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Might have to and I wouldn't hesitate and then some. O'Meara for Scully - it's a no-brainer. Sure GWS get a great deal but let's worry about us, not them.

What worries me most about this stuff is the apparent significance placed on the "interview process" which seems to cover off things like family, schooling etc as well as football skill, talent, aspirations .. While character is no doubt important, successful groups are made up of a mixture of characters - leaders, followers, extroverts, introverts, inside players, rough diamonds etc etc - can't help but feel we focus overly on solid citizens and are a little quick to pass over thise who may create a challenge - the most obvious case being Juhn Butcher - just hope this new regime under MN has enough balls to back themselves to create an environment which caters to the best mix we can put together, not just the nicest.

Unfortunately that's worse than 2010, and if you're not getting better as a player, then how can you expect to lead your Club anywhere but away from a Premiership. I'd say that Aaron Davey, Brad Green, Cale Morton, Lynden Dunn and (for obvious reasons) Austin Wonaeamirri are the only players who played considerably worse this year than last year, and you can reasonably expect the heat to be put most intensely on these players. The fact that Brad Green is also our Captain only compounds his abject failure this year. If the buck stops with the Coach, the bell must surely toll for the Captain, too.

I think people are looking at this the wrong way. Let's forget "bits and pieces" players - look at what we genuinely need. Then look at the picks we have - as Old55 says they are good. But then look at our list and see where we have a surplus that might be attractive to other club - genuinely good players - and then think what they might get. Now that would be interesting.

Think of it as you will, Damien Barrett just tweeted the following: barrettdamian Damian Barrett The Dees have salary cap money to burn, given they had 500k or so to give to Scully. Watch this space. Let's hope that we are cooking up something huge for next week. Every year the week is a constant let-down however maybe, just maybe, this trend could change next week.

All this criticism of Green. I put Davey at least 3 times worse this year than Green. His leadership has reflected his ability to handle a tag absolute zero

I think in an ideal world it would be best if players (at least most) were drafted at an older age However, one problem is that at the moment most players are drafted in year 12 at school. If you wait another year (or two) then many talented players will have started a career or tertiary education and you run the risk that they may be lost to football as football is a full time professional job and you can't do both (at least not easily) The Americans have their College system where they can study and play in a top class nursery competition with top coaches. Can't see we could afford this type of system. Just some thoughts....

We're not that shallow. How about that Youtube highlight package?

Much will depend on the FD's priorities and I think it would be a courageous effort to go all out for O'Meara without also making a play for players who would fill our other "gaps".

I have a vision of a mean bastard bursting open a pack to mark in the goal square. Goes back and kicks the winning goal. Then gives the bird to the Pies fans. Fined $5000 but says "who cares we just won the flag". Well I can dream can't I?

Exactly. People are definitely confusing issues. I am glad that people like BP dont.

I dont think that changes at all . Its not about getting the "nicest" personalities. What all clubs are trying to avoid or revalue in the pecking order are: 1. Serial ratbags: Fevola, Angwin - Avoid at all costs. 2. Immature players who will never have the strength of character to fully utilise the abiility - Travis Johnston, Michael Gardiner - I doubt under today's assessment they would be No 1 draft picks.

How about having the drive to turn up to preseason training in top condition, the confidence to bounce back after a torrid quarter, or the ability to withstand the pressure of a shot for goal after the siren to win a game? PS. No one's saying footy ability isn't the primary indicator so a reply along those lines doesn't take anything away from the argument that interviews are worth doing.

There's not enough Jack's in a standard pack of cards for the MFC

So we give them the wake up call by rejecting them because they have a mowhawk and threw eggs at a house one day. Awesome, I'm glad we've woken them up for the next team to take advantage of their talent and renewed outlook on life.

I agree Robbie it is a lot easier to modify an over confident kid than it is to build one up when it is low. I have said this often before but the MFC could use a couple of brash ready to go next year types. You Know I do not care if their fathers is a member of "hells Angles" I just want someone who is tough and can play well.

Yes....but. There was a fairly seductive draft pick a couple of years ago who espoused strong family values, one - club player, blah, blah blah. Methinks there was forked tongue there....

Correction - yes - Jack Darling - who slipped thru to mid 20's on the basis of reputation. I will agree to a point - I would suggest we have, historically, been risk averse in our assessment of character. I just hope they have identified players who can make a difference

Fevola board

I reckon Jon Ralph is wrong. We'll be looking to be active trade week and will pounce if a good option comes along. Far from "boring" http://www.heraldsun...partmentoftrade Sorry, this is his summary of all clubs: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/what-your-club-is-up-to-in-trade-week/story-fn6cisdj-1226159465055

I find it hard to believe that we will do much in the coming trade week. we have only a couple of players that appear to want to change camps i.e. Warnock and Bate. Bate has a contract so little will happen there unless the offer is good. Warnock is uncontracted and he could sit out till the later draft. There does not appear to be too much on offer so not a lot to chase. Also I reckon Neeld will want to form his own opinion on the list before he makes many changes. I fully expect to be bored as usual. PS why is it that a lot of Demonlanders believe you can trade an ordinary player for a good one. If you want someone good you have to put something good on the table. If we think a player is ordinary what do you think another team sees them as? If you cannot get a game with a team that finished 13th you must be ordinary!

Really looking forward to his career. Great head on his shoulders. Start of 2013 and our best mids will probably be Trengove, McKenzie, Gysberts, Viney, and Bail. Maybe Moloney ahead of Bail... Brave new world...

Bate and Warnock are the obvious 'outs' from the Demons who might have some currency elsewhere. MacDonald might get an offer from a club looking for a mature body, but I would think the trade would be more to faciliate his career move than to get value. We aren't going to get a star in return though, obviously. Fully understanding that we might have him on the list for two years, see him play 8 ordinary games, and then drop him, I think Lachlen Hansen in exchange for Bate to the Kangaroos isn't too bad an option. Possibly one 'not really AFL' for another, with no real value generated, but considering Bate isn't playing for us at all it is hardly a loss. Warnock there might be some more serious interest in. I much prefer 'boosting' picks than getting an extra mediocre pick. So something like Warnock and our second round (pick 36) for a late first round would suit me. That said, it would count on a club in need of a fullback having a second pick comparatively early as a result of other trades - I think most clubs would be reluctant to give away their only first round pick, even if it is replaced by 36. So the hypothetical would be something like Hawthorn making a surprise trade for GWS pick 15, then trading us their pick 24 for Warnock+36. Also, for those still looking at O'hailpin, I'm afraid he can't be traded away from Carlton. There's a special detail in his contract, called the S'anta Clause.

You know what...I have no real idea of what is or isnt going on with respect the Green situation. There is however history of some 'posturing' regarding his dealing come contract time. Brad like a few of his mates come from a very different era of the MFC, theyve been used to a certain treatment etc. I am going to speculate that with al the reshaping and rebuilding of this fine club of ours that with this will come a different attitude come contracts and drafting etc.. Brad , and he wont be alone , might be in for a rude shock. He may well feel affronted. Im going to trust the club and its newly found 'feet' to handle such dealings to the benefit of the club.Thats all that matters to me....the club !!

Early on in his AFL career, Bater seemed to have a strong future at Melbourne, but that has become a distant memory over the last two years. He had a great season at Casey in 2011 (and he must be commended for that), but apart from a couple of late season games where he played a bit in the mid-field, he failed to have any influence when playing for Melbourne. I'd love to see him reinvent himself as a midfielder or HB flanker, but I just don't think it will happen. IMO he is not well equipped for the modern game.

Stretch shirked a contest and was tarred by that, but at his best was a very, very good player. If he was on our current list and at at his best he would probably be the best player we would have.

Nothing speculation and innuendo in the absence of fact. When Luke Ball left St Kilda his body was fit and capable for AFL. This was after a long and dehabilitating battle with OP. If you care to do the research on OP, its treatment and management is a case by case situation. And in some cases there is not full recovery in the worst cases. Its a unreasonable and baseless slur on Misson and others to draw that long bow. Ordinary effort

Goddard - Melbourne = square peg, round hole.

Improved again this season, playing more as a traditional wingman/linkman outside runner, utilizing his elite endurance and improved speed. Runs all day and will always put his body on the line. Maybe not the best thinker in traffic or by foot at times, but goes hard all day, week-in week-out, which is more than can be said of the majority of teammates. Another step forward this year for Jonesy, albeit in an easier, outside role. Interested to see whether Neeld uses him the same way DB did this year, or if he returns to more time around the stoppages, rather than a kick outside play. Oddly enough, when you think about Jones, you think tough, industrious inside worker. But when you look at his year statistically, you see that 2011 was different. He did more outside running, to receive more uncontested possessions, take more uncontested marks, more rebound 50s, more running bounces... etc, and had less contested possessions, less clearances, and laid less tackles, than you would expect. All the stat areas that were once his strengths were down, and all his perceived weaknesses (the 'outside' game), improved. No doubt he came into the season with a specific new role from DB, and a goal to improve areas that were lacking previously, and that he did. He was no longer a "see ball, get ball" midfielder, but was being taught by Bailey to read the play, run to make position, and provide a link up the field coming out of defense, and present outside options for inside workers Moloney and McKenzie... His disposal efficiency and decision making improved too. He is still prone to the odd 'howler' at times, though fewer and further between now. Unfortunately, his inside role and his defensive ability/mindset suffered a little bit IMO. Now, I feel Neeld needs to re-train his inside game to get the most of out his other great strengths (besides endurance), toughness at the contest and power/strength. Would like to see his clearance rate, and contested possession and tackle output lift next year if he is to keep improving as a footballer.

How so we've just sacked the coach and appointed a new one so how do you know what his strategy is? I bet the Baby Bombers are glad their club didn't have any expectations when they started the 1993 season; oh that's right they did. It's a real cop out to say we have a 5 year strategy, you just keep on repeating it year after year and there's never any pressure to perform. BTW I'm not referring that to you personally. Palmer broke his leg and has had some injuries so it's a bit hard on him to say he's been a flop since hid first year. On the basis of what's been posted above most would have preferred not to draft Judd because he was going to be too god in the first year and would fade after that.

Was just about to agree with most of what Pennant said. I still struggle with why nearly every draft pick we have made over last couple of years is a long term pick. A complete list of kids will not get the job done any time soon. In fact you can make a case than young players getting constantly beaten by big margins learn very little. except how to accept defeat. Surely we need a mix of ages and development!

Modric!

Nathan Jones is non touchable, would we trade Frawley, Trengove, Garland? The answer would be a definite no, and Jones should be included in this group of non touchable trades.He is one of the ''grunts'' of the team and we never see him give up, not like some of our so called other very hot or very cold team members.

Laughable to consider trading Jones, full-stop!