Recruited to the club to provide experience and leadership both on and off the field, Byrnes was only a partial success. He played some good games as a small forward but ultimately, the club needs younger, more dynamic players in this position if it is to progress in the future.

Games MFC 2013 17 Career Total 125

Goals MFC 2013 12 Career Total 112

Games CSFC 2013 1 Goals CSFC 2013 2

Keith "Bluey" Truscott Memorial Trophy 191 votes

Really rated him at Geelong. I don't anymore. Games gone past this fella unfortunately.

waste of a jumper

Don't let Redleg see this thread!

On Byrnes - for the most part, stunk it up in 2013, but wasn't exactly alone there. All players have a clean slate in 2014 as far as I'm concerned and Byrnes has demonstrated that he can play in the past so he could surprise, but in reality I expect he ought to start thinking about what he's going to do after footy.

I'd like to see how Byrnes goes next year in the Hogan, Clark, Dawes, Watts/Howe set up.

This year wasn't his best, particularly his inability to convert some golden opportunities hurt (think he had up to 5 behinds in one game)

We need to do better than having Brynes as out number 1 small forward.

I was one of this guy's only defenders early in the year, but after about the first Brisbane game I found less and less to support.

What he lacks in pace and height he makes up for in missed tackles and poor disposal.

One of Neelds automatic leaders.

Edited September 25, 201312 yr by Biffen

Byrnes always had poor disposal at Geelong and nothing has changed since he has joined the MFC. Would delist him in favour of some young talent in a heartbeat.

To be honest, I CAN see where Nutty Neeld was coming from with this one, but the move has been a failure.

Cost us a reasonable compensation pick if I'm not mistaken (as he cancelled out Rivers or Moloney). Gave us nothing on field.

A Geelong premiership player recruited by a Collingwood premiership assistant coach, both have done/did nothing to get us closer to a flag or even shown us what good footy means.

Was a fan when we recruited him but this was one of the worst recruiting decisions ever, quickly made up my mind on him, he probably made up his mind on the team in Round 1 too, felt ashamed to call him a Melbourne player even if he got a few cheap possessions against poor sides. Didn't look like he wanted to be part of the team and almost sneered at the Melbourne jumper's pitifulness. When he kicked a goal against the Cats in Geelong he may as well have kicked one for them. Could've at least been a crumbing forward for us this year but just seemed to lurk around packs mostly around the midfield.

Hope the club learns from this mistake- you can put a guy from another club in a side with all the credientials, even put him in the leadership group, but his attitude and actions on field speak the loudest. And in conclusion, I discovered Byrnes is a Geelong player, not a Melbourne player

Edited September 25, 201312 yr by Roos Aniher

I actually reckon Rodan gave us more in less games than Byrnes did.

I'm prepared to give him the first month in the seniors next year due to his experience, but if he stinks it up again, then it's Casey for the rest of the year.

Kicked 1 goal 5 against Gold Coast which probably cost us the game, and that was his best effort for the year. Move him on..

Byrnes always had poor disposal at Geelong and nothing has changed since he has joined the MFC. Would delist him in favour of some young talent in a heartbeat.

I wasn't happy when they recruited him,or Pedersen and Gillies for that matter. Rodan for a yr I thought was ok. Wish they never gave him 2 yrs or Pedersen 3. Hopefully they won't renew contract. Tired of being a retirement home for NQR's.

My opinion is if you want some experienced leaders to help develop your young players they have to be good (be able to lead by example on-field). Byrnes/Rodan are not the kind of players that inspire youth on-field. Would rather have a couple late draft picks with potential then some senior fringe players. Having said that I don't know what influence they have had off-field.

in 2014 he should be able to stay in the forward line a lot more with Hogan, Dawes and Clark and crumb, this year he spent a lot of his time in the back half (as did many of our forwards) to try to get the ball into our 50m arc to our then out numbered forwards. He has the ability he needs to be part of a better team than we were this year to get the best out of him.

I believe as a crumbing forward (what we got him for) can have value next year but only if we correct our midfield!

Was put in the leadership group on the back of playing VFL all last year and it showed this year as he had absolutely zero on field leadership. Rodan should have been in the leadership group before this bloke as he has been praised for the work from Viney and Toumpas.

What the hell did Neeld see in Byrnes I may never know... Would rather have gone for a small forward mature age or even a kid aswell.

Byrnes was only a partial success.

And that's being generous

We need to help Casey more in 2014

Should handy there