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I'll probably get abused for this, but good. If he had of stayed with us he probably would have got another year, he was only competing for a list spot with an upgraded rookie.. The way he left was a disgrace, potentially cost Junior another year, and was probably the stupidest decision ever made by a footballer trying to lengthen his career. Overpaid and selfish is how I'll remember Cam.

In the end, Cam's final hospital hand pass was to himself.

I reckon Bruce realised that he only had one year possibly two years of football left in him. He summised that at MFC he had only 1 year at most. He was right. After he had an injury riddled year with 9 games, Tapscott and Strauss were coming up and would have been preferred. There was no chance given where MFC's list is that he would have gotten another run in 2012. And putting the Club before yourself in this modern game is not leadership but self sacrifice. Bruce may have been self mercenary but for guy who was pick 64 in 1999, he did well to play 233 games in 12 years with 1 Bluey and a couple of close calls on it. Wouldnt mind if we got a few picks like that at pick 60+.

I reckon Juice hides behind some rubbish bins when it comes to list lodgement and they forget he exists. Poor Tommy Mac, getting the arse from the rookie list before Juice must cut him deep.

If he plays every game, I'd want to see 50. Of course if he only kicked 10 and Jurrah and Wonaeamirri kicked 90 between them that also works. The moral of the story is I want to see a forward line [censored] in goals.

It's 'smartarse'...(irony?) and re-signing with the club is making the right decision. His, and the club's. Green is a fine player, a great bloke and clubman, and rarely does the wrong thing by the club. He made a far better decision than his very good mate. It's a little bit patronising for me to laud his leadership on the no-brainer issue of re-signing. I believe it says more about Brad's humility than his leadership.

And that's that folks. Since we started the Player Review series, we've always "pinned" the particular player's review on top of our pages for a few days to honour his contribution to the club and to keep the focus on the player in question for a few more days and then unpinned the thread to allow others to go up instead. Even did it with Brock McLean when he went to Carlton and declared the drive to Casey for training was too much for him. At least he gave of himself to the club (and more when he donated to the Debt Demolition). However, in the case of Scully, we've decided that he's has had enough exposure on Demonland. Goodbye Tom or Ned or whoever you are. This thread is locked by popular acclaim and it won't be pinned.

I hope it is a benefit only used when one of Jamar and Martin are injured in-game. He is a massive investment, and to be thrown into the ruck would be a risk I wouldn't take. I would choose Jamar, Martin, and Gawn before Clark to put in the ruck. I don't want him to spend 5 minutes there.

Hindsight? For many it was foresight and it was a train wreck we couldn't do anything about. His ego got in the way of sound judgement and that is the sad reality.

I feel nothing. A Hawthorn player who played a handful of nondescript games this year is likely to be delisted. That is all.

Great thread for entertainment value alone. To think some accuse Maric of being hard done by! The mind boggles.

Apparently Mark Neeld sees the triple threat of Bate, Juice and Clark up front as too hard to resist... Thr rumour I heard was that Ben Holland was fit and firing and thinking about nominating for the draft...Could it be a 4-pronged attack?

Wow by most comments on here most of you have never made a career mistake or thought the grass is always greener. I have met him a number of times and he is a great person. Very happy to take the time to talk and have photos etc. You dont get to play 200+ games if you are an average player. Show some respect, he served Melb well and will always be remember as a Dees player. Good luck for the future Brucey.

Err, no?

I've been critical of Bruce over the years, but I find some of the sentiments in this thread distasteful. If he's played his last game I'll remember him as one of the better players I've seen to have pulled on a MFC boot.

There's a case for loading our Rookie list with Valenti, Sewell and any other 'top-line VFL' players we can get, especially inside mids. Get the ball into the developing forwards at Casey, give the developing ruckmen something fun to work with, and give some breathing space to the developing backmen. Meanwhile, in an injury pinch, whichever of them shows strongest form can step up and at least provide a competent and enthusiastic mature body in the middle. We don't have a lot of depth in that respect. And the Casey people would love us, which is nice.

I'd rather remember Cameron for the good footy he played for us - over 200 games is a fair effort - as is often the case , the last year or so of a player's career is focused on way too much - Hope he does well in his future endeavers .

I don't believe that Maric lacked opportunities. Unfortunately he's pretty small, which in itself isn't dire if you're good enough - just ask Brent Harvey - but in Maric's case it hurts. He's not lightening fast for that Ballantyne small forward role, his defensive pressure isn't a strong suit and when he was given an opportunity he rarely showed a compelling argument for his retention, although he did have a few good games. He's quite good overhead for his size, but he's not a genuine midfield option. After 4 years we've seen enough. If I liken him to Geelong's first year player Allen Christensen and study my premiership model it's time to put down the book. There are hoarders in most streets, so there will always be those that don't want anyone dropped off the list, 'just in case', but clear thinkers won't have issues with this decision.

Proportion some blame towards Chicken Nixon his dirty fingers were all over this. I believe he gave Bruce advice that was very poor. Would of been along the lines of MFC going youth road, you'll be tipped out soon, they only offer 1 year contracts, hawthorn will offer an optional year, hawks are close to a flag 220 games of loyalty mean squat. Bruce has made a fool of himself and yes injury limited his chances I hope he can be re-embraced by MFC because he was a valuable contributor.

It's not so much how many goals he kicks, but how many goals he creates. The problem with our forward line was, when Watts lead up the ground, there was little to kick to besides Jurrah, who then took over as the #1 player in the forward line. This is not his role, as admirably as he tried to make it. With Clark filling in the space created by the lead up of the CHF, he becomes the #1 target, taking with him the best defender there (or maybe 2) with Jurrah getting the 3rd best (and tearing them a new one). Or if Jurrah has the best defender on him, Mitch should be able to kill with his size and ability if there's an inferior defender being forced to play on him. The opportunity created is the real reward of this coup, and maybe just maybe, with an actual tall body present in the forward line (when Watts isn't there) a small player might actually play a crumbers role (how we need Aussie back fit and firing). Mitch's presence alone will provide more goals and more opportunities to goal. If he kicks 30 with the #1 defender on him (and creates numerous more opportunities for other avenues to goal - great). If he kicks more, then that's even better. I'd much rather having our team sharing more goals, than one player kicking the majority but ultimately fewer goals. At least we now have a realistic chance of goaling if we have to bomb it in long, when other options aren't available.

KB: Why did you only negotiate with Essendon? Lenton: 5 minute history lesson hoping we forgot the original question KB: Yes but why did you only negotiate with Essendon? Lenton: It was a sensitive negotiation FFS - holds as much water as a sieve - reckon you've heard a few explanations like that from the dock Redleg - just before the judge says "Guilty"

If he can avg 2 goals a game next year I'll be happy. We won't see his true value until our midfield comes on. He should be kicking around 60 when we're a top 4 threat.

Speaking of that, I may have a flutter on Jurrah winning Coleman medal. He will surely have the most goals for us next season providing his body stays right. That's right, the more I think of it, the more I suspect Clark may not necessarily be the leading goal kicker for us. I'm fine with this.

Thought he didn't get enough of a run personally, got dropped after we lost a game yet he usually wasn't the worst on the ground... certainly did more than Morton did yet they kept giving Cale more chances.

He was a solid NAB cup player sadly. I wanted him to be something special because he can kick a ball, but it didn't happen. The club gave hm chances. He tried but the crumbs just didn't come to him. A top guy i am told. Good luck

Green extending means he isn't an egotistical idiot. I saw this occurring and Cameron the Bruce ruined his legacy (however small). 9 games!! Ruin it for 9 games... And furioud d is right, he would be a big show for 2012 if he was still at the club.

With Clark there all he has to do is sit in the square and bring the ball to the ground.

As soon as you start looking at selecting the forward line next year you realise what an excellent choice he is. Instead of shuffling Watts, Petterd, Green, Howe, Jurrah, Dunn, Bate, Morton, Sylvia and Bennell about to try and fill in the 6 positions, suddenly with the inclusion of Clark there is structure. Selecting the forward line is now more a question of who to leave out rather than who to put in. Will do some forward rucking but will otherwise remain a KPF. If only there was a small forward to stand beside him

Whilst we wish you a very happy birthday, we , the MFC, have given you the greatest birthday present of your lifetime.Not the overs we have paid you, but the opportunity for you to become an elite player which you have shown the promise. Now, it is up to you to give us, the happy returns from this partnership over the next 4 years.

From what I saw at the end of last year Tom McDonald looks very good for KPD - Frawley, McDonald, with Rivers genuine 3rd up and Garland playing that attacking Harry O style that he played at the end of last season looks good to me.

As posted in the other thread I'd definitely play Jamar, Martin and Clark (as permanent tall forward) together - otherwise you don't get enough tall forward. I think that Gawn and Spencer can only replace Jamar in that set because they lack Martin's mobility and Clark's tall forward capability. I think that makes Martin a good retainer - the back-up/threat to him is Fitzpatrick. IMO its Jamar, Gawn and Spencer as 1st ruck alternatives and Martin as 2nd ruck with Clark and Fitzpatrick as forward/ruck if necessary. It's going to get tricky at the end of next year - Jamar is out of contract and 29, Spencer is out of contract and Gawn has a year to run. If we give Jamar 2 years, which he'll deserve then Spencer is very tradeable - I rate him and don't agree with those who don't. We'll need to convince Gawn that succeeding Jamar in 2015 as an acceptable outcome so we can recontract him at the end of 2013 - that could seem a long way away to him at that time - he will no doubt get offers to be 1st ruck elsewhere in 2014.

This exercise shows how tough it is to pick a best 22. The reality is there are about a dozen certainties and the rest are all in the mix depending on form and opposition. A couple of things I would like to see next year though are Bennell given the chance to make the small defender role his own. He has great pace and skills but doesn't get enough footy up the ground. But he seems to play his best footy shutting an opponent down. I would also like to see Grimes start the season as a mid. I think we have enough players in the mix to play off half back, including Garland, Blease, Tapscott, Joel Mac (if he stays), Strauss (if fit), Davey, Morton and some of the younger guys as well. Grimes could be a weapon in the midfield. Also, would love to see Neeld give Morton a decent opportunity to regain some form and confidence. I really feel like he could be one of the most damaging players on our list if developed the right way given his height, pace and tank. I would hate to see him fade into oblivion over the next two seasons.

When you don't make an offer, how exactly do you get 'screwed'?

Sibosado, Daw, Panos . . . Hall could well become the much hyped bigfooty-driven, youtube sensation of 2011.

MFC need to offload 3 players this year in total from its list. JoelMac, Wonna and Maric are gone. Best hope is a rookie spot - Not sure he will make it though.

It's easy. They're idiots.

No you can't. But you should learn to read quicker!

I'll try to fall off the top of the coaches box or something to keep the mood light.

I agree that Spencer has slipped a long way in the pecking order with the progress of Martin and Gawn in 2011 and the recruitment of Clark. However, had he not done his ACL, he would have been the front-runner to replace Jamar when he was injured mid-season. Them's the breaks in footy I guess, and with our present ruck stocks, it indeed seems unlikely that he will play senior football for the Dees again. None-the-less we have invested a lot of time and effort into his development, and this was starting to show before he was injured. If he can get his knee right by the middle of next year, and play some decent footy for Casey in the second half of 2012, I reckon he's likely to have some trade value come this time next year.

I would be [censored] if we spent that much money to get someone who is going to play second ruck- a department we have a more than capable Stef Martin occupying currently. He must play FF. End of story. This is the department we have lacked, and the department he will fix. Now I guess we get to keep Martin/Jamar in the forward arc more often whilst the other does all the rucking around ground. Fun times ahead

I looked at the highlights and spent the whole time wondering if he could kick. By the end I still wasn't sure.

Perhaps if he adds a Lynden Dunnesque mostache it might be worth looking at.

I don't think you can have it both ways - either Martin is a back up ruck and a sometimes forward and Clark is a permanent forward, or Clark is a back up ruck and a sometimes forward and Martin is a permanent fwd/back. You have to have a permanent tall forward in there. I vote Clark. I also say he shouldn't ruck.

If he's a ruck then we've wasted our time and resources. He's a forward, that's what he says he is, that's what Harrington and Neeld say he is, and that's what we need him to be. He can double as insurance if Martin or Jamar go down mid match, but that's just a fringe benefit and not his primary role. No Jamar/Martin injury = 0 minutes ruck time for Clark.

Never be ashamed of the number 31 on a Melbourne jumper. That number stands for much more than a certain no-name can ever mean for it. Scully hasnt stained the reputation of either the club nor that number, only himself.

It's also been said that the Dees being successful in luring Clark to the club has made Jim ecstatic. This can only be a good thing and shouldn't be underestimated, because a little joy for Jim at this current time, means a very big deal to everyone that loves the MFC.

I was on to his case from the very beginning. I have no problem with a player being seduced by such a handsome offer but the way he was treating us made my blood boil. As I was saying back in April he should have done the honourable thing and stood down or resigned once the cat was out of the bag. He still kept taking our money despite having 2 million available upfront from GWS and then malingered for the whole season. And how embarrassing it must have been for his team mates to be trotted out to the media every week to tell the world about his virtues. Bitter medicine for us but worth it because he is now gone. I hope we can gain strength from this humiliation. I imagine he will enjoy the cloistered life at the GWS monastery. Looks the part with his shaved head and his obsessive ways. And has demonstrated he can maintain a vow of silence. He can now train 18 hours a day but to ensure he does not get too comfortable I bet he sleeps on a bed of football boot studs.

I just think there's a more logical explanation than abuction by Giants, Mulder.

But he's new and shiny.