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Roos was on SEN last night and many current thread topics came up. Too many to post to individually so here is an overview of the topics. Disclaimer: as Roos is apt to talk in riddles this is not ‘verbatim’ and is my take on what he said. Season so far – preseason goal was to reduce the gap between our best and our worst; to be more consistent and they are pretty happy with that. (I would have liked someone on the panel to follow up with a few with more questions). TMc contract – Said all players are different; he seems committed to the club and is confident TMc will stay. When asked about player Managers he didn’t discuss TMc directly. Said players are now more likely to put feelers out to see what they can get at other clubs. Can’t say whether ‘feelers’ are player or manager driven. Went on to say that it takes roughly a 20% premium to entice a player to leave a club. Club's can’t pay players 20% premium or breach salary cap. Said MFC do not want to pay overs as has happened in the past. Then said good (I guess he means successful) clubs play unders. We want to pay fair market value, not overs. (Not surprised by this as he and Mahoney have said similar before and I guess OOC players are hearing this message inside the club as well). JV and QB game: Cleared by medicos, will wait and see how training goes this morning. (Probably decided by now). Garlett omission – Not dropped due to the highly publicised ‘incident’. Said he had been a bit off and there are areas he needs to work on (didn’t say what they were). Hopes he can get back (like Kennedy) as he is an important part of our team. (I assume Roos means next week vs Swans). Hibberd – ‘Pregnant pause’! ...Ahhhh...! Caught by surprise! Mumbled about yeah he goes to list management meetings, Michael has been discussed but didn’t know at what level it has got to. (My take on this last bit is that it is a work in progress). When pushed about Hibberd being ‘a good fit’ he said something like ‘…he clearly comes from…Goody has seen him play…’ Not sure what was said off microphone but Rohan Connolly (an Ess supporter) piped up with ‘…Roosy, hands off – he is a required player…’ Sounded to me like Hibberd could well be at the Dees next year! Transition to Goodwin: Said Goody is fantastic! The goal was to put a good coaching team around him and this has been achieved. He then said Goody will get terrific experience like he did in the NAB cup. (Not sure if he meant next year but wouldn’t be surprised if Goodwin coaches some games in his own right later in the season). Looks forward to following the Dees progress over the coming years.l Form your own views: The Coaches Box (from the 43 minute mark) http://www.sen.com.au/audio#Prtja1lQ8DsKXwFW.97

Hip flexor. Shld return after the buy. Source: Macca , reckons he'll be a jet

He laughed said you get this with him being a free agent personally think like others he has unfinished business with MFC and wants the success after enduring the hard times times have changed for him was swamped with signature and photo requests last to leave training McCartney told me same thing about Weed but also thinks Mitch White is going to be a player as well

I asked Jack Viney said he was playing the hand is fine if that means anything he was handballing and using it to mark the ball Grimes and Michie watched training Asked about Garlett to a few same answer down on form so a freshen up with Casey Salem's issue has caused him to shed weight again, confident the medicos can fix it H did a bit of training said he is back on track no messing around with concussion these days Asked Nev whether he was off to Freo

I've been told he'll be at the Dee's next year... Pretty good source.. Wait and see I guess...

Dawes? No thanks.

Earlier you mentioned Salem, Lumumba, Melksham, Michie, Hunt, White, Wagner, Jones, Vince and Bugg. Not all of those are good enough and others will play rotating mid/bench roles. Michael Hibberd is a better HBF than every one of them. If he were on our list he'd be one of the first picked in the backline and certainly our best half-back flanker. I agree that a quality key back is our highest priority, but you can chew gum and walk at the same time. If you can get a quality defender who immediately makes you better yo do. Drive off half-back has never been more important. Having had him in my DT I've seen a lot of Hibberd and he's top notch (notwithstanding a quieter 2015). He's a great intercept mark, tough as they come and reminds me of a Burchall type. Geelong recruited Dangerfield (mid), Henderson (key back), Smith (ruck) and Scott Selwood (mid), so it's possible to address more than one issue. Cream rises to the top and while we may have a number of players who are capable of playing half-back my view is that you get a player who would clearly be your best and let the others battle it out. Some will make it and some won't. It's called 'competition'. You don't go backwards getting better.

We had one friday night game last year which we won on a cold wet night in front of a big crowd. Showed improvement through 2015 and were rewarded with 0 this year. The bummers bring the code into disrepute, finish lower then us in 2015 and all in sundries know they're 12 are going to get suspended, yet they get 2 Friday Night games this year including indoors v the reigning champs. And suprise, suprise it's a blow out and no one turns up. A please explain is surely in order!

That's probably the most forthcoming he has ever been re: targetting of opposition players

Unbelieveable, everybody was rapt when Jeff signed 2 weeks ago, 2 poor weeks and people are whinging about his contract already, Would have you put a performance based deal infront of him after what he's done in the last couple of seasons, i bet 2 weeks ago you wouldn't have even considered it.

Went to training today, with the lad. Feeling the love - a few things in particular struck me: - Skills have improved considerably over the past year or so: much quicker and more accurate. - There is a fantastic camaraderie amongst this group - they seem incredibly tight. - Clayton Oliver is a beast - silky smooth and tough as they come. He could be one of the most inspired signings for years. - Jack Watts looks more and more assured and self-confident. He's clearly a leader amongst the group. - So glad to have Bernardo Vincenzo (as he's known in our house) at the MFC. The new smiling assassin. - Always impressed at the interraction between players and supporters at our club. Christian Petracca was straight over to the kids after the training session, signing shirts and high fiving. Noticed that Dunny seemed a bit on the outer - running laps by himself, but not in the buzz of things.

So basically, Ralph is confirming he listened to Roos on SEN last night. Thanks for that insight Ralphy. Hibberd is tough as nails as well as being a great kick and plays taller than he is. Good target.

Really want this to happen. He's a great kick and this is one of our biggest issues out of the backline

He adds something our backline has serverely lacked this year and its experience and elite kicking class. Hibberd fits this perfectly.

That's awesome news. Really proud of my club for driving this. Can't wait till we win the men's and women's flag in the same year!

And we wake up to this: http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/essendon-coach-john-worsfold-says-channel-7-would-be-the-loser-if-afl-banishes-bombers-from-friday-night-footy/news-story/845aec9a14aef5bb923af623dd4e0af3 'John Worsfold says host broadcaster Channel 7 would be the loser if the AFL banishes Essendon from the Friday night stage in 2017 because of its uncompetitive season'. Then: 'The Friday night fizzer drew the smallest Dons-Hawks crowd since 1990 and gave Essendon its worst home attendance against a Victorian club since 1995'. If their own fans don't go to games how can they expect general footy fans (who like to relax watching Fri night games) to watch last night's rubbish!

Just cannot believe that we lost to this Essendon side.. Humiliating.

Didn't you get enough attention last time you put up this comment?

Really??? That's your offering?

Aren't all the banned Bombers free agents if they go through the legal process?

Garlett is blameless. No small forward with pace could have performed well at this atrocious excuse for an VFL ground. Sadly though it goes against his recall which it shouldn't.

Final teams are in. In: Viney, Kennedy Out: Garlett, Harmes

Campbell Brown is the worst commentator of all time, as dumb as a box of hair

Viney is playing. Grimes and Michie playing for Scorps and Harmes not playing.

Why do we play at this dung heap? Seriously!Windswept,inhospitable bog that provides zero preparation for conditions players will experience in AFL. Really glad Weideman is not playing.Throw some money at Richmond and go alone to play home games at the 'bowling green' Punt Rd oval. Far more accessible for most supporters as well as superior viewing. Casey Fields is an embarrassment.

Great work mate! Those of us outside the country appreciate reports like these!

Contracts are like hearts. They are made to be broken.

Jack V started with light training early but has since joined the main group for end to end at the moment. I would say a very good 70/30 chance he's good to go but they probably will do other tests/follow up after so dont shoot me if he doesnt make it

It's pretty obvious that that simplification is complete rubbish. You'd expect winning help a bit (though not much evidence for that actually) but dollars wins hands down.

Just as we were a foundation club in the men's competition.

Yet posters will continue to say all we need to do is win games to be rewarded with Friday night games. Like North and the bulldogs. Not. Prime time exposure continues to be ignored as a critical element of equalisation. I wonder why. Not.

Oh dear Lord. Round 15. Thursday night. West Coast vs Essendon. In Perth.

Actually I take it back. Just thought about our defence

Nice to hear Ethan. Enjoy your extra long WE

This sort of argument for not going after someone is getting tiresome. You can address multiple priorities at once. Only Salem's disposal can compete with Hibberd's, but the latter can kick it much further. It's a weapon, particularly with the zoning in modern footy. We can get Hibberd AND an A grade mid in Prestia. Not to mention Hibberd would then release Salem further up the field. Also, if Hurley re-signs with Essendon, who is the KPB option we're going after?

Anyone seen the Clokey Pokey. Hilarious. http://www.triplem.com.au/melbourne/shows/hot-breakfast-eddie-mcguire/blog/2016/6/eddie-not-happy-with-the-clokey-pokey/

If he's available for a reasonable price then we should go for him because (IMO) he would be instantly best-22. For me, the talk about Melksham is irrelevant, because Hibberd is (slightly) taller but around 10 kg heavier, so he plays a different game and can take on much bigger, marking opponents. Also I was led to believe that Melksham was recruited based on his impressive work at the end of 2015 as a wing/HF? I see Hibberd as an upgrade on Lumumba, he would play as either 3rd or 4th tall defender depending on matchups. Plus he can kick, which we are sorely lacking right now with Dunn and Salem not back there. If we had Hibberd in the team I reckon the first choice back 6 (in 2017) would be: FB: Hibberd T.Mac Jetta HB: Salem Frost Wagner With the option of pushing Salem into the midfield and swapping in Hunt, O.Mac, Dunn, H etc. depending on fitness, form, matchups etc. Then you have guys like Melksham, Stretch etc. fighting for a spot in the midfield rotation. As a free agent or 3rd round pick he would be great value, or for a 2nd round pick he would still be good value.

Salem should be on a wing from next year hopefully.

Someone on those facebook pages 2 weeks ago mentioned they had a relative source to Hibberd and apparently he is pretty disgruntled at the Footy club still for what they did. Melbourne had been keeping tabs on him and he is apparently very keen to get to the Dees alongside his best mate Melksham. Thought it was interesting.

Poor Eddie just doesn't have any sense of humor especially if it relates to the love child Bucks. ?

Points! What about the stang!?

Can the commentators stop calling him f*cking poppy!!!!! Call him by his real name, just once!

There's the small matter of booking stadiums, arranging staff for ticketing, security, catering, cleaning, etc etc. Businesses organising boxes for their favourite clients, getting in food & drink .... so many factors. One week is impossible. Even a month would be pushing it.

Have to agree it was extremely poor fixturing considering the AFL must have had a pretty strong inkling that Essendon would be going down in their trial... due to that uncertainty, Essendon should not have been considered at all when planning season 2016.

Paul Roos on SEN pre game said on Hibberd "Do we discuss players ? Yes." "Have we discussed Michael ? Yes. But I honestly don't know where that's got to."

Stop carrying on like you are the team owner. Your incessant whining at other posters is so tiresome.

I would argue that our turnovers from rebounds is our highest stat that contributes goals against so a classy half back would clearly be very handy.

Gorg we will have to wait until he signs a lucrative long contract before we can bag him.

Michie is nowhere near the 22, or at least shouldn't be. White is a rookie. Hunt and Wagner are kids. Salem and Lumumba both currently out, showing up our lack of depth. Plus, aside from Lumumba, all those players are 24 or younger.

A few stats for this week. (of full team including extended bench) MFC CFC Diff Average Age 23.1 23.7 -0.6 Average Games 59.5 74.2 -14.7 Back Line Ave Age 21.7 23.2 -1.5 Ave Games 36.0 60.0 -24.0 Fol (includes wing) Ave Age 24.7 23.3 1.3 Ave Games 97.7 94.8 2.8 Fwd Ave Age 22.1 24.1 -2.0 Ave Games 67.2 75.2 -8.0 Int Ave Age 22.1 24.1 -2.0 Ave Games 40.3 67.9 -27.6 Melbourne Games Backline Fol Fwd Int total 0-50 4 2 3 5 14 51-100 2 2 1 2 7 101-150 0 0 2 0 2 151-200 0 1 0 0 1 200+ 0 1 0 0 1 25 CFC Games Backline Fol Fwd Int total 0-50 2 1 3 3 9 51-100 2 3 0 2 7 101-150 2 0 2 1 5 151-200 0 1 1 1 3 200+ 0 1 0 0 1 25 MFC Back CFC Fwd Diff Age 21.7 24.1 -2.5 Games 36.0 75.2 -39.2 MFC Fwd CFC Back Age 22.1 23.2 -1.0 Games 67.2 60.0 7.2 Once again we go into a game as the younger less experience side and yet again we will probably hear all about how our opposition are a team of kids with little to no mention of our age demographic.