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Hi Guys, for my first ever post I will pass on some inside information. Chris Dawes has no long term medical issues. When injured, he is the most dedicated, determined and professional player in terms of his rehab and the way he deals with it. None of the injuries he has had in the past couple of years, (ankle, knee, hand) will stop him from being an excellent player in the future for Melbourne. Melbourne are well aware of this because the Melbourne Physio was previously a Collingwood Physio and approached the Collingwood Medical Team at the Draft Camp making enquiries about Dawes' injuries. Around the club, Dawes is regarded as a true professional, intelligent, articulate, a strong leader and excellent role model for the younger players. When quizzed by me, my source said he knew of no reason why Collingwood would want to trade him. My source is high up within the Collingwood inner sanctum, a great bloke, and has never lied to me in the past. He could only suppose that salary cap issues were the reason why Collingwood were happy to trade him. His info has always been spot on. Hope this helps put the naysayers away. I would trade Pick 20 and Martin for Dawes in a heartbeat.

My Dad gave me 2 choices. I gave my kids the same choice. Follow the Dee's or go live in a dumpster. There are times I wish I had have picked the dumpster

Petterd will be delisted if he isn't traded...it doesn't make much difference to us whether we offer Pick 20 or Petterd + Pick 20

It's the worst. Except for all the other ones.

Last time I believed someone that was fat he ended up a recruiter for GWS

Ah, if only all the heated differences of opinion on this board could be handled like this.

"Hardball" is code for let's dick each other around for two weeks, waste everyone's time and finally arrive at the deal 5 minutes before the deadline and probably miss it because we cut it so fine that we missed the cutoff for the paperwork. It's the Essendon approach and it's why everyone avoids dealing with them. I'm strongly against this approach. Make a sensible offer first up and just get it done ASAP. If Collingwood want to piss about the edges with it and make silly demands like Ricky bloody Petterd then fine, whatever. Humour them in the interests of getting it done quickly so we can focus on our next move.

If this is the case, you and I have very different definitions of the word 'confirmed', sir.

When Colin Sylvia returned to the side in Round 5, he was coming back from a broken back. Do you think you could forgive him for not tackling with the same intensity? From Rounds 14-23, he averaged 4.9 tackles a game, and 6 tackles a game from Rounds 14-19. I don't consider that coasting from contest to contest. That's not far off O'Keefe, and given his pre-season was ruined, that's a fantastic effort. Give the bloke a break ffs.

Because he cant kick and when the ball hits the ground he's useless.

Anyone who quotes a Facebook page as a confirmed source should have his or her account deleted.

It's confirmed to be a rumour.

If Petterd kicks the winning goal against us on QB, I will have to do something reckless.

Doubt he's got much value for us to lose anyway. I'd like to keep him. I'd be interested to see what progress he makes, if any. At the moment we don't know if our new FD can actually coach or develop players. I'd like to see them turn a couple of careers around rather than chuck 'em in the too hard basket. Gysberts would be a good example.

I mark Colin Sylvia harder than any other MFC footballer because with his god given talents he should be consistently a top 10 footballer in the AFL and a star and to date, besides the odd cameo confirming this, he has yet to break into the top 100.

Yes The black eyed peas use to be called 'the peas'. Until they met Jack Viney

Some people need to lighten up. It was rumoured Jack Viney told Tom $cully that "I'll be here in 2 years and I'm taking your spot, so you better FARK OFF now and grab the cash before I come down there and systematically dismantle you".

Was brought up in a Collingwood recruiting zone, just next to the Essendon zone. All things considered, I think I made the correct choice.

If this gets done we get Dawes and Pederson for Ricky and 20 and I can exhale and enjoy the rest of the trade period.

Couple of things wrong with this sentence...

Yeah, I've sat next to blokes like you at the footy, taking out their frustration with their world on the players they purport to support. Support, funny word that.

As the ancient saying goes - don't count your chickens until they have done the presser.

20 and later pick swaps OR Martin and later pick swaps.

I'm having some trouble understanding the proposition that Moloney and Byrnes cancel each other out for the purposes of determining compensation under free agency. Shannon Byrnes was born 7 April, 1984 and is 175 cm 77 kg and has played 108 senior games. For the past two seasons, he's spent most of his time in the Cats' VFL team. He managed only 5 senior games in 2011 (47 disposals) while he played only 4 in 2012 (40). Brent Moloney had a stellar season in 2011 winning the club best and fairest and polling 19 Brownlow medal votes. He was born 28 January, 1984 and is 182 cm 88 kg. He has played 145 senior games (22 with the Cats). He featured in all 22 games in 2011 (509 disposals) and in 2012 he played 15 senior games (256), a fair result seeing that he was considered well down on form. He played only 4 games in the VFL but three were at the end of the year when it was clear that he most likely wouldn't stay on at the club. Remember, his manager made it clear earlier in the season that Moloney would pursue his free agency options at the end of the year. By what measure does the author of this piece come to the conclusion that their value is at par? Melbourne must not accept such a result. It would be a complete injustice.

Wow I cant believe the negativity on here about Dawes. Was anyone else at the same games I was at during the season when Clark was playing and he would have 3 opponents going with him because we just kept bombing it into him. The when he went down we had to play Rivers and GArland in the foward line. Dawes would be a great replacemnt. he is experienced, young, can play and has strength. he and Clark would be great in the foward line together. How hard is it to get tall fowards that are ready to go. Yeah Dawes had a crap year but so did most of the pies players. But the year the pies won the flag he had a great year. Seriously he will be fantastic and would free Mitch up more. Also its great to see melbourne out there and having the guts to get these players. During the bailey era we didnt draft so well lets face it. How many of you bagged the club when we got Clark and he proved people wrong. Couldnt are less if we have to give up pick 20. We could pick up a dud who will hardly play any games or we could pick up a handy player. But DAwes is ready made. Remember this is the same club that oicked morton at 4 and luke molan at 9. Congrats to Mark Neeld for getting off his backside and targeting these players and getting them to our club. For putting a plan into place. For the negative people they can join the likes of Greg Denham in a room together. I am appluading the club especilly neeld and backing them in on there agressive recruitng and cannot wait for 2013.

Mate please please stop

Will you?

INDIGINE - THE POSTSCRIPT by Whispering Jack The recruitment of young indigenous footballer Dominic Barry as part of the deal that brought seventeen year old future star Jesse Hogan to the Melbourne Football Club might appear to some as a mere postscript to a piece of complex trading but, to me, it comes as a revelation. In many ways, Barry's story echoes that of Hawthorn star Cyril Rioli who left his native Northern Territory as a fourteen year old and came to Victoria to study and to play sport. Barry ended up at St. Pats College Ballarat and developed a reputation as an exciting footballer possessing pace and smooth skills despite his light frame. He represented the Territory in this year's National Under 18s and was also a member of the North Ballarat Rebels who were TAC Cup minor premiers but fell out of the premiership race in the preliminary final. More recently, his stocks soared after some stunning results in the AFL Draft Combine. He speaks well and looks to have a strong, intelligent mind. Dominic Barry's transition from a young Alice Springs teenager to playing member of the country's oldest football club has already been one to marvel about given the circumstances and the age at which he embarked upon his personal journey. The next stage will be even more daunting as he faces a long, hard development period during which he will be prepared to become a senior AFL footballer. Barry will be doing all of this under a shadow that now hangs over the brotherhood of the indigenous players within the environment of the game at the elite level. I recently came across this article in the Northern Territory News - Why NT players don't last in AFL. It discusses the difficulties that many indigenous Territorians have in adapting to life in the big smoke. It also evokes thoughts of the controversies that saw Matt Rendell's sacking from his recruiting job at Adelaide and the unseemly false slurs of racism directed at Melbourne coach Mark Neeld earlier in the year. To be sure, there have been many success stories like Maurice Rioli and his nephew Cyril, Michael Long, Andrew McLeod, our own Matthew Whelan and Aaron Davey but the stories of those who did not succeed got me wondering. This is due to the sad fact that one of the list of "failures" is someone who I always believed had the strength to reach the greatest of heights in our game. So what is it that can explain why the bookmark in my copy of Bruce Hearn Mackinnon's book The Liam Jurrah Story: From Yuendumu to the MCG lies unmoved since early September when the news headline read Jurrah quits Demons? Where did it all go wrong? After all, this was a story that had provided so much inspiration before the book was even conceived. In 2009, l heard it direct from the author's mouth at a small gathering of Demon fans at the Richmond Hotel that was once owned by Demon great Ron Barassi. Liam was already an elder among his people in his early twenties and was set to act as an example to the desert inhabitants from the centre of Australia who suffered poverty and whose youth were exposed to alcohol, drugs, petrol sniffing and rampant crime. The Warlpiri Wizard's journey to Melbourne and his role as an athlete was already creating excitement in AFL circles. The story of that journey from Yuendumu to the MCG was meant to establish a new pathway out of hell for some of these kids but none of us could have predicted the intensity of the raging storm about to envelope the remote desert community of Yuendumu. The feud within Liam's community is well documented hereand here. It lingered and festered and ultimately led to the events at an Alice Springs encampment which resulted in criminal charges being laid against Jurrah and others within his family. The repercussions appear to have rendered shut many of the doors to the pathway out of hell. Even in the likely event (based on what I have read in the media of the evidence from the committal hearing) that Liam is exonerated in the eyes of white man's law at the trial set to take place next March in Darwin, those doors will not reopen without the intervention of a great deal of tribal wisdom that is beyond our reach and understanding. We can only pray that peace return to their homes. Meanwhile, these events were taking place many light years away from the Melbourne Football Club which had its own problems throughout the year in other areas. The reality in the case of Liam Jurrah was that despite the support of the club and its members and fans, it was becoming impossible for him to remain a part of that other world with its own heavy commitments and workload while he and his community occupied such a dark space. There are some who feel animosity because Jurrah left the club and headed towards the sanctuary of his family without a word of thanks or without seeking a way out that would have left his club with compensation for an exciting young player whose career had stalled. Others blame it all on his heritage. Those views are uncharitable and selfish. He gave us enjoyment and he provided us with thrills every time he took the field in his short career. He has fulfilled his obligations to us as ours have been satisfied with him but it’s over now, If we must talk in terms of compensation, then I am grateful with the realisation that the Melbourne Football Club has not shunned the Aboriginal footballer as a result of this year's experiences with Liam Jurrah and to a lesser extent with Kelvin Lawrence and with Austin Wonaeamirri before him. That is our compensation - the fact that we continue to openly embrace the talents of our indigenous players after such a difficult year enriches us as a football club. It is what elevates Dominic Barry's arrival this week from a mere footnote to a revelation.

I believe the thinking is that he is just a pinch hitter as you say D32, but that he is far more dangerous prospect in the forward line than Martin. And that is the balnace you want when you have a ruckman like Jamar who will dominate time in the middle - all you need is a chop out. Martin needs 1st ruck; he is not a forward at all.

that's impressive. he actually spoke a sentence with six words greater than four letters. you must be a good influence.

There used to be a street named after Jack Viney, but it was changed because nobody crosses Jack Viney and lives. Jack Viney can cut through a hot knife with butter Jack Viney once kicked a horse in the chin. Its decendents today are known as giraffes

It is heartening to hear that Richo got through his injury. As yet we do not know the true severity of Clarks injury as he is not playing or running yet. Though both big units they play a lot different especially in the mental department. Richo is far more gifted but never worked really hard as he could when things were not going well and disappeared quickly when he could not get good supply. Most of Clark's productivity came from converting gut busting 1%ers against the odds with a dash of recklessness last season. If he does recover fully what effect will that have on his approach to the game? Our midfield and forward structure will have to become a hell of a lot better so he does not have to risk himself at most contests.

Careful with what you say... on these forums that is likely to be construed as meaning Mitch has gone completely off the rails and is now skipping training sessions.

It's nothing to do with the nice guy approach. This would be plain dumb.

The Ferguson for Sewell trade would have been the greatest trade ever made. Of course had Ferguson said yes, he probably would still be playing having won a flag and 5 All Australian nominations at FB, and Sewell would have busted his knee 1 game in, never to be seen again. We almost screwed Hawthorn. Such a shame it didn't work.

It would literally end me if Clark was never the same because of his injury, which he only sustained because he keeps having to contest against 9 defenders on his own. This is why we need to overpay average players like Dawes, because Mitch Clark is a diamond worth protecting with other big bodies.

think you have been watching too many die hard movies

This is a great post as far as comedic value goes.

One thing about poor disposal and decision-making is that there is often an element of confidence in one's teammates involved as part of the reason. In a poor team, mistakes happen more often and even the best of players make them. Not saying that his disposal is perfect, but I'd like to think that as the team gets stronger overall, Nicho will improve in this area.

Well, Northy's FD were right, he wasn't part of our next premiership side.

And Lynch was dropped late last year and decided to leave West Coast because he felt he was being squeezed out, so West Coast can't have been too impressed with his performance. Yet the Pies were very keen to get Lynch to come to them for a specific role that they thought he was better suited to than Dawes. And that role is pinch hitting in the ruck. Dawes doesn't do it well and won't have to at Melbourne. Neeld coached him and Brown played with him, so let's accept that they're in the best position to judge how beneficial he'll be to our structure. Prior to his fractured knuckle in 2011 he was having a stellar season and it would have required two first rounders to prize a gun young CHF out of Collingwood. Last year he wasn't allowed to play just as a key forward and some players need continuity to reach the required levels of confidence. His stocks having dropped is presently Melbourne's gain. Who knows what he'll be worth again 12 months from now. My biggest issue is that I was expecting us to draft 3 (hopefully) gun mids in the first round and now at best that looks like being two. But if Trengove steps up to be the player we all expected then that will go a long way to solving our midfield woes. Neeld was right about Clark, and while I was far more excited about Clark at the time than I am now about Dawes, I'll give Neeld's judgment the benefit of doubt and start getting mildly excited about how he's transforming this playing list.

Jake Viney has a Grizzly Bear carpet in his room, the Bear isn't dead his just afraid to move.

It went on BIG TIME with Brock Mclean. But I don't think this is gonna realistically throw anyone off their game or training. After all, Jack Viney wasn't born, he hatched. From a rock.

Jack Viney once made love in the front seat of a pick up truck... that truck is now known as Optimus Prime.

Oh, another beauty..

That right there Grun Dee, is some seriously witty humour...

Due to a shipping error Jack Viney is currently overstocked on wacky waving inflatable arm-flailing tube men and he's passing the savings on to you.

Que the fun police... Also Viney doesnt walk, the ground moves under him

You've seen the expendables... What people know is Viney had his jaw broken. What people don't know is Wojcinski has retired because his body can no longer take the pain after the collision with Jack's jaw.