Qwerty30

Yes MFC will make a list management decision with the priority being the players own interests. If we can put all the vindictiveness aside in respect that Watts has not fulfilled the No 1 mantle, then why would you trade Watts when he has little market value and you trade a skill area that the team is deficient? He is clearly an outside player who has good vision and is a good user of the ball. Until we develop/recruit better players in this area I cant see us trading Watts for the peanuts he is worth.

I dont understand the bitterness that surrounds Scully's departure on this site. In this case MFC have side stepped a bullet and as you say have been overly compensated (in hindsight). Together with Watts, Scully would have to be one of the most underwhelming No 1 picks I have seen.

Agree. Clark is a high risk possible high reward situation. I cant see any club giving valuable picks for him.

Ryder is going to Brisbane. Essendon will be seeking draft compensation Essendon wont give up the potential draft pick from Brisbane for a player who has been unstable in a number of areas and has hardly been on the park in the past couple of years.

We need every post to be a winner for MFC to rise. However not sure how much of a winner Trengove is for us. He strikes me as the ultimate tweeter flanker/ mid that excels at neither. Lacks pace too. Aside from apparently being a top bloke I am not sure he is a big part of our future on what I have seen. I hope he gets his fitness back and gives AFL his best shot. God knows despite his limitations, MFC have truly stuffed this guys development up. He deserved better.

Players like Sewell aren't where MFC are deficient. We have the cattle for the inside contested ball. We are deficient in skilled outside running players. There was a time when Sewell was of interest...10 years ago.

Nothing like speculating without the facts.The Age cited his net worth at $880 million in 2013. Given the strength of equity and property markets over the past 12 months, he may be worth even more. I'm sure he could cover a commitment to EFC without breaking the bank. Allan Bond???? ... The expensive yacht ... LOL.

You really think the ATO would fall for that? Think again. I think there is some brave assumptions that Essendon can float along on Little's deep pockets. He may have given generously but that is mot unusual that wealthy passionate AFL Chairmen have done this. But he isn't a bottomless pit for the Club despite his wealth. It will be interesting to see the EFC 2014 accounts which should identify how much this terrible saga has cost the club and what significant monies have come from benefactors like a Little. And for the record Little retired from Toll Holdings in January 2012. He is now involved in a range of smaller commercial, sporting and philanthropic interests. It's laughable posters keep claiming that Toll Holdings will somehow foot some or all of the bill. They certainly won't.

Surprised all with some good cameos early in the year.Definitely a stop gap player who will have to sing for his supper week in week out. Will be fortunate with both Frawley and Clark going. Likely to get a few more opportunities in the short term.

Sanderson was handed a proverbial sandwich at the end of 2012. Lost Tippett for nothing and suffered because the CEO cheated system and the lost 2 years of good draft picks. He deserved better. Adelaide's list will be stuffed going forward unless they conjure numerous father sons. No wonder Crows favourite son Goodwin thought even MFCs prospects were better.

It cost you nothing so you haven't lost anything of note. Rather immaterial in the scheme of things

You would have to be dreaming that MFC were in a good financial position last year given we were cap in hand to pay for poor previous decisions of the past. And it should be remembered that the Foundation Heroes and not Schwab should receive the credit. It's a pity that the FHs financial generosity was poorly used by Schwab in a bloated and inefficient administration.

Very good summation Bob but it's going to be missed where it needs to be understood most.

But not because of the PPs. Their last flag was 1995 when the cheque book ruled supreme.

The devil is always in the detail re profit. Amongst a number of things PJ has done is that he has cut approx. $ 1.5 to 2mil out of the football administration costs without it adversely impacting the club. Makes you wonder what was happening under Stynes/McLardy and Schwab. I can recall Schwab was very good at heralding a "small profit" in past years when it was due to the generous donations from supporters rather than a viable business operation. Jackson is at least steadying the ship.

At last some sense!

Given how bad MFC has been I do wonder why Nathan Jones continues to be a shining light during so many dark days. FWIW, I could not blame him if he did go to another club to taste real success.

Agree Bob. Pick 22 in the 1996 draft he went onto craft over 100 games with the club over nearly 8-9 years. Its laughable someone has called him the worst footballer ever to represent the club when pick 11 that year was everyones whipping boy Brett Grgic!! And if there was a bang for buck about the worst then we blew pick 12 in 2010 on Lucas Cook and he struggled at VFL level without ever looking like getting an AFL game with arguably one of the worst sides MFC has fielded in his history

Notwithstanding MFC horrific choices in that draft, 2008 AFL draft is shaping as a rich and rewarding draft from Nik Nat to Rockliff. There are 20 players who have already played 80-120 games and have established themselves as prominent and high grade players. Add Hartlett, Hurley, Rich, Ziebell, Sidebottom, Shuey, Ballantyne, Zaharakis, Suban, Redden, Beams, Hanneberry, Shiels, Broadbent, Sloane. And the only AFL level players we took in draft were Watts (pick 1) and Jetta (pick 51). A poor return overall.

I think the last two statements being your opinion would be consistent with how every MFC supporters must be feeling. The rest is pure rumour and innuendo. If Mitch was "greedy" then he is being poorly advised.

Yes if its true.....rumour on rumour. I share your sense of being cheated. However if he is set to seek a fresh start, MFC should be seeking to trade hard with another Club if they want him.

The other important ingredient is that a player actually wants to play with MFC. There is plenty of evidence suggesting we have been repeatedly rebuffed on our approaches to targets.

All too true. Source? It wont stop the faux experts declaring how good XXXX is as an assistant coach.

Yes just like we got the good oil from Malthouse on Neeld.

I dont think we have nailed it since Scott Thompson in 2000 and we could not keep him. An assessment of drafting can be done on the basis of expectations you have each pick you have. If you get it right a first round pick should get you a player who will be at least a backbone of your side with a successful long term career. 3rd round and later picks become a mixture of good fortune and a keen eye to find talent late in the draft. Your expectations are not as great and you may actual get access to a reasonable player and that pick can be seen as a success. An Indicative Minimum Criteria (Assuming player is not hampered by injury or illness) 1st Round Pick (Pick 1-18) – min 8 to 10 year player with 150 to 200 games who is a cornerstone of the side. 2nd round pick (Pick 19-36) – 5 -8 year player with at least 100 games who is at the very least a serviceable player over a sustained period 3rd round pick (Pick 37-54) – 2 -5 year player that you get at least serviceable 30 plus games out of a player who fills a short to medium term gap in your side. 4th round pick ( Pick 55+)/Rookie/PSD– A smokie that plays at least serviceable 10 games. Minimum Criteria may be achieved where a player has underperformed the prima facie criteria but the Club has successfully traded that player for draft picks/compensation that results in a net gain. (Notwithstanding the Club might have not used the draft pick well). Two examples would be Brock McLean and Tom Scully Here it goes but I might have missed someone. Craig Cameron was Head of Recruiting 2000 - 2007, Barry Prendergast 2008- 2011 2000 – Nothing (Unfortunately we lost Scott Thompson) 2001 – Nothing 2002 - Pick 26 Jared Rivers, Pick 55 –Brad Miller 2003 – Rookie – Aaron Davey 2004 – Rookie - Mark Jamar 2005 – Pick 12 – Nathan Jones, Pick 60 – Clint Bartram 2006 – Pick 12 - Frawley , Pick 46 - Garland 2007 – PSD - Stef Martin 2008 – Pick 51 Neville Jetta Pick 64 Rohan Bail 2009 – Nothing 2010 – Pic 33 - Howe, Pick 53 - McDonald 2011 - Nothing. Possible rookies in McKenzie and Spencer 2012 -2013 – Too early to judge but some promising players are there Did not have Dunn who as a 1st round pick has been good in his last year or so but has under delivered over his career. A so so pick over the course thus far. I hope he adds value in his remaining years. But from 2000 to 2011 its been an absolute train wreck when you consider some of the poor trades as well.