New Recruits

[Juicebox 628]

I think the club has identified some needs, i.e more pace, aggression and competitiveness, and recruited accordingly.

There is a role in the team for each of the guys to claim as their own should they earn it. That's why I'm excited about our new recruits.

[djr 1,369]

To all the posters that are underwhelmed by whom we picked up I ask you to nominate which players out of the ones that were traded and were gettable by our club (ie don't include Dangerfield or Treloar etc that only had eyes on one club therefore not gettable) would have suited our needs?

I can think of one, Jed Anderson and thats about it. I think Demonland would have gone into meltdown if we selected Henderson or Yarran. You could argue Troy Menzel, Craig Bird, Zac Smith or James Aish but what would have we needed to give up to get those players and do they really suit our needs at this current time?

I think we have recruited players that exactly suit our needs and just as importantly positioned ourselves perfectly in the upcoming draft. I don't think we would have achieved this outcome if we selected any of the above names.

Edited October 23, 2015 by djr

[Moonshadow 17,577]

The three of them are hard at it, have a sense of urgency and like a tackle. It's a yes from me.

[monoccular 17,345]

If they're locks, we're in trouble. Melksham hasn't played good footy for 2 years, and Bugg wasn't offered a contract at GWS. I think Kennedy actually adds a point of difference if he takes the next step. He wasn't given consistent game time at Collingwood, and I think he has a higher ceiling than the other two.

Surely, guilty or not, the EssUndone scandal couldn't but effect him.

Are you a psychologist? It's too easy to say that. It's almost like when people were saying that all those players that left Melbourne would reach their potential at another club, because we were considered a basket case. It never happened.

Maybe Melksham's just an ordinary player. Time will tell.

Except that he HAS played good footy before the drug scandal hit. I guess one could possibly argue that he played his best footy whilst on performance enhancing drugs - who knows? Goodwin should know better than most. Edited October 24, 2015 by monoccular

[Deecisive 1,709]

why are we so hard on our new recruits, they are coming onboard and deserve a chance to prove themselves, they need to earn a spot like all the other players, we will have injuries that will give all players a chance throughout the year. Our new recruits form will determine who will get a senior game. I like the fact that we are taking players with more grunt, speed and aggression. I am tired of seeing players running in some cases jogging after their opposition player who has the ball. I want to see more mongrel, if the opposition has it tackle them and tackle them hard. it will put pressure on them and will result in them making mistakes. that is the only way you can beat them more skilful sides is to put them off their game with physical presence.

[Redleg 40,358]

A good measuring stick of our depth will be if Matt Jones gets a game again

Or is on the list.

[hells bells 2,023]

Anyone know when the players are due back?

[What 18,810]

Anyone know when the players are due back?

I think its not until mid-late November these days for non finals teams

The AFLPA had a whinge about needing to extend the players break and as usual they get everything they want

[Palace Dees 2,171]

Believe it or not one can get a little frustrated at times reading some of the posts on Demonland. However in this thread it seems most of us are getting what the new look MFC is trying to achieve and have earned our trust and belief rather than just blind faith. They have articulated to fans what the plan is, recruited on and off field well and have been steadfast in sticking to that plan that has to be years in its realisation. By naming the qualities they recruited for they explained why JH will not be a loss and why other current players need to further add to the one or two steps they may have already taken in 2015 to be a part of the future (JW etc).

There is no doubt our club understood the opportunities this new world draft offered better than the opposition and shocked the other clubs in improving our list and draft picks simultaneously. The last day flurry of exchanging of draft picks from other clubs proves this but it was to little too late in most cases because we got the cream in an almost underworld hit style the previous day. As has been stated, we are building real depth now and we will soon no longer fail the bottom 6 theory to success. The club knows what they doing and they do it without leaking like the proverbial sieve.

Stick with it Demonlanders.....we are about to be rewarded.

[buck_nekkid 5,829]

These three are not in our best 22. None of our players are. Preseason begins in about 6 weeks, every player should start from zero. They should work their butts off to earn a place in the team. No one gifted a spot any more. You earn it, or play at Casey. These three have the same chance as everyone else.

[Courtney_Fish 183]

As far as I know, the big difference with the 3 we picked up compared to Newton, Riley, Michie and so on is that they were seemingly targeted before the draft commenced rather than being just opportunistic pick ups.

[The team we love 416]

If fit I think all three will play given form in the pre-season. The club identified them before trade period started and was prepared to forgo something for each of them. They have attributes we need and the club has identified roles to fulfil.

[Bombay Airconditioning 6,220]

Can they arrest a run on? I understand a rampant Dogs outfit barking at September - but Carlton? 72 - 9?

Carlton.

That game cost me big $$$.

[Biffen 12,919]

Still have to fit Trengove,Petracca,Frost ,Kent ,Pedo into the team as well as the new boys.

I am hoping Dave Misson has a year like the one when the Saints nearly won it and had a near zero injury list and a competitive training environment.

[Maldonboy38 6,387]

Melksham is a walk up start in our starting 22 but will be under pressure from a strong group just behind him who showed in 2015 they are rapidly improving (ANB, White, Stretch etc...)

Bugg and Kennedy have more work to do.

[Ron Burgundy 8,584]

Believe it or not one can get a little frustrated at times reading some of the posts on Demonland. However in this thread it seems most of us are getting what the new look MFC is trying to achieve and have earned our trust and belief rather than just blind faith. They have articulated to fans what the plan is, recruited on and off field well and have been steadfast in sticking to that plan that has to be years in its realisation. By naming the qualities they recruited for they explained why JH will not be a loss and why other current players need to further add to the one or two steps they may have already taken in 2015 to be a part of the future (JW etc).

There is no doubt our club understood the opportunities this new world draft offered better than the opposition and shocked the other clubs in improving our list and draft picks simultaneously. The last day flurry of exchanging of draft picks from other clubs proves this but it was to little too late in most cases because we got the cream in an almost underworld hit style the previous day. As has been stated, we are building real depth now and we will soon no longer fail the bottom 6 theory to success. The club knows what they doing and they do it without leaking like the proverbial sieve.

Stick with it Demonlanders.....we are about to be rewarded.

Terrific post.

We clearly have a structured and defined plan now. Our recruiting/drafting clearly reflects this.

And that's why we no longer have a scattergun approach to getting any and every player from another club who becomes available, much to the annoyance of several posters here.

In a sense, I think we have much more of a whole of list plan these days, rather than get the best player we can at each pick/possible trade. We're also now well coached. There's a good development program in place. And we have a sound back office.

With a good run injury wise, I reckon we might just scrape into the 8 next year.

[mo64 5,597]

As has been stated, we are building real depth now and we will soon no longer fail the bottom 6 theory to success.

People on here say that every year around this time, because the devil they don't know is better than the devil they know. Depth of B and C graders isn't going to bring us success. We need some top end talent, so the likes of Hogan, Brayshaw, Tyson, Viney, Petracca, Salem, picks 3 and 7 developing into A graders is critical to our improvement. Top end talent brings the lesser lights along, not the other way round.

[Deecisive 1,709]

no side perhaps other than the GWS can field a best side with only round 1 draft picks, every side needs to dig into 2nd and 3rd round players to make a team. So just because they are 2nd round means nothing. How they played before is an indication of capability, playing with the dees may take them forward or may take them backward, hopefully the former. as for matt jones and others I would love to see him play if he is able to raise himself up and earn that spot, not because it is given to him because he is the best of a bad bunch. All the players on our list have strengths and weaknesses that could be improved that could make any of them much better players and deserving of a top 22 place. Lets hope our development of old and new players can raise some of these to the heights they need to achieve for us to play finals again.

[Wadda We Sing 10,685]

They are an improvement on the likes of Bail, M. Jones, McKenzie and Terlich. They will provide greater competition with players like Newton, Michie, JKH, Stretch, ANB and Grimes which is a good thing and they are all competitors which is what we need.

The key to this trade period is picks 3 and 7, this is where we are more likely to get top-end talent from.

That is pretty good isnt it..

[bing181 9,113]

Melksham is a walk up start in our starting 22 ...

Except that he'll be unavailable.

Just the way it is.

Carry on.

[MadAsHell 4,209]

Melksham yes

Bugg yes

Kennedy no with a fully fit list. Having said that, he has the most updide of the three.

[KingDingAling 3,749]

Melksham yes

Bugg yes

Kennedy no with a fully fit list. Having said that, he has the most updide of the three.

Kennedy is a level above Melksham IMO. That isn't saying a lot though. But I expect Kennedy to break into the midfield by round 1.

Edited October 26, 2015 by KingDingAling

[hemingway 7,615]

Kennedy is a level above Melksham IMO. That isn't saying a lot though. But I expect Kennedy to break into the midfield by round 1.

Agree, he has the potential to be a great pick-up. Looking forward to seeing his attack on the ball and pace.