Ron Burgundy

Assuming we secure Pederson, I think we have essentially traded Rivers for Pederson.

I can barely lift my arms.

1001. Very proud.

Very measured, disciplined response Carrot Top. I'm sure Mark Neeld would respect that. I, however, prefer to swing the bat.

I respect your view Tim, even though I disagree with it. In my day job, I see a lot of people default to 'process' as their protector, irrespective of whether following that process actually produces a good outcome/decision. Personally, I prefer substance over form. In my observation, Neeld has substance as a coach and in his methodology and approach to the gig, and, as a result I think he will deliver results for this club. So much so, I couldn't give a stuff about the process - I feel we got the right man. And I'd take that any day over some process which, on paper, had complete integrity but which ultimately delivered the wrong dude.

Dunn is a required player.

I also think Neeld's been very astute in identifying and recruiting many of the assistant coaches. They too seem to have had a very positive impact on the culture of the club and the player list.

I agree. If he can remain injury free, I reckon there's enormous upside to Evans.

Who's still bagging the apparent lack of process that saw Mark Neeld appointed as our head coach this time last year?! Come out you bloody dweebs - you know who you are. Ms Wilson, you're one. And where are our 'On The Couch' buddies? Anti intellectual, grubby, gutter journalism at its best. Disgraceful stuff. Personally I cannot believe Fast Eddie's not getting absolutely slammed at the moment. Malthouse, Neeld and Watters in one season. Surely a shocking result for that club. That said, I feel indebted to Monsieur Maguire. His ineptitude gifted us Mark Neeld, and he is just what this club needed at that very moment. Thank you Melbourne FC. Thank you even more Collingwood FC. And thanks also for the wholly unreasonable criticism of Neeld for much of 2012 - it will just make it easier to demonstrate the influence he had on turning this joint around in the years to come. FWIW this club is back in business.

Re: development - Dave Misson will be a key component underlying the period of sustained success that this club will enjoy from 2014 onwards. Again, of that, I am convinced. Get excited folks, because what's happening at the moment is just that.

Given our needs, I think Dawes is an absolute bargain at pick 20. For those not sharing this view, the bottom line has to be this - no longer can any opposition coach seek to triple team Clark to neutralise our entire forward line. It now has dimensionality - Clark, Dawes and Byrnes in addition to several other options (eg, Sylvia, Howe, Davey etc) rotating through now make our forward line difficult to match up on. Last season it was a rabble. On any construction, this is an unbelievable transformation, the likes of which I've never seen before for this club during a draft period. I don't expect there's anyone happier in Australia than our number 11 at the moment - he could win AA selection next year on the back of this draft period. Fingers crossed that we now land Wines with pick 4, Pederson and one of Ray or Broughton. If we do, the football department has just delivered us a perfect 10.

Neeld is building a structure here. We had a war chest during the Bailey years and fired all of our ammo at our own reserve trenches and the hospital tent. Funny that both Neeld and Malthouse wanted Dawes. We would've spent a far higher draft pick on him last year - for our needs, Dawes at pick 20 is a good deal. And we've got Mitch Clark, principally it would seem because we couldn't prise Dawes off the Pies last year. What a genuinely top result. We also have the money in the cap for him - so IMO the $500k pa is a complete red herring. Neeld is literally transforming this joint in so many positive ways. Surely that's obvious. The MFC is currently being rebranded during this trade period - before our very eyes. And Neeld knows what makes a good midfield and the importance of it - somehow I don't think he's missed that one.

Did you think that about the Mitch Clark deal 12 months ago too?

Mark Neeld is going to win this club a flag. Of that, I'm absolutely convinced.

This is good news. In fact, you little bloody bewdy! Now for Pederson and Ray/Broughton.

I will miss Rivers - I'd prefer him to stay. However, the fact that Neeld took him out of defence and played him in the forward line for much of the season, suggests to me that Neeld doesn't think he's our most important defender. (It also indicates that Neeld didn't think much of our other forward line options beyond Clark.) And what's clear at the moment is that the MFC is going like a bat out of hell to improve our forward line with lateral recruits - so one would think Rivers stint in the forward line has come to an end. If Watts can play his position, Rivers is possibly not as important to the MFC as he may be to another club (despite finishing 5th in our B&F). As stated, I hope he stays. But I also hope he lets the club know what he intends to do sooner rather than later - this thing is dragging on far too long, and it must make it very difficult for the club to sort out other contracts.

Surely he'll be rookied by a club at the end of this year. I wish him all the best. That said, this pick, more than any other I can recall (including Luke Molan at number 9) has been the biggest ever blunder.

And I'm wholly in favour of trading it to the Pies for Dawes.

Pick 19 in that draft gave us James Strauss. Shuey was 18. That said, picks in the 20s in that draft delivered Ballantyne, Jackson Trengove, Zaharakis, Suban, Redden, Beams and Hannebery (pick 30). In short, pick 20 has value.

Where are those irrational critics of Neeld at the moment? Is it not now abundantly clear that he is positively and actively trying to improve this list?

Jack Viney has set himself the goal of playing round one, 2013.

This hurts. A lot. 2010 National Draft 1. David Swallow (Gold Coast, 33 games) 2. Harley Bennell (Gold Coast, 36) 3. Sam Day (Gold Coat, 22) 4. Andrew Gaff (West Coast, 41) 5. Jared Polec (Brisbane, 15) 6. Reece Conca (Richmond, 35) 7. Josh Caddy (Gold Coast/Geelong, 24) 8. Dyson Heppell (Essendon, 43) 9. Dion Prestia (Gold Coast, 31) 10. Daniel Gorringe (Gold Coast, 8) 11. Tom Lynch (Gold Coast, 12) 12. Lucas Cook (Melbourne, 0) 13. Seb Tape (Gold Coast, 23) 14. Brodie Smith (Adelaide, 36) 15. Billie Smedts (Geelong, 14)

Anyone know the latest on Farren Ray?

Wines please.

I still believe there's upside to Cale Morton. I have confidence that Neeld will use him better than Bailey, and Misson should be able to improve his strength and fitness. IMO he just needs a bit more time under the new regime at the MFC. I'm not sure we'd ultimately get the better of any trade involving Cale at this point in time.