What role? He's an inside mid with stats as good as Nathan Jones this year.

His role is to play most games for the next 2 years while Viney, Toumpas, Evans, Trengove, M.Jones, and this years draftees all develop PROPERLY without the pressure to carry the team.

Good points regarding 1 year v 2 year contract. Are Rookie List players also given 2 year contracts?

But I would question whether or not we do really know what role Cross is capable of playing in Melbourne's midfield, given it is such a different environment to the Doggies.

Rookie list players are given a 1+1 contract where they can be discarded after one year or agree to stay for a second year. Alternatively, they can go into the draft. Magner should have done that after 2012.

Rookie list players are given a 1+1 contract where they can be discarded after one year or agree to stay for a second year. Alternatively, they can go into the draft. Magner should have done that after 2012.

I think it's 3 years now, one year at a time.

What role? He's an inside mid with stats as good as Nathan Jones this year.

His role is to play most games for the next 2 years while Viney, Toumpas, Evans, Trengove, M.Jones, and this years draftees all develop PROPERLY without the pressure to carry the team.

The stats are meaningless. Brock McLean's 2013 stats are also comparable to 2013 Nat's stats, there are over 100 midfielders that get 20+ a week, it tells you very little about the player.

At the Doggies, Cross played 13 games surrounded by Griffen, Boyd, Cooney & Libba.

At the MFC you want him to play 22 games surrounded by kids? Is he capable of doing that and making a meaningful contribution, given his form & fitness is going backwards?

The stats are meaningless. Brock McLean's 2013 stats are also comparable to 2013 Nat's stats, there are over 100 midfielders that get 20+ a week, it tells you very little about the player.

At the Doggies, Cross played 13 games surrounded by Griffen, Boyd, Cooney & Libba.

At the MFC you want him to play 22 games surrounded by kids? Is he capable of doing that and making a meaningful contribution, given his form & fitness is going backwards?

Well his average has gone down by 1 disposal per season for the last 4, so if he averages 21 touches next year he hasn't gone that far backwards has he?

Do you think the fact we're talking to him about sports science says he's also still pretty fit?

Do you think you get more or less stats when there's other good mids around you?

How many of those 100 midfielders who average over 20 touches play for MFC? I'll tell you, 1. Nathan Jones.

In Paul Roos i trust.... if thats what he wants, then its good enough for me..

though the moment Cross got delisted and wanted to play on, i knew we were gonna chase him...

load up the midfield.. maybe get Swallow and our midfield look 1000 times better...

People are forgetting something here. He's not going to be the only mid we go after.

Should our dreams come true and we manage to get Adams (20) and Swallow (21), we still have a VERY young midfield and Cross will do nothing but help them develop properly.

Well his average has gone down by 1 disposal per season for the last 4, so if he averages 21 touches next year he hasn't gone that far backwards has he?

Do you think the fact we're talking to him about sports science says he's also still pretty fit?

Do you think you get more or less stats when there's other good mids around you?

How many of those 100 midfielders who average over 20 touches play for MFC? I'll tell you, 1. Nathan Jones.

Get over the stats!

Has this type of trade worked before with midfielders entering the twilight of their careers? It certainly works with rucks and sometimes with key position players, who are brought it in to fill a hole for 1-2 years. I cannot recall too many 31 year old inside mids stepping into inferior midfields and having an impact. I am happy to be proven wrong though!

whats the go with swallow, has he hinted he wants to move, is he out of contract?

Get over the stats!

Has this type of trade worked before with midfielders entering the twilight of their careers? It certainly works with rucks and sometimes with key position players, who are brought it in to fill a hole for 1-2 years. I cannot recall too many 31 year old inside mids stepping into inferior midfields and having an impact. I am happy to be proven wrong though!

We have the worst midfield of all time. Cross will improve it and help our young mids develop. He's not coming in as a solution or a superstar.

Can't understand why people can't see that.

What role? He's an inside mid with stats as good as Nathan Jones this year.

His role is to play most games for the next 2 years while Viney, Toumpas, Evans, Trengove, M.Jones, and this years draftees all develop PROPERLY without the pressure to carry the team.

It was pretty hard to figure out huh !!! lol ...funny some cant see it ...ah well

if you saw him play this year, you would notice he did not at all look finished. He was only dropped through Libbas emergence and their drafting of Hrovat,Hunter,Macrae etc.. He played some very good football.

PLus, His inside game will help the likes of Toumpas,Blease etc because they will have more of an oppurtunity to get the ball on the outside where they are able to use it.

Plus! He is a very good contested player. With his addition suddenly our +/- cont. possie, clearance ratios start to swing back to the positive.

Some may bring up his kicking... but IMO his kicking wont really be relied upon. Hes generally a handball player as it stands anyways.

I honestly don't feel he will be a list clogger... Guys like Rodan,Byrnes etc werent getting games because they were speed and spread players and the game had passed them by. Cross would have gotten a game had the Bulldogs not chosen to draft so many mids. Even though he played better than all bar 3-4 of their mids, they need to develop them. Nobody on this site could possibly have a negative view on him playing for us... If you do well..... bring some evidence as to why or let it go.

Im actually excited by the prospect of Cross, and what he will bring.

Hard worker, good trainer, good footy head on his shoulders, good clubman. Will come cheaply and easily.

A more than useful pickup.

People forget this bloke is going to cost nothing

he is easily in our best 22 if not our best handful of players and will add huge leadership on and off the field,

i can't think of a reason to not chase him as a delisted free agent.

Thats the bonus isnt it D26. a freebie. The kids will benefit from some older bones taking some of the attention .

What has Cross done in the last season?

Another fanciful, hugely talented player that we should chase vigorously?

You are kidding, if he can't get a game at the Dogs we don't want him.

Pick another kid with speed and heart, not another hasbeen!

Look to the fuure............................not the past.

Averaged 25 disposals in his last six games. He's an extremely hard worker & great role model who's ideal for a team trying to build a culture. Will be just as valuable off the field as he is on it. The only reason he was dropped was because they wanted to get games into the kids. It certainly wasn't form related that for sure.

Was often said he was the hardest trainer in the AFL a few years ago. Would be great for the culture of our club

What role? He's an inside mid with stats as good as Nathan Jones this year.

His role is to play most games for the next 2 years while Viney, Toumpas, Evans, Trengove, M.Jones, and this years draftees all develop PROPERLY without the pressure to carry the team.

While not disagreeing with the gist of your post Stuie, the stat comparison you supplied us (very useful btw) shows Cross played only 13 games this year, so its probably not fair to compare with Jones who played almost every game.

While not disagreeing with the gist of your post Stuie, the stat comparison you supplied us (very useful btw) shows Cross played only 13 games this year, so its probably not fair to compare with Jones who played almost every game.

Nah [censored] Moon. The comparison is reasonable. I with my mate Stuie on this.

What role? He's an inside mid with stats as good as Nathan Jones this year.

His role is to play most games for the next 2 years while Viney, Toumpas, Evans, Trengove, M.Jones, and this years draftees all develop PROPERLY without the pressure to carry the team.

That's a nice thought Stuie, to develop players properly.

That will be a nice change.

Onward and upward.

Nah [censored] Moon. The comparison is reasonable. I with my mate Stuie on this.

Bitty = stalker.

While not disagreeing with the gist of your post Stuie, the stat comparison you supplied us (very useful btw) shows Cross played only 13 games this year, so its probably not fair to compare with Jones who played almost every game.

I would think it's comparable in a way... I wouldn't expect Cross to play every game next year, and less the year after. The stats were just to highlight his value to those saying he's "lost it".

Get over the stats!

Has this type of trade worked before with midfielders entering the twilight of their careers? It certainly works with rucks and sometimes with key position players, who are brought it in to fill a hole for 1-2 years. I cannot recall too many 31 year old inside mids stepping into inferior midfields and having an impact. I am happy to be proven wrong though!

I haven't looked at his age, but Stuart Maxfield moved from Richmind to Sydney at an advanced age and is one of the senior players credited to instilling the bloods culture.

Roos is trying to do the same thing with Cross...and why not. He's a durable 30 year old who still has petrol in the tank, a renowned hard trainer and he'll cost us nothing.

I'd gladly take him as a FA on a one year deal. I think he could help teach our young mids the work ethic needed to succeed as a quality player over many years.

I would think it's comparable in a way... I wouldn't expect Cross to play every game next year, and less the year after. The stats were just to highlight his value to those saying he's "lost it".

Fair enough mate. Admittedly I don't know much about Cross, but after DRod and Byrnes I'm VERY nervous about picking up any discarded player 29+ in age. Most player managers probably know we have room in the SC and that quality OOC players aged 23-26 will avoid us, so we'll have to spend our money somewhere. Concerned that we may be seen as the veterans superannuation top up club.