There has been a bit of discussion regarding the exodus of free agents (or lack of in some peoples opinion) from the club and the desire/need to bring in some quality experienced midfielders to support our kids.

It seems to me from the trade discussions and the search for a senior assistant coach for Roos that even with the restructure of the club and appointments of Roos and PJ the club is strugglng to attract quality players and administrators.

There has been critisism in the media of the lack of action by the club during the trade period but it is impossible to make a deal if none of the targeted players want to come to the place. There has been a lot of critisism of the recruiting of Rodan, Byrnes etc last season but maybe that is all that was available for a club in out position. We got Dawes and Clark but by all accounts paid overs for both to get them across the line but clearly cant keep doing that in our situation.

I think to get a deal done for pick 2 we will only get a player with few potential suitors and like Sylvia with potential that is yet to to be realised or someone who has discipline issues. At this stage I think we will keep pick 2 and trade higher picks for lesser players who cant find another club. We will need to keep struggling through developing kids to try and improve slowly while stronger perfroming clubs cherry pick talent to top up their lists.

While I dont recon our list is as bad as it has shown we need experienced midfield talent to help the kids become competetive and loosing our free agents as they come up without the ability to get in talent is a worry.

What do people expect from the trade period and will we be able to get any quality mids into the club?

I our current position in the world, we have to pay overs in financial or contract terms. That's reality.

MFC as such can't

Money might !!

Two thing young guys are attracted too

One is money and the other is women

We have no money so its our duties to attract the best looking women to the Club.

For this task I nominate Moon and BBO, if they can not do it no one can

LOL

  On 13/10/2013 at 23:04, TheBigFrog said:

Two thing young guys are attracted too

One is money and the other is women

We have no money so its our duties to attract the best looking women to the Club.

For this task I nominate Moon and BBO, if they can not do it no one can

LOL

Well, Pia is back but unfortunately she is taken.

The problem is now we have very little to sell incoming recruits. I remember back in 1997 preseason that we managed to land Jeff White. One of the big reasons we got him on board was that he could learn under Big Jimma. Now what can we offer 28 year olds? Not a great deal. That's another problem with cleaning out the locker room of experience. People see we are a club without onfield leadership and they steer clear.

I'm guessing next year will be Roosy working largely with what he's got. We might pick up Bernie Vince but he won't turn everything around.

At the moment we stink on ice even with Roos.

The only thing we have to offer is a greater opportunity for players who arent getting a go ( unless a better club than us can offer the same thing) or money.

We need next season of going in the right direction ( aka the bulldogs) and we will be more attractive.

  On 13/10/2013 at 23:47, nutbean said:

At the moment we stink on ice even with Roos.

The only thing we have to offer is a greater opportunity for players who arent getting a go ( unless a better club than us can offer the same thing) or money.

We need next season of going in the right direction ( aka the bulldogs) and we will be more attractive.

The Roos factor .. which hasn't been a factor yet is the most disappointing thing for me so far.. The only thing thats going to turn all this around is on field success.. There is certainly no quick fix unfortunately.

You never know maybe the constant whingeing, whining and hand wringing from some supporters puts a prospective player off

  On 13/10/2013 at 23:42, Colin B. Flaubert said:

Well, Pia is back but unfortunately she is taken.

The problem is now we have very little to sell incoming recruits. I remember back in 1997 preseason that we managed to land Jeff White. One of the big reasons we got him on board was that he could learn under Big Jimma. Now what can we offer 28 year olds? Not a great deal. That's another problem with cleaning out the locker room of experience. People see we are a club without onfield leadership and they steer clear.

I'm guessing next year will be Roosy working largely with what he's got. We might pick up Bernie Vince but he won't turn everything around.

What we need are people who have the self belief, and hint of arrogance, who feel they themselves can fill that leadership void.

  On 13/10/2013 at 21:52, Bedraggled Dee said:

There has been a bit of discussion regarding the exodus of free agents (or lack of in some peoples opinion) from the club and the desire/need to bring in some quality experienced midfielders to support our kids.

It seems to me from the trade discussions and the search for a senior assistant coach for Roos that even with the restructure of the club and appointments of Roos and PJ the club is strugglng to attract quality players and administrators.

There has been critisism in the media of the lack of action by the club during the trade period but it is impossible to make a deal if none of the targeted players want to come to the place. There has been a lot of critisism of the recruiting of Rodan, Byrnes etc last season but maybe that is all that was available for a club in out position. We got Dawes and Clark but by all accounts paid overs for both to get them across the line but clearly cant keep doing that in our situation.

I think to get a deal done for pick 2 we will only get a player with few potential suitors and like Sylvia with potential that is yet to to be realised or someone who has discipline issues. At this stage I think we will keep pick 2 and trade higher picks for lesser players who cant find another club. We will need to keep struggling through developing kids to try and improve slowly while stronger perfroming clubs cherry pick talent to top up their lists.

While I dont recon our list is as bad as it has shown we need experienced midfield talent to help the kids become competetive and loosing our free agents as they come up without the ability to get in talent is a worry.

What do people expect from the trade period and will we be able to get any quality mids into the club?

This has all been discussed ad-infinitum in the "The Trade/Draft Rumour Mill" topic, but essentially, we cannot lose with pick 2.

• If it doesn't get the player that the MFC want, then it gets used in the draft and we get the best possible mid available.
• If we hold off long enough during the trade period and there is a club in desperate need of pick 2, then obviously they will do what they have to in order to get it done, and we will get what we want.

I honestly can't say I have noticed any criticism of us in the media for lack of action (but then again, I don't listen to SEN or Trade Radio)... besides, if that was the case, then there are a lot of other clubs that must be coming under the same criticism as only about 6 deals (if I recall correctly) have been done to date. The main reason we have failed to attract quality players to the club so far in this trade period is that there have been no quality players available that we can afford (remind me how many have been traded so far or even gone in free agency).

Personally, I am not bothered by our inactivity in the slightest. If we do not trade pick 2 and we go to the draft, then we will get the best mid available (and that may well be one ready to roll from game one) so we will be securing our future; it's not as if we can expect to be playing finals next year (and please don't use the Port or WCE examples as they are more the exception than the rule). If Roos and his crew do their jobs well and we show marked improvement during season 2014, then we will have far more success in convincing free agents and players looking for trades, that we are a worthwhile destination... until we have runs on the board, then we do not deserve their interest... it's as simple as that.

Absolutely they can, although this year will be very hard. As others have stated money can and its usually the number one driver for someone to move. So if we can attract one quality player like a Sloane or Rockliff this year (along with one or two fringe players just missing selection like a Michie or Greenwood) I will consider it as a win trade period considering our circumstances.

If the club can rise up the ladder in 2014, similar to Port or even just under I don't see why it can't attract others next year. In all honesty (trying to put heart and bias aside) I think we have the defense and forward lines practically sorted on the basis we don't get riddled with copious injuries like we did in 2013.

As we have all stated many times, the midfield needs to improve. If this occurs we will see more clearances, more inside 50's resulting in more marks and shots on goal from the likes of Clark, Dawes, Hogan, Howe etc. Alternatively with an improved midfield we will see more efficient rebound 50's and transitions from defense to forward. If this can occur the club will look far more attractive to any OOC players at the end of 2014.

Fingers crossed eh

We're like someone with a bad credit rating. Yes you can still buy or borrow but you will pay through your nose until you get some legitimacy back in your game.

We need to do what ever we need to do RIGHT NOW in order to get back into the game. 2014 , 2015 etc will have their own opportunities, draft picks trades etc.

We simply have to work with what we've got for now. Work within your means , then expand your means !!

  On 14/10/2013 at 00:03, Die Hard Demon said:

The Roos factor .. which hasn't been a factor yet is the most disappointing thing for me so far.. The only thing thats going to turn all this around is on field success.. There is certainly no quick fix unfortunately.

Why is the Roos factor disappointing ? Nobody believes that his arrival is going trigger a meteoric rise up the ladder. Therefore as you rightly say - onfield success is the only thing that will make us an attractive destination - or at least signs of revival.

  On 13/10/2013 at 23:04, TheBigFrog said:

Two thing young guys are attracted too

One is money and the other is women

We have no money so its our duties to attract the best looking women to the Club.

For this task I nominate Moon and BBO, if they can not do it no one can

LOL

That explans Brad Millers recruitment

  On 14/10/2013 at 00:35, nutbean said:

Why is the Roos factor disappointing ? Nobody believes that his arrival is going trigger a meteoric rise up the ladder. Therefore as you rightly say - onfield success is the only thing that will make us an attractive destination - or at least signs of revival.

Also Roos stated he is only in the role for 2 years with an option of a third. Who will we get to commit to Melbourne based on the "Roos" factor when Roos won't commit himself?

  On 14/10/2013 at 00:35, nutbean said:

Why is the Roos factor disappointing ? Nobody believes that his arrival is going trigger a meteoric rise up the ladder. Therefore as you rightly say - onfield success is the only thing that will make us an attractive destination - or at least signs of revival.

Disappointing.. because there were expectations of several big name brands wanting to jump on board as sponsors after Roosy's appointment. & How players apparently wanted to come to Melbourne now that we had Roos.. This doesn't seem to be the case.

Brad Miller can.

  On 14/10/2013 at 00:07, Satyriconhome said:

You never know maybe the constant whingeing, whining and hand wringing from some supporters puts a prospective player off

If that was the case no one would be playing at Collingwood or Carlton.

The key thing that will make us an attractive destination for players is the challenge we represent and to be an important part of turning the club around. This will attract the sort of players that will help build a strong culture alkng with the core group we already have.

There is no messiah and no magic bullet but havig PR on board injects hope while we gradually improve and start to taste success.

  On 14/10/2013 at 01:58, rjay said:

If that was the case no one would be playing at Collingwood or Carlton.

It was sarcasm, i find it highly amusing that the usual hindsight posters are now bemoaning that we can't seem to attract anyobdy, yet derided the so called 'moneyball' approach last year........hopefully whoever we get in either the coaching or playing roles, will be a considered choice, ....with Jackson/Roos/Mahoney now in control I think that will happen.....

  On 14/10/2013 at 00:25, beelzebub said:

We're like someone with a bad credit rating. Yes you can still buy or borrow but you will pay through your nose until you get some legitimacy back in your game.

We need to do what ever we need to do RIGHT NOW in order to get back into the game. 2014 , 2015 etc will have their own opportunities, draft picks trades etc.

We simply have to work with what we've got for now. Work within your means , then expand your means !!

I agree 100% bb

We are on a slow path back after 8 years of crap management and Player selection.

  On 14/10/2013 at 01:44, Die Hard Demon said:

Disappointing.. because there were expectations of several big name brands wanting to jump on board as sponsors after Roosy's appointment. & How players apparently wanted to come to Melbourne now that we had Roos.. This doesn't seem to be the case.

I think you spend too much time here - I have been slightly disappointed on the senior assistant front but are we are aware if potential coaches have knocked us back or Roos hasnt wanted them as the senior coach designate ? I am not sure where you are getting the Big Brand sponsors or players wanting to jump onboard ? I must have missed those news flashes. The only jump onboard that was mooted was Watts - no was even suggesting that Sylvia was staying because of Roos

  On 14/10/2013 at 00:07, Satyriconhome said:

You never know maybe the constant whingeing, whining and hand wringing from some supporters puts a prospective player off

please tell me that this was tongue firmly placed in cheek.....

The perception in the industry is that we can't develop young players. The notion was used pretty heavily this trade period by opposition clubs when we approached their young players. heck even player agents aren't keen for their young stars to come to us.

I hope it doesn't make us try something desperate.

Yeah that and the fact we don't look after the boys who played 200+ games for us.

Yze now fulltime at Hawthorn, Bruce upgraded to an assistant role.

http://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/2013-10-14/hawks-confirm-coaching-changes