Martin for Ray!

It will happen. Martin doesn't want to go interstate so I can't see the Lions in the picture.

Whale songs, a crisp, light chianti and some scented candles.....

And a box of man sized tissues.

Martin for Ray!

It will happen. Martin doesn't want to go interstate so I can't see the Lions in the picture.

Do you know that for a fact that he doesn't want to go interstate, or are you just guessing?

Obviously we'll look to get the Pedersen deal done .... Pedersen deal could be as simple as a straight swap with Pick 49.

Not as things stands it seems, North want something higher than that for him. We were obviously expecting more by way of the FA comp, so now need to find a way of getting in a pick in the thirties that we can (on) trade. Smells like a 3-way deal in the offing if it's to happen.

Martin is probably the key here, because he's the only obvious trade bait we have that could get us anything of worth.

I could be massively wrong on this point, but I think recruiting Dawes has made Petterd's skills more relevant to our forward line.

Petterd cannot seem to hold the first or second tall position in our forward line. That said, I think next to Clark, Dawes and Byrnes, there is now a role for a leading type, mid sized forward like Petterd.

I think he could add dimensionality to our forward line now. Will be disappointed to see him traded.

This is a fantastic post. Hadn't crossed my mind at all. I like it though. But couldn't Howe play that role?

Do you know that for a fact that he doesn't want to go interstate, or are you just guessing?

I think he is in the same boat as Dawes. Didn't want to go interstate because of study!

I maybe wrong! No fact.

Not as things stands it seems, North want something higher than that for him. We were obviously expecting more by way of the FA comp, so now need to find a way of getting in a pick in the thirties that we can (on) trade. Smells like a 3-way deal in the offing if it's to happen.

Martin is probably the key here, because he's the only obvious trade bait we have that could get us anything of worth.

Have no idea what Noth require, but a pick in the 30's sounds very rich for a bloke who only played a couple of games last year. Mathew Bate played more than that didn't he? What would our return be on a Bate trade? Would prefer to keep the latter if North are simply being greedy. Feel Bate and Dunn could pinch hit with Dawes and Clark about and until Hogan steps up to the plate.

And a box of man sized tissues.

Gently dipped in lanolin.....

Pettard and Davey are no longer up to AFL standard.

Petterd's shoulders are not AFL standard I fear.

I think people are looking for excuses to keep Petterd.

He didn't get a look in with Neeld and the club has actively looked to change the structure of the forward line with proper talls (Dawes, Hogan, Pederson) and proper smalls (Byrnes) rather than in betweeners like Petterd. That says that Ricky will be playing country/state league footy next year.

In the wash up if we complete trade week and have acquired Viney, Hogan, Barry, Byrnes, Dawes, Pedersen and Ray with pick 4 still in the drawer then it's been a brilliant off-season on the back of landing Clark last year. Five or 6 of those will be in our best 22 next year and I suspect all in 2014, which will mean a third of the team's best 22 will have changed within one season. This is the type of momentum that starts filtering through an entire group as they see tangible improvements that they're desperate to be a part of.

Add natural improvement through development, fitness, and maturation of others on the list and some blue sky will definitely start appearing regularly.

In the wash up if we complete trade week and have acquired Viney, Hogan, Barry, Byrnes, Dawes, Pedersen and Ray with pick 4 still in the drawer then it's been a brilliant off-season

Spot on mate. Big picture people. We've won the draft pick premiership for a few years, time to start planning for the real one.

Spot on mate. Big picture people. We've won the draft pick premiership for a few years, time to start planning for the real one.

I think a big issue is that when we languish at or near the bottom of the ladder, nobody wants to come and play for us. If we improve to around 10th, and show improvement, and don't shoot ourselves in the foot with administration screw ups, then we have the chance to attract either someone like Goddard or a young gun like Caddy. At present, we're not on their radar. We're not going to play finals next year, but we need to show we're on the way.

I think a big issue is that when we languish at or near the bottom of the ladder, nobody wants to come and play for us. If we improve to around 10th, and show improvement, and don't shoot ourselves in the foot with administration screw ups, then we have the chance to attract either someone like Goddard or a young gun like Caddy. At present, we're not on their radar. We're not going to play finals next year, but we need to show we're on the way.

Exactly mate. I've said a million times here on 'Land that this offseason is about getting the players who will (hopefully) get us into a position where A graders will see us as a finals chance and will consider coming to a club on the rise.

The timing could even work out really well should we be looking a finals chance the same time some of the Gold Coast/GWS guns have developed and start thinking about coming home.

I think people are looking for excuses to keep Petterd.

He didn't get a look in with Neeld and the club has actively looked to change the structure of the forward line with proper talls (Dawes, Hogan, Pederson) and proper smalls (Byrnes) rather than in betweeners like Petterd. That says that Ricky will be playing country/state league footy next year.

My sister works with an ex-player who attended jamars wedding and spoke to Ricky who said he would definitely be at Melbourne next year!!

My sister works with an ex-player who attended jamars wedding and spoke to Ricky who said he would definitely be at Melbourne next year!!

That's good news!

It's no secret that I rate Petterd higher than Bate,Morton or Dunn.

Of course we can get something for Martin! ..because he's a great athlete & probably a better ruckman the next 2+ years than anyone we've got, so we should KEEP Martin unless Gws offers pick 1 - 2 or 3, nothing less. Trading Martin for Ray sounds nuts at least to me.

If we lose Martin and Jamar goes down, we're left with a few rucks who at best have "potential".

One of the few things I've learnt in life is that most "potential stars," never turn into stars (in most fields). Everyone's concentrating on the "potential star," when suddenly some unnoticed guy who's been doing his homework, surprisingly comes outa nowhere and becomes the actual star.

I've just had some Rutherglen Muscat which is helping me see things very clearly now. Cheers

Martin will go to Brisbane for pick 33.

Pederson for our pick

Either hold pick 33 or trade it for someone decently good (not Ray)

Of course we can get something for Martin! ..because he's a great athlete & probably a better ruckman the next 2+ years than anyone we've got, so we should KEEP Martin unless Gws offers pick 1 - 2 or 3, nothing less. Trading Martin for Ray sounds nuts at least to me.

If we lose Martin and Jamar goes down, we're left with a few rucks who at best have "potential".

One of the few things I've learnt in life is that most "potential stars," never turn into stars (in most fields). Everyone's concentrating on the "potential star," when suddenly some unnoticed guy who's been doing his homework, surprisingly comes outa nowhere and becomes the actual star.

I've just had some Rutherglen Muscat which is helping me see things very clearly now. Cheers

what about Mitch Clark as relief ruckman.

Plus we have spencer and Gawn.

Than Dawes 1 out, finally he can play the position he deserves

martin has done some good things but he just seems to lack something that a lot of melbourne 2012 players lack - im not sure if leadership is the right word but something like that. Just a bit direction-less at times. I think at a new side he would do well. Would think he would slot into the saints before he'd fit into the Lions personally but time will tell.

Pederson will be a gun for the demons. I know a bloke that knew him early on and he was VERY highly rated on things like discipline so I think we will have a win with him in the side. Cant see there being much room for sellar if he does come across though.

I just get the feeling that spencer doesnt have the talent of martin but he is such a trier that Neeld just loves the bloke.

I just get the feeling that spencer doesnt have the talent of martin but he is such a trier that Neeld just loves the bloke.

I have a suspicion that there is a succession plan in place here already. Spencer has three years of playing second fiddle to Jamar and learning all he can from the big Russian before he takes over as no. 1 ruck. Gives him plenty of time to get himself going and he certainly has the size and attitude to play the role.

I think looking at where we are at we have put a pretty tidy effort trade wise into suring up our forward 50. I think speed and spread are the weaknesses in the midfield and perhaps need to be addressed. Whether Neeld sees Rory Taggert and Gysberts coming in and doing that or perhaps a Dom Barry type in years to come (or is he going to play the Yarran role?) or whether there is room for more speed from elsewhere time will tell. I think Ray would be an ok pickup despite his age just for that speed.

Lets face it we have a collection of fringe players that other sides might just believe (and might successfully) turn around. Morton, Martin, Sellar, Bate, Pettard, etc. It might nice to offload these just simply because I cant see some of them in our future - perhaps not so much because of a lack of talent or application, but more that they offer things that we dont need

Of course we can get something for Martin! ..because he's a great athlete & probably a better ruckman the next 2+ years than anyone we've got, so we should KEEP Martin unless Gws offers pick 1 - 2 or 3, nothing less. Trading Martin for Ray sounds nuts at least to me.

If we lose Martin and Jamar goes down, we're left with a few rucks who at best have "potential".

One of the few things I've learnt in life is that most "potential stars," never turn into stars (in most fields). Everyone's concentrating on the "potential star," when suddenly some unnoticed guy who's been doing his homework, surprisingly comes outa nowhere and becomes the actual star.

I've just had some Rutherglen Muscat which is helping me see things very clearly now. Cheers

And if Jones goes down we have 0 midfield. I'd much rather midfield depth than ruckmen depth.

Youd hvae to hope that Grimesy and trenners will be back and up next season... But your right. Viney will slot in next year based on talent but also based on need.