Ron Burgundy

Great post TD - really appreciate the effort and insight that goes into compiling that information for us. My only criticism is that you didn't inform us as to who Port will likely take with pick 88, given that some here seem to think we paid 'overs' for Rodan.

Totally agree with this. That said, I reckon the real challenge/sport is getting the kids of your mates to support the Dees. It is possible.

What other picks at number 88 did you prefer?

This entire post sings of bad tools.

Yep, it's heading to a club that's intent on building a good culture.

Our culture has been the problem. It's been flabby and unprofessional. Our DNA has sucked too - and it's probably because we've been a bit inbred in our senior player ranks over a long period of time, none of whom had ever tasted any success and therefore didn't know what the key ingredients to success looked like. For instance, Leo Barry said to my mate a few weeks ago that the culture of the club's obviously been pretty ordinary because we can't attract good players and we always have to pay 'overs' to retain our established players - the latter of which sings out 'poor culture'. Well, I think things are now changing under Neeld, and quite dramatically. To all of those who suggest we paid 'overs' for Dawes, the reality is that a few clubs wanted him and he selected us. This would not have occurred previously (eg, Luke Ball wouldn't even talk to us). I also suspect we weren't the only club into Pedersen. He wanted to come to us. Farren Ray apparently wanted to come to us too - we just couldn't get the deal over the line. Mitch Clark was a lock in for Freo - he then elected to come to us, and he's stated a number of times since that he loves the club and wants to spend the rest of his playing years with us. There are still instances of players not wanting to come to us (eg, Caddy and Wellingham), but it seems a lot better now than anytime previously. In short, things are changing. It's because of the new blood - Neeld, Misson, Craig, Rawlings, Leigh Brown etc. Further to Leo Barry's comment above, I have to say I've never really observed any of our former 'leaders' (Junior and Neita aside) willingly extend their MFC contracts. It always seems to be an issue. But I'd be stunned to see that from any of the new brigade - they all seem to want to commit to the club, and they commit early. And I reckon the new mature age recruits who've been introduced this year have a similar headspace. Our culture is improving. And this trade period will serve only to accelerate that improvement. We're getting rid of the bad DNA and injecting some better stuff into the mix. My only disappointment during the trade period is that we didn't manage to land Ray - I want players who want to play for this club.

I'd have an attitude problem too if I had to play for Port.

Neeld has taken to our list like Al Pacino in Scarface. Raises a couple of questions. 1. How many players do we still need to add to the list in the forthcoming drafts (national and potentially pre-season); and 2. Who are the mature age players who might be available in the pre-season draft, eg, Ben Jacobs?

The club clearly wanted Pedersen. It seems to me that Pedersen was a part of the overall recruiting strategy this trade period - ie, in letting Rivers and Martin go, we needed Dawes and Pedersen in return. The club nailed this. Whilst I am slightly disappointed Gysberts didn't get one more pre-season with us, we needed to get this trade done - and pick 49 wasn't going achieve this. In short, we had to give up something - Pedersen clearly had genuine trade value. Looking at the clips of Pedersen that Ben Hur has posted on other threads, he looks very good. In fact, I reckon I'd be nervous about this trade if I were a North supporter. It also seems that our view of Gysberts is not shared by the current football department and the AFL world more generally. I back Neeld's judgement on this over my own. What's gut wrenching is that Lewis Jetta and Daniel Talia were taken just after Gysberts in the 2009 draft. But I suppose we can do all sorts of circle work with our wasted first round picks under the former regime without really getting anywhere. Neeld is clearly determined to change the culture of the club. And, without doubt, he is doing that. He is also recruiting players that fit into a system. I like the approach - it seems to be more measured and sophisticated than the flabby, ad hoc approach adopted during the Bailey years. And, for the first time in years, we have a forward line. It was an absolute joke in 2012.

And, to think, some people thought pick 12 for Mitch Clark was 'overs'.

Out of interest, is it just Pedersen and Ray we're seriously interested in at the moment? What about Broughton? Have we any interest in him? That said, I will be very happy if we land Pedersen and Ray - particularly if it doesn't cost us Gysberts.

Jamar.

Will be disappointed if we trade Gysberts this year. I really want to see where he's at after another pre season with Dave Misson.

Having looked at the clips of Cam Pederson on this site, I simply cannot believe we are the only club into him and that North want to get rid of him. What are we missing here?

Gysberts is an interesting one. I still have hopes that he will be a good player for us. Needs a bloody big pre-season.

I rate Dunn. And I reckon the club does too.

I hope I'm not misrepresenting this. I think I read it on the official website.

Are we still in the hunt for him?

I like the fact that Barry was apparently put on our radar by McDonald and Taggert. They will know what he's like.

I told every one of my mates to put their house on Colin Sylvia for the Brownlow this year. He got 2 votes.

I just feel disappointed about losing Rivers.

Junior, Woewodin, Powell and Thompson have hurt the most. Junior because it didn't make any sense, to me at least. Woewodin because he was a genuine Demon. Powell because we didn't get any proper compensation. And Thompson because it was clear he was going to be elite and we didn't manage him appropriately.

I could be massively wrong on this point, but I think recruiting Dawes has made Petterd's skills more relevant to our forward line. Petterd cannot seem to hold the first or second tall position in our forward line. That said, I think next to Clark, Dawes and Byrnes, there is now a role for a leading type, mid sized forward like Petterd. I think he could add dimensionality to our forward line now. Will be disappointed to see him traded.

He's been with the club for a year. They will know his strengths and weaknesses. As a result, I back the club's judgement on him - that said, it seems to be an odd decision based on what I've read here.

Yep.