Don't know yet.

You're on record as saying Viney will be a champion Melbourne player.

You've invested already.

More than happy to invest in and support the new breed, but they are still young. They will hopefully become better players than the 1st list over time, but im not sure they will be much more valuable to us on field in 2013 than the guys we let go.

Moloney is a B&F winner who played some very good games in the jumper. Morton, Gysberts & Bate were selected with high picks and played some decent games at time - the new list of names dont sit any higher in my mind's pecking order until i see them prove themselves on the 'G.

Fair point but I have a lot more faith that these players have a heap more potential.

You're on record as saying Viney will be a champion Melbourne player.

You've invested already.

It's a prediction, though.

It's a small and structurally sound limb to be out on but it's still a limb.

We just don't know yet whether what we have just done in the offseason was the best thing to do.

I think it was but, again, that's my best guess (and I also liked the fact that talent isn't enough to continue sucking money out of this club).

I would love some affirmation but I think there is going to be some initial handwringing over the removal and non-recruitment of a few players: Moloney, Martin, Wines, Gysberts.

Some or most of Magner, Couch, Jones, Terlich, Pedersen, and Sellar will not reach any sort of heights and that will affect how we see the previous two off-seasons.

But I am just pleased with the removal of projects that waste resources and energy - and that is a very tactile plus from the off-season acquisitions.

It's a prediction, though.

It's a small and structurally sound limb to be out on but it's still a limb.

We just don't know yet whether what we have just done in the offseason was the best thing to do.

I think it was but, again, that's my best guess (and I also liked the fact that talent isn't enough to continue sucking money out of this club).

I would love some affirmation but I think there is going to be some initial handwringing over the removal and non-recruitment of a few players: Moloney, Martin, Wines, Gysberts.

Some or most of Magner, Couch, Jones, Terlich, Pedersen, and Sellar will not reach any sort of heights and that will affect how we see the previous two off-seasons.

But I am just pleased with the removal of projects that waste resources and energy - and that is a very tactile plus from the off-season acquisitions.

Cannot imagine you will get much disagreement on that one rpfc

Cannot imagine you will get much disagreement on that one rpfc

I don't know...

Fans love to say "he could be anything!"

9 times out of 10: they become nothing.

But I am just pleased with the removal of projects that waste resources and energy - and that is a very tactile plus from the off-season acquisitions.

We still have Davis, Fitzy & Gawn!

We still have Davis, Fitzy & Gawn!

I had forgotten that trio.

Up till now two of them could not muster a healthy body between them.

The up side DemonWA is they have shown brief pieces of talent.

This year is make or break for all three I would think.

Any more serious injury and it may be goodnight nurse.

Was getting excited about the season ahead but have succumb to my usual pessimism which stems mainly from our appalling stocks of midfielders. I went through the entire list and besides Jones, who else is going to play there for us in 2013?

Trengove - ? (probably but I'm still not sure if he's a midfielder or not, reminds me of Brock McLean a bit)

Grimes - ? (seems more suited to the backline, not sure he's a midfielder)

McKenzie - ? (seems to be Simon Godfrey 2.0)

Sylvia - ? (not convinced he's a midfielder)

Rodan - ? (too old to be an effective 4 qtr midfielder)

Toumpas - ? (too young and slight to play a significant role in the 2013 midfield)

Viney - ? (hopefully will be a star but this year I expect him to be a bit part player)

Blease - ? (outside player, but will he be able to overcome the curse of injuries)

Howe - ? (is he a mid or a flanker?)

Evans - ? (haven't seen enough of him)

Barry - ? (too young and slight for this year)

Tapscott - ? (does he have the tank for the midfield or is he yet another half forward flanker, our list seems to be full of)

Taggert - ? (haven't seen enough of him, so question marks over him)

M. Jones - ? (depth player at best, as with most MFC players hope my low expectations of him are well and truly exceeded)

Have I forgotten anyone?

I'll echo what just about everyone else on the forums has said before, this midfield is worse than 3rd world.

It's going to be a frustrating 2013 for those expecting more wins I think. I'm lowering my expectations accordingly and hoping like hell that I see an ongoing improvement throughout the season in fitness, skills, teamwork and match-day tactics.

Mods feel free to merge this with whatever thread you deem most appropriate, I had a search for "midfield" as a thread title and came up blank

I agree, I do the same thing too. I think who will match up against your Swan, Pendles, Thomas, Ball, Beams, and Sidebottom. OR Your Cotchin, Tuck, Martin and Deledio. Give it time, I really hope Neeld can develop the young players so one day I'm saying the likes of Jones, Grimes, Viney, Toumpas, and potentially an ousider draft pick like a Kent in the same light.

Rodan is way ahead of most of the others. You wait and see. he will add a bit more size and strength to the midfield so that Jonesy doesnt have to do it singlehandedly to complement Viney and the other youngsters. Dean Kent could haev a crack and Trenners has the potential. I liked Grimes in the midfield as well but Rodan will have the most impact in just giving the midfield some clought.

Not many are talking about Blease and Tappy.

Apart from Jones and Grimes, Bleasey was our most exciting players,and one of the only ones capable of breaking the lines with pace, regularly kicking goals. Once he gets hs fitness base up expect him to spend alot of time in the midfield.

We all know Tapscott, has the build, the mongrel and is a big kick. He jst needs to string a few games together.

While Rodan and Byrnes will help us this year, expect these two to be regular replacements giving pace and grunt.

It's wrong to suggest that the issue is purely lack of big bodies in the midfield. Our issue last year was the speed of the spread when we got it. You only have to go back to the very first game against Brisbane last year. We won our fair share of ball ups around the ground ( Magner was in and under) but couldn't move it out of the area with speed.

People get very carried away with this idea that big bodies alone around the stoppages is the panacea. I'd argue that Ablett, Rioli, Judd and Swan are significantly smaller than Moloney is for example.

Rodan: Decent "short term" bolstering for a very inexperienced/young mid field.

Byrnes: Likely to play bulk of time up forward, hopefully crumbing off talls when they return. Rotating through the middle at times (not sure the exact percentage but say 60/40 time spent as forward/mid respectively, give or take 15% or so lol.

Jones: Has matured into an all round top B grade player for the club. With all his hard work/effort in and around the ball i'd just love to see him release the ball a little earlier/quicker and hopefully hit a few more targets by hand/foot this year. Not alone on this wish list however. Our inability to string 3 to 4 quick posessions together in and around congestion/stoppages and release the ball to our player's general advantage up the field was a hugely frustrating downfall of our play last season.

McKenzie: Mainly a negating/stoppage specialist. Hopefully he handballs more often than he kicks this year lol.

The above is the core IMO, until Viney, Toumpas, Kent et al put some real size on over 2 or 3 pre seasons and mature (hopefully).

Don't underestimate the inclusion of Byrnes. He looks very hungry to me and if he stays injury free (touch wood) he might add some decent disposal skills and grunt in and around the stoppages through the middle and up forward. Leads by example and will provide great leadership. Something sadly lacking for the last 5 seasons (Jones the 1 recent exception).

Rodan adds break away speed, agility and some fairly silky skills. He also has a super boot off only a few steps, can find space and releases very quickly (rare amongst Demon players through the mid). Being able to clear the congestion quickly from the middle should assist our 2 main tall forwards get one on one more often on their opponents (once they return). In theory the addition of Rodan/Byrnes should go some way towards improving our "conversion rate" i50 once Dawes & Clarke are both on the park and fit.

Jones is now a pretty valuable leader for the younger boys obviously, and we can now add Rodan/Byrnes to the leadership list through the middle.

However, as many others have mentioned here, we need to poach a top line A grader (or 2!!) from another club with at least 3 to 5 good years left. I can't see it happening due to salary cap constraints and existing contracts but Swan and/or Ablett would be a super injection for us. We just don't have any genuine super stars in this club to show the young blokes "how". Unless we develop one out of the existing group such as Watts, Toumpas, Kent, Viney then we are pushing it up hill from here.

There are a number of 2nd tier players that will need to step up and improve their games substantially from last year if they're to play their part through the midfield and cover the depth, class and mature bodies from the opposition when the 3 core players are resting/rotating or injured.

This Includes.... Sylvia. Who i'd rather see used as a medium size lead up forward i30. Is an instinctive player that loves shooting for goal from wherever and could provide a decent 3rd option up forward along with Howe. Then there's Magner, Jetta, Tapscott, Couch (mature age been in the system for some time, wont get many chances IMO so will need to make the most of them) and Bail .

One player i think will surprise this year is Jetta. I think he looks in superb condition and ready to turn things up a notch. Not sure if he's up for a regular role in the mid field just yet but may grow into this as the year progresses.

Having said all that if 2 or 3 of the second tier step up from last year's efforts, i could see us winning maybe 6 to 8 games.

If they don't, and we have to rely solely on the core 4 above, then we might be lucky to win 3 or 4 matches IMO.

Just been watching some 2012 games on foxtel recently. Would love to get Daniel Rich into a Melbourne jumper! Tough, wins his own ball, has a bit of mongrel, calm and composed, shows good leadership, and has a superb long kick. I'd throw a lot at Brisbane to pinch him. He's exactly what we need going forward. Wonder what we'd need to trade to get him. First rounder and a player? We're better off trading first rounders for established players at this stage as we can't seem to pick/develop our own. Get Daniel Rich I say!

We should make a play for Dustin Martin.

Lyon was saying that Richmond may be forced to trade out Martin at the end of the year.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-03-15/martin-at-trade-risk-lyon?utm_medium=RSS

He would add the mongrel and x factor our midfield so desperately needs and I think that the MFC are more then capable of making a play for him. I mean Richmond love our rejects so they would go head over heels for a non reject MFC player in return (Or a first round draft pick)

We should make a play for Dustin Martin.

Lyon was saying that Richmond may be forced to trade out Martin at the end of the year.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-03-15/martin-at-trade-risk-lyon?utm_medium=RSS

He would add the mongrel and x factor our midfield so desperately needs and I think that the MFC are more then capable of making a play for him. I mean Richmond love our rejects so they would go head over heels for a non reject MFC player in return (Or a first round draft pick)

not sure Ol, the guy is good but he's also poison. Not sure we could turn him around. The last thing we need is more bad press.

If Richmond abandon him this early in his career you'd have to think there was something seriously wrong, considering his talent.

If Richmond abandon him this early in his career you'd have to think there was something seriously wrong, considering his talent.

There would have to be. Richmond would be going to great lengths and exploring all possible options to rectify any off field issues. A blue chip first round draft pick, gun player - you would do everything in your power to put him on the straight and narrow.

I'd be truly shocked if he went anywhere else other than Tigerland. Tigers members would be at their wits-end if he left Richmond.

He might be another Josh Dugan (NRL Reference).

Supremely talented but what does it matter when you just want to eff around with your loser mates because you think that your life would be so much better if you didn't have to go to so many meetings and so many rehab sessions.

Good discussion going on here. I agree we need to get an established A grader in, I'll just wait to see how the cards fall at the end of the year regarding who's available. Just wanted to clarify that my original post was asking specifically about season 2013 and who was going to play with Jones in the midfield. A few on here are talking about the new recruits filling the role in a few years time but I'm interested specifically in this season and I think just about everyone on here agrees it doesn't look very promising for the season ahead.

The poster who mentioned we need to choose our top four to six and develop them as a unit is spot on, and I think the coaching staff would be remiss if that isn't what is going on already. Training observers can probably tell us a bit more about that.

I think its probably going to be Jones, McKenzie, and maybe someone like Sylvia or even Rodan in the centre square with Jamar for first bounce round one.

We should have a nearest the pin for that opening bounce combination.

He might be another Josh Dugan (NRL Reference).

Supremely talented but what does it matter when you just want to eff around with your loser mates because you think that your life would be so much better if you didn't have to go to so many meetings and so many rehab sessions.

Dayle Garlett?