Saying "confirmed" with an unreferenced anecdote is not a confirmation. You know this.

Not to mention it's a painful way of contributing.

At least say, "I've got some information and I can't divulge the source, but from someone who'd know I'm exceedingly confident Cross either signed on the weekend or we reached an in principal agreement".

But no, some just like to beat their chests.

But no, some just like to beat their chests.

Thanks, made me smile.

Saying "confirmed" with an unreferenced anecdote is not a confirmation. You know this.

I do, but still... consider it gospel.

I've been asked not to reveal the source.

I've got enough detail to know its true beyond a doubt.

I do, but still... consider it gospel.

I've been asked not to reveal the source.

I've got enough detail to know its true beyond a doubt.

Why aren't they announcing it?

Why aren't they announcing it?

Perhaps they must wait until the Delisted Free Agency period begins?

And this is why we are still a long way off from being competitive with other AFL teams.

If Cross is the Western Bulldogs 6th or 7th best midfielder and he comes to us as the 3rd or 4th best then we are in serious trouble.

Our past recruitment and development coaches should be hung, drawn and quartered before the first game next season and left to rot on top of the MCC until the seagulls have disposed of their rotting corpses. Either that or just ridiculed for all eternity.

I think you need to look at the overall picture. Our forward and back halfs are significantly better than the Dogs and I believe we have a significantly better coach. Our midfield in a year's time will also be better, and Gawn is bigger and more mobile than Minson, at least he will be in a year's time. The dogs have a very significant problem in attack - the opposite of us.

We will be well ahead of them this year.

Thanks, made me smile.

And I.

I think you need to look at the overall picture. Our forward and back halfs are significantly better than the Dogs and I believe we have a significantly better coach. Our midfield in a year's time will also be better, and Gawn is bigger and more mobile, at least he will be in a year's time. The dogs have a very significant problem in attack - the opposite of us.

We will be well ahead of them this year.

Agreed

If we break even in the midfield when we play the Dogs we will win by 10 goals

Our forward line and backline is worlds above theirs, not to mention the coaches

I understandthat taking an old bloke from another bottom team doesn't really inspire a lot if people. It didn't inspire me.

But the more I think about it, the more benefit I see in it.

We had 1 guy getting the ball last year, Nathan Jones obviously. Just 1.

Trengove became a reactionary zombie, Sylvia never hunted the ball first his whole career, Jack Viney too inexperienced etc...

It's no wonder Toumpas struggled.

Adding the likes of Cross, Vince and Taylor will guarantee Toumpas doesn't go half a game without getting a touch ever again.

We need ball getters, and equally as important we need good users to get it to.

Jones, Cross and Viney getting it out to Vince, Toumpas and maybe Watts is so much better than what we had last year it's not funny.

It just creates a much better balance and will go a long way to letting Trengove, Viney and Toumpas (Watts) develop naturally, not be under consistent pressure to perform miracles in a garbage team.

Channel 10 saying it's a done deal subject to a medical next week

Why aren't they announcing it?

I knew that George Stone was coming to the MFC about a week after Paul Roos was announced, but couldn't reveal the source. He wasn't confirmed from the MFC until 2 weeks ago. Crossing T's, dotting I's. An unrevealable source but irrefutable confirmation is sometimes just that.

I think you'll find the Dogs told Cross he wasn't in their best 22. They don't have a midfield problem - Boyd, Griffen, Libba, Wallace, McRae, Smith, Cooney, throw in Dahlhouse, Hrovat and Koby Stevens too.

I think they're young guys are ready for much more exposure, so Koby Stevens coming over last year probably kicked cross out of the kennel.

they have to get games into them.

we on the other hand, our young guys are greener, & we have less mature leadership.

I hope Cross joins us.

Will be taken in pre season draft ch10

Will be taken in pre season draft ch10

Well if they said that it just reveals the source doesn't know what he is talking about. Cross is an unrestricted free agent. He doesnt have to go through any draft, it is matter of negotiating a deal direct between the player and club.

I suspect this "deal done" talk is nonsense if they are also talking about PSD.

Just further proof that channel 10 doesn't understand AFL.

Why not select him as a delisted free agent, rather than use a psd pick?

Well if they said that it just reveals the source doesn't know what he is talking about. Cross is an unrestricted free agent. He doesnt have to go through any draft, it is matter of negotiating a deal direct between the player and club.

I suspect this "deal done" talk is nonsense if they are also talking about PSD.

Channel 10 didn't say anything about the PSD just that he would be signing up with Melbourne subject to a medical next week.

To be fair, I clearly revealed the source in a post on the first page of this thread, but have since deleted it to maintain my source's anonymity.

I think you need to look at the overall picture. Our forward and back halfs are significantly better than the Dogs and I believe we have a significantly better coach. Our midfield in a year's time will also be better, and Gawn is bigger and more mobile, at least he will be in a year's time. The dogs have a very significant problem in attack - the opposite of us.

We will be well ahead of them this year.

We might well over take them at some point but in the end the teams are still pretty evenly balanced with plenty of deficiencies each. Consider the forward line. The dogs are bringing in Crameri as a very serviceable 3rd tall forward, they have Dalhaus as a crumber we don't have, Jarrad Grant is the point of difference player who can be horrible or very good like Howe. Their is a gulf of class between Mitch Clark and Tom Campbell but that's one position. Liam Jones can be as good as Dawes if he gets back on track.

They have some decent mid sized and small defenders down back as well. So the holes are there but not gaping. And they have a true elite mid in Griffen, 2 very good older mids in Boyd and Cooney who have to be replaced but then legitimate depth of young talent - Libba, Wallis, Stringer, McCrae, Clay Smith, Hrovat, Hunter, Koby Stevens. That's 8 decent young players. Number 9 will be pick 4.

Compare that to Melbourne - Vince is the veteran ala Boyd or Cooney. Cross could fit as the second veteran. Jones is the gun in his prime. The young talent list is Viney, Tyson, Michie, Trengove, McKenzie, Toumpas, ?Watts, ?Evans. Maybe we get to 8 as well with pick 9 the 9th in our young midfield talent. But the dogs guys have runs on the board in that they contributed to wins. I want to see wins from our young mids first. Libba also emerged as a future star. I'd love to see Viney, Tyson, Trengove or pick 9 show some star factor.

Either way I wont use the fact that we have a young ruck who might make it and Hogan and Clark as clear proof we are better set than the dogs at this stage.

I think they're young guys are ready for much more exposure, so Koby Stevens coming over last year probably kicked cross out of the kennel.

they have to get games into them.

we on the other hand, our young guys are greener, & we have less mature leadership.

I hope Cross joins us.

More so Cooney, Boyd, Murphy forward or back, Dale Morris, Minson and Gia as the sub. That's 4 over 30 and 6 over 28. Can't really have any more and call yourself rebuilding and have young guys playing well.

Same goes for Geelong moving on Pods and Chapman.

The difference between that and Melbourne with Junior McDonald though is that when we moved on Junior it left Bruce and Green. The dogs still have other veterans.

More so Cooney, Boyd, Murphy forward or back, Dale Morris, Minson and Gia as the sub. That's 4 over 30 and 6 over 28. Can't really have any more and call yourself rebuilding and have young guys playing well.

Same goes for Geelong moving on Pods and Chapman.

The difference between that and Melbourne with Junior McDonald though is that when we moved on Junior it left Bruce and Green. The dogs still have other veterans.

yep I think thats close to what I wrote.

make space when they're ready to come on, or lose development &/or players.

Cross a demon. 1 year contract confirmed on 3aw

If the signing is true that I am more excited about this pick up then Vince or Tyson! why?

Cross is regarded as one of the most professional players in the AFL in regards to his training and body conditioning. His humbleness and leadership is a highly regarded in the AFL circles. Been known to be one of the fittest player in the AFL in the way he will gut run both ways without stopping. This bloke is a crazy running machine. Would be well worth the watch on training day this summer just to watch blokes try and catch him, he is seriously one fit man.

Cross is also a big family man so there is no better role model for the likes of Toumpas, Viney, Barry, Pick 9 coming through. He will also show them how hard you need to gut run and be the most professional player you can be. He will be the first on the track and the last to leave as he is always working on his weakness and improve his game.

Terry Wallace said recently that he is the most dedicated person he has ever come across in his football career. He also mentioned that is a coach in waiting. So think of it as a playing assistant role he will have with us.

Nathan Jones will love going into battle with this bloke. One of the most courage's players in the AFL with his fearsome attack on the footy.

Mark my words our midfield will get a massive boost next year with this bloke leading from the front.

This just off twitter:

3AW Football ‏@3AWisfootball 16m

Daniel Cross has confirmed with @3AWSportsToday that he's signed a one-year deal with @melbournefc

EDIT: Sorry, dbj1983 (previous page) wrote the same confirmation.

Awesome - in the interview he mentioned option for at least one more year provided he achieves a couple of things

Friggen Awsome! Welcome Crossy!