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I reckon this is right although I wonder how critically important it is to have AA mids. I think a well drilled group of B+/A- mids can at least negate most midfields which means other advantages you have can be decisive. We have three quality talls both defensively and in attack. Hawthorn don't have a dominant midfield and last year Mitchell played off half back and Sewell was dropped at one stage. Their midfield was not anywhere near the midfields that dominated in the mid 2000 of Brisbane or WC. Without looking at it Sydney didn't have a standout bunch of mids in the middle 2000's either. So if Cross, Vince, Tyson and Jones can form the pointy end of our mids and are backed up by a well drilled cast of players around them we become fairly competitive. It's also important that someone like McKenzie can negate the opposition key mid as that brings them back to us. I think our forwards and backs are as good as most teams with only Swans, Hawks, Collingwood, Freo, North and Geelong better. It's why I think we can be competitive with 10 or so teams and given we play those teams often we should win more games than most think. I also think most people are focusing too much on individual players and not focusing enough on the impact a positive environment and effective game plan can have. Roos challenge is to eradicate the mental damage inflicted by the previous FD and if he can do that we will surprise many. It's not like we are waiting from Blease, Strauss, Tapscott, McKenzie, Evans, Grimes, Trengove, Watts, Howe, Clisby or Terlich to physically develop. They just need the environment and mind set to thrive. And we only need a handful of those players to step up and we'll see an extraordinary difference.

I believe he will stay. We have room in our cap and war chest, and i think it is imperative we keep our good players, Roos would demand that. I just think just his new contract is going to be huge, providing he has a good year this year. I know one of his best mates, and he loves the Dees and his buddies there, pretty loyal character is Chipper. Would rather stay in melbourne than Adelaide.

I often look at Richmond's list and try to weigh up the differences. Many consider them to be pushing top 6. Cotchin and Deledio are better mids than anything we have. They have a better explosive finisher in Martin. They arguably have better flankers in Newman, Grigg, Houli and Morris, although none of these are world-beaters and any gap can be easily bridged. They have a better ruck in Maric. It's fair to say that they edge us in some areas, but it's really the midfield where they usurp us. They also have years under the same coach, so they've been building for a while. We can have a more dominant forward-line and at least equal them in the back-line, if not shade them with a competitive midfield. The bottom line is that we need a couple of Viney, Tyson, Toumpas, Salem, Trengove to become AA quality midfielders. If it happens we'll be knocking on the door of the 8 quickly, if it doesn't we'll be middle of the road.

Georgiou is my vote, but thats based upon whether we need someone to be able to cover Garland if they are cautious about bringing him back.

My God it is 5th February the first game 6+ weeks away. Is this thread going to rabbit on till October? I hope we have more to talk about in a couple of weeks time.

Jetta wiil be promoted 100% I reckon Roos will love him as a player and I still think he will make it I would taker him any day over Tapscott, Nicholson, Strauss and Blease (and others)

In both of those photos Mitch is keeping one foot off the ground. Definitely something catastrophic is wrong.

Adelaide would have to feel pretty silly wouldn't they? We put him on the LTI list meaning we place him on the back burner until he is back to full fitness and proves he is ready to be promoted back to the main list. How is this different to being rookie listed? This is something Adelaide could have done and avoided exposure to the risk of losing him. Trying to be too clever and get another live pick in the ND I think.

I say give Georgiou a crack. He's the height of a midfielder (188cm) and happy to defend against "a small, tall or resting ruckman”. The kids got moxy.

Agree they will have big money to play with. I'd imagine contracts to Clark and Dawes would have been substantially front loaded (who else did we have to pay those seasons?). Also, Cross wouldn't be on huge coin as few were super keen to obtain his services. I'd say we would easily match whatever Chip gets offered if need be so it all goes back to him wanting to stay. I'm in the he'll stay camp based on, well.... ahh...... he seems a good bloke?

There's something wrong with the poll... I can't find James Magner's name on there.

Who the hell would willingly move to SA?

I don't think the case was ever going to be a win for the AFL regardless. However I think there was more at stake with Hird and Vlad/Evans in conflict over what was said on the Vlad call made on the evening prior to the ACC announcement. I think it was that Vlad and Evans would be under oath in the Reid case to state what was spoken about on the call made by Vlad to the EFC prior to the ACC announcement. There was risk of either perjury for either Vlad/Evans or Vlad possibly breach ACC confidentiality rules which would have looked bad for the AFL and Vlad. At the very least integrity was a stake and a disaster loomed for the AFL

Why would you accept a role as leader if you weren't sure if you believe in the club? Boak's signing was a big turning point in Port's resurgence, and Chip has a chance to do the same thing for MFC at a crucial time. I can understand his frustration etc, but a TRUE leader of the club would see this as an opportunity to show his leadership and not be just another player.

I watched a replay of an 2012 interview with Sheedy on Open Mike the other day. Even though Jackson sacked him, Sheedy still thought Jackson was the best CEO he had ever worked with.

I'm more intrigued by Hardie's "ambition of becoming the archetype of life within communism." Can you register a Trabant in Victoria?

He was never going to play early. This just frees up a rookie while he completes his rehab and gets his fitness up.

Cameron: 16 games, 10 disposals, 29 goals Franklin: 20 games, 10 disposals, 21 goals I'm pretty sure they would be the best 2 junior seasons by young forwards since 2000. Doubt the other top line forwards would be even close to that and that includes Cloke, Roughead, Josh Kennedy, Tippett, Hawkins, Riewoldt(s) - noting Nick played back early. 18 games, 25 or so goals, a bag of 4 or 5 and maybe another game where he takes 8 or 10 marks as a half forward target will be a super season from the young man.

Happy new year all, Just watched the vids from the AGM............ sigh I'm back on board for 2014, I've been suckered in again haha let the fun begin!!! C'mon Dees 2014!

I think I speak for everyone when I say, on exposed form, Aidan Riley will be the finest player to ever pull on the boots for the MFC.

I think we are coming off 8.5 wins in 2011. With our draw 9 wins is achievable.

Had a chat with our CEO and got the feeling he is happy to settle in for the next few years.

such vitriol, save it for the opposition

On a scale of 2-18 (2 being as close as any club will ever come to replacing Melbourne should the worst happen, 10 being the winner of the rat's tossbag award, and 18 being the footballing equivalent of Osama bin Laden) Richmond - Great theme song, great jumper and (in my experience) great--albeit cartoonish--supporters Essendon - I can't help it. I love their jumper and colours, and the club shouldn't pay for the cheating ways of James Hird and co Port Adelaide - My father was about a bees [censored] from getting a spot on their list before he gave the game away, so they'll always have a place in my heart for that reason alone. Adelaide - Half my family barracks for them, and I was just a little too young to care that they robbed us of a Premiership back in the day. Having said that, Adelaide shoots to the absolute bottom of my list the moment I step foot in South Australia. Brisbane - The great atmosphere of the Saturday night Gabba games has given me some good vibes toward this team. Add in the fact that I lived in Brisbane for a few years before coming to Melbourne, and you get a club that ranks a little higher than most. Gold Coast - I love Gary Ablett. Plus, it's easy to like a team when they haven't had the time or audacity to be successful yet. Sydney - Meh. No emotional connection whatsoever, and the SCG sucks to watch games at. Fremantle - The epitome of "who gives a damn." Half a world away with no history, crappy colours and an even worse song. Western Bulldogs - On pretty much equal footing with the Dockers, but the fact that so many people like this team for no good reason makes me want to barrack against them a little--if only to be different. Geelong - Again, meh. Sick of them winning all the time, though I have to admire their ability to do so. Joel Selwood ticks me off at times, and Steve Johnson can go jump in a lake. A couple of years ago, their success was so all-encompassing as to have become repulsive. Now that that has died off somewhat, my disdain has reverted to a healthy ambivalence. Having said that, Tom Harley is pretty bloody annoying. West Coast - Arrogant, privileged, successful. All things you love to hate. Also, half their team are serial duckers. St Kilda - Is there a single player on their list who possesses even a single shred of charisma (or, for that matter, decency)? Also, the way they kill their coaches is absolutely disgraceful. North Melbourne - I HATE BRENT HARVEY!!! Brad Scott and Lindsay Thomas can also nick off as well. GWS - The epitome of a "franchise." How can you not dislike them? Also, Tom Scully, Heath Shaw AND Lance Franklin all on the one team? What kind of cruel joke is that? Collingwood - Honestly, I only dislike this team because it's the default mode for any footy fan who doesn't actually support Collingwood. They haven't actually done anything to tick me off personally, and have even gone so far as to give us our marquee game of the year as well. I suppose I envy their financial success, and Eddie McGuire can be a bit much at times (or so I've heard). Carlton - Chris Judd, tanking, feral supporters, VI$Y, AFL favouritism...the list goes on and on and on. Hawthorn - I can't even put into words how much I hate this club. They're the only team I'd actually prefer to not have in the competition, such is my utter disdain for the whole lot of 'em. I'd buy one of their jumpers just so I could take a dump and a whiz on it, but I'd hate to waste my money on doing that to something that's already been pre-soiled at the factory.

Have you got a quote Stuie where Chip clearly says he was not sure he believed in the club? Don't get me wrong, I too would like to see him re- sign, but I don't get your premise that he's not a leader of the club if he doesn't sign now, that he's just another player if he waits until his contract is closer to completion. Sounds like hyperbole to me. If I recall correctly, Boak waited until the end of the season before putting pen to paper. Why can't Chip be given the same opportunity? His manager might be just trying to drive his price up, or he might actually leave. It's all speculation now. Face it, would you wait and see and also hopefully increase your price before recommitting? I sure as hell would. Chip is also taking the gamble that he has a good enough season, without major injury, to make his value increase. I guess we were burnt by $cully's false promises, we're wary of the same happening here.Edit, spell in'

I think it's a noun.

Being demoted to the rookie list is a good indication it's pretty much closed. Really I think he's just too short and slow for AFL unless he has some extra top attributes. I understand moving him to the backline to make use of his tackling and trying get him more ball but I don't know how you get a game as a small defender if you don't have some size or speed.

Hiccups can be quite debilitating.

hmm 6 years in with 41 games, haven't seen much real output from Nev. I've always liked him but I'm afraid his window might be shut

Hannibal I will go with what SPCmanagement has put on the record, thanks. Sloane has zero credibility, she just follows company orders. But really what the SPC workers are earning is a furphy. The real problem is the high dollar, the EU dumping canned fruit here at below cost and of course a plant badly in need of modernisation.

Jetta is 90 % irrelevant to us going forward. hes just a better pick at the level he was than many around him. Hes a looooong long way to go to break into this side....now

its not even a question really..Georgiou I wont spell it out

Agree with 'Machsy' above. He really gave them nothing last season and struggled with their game plan. Was poor in the finals. So far we have lost no one to free agency that we didn't want to lose. I hope Frawley stays because he is one we need to keep, we can't afford to lose good players just when they get a bit of experience behind them.

Toady, I have no idea what to make of these pictures. In the first one that you posted, which I presumed was the "before" shot given he was wearing an old training top, Mitch has many tattoos on display, in particular one on his right quad, as well as his left forearm. In the "after" shot, they freakishly disappeared like Marty McFly did in those photos in Back to the Future. To top it off, it hasn't been confirmed or denied that Mitch has had his left leg amputated at the knee. I'm bloody confused.

They can suffer in their jocks. I now await for english immigration to triple importing / coaxing any person with a hint of cricket ability to climb onboard for their rebuild. English eleven? , world eleven would be closer to the truth. They got a belting, the worst in their history, by a team I wouldnt rate close to to one of our best ever. As Ted would say "we stuck it up'em." If the poms think they can improve, so can we. http://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/englands-cricketers-greeted-by-a-few-journalists-and-no-fans-at-heathrow/story-e6frf3g3-1226817986958

Aww you're just bragging cause he is your fave I wish him all the best and hope he really becomes a top grade player but I can't see it honestly. Anyone can play HBF. Half back is by far the easiest spot on the ground and we seem to have a queue of players wanting to play it in Grimes, Dunn, Clisby & Strauss (basing this on Garland & Terlich being the B/Ps) and I imagine Cross will rest on the half back line at times. I'd say the Toump may get a crack there as well this year. Everyone has there favourites (for some unknown reason I'm a Tappy fan so I can't say much) but I really can't see Nev getting much of a go. Prove me wrong Nev, prove me wrong!!

How many decent players have left Melbourne in recent years??? none, we didn't have any. Rucci has no idea about pretty much anything including his beloved Port, the club he has continually knifed.

Depends who gets injured in the first couple of rounds and of course the preseason games......

ahh, multi tasking indeed.

If Hogan plays10-15 games in 2014 i will be happy He has had 2 minor knee injuries and is yet to play an AFL game. I hope he plays Round 1 after that it is a management call. Don't want to burn him out. That is why i wished he could have played 2-3 last year. But this is year one of a long and hopefully powerful career.

Just listened to Peter Jackson's speech...I could listen to him all day. Just hope it all works.

WOW I am lost for words

I just like to see the Bombers issue mature a little longer. Like to see them finish below us this season. Let their pain drag on.

Not sure I agree with you DF The last couple of years it has been a very good guide to our abilities. In the Main we have been flogged by everyone and guess what same results in the season proper.

Just need to get the midfield group experience with playing each other

So " I have a dream" is done and dusted too ?? some ideologies are timeless

It frustrates me that Bailey and Neeld are coupled together as failures. Bailey had by far the harder task. He had no facilities and no money in the FD when he came. I sat in a meeting where he was told we didn't have enough money for new training footballs. We were training with ones that were out of shape. (Ironically the person who gave him this advice didn't understand the budget and denied him new footys when we did have the money!!). He started with an exhausted list with ageing "stars", many journeymen and few young players. The club was led by a CEO (Harris) who knew he was done and had mentally switched off. He was directed to go down the youth path by the new CEO and Board and sacrificed games for youth. He didn't trade in one mature player bar John Meesen and that agreement was "done" before he was appointed. He sacrificed games for picks to his own obvious detriment. He had an extraordinarily young list but managed to get 8.5 wins in each of his last two years. Yes we had some awful results and yes we were inconsistent but our list was not unlike the Suns and Giants who in their first years didn't get anywhere near 8.5 wins. Neeld came in with many good young players on the list with a year or two under their belts. He had exceptional facilities, he had an expanded and fully funded FD, he traded early picks for established players and yet didn't manage as many wins in his tenure that Bailey got in his final 15 odd games. Bailey had his weaknesses and I don't think he was the right person to lead us into finals but he never got the opportunity. MN was a very unfortunate appointment who was nowhere near Dean Bailey's level of competence and the two should not be "coupled".

I think he'll stay for at least as long as Roos. Roos wouldn't have committed for longer than Jackson. And his job isn't finished until he's found an equally competent replacement. That's his most important job now.

the reality being Satyr you would clap at whatever was presented regardless.