Gerard Healy wanted to show that Melbourne shouldn't be so bad by bringing up a good core list of players we have going forward. I was very happy to see this becuase I have been thinking the exact same thing all year and have been thinking of writing this exact thread.

The team was:

FB: Garland Frawley

HB: Grimes McDonald Watts

C: Viney

HF: Howe Dawes Hogan

FF: Clark Sylvia

Foll: Jones

Possibles: Toumpas Trengove Blease

I don't agree with McDonald and would add Gawn to the list with Barry another possible.

The glaring issue is still the midfield, but the core of talent is there (provided we can hold on to all these players).

That's why it is crucial to keep the core, this is seriously in doubt as we speak.

Goes without saying, all we drafted for years were midfielders.

the fact that he hasnt included Trengove in that list shows how people feel about our co captain.

I know Jack will be a gem but his form needs to improve because at the moment he deserves the crap he gets.

Yesterday was good, but not good enough

the fact that he hasnt included Trengove in that list shows how people feel about our co captain.

I know Jack will be a gem but his form needs to improve because at the moment he deserves the crap he gets.

Yesterday was good, but not good enough

Should be focusing on being an A grade midfield rather than being a captain - absurd

Healy is right, as I have aqlways said our list is actually pretty good.

If we land a Roos or CHoco the turn around will be almost instantaneous.

I said the same thing in another thread and got laughed at, but I will be proven right (if we do land a great coach).

Edited May 27, 201312 yr by hogans_heroes

Surprised Dawes is in that list???? Dawes couldn't get a game a Collingwood, I dont know what makes him a 'core' player at another club. The guy is borderline at best. Only Magpie lovers like Neeld (& G. Lyon!) would pay that much for a spud. Neeld got an inexperience coach in Leigh Brown in as well, I assume just because of the Magpie link.

Fremantle 2011 we beat by 96 points.

Fremantle 2013 we lose by 91 points.

Core lists are the same.... both teams changed their coaches.... hmmmm....

Roos also added that he has heard Watts definitely wants out of MFC.

Roos also added that he has heard Watts definitely wants out of MFC.

Maybe he told Roos directly, if you arent coachng us I am out lol

Surprised Dawes is in that list???? Dawes couldn't get a game a Collingwood, I dont know what makes him a 'core' player at another club. The guy is borderline at best. Only Magpie lovers like Neeld (& G. Lyon!) would pay that much for a spud. Neeld got an inexperience coach in Leigh Brown in as well, I assume just because of the Magpie link.

Fremantle 2011 we beat by 96 points.

Fremantle 2013 we lose by 91 points.

Core lists are the same.... both teams changed their coaches.... hmmmm....

Both views you have just expressed have been regurgitated on here so many times. You gonna send yourself mad son.

Dawes is with us for a long while so just accept it and lets make good use of him. If you actually watch him in a game and not through critical glasses, you will see his leadership qualities are priceless to us, alongside his importance to our structures.

We didn't get Lyon, we got Neeld. And we have Neeld until he goes, so accept it. Once he goes then embrace the next coach.

Surprised Dawes is in that list???? Dawes couldn't get a game a Collingwood, I dont know what makes him a 'core' player at another club. The guy is borderline at best. Only Magpie lovers like Neeld (& G. Lyon!) would pay that much for a spud. Neeld got an inexperience coach in Leigh Brown in as well, I assume just because of the Magpie link.

Dawes was dropped in that last year once for one game and was brought back.

I think you have allowed your anti-Collingwood bias to cloud your thinking.

He has already played in a flag - he doesn't need to prove anything to you.

He is a good player.

Healy is right, as I have aqlways said our list is actually pretty good.

If we land a Roos or CHoco the turn around will be almost instantaneous.

I said the same thing in another thread and got laughed at, but I will be proven right (if we do land a great coach).

Having a good core is different from having a good list.

Notice all the players at either end of the ground - Jones and Viney were the only mids in the team with Trengove, Toumpas, and Blease as possibilites.

Only one of those 5 are older than 22.

Fremantle 2011 we beat by 96 points.

Fremantle 2013 we lose by 91 points.

Core lists are the same.... both teams changed their coaches.... hmmmm....

Round 10 - 2012 one win

Round 10 - 2013 one win

Wow we are on a roll!

Having a good core is different from having a good list.

Notice all the players at either end of the ground - Jones and Viney were the only mids in the team with Trengove, Toumpas, and Blease as possibilites.

Only one of those 5 are older than 22.

Spot on - the list Clint posted had four vacancies in the midfield currently occupied by the likes of Bail, Jetta, McKenzie, Nicho, Evans & Matty Jones

If we can use free agency, aggressive trading for a young out of contract gun & possibly use the PSD to attract players in.... then names Thomas, Cooney, Shiel & Prestia would make that midfield a whole lot better

Healy is right, as I have aqlways said our list is actually pretty good.

If we land a Roos or CHoco the turn around will be almost instantaneous.

I said the same thing in another thread and got laughed at, but I will be proven right (if we do land a great coach).

The fact is we HAVE to get experienced coach, these inexperienced wannabees are killing the club. I reckon Neeld out, Neil in for rest of year then Roos(but really no hope) or choco williams should be it. Williams should have been the one when Bailey was sacked but no, G. Lyon thinks he knows best.

The worry for me out of that back 6 is we only have one elite kick there

The core:

Frawley, Howe, Clark, Sylvia, Nathan Jones, Trengove, Grimes, Dawes, Garland

Add:(likely)

Viney, Hogan, Toumpas, Gawn, Tapscott, Matt Jones, Tom McDonald

Sorry but Jack Watts is NOT on my list. Available to suitors now.

remove sylvia from your 'core' list and you have my list, spirit.

possibly replace tapscott with terlich as well to be honest - terlich has shown more in 4 or so games than tappy has shown in 4 years unfortunately.

the list remains missing midfielders either way. we need a bona fide star or three to be at the club in 2014, be they free agents or draftees.

I don't buy the core at all. No one is non expendible at this stage.

you can have silvani and buddy in our side and it would change nothing. We need a midfield and not through drafting one but by 2014. A good coach will attract players but we will also need to sacrifice a few players with currancy for some solid experienced mids.

once the midfield is addressed we will at least be competitive.

watts is a forward

the fact that he hasnt included Trengove in that list shows how people feel about our co captain.

I know Jack will be a gem but his form needs to improve because at the moment he deserves the crap he gets.

Yesterday was good, but not good enough

I honestly do not udnerstand why he isnt rated... averages 7 tackles a game.... that is amazing. If he was in another side that won uncontested ball he would avg a lot more disposals. He was down on form due to Injury and is now returning to form after a very good game on the weekend.

Fremantle 2011 we beat by 96 points.

Fremantle 2013 we lose by 91 points.

Core lists are the same.... both teams changed their coaches.... hmmmm....

The way they were playing, that happened. They would win big OR lose big. They were unfit. At least to Neelds credit he is showing the importance of running 2 ways. Which they did not do in 2011.

Sadly even with a change of coach I can't see to many players wanting to come to us at seasons end. I think a lot of players will adopt a wait and see approach. Our best bet IMO is to land Daniel Cross as a free agent to extend his career. At Bulldogs there's to many older mids and that's why he's being squeezed out, we don't have that problem here. So I wouldn't be suprised if Cross was our only midfield addition through eith FA or trade and we then use our first 4 picks in the draft on mids.

So our 22 heading into next year would look like:

FB: Garland (core), Frawley (core), Strauss (jury out)

HB: Grimes (core), McDonald (core), Terlich (core)

C: Sylvia (core), N. Jones (core), Evans (core)

HF: Howe (core), Hogan (core), Tapscott (jury out)

FF: Clark (core), Dawes (core), Byrnes (temp)

FOLL: Jamar (temp), Cross*(temp), Viney (core)

INT: Toumpas (core), Trengove (core), Watts (jury out), Blease (jury out)

* If he comes to the club.

Other core players: Gawn

Jury Out: Kent, M. Jones, Barry, Taggert, Fitzpatrick, Davis

As other posters and I have said, the list isn't that bad. The two main issues are midfield depth and inexperience. This is why Jackson has said there's no quick fix. We just have to get games and the right coaching group around them until they're ready to click.

I like the idea of cross . At least he knows how to win it.

Healy is right, as I have aqlways said our list is actually pretty good.

If we land a Roos or CHoco the turn around will be almost instantaneous.

I said the same thing in another thread and got laughed at, but I will be proven right (if we do land a great coach).

You can get laughed at on this topic as well hahahaha........it will not turn around instantaneously, how do we afford a great coach if we have to pay out most of the Footy Dept?