KingDingAling

Scully is rubbish, we sure dodged a bullet there. He just isn't a footballer. He is a one paced athlete.

It is mental illness, they aren't exactly going to refute it. It isn't hard to get diagnosed with clinical depression, I know people who allegedly do it for work.

Along with Jones, Clark was our best player. I am more annoyed that he kicked 6 goals for a dynasty. While MFC continues to struggle. I'd like to see our supporters get more vocal about the inequality of the competition - than whinge that our captain is still mates with another former leader at the club.

Maybe Hird just seen things for what they were. Essendon fit the bill as a side that can't make ground on the top sides through the legitimacy of the competition. I understand what James Hird has done, I'd like to have to a chat to him over a few cans actually. Not saying it was right, it wasn't, drugs shouldn't be allowed into sport at all, but I'd love to hear Hird's thoughts on the equality of the league.

Yep, 100% spot on.

Yep, so do I, with an absolute passion. But the guy can play. I give him that much.

We all know Mitch Clark is a dominant player, he was a real leader for our club. When Clark was actually out there, he was a hell of a player. Of course that doesn't make it any easier to watch him.

I think we are in a similar space to Port (2013). I wouldn't consider us to be cellar dwellers, we actually have a lot of young talent on our list. In the case of Port Adelaide, they were far from a struggling side destined to hold the ladder up. They had a lot of quality players (Boak, WIngard, Wines, Gray, Hartlett). Decent core to build around, that is a quality core that won't be seen at St Kilda anytime soon, I think they are in trouble. MFC have a core of Jones, Tyson, Viney, Salem and Vince. It is of similar quality to Port before their rise. Free agency will help MFC more than it will hinder it. We have a stack of young talent on our list, free agency will ensure we can keep adding experience - it is a balancing act. I think the sides slipping to the bottom now - Carlton, Saint Kilda, Bulldogs. I think they are in serious trouble. I can't see St Kilda replacing quality players like Montagna, Riewoldt and Fischer, through free agency alone, they will need priority picks, and I don't see how the AFL will justify giving them picks. I think the AFL shot themselves in the foot when they overlooked us last year. St Kilda will need PP's in the future to survive, but opposition clubs will simply point to our (MFC) record when we were overlooked.

It's exciting that we actually have a couple of brigades coming through. We have Salem, Hogan, Brayshaw, Petracca, Stretch, McDonald and ANB. Then a slighter more mature brigade in Viney, Toumpas, Tyson, Newton and Vandenberg. Sure I missed a few, but those players are the 'new era'. It is exciting times at the MFC.

Yeah I'd take Vandenberg over any draftee in terms of first year impact. Vandenberg is a big bodied and mature guy, he has played senior football - and can find the pill. I don't know whether he'll be a Barlow, but I'd back Vandenberg to have more of an impact than any kid straight out of junior football.

Even an ultimate troll like myself cannot defend the club over this one. The masses have been quite vocal about this issue of late. I don't go to training, I live as a country hick, but even I'm aware not all is happy amongst fans. MFC needs to lift it's game in this area, I find this extremely distressing.

Our god is probably on the nest, cut him some slack

Yeah, you're right, Cam Schwab would never of let this happen! "Bring back Schwab!" .. Too early?

Rigoni and Lovell were my 2 fav players. Remember them just like yesterday.

McCartney must be a top bloke to give Redleg the time of day.

Based on what we've seen this far, I'd agree with that. On the other nights game, I'd have both players ahead of Grimes and M.Jones. I guess that is the beauty of the pre-season, players will be rewarded by their performance leading into the real thing. If that is a measure of our best 22, then atm I'd have Newton and Michie in our best 22.

Toumpas will have a good year this year. He looks in good nick.

Who I wouldn't pick up. Grimes - because his brain to foot just isn't cut out for AFL. Matt Jones - his errors outweigh his effective efforts. Jamar - too short to ruck, no where else to put him. Gawn - unproven and unlikely to make it, I wouldn't take the risk if I was picking a side. Harmes - too light on. Hunt - see above. Tom McDonald - only pick on a base wage, too many basic skills errors. Jordy McKenzie - sloppy inside game, limited skill set, 3 touch player. Jack Watts - lacks intensity, lacks aggression, not competitive. Jack Trengove - lacks sufficient aggression to play AFL football. Unlikely to make it. Previous candidates.. James Strauss - zero awareness. James Frawley - very poor awareness, bad execution, poor decision making. Luke Tapscott - no inside game, slow on the outside, cannot harness aggression, needs work on spatial awareness and needs to use aggression intelligently - doesn't work (lacks intensity). Lucas Cook - Lacks aggression, competitiveness, intensity, determination, strength. Could continue, too many negatives, too few positives. Jordan Gysberts - poor preparation, mentally not capable to play AFL football.

Bail - just a player. Cross - seen better days. Dawes - very necessary target. Dunn - will get better. Frost - young and fresh. Garland - another Chip Frawley. Garlett - inconsistent but effective. Gawn - very ordinary effort. Grimes - sub par player. Hogan - can play football. Jamar - just another game. Jones M. - not much upstairs. Jones N. - leads by example. Kennedy- Harris - not really noticed. Jetta - accountable, tough, smart. Kent - kid has skills. Lumumba - good repeat efforts. McDonald - needs skills training. Newton - poised, classy, reliable. Tyson - can find football. McKenzie - good VFL player. Pedersen - needs higher standards. Salem - not used enough. Toumpas - demonland whipping boy. Van den Berg - another Michael Barlow.

I agree, I just think he had an ordinary game. Hopefully after this year we have a better idea where Gawn is at. We need improvement out of both Spencer and Gawn this year. Because if these guys aren't up to it after Jamar is done - then we have a serious problem.

Newton would've came into the pre-season fitter than everyone bar Jones IMO. Port Adelaide play the way they do because they get run into the ground on the track. I agree with you, I don't think Newton will need to improve his fitness just because he missed one half of football. I bet Nat Fyfe comes in for Freo round 1 and outruns all others - after not playing NAB cup, same goes for Ablett.

I think fans are just sick of dumb football and silly mistakes - that summed up Gawn last night. As we improve as a side, we'll get hard on those who fall back into old ways, I think that is a good thing. I would like to see our fans get harder on players, we've given them the benefit of the doubt for FAR too long. Some don't like potting, I'd rather see more of it.

Looked impressive yesterday, looks clean, moves well. We know he takes the game on. Hopefully Kent is our most improved and goes on to become a champion player.

If Tyson is most improved in 2015 then he'll go close to winning a brownlow.

Salem.