The Priority Pick is dead! Long live the financial assistance package!

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

It's one for all and all for one this year

We have talent it's evident

Now we have a quality coach

Whilst a PP would've been nice its stands to reason line to line we still have a nucleus of a good side IMO

Rarely but the games we've been in to 3/4 time we've generally played out

So from that perspective it's btwn the ears

No give us another gun 26-28 yo mid fielder and were done

I agree

We are not as bad as we seem

A dozen occasions this year we lost matches because we 'dropped out' of a match for 20-30 minutes and conceded a bunch of unanswered goals. Particularly in the 2nd half of the year we matched our opponents for the better part of most games and generally got the ball inside 50 and kicked scores of somewhere near adequacy. We had some tough injury issues. We are inexperienced and most of the list is capable of going up a peg. There will surely be some movement in trade week. We still have pick 2. We are not a complete basketcase.

[rjay 25,306]

I think we may still get a kind of PP by default. It all depends on the next month.

[daisycutter 29,892]

Why we lost the PP

The AFL and "the other 17 clubs" are lying (spinning) as to the reasons

The real reason is they didn't believe a team punished over tanking charges to gain a PP should be awarded a PP in the same year

They couldn't say this outright because [1] technically we not found guilty of tanking per se and [2] none of the penalties handed out included loss of draft picks or loss of any potential 2013 PPs

Nevertheless they all believe it would be "wrong" to "reward" a club with a PP in the same year it was investigated for tanking and handed out severe punishments

Right or wrong technically, this is the driving point

You know its true

[deanox 10,045]

I'd like to see us now throw stupid money at a player for the psd that no one would dare match. Upset the system. Would prefer it to be a player from one of the big clubs.

[Webber 10,586]

Its all very well for some to adopt the " We didnt deserve a PP, we oughtnt need a PP, Im glad we didnt get a PP" and so on and so on type stances This all smacks of faux martyrdom and little appreciation of the reality that as some suggest, all well and good to suggest we learn to fish , but where and with what ? The PP is a mechanism for equalisation. Many things are contributory to how various teams benefit through out the season. we seem to get reamed at just about every occasion. For all the mouthing that Vlad Inc does about creating a fairer and more equitable league the actual actionings go in the totally opposite direction.. Whilst I agree we move on , for there is no other recourse anyway, I fail to understand all this bravado about time we need to stop leaning on picks and stand on our feet etc. If your leg is broken they splint or cast it. They support it til you CAN stand on your leg and work to rehabilitate it strength. Don't and you'll invariably result in a gummy leg and a person hobbling with a limp. That it who we are, the gimpy limpy club. The AFL throwing money at us is like plssing into a fire. It doesnt go to the root cause of the problem, that being its a very unequal league. This is where we need to direct efforts in future, at a club level as a member of this league ( let alone creator of it ) that we must nag, and lobby for anything and everything. We must object to anything anyone else gets and become strong and beligerent to anyone else's requests. The word is RUTHLESS. The first opportunity to be such is to raid and plunder anything that is or isnt nailed down. We rifle Sydney's young academy talent. we send them (SMFC) a thankyou, your choice as to how many fingers. When Colless or any other buffon gets stroppy, we get gnarly. We go on the front foot and smack them down. We remind anyone who listens as to the benefits these clubs get. time to stop being nice, time to kick these other clubs in the nuts and then kick them again for good measure and remind them we are but their creation. They want us tough and self reliant, no problem. They need not expect courtesy and kowtowing anymore then. Next stop Messendon.. Theyre down, lets foster an environment for WADA to [censored] them relentlessly. I really dont care if a player of ours is collateral.We need to be tougher than that. If we always look to the lowest common denominator we will be rewarded with it.. This club is supposedly connected to the big end of town. Time to throw some weight around. We've be the schoolyard bullies' kicking dog for far to long. Theres only ONE way to deal with Bullies and thats to give them the mightiest whack theyve ever enjoyed ( sic) and then whisper in their ear as they lay on the ground " if you get up....the next will be twice ans painful" Bugger queensbury rules and gentlemanly etiquette its time to get nasty with a few of these who would gladly see us hit by a truck once a week. We didnt get a pick, then no one ever does again. Next club to ask, kick them to the kerb with a less than gentle reminder; "remember us, remember how you voted" We deserved a PP as it was the most efficient path to this supposed new equality but we know thats a myth,an illusion created by the strong to placate the weak. Time to take this game back, its ours, lets remind all of that

Rousing stuff Belzebubsy, and great in principle, but you're talking about a club that actually HAS a hammer to swing. There are so many reasons why we can't play the ruthless power game as you describe that I don't know where to begin.

[beelzebub 23,390]

Rousing stuff Belzebubsy, and great in principle, but you're talking about a club that actually HAS a hammer to swing. There are so many reasons why we can't play the ruthless power game as you describe that I don't know where to begin.

We have a hammer, it may not be as big as others so we need to hit harder, smarter and more often than some.

In my view every time some clown asks the leading question about all our 'aid" etc then the club must take him off at his /her ankles with a retort to the effect that all clubs are beneficiaries of 'aid' not just this club. Indeed many clubs benefit from lob sided fixturing etc.

We stop letting these fools off with cheap unanswered put downs. We need to reeducate these nongs. Every time you dont correct them it only reinforces their view as being the reality.

They are all used to us rolling over. its time to stop, time to bite back

[Jaded No More 68,975]

Anyone who is delusional and trying to deny that additional draft picks aren't beneficial, should look at where GC are.

They won four times as many games as us.

[Webber 10,586]

We have a hammer, it may not be as big as others so we need to hit harder, smarter and more often than some. In my view every time some clown asks the leading question about all our 'aid" etc then the club must take him off at his /her ankles with a retort to the effect that all clubs are beneficiaries of 'aid' not just this club. Indeed many clubs benefit from lob sided fixturing etc.We stop letting these fools off with cheap unanswered put downs. We need to reeducate these nongs. Every time you dont correct them it only reinforces their view as being the reality. They are all used to us rolling over. its time to stop, time to bite back

Yep, there's a whole city full of nongs out there, but they have VERY short term memories, and will ONLY hear what suits their world view, which is largely what the scandal mongering, rubbish peddling, bullying media want them to hear. We know that the AFL is 'unequal', and that largely short term commercial imperatives drive their governance, but the ONLY way to become a beneficiary rather than a victim, is to win games. The problem is that in that scenario, it's becoming harder and harder to make the transition. There is a growing gap between the top and bottom of the ladder, and the MFC are at the bottom. However ruthless we like to fashion ourselves, not being given the obvious opportunity to improve our list will reinforce the gap rather than close it.

Given this, the contradiction in policies by the AFL is stark. They state that it is in EVERYBODY'S best interests that making the finals remains a possibility for as many clubs as possible, as late into the season as possible. And it is.

They then fail on so many levels to create this scenario. That is their raison d'être, and they're NOT living to it. I put this simple question......if the first 18 picks at this years draft were given to the bottom 6 teams ONLY at this years draft, would the AFL home and away competition be more even over the next 5 years than keeping the draft order as it is?

[brey9186 102]

I'd like to see us now throw stupid money at a player for the psd that no one would dare match. Upset the system. Would prefer it to be a player from one of the big clubs.

Dustin Martin is this

Dale thomas as free agent also

[DemonFrog 1,359]

SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!!!!

[Guest]

As PJ said in that article, we'll be targeting players that can't get games at other clubs - we cannot afford to utilise the whole salary cap, which is depressing as hell.

[Striker475 696]

As PJ said in that article, we'll be targeting players that can't get games at other clubs - we cannot afford to utilise the whole salary cap, which is depressing as hell.

We are totally up [censored] creek here

[Machsy 2,858]

#%£& it.

We either get better next year, or we're just as bad and we get a priority pick then in a "super draft".

We move on.

[deanox 10,045]

I really wish the AFL would allocate each club the exact amount of the salary cap to be used as cap or, if not used, handed back into AFL consolidated revenue.

If players aren't worth money and only 80% is used that's great but the club doesn't see any money saving. Players don't get paid overs and of all clubs have guaranteed access to that amount of funds free agency will work better as the poor teams will be able to afford to buy players.

That way clubs can pay players what they are worth and there is no way that they can try to save money through player payments.

The AFL funds the clubs substantially anyway. Tie it to player payments to give a level playing field.

This is the most effective equalisation measure the AFL could implement. And is more important than ever with free agency.

[Tony Tea 2,814]

Anyone who is delusional and trying to deny that additional draft picks aren't beneficial, should look at where GC are.

They won four times as many games as us.

How would they go without Ablett?

[Sir Why You Little 37,310]

As PJ said in that article, we'll be targeting players that can't get games at other clubs - we cannot afford to utilise the whole salary cap, which is depressing as hell.

We need to attract more Sponsorship.

It will come. If PJ can land Roos after 6 months he can do the same with potential Sponsors.

[Webber 10,586]

We need to attract more Sponsorship.It will come. If PJ can land Roos after 6 months he can do the same with potential Sponsors.

No doubt, but how does that help us recruit/attract better players, get a better list?

[old55 23,836]

The AFL doesn't really care about MFC winning flags, they'd like us to have some chance to do so, but that's not the key issue - they really don't want us to be a s horrible as we have been. They'd be fine with us mid-table and hopeful of better. Look at NMFC, they're on the up on the field. The Saints and Dogs nearly won flags.

How many games do you think we'll win next year and where will we finish? I reckon there's a very good chance we'll be in the bottom 4 and a fair chance we'll win less than 5 and be in the bottom 2 - if so there'll be another opportunity to apply for a PP. If not - if we're out of the bottom 4 then it's probably not required.

[Sir Why You Little 37,310]

No doubt, but how does that help us recruit/attract better players, get a better list?

simple it means we can offer bigger and longer contracts to attract FA players.

We need $$$

[daisycutter 29,892]

why does the AFL financial assistance package keep getting smaller?

didn't it start over the $2M mark?

[Webber 10,586]

simple it means we can offer bigger and longer contracts to attract FA players.We need $$$

What am I missing? The salary cap we are underpaying is not for lack of funds, but for lack of deserving personnel. Sponsorship $$$ are extraneous to this.

[s-t-i-n-g-a 439]

What am I missing? The salary cap we are underpaying is not for lack of funds, but for lack of deserving personnel. Sponsorship $$$ are extraneous to this.

No PJ's recent comments were specifically that attracting talent will be difficult because we can not "afford" to pay 100% of the cap.

[Demon SeaMan 108]

This mayve been eluded too in this or other threads already, but would it be wrong to go after Paul Chapman for a forward half, lock it in tough nut that could relieve some midfield pressure from having them a) push forward and then b) having to drop back- I know the ball goes the otherway a lot (+ thats stating an obvious) but with Jones, Viney, Mackenzie now maturing and some runners alongside I think our backline holds up very well and has only got a lot of practice over the last few years of stemming the flow, could this work?

Do you give up a 2nd round to get PM for 2 years. Realistically our window is in 3-4yrs (although finals in 2) but this could be more value of experience, never say die, smart footballer who would still give grief of how to coach against him. Surely GFC are keeping him but its worth a 2yr proposition

[Sir Why You Little 37,310]

What am I missing? The salary cap we are underpaying is not for lack of funds, but for lack of deserving personnel. Sponsorship $$$ are extraneous to this.

Mate we need membership and sponsorship $$$ to pay personel on & off the field.

[Machsy 2,858]

why does the AFL financial assistance package keep getting smaller?

didn't it start over the $2M mark?

DHs like Barrett reported it as being $2.7mil because it suits their agenda.

There was never any official statement it would be that much.

I do recall PJ about a month or so ago (maybe when on OTC) saying the figure was being pumped up by the media and was only a out $1.4mil