Jordon hadn't convinced FD after three years because of a philosophical shift in coaching. He hadn't been a failure (As neither Martin nor Morton had) but didn't fit the preferred type of player. Neeld has taken the club in a completely different direction to the one we were previously committed to for three years as the premiership template. Will the new approach work. It didn't the first year. It's an extreme approach to have topped up with good VFL players at the expense of young developing players. Pederson came virtually at the cost of Gysberts and Martin.(Martin was given away for nothing) In my mind Pederson has to be better than Martin, Fitzpatrick and Hogen to have justified giving up on Gysberts for his inclusion. He couldn't make it at North so he has to really step up with us. Neeld has taken an extreme direction that had better work by the end of three years, or we will be needing to clear out a dozen good VFL players and have a new hole where we gave up on developing players. Yes Gysberts has gone and their is a lot I like about several of the new young kids. But one question remains as a result of Gysberts going. Will Neelds extreme approach work?

You even got "likes" from this post.

"Philosophical shift" ? " Not the preferred type of player" ? How about terrible endurance, poor kick, poor work ethic, weak as a toothpick, and exceptionally slow ?

A ball magnet that averaged 19 disposals from his 14 games for Casey this year ?

No, he's not a ball magnet. People like you are seduced by his first two games in the AFL. From those two games he would forever be known as a "ball magnet".

A-motherhucking-men.

Will never forget that first game against Geelong either. It's as if they knew any possession he got would have zero effect on the outcome of the game. I don't think one Geelong player noticed him on the ground. He literally ran around without an opponent all day, won some cheap ball at the stoppages and on the fly.

The next thing you know half of demonland think we have another 'superstar' at our club.

I will be surprised if gysberts lasts more than a couple of years on North's list. One of the most

overrated young players going around.

Edited November 25, 201212 yr by stevethemanjordan

I cannot for the life of me understand how this kid could get drafted in the first round.

A slow, skinny inside mid with only average skills allbeit good hands cannot be expected to reach AFL standard.

His physical limitations are just too great.

I do not understand the rationale behind the drafting of he and Cook.

Edited November 25, 201212 yr by dandeeman

(Martin was given away for nothing)

Martin was given away for the pick we used to draft Matt Jones.

For a thread on Final Comment this thread just goes on and on.

Unfortunately the likes of Gys, Mort etc...being the light bodies syndrome needed a far better attitude re commitment to become better.

In watching closely last years per season ,Gys in particular was right of the ball.This, in turn brought Crouch,Magner to the list-due to their aggressive attitude- in particular to train.

I still think this is the only mistake of the off season.

I found it ironic when on draft night Todd Viney said we drafted 25 y.o. Matt Jones at pick 52 because our midfield was all of a similar height (short!).

I too am bemused by this selection.

I too am bemused by this selection.

You would say that we could have simply picked him up in the Rookie Draft?

I will quickly pivot from the point that you don't know that for certain, to say that what is the point of getting a speculative 18 year old at ND52 and having him on the Primary List when he is not a chance to play AFL footy in 2013?

Meanwhile we would have Magner and Jones - two 25 year olds ready to go now having to wait for the 'luck' of major injuries to teammates to be eligible for a game.

This thread is symbolic of this idea - why should we have a Primary List spot set aside for someone who won't be ready for 4 or 5 years? And who won't play for 2 years? Gysberts or any other slight kid who doesn't bring something to the table from day one (speed, skills, ferocious attack on the footy) should not be on the Primary List.

That is the new dynamic at play here in my opinion.

I too am bemused by this selection.

really ? I am 188cm but they overlooked me.

I'm tipping that the discussion they DIDN'T have regarding Gys is "gee's - he is 188cm - we should keep him"

I, like everyone else, have no idea whether he will or wont make it, but we can only summise and I have summised that Gys wasn't dumped because he was too short or too tall.

So I am not sure why it is ironic or a source of bemusement.

( is anyone bemused or think it is ironic that we dumped CHF Cook and drafted CHF Hogan ?)

I too am bemused by this selection.

It's a pity Viney couldn't come up with a better justification than "height". I wouldn't take that comment too seriously ..... remember that he was being interviewed by Burgs - and had had to say "hard bodied, hard running. ready-to-play midfielder with a great work ethic" stacks of times already .... so he threw in height for something different to say....... Its unfortunate too that a few grabs from Box Hill's videos didn't really show any outstanding sequences of play.

All we can say is that they must be very confident he is worth it ................after all they took him ahead of Terlich (who sounds like a real chance) ......... which suggests they were concerned that someone else was looking at Jones.

We have been so thorough sorting through our options this year - that you have to at him positively.We wouldn't have taken a 25 year old in the main draft if there wasn't something a bit special about him. It must take a heck of a lot of determination to break into a VFL side for the first time when you are 24. Box Hill ( Hawthorn) must have had the same doubts when they took him on last year.

I think I heard Neeld say they thought he was a ready-made AFL player. He wasn't a random " see how he goes" selection. There is so much against taking him in the third round that he must be good!!!

Edited November 25, 201212 yr by hoopla

Initially I was very shattered upon hearing the Gysberts trade. Although I wanted Pedersen at the time, I thought we overpaid.

Since then I got speaking to a certain friend on the inside who currently works for another club, yet use to work in one of Neelds old organisations, knowing him personally. At the start of trade week they got speaking, Neeld informed him that Gysberts was most likely going to be traded and bluntly said because "he is a soft c*** (another name for a rooster)" who crumbled under pressure (from Neeld & co.), who didn't take kindly to critsism and didn't believe his game needed improvment where they pointed it out.

Upon hearing this my views have changed, I still believe Gysberts is a good player with plenty of "potential", although "potential" can only take a player so far and doesn't always translate into consistant onfield talent. I'm glad Neeld & co. are taking this hard nosed appraoch and hopefully Pedersen can step up a massive notch this year. Let's just say I'm not exactly dissapointed by the trade anymore.

You'd think that no player who wanted to forge a career would shun constructive criticism, but it's amazing how often you hear this story. "No coach, I don't believe that part of my game needs considerable work. Yes coach, I know you've been involved in football for longer than I've been alive. No coach, I don't think you know what you're talking about. OMG I CAN'T BELIEVE I'VE BEEN TRADED FOR PICK 150! I DON'T UNDERSTAND!"

I've mentioned this a few times now but at a training session at the start of this year the coaching staff were getting stuck into Gysberts (Royal in particular) to get him to push harder.

I stumbled across this

from the North Melbourne website, even in a short interview he just looks like he doesn't care all that much.

When does a "final comment" become an ongoing discussion? He's gone. Let it be. The future is bright. Let's focus on the guys on our list who want to be there and are willing to do what's required. Gysberts had his chance to be part of something great but chose to buy out. Thus he was sent on his way. No loss.

Go Dees!

Edited November 26, 201212 yr by Crawf52

To those who are bemused or wanted Viney to chose a different criteria for Jones other than saying he was a different height - I concur with Viney that we certainly have a raft of smaller type mids and Jones provides something a little taller, possibly a mid that can go forward and take a good mark - that's good drafting, provided Jones gives us what we are looking for. We shouldnt throw Gys into this comparison because in the FD's opinion he wasnt going to provide what was being looked for so his height is a moot point.

A little quote from a member of North's training staff .... included as much as for what it says about training workload at Melb as what it says about Gysberts:

New recruit Jordan Gysberts is also adapting to the workload and conditions.

“He’s started off really well, but I think he’s been surprised by the amount of work he’s been exposed to. But he’s coping with that really well and will only get better as we go.”

That made me chuckle. I wonder at what point the penny will drop that it wasn't just mean old Neeld and Misson that expect him to work hard.

I've mentioned this a few times now but at a training session at the start of this year the coaching staff were getting stuck into Gysberts (Royal in particular) to get him to push harder.

I stumbled across this

from the North Melbourne website, even in a short interview he just looks like he doesn't care all that much.

"Not sure what Utah involves" - well, Jordie, firstly they will knock on you door, introduce themselves and then sell you the book. After that they will ask you to join them in saving the world and start taking 10 percent of your income....then a bit more.

Edited November 26, 201212 yr by monoccular

"Not sure what Utah involves" - well, Jordie, firstly they will knock on you door, introduce themselves and then sell you the book. After that they will ask you to join them in saving the world and start taking 10 percent of your income....then a bit more.

Not only that, they offer you the firing squad.

I've mentioned this a few times now but at a training session at the start of this year the coaching staff were getting stuck into Gysberts (Royal in particular) to get him to push harder.

I stumbled across this

from the North Melbourne website, even in a short interview he just looks like he doesn't care all that much.

FWIW, I noted the coaches were getting stuck into all the players to push harder when I have watch pre season training.

The video shows he looks like a 20 yo with no media training. Thats the least of his troubles.

A little quote from a member of North's training staff .... included as much as for what it says about training workload at Melb as what it says about Gysberts:

New recruit Jordan Gysberts is also adapting to the workload and conditions.

“He’s started off really well, but I think he’s been surprised by the amount of work he’s been exposed to. But he’s coping with that really well and will only get better as we go.”

In some ways all that says is that North is where Neeld and Misson are - which just confirms how poor we were before they took over. No wonder we had to start again!!

If size was a kpi Flower, Fletcher & Hird would not have made it.

I would say attitude/behaviour issues to training were the reasons why he was traded

If size was a kpi Flower, Fletcher & Hird would not have made it.

I would say attitude/behaviour issues to training were the reasons why he was traded

Bingo,. Wasn't it Gys who refused to run a time trial cos it was too hot?????

FWIW, I noted the coaches were getting stuck into all the players to push harder when I have watch pre season training.

The video shows he looks like a 20 yo with no media training. Thats the least of his troubles.

Well, when I saw them train it was clear Gysberts got far more attention than anyone else from the coaches.