Goodvibes

Pants we might have to start early with your paperclip approach if we want to snare Ablett, Dangerfield and Cotchin as well. Then we might start talking about 25 - 0.

Please indulge the super optimistic side of me for one minute. Let's say we use our first two round picks and a possible priority pick and manage to convince Swallow and Adams to come to club. Then we spend up big a get either Thomas or Stokes as a free agent. We round out our incredible trade period by signing the delisted Cross. So come 2014 our midfield has added four quality players and we add a fit Clark and Dawes to an upgraded Hogan and an injury free Trengove and a rejuvenated Watts. At what point do we start talking up finals?

That makes a lot of sense rpfc but my definition is a little simpler. All of the practices you've outlined are common and tolerated. What we did in the Richmond game took things to a whole new level. If your average footy fan can see that your footy department are making game day moves in a deliberate attempt to lose then you've crossed a line. When we were in danger of winning the moves came. Our coaching panel deliberately orchestrated a loss. The closer we came to winning the crazier the moves became. Wallace admitted to doing nothing for most of the last quarter of a game. Ratten refused to tag TJ and it helped them win the Kruzer Cup. Hawthorn and Collingwood managed their team line-ups to the point they had little chance of winning games but at no point did it become obvious on the field. The Carlton example above is the most obvious example next to our after the siren great come from in front loss to Richmond. I challenge anyone here to re-watch the Melbourne Richmond game and not walk away feeling sick in the stomach. Others have tanked but we took to a completely new and sadly transparent level that day. I said the same at the time and it was unpopular. I expect the view is still unpopular today. We tanked. We got caught. And we deserved to be penalized. If it costs us a PP (and I want one!) then I can understand given the events of late 2009.

I heard Matthews speak at the end of last year at Metricon for a coaching course. He came across really well. Certainly knows his footy and seems to be a good communicator. Looks like he only spent the one year on the coast.

Might have a little to do with the much hyped Couch and Magner clogging the list. Some of the Melbourne Facebook pages are pretty funny stuff. You'd think Couch and Magner were Voss and Buckley the way they get talked up. I respect the work ethic of both and understand why they were brought onto the list but they just aren't up to AFL standard. Those who rate them fail to understand how the modern game works or more to the point what wins games of footy in 2013.

Moloney is not a Melbourne player. You can both take the [censored] and misspell his name.

I'm moving a new Demonland by-law that prohibits posters from taking the [censored] out of a player whose name you spell incorrectly.

Cameron Pedersen to emerge over the next 12 months to the point where no one questions his sole appearance in the 2015 membership campaign. These are meant to be outrageous right?

I can picture the press conference with Hogan, Frawley, Watts and Sylvia all announcing their contract extensions at the same time. Roos will talk about stability, culture and the long term view the club is taking and the consistency the succession plan will have in the careers of all young Melbourne players. It will be good vibes all round and carefully orchestrated in the lead in to trade week as we attempt to attract the likes of Swallow, Adams and co to join the club. Well that's how I'd do it anyway . . .

C'mon that was the single greatest first post in Demonland history. It was in the spirit of Pants' Paperclip approach to trade week.

Max Gawn to become the new prototype AFL ruckrover and basically reinvent a position Barassi style.

And take us back to the beginning of 1955?

That sounds like a very astute call.

If I was Jesse Hogan the first thing I'd ask Roos is why we're having this discussion given we're both contracted for the same amount of time. For our sake I hope we sign him up for life. But I don't see any reason for Hogan to rush things. He has a two year contract.

Ha, I started to use Clay Sampson as my example but couldn't resist the double barrelled brilliance of TOA. That's a done deal.

You've actually inspired me Pants. I think all Demonlanders should be encouraged to create their own paperclip draft week scenario. I might have a crack tomorrow when I inevitably become bored at work. Mine might start with pick 101 and Trent Ormond-Allen.

Pure fantasy Pants. The only believable part involved the gangly 218cm West African ruckman. Seriously, I've always been inspired by the paperclip story and a draft week version was brilliant. Thanks for the laugh. It's been a long day and I needed it. Even though I know you posted most of this with your tongue firmly planted in cheek I actually agree that Swallow and Adams should be our focus plus another experienced, proven midfielder like Sewell or Cross or Thompson. I think it may just be achievable. I think the paperclip story analogy should be at the epicentre of a job interview for MFC Drating/Trading Boss. I'd give you the job!

And how many years of experience has Demonland's favourite Brian Royal had? Sorry, I'm struggling to understand your point and how it's linked to mine.

Who could argue with thinking like that. I can judge a senior coach like Neeld because each week I get to see how his team plays, the structures that are in place and the desire his chargers play with but for the life of me, I've got no idea how so many so easily judge the quality of assistant coaches. I would have absolutely no idea if Leigh Brown or Scott Burns could coach.

Last few days I've found it really slow when I first jump on but fine once I'm in. Does that make sense?

Exactly. Particularly if Paul Roos uses said PP the way he has suggested he would to bring in two solid, strong bodied midfielders who could contribute to a hard working, head over the footy team ethos. We will improve without a PP but the PP might speed things up. After the last seven years is it selfish to hope for a more rapid ascent up the ladder?

It was his second or third pre-emptive strike in the PR battle. Right now we're losing this one. I anticipate Jackson will be speaking on the PP topic in the very near future. And I'm sure Roos will follow soon after if not lead the assault. It's clearly something we've invested in and we won't back off now.

Get it done D26! I think people always look for massive change come trade time and the reality is one significant deal every other year is more the norm. Two big fish (like Adams and Swallow) in one year would be huge. But if it's ever going to happen, it's now. We've got to dine off the Roos honeymoon period vibe for as long as we can. N Jones, Swallow, Adams, Viney, Toumpas, Trengove, Grimes, Sylvia, M Jones, McKenzie, Kent, Blease might just be good enough. But I'm sure I've been down this path before. Really critical trade period coming up. We live in interesting times.

PP1 - Lock it in!

Put really simply, does the Roos factor give us any chance of getting two of Adams, Shuey, Swallow, Gaff, Sloane, Thomas or Stokes? Two of those six would be my dream result. Can someone make it happen. We'd be having a bit of fun with our best 22's come January if that was the case.