old55

I couldn't care less if we win this match. Bailey appears to be playing players who have completed a full pre-season and are match ready, and is getting some valuable experience ito players who will not get a look in at R1. If that means we go in with an inexperienced side against a full strength Richmond side hell-bent on winning some pride then so be it - who cares. I support this approach and am sure we will ramp up apropriately to the real stuff - 22 rounds plus finals is a very long season.

Heard he took some short steps, don't think Lethal will approve of that.

With Carroll, Rivers, Wheatley, Whelan, Petterd and Bartram all possibly missing (and Ward, Brown, Bizzell and Ferguson gone from the list) the back 6 for NAB Cup R1 will be interesting. That leaves Bell as the only certain starter from a best back 6. Add Frawley from the new and Holland from the old. There's at least 3 place up for grabs ... I've always thought Bate would be worth a try at full back and could solve a few problems down there.

close to best thread ever on demonland - genius jacka!

Interesting discussion, but the topic is premature on two points: 1. "predicted to be so bad" - let's wait and see what actually happens - who knows we could win the 2008 flag - no-one expected Port or North to finish so high last year. 2. By his own inference, CAC's recruiting gets better with age. It's too early to judge his last couple of years and there could easily be stars amongst Jones, McLean, Bate, Frawley, Morton, Dunn, Petterd, Grimes, Maric and Newton.

Where's Godders playing?

Here's a post from CAC himself on Demonology from a couple of years ago:

"predicted"?

Thanks phile, and Zomer, Wonnaeamirri and Valenti to fill them.

Thanks for that report - great work!

1999-2000 draft penalties A shocking 2001 draft result Scott Thompson going home

As mentioned elsewhere, it's a good message that hard work and good performances with Sandringham can pay off with opportunity, that's part of what the alliance should be about.

Wishing you all the best Craig. You'll be missed. Thanks for all your hard work in a tough environment and your accessibility. Hopefully the fruit can ripen on the tree and we can harvest the cup - if so you'll be a huge part of it.

So apparently we don't need players with Sampi's attributes? OK with me.

The Age reported today: 3 - Bartram 10 - Morton 16 - Grimes That leaves 19, 25, 26, 30, 33, 35, 38, 39, 42, 44. I think Maric wore 44 at U18 level so that could be a good for him? Maybe Cheney to keep up the redheaded tradition in 42? That would fill out the 40s up to Wheels if Bode retains 43.

5 more new players - it's exciting - makes 11 new players at the club in 2008, quite a change from recent years.

Cats - highest handball to kick ratio in 2007. Just because we did it badly in 2007 ...

Where is RCR and does he want to sack Bailey already?

Thanks Craig for all your hard work at MFC. We all hope to see the fruits of your labour for years to come. I appreciate your friendly, accessible and open approach. You will be sorely missed. Good luck for your future - and may you have a never ending series of mid range picks at Richmond.

I think the coach has a fair input into player trades so I don't think CAC is responsible for bringing Ben Holland to the club. Anyway it's hard to see why Ben is regarded as a "failure", he's listed for his 5th year at the club has played 54 games and performed a range of roles very effectively. Jed Adcock is the only player in 2003 2nd round that gives cause for concern ... Round 2 20 West Coast SAMUEL BUTLER CENTRAL DISTRICTS 14/01/1986 185 75 Medium, inside midfielder/forward with clean hands and good foot skills. Rarely goes to ground and reads the play well. AIS-AFL Academy member and SA U/18 representative in 2003. Member of Central Districts Reserves Premiership side this year. From South Gawler FC. Year 12 student at Xavier College in Gawler. Round 2 21 Richmond ALEX GILMORE TASSIE MARINERS 29/06/1986 Round 2 22 Geelong CAMERON THURLEY TASMANIA 26/11/1981 181.7 75 Small inside midfielder who is excellent front and square. Hard runner who uses the ball extremely well. Round 2 23 Brisbane Lions MATTHEW MOODY SOUTH FREMANTLE (WAFL) 23/09/1985 187 81.8 Medium, outside forward who finds space and is a penetrating kick. Smart near goals. All-Australian U/18 in 2002. AIS-AFL Academy in 2002. Vice-captain of WA at 2003 National AFL U/18 Championships. From Kelmscott FC. Round 2 24 Kangaroos CHAD JONES CLAREMONT (WAFL) 15/06/1984 195.9 80.8 Tall, outside defender/forward – very athletic player who is a penetrating right foot kick. Was in the top 10% for the 10 metre sprint at the 2003 National Draft camp. Round 2 25 Hawthorn HARRY MILLER PORT ADELAIDE (SANFL) 11/06/1985 174.2 77.5 Small, outside midfielder/forward with a great leap. Good speed and knows where the goals are. SA u18 representative this year. Had the best sit and reach (flexibility) at the 2003 National Draft. From Mallee Park F.C. Round 2 26 West Coast DANIEL MCCONNELL EASTERN RANGES 21/06/1986 189.7 84 Inside defender or forward – has excellent pace and endurance for his size. Extremely good in the air and has got sound skills. AIS/AFL Academy in 2003. Was in the top 10% for the shuttle run at the 2003 National Draft camp. From Vermont F.C. Round 2 27 Fremantle ADAM CAMPBELL NORTH BALLARAT REBELS 25/01/1985 191.9 78.2 Tall, inside key forward who continually presents himself. Has speed off the mark and is a good kick. Versatility and leadership qualities are strengths. From Hamilton F.C. Round 2 28 Essendon JAY NASH CENTRAL DISTRICTS 21/12/1985 185 75 Medium, outside defender/midfielder with terrific work rate and excellent finishing skills. Has good football brain. AIS-AFL Academy member in 2002. SA U/18 representative in 2002 and 2003. Was in the top 10% for the standing vertical jump at the 2003 National Draft camp, state screening session. Another member of Central Districts Reserves Premiership team this year. From Nuriootpa FC. Year 12 student at Nuriootpa High School. Round 2 29 Sydney TIM SCHMIDT WEST ADELAIDE 14/03/1986 179.2 77.6 Small, inside midfielder with clean disposal skills and strong in the air. Joint u16’s B & F medal winner in 2002. AIS/AFL Academy and SA u18 rep in 2003. From Robertstown F.C Round 2 30 Port Adelaide BRADLEY SYMES CENTRAL DISTRICTS 7/03/1985 185 75 Medium defender/midfielder who is strong over the ball. Good hand and foot skills. AIS-AFL Academy in 2002. Named South Australia’s most valuable player in the 2003 National AFL U/18 Championships, and won All-Australian U/18 honours, member of Central Districts Reserve Premiership side in 2003. From Gawler Centrals FC. First year student at Adelaide University. Round 2 31 Adelaide JOSHUA KRUEGER GLENELG (SANFL) 27/10/1983 195.3 91.1 Tall, inside ruckman – athletic player who can take a strong contested mark. Excellent work rate. From West Gambier. Round 2 32 Collingwood BRAYDEN SHAW NORTHERN KNIGHTS 16/09/1985 Round 2 33 Brisbane Lions JED ADCOCK NORTH BALLARAT REBELS 15/11/1985 184 81.8 Disciplined, medium, inside defender who is defensively very good. Smart footballer who plays a physical game, but can provide plenty of run. A real competitor finishing 3rd in Rebels B & F this year after representing Vic Country in the National AFL U18’s. Was in the top 10% for standing vertical jump and 10 metre sprint at the 2003 National Draft camp. From Maryborough FC. Year 12 student at Maryborough Regional College.

From BF:

Yes I like the look and sound of Grimes - kicked off both feet under pressure OK in that footrage. McNamara yes Craig Bolton or maybe even a bit of McPhee in him? Laid an bone-crunching tackle on a player at speed.

If true, it's a big loss for MFC. Craig Cameron has done a great job as recruiter. I'm taking it hard. Recruiting is a refined art and he's had plenty of experience now and I think particularly in the last 5 or so years he has really peaked (of course it remains to be seen about the 2007 crop but the trend is very good). We're fortunate to have had the benefit of his experience over this period. Typical of his commitment that Craig has seen out this vital recruiting cycle for us and 11 years is a very strong effort at a club with such limited resources. The recruiter is equal most important person in the FD along with the coach and the football manager, I don't think a flag can be won without great skill in each area. There are other great recruiters out there and we need to do every thing we can to secure one. Maybe Steven Wells at Geelong thinks the job is done there and is looking for a new challenge. It appear that Collingwood's Derek Hine was a good pick up, so a decent replacement can be found - must be found! Quite frankly a club like ours with limited resources needs all the breaks it can get and we really need excellence in each key area to compete - that's why having CAC has been so important. If true, then all the best to Craig for the future, he will be sorely missed. Richmond is an interesting choice and I guess old loyalties come into play - either they'll make the eight the next few years and he wont have early picks or he'll be working with a new coach very quickly - wonder what he'd think if they appointed Kevin Sheedy?

Please list the monster FF that we should be so worried about - yeah Gehrig, Rocca and Thompson - but the main thing they have in common is that they're in their twilight. Full forward speed rather than bulk is the issue - Carroll, Frawley and maybe Garland are well equipped in this area.

Our current youngest 22: B: Bartram Frawley Bell HB: C.Johnson Rivers Grimes C: Bode McLean Buckley HF: Petterd Bate Morton F: Maric Newton Sylvia R: Meesen Dunn Jones I: Garland Weetra Cheney McNamara