To be honest I had little hope that we would attract a mature age midfield star in the coming off season. We were so poor on field, terrible off field and with apparently such a poor culture the MFC did not look an attractive place for trading in an established star, not matter how much money.

BUT

I think I've reconsidered and I actually think that if things improve even more by the end of the season we are a good chance to trade in one or two established midfield players from other teams.

1. People have realised just how good our forward line and defence will be. It's always been our strength the last few years, but I think it's becoming even more apparent now with Dawes, Clark, Watts, Howe and even Fitzpatrick. And of course, who wouldn't want to play in a midfield delivering the ball to the Hulk? His 30 goals in 10 games is starting to spark a fair bit of buzz. With Frawley, McDonald, Garland and now Terlich and Clisby the backline is looking not just solid but also pretty skilled.

2. The club is now seen to be making massive changes and the results so far have been pretty good on field. We are not just competitive but are showing half decent skill and a gameplan, which is something we have completely lacked for a while.

3. The coach. Neil Craig has shown so far what a change in attitude can do. If we manage to land Roos or Williams then this will only help further.

4. Being a part of the resurgence of the oldest team in the competition from rock bottom would be an attractive prospect.

So I reckon that if we keep up the good form and show the competition how potent our forward line and back line is, then hopefully the midfielders will be lining up at the end of the year...well maybe not lining up, but you get the picture

Oh and I forgot, to play alongside Viney, Toumpas, Jones and other developing midfielders would also be an attractive prospect

I hope you're right, Trenners. I think it might take a little more than a win over the Bulldogs to convince the majority. We need to show for the remainder of the season that we can match it with a mid-tabled side or two. I doubt it with our midfield though.

I wholeheartedly agree that we have great promise at both ends of the ground. We also have some young talent in the middle. It's experience we lack there. If we land an established coach, as you say, they will still have a bit of a hard sell.

We should be aiming to win 4 or 5 of our remaining games.

I have little doubt that within three years Kent, Terlich and Clisby will be part of the midfield rotations as well.

I hope you're right, Trenners. I think it might take a little more than a win over the Bulldogs to convince the majority. We need to show for the remainder of the season that we can match it with a mid-tabled side or two. I doubt it with our midfield though.

I wholeheartedly agree that we have great promise at both ends of the ground. We also have some young talent in the middle. It's experience we lack there. If we land an established coach, as you say, they will still have a bit of a hard sell.

We should be aiming to win 4 or 5 of our remaining games.

That's exactly what I mean. Hopefully they can see that we are lacking in the experienced mid department and that by coming to the club with the solid forward and back line we should be able to improve quite well. At least that's the idea!

Positive thinking I know, as we've been seen as a basket case. But maybe we're a basket case with more promise than first thought...

Edited June 30, 201312 yr by trenners_09

It all comes down to money.

Why do we have Clark and Dawes?

get the right person and make him an offer he cannot refuse.

Works every time.

What a club like the Bulldogs would give to have the forward line options we have on our list: Dawes, Clark, Watts, *Hogan, Howe and possibly Fitzpatrick.

We should have seriously good bookends in 2014.

Just need to develop the engine to put into the chassis - there's a big difference between a BMW 320d and an M3.

Two experienced mids and a good pre-season and we're starting to look okay.

What a club like the Bulldogs would give to have the forward line options we have on our list: Dawes, Clark, Watts, *Hogan, Howe and possibly Fitzpatrick.

We should have seriously good bookends in 2014.

Just need to develop the engine to put into the chassis - there's a big difference between a BMW 320d and an M3.

Two experienced mids and a good pre-season and we're starting to look okay.

I would have said a Barina and a M3!

I am beginning to worry about Clark No words at all lately on his condition.

I smell big problem or am I imagining things?

I would have said a Barina and a M3!

I am beginning to worry about Clark No words at all lately on his condition.

I smell big problem or am I imagining things?

He does seem to have stepped up his photography into a business now...panic stations, haha, just kidding

It seems a day doesn't go by that he's not out taking photos and editing them onto his instagram and facebook pages. Some decent photos too

It all comes down to money.

Why do we have Clark and Dawes?

get the right person and make him an offer he cannot refuse.

Works every time.

Maybe OD......, but "stars" aren't traded. They are never on the market. If Buddy moves to GWS it will be for money,

Scully and Ablett moved for money and money only....not trade. Can you name another mid-field star traded in the past 5 years?

If you want mid-fielders ( and we need a couple of good ones ) you have to grow them yourselves. No quick fixes possible, as Carlton have found with Judd..one is not enough

Edited June 30, 201312 yr by george_on_the_outer

Things seem so much better after a win. Lets put it in perspective though. We just managed to beat the bulldogs who are hopeless at the moment.

Players wont choose us as a prefered destination because of it. Most of us have rose coloured glasses on. Opposition players will not. We are still a rable.

If we play well against Sydney this week? Maybe things might start changing.

Maybe OD......, but "stars" aren't traded. They are never on the market. If Buddy moves to GWS it will be for money,

Scully and Ablett moved for money and money only....not trade. Can you name another mid-field star traded in the past 5 years?

If you want mid-fielders ( and we need a couple of good ones ) you have to grow them yourselves. No quick fixes possible, as Carlton have found with Judd..one is not enough

I doubt we will get a 'star' so to speak, but we should be able to lure a very handy established mid, someone who isn't getting much game time because they are behind a strog midfield. That is where we need to start just like Richmond did with Grigg and Houli. Once you do that and start winning then it becomes easier to lure better talent, and in the end you don't have to lure them they ask to come because they want to be apart of a winning side. That's what we need to aim for.

Choose the best midfielder available and throw the southern stand at him.

Now we need to be ruthless!!

Edited July 1, 201312 yr by 66frank

Choose the best midfielder available and throw the southern stand at him.

Now we need to be ruthless!!

I would say that is stupid rather than ruthless.

What a club like the Bulldogs would give to have the forward line options we have on our list: Dawes, Clark, Watts, *Hogan, Howe and possibly Fitzpatrick.

We should have seriously good bookends in 2014.

Just need to develop the engine to put into the chassis - there's a big difference between a BMW 320d and an M3.

Two experienced mids and a good pre-season and we're starting to look okay.

I'd try to send Fitzpatrick to the dogs for a 2nd round pick.

I'm not confident of his ability to get a game in coming years, nor his ability to develop into an above average AFL player.

His value would be at an all time high now, especially with the dogs who've seen him up close fluking bananas from the pocket.

They desperately need forwards, and the ones they find in the draft will take time.

Maybe OD......, but "stars" aren't traded. They are never on the market. If Buddy moves to GWS it will be for money,

Scully and Ablett moved for money and money only....not trade. Can you name another mid-field star traded in the past 5 years?

If you want mid-fielders ( and we need a couple of good ones ) you have to grow them yourselves. No quick fixes possible, as Carlton have found with Judd..one is not enough

Judd enabled Carlton to have the time to develop their own.

The first two years he was at Carlton they won numerous games that they would not have won without him.

I remember a game against us on a wet MCG I think it was 2011 where he won the game off his own boot in the last quarter.

One of our major problems over the last few years has been the lack of Good senior players to show the kids the way.

We need good senior midfielders now.

Lets go get one

I'd try to send Fitzpatrick to the dogs for a 2nd round pick.

I'm not confident of his ability to get a game in coming years, nor his ability to develop into an above average AFL player.

His value would be at an all time high now, especially with the dogs who've seen him up close fluking bananas from the pocket.

They desperately need forwards, and the ones they find in the draft will take time.

Harsh call after what was a pretty decent game, but it's a pretty good call.

I'd want a good look at Mitch Clark and how he will come back before making such a call, but with Watts, Dawes and Howe down there and Hogan next year... his opportunities are going to be limited. If Clark can work with Gawn in the ruck, you might look at it, but without Clark neither of the other forwards can go into the Ruck.

Pederson?

Jokes!

I'm not sure Fitzy is an effective backup ruckman either.

I guess he competes.

I'm just looking at him as largely expendable and he could provide us with an early 20s (2nd round) or late 30s/early 40s (3rd round) pick to get another much-needed mid.

Hopefully an Allen Christensen, who was picked at pick 40ish.

I'd be happy with another Kent or Matt Jones.

Harsh call after what was a pretty decent game, but it's a pretty good call.

I'd want a good look at Mitch Clark and how he will come back before making such a call, but with Watts, Dawes and Howe down there and Hogan next year... his opportunities are going to be limited. If Clark can work with Gawn in the ruck, you might look at it, but without Clark neither of the other forwards can go into the Ruck.

Fitz is worth keeping there are always injuries we need depth as well as a midfield.

Judd enabled Carlton to have the time to develop their own.

The first two years he was at Carlton they won numerous games that they would not have won without him.

I remember a game against us on a wet MCG I think it was 2011 where he won the game off his own boot in the last quarter.

One of our major problems over the last few years has been the lack of Good senior players to show the kids the way.

We need good senior midfielders now.

Lets go get one

Totally agree, OD. If we could get even a player of Luke Ball's calibre that would invaluable and allow Viney, M Jones and Toumpas to learn from them. Not to mention allow Nathan Jones a little more time and space. The problem with Carlton is Gibbs never turned into the midfielder they were hoping for, but Judd has shown Murphy the way. Obviously Carlton also have KPP issues, which is why they have never really looked threatening.

Should see if there are any GWS or GCS young mids' not signed up, and put some decent offers to them. if nothing else it will force them to pay more for their players. We will attract decent players with money, possibly picking up someone elses discards, Dawes for instance was essentially being discarded by the pies. Also the coach is going to be a key motivator as he needs to be seen as someone who can take us up into the finals and a flag, as no-one wants to go to a loosing club unless the money is $$$$$$$$huge$.

Fitz is worth keeping there are always injuries we need depth as well as a midfield.

Fully agree! Keep Fitzy and trade Spencer. Fitzy is potentially more versatile as a forward/ruckman! Maybe GWS will swap Fitz for Taylor?

When mentioning the Backs and Mids we already have. No one mentioned Trenners and Grimesy.

Trenners has been getting back to somewhere near good form in the past few weeks. Grimesy was one of our best before his collarbone fracture.

Who are our best 22 with the form shown last week. Do we persevere with pickles,and jetta

Trenners has been getting back to somewhere near good form in the past few weeks.

The problem is he is not getting any quicker.

When mentioning the Backs and Mids we already have. No one mentioned Trenners and Grimesy.

Trenners has been getting back to somewhere near good form in the past few weeks. Grimesy was one of our best before his collarbone fracture.

Who are our best 22 with the form shown last week. Do we persevere with pickles,and jetta

Chippy my view has been for some time that neither are really mid field players.

IMO because of lack of mid fielders we have been trying to make both into something they are not.

IMO Trengove is a forward who can venture to the wing and Grimes is a half back.

If we play them in those positions we will get maximium results from them.

Obviously mine is not the popular view but there you have it.