picket fence

I have thought long and hard on this issue and I'm sorry to have come to the following conclusion. For once the club is not at fault and the reality is that Mitch Clarke and his love of the mighty dollar have seen us again being severely compromised. Let me explain. When the club went after him it faced an uphill battle. His management and he were hellbent on returning to his native Western Australia and there was a very lucrative offer from Freo for him to play there. This would have solved his pressing family issues and enabled him to return to his native state. This was said to be all but a done deal so what happened?? Enter MFC with a sackful of cash and a volition to lure Mitch Clark to Melbourne. Several meetings and increase in cash saw him finally agree to join Melbourne. He is reportedly the clubs highest paid player on around 650-750 K per year. This is a heck of a lot of money to outlay for a player who initially resisted our offer and said unequivocally that he desired a move back to Perth for family and other reasons. Just think about it....... He was hell bent on returning to his native state and nothing was going to change that! Nothing perhaps other than a truckload of money. Imaging 650=750 K per year to play footy? He agreed to join us and the rest is history. The injuries were bad luck. Bottom line it seems came over to us essentially for money pure and simple. Now what we have got in 2014 is a player who has endured a frustrating string of soft tissue injuries on top of his well documented Lisfranc fractures. Some family issues perhaps similar to ones which originally were very important to him when the Freo offer came up and his decision to turn his back on his own rationale and succumb to the lure of a sackload of money instead of proceeding with his original decision to go back home. Bottom line can money ever replace family and other environmental issues which he deemed so important to his future at the time? In hindsight how important is and was money now that these and other location issues have emerged ? It seems entirely that in this case sadly for player and club that it appears destined for his at this stage possible break from the game to address his issues. Sad for Mitch Clark and the club but if IF I am right a lesson to learn about what you really want and the betterment of self through following your heart. Not the $.

If this wasn't so tragic for us it would be comical. Two players Toumpas and Tengove both who are slow are dropped . Well what not a surprise. Just adds more weight to the Ollie Wines Drafting fiasco.

Honour?? Honour be buggerd, this is cut throat AFL Footy, not some "Mutally beneficial love thy neighbour fest"

That scenario would be a sensational scenario, but what will probably happen because , well it just seems to happen to us will be He will agree to a slightly less payout figure which will still be 3or 4 times an average professional persons salary. He will Ostensibly "Retire" from the game citing injuries, family issues et al. We will delist him. Next year he feels he'd like to give it "One more crack" and lo and behold" Freo Hovering ( or should it be HOOOVERING) pick him up at reasonable cost he has recovered from his injuries and plays the type of footy we know he can play and end result?? WE again get screwed over and over again. Seen it happen before. Sorry but can't see a positive in this at all!

Hnmmmm interesting!

Right, Dees new motto "CLUB KRYPTONITE"

Righto time to clear the air on this. I have nothing against Jimmy Toumpas whatsoever. Not once have I "Spewed Vile Carp" I have purely pointed out his deficiencies as I see them which are 1 He is slow 2 He does not win enough contested Ball ( 95% or so uncontested) 3 He doesn't hurt you with his possessions, not talking about efficiency rate, a lot of player can chip the ball back and forwards over 25 metres. Talking about creating forward entries and crucial set up plays ( Gary Ablett is the one I'm thinking of) and no, don't expect him to accumulate Ablett like stats but would like to see some "Killer" Line breaking possesions. 4 He isn't a multiple goal scorer. I can see why we and other clubs drafted him, but in merely pointing out his deficiencies I have the right of opinion. This is my opinion. Jimmy Toumpas may or may not be the player which we hope can improve our footy club. However, the main point of my argument has always been that we drafted the wrong type of player for our needs then and now. This is nothing personal against Jimmy Toumpas, He got drafted by us Fact!! Fact Ollie Wines in hindsight still would have been a better pickup given our needs. Now, one other thing about culture my friend, I attended the 64 Grand Final with my old man as a knee high tacker, and don't remember much about the day. In the ensuing years I have been a passionate paid up member more often than not. My point is this Culture is not up to me to fester, that's the footy clubs job. I can agree with decisions made or disagree as all supporters of every club do in passing judgement about their footy club and its workings its called "Free thought and equally Free Speech" I believe our recruiting for so long has been the worst of any club in AFL/VFL History. Fact we have been paying for a bloody long time for our player choices and some Coaching/ Administration choices. Fact we haven't won a flag for 50 that's right 50 long years. The club has a responsibility to us all to start producing the goods so don't talk to me about "Culture" I know all about winning cultures. I have been involved in successful dynasties in Football and Cricket clubs for a loooong time. I reckon I know one or two things about sport and developing a strong Cultural Base I reckon Paul Roos and the club is in the best position to rectify previous problems. I like what the club is doing. Again I iterate I reckon we drafted the wrong type of player for our needs. This was previous administration decision which sounds very much like a Neeld override if the rumours are true. I wish Jimmy Toumpas all the best and by crikey he had want to develop into a champion. For all our sakes. 5O YEARS I think I have earn't the right to have to insightful commentary about our footy club. PF

Should be easier than that. Go for Hunger, bit of mongrel and ball winning ability and you won't go far wrong! Whether they be mids, forwards or backs

I would include BLEASE, KENT, JETTA AND MAYBE SALEM if you want to roll a dice. Instant injection of pace. Outs would be dependent on how Roosy wants to set up. Watts must play FF I'll ponder the rest later!

Tick Tock time is running out Sassy, Because we have recruited so abysmally in the past as has been canvased by other posters any comparison between Wines and Toumpas must be in the present. As a 50 + year old supporter of this club, I, like many are absolutely sick to the back teeth with lame recruiting of wrong types when our current and former needs have always been best player rather than speculative, "Elite" kicks, outside Run, Yadda Yadda etc. eg Cook, Maric, Strauss, et al. It all started when Diamond Jim Tilbrook was recruited for his "Prodigious" Kicking , problem was he never got it enough! We seem to have always been seduced by the finishing capabilities more so then the ball winners and lets face it you can't have too many of these types. The fact we have been smashed in the ball getting department for so Bloody long makes this blunder all the more unforgiveable. In fact I'll say it Now Ollie Wines is and will be much better than Jack Viney!! And so the inevitable comparison between Jimmy Toumpas is almost unfair. Fact Jimmy Toumpas possesions show a staggering 95 % uncontested. I could cop that if he had pace, hurt you on the attack and or rebound and kicks multiple goals. But he doesn't and I suspect won't. Is there anyone that doubts we would be a much better side with Wines rather than Toumpas at present? Nar people, the Blunders have been empathic and demonstrably inept and those who are responsible have badly let down the MFC to such an extent we may never get out of the holes we have dug for ourselves. Unfortunately unlike most holes these ones have pockets of Quicksand. Pick draw blood fester, and until someone with recruiting nous takes over we shall remain the rabble we are!

And meanwhile over on "Ology" the debate Hots up! From an ology poster! Toumpas is slower than even Brock McLean because his hips are shot to bits. The club knew about his hip problems before the draft but drafted him anyway. Meanwhile Wines has been tearing his opponents a new one every time he plays. This might be the worst recruiting blunder of them all, which is saying a lot - worse than Watts over Natanui, worse than Trengove over Martin, worse than Cook over Darling. With those blunders, there were excuses. With Toumpas, there is no excuse. Hnmm interesting comments

Agree I am an advocate that if you are concussed you have a mandatory week of. even more so if subbed of! I suppose it highlighted how desperate we were for big men. Just glad Fitz didn't receive another knock . Questions would then have been asked I'm sure!

Ahem read my earlier post which said categorically that he should not play after effects of concussion previous week. It aint rocket science! But for some namely MFC it clearly is.

"Toumpas is slow" Wow, just what the doctor ordered.. A slow outside mid, absolutely perfect for our needs. Like raining nipples and you come up sucking your own thumb!

Yeah well some pretty good names in that group, Ok Lets continue to evaluate then. It starts from tomorrow Lets HOPE that he does show something tangible. I await with interest. I'll call it as I see it, tomorrow nearly more than any other game, Jimmy Toumpas and OTHERS need to step up! Howe, Byrnes. Trengove, Frawley, Mc Donald, Spencer needs to take a mark around the ground! Lets hope so Eh?

Yeah don't remind me, yet another MFC Recruiting "Gem"

Not as painful as watching Toumpas waddle around the park!

Hnmm I have meditated and have an answer. You see its all about looking at this logically and with foresight! Using my superior powers and knowledge of Philosophy, Pyschophysiology, Sociobiology, Sophology, my Phys- Ed Degree, and my experience in and around sporting circles leads me to this point! I may or may not be prejudiced, but in my estimation several players need to step "up to the plate" I have named them. Lets see what they offer us tomorrow eh? Also I of the sincere belief that if this side goes in as "Unchanged" then we will be carrying injured players. History is littered with this practice which I think is not worth the risk. I myself have gone into finals with heavy question marks over injured players and it has rarely paid off! In Footy and Cricket! On your last point "Failure is not an option" In some cases this might be right, and given where some players are at, maybe time to apply a bit of pressure! I like what Paul Roos is doing and like his coaching style. Whether I agree or disagree on selection is up to me! I,like you have an opinion, I reckon this week we have erred not bringing a few in and possibly on playing injured players lets see how it all unfolds after Sunday Eh Signed FENCEOLOGY!

FITZ Clearly concussed subbed out. should be a mandatory 1 week period no questions no discussion ( I hope they know what they are doing) will be largely ineffective. Mc DONALD will really be surprised if he plays and if he does it is a disgrace clearly cannot run. WATTS the most likely to play although I wouldn't be surprised if he is a lat minute withdrawal As for no change ??? Watch this space, A few need to be reminded that failure is not an option at this level! As consequence the microscope is right on Byrnes, Pederson, Toumpas, Howe, Frawley, Trengove ! I have a bad feeling about "No Change"

No loss to anyone but himself, glad to see Hawks stuff up a draft selection for a change, Leopards never change spots.

I have assumed Fitzpatrick , Mc Donald will not be fit , If Watts is injured Pedo might just have to play( Pity Juice was flicked would have got a gig given circumstances) Sorry couldn't resist. I would have had Blease for Toumpas ( easily I cannot how a bloke who can kick brilliant goals in a game and has electrifying pace cannot get a gig) Jetta for Byrnes and Clisby for Pederson., unless Watts out injured My side therefore would look like this B TERLICH FRAWLEY GRIMES HB DUNNE GEORGIO CLISBY C M JONES MICHIE TYSON HF BAIL HOWE BLEASE F GAWNE WATTS JETTA R SPENCER JONES VINCE inter CROSS, VINEY, TRENGOVE SUB KENNEDY- HARRIS plenty of flexibility and with a bit of X Factor.

I have assumed Fitzpatrick , Mc Donald will not be fit , If Watts is injured Pedo might just have to play( Pity Juice was flicked would have got a gig given circumstances) Sorry couldn't resist. I would have had Blease for Toumpas ( easily I cannot how a bloke who can kick brilliant goals in a game and has electrifying pace cannot get a gig) Jetta for Byrnes and Clisby for Pederson., unless Watts out injured My side therefore would look like this B TERLICH FRAWLEY GRIMES HB DUNNE GEORGIO CLISBY C M JONES MICHIE TYSON HF BAIL HOWE BLEASE F GAWNE WATTS JETTA R SPENCER JONES VINCE inter CROSS, VINEY, TRENGOVE SUB KENNEDY- HARRIS plenty of flexibility and with a bit of X Factor.

A ruckman who doesn't take an around the ground pack grab is surplus to needs IMV.

And have called a cab, cabbie wrapped because he gets double time and a half for Sunday Morning pickups!

Well as I iterated we lost this at selection, Who knows how we would have gone given my selections which are well publicised elsewhere. In a nutshell, Pederson, Byrnes should never play another game, Toumpas not up to it a few cheap possessions and so slow, its painful, still not sure regarding his volition to contest! Mc Donald Hnmm reckon he is starting to be found out, I know he was injured but can find himself being outpositioned and his kicking isn't great! Grimes and Trengove;s disposal is a worry, Worst game ever for Howe! A few positives Jones standout Capt, Watts starting to come of age, Ditto Dunne great game, Terlich and Matt jones give a bit of dash Vince Oh but for a centimetre either side of the post, but a class act.