http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/rich...6036893779.html

Thanks Craig.. all the best

why are you going ?

very sorry to see you go :(

good luck !!

i hope Y_M is right and we can now strike while the iron is hot, because it could be tough without him

mmm not good at all. No idea why CAC is leaving but thanks for everything. U could have picked a better club than the tigers who are a mess

In footy people over-use the word tragedy...

but this is the worst news I've heard in a long time. I could stand losing Daniher after 10 years, I thought it was sad, a shame, but ultimately the best for all parties. I could handle losing his assistants, as that made a lot of sense...

But all die-hard demons fans knew CAC was our best-kept non-secret.

We have, as fans, been very pleased on the whole. He's picked up some gems, secured players like Brock and Jones who are almost universally adored. In his tenure, which I think clocked up 10 years, or nearly 10... he made some mistakes that were ultimately learning experiences. We got him when he was relatively green and straight out of Fremantle, and while we have CERTAINLY benefitted from his expertise, we have earned it in a sense too, as he is NOW considered one of the top recruiters, if not THE top recruiter in the land. And all that experience goes to Punt road and again the demons are left with a coaching panel, footy department and recruiter that are all new faces...

It pleases me, however, to hear that his father played for Richmond, and that he was in fact a Tigers supporter as a kid.

Craig, of all the delistings and sackings, this one hurts the most... Not only are you leaving, but you're leaving to my most hated club...

That said, I wish you all the best. You, like Daniher, have earned our respect and gratitude... Your impact on this club will be seen for a few more years yet, and I hope while the Red and Blue thrash your team up and down the park there's a small twinkle of pride as your selections run riot over the AFL...

No offence, but I hope you select some absolute TURKEYS over the next few years and the Tigers fire you!! ... You're always welcome back here...

If true, then see ya mate, thanks for everything, i truly hope you fail at the tigers!

CAC has been at the club for 11 years and there's been so much change around here recently that he probably sees it fit to make a change for himself and for the MFC. He's been terrific for the club and we all owe him a great debt because our recruiting was in a shambles when he came here. In leaving after this draft, which most people believe is a triumph for the MFC (and for CAC), he leaves us on a high note.

Well done CAC!

Sad news, here's hoping that you saved your best till last.

Good luck in your new role, but i hope they all fail!

Side note: I think it's a mark of the man that he chose to do it AFTER the national draft so as not to screw Melbourne over.

He was a Tigers supporter growing up - however he signed a contract not long ago for a 3 year term, so it would be pretty poor if he pulled out.

He was a Tigers supporter growing up - however he signed a contract not long ago for a 3 year term, so it would be pretty poor if he pulled out.

From the Age:

"Although Cameron committed to the Demons along with Melbourne's then football manager Chris Fagan one year ago to a three-year term, he is expected to exercise a three-month departure clause in his contract, as Fagan did back in August when he announced he was moving to Hawthorn.

"

It would have been pretty poor if he had done it before the trade and ND. I think he has done it on fair terms.

Thanks CAC for your contributions and you have taken on a real challenge with the Richmond list.

This is a disaster, our best most proven tallent in football operations and he is leaving before his contract is even half way through!!

What does this say about MFC, about the new coaching staff and everyone else?

I'm angry and dissapointed, angry at Richmond for making such an aggresive and positvie move, and dissapointed that our club couldn't do more to secure his services.

What does this say about MFC, about the new coaching staff and everyone else?

Very little of note.

I'm angry and dissapointed, angry at Richmond for making such an aggresive and positvie move, and dissapointed that our club couldn't do more to secure his services.

FCS, he has been with us for 11 years. Everyone needs new challenges.

agree he has done a terrific job unleashing brock mclean, jared rivers, aaron davey matthew bate and michael newton. i hope he doesn't do the same to richmond lol.

Nar thanks soo much CAC i think he has gotten us a good blend of players and thats his job.. now its up to the coaching staff to sort em out. i also think that its the right time now as we just recruited some gun young players and i think we are at the stage of having a real tilt at the flag. i for one will thank him if this happen within the next 3 years

thanks CAC xoxo

Guys, hopefully these name will make you feel better:

M Clark

S O'Brien

D Breese

R Funcke

L Molan

A Rogers

N Smith

G Moorcroft

C Hunter

H Neville

Lets face it, he's picked up some absolute lemons over the years.

agree he has done a terrific job unleashing brock mclean, jared rivers, aaron davey matthew bate and michael newton. i hope he doesn't do the same to richmond lol.

Nar thanks soo much CAC i think he has gotten us a good blend of players and thats his job.. now its up to the coaching staff to sort em out. i also think that its the right time now as we just recruited some gun young players and i think we are at the stage of having a real tilt at the flag. i for one will thank him if this happen within the next 3 years

thanks CAC xoxo

Don't all be so quick to write the obits. Deal's not done yet.

I'd like to add a little perspective to this thread.

Yes Craig has made some fairly handy late draft decisions. yes Craig has probably got it right over the last couple of years, BUT

11 years in charge of recruiting and still Melbourne are absolutely starless. We have craved a superstar since the retirement of Robbie and to be perfectly honest, The Ox aside, there hasn't been anyone go close.

Col, Brock, and Jones have shown potential but alas, I don't actually see superstar quality in any of them, lets look at this:

Brisbane have had so many stars I couldn't name them all

Collingwood even had Buckley and Pendlebury is going to be very very special

The Dogs, Brad Johnson, Scott West.......

West Coast, I don't have time to name them all

Adelaide, Roo, McLeod\

Sydney, Up until recently Bazza H, Adam Goodes

Port Adelaide, Shaun Burgoyne an arguement could be made to ad Chad to this status

Freo - Pav

Essendon - Have had plenty, Hird, Lloyd, Fletcher

Geelong - Scarlett, Ablett, Bartel, now Selwood

Carlton - Fev is a superstar, regardless of his idiot behaviour, add to that Murphy

St Kilda - Dal Santo, Reiwoldt, Harvey

Kangaroos - Brent Harvey

Hawthorn - Crawford, Hodge, Buddy, a history of having champions

Richmond and Us are about the only ones not to.

I can't say I'm upset, maybe it is time for a new recruitment strategy.

Disappointing news but good luck to CAC.

Has been a great servant of the club and I wish him all the best whatever he decides to do with his career.

I'd like to add a little perspective to this thread.

.......

11 years in charge of recruiting and still Melbourne are absolutely starless. ....I can't say I'm upset, maybe it is time for a new recruitment strategy.

A simplistic and misguided perspective at best.

A simplistic and misguided perspective at best.

Simplistic, definately.

Misguided, hardly.

Having a superstar in your side does more for your club than purely playing well.

It gets the cash reigsters ticking over, it brings memberships, increases merchandising sales, has a profound effect on junior players, increases sponsorship.

The only misguided comment here is your last post, champ.

Having a superstar in your side does more for your club than purely playing well.

It does, but is the fact we don't have a superstar because of CAC's recruiting or because of the clubs lack of ability to develop players properly under ND. I'm going with the latter.

CAC's role was diminished with the appointment of Chris Connolly as Football Manager.

I'd say that had a fair bit to do with his departure.

Good luck in the future CAC, Luke Molan excluded, you've done a great job.

Simplistic, definately.

Misguided, hardly.

Having a superstar in your side does more for your club than purely playing well.

It gets the cash reigsters ticking over, it brings memberships, increases merchandising sales, has a profound effect on junior players, increases sponsorship.

The only misguided comment here is your last post, champ.

What goes into making a star takes more than just recruitment. Any failure to produce a star hits at all apsects of the Club from recruitment, player development, coaching and injury management.

I am not disputing the rather obvious need for stars just your unsubstantiated laying of blame at CAC's feet.

So which stars did CAC not recruit that he had ready access to in the draft, taking into account the list needs at the time he recruited them and the fact that during his time MFC endured two years of draft penalties?

Like any professional, CAC leaves us a better recruiter than when he started and he has definitely refined his craft over his journey with us.

It does, but is the fact we don't have a superstar because of CAC's recruiting or because of the clubs lack of ability to develop players properly under ND. I'm going with the latter.

It definately goes hand in hand, no doubt but in saying that, look at some other clubs who have superstars, I wouldn't say they are the best at developing players, the Western Bulldogs are a prime example.

I'm not sitting here slagging CAC off but I don't think he is the recruiting genius of the AFL. He is good but there is always room for improvement.

What goes into making a star takes more than just recruitment. Any failure to produce a star hits at all apsects of the Club from recruitment, player development, coaching and injury management.

I am not disputing the rather obvious need for stars just your unsubstantiated laying of blame at CAC's feet.

So which stars did CAC not recruit that he had ready access to in the draft, taking into account the list needs at the time he recruited them and the fact that during his time MFC endured two years of draft penalties?

Like any professional, CAC leaves us a better recruiter than when he started and he has definitely refined his craft over his journey with us.

I'm not disputing there are more elements than simply recruiting but recruiting is the biggest factor in the process.

It wasn't intended to lay blame directly at Craig but his role is recruitment and as such he shares the lions share of the blame.

All well life goes on, after all he has been their for 10 years and managed to snag a few beautys but in reality, with the picks he has had by us being the most inconsistent team in the comp for the past 10 years, we should be alot better off then we are at the moment. I think we have a good team but there is no standout superstars, but hey some of them will hopefully take the next step next season.

I feel as though I jinxed this with my previous post...

Thanx for everything CAC.