Leaderboard

THE LOW RENT PUB by Whispering Jack In the old days, long before the draft and salary caps, club recruiters would travel the length and breadth of the land trying to find players to enhance their club lists. Often they would have to use their wits to beat opponents to their man. Legendary club secretary Jim Cardwell mastered the recruiting art at Melbourne in the early 1950s when he skillfully assembled the side that was to win six premierships in the decade 1955-1964. In later years he maintained that much of his success depended on perseverance and sheer determination never to give in when chasing his targeted player. Until last week it was thought the Cardwell spirit had long departed the Melbourne Football Club. Others with a more professional approach and more money to spend took away Jim's mantle as the prince of recruiters and it was left to other clubs to score the major recruiting coups. More recently, those with the patronage of wealthy entrepreneurs or the power of the AFL bolstering new franchises prevailed when it came to snaring the prize signings of the competition. Things changed on the Wednesday of trade week when the Demons moved in cloak and dagger style to wrest Brisbane Lion ruckman/forward Mitch Clark away from his intended club Fremantle. The story was told this morning on radio station SEN by new Demons' coach Mark Neeld. The Melbourne recruiters were discussing how the Lions and the Dockers were unable to do a deal on Clark and a decision was made to go after him. Thanks to some of Chris Connolly's contacts, Clark's management was contacted and permission obtained from Brisbane to speak with their player. Following an initial telephone conversation it was decided to pursue him. Neeld, his new assistant coach Jade Rawlings and club CEO Cameron Schwab were off to Brisbane in hunt of their quarry on the 8 o'clock flight. When they arrived, there was no accommodation to be found and the trio settled on a shabby one roomer in a low rent pub near the airport. Here they were - a high power AFL club delegation of three trying to recruit a power forward. It was the Belgian Beer Festival and Schwab's personal assistant could find only room at $91.00 for the night in horrendous conditions. "When we got up in the morning we thought we can't meet Mitch Clark in this place so we got up and Jade Rawlings got us to the Stamford Plaza, we walked into the buffet breakfast and got a little room to the side. We acted as if we stayed there and no-one asked any questions," said Neeld. They met Mitch and his partner at the swank Stamford where they had the run of the place from 8 o'clock until well into the afternoon even using offices and going off at one stage to buy new clothes. The group finally left the Stamford at 3.30pm when they felt they had overstayed their welcome, finished up at the Marriott and caught up with Mitch again. At this stage they thought they were a real chance. The deputation met Clark again the following day and at one stage Fremantle's Chris Bond interrupted their meeting. They met their man again before returning to Melbourne on the Friday night feeling they were still in the running. It should be pointed out that by the Saturday morning, the football world believed that Clark was off to Dockerland having repeated his preference to return to his home town Perth. However, Melbourne persevered through phone contact with Mitch and then "at 10 o'clock, he said 'OK you won't leave me alone. You've persisted, you've done this and that, I'll come and play for you,'". Neeld says the result in the end was worth the effort. When he came to the club and went through the list, clearly a power forward was one of the gaps. "Mitch fitted the bill, his age (24) was critical and ... we're going to have him for that period of his career ... we did what we believe every Melbourne supporter would have wanted us to do." Neeld believes that Clark's presence will help the way the club is going to move the ball in the forward and there will be a ripple effect in that it will help the other forwards like Jack Watts and Liam Jurrah with the roles they will have to play and with the opponents who will have to go to them. "There are a whole range of options that we didn't have a week ago." Melbourne takes on the Brisbane Lions in round one next year at the MCG. For their return match, I suspect those extra options won't extend to the team's accommodation near the airport.

If he's clean, if he can play, if he's committed and if the new assistant coach recommends him why not. Tight contract to let him know we won't accept any crap and let's see what he's got. If we can help a kid get his life back together and give him a second chance then we should. Yeah, yeah I know we're not a charity etc.

So if he wasnt driving, what has he done wrong? Dont say he was out at 6:45am. It is off-season, he is on holidays. He can be out as late as he wants.

Delighted to hear that he will be training with the club during November in the hunt for a chance to join the MFC list. Highly recommended by Paul Satterley his VFL coach at Werribee last year, when he finished 4th in the Liston Medal. A tall midfielder in his early 20s, a bargain, ready to go to step straight in for Scully. My fingers are crossed.

Please tell me you are kidding. He leaves the scene of an accident in which HIS car was involved! Anyone leaving the scene of an accident is immediately making themselves the subject of all sorts of speculation... and of course the first thought will be just how drunk was he? Who cares if it is off-season, he must know that something like this WILL make the news regardless of who was driving and he must know that leaving the scene is not going to reflect well on him. And more importantly, he must know that, like it or not, it WILL reflect badly on the MFC (there are enough gutter journos out there who absolutely thrive on this sort of stuff).

That's a bit over the top no? Massive call to make when you actually have no knowledge of this current incident. Fairly ignorant.

Call me old-fashioned, but... Thank God he wasn't hurt, and thank God nobody else was. Can't believe the amount of muppets on this thread who are trying to make this a big issue.

Col has actually done nothing wrong besides being a bit of a twit. The MFC release on this states he was on his way home from his friends place where he stayed the night before. The club would not be stupid enough to run with this reason if they didn't have enough evidence to believe it to be true. If we are to believe the club it would seem he was up at this time to get back to his place in plenty of time to make it to training. I will back in the club to not lie to its members. Those drawing conclusions can do just that, but in the end none of you who are know the full story. A nothing story on a slow news day. Moving on.

I seriously cannot believe how quick to judge and damn people here are. Colin was a passenger in what appears to be a single car collision. He was out at 6.45am. That could mean he had a massive night, it could also mean he was getting up to do beach and weights. Either way, big deal in the off season or during the who cares cup? It appears as well that Colin left the scene. What does that even mean when you're a passenger and you haven't committed an offence? Nothing. The driver allegedly left the scene. Colin is a 26ish year old kid. FFS, give him a break. Have none of you ever been on learning journeys? Maybe start with the most important lessons about not judging others too harshly or quickly.

I would be more than happy to give him a crack. If the draft is as shallow as rumoured then no harm in giving him a rookie spot if he earns it.

Find a video of Nathan Carroll's one career goal and it was exactly the same. A horrific helicopter which had no right to go through. Will take it. Will not follow on imitating Chopper by punching Ben Holland on the gob.

Sylvia for captain next year! ...anyone?

Storm in a teacup. Based on the Hun and the Age nothing on Colin here ladies. Safe to move along now. If they could give a wingnut like Fevola an Ireland jolly then I think Colin has no issues with representing Australia in the upcoming circus.

If he has done nothing wrong why shouldn't he play?

No, the driver of the car must exchange details in an accident and if someone is injured it must be reported to the police. The passenger has no obligation. Also, when you say "leave the scene of an accident", you obviously are meaning before the exchange of details, as everyone who is able to , leaves the scene of an accident at some stage.

Great day, thanks to all, especially Wise for his never-say-die leadership and Rollo 1 for organising. Apologies for giving away that goal for swearing at the umpire. He was a bit f**ked though.

He was just trying to make Neeld feel at home :-)

Is it an offense for a passenger to leave the scene of a car accident?

Heath Shaw? Michael Gardiner?

There are other ways to improve our midfield in addition to recruiting. Our players can improve naturally and through the benefit of coaching which will prepare them to their optimum both physically and mentally. The midfield unit(s) will also improve with the development of coaching strategies. Over the past two seasons we have often had a winning ruck which hasn't often been able to translate into winning at stoppages. A different coach and a new approach can change things substantially. It's up to Mark Neeld and his midfield coaches to get the best out of a division that has been functioning poorly for some time.

According to The Age, police are satisfied that Col wasn't the driver of the car

Can't get stuck into him too much right now. Details are still not fully given. For all we know he was on his way to some running track for some early morning fitness when someone from another car or his mate who was driving did something silly. In that case, we'd all feel sorry for him. Not saying he didn't do anything wrong as he may have at 6:45 but wait for more details before hammering him completely...

Fair go. He is getting his life back on track having overcome clinical depression. His former VFL coach has recommended him to the club after he played a season at his club. I think he deserves to be trusted for a try out in the same way as any other prospective draftee who comes down for those three or four weeks.

trying to avoid international rules training

Austin will hopefully surprise in 2012. Yes, he's had some setbacks but he has wonderful talent and a solid preseason will make the world of difference. Go mate!

I just went on a massive walk around my hood and returned home to discover my top was on backwards.

I am not sure on what basis the AFL can determine who plays in the VFL.

Dees 6.7.43 to Bombers 5.2.32 Best: Steve Wise Heater

Actually, everybody could disagree with everyone and the forum could still be boring, and everyone could agree and it could be very interesting. What makes footy forums interesting for me is depth of opinion and understanding, not how much everyone disagrees.

With no early picks and ,according to the experts, a fairly even spread of talent through the middle of the draft, I think we should target needs this draft. Our biggest need is a quality crumbing forward and history shows you can get decent ones later in the draft. Second I'd be after a small defender that can take on that small crumbing forward. Following your lead WJ here's Knightmare's thoughts on a few of them. First the small forwards And the small defenders The first in each catergory will likely be gone before our pick but it doesn't hurt to dream, especially in this draft.

Reminds me of Schwab interrupting Neeld as he was about to head out to take Collingwood training...

Great story. I would like to know more about the Bond interruption... Well done to all involved for 'wasting their time' on a player 'we are never going to get.' Sometimes its good to try and bat above your average. Occasionally, you do well.

One of the very few highlights of a terrible year. How good was his game v Weat Coast. Marked everything and got a brownlow vote in an 8 goal loss.

I posted this on another thread. We should request bye the week after Darwin or fixture our usual thrashing at Skilled and we rest most of the team.

Nobody had heard of him when we took him with our mid 30s pick. Inspired pick it would seem, and from what I remember Prendergast took him that early because he feared he'd be gone by the next pick (Collingwood?) Needs to find some consistency as his game's not 100% there yet, but he's a really exciting prospect that had a fantastic first year.

Exactly, and Richmond have gifted us $1/2 mill. They don't have it now, so we are $1M better off than them before the season is already started. How many extra coaches/physio/medicos can we now have that they don't? The game is televised free to air on Saturday night. A big positive to sell to sponsors. For those who think we would do better at the MCG you are assuming we would get an MCG game. In all likelihood we would get to play the Dogs or Port at Etihad, where we would lose money. As others have said, until we have 60K plus members and 40K turning up at each match we have to be smart and maximise the opportunities for OUR club.

is there any way that we could change your pic and or name, because your pessimistic opinion on just about everything really brings down the legacy of the one and only R flower

I think there might be a rule that National Draftees aren't allowed to do individual testing and trialling with clubs.

I may be wrong but isnt after the ND and these guys look to be picked up during the PSD ?

Not really - i think i was responding to yet another comment I am, however, waiting for all those like RR who seem to have a policy of not recruiting ready made players who will be as good as they will ever be in their first year and preferring to recruit players that have a minimum of 4 years before they produce what other kids do in their first game, to provide some comment. another comment by - oh yeah - you ! You keep it coming and i will keep responding

Hardly? It was almost the dictionary definition of good fortune. He was Freo's for the taking and had they not been such bumbling idiots who tried to screw Brisbane over, Clark would been having his presser in a purple t-shirt and not a red one. I'm not discounting the work done by the MFC, but let's be honest, it was lucky that we were in the right place at the right time.

Indeed - but it only happened because he fell in to our laps. It's darn near impossible to get a ready made KPF out of the draft. Preaching to the choir no doubt.

Would like to see if he can play a similar role to Sylvia - HFF/Mid I don't care if he isn't fleet of foot, Geelong's mids have space and time because they have great footy IQs, not because they have foot speed. But maybe that is a few years down the track for Luke.

I think that you are wrong, old dee. We did not recruit Clark "for 2012". We recruited him because of the massive structural hole that has existed since BIg Neita. So, we've actually recruited him because of 2008. We've also recruited him "for 2015", when, after three years of playing the system (and we will have been able to because in part of his presence) we are genuine contenders. We definitely did not recruit one 23 year old for one year. This is not a short-term topping up exercise.

Yes. You are.

This isn't exactly the place for such a discussion. But surely you joke? Id rather Qantas to be having the issues they are having now, than it be owned by the government where taxpayer's would have to fund excessive waste and mismanagement.

Bennell is small back for me - good defensively, line breaking run and a nice kick - he did some great work down there last year. Davey, Wonna and Lawrence are the candidates for crumbing forward currently on the list - its a tough role but absolutely vital, especially in big finals - tougher and even more vital. Jurrah, Howe, Sylvia and Watts are all threats when the ball hits the deck too - there's going to be some fun times ahead.

In good time Whispering. Not ready to take on that responsibility yet. We want the best at the Demons and I'm afraid I don't profess to be the best just yet. As for the suggestions by Arthur Dent that Andrew Daff is no major loss to the club, I would have to vehemently disagree. There are not doctors lining up to get these gigs. Certainly not doctors of the experience, quality and calibre of Andrew Daff. Qualified sports physicians are actually in short supply in Melbourne in comparison to the number of professional sporting organizations around. Indeed not all sports physicians have any desire to work with an AFL club. It is a time-consuming, demanding and extremely stressful job. Andrew has been a loyal servant of the MFC for about 20 years and I have personal experience working with him. I can't speak highly enough of him. I also have some knowledge of why he has left but won't comment in addition to what has already been written above. I will, however, say that Kal Fried, our other long-serving and very well-credentialed doctor, has also departed the club for the same reasons which have been generally outlined above. It is a great shame. I have only one comment on the matter, and that is that I REALLY hope Misson is worth it. With respect to the importance of a doctor at an AFL team... Arthur, with all due respect, having been a VFL doctor for the past 3 years, I feel reasonably well credentialed enough to say that your comments need to be re-thought. All advice with respect to whether an injured player trains or plays must come from the doctor/s. Certainly this is done in consultation with the physios etc, but when it comes to the crunch and Mark Neeld asks whether Jack Trengove can play in the 1st final due to so and so injury, the risks and benefits will be outlined by the doctor. When James Frawley needs a jab to get through a big clash on Jack Reiwoldt, trust me, you'll be hoping it's the doctor giving him the jab, not Misson. I can come up with plenty more examples but mate, I don't think I really need to on this one... Misson will have his chance to have an impact on the MFC. Let's hope it's a positive one. So far the jury's still out...

I lol'd. Unbelievable that some want him to be captain - I'd start with "regular player" myself.

He's progressing well and is on track to be injured again by round 6, 2012.