Jarka

Not if GWS like the idea of saving the picks for later drafts. They're going to get a heap of talent in this draft even though it's been heavily compromised, they could use our two picks any time over the next five years and spread the age of their talent out more, would also help them with the salary cap issues they're going to face once all of the stars picked up in this draft are due to negotiate their first real contract after two years. It would ba a much wiser list management decision. Of course then there's the Sheedy factor, I wouldn't be surprised if he'd love the idea of taking our $cully compensation picks, that would definitely feed his ego and I think we can work on that weakness.

They have to trade the four picks for the 'mini draft' sometime over the next two years, it could be two this year and next or all four this year or all any other combination you could think of. If they don't trade any of them this year they might be able to pick O'Meara up next year in the draft as they'll most likely finish last unless Port get a PP before them. Of course he might not even be the favoured no.1 choice next year, a lot can happen in 12 months. But to clarify they're trading picks not players.

The advantage that we have over all the other clubs is that our two comp picks can be taken at any time over the next 5 years, allowing GWS to 'stagger' their draft picks more. Other clubs may also have a compo pick but I believe that we're the only one with two as Geelong used one last year.

At the risk of opening old wounds, that's just quite simply not true. When Gutnick became president Melbourne did not have any debt. After Gutnick, and those he brought into the club, left the board we were over $5m in debt. Many things occurred during his time with us, but saving the club wasn't one of them.

Short answer: No Long answer: Hell no

Really. Go ahead and tell me what the real facts are then. Tell me exactly how much those players were offered and who your source of said information was. Please don't say a newspaper.

Martin was targetted by GCS last year on big money but he turned them down and signed a long term contract with the tiggers, pretty sure the others you mentioned also signed up. In fact they threw large sums of cash at a lot of players who turned them down. Kruezer, Murphy, Naitanui, Thomas, Swan etc It was just unfortunate that we drafted a mercenary with our first pick, I don't believe anyone could have predicted it. The reason why Sheedy is going after the retirees is because he's desperate. He knows that a midfield consisting of Scully, Ward, Palmer and the kids will get absolutely hammered so he has to take the cast offs to try and protect them. Power, McDonald etc. It's a desperate move by a club which failed to attract the right players. FFS, McDonald has been out of the highest level for a year and he's 35. Get ready for some record losses next season.

Oh man, I'm getting bloody excitied about next year!! My poor wife is in for a long night...

Rally on Bigfooty created it.

I like it, it will take a little while to get to know how to use it properly but it's got a nice 'feel' to it. Good work

To know what our weaknesses are first of all we have to understand what specific roles Neeld has in mind for each position and how the players are going to perform their specific tasks. I'd suggest that at this stage no one apart from Neeld and CS etc would know so it's going to be very interesting to see who they target in the trade period and the draft. I think that some players who struggled under Bailey may improve a lot now and visa versa.

I believe that that they can't even do that, basically meaning that they can't talk a Melbourne player into not signing a new contract and then pick them up in a draft. They now have to get our permission to take another Melbourne player.

You beat me to it. Neeld has a massive amount of work to do before the trade period and the draft. He also has to make an assesment on the current list, he'll need every hour that he can get to make the right decisions.

That would mean that next season there would be two players taking up roughly half of their cap. They won't have enough room to be able to do that, there may be more but not on the same money as Scully

It was considered to be very even talent at the pointy end but very, very deep. I reckon history will prove that to be pretty accurate

True, mine was a quick and simple version just to provide an example. I believe Geelong are the only other club with a 'mid first rounder' and there are about 4 or 5 other clubs with band 2. Our 'mid first rounder' would be rated behind Geelong's pick for Ablett so a lot will depend on where clubs finish on the ladder. It's a fracking mess

I posted this on the Compensation thread on the main board but it should have gone here sorry. This will be very interesting to see how the clubs handle the compensation picks. Scenario 1 - We keep all the picks and use them, most likely next season. I think we're in for one more year of 'pain' ie no finals, so next year is the obvious choice. Let's say we finish 12th, our picks would be: 7 (normal pick), 8 (comp pick after our normal pick) 11 (Comp pick, mid round) For us to have to use pick 7 on Viney one of the clubs finishing below us will have to bid for him. There is a chance that this may not happen, next year is going to be a very strong draft, if those clubs think they can't get a better talent then they won't bid. It is possible that he will only cost us a 2nd rounder and the lower we finish the more likely that will happen (please note that I am not saying we should tank...) That is a seriously strong position to be in with a talented list. Scenario 2 - We trade 1 or both comp picks this season to inject experience into the team and go all out for finals next year. I'm learning to option 1, we still need to get a lot of games into our kids ie Watts, Blease, Gysberts, Tapscott, McDonald, Fitzpatrick, Gawn, Cook, Trengove, Nicholson etc. One more season of development is required, as much as I hate it I think in the long term we'll be better for it. The problem is I'm just sick of losing...

This will be very interesting to see how the clubs handle the compensation picks. Scenario 1 - We keep all the picks and use them, most likely next season. I think we're in for one more year of 'pain' ie no finals, so next year is the obvious choice. Let's say we finish 12th, our picks would be: 7 (normal pick), 8 (comp pick after our normal pick) 11 (Comp pick, mid round) For us to have to use pick 7 on Viney one of the clubs finishing below us will have to bid for him. There is a chance that this may not happen, next year is going to be a very strong draft, if those clubs think they can't get a better talent then they won't bid. It is possible that he will only cost us a 2nd rounder and the lower we finish the more likely that will happen (please note that I am not saying we should tank...) That is a seriously strong position to be in with a talented list. Scenario 2 - We trade 1 or both comp picks this season to inject experience into the team and go all out for finals next year. I'm learning to option 1, we still need to get a lot of games into our kids ie Watts, Blease, Gysberts, Tapscott, McDonald, Fitzpatrick, Gawn, Cook, Trengove, Nicholson etc. One more season of development is required, as much as I hate it I think in the long term we'll be better for it. The problem is I'm just sick of losing...

Dad's army. GWS are getting desperate, the majority of their targets this year turned them down and they were left with four kids, three of which have injury concerns. They also had to pay way over the market for Scully which will have an impact on their cap for the next six years. They know that they're going to get smashed next year so they've brought in anyone they can grab, ie retirees. Cast offs from other clubs. I love Jnr, but in his last year at Melbourne the signs were there, he was beginning to struggle and now after a year out he's making a come back. Modern footy is getting faster all the time, he's going to find it hard. The other issue is the strength of this year's draft. RR, there are plenty of people in the industry who believe that this year won't be as good as last year, in both depth and top end talent. I am no expert on the subject but some of the people who I talk to I believe are, and they're normally spot on with their insights. This is a move by a desperate club.

My understanding of that situation was that the Footy Dept definitely wanted him and had made a handshake agreement. But the Board got cold feet with some of the comments from their fans and sponsors and then stepped in and put a stop to it.

When he plays Melbourne next year we should all throw monopoly money at him. Seriously though, the way that he's handled this has been extremely poor, to notify the club while he was in Sydney is absolutely disgraceful. Look at how Davis and ward did it in comparison, those two players took the money but they did it was integrity and grace. They looked their club in the eye and did it the hard way. Scully though scampered up to Sydney and made the announcement up there. Weak as [censored].

LOL, that would actually be bloody funny, can you imagine the meltdowns that would occur on this site. I like your work

But GWS are a PR machine, they'ev repeatedly shown examples that they don't give a flying duck about anything but their own publicity. If they already have him then they'll be pushing hard to make an announcement asap.

On face value this would support the stance that Scully still hadn't made his mind up or else there'd be a similiar article with his name in it. Interesting...

Something of interest. This time last year the rumours were everywhere that GCS couldn't wait to hold a press conference to announce GA, this year there's been nothing...so far.