WELCOME TO THE MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB - CHRIS DAWES

[DirtyDees DDC 190]

Who would you rather have at pick 20? Chris Dawes, or Quinten Lynch?

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Ps i wanna make love to Mark Neeld.

You said the same thing about Bailey.

[olisik 4,060]

When do senior coaches have holidays? I mean players are on holidays now while Neeld is busy during trade period and now about to go straight into pre-season training.

[QueensBirthday 186]

Make no mistake about it... This is going to be a huge signing for MFC. Dawes will impact the whole forward line and make everyone in it better.

If the mids can keep trending upwards the words "We will be the hardest team to play against!" will be ringing in every other teams ears for the next couple of years.

The neigh-sayers now will be eating their words like pigs going to a trough. I personally will be standing there and asking them if it tastes good... Does it!?!

Welcome to MFC Chris Dawes.

GO DEES!

[Jordie_tackles 354]

Just reviewing our mids and re-read this on Taggert who has yet to play a game

187cm 85kgs

Taggert is a strong midfielder who recorded a 14.8 beep test at the Draft Combine and was rated third in the vertical leap and in the top 10 for the clean hands test. Is a good athlete and penetrating kick but will need time to adjust to the pace and pressures of AFL football. The Horsham product moved to St Pat’s College Ballarat in his final year of school to play for the North Ballarat Rebels.

If he can get his body right he could fit right in there with Viney, Pick 4, Grimes, Howe, Jones, Trengove, Jordie etc

Sylvia, Blease, Gysberts, Tynan, Byrnes in rotation the cupboard is not as bare as we all think after 2012 we did not see the best of any of these players imo

[Jordie_tackles 354]

Who would you rather have at pick 20? Chris Dawes, or Quinten Lynch?

They have pick 20 and Q Lynch

I am happy with the deal though.

[Its Time for Another 4,306]

For those who expected we would be going all out to improve our midfield at all cost rather than yet more KPP's there is one very critical statistic that Neeld mentioned at season's end that seems to have fallen under the radar. Since round 11 we have broken even in inside 50's. This is a massive transformation. Probably the most significant improvement in the team's game since before Daniher left. So if that is already on the improve and we add in the mid's we are getting, we are going to need a Dawes more than any midfielder we could get at pick 20. In the context of the list and how the team is playing it looks like a bit of a no brainer. Even if we have clearly had to pay overs.

[Its Time for Another 4,306]

Remember next year we can still draft another solid mid in an uncompromised draft

Next year's draft will be compromised. The first two picks went this year in the mini draft, so pick 1 will really be pick 3. Also there will still be some GC & GWS compo picks which teams will probably use next year.

[olisik 4,060]

Next year's draft will be compromised. The first two picks went this year in the mini draft, so pick 1 will really be pick 3. Also there will still be some GC & GWS compo picks which teams will probably use next year.

I don't consider compo picks as really compromising the draft since now with FA every draft will have compo picks making it the norm.

In regards to the minidraft, they are not necessarily the first 2 picks of next years draft. They are the first 2 picks of players born between Jan - April. Their could be better players born throughout the rest of the year.

If anything it is a small compromise compared to the last 3 years.

[deejammin' 2,379]

Who would you rather have at pick 20? Chris Dawes, or Quinten Lynch?

For our list, Chris Dawes, Lynch's career would be over by the time our list is peaking.

[DemonWA 3,940]

Who would you rather have at pick 20? Chris Dawes, or Quinten Lynch?

if Quinten lynch was 24 id probably give you a different answer, but Chris Dawes as it stands now

[Sir Why You Little 37,371]

Remember 2-3 years ago the ball would often come streaming through the middle & a Colin Sylvia or equivilent would look up about to kick the ball...AND THE 50 METRE ARC WOULD BE A VACANT LOT!!! & they would have to kick sideways or backwards.

Remember that???

All those complaining about paying Dawes "overs"

We now have 2 BIG Targets. I don't really care what we paid for them.

I just want them to stay on the park and be confident.

[Bossdog 2,002]

Remember 2-3 years ago the ball would often come streaming through the middle & a Colin Sylvia or equivilent would look up about to kick the ball...AND THE 50 METRE ARC WOULD BE A VACANT LOT!!! & they would have to kick sideways or backwards.

Remember that???

All those complaining about paying Dawes "overs"

We now have 2 BIG Targets. I don't really care what we paid for them.

I just want them to stay on the park and be confident.

I agree with you wyl....It will be good...even a panic kick into the forward line might produce a mark to one of our big forwards....and if not an opportunity for the small forwards....Good for a change...

[Sir Why You Little 37,371]

I agree with you wyl....It will be good...even a panic kick into the forward line might produce a mark to one of our big forwards....and if not an opportunity for the small forwards....Good for a change...

absolutely.

How many of those sideways or backwards kicks ended up being a turnover goal???

Killing the spirit.

We have used our draft numbers to fill gaping holes. That is what they are for.

We can still get kids...

I don't want another 5 year plan. I want a plan for 2013.....

And then a new plan for 2014.

[PaulRB 6,435]

If so we should have held onto Beamer, he excelled at the long bomb.

[Sir Why You Little 37,371]

If so we should have held onto Beamer, he excelled at the long bomb.

no point in keeping Beamer. He wanted out before 2012 began.

[cfe 30]

What do you think re the comments today from Neeld that:

1. Dawes will play forward

2. Watts will play back

Given these statements and the new ruck rules around the ground, it seems to me that MFC won't want to trade Martin away. These new rules would seem to favour his style over that of Jamar (and Dawes, although they've said he won't be rucking anyway).

[deejammin' 2,379]

Its also been reported that we will play Clark as back-up ruck. Not sure I like this.

[beelzebub 23,390]

What do you think re the comments today from Neeld that:

1. Dawes will play forward

2. Watts will play back

Given these statements and the new ruck rules around the ground, it seems to me that MFC won't want to trade Martin away. These new rules would seem to favour his style over that of Jamar (and Dawes, although they've said he won't be rucking anyway).

Neeld and Harrington have both said that Clark 'could " be used on occasions to ruck. I see that as a back up situation and not part of any great scheme to get Clarky rucking. He is the kingpin of the fwd set up ( just that he can ) I would think Pedersen if snaffled could also o a pinch hit job. Both these are football brain players. martin unfortunately for all his ability and athleticism just gets lost in traffic often.

Dawes is s forward, hes been secured as a forward to play as a forward. period. watts might have been drafted as a supposed fwd but hes playing his best footy across the half back and this is where i see his future.. a very able half back who can move fwd and score.

What this tells me is these guys ( Neeld etc ) have eyes and a brain. They also have a plan .

Im happy

[Jordie_tackles 354]

Next year's draft will be compromised. The first two picks went this year in the mini draft, so pick 1 will really be pick 3. Also there will still be some GC & GWS compo picks which teams will probably use next year.

It is compromised, but both Martin and Hogan are only top 5 picks this far out, and are both potential #2 in their position also. the top 10 is always good so we will be able to get another couple mids in the future rather than all at the one time.

edit - we took the KPF while we could because you dont often get the choice on when to take them in a real draft, mids are always available in the top 30, not quality talls

[Bossdog 2,002]

Our forward line looks a lot better than Rivers and Garland being up there like the last half of last year....

[Deestroy All 14,266]

Our forward line looks a lot better than Rivers and Garland being up there like the last half of last year....

Haha, I had almost already forgotten about that. And at times they actually made a decent fist of it. A couple of real forwards up there will be refreshing.

[cfe 30]

Neeld and Harrington have both said that Clark 'could " be used on occasions to ruck. I see that as a back up situation and not part of any great scheme to get Clarky rucking. He is the kingpin of the fwd set up ( just that he can ) I would think Pedersen if snaffled could also o a pinch hit job. Both these are football brain players. martin unfortunately for all his ability and athleticism just gets lost in traffic often.

Dawes is s forward, hes been secured as a forward to play as a forward. period. watts might have been drafted as a supposed fwd but hes playing his best footy across the half back and this is where i see his future.. a very able half back who can move fwd and score.

What this tells me is these guys ( Neeld etc ) have eyes and a brain. They also have a plan .

Im happy

So, if all healthy, ruck division is Jamar/Clark 65/35?

Clark is a better ruck option than Dawes no doubt, but you want him spending as little time out of the forward line as possible I imagine. For all his great qualities, you don't want Dawes as your primary forward target (ie Dawes + resting Jamar while Clark rucks). That's why I though Martin would be a key to this.

Ie Jamar and Martin do the lions share of the ruckwork, with Clark in there only as a last resort really.

Not that I know too much about it, but I would've though ruckwork wouldn't be ideal for Clark's foot injury either.

[Pates 9,691]

What do you think re the comments today from Neeld that:

1. Dawes will play forward

2. Watts will play back

Given these statements and the new ruck rules around the ground, it seems to me that MFC won't want to trade Martin away. These new rules would seem to favour his style over that of Jamar (and Dawes, although they've said he won't be rucking anyway).

Depends on a few factors. If we get Pederson then what (if any) role will Stef have in our best 22? If we don't get Pederson (from all reports unlikely), how will we play Stef?

The other question is how will big Max come on after a full pre-season? As you pointed out with the new ruck rules it favours the taller ruckmen, and if Gawn is able to keep himself out on the park and develop some skills he would surely be a better option than Stef.

Dawes should not, and will not ruck. Would rather the same for Mitch but could be our relief ruck if needed.

[skills32 229]

You said the same thing about Bailey.

And he woke up the next morning with an ugly.