Rhino Richards

Pull the other one! Their membership did suffer. The difference being that they have a larger group of core supporters to draw upon than numbers sensitive clubs like Kangas, Dogs and us Hawthorn had no choice be to say they were rebuilding after a horror couple of years. They also made an absolute meal of the coaching appointment of Clarkson at inception. At the time they sacked the CEO, the outgoing President dipped into his own pocket to aviod a whitewash and Brereton was ushered off the Board for alleged conflicts of interests. Spare me the honesty bit. The situation that MFC finds itself would be a significant shock to most people including some inside the Club with the possible exception outside the coaching group. After 2006 and the return of many injured players there was reasonable expectation that we could have had a better year. A new coach getting a chance to actually assess the list. Hardly a rebuild environment The worst pessisimists expected a tough year but not this tough. Its clear that the after first two devestating rounds and a less than satisfactory pre season that MFC are looking at a rebuild and that will be underway at seasons end.

When supporters want to vent their spleen too often they use the websites not actually contact the Club. I have had issues with the Club too in the past. However I have not resorted to sticking the boots in regardless of how many memberships I have or any other pi$$ing war metric you seem to prefer. Like I said about the Club and its supporters.....

You can add Neil Craig to that list. Some of the conspiracy theories about the players being this or that fantasised by "supporters" who know little is more appalling than MFC's attack on the ball. I can't believe some of the offal posted here. Great post Astrodee. However it will be likely to lost on those who will blame DB/ND for why there clocks out of sync as a clear message from the players that they are not happy with the game plan.

What a grizzle. I thought the 150 pack was poor value and those that chose to take it did so knowingly and willingly that it was providing the additional amount to the Club. Mickrocks is right about the problems at the Club and where it is at. Surely reasonably astute supporters can see that! I just wonder the value beyond self serving emotions why "supporters" at the Club's darkest hour trot out their litany of problems on a public website without any hope of their being constructive resolution of the matter. Somehow I think this Club and its supporters are made for each other. Disappointing given the circumstances.

Weetra - Pick 62 in 2006. Massive failure! Bode - Off the rookie list. What was CAC thinking at that time! Garland - He's only played four games in sides that have been comprehensively flogged. CAC deserves to fairly analysed and assessed. But FFS do it on the picks that count with a fair consideration of the facts.

Correct. The Hawks did the right thing and traded players who were plateauing or were culture cancers like Everett, Thompson and Hay and retired off Nick Holland. The Jono Hay was almost the deal of the century and I dont think any Club will be that dumb again. The Kangas must absolutely curse that deal now. Great deals, Bottom rung finishes and priority picks. MFC are only assured one of these outcomes at the moment.

Bollocks. We were offered a 4th round for Miller who if we had taken it would not have been realistically playing for some time (read Cheney and McNamara). Miller aint the problem as he has been fringe for 4 years now and nothing has changed. Trading Robbo should have been done last year but more importantly should have been consider 2 to 3 years ago. If we had of traded Robbo last year the best we could have hoped for would have been pick 20 to 30. The person either would not be playing yet or would have been as green as Garland. We should have seriously looked at refreshing the list over the past 5 years when you should have considered at senior players like Yze, Robbo, White,Bizzell, Jamar and TJ and one or two others. We blew picks on Pickett 2 to 3 years ago. I cant believe we could make such brave and sensible move to get rid of Woewodin in 2002 yet provide a pension for life arrangement to players who are just not up to standard.

The truth is that when the players were advised by MFC that the Club would seek to trade TJ there was no complaint and hardly a murmur. Says volumes about the guy. Get over it.

We started the pre season with only 20 fit players. All the others were either on LT injury or completing rehab. We went into the NAB Cup game against Geelong with about 25 to 26 of the list fully fit to play. This is definitely one of a number of factors in our performance.

Agree fully Jaded. Summed it up well.

What a load of attention seeking hyperbole that comes out on this site. Two bad losses and we have the worst players and most selfish players in our history.

Good post Fan. I just cant be believe the vitriol towards this player under the circumstances. Amazing. No. Its says much about the players. And many of them will go at year end. DB's press conference was that they need to practice it and they do.

Carroll's decision making particularly under pressure is poor. Yesterday was not a high pressure game and Carroll still cant think through the options. There was one passage where he dished off poorly three times only to receive it back haphazardly twice within one set of play. If there was a forward line which Carroll could have an impact its a short arsed one from WB. Bigger stronger forwards will find him out. He a trier and was one of the better in a pathetic team. He is just not smart or cool under pressure and it crucifies his effectiveness.

The fact is that most of that deadwood did play for us last year and was not competitive. They did not help us win. They should have been removed with others years ago. We are reaping the benefits now and it is likely we are 3 to 4 years in the wilderness. It was prophetic that CC said DB would be here 6 years. It will take us that long to see September action.

I am worried we dont have any good players. Our marquee players will struggle to extract the same deals they had before. There is a thing called the market place and many of them have as much appeal as a Mitsubishi 380.

Agree. But they said on post match radio about 6 to 7 weeks. However he still needs xrays.

Cooney is as lazy as TJ. In their 5th year, the class of 2003 has signinficantly underperformed all previous years at the same poiint. The fact that you only saw the second half may partially explain your blinkered view of Carroll.

What leadership qualities do we lose? Only Neitz is in the leadership group out of the senior players. We are not getting the benefit of any experience or leadership qualities.

The key point is that any of our clearances were not effective. However it should be added that whole forward line lacks teeth. It needs to be a soda of pass into the F50 for them to win a contest. Davey rotated from wing to F50. I would expect *gulp* Weetra to get a reprieve.

Why would they do that? Sylvia struggled to lay a good tackle all day. For a bloke who cheated on his teammates, he had a big big incentive to stand up today. He was very very poor. A failure of character was on show. Hell, the 2003 draft has unearthed some truly overrated plodders. Sylvia, Cooney and McLean are at best middle of the road and are along way from any star status.

Buckley's skills need working on but hell he was the only player with Jones to show any consistent run and attack. Its a pity he got no support when he was swarmed. Carroll's marking is massacred by his inept disposal and decision making. Its an indictment on the team that a player who so regularly turned the ball over is considered one of our best. Morton does give real reason for optimism. If he had a half decent side to play with, he would show how comfortable he is at this level.

I think with retirements and delistings we will change to the max amount. Our biggest issue is that unlike Hawthorn of four years ago we have little to trade of marketable value.

His marking was good on shorter forwards but his decision making and disposal reeks of Godfrey and he crucifies us. I cant see him getting a regular gig with other teams bar Richmond and Carlton.

RBT is correct. # Teams would receive a Priority Selection only if they finished the season with fewer than 16.5 premiership points. # If a team finished with fewer than 16.5 premiership points in two consecutive seasons, then their Priority Selection is taken before the First Round. We are aiming at pick 17 this year for a priority. But we are on track to get a first round in 2009!

Is the 8 an AFL rule or your interpretation of it? It will be like dragging an anchor retaining 3 of Bode, Weetra and CJ. Jamar is a problem and is contracted (at low rates) until 2009. Could we trade for a 6th round pick?