Mono

Why else delay a decision then; he has the 2 offers now. (Unless of course he wants to talk to other clubs at years end? ) Edit: Hypothetical: Thomas accepts GWS offer, but via a trade (rather than out of contract deal). The filth get pick 1 from GWS and have heaps of space in salary cap. They trade for Scully with pick 1. (MFC cannot say no.) Just a thought.

Maybe, but not when he is 20 or 21. The $600k is the average over each of 5 yrs. Apparently. It too was on potential, which he never delivered (please, no new Bruce thread). Also, we had to get total player payments up to the minimum - there weren't too many others worthy of highish $s. We have plenty, potentially, now. No way Martin is on $3m over 5 yrs.

Does anyone else think the numbers being bandied about are laughable? GWS has at least 3 offers on the table: Ward ($850k per yr for 5 yrs = $4.25m) Scully ($1m per yr for 5 yrs = $5m) Thomas ($1+ per yr for 5 yrs = $5m +, would have to be more than offered to Scully) Total= $3m (per yr) for 3 players ($15m for 5 yrs) These offers are on the table and presumably unconditional; so what are they going to pay the other 50? players if they all accept? MFC has reportedly offered Scully $600k. Unless it is heavily conditional (Brownlow votes, B&F etc), this too is laughable for a 25 game player. If the MFC offer is correct, they are negligent - the damage to the playing group/club is incalculable. Ed: added totals for 5 yrs

Interesting post. And he may well work out for us. But by your own analysis, there is no way he should have been a top 10 pick.

I'm with you there. Bail is a gun.

If this is true, you'd think he won't play for MFC or Casey again.

Whoooa ... 29 pages going around in circles. FWIW i thought he was leaving at the end of last year; still do and this weeks media frenzy would seem to confirm it. BUT - where is he going? For me GWS never made sense: he is not a game winner/breaker yet (a few years away a best); he is not a marquee player; he doesn't have a film star demeanor or presence. He is not what they need now (but speculation may raise his price). My guess? GC - they will probably finish last, so will have pick 6 to offer (and probably a player - they have to reduce their list). AND who better to play with and learn from than Ablett, the games best, in a rapidly developing mid-field. AND they will have the $s to make it attractive. AND quite probably a culture of professionalism that he doesn't see at MFC. If not GC, then Brisbane will have a low pick; Voss is still a legend (with Black, Power and Brown) and they will have $s as Rich, Clark and others have been signalled as possible losses. Then there's Carlton: playing with Judd (and Murphy) would have to be a huge attraction; delisting McLean will free up $s and a FD with probably unlimited $s. (Getting the deal done may be a problem here - no low picks available probably.) So when he has said that he or his people have not spoken with GWS, maybe he is being truthful. Someone should ask him if he, his management or his family has spoken with any other club. Interesting times.

Not hard. Now or ASAP.

Good post. Perhaps I can summarise? We are building a team and a mid-field. Why play a player who is not going forward with us. Better to get 8 or so games into a player who is (Blease?). Scully signs = he plays; he doesn't (or until he does), he doesn't play. Simple. Doesn't need 22 pages on this forum. Sheesh.

And what do you consider conclusive evidence?

642 posts in 44 days - you'd know pal.

I joined this forum in 2008 because I was outraged at the pathetic efforts dished up at the start of that year. Then, the team played as if it was leaderless and uncoached. Little has changed since (excepting unmanaged can be added to the description - see below about Howe). Have we improved since then? yes, but only to the extent that having a sheet of early draft picks must help a bit. We play as if leaderless and uncoached. And WTF is Howe doing fronting the press - link - and published on the MFC web site, no less. Howe was a positive today, but its his second game FFS. He is explaining the up and down form of the team, or trying to; but he's only played 2 games FFS! Where are the so-called leaders of this club - they should be fronting the press; not some newbie. Something is seriously starting to stink. ED: "press" = Media; thanks stuie

I disagree. This club is "leaderless" and "uncoached". Been this way since 2008 (if not before).

Against carlton, Robinson, and others referred to MFC as playing "bruise free" footy. Now Cloke has come out with the filth plan to play through Rivers, to isolate him - link. On both cases, its hard to argue against the plan, or the outcome. I don't remember this happening before even once (publicly) to a club, let alone twice. And they're happy to tell everyone!! Coaching against MFC looks pretty easy. I can't believe how [censored] off I am.

FWIW I think the celebrations were, sort of, juvenile. What I would have liked to see was Green call them all together at the end, to remind them that this was just the start, they will be judged on next week etc, etc, and to then say 'go and enjoy the moment'. Instead, at the siren it was as if they'd won a major award/whatever; sure it has been a tough week, but as Bailey apparently said, play well next week and this week's celebrations won't matter; play poorly and watch out. This team continues to play as if leaderless, and un-coached. This week, essendon were down, and our guys just played natural, instinctive footy. For mine the difference this week was having players who were prepared to run: Howe, Evans & Nicholson in particular because they are new and just played their natural game and ran, ran, ran and got involved. Add Trengove (who I thought was great) and Scully and we're up and about. But, IMO we are still leaderless, and basically uncoached. Why the hell didn't Bailey or Green show leadership (they were both on the ground at the siren) and call the group together. Massive opportunity lost. Massive.

6 - Rivers 5 - Gysberts 4 - Martin 3 - Trengove 2 - McKenzie 1 - Howe

Maybe not enough room for his and Dunstall's head in the same room? Plenty of power egos around the hawks.

you're correct, my mistake. quite simply, I didn't. Don't hold your breath. But then again, and if, I invite you to be first: tongue out.

Not so sure about that. I think the last 2 games have shown that many of the players (not all) are showing endeavour; having a real crack. With a little luck, they would have beaten the saints (they won most of the key stats), but that's not saying much. The team plays as if it has no leadership, and as if it is uncoached. Repeat: Uncoached (think chooks with their heads off). Little has changed since the start of 2008, with the possible exception of the the last half of 2010 (when Wellman was the defensive coach). Read my lips: leaderless, and uncoached. I reckon there's plenty would like to have a go (at coaching MFC). Ed: Corrcted spelling for Wellman

We should have won it; the saints are now a mediocre side. But he should when he keeps playing them.

Ralph has it pretty right, I reckon. Hard to disagree with any of it. And the language he uses is pretty measured.

I think the MFC's web site should limit the twitters it 'publishes' to its own official ones. Jone's and any other ones should be left private, not published on the MFC's site.

I'd trade Morton in a heartbeat. Said it before.

Neitz anyone? Gun CHB before going forward.

Hardwick did apply for the job. MFC chose Bailey. Not a decision I agreed with, as I have said on this board a few times.