Mathew Stokes unrestricted free agent, having a great year playing midfield. We could offer him 3 years and Davey 's salary.

Daniel Cross - out of favour at the Dogs because they have many of his type, he should be available at a reasonable trade price eg 4th round pick 60.

Then we can use our early picks on u18 mids who'll have some protection while they develop.

Yes, I've already been an advocate of recruiting Cross.

Great bloke, strong character, fanatical about footy and getting the best out of himself.

Mathew Stokes unrestricted free agent, having a great year playing midfield. We could offer him 3 years and Davey 's salary.

Daniel Cross - out of favour at the Dogs because they have many of his type, he should be available at a reasonable trade price eg 4th round pick 60.

Then we can use our early picks on u18 mids who'll have some protection while they develop.

ooh i like this thinking .

We need a keystone kind of player. One to tie the others together into unified purpose.

Still need to go after Thomas too, 55. But wholeheartedly agree on Stokes and Cross.

Mathew Stokes unrestricted free agent, having a great year playing midfield. We could offer him 3 years and Davey 's salary.

Daniel Cross - out of favour at the Dogs because they have many of his type, he should be available at a reasonable trade price eg 4th round pick 60.

Then we can use our early picks on u18 mids who'll have some protection while they develop.

This is exactly the thinking we had with Neeld last year and I like it. It just didn't work because there wasn't a whole lot on offer and we weren't an attractive prospect at all. I hope we are more enticing this time, and the Byrnes' and Rodan's are upgraded to the likes of Stokes and Cross.

On a side note, anyone know what the go is with Shane Tuck at the moment?

This is exactly the thinking we had with Neeld last year and I like it. It just didn't work because there wasn't a whole lot on offer and we weren't an attractive prospect at all. I hope we are more enticing this time, and the Byrnes' and Rodan's are upgraded to the likes of Stokes and Cross.

On a side note, anyone know what the go is with Shane Tuck at the moment?

Broken shoulder blade django! Probably still a month away. Prior to that, seemed they wanted to groom vlaustin, grigg, Ellis in the midfield instead of tuck. I wonder if he will retire at seasons end.

Mathew Stokes unrestricted free agent, having a great year playing midfield. We could offer him 3 years and Davey 's salary.

Daniel Cross - out of favour at the Dogs because they have many of his type, he should be available at a reasonable trade price eg 4th round pick 60.

Then we can use our early picks on u18 mids who'll have some protection while they develop.

I'd love stokes, but I think after the drug saga he went through and geelong showing faith in him that he would stay very loyal to Geelong. Have to ask the question though, don't we!

Broken shoulder blade django! Probably still a month away. Prior to that, seemed they wanted to groom vlaustin, grigg, Ellis in the midfield instead of tuck. I wonder if he will retire at seasons end.

I'd love stokes, but I think after the drug saga he went through and geelong showing faith in him that he would stay very loyal to Geelong. Have to ask the question though, don't we!

Cheers. I wouldn't mind Tuck though he might be a bit old now. Still seems to contribute pretty well and is a really good sized midfielder, something we've lacked for ages.

Anyone think we should try to get Jordie Gysberts back in the fold for cheap? Sure he as struggled to break into the top notch Nth Midfield but is a thin tall mid who will take a bit of time.

PROS:

- Had 30 touch games in his first year - especially memorable was the debut at skilled v Cats. We simply dont have mids who win the ball that much.

- Silky kicking

- tall mid 191? We dont have one of them. Takes a little longer to develop.

- top draft pick so people know he has talent.

- Should be quite cheap!

CONS

- May have burnt some bridges. But now Neeld has gone we should welcome everyone we can back.

- May not be up to it.

Anyone think we should try to get Jordie Gysberts back in the fold for cheap? Sure he as struggled to break into the top notch Nth Midfield but is a thin tall mid who will take a bit of time.

PROS:

- Had 30 touch games in his first year - especially memorable was the debut at skilled v Cats. We simply dont have mids who win the ball that much.

- Silky kicking

- tall mid 191? We dont have one of them. Takes a little longer to develop.

- top draft pick so people know he has talent.

- Should be quite cheap!

CONS

- May have burnt some bridges. But now Neeld has gone we should welcome everyone we can back.

- May not be up to it.

Wouldn't think so, always a question on his commitment and work rate. How's his form been in the VFL, has he been getting a kick?

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

I love part 4 , no one cares about that but supporters, that wouldn't be an attractive prospect for any player, the only way we will get players is to Pay OVER the odds, like we did with Dawes and Clark. PS the fools running the club better make sure they leave 700,000 a season aside for Frawley because every single side in the AFL is going to be fighting for him.

Anyone think we should try to get Jordie Gysberts back in the fold for cheap? Sure he as struggled to break into the top notch Nth Midfield but is a thin tall mid who will take a bit of time.

PROS:

- Had 30 touch games in his first year - especially memorable was the debut at skilled v Cats. We simply dont have mids who win the ball that much.

- Silky kicking

- tall mid 191? We dont have one of them. Takes a little longer to develop.

- top draft pick so people know he has talent.

- Should be quite cheap!

CONS

- May have burnt some bridges. But now Neeld has gone we should welcome everyone we can back.

- May not be up to it.

Wouldn't think so, always a question on his commitment and work rate. How's his form been in the VFL, has he been getting a kick?

Perceptions under the Neeld regime didn't necessarily reflect the reality or potential of a player. I am sure he works hard. Repeatedly been in the best in the VFL and has been first emergency a few times. Good midfield Nths.

B.N. (Before Neeld) I think he was well and truly on his way. Struggled with a back injury for most of his one season under Neeld. Never got a game.

Perceptions under the Neeld regime didn't necessarily reflect the reality or potential of a player. I am sure he works hard. Repeatedly been in the best in the VFL and has been first emergency a few times. Good midfield Nths.

B.N. (Before Neeld) I think he was well and truly on his way. Struggled with a back injury for most of his one season under Neeld. Never got a game.

Thanks, haven't been following his VFL form. He certainly wasn't the coaches favourite with Neeld, he wasn't on his own there and injury with the back, wrist and jaw didn't help him.

Maybe he will get a call up this week, North can't keep going with a losing formula.

I wanted to start a new thread but couldn't figure out how to on my ipad!

Anyway I can't believe I haven't heard his name mentioned yet by anyone but I think we need to go after Patrick Karnezis from the lions. He hasn't been getting game time at the lions and he wants to come back to Victoria. He was pick 25 in the 2010 draft and has played 20 games. He's 190cm and listed as a forward but I liked what I saw of him in the midfield and on the wing in preseason. I think he could become our Josh P Kennedy!

Convince him to come in the preseason draft, trade for Taylor Adams, pick up sheed in the draft and suddenly we have the makings of a midfielde with Viney and Jones. If we could land a free agent like Thomas as well then we will really be looking good for next year and beyond!

Get it done dees!

Now this is better thinking.

Depending on the price I would be looking at these types of players.

Solid bodies, I don't care if they are older, that can contribute immediately and come at a low cost.

I wanted to start a new thread but couldn't figure out how to on my ipad!

Anyway I can't believe I haven't heard his name mentioned yet by anyone but I think we need to go after Patrick Karnezis from the lions. He hasn't been getting game time at the lions and he wants to come back to Victoria. He was pick 25 in the 2010 draft and has played 20 games. He's 190cm and listed as a forward but I liked what I saw of him in the midfield and on the wing in preseason. I think he could become our Josh P Kennedy!

Convince him to come in the preseason draft, trade for Taylor Adams, pick up sheed in the draft and suddenly we have the makings of a midfielde with Viney and Jones. If we could land a free agent like Thomas as well then we will really be looking good for next year and beyond!

Get it done dees!

I like the idea, i think we need to chase two experienced mids though, a midfield of Jones, Viney, toumpas, grimes, trenners, sheed, cross, thomas and adams looks pretty handy, and is realistic, we would have to pay overs to appeal to thomas imo though, would need to be sure he is going to get back to top form.

I'm now convinced that trading in some QUALITY experienced players is a number 1 priority. The likes of Sewell, Thomas, Montagna..we need to be doing everything in our power to acquire these types of players. It's the only thing that is possibly going to drag the club off the canvass within the next 5 years.

I'm now convinced that trading in some QUALITY experienced players is a number 1 priority. The likes of Sewell, Thomas, Montagna..we need to be doing everything in our power to acquire these types of players. It's the only thing that is possibly going to drag the club off the canvass within the next 5 years.

Neeld's idea was right but he chose the wrong players imo, we need some blokes who can play in our best 22 have played in a winning culture and can teach our young mids, montagna, thomas and sewell fit the bill perfectly, not sure what we would have to trade to get sewell, but any chance pick 1 gets us montagna?

Neeld's idea was right but he chose the wrong players imo, we need some blokes who can play in our best 22 have played in a winning culture and can teach our young mids, montagna, thomas and sewell fit the bill perfectly, not sure what we would have to trade to get sewell, but any chance pick 1 gets us montagna?

Paying way over the odds...just about in the pensioner class with Sewell.

Paying way over the odds...just about in the pensioner class with Sewell.

I know he is older but wouldn't the experience be worth paying overs potentially, or would they bundle him with another player maybe?

I'm sure they're one of the teams that will be keen to get their hands on Boyd.

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

I hope it doesn't come to that otherwise it would mean that in 3 years time our midfield is still shitt! (with exception of Kent).

We need to stop playing players out of position and just get some continuity if we are to ever improve.

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

Don't overlook Michael Evans. He looked the equal to all but Jones prior to injury.

I'm now convinced that trading in some QUALITY experienced players is a number 1 priority. The likes of Sewell, Thomas, Montagna..we need to be doing everything in our power to acquire these types of players. It's the only thing that is possibly going to drag the club off the canvass within the next 5 years.

PMan, Montagna and Sewell are almost finished. Let's not become the pension plan. Do agree re Thomas though.

I know he is older but wouldn't the experience be worth paying overs potentially, or would they bundle him with another player maybe?

I'm sure they're one of the teams that will be keen to get their hands on Boyd.

The problem is we set ourselves up as a middle of the ladder club at best with this type of thinking. We are giving away top end talent for short term fix that may move us up one or two spots on the ladder. Then put us back in the same position a few years later. Someone like Daisy if he's fit would be a good get, he has a few years left in him, he works very hard and would be a good role model on field but I doubt our chances.

I know we need mids but I would still seriously look at taking Boyd if we had the chance. We don't have any 'A' grade key forwards at the moment, we have Hogan on the way and that is all. Clark showed promise and was playing good footy but could not be classified as an 'A' grade forward, a potential one yes but a better ruck option in my thinking and would add a midfielder with his ability to hit the ground running. Imagine a ruckman who could get 20 plus good possessions a game v one who gets next to none. Watts developing (where to play him), Fitz developing, Dawes a workhorse who can't get on the ground, Howe developing may be better high half or wing.

We are seriously kidding ourselves if we think we have the forward line sorted out.

Anyone think we should try to get Jordie Gysberts back in the fold for cheap? Sure he as struggled to break into the top notch Nth Midfield but is a thin tall mid who will take a bit of time.

PROS:

- Had 30 touch games in his first year - especially memorable was the debut at skilled v Cats. We simply dont have mids who win the ball that much.

- Silky kicking

- tall mid 191? We dont have one of them. Takes a little longer to develop.

- top draft pick so people know he has talent.

- Should be quite cheap!

CONS

- May have burnt some bridges. But now Neeld has gone we should welcome everyone we can back.

- May not be up to it.

Demonstrative, I'm not having a go but I think your last con may be fairly crucial. Not up to it.