Ron Burgundy

Yeah - interesting re: Sellar. I should perhaps qualify the last comment - they don't rate Sellar that highly, but they don't reckon he is hopeless either - far from it in fact. They reckon the Crows don't have an abundance of younger talls, and therefore question the de-listing of him in the context that: - he was a very high draft pick - he didn't get much of an opportunity there - the club had invested many years of development into him, and then cut him just when that investment may have started to pay off. As you've said though RR, time will tell.

I have a number of mates who are passionate Crows supporters. They all rate Dangerfield really highly - in fact, they reckon he'll be the next Captain of the club. I said we have our sights on him (don't actually know if we do obviously - just stirring them). They reckon we have absolutely no chance of getting him. Bottom line is that he's clearly a very good player - these guys know what they're talking about when it comes to Adelaide players. Interesting though that they don't rate Thompson as highly as we do - say he goes missing when he's needed, then picks up 35 touches when it doesn't count. The opposite of Ricciuto. Most of them also question the de-listing of Sellar. Reckon he was a good pick up for us at 54, and most think he should still be at the Crows. Good tall who still has his best years in front of him (in their opinion).

Thanks WJ. I had thought Bruce had some performance hurdles to achieve in order to get the second year. Am I wrong in thinking that, or did he actually achieve those requirements to get the second year? I say that because, from a distance, it looked to me like the Bruce Hawthorn experiment in 2011 didn't track too well.

Not for inclusion on our list, but can someone please provide an update on the status of Cameron Bruce, Simon Buckley, Paul Johnson, Kyle Cheney and Addam Maric for 2012. Just interested to know.

Perhaps I'll just introduce myself as an extremely passionate MFC supporter (not many of us in Sydney), and then observe his reaction.

Everyone I speak to thinks the Dees were given a massive leg up in getting the priority pick through allegedly tanking (even though Carlton did much the same the year before). Scully defecting, and the manner in which it played out, is so appalling that people now feel that we have been dudded. Completely correct view to have IMO. But I'm happy about that, because the reality is we only have one first draft pick on our list - and any success that comes our way will not be the result of being gifted number one draft picks. And IMO this grubby affair has helped to kill that perception.

It intrigues me that Sellar has been delisted, yet Craig and Viney both endorsed him. I just don't get it.

I agree. I am genuinely happy he is no longer on our list - quite simply, I only want kids who are proud to play for this club and, once recruited, only want to play for this club. And we got Mitch Clark as a result of Scully leaving. Happy about that too. I've been invited to a corporate lunch with Sheeeeeeeds in early December. Table of 10. What questions would people here like me to put to him?

Ordinary post.

I've heard they can and will - GWS source. But this is absolute hearsay and could be very unreliable - I don't know the rules. And, assuming the bit about the deep draft next year being true, we have two first round compo picks up our sleeve for next year. You can only be happy about that.

I expect GWS will pass on a lot of their picks this year (shallow draft), and keep them on ice for next year (deep draft). Absolutely stoked we got Mitch Clark, but pick 12 may result in the Lions getting a player a little before number 12 in the draft.

Master, I have to say, I don't agree with you - but, then again, I have absolutely no idea what Neeld thinks of Prendergast. My instinct is along the lines of what most other posters have said though. That said, I loathe the personal attacks that some people simply cannot resist making on this site. It reflects poorly on them, both intellectually and emotionally. Most people that regularly post on this site appear to love this club - why attack them?! It's good that people have different opinions from time to time - the opposite of that retards progress and advancement.

Neeld's on the record as saying it. Can't see why his two assistants would be afraid to say the same thing, albeit at the pub. Hardly controversial really - the entire AFL community probably thinks exactly the same thing. Hurley was the number one pick from that draft, IMO. That said, I'm happy with Watts - but I want him to start to realise his potential for this club. Probably applies to a few others on the list too.

At least Scully will be stuck there for the rest of his life.

Neeld + Misson + Craig = massive credibility. None of the senior players will be able to complain or patronise or whinge or about a negative message being delivered to them by this coaching panel. If any of these guys make a negative comment about a player's performance, it has massive weight underlying it. And the players know that. Exciting stuff. Sylvia could win the Brownlow in 2012 - even though I think suspending him sends completely the correct message, I also wish he could get the three votes in round 1. I think he will absolutely flourish under Neeld (as will many others). Some could struggle though.

I don't accept this for a second. We would still have Trengove - he committed to the Dees early, and it was genuine. He appears to have a much different approach to the club, his team mates and perhaps to his career/life goals to Scully. The underlying character of the player is very important in this debate. It's not all about the dough for many - in fact, for some it's not about the dough at all. Many, many much better and more established players than Scully were targeted by GWS, and they all stuck fat with their respective clubs and by their team mates. They didn't run for the cash - other factors were too important to them. For many, it seems they didn't even really entertain the offers from GWS. It was just not an option. And I think it is bordering on slanderous to suggest Trengove may have gone to GWS if he had been targeted (I know that's not what you intended Kick It Long, but IMO it can't even be suggested re: Trengove). He strikes as a young man of extreme integrity. For instance, without being pressured, he approached the club after the 186 point humiliation to Geelong and essentially said, "I am committed to this club - sign me up forever". And that's in the context that he's a young AFL gun in demand and his club, at the time, was completely imploding. Character in spades - he wouldn't leave the trench.

I attended the GWS annual corporate lunch about a month or so ago. I have to say, I was pretty impressed. There were about 850 people there, and it was really well organised. The stadium and the facilities look good, and their membership base appears to be tracking well. Everyone was giving me carp about GWS landing Scully, to which I said to all - you can have him - I just wish the MFC didn't waste our number one pick on him. Left a bad taste though. Amongst other things, Sheedy spoke to the audience about the club's recruiting. Tongue in cheek, he kept saying the recruiters did a great job and they didn't really let him know who they'd recruited. It was 100% clear that the Scully deal was sewn up a very long time before he 'officially' signed the contract. What really p1ssed me off was how smug they were about it all. As an aside, I was in NYC last week and had several beers with Andrew Mackie (Geelong player). Good bloke. He said that, in his opinion, it was not such a bad result for the MFC in losing Scully, as the Dees would've had to have paid stupid money to keep him and that would've stuffed up our list management completely. He seemed to suggest that a lot of players were offered ridiculous money to go to GWS (as you'd expect), but he didn't think it would be good form to take the dough, leave your team mates and your club. A future leader of the club wouldn't do that - unsurprisingly, he really rated Jack Trengove. He also said that Mitch Clark is the one of the hardest players to match up against - hates playing on him. Rated him very highly, but said he's still a bit inconsistent. In short, reckons he was a top get for the club and that his best years are still ahead of him. Also said that he's close to Ken Hinkley, and the feeling amongst the coaches was that of all the clubs looking for a new coach this year, the MFC was the club to land. It has a young talented list with an enormous upside that hasn't been realised yet. Thought there was a big leadership vacuum at the club though - but, given the relative youth of the list, it's a very malleable list that can be moulded really well. Reckons Neeld will be a really good coach, and we could see a very different team in the next few years. Need to change the club culture, and he should be able to influence that. All pretty obvious stuff I suppose, but thought some of you may be interested nonetheless.

I'm really pleased we picked Watts. He will hopefully be one of the great MFC players in due course. That said, I have always thought, if we didn't pick Watts, Hurley was the player we should've drafted - not NikNat.

I'm sure he'll be remembered very fondly by his Hawthorn brethren for his outstanding contribution to the club.

Wasn't Farren Ray the fourth pick in the draft Sylvia (#3) and McLean (#5) were taken? I reckon he'd be a good pick up for the right dough - would definitely add more depth/grunt/experience to our midfield.

Question whether McCaffer would've looked so good in an average team last year. Not every player at Collingwood is better than our equivalent options - some of our forwards would've looked like superstars at the Pies over the last couple of years.

Possibly the most excited I've been in my entire life. Neeld, then Misson, Sylvia then re-signed, then Craig!, Rawlings, Leigh Brown, then Green re-signed, and now MITCH CLARK! - a certainty to head to Freo, yet we managed to land him with only pick 12. Even Brock McLean attracted pick 11. I hope they target Caddy for next year. The momentum we're building is simply outrageous. My sights are now firmly set on the 8 next year - I, for one, will be very disappointed with anything less. Good onya Cameron, Tim H, Jimmy, Don McL and others. Top, top work.

Caddy will be a top recruit if we can land him. I wouldn't be surprised if the Dons are prepared to lose a 'required' player to get Caddy.

What's the downside to recruiting him as a mature age rookie for a season?! Worst case he plays at Casey all season, which he has this year anyway.

This would be a further massive momentum builder for this club if we land him. Bring it home, Mr Harrington.