I probably worded the original question/statement wrong, and apologise for the confusion. I was meaning the top sides as a collective, rather than just picking one side. Rivers is a great example, he looks a required player at Geelong, but there wouldn't be too many other sides that he would get a game at. This is based on needs.

Howe would not, in general, be a starting 22 player in most sides, especially on this year's form (and let's face it, he wasn't anywhere near consistent enough last year that would earn him a regular spot at a good side), which is all I can go on, hence why I crossed Clark off your list. Hogan hasn't played a game, so I struggle to believe he would be a certain starter in the top sides - 1 side maybe, but not as a collective. Vince has been good for us, but I can't see who he would force out of a Geelong or Fremantle midfield. Garland could be vaulable to some of the top clubs, but not all. Jones is the only one who would walk in to any side's midfield immediately.

I didn't intentionally shift the goal posts to suit my argument, again I apologise for the confusion.

Nah that's fine, i get your point, it's very much needs based, but i get the idea our list is so far sub standard it's scary.

Might have to trade a pick to compensate for Frawley leaving

Whatever pick we get for Frawley needs to be traded for a forward and a lower first round pick. Just like the Dyson deal last year.

We haven't lost Frawley yet. Let's not be defeatist. I support Liverpool in the EPL and they could have simply let their best player go over the English summer, but instead they dug their heals in and said no. We don't have the same leverage, given there was a contract still in place, but it says everything about the football club - how easily you roll over. That player is Luis Suarez and he's probably the best player in the world right now. I want the MFC to fight for Frawley. Show we're not a pack of spineless twats.

Edited April 11, 201411 yr by AdamFarr

We haven't lost Frawley yet. Let's not be defeatist. I support Liverpool in the EPL and they could have simply let their best player go over the English summer, but instead they dug their heals in and said no. We don't have the same leverage, given there was a contract still in place, but it says everything about the football club - how easily you roll over. That player is Luis Suarez and he's probably the best player in the world right now. I want the MFC to fight for Frawley. Show we're not a pack of spineless twats.

Well if it is a price of $850k per year and on the other hand using that on other players and getting pick 2, I wouldn't be fighting too hard.

PS. Don't mention Suarez and Frawley in the same breath. One is a champion of the world game and the other is not a champion of our domestic code.

If we win 3 or less then we will get a PP. 4 or more and we show some improvement in the 2nd half of the season - probably no PP. Improvement is possible with Hogan, Gawn, Garland and Jamar to come in - plus some improvement by the younger players. The Clark retirement further weakens our list which strengthens our case.

We are likely to finish bottom 2 or three with bottom a possibility

Says the poster directing similar comments to another.

just speaking truths my man

If we win 3 or less then we will get a PP. 4 or more and we show some improvement in the 2nd half of the season - probably no PP. Improvement is possible with Hogan, Gawn, Garland and Jamar to come in - plus some improvement by the younger players. The Clark retirement further weakens our list which strengthens our case.

We are likely to finish bottom 2 or three with bottom a possibility

I'll definitely think we deserve one, but I wouldn't be so certain that we will receive a PP.

I couldn't figure out how the AFL denied us one last year.

But to listen to Mark Robinson discussing this very topic on SEN last night, he said that the other clubs all bandied together to lean on the AFL and ensure we didn't get one.

His view was that the AFL wouldn't let them do it again, if we have another similar return.

I'll definitely think we deserve one, but I wouldn't be so certain that we will receive a PP.

I couldn't figure out how the AFL denied us one last year.

But to listen to Mark Robinson discussing this very topic on SEN last night, he said that the other clubs all bandied together to lean on the AFL and ensure we didn't get one.

His view was that the AFL wouldn't let them do it again, if we have another similar return.

Funny thing is the commission was brought in for the betterment of the game, the problem in the past being that the clubs were all about there own self interest. The commission was meant to be above this and could make clear and correct decisions no matter what the club interest was.

Pretty weak commission this one, a lot of self interest being served by the commissioners not for the betterment of the game. There are too many commissioners with strong club affiliations and also some who are conflicted by doing business with the AFL for this commission to work as it should.

Don't expect to see too much press (media) about this, another area of self interest.

Edited April 11, 201411 yr by rjay

I would rather we win games and forget all this tripe tbh.

Again we r talking draft picks at rd 3 it's pathetic and I am sick of looking forward to the end if the season at rd 2/3.

How do you propose we do that?

So you would prefer 1 superstar than half a dozen blokes that would walk in to any other teams starting 22? That won't get us far.

While you do have to take Top 50 lists (like Sheehan's) with a grain of salt, what they do highlight is how important it is to have mulitple A-graders in your team. The teams up the top end have 5 or 6 each, the teams in the middle have 2 to 4 players. We barely have 1.

Now that the Gold Coast are starting to get more output from some of their players, they are starting to see a rise up the ladder. It won't be long until O'Meara, Swallow & Martin (to name a few) end up in the top 50 in the league, and it won't be coincidence that they will be playing finals when this occurs. It's also why Carlton are where they are - after Murphy and to some degree Judd, their next best player drops down the rankings significantly.

agreed billy, but GAblettjnr has inspired them whilst they were also-rans.

It goes against all our careful planning but if we had three picks in the top 10 I would be hoping we take the best footballers. My gut feel is that we have tried to over think or looked at what the very best team is doing and tried to emulate. The problem with that is that footy evolves very quickly. A perfect example is the new crop of midfielders currently going around are now beasts (Ablett excepted).

just speaking truths my man

As was I.

With good draft picks, a solid coaching succession plan and some favourable draws, i'd say that within a few years we could win a game.

Let's not get too carried away. Winning is not the MFC way.

We prefer to come second.

I'll definitely think we deserve one, but I wouldn't be so certain that we will receive a PP.

I couldn't figure out how the AFL denied us one last year.

But to listen to Mark Robinson discussing this very topic on SEN last night, he said that the other clubs all bandied together to lean on the AFL and ensure we didn't get one.

His view was that the AFL wouldn't let them do it again, if we have another similar return.

I am sure this is true. Robinson would write about it if he wasn't such a hack. And Mark Evans is a really bad appointment for us and the game as he tends to pander to the mob on all issues.

Take away the hysteria .... In all reality that type of price tag would possibly only suit GWS. Freo could maybe be go $650 ....the top sides ....please... they take paycuts to stay together. I would be happy to pay between $ 500 - $600 (000) for him....otherwise goodbye. However if we finish very low & pick 2 or 3 is available....hmm would seriously think about it

I agree that you need a good culture/standards etc - but our list is in such a diabolical state at the moment that we really do need additional early picks to be competitive in the short term. If that means using the picks as currency to trade out for top line players or guys wth time in the system like Tyson then so be it, but we need some currency; it won't come from our current list and we can't really afford another couple of years being uncompetitive while we turn the list over.

Trading early picks is fine by me - that's a different proposition to drafting more high-end talent in the hope that the new kids will push the club up again.

Saw an article saying Carlton would love access to Wright.

I would entertain trading pick 1 for pick 4 + decent player.

Saw an article saying Carlton would love access to Wright.

I would entertain trading pick 1 for pick 4 + decent player.

They don't possess a player that decent.

Pick 1, if we have it, should be the only pick off the table regarding trading.

We are not that well off that we can trade away access to the best kid available, especially to Carlton.

They have nothing on their playing list deserving of that trade and I wouldn't think we would be giving them a leg up in getting what they want.

If Carlton want pick 1 then they can finish last and cop all that comes with being worse than us.

Round Robbo: "Carlton could get picks 1, 2 & 3."

They don't possess a player that decent.

Pick 1, if we have it, should be the only pick off the table regarding trading.

We are not that well off that we can trade away access to the best kid available, especially to Carlton.

They have nothing on their playing list deserving of that trade and I wouldn't think we would be giving them a leg up in getting what they want.

If Carlton want pick 1 then they can finish last and cop all that comes with being worse than us.

Amen to that...After today i don't want to think about Charity picks...I want to see this team work hard next week....and so on.

We could perhaps get Brock back if he wants to be part of a winning culture

Saw an article saying Carlton would love access to Wright.

I would entertain trading pick 1 for pick 4 + decent player.

Don't worry they'll probably have pick 1 anyway bwahahahaha.