if we get him.

At one of his "coach meets the supporters" type function that my Brother attended mid year Neeld made mention numerous times that we needed pace in the midfield. Dom Barry helps, Blease will be trained to spend more time up the ground, Viney has good pace for an inside mid, Byrnes will occasionally push higher up the ground, but I still think they want another line breaker in the midfield. I agree that they need to have class.

I'd also like Dawes for structure, but I think Pedersen can perform the Dawes role just (nearly) as well. I like Nick Graham at pick 20, but perhaps they've got their eyes on Dean Towers (likened to Isaac Smith), who at 189cm with real speed and a mature age (21), could be a good fit. Or maybe they see Farren Ray providing that type of outside speed.

Also, Dawes may want to go to Carlton. He'll have a good relationship with Malthouse and they too could use him for structure. But would Collingwood want Dawes ending up with Malthouse at Carlton ? And how would they get him ? He's not worth pick 11, so I'm not sure how Carlton could trump pick 20. The problem may be that Dawes won't go to Melbourne.

[hardtack 10,537]

Our options are pick 20 for Dawes, or look at an alternative being getting Cam Pedersen from Kangas (for 3rd round pick around 46) keep pick 20 for a quality mid. Mids around pick 18-25 are Lowrie, Graha, Atkins and 22yo Dean Towers. My preference is Towers and Pedersen.

I would think that if Dawes is willing to come to the club, take him at pick 20... how certain can the MFC be that Pedersen will not be snapped up before they can get him in the third round?

[Cards13 9,117]

At one of his "coach meets the supporters" type function that my Brother attended mid year Neeld made mention numerous times that we needed pace in the midfield. Dom Barry helps, Blease will be trained to spend more time up the ground, Viney has good pace for an inside mid, Byrnes will occasionally push higher up the ground, but I still think they want another line breaker in the midfield. I agree that they need to have class.

I'd also like Dawes for structure, but I think Pedersen can perform the Dawes role just (nearly) as well. I like Nick Graham at pick 20, but perhaps they've got their eyes on Dean Towers (likened to Isaac Smith), who at 189cm with real speed and a mature age (21), could be a good fit. Or maybe they see Farren Ray providing that type of outside speed.

Also, Dawes may want to go to Carlton. He'll have a good relationship with Malthouse and they too could use him for structure. But would Collingwood want Dawes ending up with Malthouse at Carlton ? And how would they get him ? He's not worth pick 11, so I'm not sure how Carlton could trump pick 20. The problem may be that Dawes won't go to Melbourne.

BH personally I think 2 at a minimum with the "outside" leg speed is a must with one being a "mature" player ready to go. I know we will have improvement from those on the list currently but still feel we are 2 short of this in our current state at that role.

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

At one of his "coach meets the supporters" type function that my Brother attended mid year Neeld made mention numerous times that we needed pace in the midfield. Dom Barry helps, Blease will be trained to spend more time up the ground, Viney has good pace for an inside mid, Byrnes will occasionally push higher up the ground, but I still think they want another line breaker in the midfield. I agree that they need to have class.

I'd also like Dawes for structure, but I think Pedersen can perform the Dawes role just (nearly) as well. I like Nick Graham at pick 20, but perhaps they've got their eyes on Dean Towers (likened to Isaac Smith), who at 189cm with real speed and a mature age (21), could be a good fit. Or maybe they see Farren Ray providing that type of outside speed.

Also, Dawes may want to go to Carlton. He'll have a good relationship with Malthouse and they too could use him for structure. But would Collingwood want Dawes ending up with Malthouse at Carlton ? And how would they get him ? He's not worth pick 11, so I'm not sure how Carlton could trump pick 20. The problem may be that Dawes won't go to Melbourne.

There's an article on the AFL website saying that Carlton will be observing the trade/free agency period and not participating. I've also read that they are not interested in Dawes.

His options at the moment appear to be limited.

[Redleg 40,895]

There's an article on the AFL website saying that Carlton will be observing the trade/free agency period and not participating. I've also read that they are not interested in Dawes.

His options at the moment appear to be limited.

As do the Pies. they need him off their books. Dogs have offered 27, we have 20 and may want to keep that. Swap with Martin still looks good for Pies who get their ruckman/forward. Otherwise if Gysberts goes that should be another second rounder as will Rivers/Moloney FA comp if they can do their deals. Maybe even Petterd and a late pick could do the deal. He has had good games against them.

Edited October 10, 2012 by Redleg