Ron Burgundy

Totally agree. Watching his clips on the website and those posted by Ben Hur (I think), I thought to myself this kid's got the nicest looking kick in the club, if not the entire AFL. Not since TJ have I enjoyed watching a Demon kick like that.

I don't think some people appreciate how unbelievably pathetic losing an AFL game to another club by 186 points actually is. It says everything about where we were at as a coaching and player group in 2011. Neeld inherited a woefully uncompetitive list and game plan, which will take time to fix. I just don't get why some people don't appear to see this. It's just so bloody obvious.

I think this kid will eventually be my favourite ever Demon.

I reckon Neeld thinks he will/can play seniors in 2013. No use rookie-ing a 25 year old. He obviously sees him as having an immediate role to play.

Top post. Thanks.

If he's available, I hope we pick up Ricky Dyson.

Most of this wasn't Neeld's doing though - he inherited a dog turd. And, plainly, he has done his utmost to change things. Devil's advocate - but would you prefer that he did not adopt such a ruthless strategy and simply retained our senior players (eg, Moloney, Green etc) and those players like Morton, Bennell, Gysberts and Petterd in whom we'd invested quite a bit of game time but who, to date, hadn't consistently delivered? Personally, I am much more enthusiastic about the alternative approach which, thankfully, Neeld adopted. IMO Neeld can only do so much, and what he has done to date has inspired a truck load of confidence. In fact, I am amazed at what he has achieved in terms of list restructuring in such a short period of time. That being the case, I'm bloody excited. The signs are there. Hard players. Ruthless, professional, disciplined approach. This formula will drive success over time. So what's not to be excited about?! This whole "I will wait to see the results before I get excited" approach is far too convenient IMO. Players and supporters need to commit to the strategy/approach prior to the actual results being delivered for it to succeed - not merely sit on the fence and applaud it only after it has worked. That's just a flabby way to approach things.

It's officially over. No more choir boy stuff. As the AFL world knows, upon securing the senior gig, Mark Neeld stated: "I simply want to coach the team that is the hardest to play against in the AFL. That means all over the ground we're going to be the hardest to play against. There will be a number of components that come with that." He was ridiculed for saying this, including by some posters here. Well, who's laughing now?! He has taken to the soft players on this list like Tony Montana. And he has replaced them with hard, fiercely competitive players who are determined to succeed. This bloke is the real deal. He endured a simply ridiculous amount of carp last season, virtually from day one. Strangely, the anti-Neeld voices have gone quiet. Eerily quiet. We will only field "hard" teams from now on. Of that, have no doubt. Thank you Mark Neeld. Thanks very much. Bring on 2013.

This is simply another element in Mark Neeld's strategy of re-establishing a great culture at this club. Jack Grimes would take a bullet for this club. He's a Demon through and through, and Mark Neeld has just acknowledged it, very publicly, in a way that is a massive compliment to the young man. That being the case, what do you think the new draftees will think when Jack welcomes them to club and they see the passion in his expression and actions when he talks about the joint?! It's probably much the same as new draftees to the Cats would've thought when they first met Cameron Ling. We're setting up a good, tight club culture here. It's no longer about show pony individuals - it's about team and club. And Mark Neeld is convinced that Jack Grimes is the man to lead the charge. Perhaps a slightly left field thing to do, but I reckon this is what it's all about.

GWS were completely fraudulent to us in relation to their dealings with Tom Scully. For a long time, I loathed them for that. But, to be honest, they've actually been very reasonable to us in 2012: - Even though they stole Tom Scully from us, they did us a massive favour. I'm glad he's not on our list. Don't like him and don't particularly rate him as a top tier player. - In return for Scully, we effectively received Mitch Clark (b/c of the cash we'd kept aside for Scully), Toumpas (pick 4) and Dawes (pick 13 then moved to pick 20). On any construction, that's 'overs'. - They allowed us to recruit Jesse Hogan with pick 3 which also enabled us to recruit Jack Viney (father/son) with pick 26. Total bargain. - They picked O'Rourke and Plowman ahead of Toumpas. Toumpas will be a MFC club legend. There's no way he should've got to us at pick 4. What's there to hate? I now kind of like GWS.

Just watched the interview with Toumpas on the MFC website. Never seen him play. Virtually my favourite player. Welcome aboard Jimmy - and don't contain your excitement in future. Ever. It's infectious. I hope you play 300+ games for this club.

If Evans can get his body right, he could be a very good player. CS told me at a Debt Demolition Dinner last year that the club rates him pretty highly.

You're right. Her usual method is to simply make [censored] up.

Toumpas looks bloody awesome in that footage.

I want the club to get Ricky Dyson in the PSD. Quick, elite disposal and ready for combat in round 1, 2013.

Totally agree. If the priority pick was still in play, we would've been accused of tanking in 2012. Most of our backs played in the forward line in 2012 and Dunn, previously a forward, became a half back flanker. Watts, recruited as a key forward, is now a permanent fixture in our backline. We lost the first 9 games straight. Many of our senior players were dumped from the leadership group, and the B&F winner from the year before couldn't find the ball. He reckons he was played in the 'wrong role'. Clearly we tanked. Surely that's what the evidence suggests. But heh, no one cares - because there's no priority pick anymore.

= the end of bruise free footy at the MFC.

Perhaps you're right on this occasion old dee. I just can't stand her, so I now default into loathing every article I read by her. She can't write. That said, Carlton/Judd and Adelaide/Tippett are IMO the same issue. MFC 'allegedly' tanking is entirely unrelated.

Ms Wilson cannot resist the urge to put Melbourne into the mix each time she talks about the Tippett affair. The issues are entirely unrelated. It's such a long walk from where Ms Wilson's at to intelligent, quality, well written and reasoned journalism. Such a long walk. As an aside, if Tippett takes an early pick in the ND or pre-season draft from either GC or GWS, obviously that's going to be good for us. It essentially bumps us up a pick.

There are 6 names there. Why isn't Oliver Wines mentioned given that it seems we are likely to take him with pick 4?

I trust the judgement of Mark Neeld and Leigh Brown on Dawes' ability as a key forward. I reckon he's going to be a bloody good player for us. I'm just worried he may not form the partnership with Mitch Clark for a while given Clark's injury. I want to see the twin towers operating from round one, but that doesn't seem likely.

Except us that is. We've not had the dough to pay the full amount of the cap, let alone exceed it.

Jonathan O'Rourke?

To the extent that any MFC supporters still subscribe to The Age, please end it. Their reporting is pathetic. The best way to hurt The Age is not through the courts - it's through not buying the paper. At all.

Grimseyisgod - I don't know if your question is in relation to Jacobs or my last comment. I reckon it'd be great if we could get Jacobs. Doesn't look likely though. As for Dyson, my last comment was a bit tongue in cheek - but having read 20 pages about him on Bomber Blitz, given our needs he seems a absolute no brainer selection for us at the equivalent of pick 70 (ie, overlook that pick and get him in the pre-season draft). He's quick, has elite disposal, a good attitude and is (finally) starting to win his own ball. Can't believe he's been cut by the Dons.