Viney12

I personally don't believe Free Agency is going to explode like others do. Firstly, there is still a salary cap. Secondly there is still team loyalty. Where we are lacking is experienced players, yet people are wanting to trade out 2 best experienced players. I'm sorry WYL, but until you name some viable picks, this is all irrelevant Name some wishes then, not ones we'll get, but some players you'd like to trade in for Moloney / Sylvia And be realistic

The binge drinking episode was the biggest load of horsepoop I have ever seen Firstly, complete lies were told about Moloney pissing on a bar, he was vindicated for this Honestly, I was furious at the club when they took the VC of him, it was a non issue for mine And don't imply [censored] like you just have with your second sentence, ludicrous

Let's give them some more time under Neeld before they're chopped We're not trading them mid season, so at least give them a chance to perform Sylvia had a fractured back, comes back round 5 as sub, and his next game against the cats at KP (which was never going to be an easy game) Moloney played round 1 when clearly he shouldn't have, he was obviously struggling with injury, misses 2 weeks and comes back in the midst of our horror draw I just don't think we can be so quick to flush 300 games of experience (and lets be honest, they are both at least good players) when we have so few experienced mature bodies

I wouldn't say he's had a good one and bit good seasons yet He was ok without being great last year and needs to string a few more together IMO (not doubting his talent, I think he'll be a great player but he's not get) The question remains....what could we offer Bennell that he isn't going to get at the Gold Coast?

This is my point though Who are we going to trade in. Name some (realistic) options of players that've played 120 - 150 games that are going to make a difference AND be available AND want to come to Melbourne The MFC have been ripping my heart out for 31 years, I get what you are saying.....but that's irrelevant to what we are discussing Name 1 decent experienced mid that was traded in 2011 trade period? Zero. We got the pick of the trades with Mitch, the rest were in experienced talls (Tom Lynch / Tommy Walsh types) Name 1 decent experienced mid that was traded in 2010 trade period? Zero In 2009 there were 3 good mids traded. Burgoyne (who had clearly pre selected the Hawks), McGlynn and Kennedy (clearly our strategy at this time was youth and draft picks anyway) 2008 Farren Ray who was soft and outside at the time (hardened up at the Saints) and Brent Primsall (Moloney mkII) So The point is, there isn't a huge availabilty of decent and experienced mids to trade for each year People have a notion in their mind we can wriggle anyone loose from their club, but the facts remain, very few trades are actually done each trade period. So, and not having a go, who are the players we should be targetting?

Please explain off field issues for Moloney.....

I was actually going to mention that in my post, but thought against it With Clark - he predominately wanted out of QLD AND we were able to throw a massive offer at him to entice him over What would we be able to offer Bennell? He's guaranteed a lot of game time, he's going through with a group all his age, with a chance to build something....we have little to offer him

Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan, but I would like to see him string together a few more of those performances

Geez everyone froths after a couple of good games Let's see him do it for the next couple of years before he becomes a love child (not go at OP, more at the media drool) Anyway, no chance, he's a WA boy who was heavily rumoured to be homesick last year - doubt there'd be a chance to entice him to Vic

Fact is a Mitch Clark doesn't come around every trade time Fact is we've wooed players for trade in the past with no luck We were fortunate to have a very attractive package available for Clark People seem to live in hope we're going to be able to dislodge these experienced guns from other clubs, but it's mainly fantasy and wishful thinking Who are we going to dislodge and intice over.....and let's be realistic People seem to think we can just make an offer to Adelaide / Dangerfield and he's ours.....if it were that easy, we'd be doing it every year. All Clubs would. But let's look at reality. How many guns get traded each year? So the reality of the situation is, we'd be trading in average experienced players, and delisting / trading out average experienced players. Trade for trades sake.....and pointless We'd then be facing yet another bout of "ripping the heart out of the club" as we did with Jnrmac and the subsequent flow on effect Last year against St Kilda, Collingwood and the Dogs (all losses, all teams better than us) Moloney was one of our best And please enlighten me to WHO in God's name is whinging about the McLean trade????

I agree with you also, but recruiting experience isn't as easy as some tend to make out What's the good in cutting players and recruiting as experienced yes equally average players?

Agree Key Deefender, especially the part about the dearth of leadership Brad Green is our most experienced player with 243 games, then Aaron Davey with 155 Green is looking like he's on his last legs, as is Davey, so if these 2 go at seasons end (may not happen, but possible) as well as Sylvia and Moloney, we'd be left with only 5 guys with 100+ games (as it stands right now) We think we have experience and leadership issues now, imagine it if we threw all experienced players away

At times yes, other times no The reality is in the last few years, when we've won, they all look great. When we lose, they all look bad It's like supporting Jekyll and Hyde However, he's had plenty of good games in losses over the last few years Gets plenty of touches, plenty of clearances, plenty of tackles. There were a few noteable down performances last year when we were getting smashed by top 4 teams, and everyone is hanging Moloney's career on these He had 27 touches, 7 tackles against the Swans last year (draw) 25 touches, 7 tackles against the Saints last year (loss) 35 touches, 9 tackles against Port last year (loss) 25 touches, 6 tackles against Richmond last year (loss) 25 touches, 7 tackles against Collingwood last year (loss) 2010 he had 38 touches, 7 tackles against collingwood (draw) - eventual premiers 27 touches, 7 tackles against carlton (loss) 22 touches, 6 tackles against hawthorn (loss) 24 touches, 6 tackles against collingwood (loss) - 1st game In fact, of his 18 games in 2010 only 3 did he have under 20 touches and 1 was due to early injury He played in 12 losses that year and was one of our more consistent and better performed in these matches In 2009 of his 21 games he only dipped below 20 possessions on 4 occassions. He played in 17 losses that year and was one of our more consistent and better performed in these matches

My point was that Brent's ENTIRE career is being viewed as the last 12 months. Brent has not always struggled against good teams. He's being called lazy etc. by a lot of people, which I think is completely unfair based on his career. Hence my comment re 2009 / 2010 he was very good despite the fact we were very bad. I used QB 2010 as it was a game where he dominated against the eventual premier (just checked stats, 38 touches, 7 tackles). You say I had to go back to 2009 / 2010?? Because my point being that everyone is defining his career on 2011 as being always a down hill skiier. Well he wasn't a down hill skiier when we were at our absolute worst in '09 / '10 Here's Brent's career stats Yes stats dont paint the whole picture, but they give some idea It's an undeniable fact Brent struggled at times against top teams last year - newsflash though - all players did That tells me that he may in fact be a barometer Reality is, he was top 10 in the brownlow and won our BnF

It's funny really how people's perceptions are based all in the last 12 months Sure, Brent dominated weaker teams last year and was GENERALLY poor against the better teams LAST YEAR However, in previous years, Brent has been one of our better performer in losses against good teams Brent had a very good 2009 and 2010 and we had plenty of losses those years (oh and if you want an example, QB vs Collingwood in 2010 (eventual premiers) Brent had about 35 - 40 touches)

Cons Having a 105kg beast crashing into him time after time I'll never forget what Jamar did to NicNat in their first encounter

Nope, can't happen.

Incorrect, the Vets List rule changes and now only $100k of vets salary will go off the Cap (as opposed to the 50% it used to be) Freo may be able to afford Cloke now, but when their young guns develop, where's their money going to come from

Nice insight :thumbsup:

I agree with this also If we have to use (going by current ladder position) pick 3, and the club thinks is worthwhile, then great, if we get him for a 2nd rounder, even better I can't see teams potentially squandering a # 1 or # 2 pick in a supposed super draft merely on spite, purely because of the potential to backfire Personally, I'd rather see some bloody wins and end up with a lower pick in the 1st round - i'm sick of losing

I agree with this If we're forced to take him with a low pick (a la 3) and he doesn't perform, we'll cop it left right and centre

Can they make 2 bids?

11 games in a horrendous team, being absolutely beseiged in the backline - and we wonder why he wasn't starring? Strauss showed a bit for mine. Had a few 20 + possie games, used it well, is reasonably hard at the contest, good runner, nice kick, bulked up a fair bit I'm happy to let the lad have a few more games before we call it bust

A fit Rohan Bail is a very valuable player Definitely not a mistake at pick 64 If he stays injury free and retains some early form, he'll be a steal at pick 64