After reading thread after thread of tea leaves about who may or may not be on MFC radar for 2014, I wanted to kick off with real life scenarios and get away from all this tarot card recruiting possibilities.

If anybody has some dead set certainties then post them here!

Here is a dead certainty - I am stoked we have Roos onboard and he will make the MFC a much more attractive destination - but lets not all get carried away. We look at our destination with rose coloured glasses. Here and now, if the likes of Adams has the reported choice of Collingwood, Geelong, Richmond or us - we would rank 4th choice. It will take "overs" to get the likes of Adams to have us choice one. And that goes for other recruits as well.

Here is a dead certainty - I am stoked we have Roos onboard and he will make the MFC a much more attractive destination - but lets not all get carried away. We look at our destination with rose coloured glasses. Here and now, if the likes of Adams has the reported choice of Collingwood, Geelong, Richmond or us - we would rank 4th choice. It will take "overs" to get the likes of Adams to have us choice one. And that goes for other recruits as well.

Agreed - if you want to look at it through rose coloured glasses:

Collingwood is arguably coming to an end of their reign, Geelong could still be a powerhouse for a couple years, Richmond is on its way up and hopefully we are on our way up also.

I guess its up to him whether he wants immediate short term success or a chance to build towards long term success (if thats the case he should have stayed at GWS).

I see Collingwood out of the box and we are a small chance as we could probably field the largest offer.

...Sorry I kind of went of topic already

Some people have reported (obviously not fact yet) that we have Cross stitched up already and I find this very believable.

Here is a dead certainty - I am stoked we have Roos onboard and he will make the MFC a much more attractive destination - but lets not all get carried away. We look at our destination with rose coloured glasses. Here and now, if the likes of Adams has the reported choice of Collingwood, Geelong, Richmond or us - we would rank 4th choice. It will take "overs" to get the likes of Adams to have us choice one. And that goes for other recruits as well.

Agreed!

Although from an opposing clubs perspective who must sign off on the deal we would likely be their 1st choice based on whats on offer (remember BL preferred to sign Clark over to us instead of Fremantle as we were offering the better draft pick).

Another one of those clubs would have to offer a quality player to persuade the likes of GWS for Adams over our pick 2.

Some people have reported (obviously not fact yet) that we have Cross stitched up already and I find this very believable.

Very good Django (presuming of course that the pun was indeed intended)

Very good Django (presuming of course that the pun was indeed intended)

I'll go along with it and say it was intended...

Our club is at the Crossroads I believe!

if the likes of Adams has the reported choice of Collingwood, Geelong, Richmond or us - we would rank 4th choice. It will take "overs" to get the likes of Adams to have us choice one. And that goes for other recruits as well.

Doesn't matter... it become about who of the four destination clubs can get the deal done. Suddenly we're ranked 1st.

Agreed - if you want to look at it through rose coloured glasses:

Collingwood is arguably coming to an end of their reign, Geelong could still be a powerhouse for a couple years, Richmond is on its way up and hopefully we are on our way up also.

I guess its up to him whether he wants immediate short term success or a chance to build towards long term success (if thats the case he should have stayed at GWS).

I see Collingwood out of the box and we are a small chance as we could probably field the largest offer.

...Sorry I kind of went of topic already

Whilst I agree that Collingwood aren't the team they were in 10/11. I'm beginning to wonder if the concept of teams coming to the end of their reign is as definite as it once was.

The disparity between the haves and have nots is as big as it has ever been, and if anything looks to be becoming greater. I can't see a team like Collingwood or Hawthorn allowing themselves to slip too far from the top, especially now they've seen Geelong remain at the pinnacle, and the next generation looking to take up the mantle and keep the ball rolling. The Cats have set a benchmark and pretty much redefined the "premiership window". Granted they have been an unbelievable team, arguably the greatest we've seen.

I'd love to be mistaken and watch them all plummet to the bottom, while the likes of the Dogs and Dees establish themselves in the top four. But the bottom line is that a club like Collingwood will always remain a favourable destination for players - best facilities, biggest supporters base, biggest crowds, biggest games, biggest profile. And no matter when they arrive, they have a better than aversge chance of success.

For the foreseeable future, we have an uphill battle in selling the club to prospective recruits. It's pretty much the reason why Roos is such an important acquisition. He gives us something to sell.

Apologies to the OP in getting off topic.

Some people have reported (obviously not fact yet) that we have Cross stitched up already and I find this very believable.

Is that the same Daniel Cross who played only 13 games for the Dogs this year, and who is said to have buggered knees??

Here is a dead certainty - I am stoked we have Roos onboard and he will make the MFC a much more attractive destination - but lets not all get carried away. We look at our destination with rose coloured glasses. Here and now, if the likes of Adams has the reported choice of Collingwood, Geelong, Richmond or us - we would rank 4th choice. It will take "overs" to get the likes of Adams to have us choice one. And that goes for other recruits as well.

Roos will make the MFC a more attractive destination for quality players - that is a dead set certainty!

The other certainty is we have cash and draft picks with which to negotiate. Our salary cap will absorb some quality picks if they are available and willing to join the Roos led revival. The majority of our current list are not in a position to ask or bog cash contracts until they prove themselves.

Whilst I agree that Collingwood aren't the team they were in 10/11. I'm beginning to wonder if the concept of teams coming to the end of their reign is as definite as it once was.The disparity between the haves and have nots is as big as it has ever been, and if anything looks to be becoming greater. I can't see a team like Collingwood or Hawthorn allowing themselves to slip too far from the top, especially now they've seen Geelong remain at the pinnacle, and the next generation looking to take up the mantle and keep the ball rolling. The Cats have set a benchmark and pretty much redefined the "premiership window". Granted they have been an unbelievable team, arguably the greatest we've seen.I'd love to be mistaken and watch them all plummet to the bottom, while the likes of the Dogs and Dees establish themselves in the top four. But the bottom line is that a club like Collingwood will always remain a favourable destination for players - best facilities, biggest supporters base, biggest crowds, biggest games, biggest profile. And no matter when they arrive, they have a better than aversge chance of success.For the foreseeable future, we have an uphill battle in selling the club to prospective recruits. It's pretty much the reason why Roos is such an important acquisition. He gives us something to sell.Apologies to the OP in getting off topic.

Agree P-Man, which is why there is even the possibility of the PP being withheld from MFC this year under pressure from other clubs. It should just be a given, based on performance. It's interesting listening to the Doggies pres Peter Gordon, and his positivity for the future based on the equalisation junket to the US this year. He seems very confident that there will be some significant equalisation measures implemented in the coming years. I guess it all depends whether the AFL governance has the guts to act for the long term, rather than just fluffing the pillows of the current cash cow clubs that you've mentioned. I'm very doubtful Demetriou has the stomach for the change.

Is that the same Daniel Cross who played only 13 games for the Dogs this year, and who is said to have buggered knees??

For a bloke with buggered knees, he did well agsinst us in the last game. And especially well to play 22 games (seniors and Williamstown) for the season.

There is a dead set certainty that this thread will have a rumour, a sauced certainty that may or may not come true and a whole lot of conjecture that get debated and discussed to the enth degree. Someone will generalise, someone will hypothesise and someone will criticise.

My own certainty is nothing (of substance) will occur until after the GF

Edited September 20, 201311 yr by PugtheMagician

As we nail down the coaching appointments under Roos, it would be interesting to explore the players these new coaches have been exposed to as they are likely to feature in our draft/trade focus over the next month if the past is anything to go by. For example Neeld/Brown - Dawes, Craig - Sellar, Rawlings - Clarke, etc...

So who was Roos developing at his Sydney academy who'd be of interest?

Who was Allisons working with at North who'd be of interest?

Who was Mathews working with at Gold Coast who'd be of interest?

Agree P-Man, which is why there is even the possibility of the PP being withheld from MFC this year under pressure from other clubs. It should just be a given, based on performance. It's interesting listening to the Doggies pres Peter Gordon, and his positivity for the future based on the equalisation junket to the US this year. He seems very confident that there will be some significant equalisation measures implemented in the coming years. I guess it all depends whether the AFL governance has the guts to act for the long term, rather than just fluffing the pillows of the current cash cow clubs that you've mentioned. I'm very doubtful Demetriou has the stomach for the change.

The current big clubs (remember not that long ago Hawthorn were struggling to stay in business and Collingwood were in trouble, Carlton, Richmond and Essendon not much better) want to protect their space. They don't want us up the ladder, their talk of equalisation is all window dressing. Free agency has made life so much easier for the current top clubs to keep their position.

If we're not careful we will have an EPL situation but without the other interests that keep supporters and clubs involved in a season and not just making up numbers, FA cup, promotion relegation, whatever the Carling cup is called now. Because we only have one prize the season will be dead for clubs like ours after the first game or two.

We need to move into a position of strength and if the AFL is serious then a PP is a no brainer, they also need to allow all clubs access to the best game times. To do this the games must be good quality and competitive. Equalisation means all teams capable of playing good winning football and all teams sharing Friday night, Anzac day and dare I say it Queens Birthday.

edit: nah, we can keep Queens Birthday.

Edited September 20, 201311 yr by rjay

After reading thread after thread of tea leaves about who may or may not be on MFC radar for 2014, I wanted to kick off with real life scenarios and get away from all this tarot card recruiting possibilities.

If anybody has some dead set certainties then post them here!

the crystal ball tells me we won't land any players.

til after the brownlow....

I doubt there will be any leaks, unless some managers want to divulge before acceptances, with a belly full of Brown-low carb Ale.

Our club is at the Crossroads I believe!

so are we gonna keep the same pathway at the Crossroad, or will we turn the corner?

will we be approaching this crossroad after Monday, U know (I don't like Mondays) I wanna shoo-oo-woo-woo-woo-oo' the whole day down.

& if we manage to get a Cross that road, one swallow doesn't make a summer?

Whilst I agree that Collingwood aren't the team they were in 10/11. I'm beginning to wonder if the concept of teams coming to the end of their reign is as definite as it once was.

The disparity between the haves and have nots is as big as it has ever been, and if anything looks to be becoming greater. I can't see a team like Collingwood or Hawthorn allowing themselves to slip too far from the top, especially now they've seen Geelong remain at the pinnacle, and the next generation looking to take up the mantle and keep the ball rolling. The Cats have set a benchmark and pretty much redefined the "premiership window". Granted they have been an unbelievable team, arguably the greatest we've seen.

I'd love to be mistaken and watch them all plummet to the bottom, while the likes of the Dogs and Dees establish themselves in the top four. But the bottom line is that a club like Collingwood will always remain a favourable destination for players - best facilities, biggest supporters base, biggest crowds, biggest games, biggest profile. And no matter when they arrive, they have a better than aversge chance of success.

For the foreseeable future, we have an uphill battle in selling the club to prospective recruits. It's pretty much the reason why Roos is such an important acquisition. He gives us something to sell.

Apologies to the OP in getting off topic.

Whilst I agree that Collingwood aren't the team they were in 10/11. I'm beginning to wonder if the concept of teams coming to the end of their reign is as definite as it once was.

The disparity between the haves and have nots is as big as it has ever been, and if anything looks to be becoming greater. I can't see a team like Collingwood or Hawthorn allowing themselves to slip too far from the top, especially now they've seen Geelong remain at the pinnacle, and the next generation looking to take up the mantle and keep the ball rolling. The Cats have set a benchmark and pretty much redefined the "premiership window". Granted they have been an unbelievable team, arguably the greatest we've seen.

I'd love to be mistaken and watch them all plummet to the bottom, while the likes of the Dogs and Dees establish themselves in the top four. But the bottom line is that a club like Collingwood will always remain a favourable destination for players - best facilities, biggest supporters base, biggest crowds, biggest games, biggest profile. And no matter when they arrive, they have a better than aversge chance of success.

For the foreseeable future, we have an uphill battle in selling the club to prospective recruits. It's pretty much the reason why Roos is such an important acquisition. He gives us something to sell.

Apologies to the OP in getting off topic.

Whether clubs drops really depends on the culture of the club. ie Swans, Cats...both very strong also they do attract players but do get squeezed by the salary cap eventually.