Ron Burgundy

Petterd's a required player. Simple. Dead set, cannot some of you see the importance of certain players to this list - if there's one lesson of 2011, it is that the club cannot disrespect the loyalty displayed by some of our better players. This is not like trading footy cards. Trade Petterd = kill club culture.

If we can't get Malthouse for next year, I'd be happy with Viney as head coach in 2012, then Malthouse in 2013 with a succession plan for one of his assistants to take over from him in a few years from then (Neeld or Watters). Viney o go back to his original gig in 2013 to ensure we have him at the club for the rest of his career. I know this is blue sky thinking in the extreme, but I'd be stoked if it came off.

Moloney, with a succession plan for either Jack Trengove or Jack Watts to take the helm in 2014.

Perfectly summed up - could not agree more.

Are you serious?! If tonight showed one thing, it showed how important Sylvia is to this list.

Out of interest, what exactly are Malthouse's terms with Collingwood for next year and beyond? Anyone know/speculate?

Let's do whatever it takes to get Malthouse, and a few of his loyal senior players. And Neeld as an assistant on a succession plan. Not much to ask, I know.

I reckon GWS would also be courting Junior.

Kim Jong Il: Now you see, the changing of the worrd is inevitabre! Lisa: I'm sorry, it's what? Kim Jong Il: Inevit, inevitabre. Lisa: One more time. Kim Jong Il: [shouts] Inevitabre! Things are inevitabrey going to change! Goddamnit, open your [censored] ears!

Watts number one. Hurley number two. Nick Nat number three.

Jack's sister - just won the City to Surf in Sydney. This family seem to have some top DNA.

A few mates of mine attended a GWS function recently at which Mark Williams spoke. I asked them what they thought of Williams as a potential MFC coach. They all reported that Williams came across as a genuine moron and thought we could do a lot better than him. All hearsay and opinion etc of course, but interesting nonetheless. Doesn't look like they're developing a great culture at GWS.

Scully to the leadership group?! Are you on drugs?

It was a really good night (glad I flew down from Sydney for it, but feel pretty ordinary today as a result). Other than what seems already to have been reported here, some of my observations from the night are: - Sylvia and the MFC are not very far apart on the numbers, so fingers crossed we'll get that deal done by season's end - Neita said Sylvia's "the most complete player on the list at the moment"; Viney and McLardy also rated him very highly - in short, the MFC wishes to keep him and it seems Sylvia wishes to stay - phew! - Max Gawn is very popular with the coaches and the players - he's a bloody tall bloke BTW - a few players said that, whilst they quite liked Dean Bailey, the week had become a real chore and it was stale during the week - he made them attend the club between 8am and 4pm each day for technical type lessons and it felt like attending school - a few of them said it was awesome to have Viney at the helm - made it feel like a footy club again and they felt more stimulated and energised already - for eg, the players were 'allowed' to have the afternoon off prior to the function and the following morning off - was like a breath of fresh air for them - it was not said to me by anyone, but I formed the view that, if we get some good results in the remaining games, Viney may be tempted to throw his hat in the ring for the senior gig next year - IMO it would be absolutely awesome if he did as he would be a fantastic coach of this club - Kelvin Lawrence is a great kid - he may sneak in a game towards the end of the year (despite still being a rookie) - I hope so at least - I sat at his table and no one at that stage had put in a bid for his guernsey, so I bought it (but only after he assured me he'd play 150 senior games for the club) - there seems to be a genuine camaraderie amongst the players - there are some massive wraps of Watts and McKenzie (but you all know that) - Trengove - perhaps enough said already, but IMO this kid is the best recruit we've had in the last decade

I agree. The club seems not to enjoy the trust of the senior players, which is a terrible sign. As I've said before, the axing of Junior was a disaster for the club - now that Bailey has gone, I would try to get Junior back to the club in some capacity. If only, to try to rebuild trust and relationships (clearly he'd also offer a lot more than that). And the focus on the 'youth policy' has been hugely over-done IMO - other clubs seem much better at continually rolling their lists whilst being competitive and having a core of really committed senior players. Four years into the 'youth policy', and I have never seen the MFC be more uncompetitive against the top 6-8 teams.

I agree with you, QueenC. I hope the MFC puts a reasonable offer to Colin, he accepts it and then focusses upon being in the leadership group next year and winning the B&F. I forgot to mention McLean for Gysberts, which is obviously the absolute no brainer deal of the century. But I don't think McLean has the same offering to us as Sylvia - and I also think we have more than enough talented 18 year olds who still need years of development. We need some players like Sylvia who are hard, skilled, mature bodied types. I also don't think it's in the club's best interests for Sylvia to walk at season's end having just sacked Bailey and, it seems, the probability of also losing our number one draft pick. SIgn him up now.

From memory, we drafted Bell with the pick from the Woewodin trade (no offence to Daniel, but hardly a good deal). Again from memory, we drafted Dunn from the pick we got from the Jolly trade. I like Dunn, but he's no AA dual premiership ruckman. No offence to Molan and Smith, but those two high picks hardly set the world on fire. And some doubts still exist about Bate and Blease despite both being high picks. And the reality is that Grimes for TJ was a complete fluke, and not a trade that can be banked on. We nearly picked Grimes with pick 4 (took Morton instead) and it was amazing that he was still around at pick 14. Stoked he was, but it was essentially due to good luck. We'll lose more than we gain from letting Sylvia go IMSO.

Perhaps this is too simplistic, but I would like to see the club to forget its focus on player development for the rest of the season, and just field our best 22 each week with the primary goal of winning the bloody game. Simple stuff. The hardest, best player in each position. And not out of position either - if their best position is as a half forward flank, play them there. If not, drop them to Casey for development. The Scott brothers don't seem to over-complicate things. Hard contested football and a desire to win should now be our only focus.

I cannot believe the vitriol displayed towards Sylvia (a long term Demon), particularly by people who have been thoroughly intolerant of any (apparently logical) questioning by other posters of Scully's intentions at the end of the year. A simply stunning level of hypocrisy. Sylvia is a must re-sign IMO. For a start, we will not get adequate compensation for him in any trade. I'm also sick of accumulating good picks that clearly don't always guarantee quality players. With Sylvia, we have a quality player. Clubs like the Swans wouldn't go near him if they didn't think so. Get him back in the seniors and re-sign him immediately. And let's focus on winning games again. All this off-field player poker is a huge distraction and, for me, has killed this season.

Agree. Getting Wellman was an absolute coup. Losing him was a very big loss.

Totally agree with this. We absolutely dominated the first quarter, yet got no scoreboard pressure for it. I reckon Sylvia at half forward would've made a big difference. I cannot believe some people think it might be okay to let him go. He's probably our most talented player, and, quite simply, we won't get adequate compensation for him, absent some stunning luck or gross negligence by some other club. He will dominate at a good club - the fact that the Swans (and other clubs) really want him demonstrates this.

Top post CJ. I agree with the sentiment entirely, but I think they're still too young. Perhaps elevate them to the leadership group next year, but I think Moloney should be the next Captain. He's hard, he loves the club and he's always in and around the contest. Until Jamar got injured, he was probably in top 5 in the Brownlow count too, so he's good enough. The gulf between the two Jacks and number 31 is simply massive IMO. Watching yesterday's game, I couldn't help thinking how ridiculous an offer of $1M per season for 5 years for Scully is - and for so many reasons (leadership/personality, foot skills, hardness, influence on the game, set shot kicking). The two Jacks are showing signs of having all of those bases well and truly covered.

Good post. Totally agree.

Given that we are looking for a new coach, and it seems we may also have some good draft picks up our sleeve for Scully and Sylvia (God forbid - I hope he re-signs), we may move from being the club under siege to the club that other club's fear in the draft period. I expect Malthouse would have a reasonable following with some of the senior Pies players. If - a big if - we manage to land Malthouse, which senior Pies players should we also target (in addition to Mick's entire support staff). This could literally be a seismic, club changing event. I reckon we should pay whatever it takes to get him.

Ironic, if true - particularly given that certain players seemingly hardball the club for more dough on their contracts, yet can't understand why the club needs to sell home games to raise more money.