Mono

Then why is everyone, including clubs, saying that this draft (next month) is the last UNCOMPROMISED draft?

The difference might be that Hawks started seriously drafting for the future in 2001 (with some good picks in 99). They bottommed in 04. While our drafting has been pretty good this year, and maybe 06. Not so good before that. So the Hawks bottomed out when they had the (young) cattle already. We have bottomed out at about the time we are gathering the cattle. I don't see where any real improvement next year will come from. :angry: I agree that the whole notion of "getting early draft picks will fix every thing" is ludicrous. Cargo-cult stuff. Careful selections (the majority of Harks best palyers today were NOT early picks - often higher than 20), and good coaching, and a culture of not accepting midiocrity will see us progress. Speaking of coaching, Paul Williams should be sacked. Our mid-field was 3rd world (Rhino's term); he should be held accountable.

We should not draft or trade for ANY player who has not shown at least a semblance of hardness. So, no to Ray.

Not so. That's why the Judd trade last year was in jeopardy until Kennedy agreed to his trade (Carltank to WEagles). Players cannot be made to go to another team. Hawthorn wanted Ryan Ferguson a few years back, but he wouldn't go.

20/20 hindsight is a great thing, I know, but read this, especially the end paragraphs. I believe John Turnbull is part of MFC recruiting now. <_<

Maybe: Thompson=Ottens>>>Moloney

Aint gonna happen Y_M. Bigger chance of Sylvia being traded.

Figures. The club will announce any signing, I would have thought.

Article here.

Quote your source, or remove the thread. :angry:

Yep you're right. Guess I took 'required player in 2009' as 'contracted player'. PSD maybe.

Mitchell debuted in 02, has played 130+ games and will be 26 soon; he has learnt his craft. Valenti is 21, and has played 9 games. Given the chance, he can learn his craft as well.

Only 25 tho'. If he does retire, hire him as mid-field coach and sack Williams. (Sack Williams anyway - useless.) 1 yr extension at best on contract (or plenty of clauses if 2yr).

What a hoot! Loved the bit about outrunning the ball. :lol:

Yes, he does. There's doubt he likes a contest (read hardness). I'm sick of 'silky skills' at MFC. Must have hardness to go with skills. No such doubt with Naitanui or Rich, or a number of other skilled players in the draft.

Get a grip guys. Ray is contracted to dogs for 2009. So PSD is not a possibility. Either he is traded, or he stays at the dogs.

Or there are clauses for the 3rd (& other) year.

If anyone offers this bloke 4 yr, they bloody better have a get out of jail clause. Especially us. 4yrs for what is basically a rooky is bullsh*t. And big $'s. Crazy. :angry:

But has he shown he likes a contest. I hear not. MFC has a recent history of 'silky skills'. Give me someone who likes a contest, as well as some skills.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Moloney is out of contract this year. No sign of a renewal yet.

Done. Opening post has been edited.

Looks like he did. From memory, he only mentioned Bell, Warnock and Whelan as contributors.

This is an interesting HS article about the hawks recruiting. I quote the second last paragraph:"A key ingredient is hardness: Hodge, Lewis, Brown, Sewell, Mitchell, Guerra, Campbell, Franklin, Roughead, Croad, Osborne. They either hit the ball, or the man, hard and often both." Hardness is not everything. But in AFL footy today, if you don't have it to some degree, you aint gonna make it.

I am going to put a dent in all the glowing praise on this thread. Morton: Pluses - great engine and footy smarts: knows where to run etc Minuses - poor kicking technique (reminiscent of Bruce) and thus kicking skills; needs to develop toughness for the contest. The toughness will probably come; not at all sure about the kicking skills. Hope I'm wrong. (Edit: and yes, I have watched him twice in the flesh, and a number of times on the box.)

Bruce has to agree to any trade.