Wiseblood

And I would think that, going by the 'outcomes' this year, that the way we set up defensively was excellent. Steven May didn't have a problem playing his role. Neither did Lever, Tomlinson, Salem, Hibberd etc. So what's the problem with Oscar here? If our defence was a shambles then I'd agree with you that they don't understand the system we have in place. This clearly isn't the case. If the others can follow it, why can't he? I agree with everything else you're saying, but I think you're making excuses for Oscar here. Our back line was a strength this year, and if he can't follow the system like the others can, then I think moving him on works for both parties.

So his role of stopping an opposition key forward wasn't clear enough for him? I agree that he is no star, and that moving to a second club may give him more opportunities and he may become an excellent soldier there, but I hardly think that his role hasn't been clear enough. He's in the side to stop an opposition key forward. Even if there are other aspects thrown in, I hardly think it's a tough role to understand.

Can't see a Daicos leaving Collingwood unless he's delisted, which won't be happening. Terrific player and I'd love to get him, but we need to be realistic. It's just not going to happen.

Yeah it stinks, but then social media as a whole absolutely stinks. Gives muppets the opportunity to bleat their thoughts without any real fear of reprisal.

Surely you're taking the urine here...

Will be looking for Facebook pages to run with all these rumours soon. Well done Werridee, all of a sudden you're an inside sauce.

I can understand the reticence towards Richardson and Voss, but Leppa has had plenty of success as an assistant coach after his time as a head coach. He would be a very handy acquisition, although coaxing him out of this 'retirement' might be difficult.

Yes!

He was a speculative pick in the 50s. It's not as if he is a first round pick that never came on. Even though I don't really see a future for him at the club, he has gotten plenty out of himself considering where we took him, and I'd wager that his career will continue at a second club as well. He's done better than many, many others who are taken in the third or fourth round of the draft. Clearly there are plenty who see something in him.

Well nothing can be concrete at this stage until the review is done. The one positive is that the review is taking place, as it should.

If anyone needs the article sent just get in touch via PM and i'll copy it across for you. As for the article itself, this comes as no surprise and is a welcome development to kick off our off-season. You would expect a few of those guys not to be with the club when our pre-season kicks off later in the year.

You are just as likely to pot the club for keeping him when he puts in a bad performance.

It's nothing you haven't heard already. Ralph only mentions us by name as being interested, but apparently other Vic clubs are circling. Doesn't say who though, so that strikes me as speculation more than anything

That's interesting considering we've been told he's signed a four year or five year deal already. I don't really think he was ever going to leave, though. I can understand his frustration at losing the captaincy, but he doesn't strike me as the type of bloke who would run off at the first sign of a challenge.

Dean Terlich came Top 5 in our B&F one year. That says it all really.

Agreed. Also pleased with Sparrow's progress. He didn't set the world alight, but I think there is a real chance that he could become a best 22 player in the coming years.

He came to the game late, so I see where they are coming from. If we can get him on a good deal, then I think he will help to make us a better side in the short term while we develop others like Baker to potentially take his role in a few years time. We don't need a 'big fish'. Leave that to teams like Norf and Carlton who want to throw buckets of money at anyone with two legs. We just need players who fit our gamestyle and complement what we have. Isaac Smith is one such player who can slot in on the other wing. He is smart, a good user of the footy and knows how to kick goals. For the right price, he would be a handy pick up for us.

I agree mate. It sounds like all the info is pointing to a good offer from the Hawks, but that we are turning his head at this point with a good offer of our own. Maybe he sees further potential in us over the next few years and that he would be guaranteed more game time as the Hawks might go with more youth moving forward? Either way it's nice to be in the frame!

@dazzledavey36 - to go with your post above, here is the update from Sam Edmund on Issac Smith: In it he says this on Smith: Sam says: “That’s the one as an unrestricted free agent where his future is very much up in the air. “He’s got a big decision to make, he’s had an offer from Hawthorn on the table for a while now and there’s nothing wrong with that offer, but Melbourne want him. “They want to put him on one wing and keep Ed Langdon on the other, Smith likes Melbourne’s list and their prospects. “It sounds line ball this one, where his plays this next year and beyond."

Depends on who the player is. In this case, Smith still has something to give and he could be a handy addition to the side. We need to remember that, the last time we played finals, Jordan Lewis was a big part of it. Smith could do the very same thing. He could also be great for someone like Oskar Baker in terms of development.

I'm impressed with the loyalty of many on here. No doubt that ANB is someone who gives everything he has when out on the field. He runs hard, he's a team player and, as some have already said, his kicking has improved a little this year as well. But I also think we're quick to forget that he does some simple things poorly. He rarely gets to position in the forward line to crumb the ball. He is a pretty average tackler, and he still gets the fumbles with the ball at his feet. This is after six years in the system. While I understand why some might want to hang on to him, I think we as a club need to move on from him so we can continue to look at ways of getting better. If ANB is still someone hanging around the fringes in the coming years, then we haven't worked hard enough (or ruthless enough as Goody might say) in making the right decisions to help us as a footy club. He's been handy depth, but I think the time is right to look at other options going forward.

Here is the quote. Morris is clearly guessing... again...: “Think Melbourne, St Kilda, Collingwood and clubs like that. I’m sure that these clubs and others are just asking the question of where that’s at."

I would. We ran out games superbly this year, and our injury run across the board was better than anything I can remember under Misson. He is the one off season recruit for the 'off field' department that was a raging success in my book.

I agree with this - currently, he is probably a Top 30 player on our list when everyone is fit. But he is a limited player who won't be giving us much more than he already is. If we want to improve then we need to look at improving what we have in the position he plays in - whether that is improvement from within, or recruiting someone else. I would see him getting some serious midfield/half forward minutes at the Crows. A pick in the 40s is probably about right.

Plenty to play out yet, Steve. By the sounds of things, Preuss is happy at the club but his head has been turned by guys like Pittonet who have gone from being a second or third string ruckman to first choice at another club. In the end, we either get a good deal or keep him. That's a win/win for me.