http://m.afl.com.au/news/2012-12-31/excat-gives-dees-new-ideas

Good to hear he is bringing his experience and bonding well with the other forward line players.

http://m.afl.com.au/news/2012-12-31/excat-gives-dees-new-ideas

Good to hear he is bringing his experience and bonding well with the other forward line players.

Could be an absolute bargain...i know my Geelong mate rates him very highly.

http://m.afl.com.au/news/2012-12-31/excat-gives-dees-new-ideas

Good to hear he is bringing his experience and bonding well with the other forward line players.

It's interesting to see how the new players feel about the club and the positive influence they can have. It would be easy for a player, who only has a couple of years to go, to just coast along and get paid for minimum input, so when you see that they are keen to be involved it really gives you some confidence.

It's interesting to see how the new players feel about the club and the positive influence they can have. It would be easy for a player, who only has a couple of years to go, to just coast along and get paid for minimum input, so when you see that they are keen to be involved it really gives you some confidence.

Have we ever recruited a player with a winning record like Byrnes during our time Robbie ?

Invaluable experience.

It's interesting to see how the new players feel about the club and the positive influence they can have. It would be easy for a player, who only has a couple of years to go, to just coast along and get paid for minimum input, so when you see that they are keen to be involved it really gives you some confidence.

'Robbie' it seems that our guys did their homework and brought senior players into the club who would make a difference to the playing group as a whole and in turn the culture of the club. I've not been a great fan of Rodan as a player and was against the idea of us recruiting him but I can see now what he brings to the group, Bynes the same along with Dawes.

It's going to be interesting to watch how the approaches of clubs to recruiting stacks up over the next few years, we have moved from all out youth to a more balanced approach. GWS is pretty much a youth program with a couple of retirees to back them up but no current stars. Richmond I think have gone too far down the recycled route and it will bring them unstuck. Geelong have moved from grow your own to import and I think they may slide. Sydney worked on culture and not required's to bring in a big money player, I guess it follows Big Baz and Plugger but not sure Tippett has it to fill those shoes and whether he will unsettle them.

I like our approach now no matter what the so called media experts say, we have targeted players who bring something to the club that has been lacking and one of those elements is success.

edit for unforgivable spelling error of Roden, Rodan's name.

Edited January 2, 201312 yr by rjay

'Robbie' it seems that our guys did their homework and brought senior players into the club who would make a difference to the playing group as a whole and in turn the culture of the club. I've not been a great fan of Roden as a player and was against the idea of us recruiting him but I can see now what he brings to the group, Bynes the same along with Dawes.

It's going to be interesting to watch how the approaches of clubs to recruiting stacks up over the next few years, we have moved from all out youth to a more balanced approach. GWS is pretty much a youth program with a couple of retirees to back them up but no current stars. Richmond I think have gone too far down the recycled route and it will bring them unstuck. Geelong have moved from grow your own to import and I think they may slide. Sydney worked on culture and not required's to bring in a big money player, I guess it follows Big Baz and Plugger but not sure Tippett has it to fill those shoes and whether he will unsettle them.

I like our approach now no matter what the so called media experts say, we have targeted players who bring something to the club that has been lacking and one of those elements is success.

I too was troubled about Roden but reading the reports from Darwin and our training sessions, i think that it was a good decision. I am hopeful that each of our recycled newcomers will make a positive contribution (however i do recall have the same optimism about Leigh Williams and Jai Sheehan, neither of whom played a match.)

Yeah...that Roden is a bit of a worry.......... But quite happy we drafted a bloke called RODAN !!

Yeah...that Roden is a bit of a worry.......... But quite happy we drafted a bloke called RODAN !!

Sorry 'BB', but I think he is proving to be good value around the group.

Sorry 'BB', but I think he is proving to be good value around the group.

im not sure I know where to start ....meh!!

I also was a fan of taking Rodan even for a season or two. He is a type of player we don't have, can get his own clearances, explosive off the mark, very strong, hard to tackle and stop, with games experience. If his body holds up and we can get a couple of seasons out of him it will be worth it. Bonus, he cost nothing.

While Shannon Byrnes has brought some of that famed Cattitude to Melbourne, Rivers and Petterd have taken some of that famed steely Dee professionalism to Catland and Tigerland. Win. Win.

im not sure I know where to start ....meh!!

My spelling mistake....

I can see a plan amongst all this. ( Whether its actually there or just my thinkings is another point ).

IMHO Neeld is operating a duo-strategem blueprint for Melbourne continual growth and success. First up theres some instant improvement and results. This will show itself as a more poised and competent as well as competitive team taking to the field. Hes accomplishing this by not only plugging some of the gaping holes but by manning the bridge with better, experienced thinkers who are less likely to allow capitulations and overuns. The same "older' blokes will also provide to the second arrow , that being the passing on of knowledge and a culture.This is the longer term benefit.

Players like Rodan and Byrnes bring the experience only years bring. Dawes and even the likes of Gillies bring a qaulity ethos too as theyve been exposed to winning cultures.. It all bodes well for mine.

My spelling mistake....

That was the subtle point..yes.. But not just your's. There's a bit of a habit on these boards to misspell many a player's name.

Whilst David's thinking may well be auguste, he is no Rodin. He might well have the dance moves but he is not MTV's Roden either.

Our Rodan is not Kaiju but he might prove more than a match for some with his on-field abilities !!

Free Agency is the perfect thing for Byrnes and Rodan.

1-3 years is good value if they embrace the club.

Leave their mark.

It's the exact point that Denham and his clan of empty vultures refuse to acknowledge.

Next year the club should draft more free agents wit September credentials.

I, too, am very happy with the calibre of the guys brought in from other clubs.

In particular, everything about Byrnes is very positive. In spite of the fact he only got a handful of games at the cats over the past couple of years, still, on the night after we signed him up, he fronted up to the Cats B & F night, and was presented with an award for "Best Clubman" (or something like that). That, to me, smacks of a person of huge character, who continued to give his all to his club, even when things weren't going his way at the selection table -- over a long period of time.

Seems that attitude has continued at his new home. So, the benefits are already being seen, long before the Season has even begun.

And, me thinks, one Shannon Byrnes will give us plenty ON the field, too.

Welcome aboard, Shannon!

I, too, am very happy with the calibre of the guys brought in from other clubs.

In particular, everything about Byrnes is very positive. In spite of the fact he only got a handful of games at the cats over the past couple of years, still, on the night after we signed him up, he fronted up to the Cats B & F night, and was presented with an award for "Best Clubman" (or something like that). That, to me, smacks of a person of huge character, who continued to give his all to his club, even when things weren't going his way at the selection table -- over a long period of time.

Seems that attitude has continued at his new home. So, the benefits are already being seen, long before the Season has even begun.

And, me thinks, one Shannon Byrnes will give us plenty ON the field, too.

Welcome aboard, Shannon!

Not unlike your namesake and I wish him similar success with the Dees.

Not unlike your namesake and I wish him similar success with the Dees.

Smithy, I second that!

Yeah...that Roden is a bit of a worry.......... But quite happy we drafted a bloke called RODAN !!

Maybe we should have gone for Rodin...I hear he's a bit of a thinker.

Maybe we should have gone for Rodin...I hear he's a bit of a thinker.

That will go over the top of a few hardtack

Bonsoir.

Yeah...that Roden' is a bit of a worry.......... But quite happy we drafted a bloke called RODAN !!

I heard he has a reputation as a bit of a Rat.... cheese anywon?

That will go over the top of a few hardtack

Bonsoir.

Yes Smithy, I don't doubt that...but of course those of us familiar with Dobie Gillis will know the reference ;-)

I understood the Rodin reference, but after that I haven't a clue what the hell you 2 are on about!

That will go over the top of a few hardtack

Bonsoir.

Only the uncultured. Me thinks that you are confusing this site with the Collingwood supporter's blog.

I understood the Rodin reference, but after that I haven't a clue what the hell you 2 are on about!

and you think we do? ;-)