Gator

Yes. I have a bit more time on my hands for the next couple of weeks, hence being more active than usual. But I'm fully cognisant that not one word I say will resonate with the hand-wringers.

So this is a decades old attitude problem and not a lack of onfield leadership in what is a terribly young group ? I thought it might have been that we only had 4 x 100 game players, including a 23 year old in McDonald. Instead I should have realised they were channeling 50 years of mediocrity.

I literally didn't understand your post. If it was relevant or coherent it escaped me. Maybe read it again, consider why you particularly responded to me and reword it.

What do you put it down to ?

Far be it for me to stand in the way of your concerns, SWYL.

No frigging idea what you're talking about or what it had to do with 2006. Don't reply though. It's a bore.

Your concerns don't concern me, but as a discussion point I have a view on the validity of those concerns. We couldn't beat Hawthorn, we beat Hawthorn. We couldn't beat Collingwood, we beat Collingwood. We couldn't beat Carlton and in 2014 we beat Carlton. We couldn't win in Adelaide, we won under Roos in Adelaide. We couldn't beat Port, we beat Port - in Adelaide. We've been the youngest team in the league this year more often than not, so we're still flaky. I accept that we're still flaky, so flaky results may follow, but I'm rapt with the list that is being developed and the progression we're undertaking. I certainly have no fear of Carlton, the Saints or Essendon. In the not too distance future past losses will turn into wins. But if you want to hang onto some sense of perceived ownership of the MFC by those teams then of course please yourself. In my opinion it's a view that lacks rigour.

Who cares what happened in 2006 ? It's utterly irrelevant when the only player on the list was Jones. The things that concern some supporters are laughable.

Who cares who has the wood on us when we've been Fitzroyesque ? It means nothing.

Really ? Potentially Hunt, Melksham, Hibberd, Salem, etc. I know Hunt is the only speedster, but I'm not sure it will be an issue. Melksham's pace is good, but may lack the finishing skills. There's also Frost who takes it on from the back-half. I reckon the back-line is coming together nicely if we land Hibberd. Another inside mid ? I would've thought a classy outside mid was far more pressing.

No. The person I quoted said, "Caroline Wilson on Footy Classified tonight said she is starting to think Hogan is more likely to go than stay now". This is patently wrong and not what she said at all. Verbatim she said, "I actually couldn't call it to be honest, I couldn't call it". If you want to guess about ums and ahs and inferences be my guest. Btw, I couldn't care less if she thinks he'll stay or go. Her opinion is inconsequential to me. I was more interested in her comments being factually reported.

There were little signs of a flawed action in 2013, such as the run out to the right with his first goal, but his third goal looks pretty fluid, albeit with that slight hint of a stutter. There's no reason he can't become a reliable set shot.

He took 14 marks on the weekend, including 5 contested marks and people want to unmercifully slag him. The kicking is an issue, but sort that out and he'll be a leading figure in the competition in year's to come.

Unlike some, including debates I've had with my Brother, I really do think we let down some previous draft picks with poor development. I suspect most were just bad selections, but development and a club's culture is ultra-important. I still believe that you can't make chicken salad out of chicken ***, but there's always that balance.

Not semantics, just a mistake. This business of people being "taken around" Hunt is an utter nonsense. Taylor only had access to players available at pick 57, not those taken before. Name ONE pick after Hunt that is any good. I'll disagree on Salem. He's a young player with tremendous class that is miles off his best. Let's talk when he's played 60-80 games. As for Kennedy-Harris and Neal-Bullen, neither does much for me either, but I don't expect him to nail every 40+ pick. Do you ? Steven Wells has plenty of failures. Taylor's record looks superb to me any way I want to slice it or dice it.

You do realise that none of those players were available to the MFC in the 2013 draft ? They were all rookie upgrades and selected in drafts prior to 2013 - Hunt's draft.

Doesn't worry me in the slightest. And we might not be good enough to play finals in 2017. That won't worry me. When we do make it I want it to be real, not a Richmond like finals participation.

Hahaha Love all that. Except the bit about Pedersen has made the team better than Hogan. But that's a minor aside

Happy to let my bias shine through. Hunt has been far better than many who have already been selected. I have to concede that I didn't see the Richmond game, but Rioli's 16 disposals must have been superb to beat Hunt's 16 disposals. Rioli kicked 2 goals, whilet Hunt kicked his trademark running goal, had numerous exhilarating runs through the middle and took two contested marks.

So it's not a myth then ? A myth is a false belief, but now you're saying the jury is out ? Btw, I don't agree with your evaluations and some of your judgments are either too early or wrong. Who was taken after Hunt that makes this selection anything other than stunning ? We were desperate to improve our midfield, so I can't see any logical supporter questioning the Brayshaw decision. He'll be a star in my view. Your concerns on Weideman at such an early stage seem very premature, but fair enough, your opinion. Oscar and vandebBerg are very good picks after 50 of the ND - "limitations" or no limitations. Oliver may go down as one of the best picks by a recruiter since the inception of the draft (1986). And no, it's far too early to call Salem a "disappointment" on the back of an injury plagued third year. He's already shown his class in his first two. I find your assessments strange. You'd have to go out of your way to take the negative position you seem to have.

No worries. You're not the first to misread the tone of a conversation. Easy to do.

That's not what she said at all. She said Melbourne gets frustrated as he seems to waver after he's visited home, but when asked whether she thinks he'll stay or go she replies "I actually couldn't call it to be honest, I couldn't call it". It is incredible to me that people cannot accurately pass on what they hear. And it happens continually.

I think you'll find that the Dogs just pipped us for least experienced with 60 games.

You're reading far too much into things. You're looking for smoke and mirrors. Before the season is over clubs virtually never concede anything in the media, He'll be a Dee.

I'll judge it in context at the time. I wouldn't swap our list for either of theirs, but that's not to say we're immune to a loss - even next year. Geelong will finish top 4 and Collingwood and Carlton beat them in consecutive weeks this year. I have great faith in the midfield we're developing and loving the new ball movement. But no, I don't share your concern about "certain clubs". It's merely a reflection of where we're at in our young development cycle.