mo64

He was the son of Wayne Clark, the medium pace seamer who played for Australia in the mid 70's. Different Michael Clark.

Perspective, my a#rse!!! A player of CJ's standing in the game could easily be delisted by the club 12 months down the track. If he was offered more money and better terms at another club, of course he should take it. Any comparison with Brock McLean is ridiculous. One has guaranteed employment in footy for the next 8-10 years, whilst the other could have been out of AFL footy in 12 months.

That's WJ for the report. Sounds like a good turnout. I hate to be a doomsayer, but were there any left field ideas thrown up that were feasible, and aren't dependant on on-field success?

How many times have you seen him play? The general consensus within the football world, which doesn't include footy forums, is that Naita will get drafted in the top 3. Clubs don't tend to draft players in the top 3 based on their physical attributes. By all reports, the kid can actually play football, which you wouldn't think was the case from reading your comments.

The word "sympathy" can't be misinterpreted. Sylvia obviously felt for CJ, and thought it would be a good idea for him to leave. I wonder if Bailey made Monaghan, who was under contract, front the whole club and explain why he wants to leave the MFC.

It's amazing what people read into this articles, if they can actually read. "Colin Sylvia, who reportedly crossed paths with Johnson as he traipsed off the oval, regarded him with some sympathy and advised him to leave."

You left out Sean Charles as the crumber. Geez we were great to watch in 1994. And WJ, how dare you suggest that we play with a conventional forward structure. It's not on in the modern game. B)

You're right, but in each case, nobody expected such a meteoric turaround. The clubs could have written off another season because they had perceived lesser talent, and been pragmatic as you say. They didn't. There is nothing "definitive" in sport, which is why you play for the moment, because nobody can predict what will happen in 2-3 years time. This is why I object to comments from Stynes and Connolly that we're 2-3 years away from being a contender.

It sends a message to the football dept. and players that it's ok to lose. It gives both groups an "out" when they're not performing. Our performances this year were beyond a case of being beaten because we had lesser talent than our opposition. In games we were smashed by equally poor performing sides. I'll give you 3 recent examples of sporting teams that made meteoric rises after being a basket case: 2007/8 - A-League. in 2006, Newcastle Jets sacked their coach during the season when they hadn't won a game. The assistant coach takes over the same group of players, makes the finals that season, and win the A-League the following season. 2008 - Major League Baseball. Tampa Bay Rays had the worst record in MLB in 2007, and have been a basket case most of their history. This year they made the World Series with predominently the same roster. 2008 - NFL. Miami Dolphins didn't win a game in 2007. They hire Bill Parcells to be in charge of football operations. Parcells has a history of being a "winner" in the NFL, and changing the fortunes at clubs he's been at. He sacked the coach, and brought in a couple of recycled players without big reputations. This season they're a big chance of making the play-offs. In each case, the club didn't accept they couldn't achieve because they had lesser talent. We need a Bill Parcells figure at the MFC. Someone who doesn't accept losing, regardless of the situation.

I failed to see a gameplan that was premiership winning, in fact, we were statistically the worst performed side since Fitzroy in their final season. And I don't understand your second sentence.

Perfect result for the MFC.

2004-2006 $1million profits. As Dees Dayz states, our plan is no different to what Wallace has done at Richmond. And how can you call it a Premiership Plan when there is no factual evidence that it will ever come to fruition? I don't believe that trying to win every game you play is a half-arsed approach. There are no certainties in football, so you have to make the best of what you've got today. I don't believe that this was the case this year.

I share CB's sentiments. So how many years will this premiership plan take, and how is it financially sustainable? The only culture I care about is a "winning culture".

If our plan is to draft the best kid not taken in the ND, then it's not surprising. We obviously haven't given a delisted player such as Hislop, a firm commitment that we will draft them.

Maybe Voss shares Paul Roos' philosophy that proven talented players are better than unproven youngsters at the bottom end of the draft. I share this philosophy.

One minute he's off to Brisbane, next Carlton, now he's going to Essendon?

Conversely, if your gameplan is solely based on a possession game, you become equally predictable, and get torn apart by sides that know how to zone off, and pressure the receiver. It's all about picking the right option, rather than going short being the only option, which was the case with us this season.

One of the greatest servants of the MFC. He'll be sorely missed.

You wouldn't have said that 3 years ago when Hawthorn didn't have established stars in Hodge, Franklin and Roughhead. They were all fringe players. The point that old55 makes is spot on.

You raise some fair points, Pates. If I was a Casey councillor, I'd be concerned with our announcement of the MCG redevelopment. Where will our gym be located? At the G or at Casey Fields? Why would a council pour money into a facility that will be hardly utilised?

We are definitely lacking in this department, which is why I suggested that Davey should be played in the back pocket. At the time, I was surprised when the Hawks used a 1st round pick on Birchall, who was basically a HBF. It's turned out to be an inspired choice, because I believe that his influence is massively underrated.

2005 had a pretty good strike rate. Guerra, White, Thomas and Porplyzia are all established players, with Porplyzia turning out to be a star, after previously being delisted by the Crows. It goes to show that players aren't washed up if they haven't made it by the age of 20.

If our recruiting dept. make a decision on the no.1 pick this year based on what's available in the next 2 years, they are NOT doing their job properly. The only decision they have any certainty about is pick 1 this year. But I agree with your sentiment regarding taking ruckmen early in the draft.

If we weren't prepared to re-sign him before the trade period, doesn't that send a message to the player that he's on shaky ground? He's a fringe player who's trying to prolong his career and maximise his earning capacity. And conversely, does the club have to show loyalty to CJ just because he's a father-son? The answer is NO.

Well obviously your point wasn't well made if more than one person missed it. So what exactly was your point?