Encouraging to hear that the delistings this year appear to have been well handled, at least that's how Petterd seemed to feel:

http://www.afl.com.a...x?newsid=150465

He's either got a manager smart enough to tell him not to sound bitter in an effort to win a new contract with someone (even Melbourne as a rookie) or he's skipped through the five stages of grief to acceptance very quickly. Although I imagine it was obvious to him before last Friday that his contract was unlikely to be renewed, so I guess he's had time to come to terms with his future.

But I did like the suggestion in the article that the club is helping him. I'd like to think, if it's true, that this behaviour will be talked about amongst players and make the club a more attractive proposition for the future. And that will help in future free agency and trade negotiations. I know I'd be more willing to join a club which respected its players, even if their productive time was over.

http://www.heraldsun...o-1226505612475

This article is why I hate references to Moneyball.

It doesn't fit well, especially if no-one wants to interpret when value can be attained even when paying a great deal of money.

Oh, and as for the first line - Jon Ralph is an idiot. When the Oakland Athletics embraced analytics to get more bang for their buck they set off an 'arms race' of analysis that saw the Red Sox end the curse merely two years later.

If you don't know baseball just shut up about Billy effing Beane and Moneyball.

I hate the use of the word 'clutch'

a clutch of 1st round draft picks? FFS

The problem with that statement is we would never make the finals with those three in the team

I wasn't suggesting we would make the finals with those 3 in the team. The discussion was whether or not, if you were Neeld, you would prefer to bank on Dawes, Byrnes and Rodan moving you up the ladder, rather than Morton, Gysberts and Martin. What I said was, I'd prefer to have my career (which will be judged on improvement of the team) in the hands of the new, rather than departing, players.

If you are referring to Dawes, Rodan and Byrnes yeah, because no team has made it to finals with those 3...............

I mean its not like Collingwood did this year, or Geelong won a premiership with one 3 times, or Port made a grand final with Rodan or anything, also its not like their finals experience is one of the reasons they are at our club..........

I was referring to the other three obviously, but I take on board your humour.

But we can make finals with the new three, whether we will remains to be seen.

I wasn't suggesting we would make the finals with those 3 in the team. The discussion was whether or not, if you were Neeld, you would prefer to bank on Dawes, Byrnes and Rodan moving you up the ladder, rather than Morton, Gysberts and Martin. What I said was, I'd prefer to have my career (which will be judged on improvement of the team) in the hands of the new, rather than departing, players.

I wasn't referring to your comment.

I was referring to fndee then Deejammin

If you read my comment #29 you will see I totally agree

I hate the use of the word 'clutch'

a clutch of 1st round draft picks? FFS

suspect they meant "crutch".

Fox Footy was on at the Hampton Gym last night. Melbourne V St. KIlda at the G. One of our better games for the season.

Morton struggled. Jamar was excellent. Sellar tried hard and is strong but lacks skill. Ball bounces out of his hands frequently. Watts got pushed away easily and consistently by Fisher. Watts while taller was no match. Jones dominated. Rivers was our best defender and Moloney a powerhouse of strength and constantly drove us forward. Bate was a strong presence up forward and didn't look out of his depth.

Ok Jurrah left for his own personal reasons. Bate will be picked up and will thrive elsewhere. Rivers will play every game for the Cats. Moloney will be a star with Brisbane. Watts will get stronger and will peak in two years.

I left wondering why we kept Bail, Davey, Dunn while letting go Moloney, Rivers, Martin and Bate. I realise Moloney and Neeld didn't get on but if He gets rid of every player that doesn't like him we won't have much of a team left.

Dawes is on huge money . Clarke same. Dons't be fooled it's the $ that brought them to Melbourne nothing else. As for Rodan and Byrnes? How are they any better than Petterd, Bate, Moloney?

Where is the improvement going to come from?

Fox Footy was on at the Hampton Gym last night. Melbourne V St. KIlda at the G. One of our better games for the season.

Morton struggled. Jamar was excellent. Sellar tried hard and is strong but lacks skill. Ball bounces out of his hands frequently. Watts got pushed away easily and consistently by Fisher. Watts while taller was no match. Jones dominated. Rivers was our best defender and Moloney a powerhouse of strength and constantly drove us forward. Bate was a strong presence up forward and didn't look out of his depth.

Ok Jurrah left for his own personal reasons. Bate will be picked up and will thrive elsewhere. Rivers will play every game for the Cats. Moloney will be a star with Brisbane. Watts will get stronger and will peak in two years.

I left wondering why we kept Bail, Davey, Dunn while letting go Moloney, Rivers, Martin and Bate. I realise Moloney and Neeld didn't get on but if He gets rid of every player that doesn't like him we won't have much of a team left.

Dawes is on huge money . Clarke same. Dons't be fooled it's the $ that brought them to Melbourne nothing else. As for Rodan and Byrnes? How are they any better than Petterd, Bate, Moloney?

Where is the improvement going to come from?

Attitude, fitness, better understanding of the game plan, experience, newly drafted talent...

Fox Footy was on at the Hampton Gym last night. Melbourne V St. KIlda at the G. One of our better games for the season.

Morton struggled. Jamar was excellent. Sellar tried hard and is strong but lacks skill. Ball bounces out of his hands frequently. Watts got pushed away easily and consistently by Fisher. Watts while taller was no match. Jones dominated. Rivers was our best defender and Moloney a powerhouse of strength and constantly drove us forward. Bate was a strong presence up forward and didn't look out of his depth.

Ok Jurrah left for his own personal reasons. Bate will be picked up and will thrive elsewhere. Rivers will play every game for the Cats. Moloney will be a star with Brisbane. Watts will get stronger and will peak in two years.

I left wondering why we kept Bail, Davey, Dunn while letting go Moloney, Rivers, Martin and Bate. I realise Moloney and Neeld didn't get on but if He gets rid of every player that doesn't like him we won't have much of a team left.

Dawes is on huge money . Clarke same. Dons't be fooled it's the $ that brought them to Melbourne nothing else. As for Rodan and Byrnes? How are they any better than Petterd, Bate, Moloney?

Where is the improvement going to come from?

Hard work is what generates players like Beams, Wellingham and Dane Swans for Collingwood.

Not the highest draft picks or the best juniors but hard work has proved to show that it can result in success.

Fox Footy was on at the Hampton Gym last night. Melbourne V St. KIlda at the G. One of our better games for the season.

Morton struggled. Jamar was excellent. Sellar tried hard and is strong but lacks skill. Ball bounces out of his hands frequently. Watts got pushed away easily and consistently by Fisher. Watts while taller was no match. Jones dominated. Rivers was our best defender and Moloney a powerhouse of strength and constantly drove us forward. Bate was a strong presence up forward and didn't look out of his depth.

Ok Jurrah left for his own personal reasons. Bate will be picked up and will thrive elsewhere. Rivers will play every game for the Cats. Moloney will be a star with Brisbane. Watts will get stronger and will peak in two years.

I left wondering why we kept Bail, Davey, Dunn while letting go Moloney, Rivers, Martin and Bate. I realise Moloney and Neeld didn't get on but if He gets rid of every player that doesn't like him we won't have much of a team left.

Dawes is on huge money . Clarke same. Dons't be fooled it's the $ that brought them to Melbourne nothing else. As for Rodan and Byrnes? How are they any better than Petterd, Bate, Moloney?

Where is the improvement going to come from?

We already saw improvement later in the year pants, especially from Sellar who you mentioned. By the end of this season he was marking strongly and looked much more confident and comfortable in his position. This is the improvement we will continue to see if players continue to buy in to Neelds philosophy - confidence in themselves and team mates to execute the game plan they are taught.

I wasn't referring to your comment.

I was referring to fndee then Deejammin

If you read my comment #29 you will see I totally agree

Haha, glad we are in furious agreement.

I was asked to write an article on the Dees' trading period. If anyone's interested: http://backpagelead.com.au/afl/7843-moneyball-marvels-or-more-demon-disasters

My take is that the moves made suit Melbourne, and perhaps Melbourne alone. Our deficiencies are such that bringing in the likes of Rodan and Byrnes, and paying a high price for Dawes can be justified.