Jarka

Nah, we would have taken Watts and Naitanui.

Quigley makes some very, very interesting points between Watts and Naitanui.

Have you got a link H? cheers Edit: nvm, found it http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=518477

We offered him a two year deal

Well, in that case I owe Peter and the Sandringham F.C. an apology, sorry guys!

I disagree, people love to talk to show how much they know, it's human nature. For example, I found out about the Carey scandal at the roos before it hit the media - people just can't themselves, the bigger the info the more willing they're desperate to tell someone. Just look at Rudd and Bush

Not sure if it's already been posted here but I believe CJ was [censored] because he felt he was good to go for the last couple of games but Bailey decided to play others instead, ie Yze, White etc. This info may not be reliable (3rd or 4th hand) but it fits in with some of the comments made by Bailey, CJ and AJ in the papers recently. Of course if it is true then it reflects incredibly poorly on the kid, as already mentioned he received a much better go this year than previous seasons, but most importantly a couple of spots had to give way for our retiring greats, sometimes respect has to be given to the club from the player as well as the other way around. It seems that CJ had already decided that he'd had enough, pretty poor way to go out really, and coming from me it says alot because I was a fan of the kid.

Epic fail.

Watts or Naitanui at 1. Unlike alot here I don't care which one we end up with, I think both will make it. I'd love to get Swift or Yarran at 17, but unfortunately I don't think either will slide to our pp. I'd be over the moon if we got both those guys with 17 and 19. With such an even top 30 odd will still get some very decent talent with our first 3 or 4 picks.

I reckon that at the moment there's more pressure on Jack Watts than any other player, listed or not. The kid hasn't even been drafted yet he's already been earmarked as 'the messiah' by the majority of Melbourne fans, I wonder at what level the expectations will be once he actually starts playing, presuming of course we do in fact take him at number one.

Like your posts CB, especially because you're prepared to view something without being influenced by the masses. My opinion about next year is that winning games is almost irrelevant, we have a very inexperienced team that needs to be rebuilt all over the ground. A victory will be getting games into the right kids and building for the future.

I was quite surprised by his comments, he actually sounded like he'd love to join Melbourne and personally take on the responsibility of rebuilding the club. Normally the best kids will say all the right things about going to a bottom team but usually it sounds like they're just going through the motions.

Very harsh, AJ was a great player for the MFC.

Ask Woewodin, Heffernan, J.Kennedy or Ryan Ferguson about the result of their loyalty they showed their club and you'll hear a completely different tune. Hell, 60 to 80 players are delisted every year, very few a happy with that decision. With the salary cap clubs can't afford to be loyal, either a player can perform and they'll be offered a suitable contract, or they can't and they're forced to retire/delisted/traded. It's very rare that a player will end his footy on his own terms. It's nice to think that platers will 'bleed' for their club but all those players you mentioned first played many years ago when the game was completely different. It's now a professional sport, they're taught this from a very young age even before their u/18's year.

LOL, you know him well

'Loyalty in football' is an oxymoron. Both clubs and players will do what they think is the best thing for themselves when offering/extending contracts.

I seem to remember that the rules have been changed re this, not sure though.

What's youtube? Heard about him last year and had a conversation with a junior coach (Sloane's old coach) at around the carnival time. He's a risk becaue he hasn't played a 'great' game since his bad run of injuries and he's grown a heap as well. He may not be the same player but I think he's worthy of a shot.

I've been on this bandwagon for awhile now and I think there's a fair chance that he'll be available for our PP pick. Clubs will be desperate for an early 'safe' pick with this draft and Swift is seen as a risk. Watts and Swift would be a great result.

Just change the number at the end of the web address.

Rather than pickign up a delisted player I'd be more inclined to go after the best kid playing in one of the state level competitions.

I agree, our picks from 07 and this year (possibly next as well) is going to be crucial for our long term success.

Here is what I posted in the CJ thread on the main board... Losing CJ for nothing is not the best outcome but it's hardly the time to start slashing wrists. Currently the club is 'unattractive' and for many reasons. Poor performance, uncertain future, poor training facilities, poor crowds etc. This is the task ahead for Bailey and the club. We're starting from a long way back but for the first time in a long time I think we're finally heading in the right direction. The club is doing the right thing in not paying over the odds for a semi fringe player, it's just sad that it involves a player who I like.

I'm reasonably happy with the direction he has us going in, our results both this year and next are largely irrelevant. What's important is changing the culture of the club, which he appears to be doing.

Well, there goes the theory held by many here that he's a dud and the club is better off without his skills. It's a pity because often the egos gets in the way of some reasonably intelligent individuals. Losing CJ is a small blow, but he wants to go to another club, what can you do? The club did the right thing in not matching the other financial offer, nor making ridiculous promises about guaranteed game time. Carlton (I presume) is currently throwing arond the cheque book (what a surprise), but the club is desperate for success. Years of farming the best picks and landing the best player in the comp have put enormous pressure on them to succeed. Their fans won't be happy with another couple of years of mediocrity. I'm sad about losing CJ, I've always liked him and felt that Daniher didn't develop him properly. Most likely his time at the club under Daniher jaded him enough to want to leave. It's a pity we won't see the best of him but his absence won't be the difference between our success and failure.