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.......cough........cough...........i'm in agreeance with RobbieF on this one! I have seen nothing factual to suggest Cameron has done anything but bleed for our club and try to put them in the strongest position possible. Whether he overstepped or not- no one here knows and will unlikely ever know. But what we know is that ever since 186 and more importantly, in the last 4 weeks, our club has shown that it can be strong, decisive, get their men on multiple occasions and will do whatever it takes to achieve it's goals. All without a leak in sight. I will keep beating the same drum- i have absolute faith in the current administration of this club and what they are working to achieve. I have not seen one reason to think otherwise.

As everyone is bored senseless by this, although I think it's an argument worth pursuing (preferably with someone else), I will just finish with this. The recruiters are paid to predict how good a player will end up being. They watch endless vision of them and have years of recruiting experience behind them. It's their job. It's clearly not any of our jobs! If you don't think Cook will be as good as Darling then it's up to you to disprove them. Until then I'd back their opinion of these players over yours and mine.

I've never really understood why so many MFC fans care what others think of our club. Having spent a lot of time with fans of other clubs, I can tell you that they don't care how their club is perceived.

I am very pleased with the fact of how it seems that Cameron Schwab (and Mark Neeld) pulled out all stops to get Mitch Clark to the MFC. To get a player that we "need" in the forward line is a massive coup for the Demons! We haven't really landed a "big fish" since we got Jeff White from Fremantle at the end of 1997. Coincidentally, Cameron Schwab was involved with that as well! To think that a few months ago Cameron Schwab had his head on the chopping block by the MFC board! I must admit that I've always been a big fan of Cameron Schwab...but I will say that I hope he continues to do well as the CEO of the Melbourne Demons and can get the opportunity to extend his contract at the end of next year. Having said that, Cameron Schwab now needs to concentrate on getting a new "front jumper" sponsor for the MFC. Hopefully we will end up getting the Bank of Melbourne as has been touted will possibly happen. Congratulations to Cameron Schwab and his hard work!

There were a number of unsubstantiated rumours circulating (they've stopped now) about CS but none of us on here, despite what we think know the full story so repeating these rumours does no one any good. CC was moved to the other side and whether this was because he was better suited to that or wasn't doing his job we don't know. Bailey was moved on and we all know why that is not a rumour that is a fact. Just repeating Caroline Wilson rumours doesn't make them fact and surmising what transpired is useless, the board and CS know that's all we do know.

The effect that this man has had on the club over the past few months ... understated cannot be.

The extra money paid to Clark is simply a "go home factor" buyout. And who else was seriously available to fill this kind of role for us....................Setanta O'Hailpin? I'm just damn impressed by the clubs approach to getting Clark..........how many other clubs out there would have simply put Clark in the "he wants to go home, we are no chance" category? This is simply some sharp work from the Dees here, and should be roundly applauded.

Caddy and many of his GC colleagues will be OOC at the end of next year. We've still got the 2 x 1st round compo picks.

I don't think we overpaid for Clark at all. We have been searching for a bloke his size since our previous captain departed. We bought what was needed. It is now the coaching staff's job to make it work. (wirh Clark's help of course)...

Good luck to him, and good result for us. He'd have been delisted either way. Pick 52 is better than nothing, especially given that we were looking at pick 73 as our third pick come draft day.

I love that we're just screwing everything up for everyone with last minute deals. Good one Melbourne!

Schwabby has entered the building!! Haha just came swaggering in... Love it!!

Its interesting that when the news came out Clark had rejected MFCs first offer posters were up in arms that another top player had refused to join the club. Now that MFC got their man these posters are now complaining the club paid too much! A fantastic get who will had some real potency to the forward line and allow other players to play their natural game - referring to watts and Jurrah. the ability to be able to play Martin back is a real plus.

Because for the ordinary girl to be a stunner all she has to do is take off her glasses and let her hair down. Or in Cook's case get a bit more size about him. Because if you knew anything about Cook it would be that the only thing he lacks is size and a bit of fitness. All that comes with pre seasons. And let's not beat around the bush- no one here has a hot or stunning girlfriend. Why the hell would you spend all your time on Demonland?

31 for those who otherwise will be chucking jumpers in the rubbish.

The alternative is to look at trading Jamar in 2012 or 2013 and building our ruck stocks around Gawn (and Martin). Keeping Jamar and losing Gawn is like repeating the White/Jolly scenario.

As I said a few times, if he wanted to come to us a deal would have been done using a compo pick as the base. Stuffed himself. If he was fair dinkum about coming home you would give several victorian options to the GC to deal with. GC obviously smelled a rat and exterminated it. Dons got what they deserved, ratsack. Keep lying you are very good at it, the Coach, senior assistant Coach, CEO, President, the gambling assistant coach etc.

It will be interesting to follow Caddy's progress next season. So too the Bombers under Hird for that matter. It will be interesting early next year if we activate the two compensation picks. From our position right now, I think we probably should activate one at least. And perhaps keep one up our sleeve for trade. They are worth their weight in gold come trade time as a bargianing tool. And if there is no trade. There is always 2013-14-15 as options.

Juice is like that bird from Fatal Attraction. Just when you think he's dead he leaps out from behind you and starts trying to ruin your life again.

[ I heard from an impeccable source that banana daiquiris are better ........ but I won't divulge names, so don't bother asking!

I'm happy with this whole situation. I like Caddy, would have liked to have obtained his services, but I doubt he's connected to one of Neeld's 'holes' in the list. We keep our picks. Essendon got screwed and frustrated. GC did themselves no favours being so pig headed, especially considering Caddy's father's situation. I'm sure Caddy would be upset, that in turn effects the team mates close to him, probably also Victorians. The Vic clubs will swarm all over GC as their talent starts to develop and come out of contract. But really it's just great seeing Essendon fail.

Which would surely have indicated that he didn't really want to go home for the reasons he was giving GC so I'd discount that possibility. I reckon we couldn't get to talk turkey with GC because they were locked in mediation with Essendon and when that finished it was all too late.

The fact that CS is still there & the FD has been cleaned out tells the story. I have no doubt there was tension between the 2 parties, but maybe CS just thought "someone has gotta do this and jimmy is too ill" maybe he went too hard with the right intensions?? Whatever it was, it has settled. If CS is replaced next year then the new boy better be a total genius!! I think CS has been fantastic

From the outside which we ALL are, I don't see how anyone can have anything but absolute respect for the way this man has gone about his job. The sun is really shining on the Dees at the moment.

Cameron Schwab absolutely deserves bucketloads of credit for the goings on of the last 4 or so weeks. To think that, due to what seems to be a few petulant players, his head was on the block a couple months back. Ludicrous. This bloke cares so much for this footy club, and has the business accumen to go along with it. Cheers to you Cameron, I have no doubt that without you, we would be in debt, probably still at the Junction Oval, have an average list and be staring down the barrel of oblivion. Jimmy rightly gets a hell of alot of credit for the good that has happened at this club recently, and for some reason Cameron has copped the credit for the bad. Well no more as far as I'm concerned. This is a combined effort by Jim and Cameron, and the Board of the MFC. The good things of the last month are an absolute credit to all of you. Thank you.

And I'd like to think the new fitness people can work on his body shape. If he can be made trimmer, perhaps he will be more valuable.

and it wouldnt be cruel to delist wona and pick him up on cheap money after the club has supported his struggle with his loss this year and convinced him to return to the club?

I imagine Nicholson. Evans, Lawrence retained - Newton, Campbell, McNamara and Johnston gone.

I stand by my 'give Bate a go in the midfield' idea. He wanted to go but we put a price on his head that suggested we never intended to trade him, that tells me that Harrington was told by Neeld that he saw him playing a role in his gameplan. I can only see him as a big body with Beamer in the midfield - as Beamer is the only other one that doesn't get pushed off the footy. I hope we treat him well at the start of 2012 and give him every opportunity to resurrect his career.

Overpaid is so subjective. To land a "big fish" you have to pay a premium - thats the way of the world. 4 years time will tell if we under or over paid. I am glad that we went in hard and succeeded.

Hope Harrington, Neeld and co know what they're doing with Bate - I can't see it, but defer to their greater knowledge. Other than that, a bloody outstanding trade week.

Haha from Astro Bomber: "positive is those dirty lunch cutters Melbourne didn't get Caddy either."

I know some were expecting a top 25 pick but this is more than I expected for Warnock. GC obviously didn't want to use a PSD pick on him.

I really don't care if we up the price Essendon has to pay. I want him for us.

Nah. The alternative was delisting and getting nothing for him. Happy that we got anything at all. Good luck Matty.

Woulsnt say no that easily, love the name as well

I guess the point was that Jack is a ready made player and will hit the ground running so hopefully he will slot in to the side in his first year. Sorry for the sidetrack.

But he's new and shiny.

23

Nm 1. Then he and Nathan Jones can have lockers next to each other and discuss sleave tattoos. And he won't have to change his twitter handle.

It's not as stupid as most threads about drafting 30 year olds, because Black is a proven legend of the game. One of the all time greats. That said, he's at the stage where his body is on the way down. Moreover, I can't imagine, at his stage of his career, he'd want to leave and lose the lustre of being a one club player. I think we have enough talent on our list to develop without needing him. He wouldn't detract from our list, but he wouldn't add too much either.

You nailed it WJ. I'm so proud and happy to be a Dees supporter today, and with the present Administration and coaches, I can't help feeling that there's more to come!

I think Black has a wonderful record and has been a great player. But his body is shot. I cant see how we can gift a 2 yr contract to a 30+yo player after we have put the 1 year blowtorch to so many MFC player 10+ years players. Farren Ray......You're kidding

I think Mark Neeld has a game plan that he's wanting to implement at Melbourne and with this recruit he's moved a big piece into place. Essentially Mitch Clarke at FF offers the following: - the midfield a quick get out of pressure kick deep into the forward line (moloney will love this). - the big lead up option to the 50 m (aka Cloak and Daws) - provides our small forwards with a roving target at the feet of Clark - free up Watts and Jurrah with 2nd and 3rd tall defender on them. - allows Watts to play higher (in the midfield) when required - allows Jurrah and Petterd to find space and avoid tight contested pack marks, also gives him a good set of shoulders to climb... - allows us to develop Gawn, Lucas, and Fitz at Casey properly without having to play them early. I'm sure there is more... Big get

I'm not a fan of the concrete 1-year offers to over 30s, but given we seem to have that in place it'd be laughable to offer 2 years to Simon Black. He'd still slot easily into our midfield though. Hopefully he can work it out with Brisbane and remain a one-club player. Both parties deserve that.

And we have Jack Viney and two top 20 picks in next year's super draft. New salary cap. We are paying less than the required amount, so font load a massive contract 'to do something'. We have been so insipid for too long. Clark was a great play, just what we needed. Watts and Jurrah can now play on the ball. Our many other young guns are one year older. Noah might even be named Captain. We just took the supercoach arms race up a serious notch - 2 coaches and 1 IT person for each line plus directors of developent (Viney), elite performance (Misson) and innovations and sports science (Neale). Neeld is smashing it with deliberate purpose. Gary Lyon - not a word, very quiet. Schwab also strangely quiet. Big Jim hope your not in pain and with loved ones. You started this bonfire. You gave us belief and pride again. C'arn the Mighty Demons!

Our perception as a club will change once we start winning games. GO DEES.

We are seen as useless. And will be until we are competitive in an grand final. The end

I think that's a fair assessment DOF. I guess I'd perhaps also add that Liam suffers, like others have done, from his laconic style. To those who don't know him, his body language sometimes makes him look uninterested or lazy. Don't be fooled, along with his 40 goals this year he also laid over 40 tackles. Assuming a good run with injuries and perhaps a freer reign given to him by his coaches, he should have a stellar year in 2012. For a player with only 35 games under his belt, he has averaged more goals per game than any other Melbourne player in each of his 3 seasons with the Dees. Let him off the leash and let him do his stuff.

That is the main point and couldnt agree more.