Doggo

Carlton, if we can mess up their top 4 ambitions! That would be soooo sweet.

Although, i kinda like the idea of the wooden spoon side beating an all conquering St Kilda team, sitting pretty at 21-0, hoping to go thru a whole season undefeated. Has a nice, full-circle kind of feel to it.

Not interested.

Good player though, but not in the right age bracket for us.

LOL at the inclusion of Scully and Trengove on some lists. We don't even have them yet!

My 10 untouchables, loosely in order:

1. Watts

2. Grimes

3. Jurrah

4. Morton

5. Garland

6. Frawley

7. Sylvia

8. Davey

9. Moloney

10. Wonaeamirri

Petterd*, Strauss, Blease, Bennell, Jetta, Maric, Cheney are next --> Based on potential alone, the asking price we as a club would set for these players is far above what they're worth in actual market value, based solely on results. Blease and Strauss haven't even played yet, and the rest, bar Petterd, are too early in their careers to make a definitive call on their value. (To be honest, i'm loathed to trade anybody under the age of 21.)

Minus Sylvia, Davey, Moloney and Frawley, the rest of the list are all recently drafted players. As part of our rebuild, it's crucial we hold onto all of this group so they can grow and develop together, ala Geelong and St Kilda's lists. I added the aforementioned senior players, as i believe they'll make up the core of our leadership group for the next 5 years, until Grimes and Watts are ready for that next step up.

'torpedo' made an excellent point about Davey - having him there as the leader of our indigenous kids is vitally important in keeping Wona, Jurrah, Bennell and Jetta all together, each of whom have shown at least glimpses of being excellent players in the future.

* - Pettred is an interesting one. Keep Petterd unless GC offer something we just can't refuse for him (i.e. top 10-15 draft pick). That's probably the main reason i have him just outside my top 10 untouchables. While i believe he's going to be a very good player, he's also likely to command a very good player/draft pick from GC in the upcoming compromised drafts.

the players other teams would like from our list. in no order

watts

davey

jurrah

sylvia

grimes

aussie

green

maybe rivers at a pinch if someone lacked a tall defender.

i wouldnt trade frawley, although he might be in the same boat as rivers - someone might want him if they wanted a young full back.

IMHO all those players are OFF the trade list. big time.

Add Garland to that list, and take Rivers off.

Garland is extremely highly rated, even if he has missed all of 2009. Would command at least a top 20 pick IMO.

I was being more realistic with Bate and Valenti!

More hoping they might be silly enough with Miller and Valenti.

What would you throw up for a Pick 8 if Sydney would trade?

Honestly, i don't think we have anything that i'd be willing to part ways with that they would give their first pick up for. Paul Roos' love for recycling players is well documented, but given where they are with their list and losing a lot of ageing stars, i just can't see them being willing to give away such an early pick.

The timing might not be right, but i have a feeling the Swans will be looking to rebuild thru youth. Perhaps not a full scale rebuild as we've done, but they will want to get some highly rated youth into the club.

I just can't see us getting another pick in the top 10, at least not from Sydney, unless we're willing to part with something substantial, like a Colin Garland, Sylvia (neither of which i'd want to trade).

I think they might be willing to trade their second pick, around mid-20's, and for that, i'd offer up someone like Jones perhaps? But even then, i'm not sure that would benefit either side really. Maybe Miller + our 3rd rounder for their 2nd round pick?

'Doggo', Neita played at 191cms.

http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-melb...ns--david-neitz

David Neitz

Last played for Melbourne Demons in 2008 Games: 306 Born: January 22, 1975 Playing Height: 191cm Playing Weight: 100kg Position: Forward

I stand corrected.

He always seemed so much bigger to me, i'm 187cm, and i always remember thinking he towered over me! Maybe it was just the aura of the man...

Haha beat me to it, rpfc

Lets get serious on trade talk!

Throw up something realistic!

Bate and Valenti to Sydney for Pick 8 or thereabouts.

I dont think Miller has much currency. But i do think Sydney would be interested.

But could try Miller and Valenti for Pick 8 and possibly a swap of 3rd round picks.

Anyone else see the irony here? I thought you said you wanted to get into some serious trade talk!

I'm seriously not sure if you're being sarcastic, Dee tention? Really.

If you're looking for a tall forward option who is going to crash packs and play the enforcer tole - then Jack Fitzpatrick is not an option.

It would be like asking Keplar Bradley to play the Jono Brown role.

Have to agree with that. I have a feeling Fitzy is going to slide a fair way down the order, probably to late 2nd/3rd round, or maybe even further down. I'd draft him late, or with a rookie pick, but no way i'd go for him at pick 18.

Too similar to PJ in that he doesn't seem to impose himself on the contest (to be fair, he is built like a string bean), but also he doesn't seem very comfortable overhead and in conested marking situations. His agility and ground skills, which are very good for his size, only serve to hide the fact that his big man game just isn't up to scratch.

I guess blowing one's nut is usually a positive.

I most certainly did not mean it in that way.

As far as i'm concerned, blowing a nut can only be a good thing

edit: my 1000th post, packed full of useful content!

I am far from a Sylvia fan, but I have to admit that when he ran his guts out to try and spoil a mark inside the Roos' forward 50, I became a believer.

It was the most unSylvia like thing I have ever seen him do, because it was 100% about doing the team thing. In all honestly he was probably never going to get a legal spoil, and get any praise for it, but he did it anyway and it showed me that the penny may have finally dropped.

I loved when he went for a spoil against a North player in defensive 50, can't remember who it was, unopposed in the goal square under a high ball. He ran full-pelt at him with real purpose and intent, and although he didn't get there in time to affect the spoil, he really hammered into the bloke and made him earn it big time. And because the guy was in the goalsquare, it was ok that he was a bit over the top in his aggresion because a 50m-penalty would only gain the player 5 or so metres.

Brought a smile to may face, to say the least. As 45 would say, i almost blew my nut.

In another thread (the 'changes' thread i think) it was mentioned that Watts is available for selection this week?

Who knows these days, the injury list is so huge now, and all year the updating of the list has been flaky.

Even if he were available, IMO he should play out the year in the VFL and only come back into the side if he plays a blinder. He's missed a few weeks recently with a broken thumb, so although it would be nice to see him against the Dockers, i wont lose any sleep if we dont see him in red & blue again this year.

We've got plenty of time to enjoy his talents... the next 10+ years! :D

Well going buy his figures ive got in the footy programme he is 193 & 85kg. Hes the same size roughly as Newton & Miller & is actualy taller than Neitz so hope that helps

Neitz was 193cm too if i remember correctly.

On Panos, I read somewhere recently that at the end of 2008 he was 190cm or thereabouts, and has since grown to 193cm. He's probaly still growing too, and out on the field in the u18's, against juniors at least, he did look like a big unit. Will be interesting results come draft-camp.

If he's available at our 3rd pick we must take him.

Once again, I REPEAT...

PJ, Bell and Newton ARE contracted for 2010. Unfortunate as it may be, but thems the breaks.

Unless the club can manufacture a trade of these players, there is almost zero chance of them being delisted at years end.

We're currently running a massive debt demolition campaign for the 2nd year in a row, and people want to pay out contracts? FFS

I don't mind Valenti, but i can't see the club elevating him to the senior list next year unless one of Jones or McLean (or even Moloney) is moved on. And with the likely inclusions of Scully and possibly one of Trengove/Morabito/Rohan, it makes it even more difficult for him. With his height and pace deficiencies, and the fact he couldn't crack a regular game at the 16th placed club, his value in a trade is zero.

Unfortunate, but unless he does something really SPECIAL before the end of the season (like for instance, the 37-disposal 4-goal effort of Col Sylvia against Hawthorn), it'll be all over for him. Another club might like to take him with a very late pick as backup depth, but that is even more unlikely than us elevating him.

Panos at 18 would be massive. 2 elite midfielders and the U18 All-Australian Full Forward. Ideal outcome in my eyes.

I'm hoping one of Jake Carlisle or Panos is still available at 18. If we could get one of these two, or perhaps Talia, i'd be very happy with that.

What are the chances of us passing on Trengove and Morabito and take Gary Rohan at pick 2? Other than Scully, Rohan was the player who most impressed me at the Championships this year.

Would be similar to the 2005 National Draft when Collingwood overlooked clear 2nd best player Xavier Ellis to instead take draft-day bolter Dale Thomas at 2. If we did go with Rohan i'd hope that he'd turn out better than Thomas!

Yep.

40 players this season. Only two have played all 19. (Davey/Bruce)

What are the chances of another rookie getting blooded? (Hughes/Zomer)

I've been a huge advocate of Hughes getting a game in this second half of the season. With our injury list up around 20 players, surely he'll have to come into consideration now? (barring injury - he was a late withdrawal from Saturday's matchfor Casey).

Development wise, he's ahead of most of our debutants this year, and was really stiff to not be upgraded to the senior list before McKenzie prior to the Swans match. Hope he gets a game in the final three weeks, although it's not looking likely now, and unfortunately for him, his AFL dream of playing for the MFC is now almost over.

Zomer is not up to standard IMO. He's struggled at VFL level and has spent most of the season in the VFL 2's. Definite delist.

I knew that but where do the rest stand?

Johnson, Newton and Bell are all conracted for 2010. Meaning unless we can get a trade for them, it's likely they'll all still be on the list next year. The club is financially in no position to be paying out player contracts early.

Wonderful write-up Jack. You should do this for a living, mate. You'd put the so-called "professionals" to shame!

Yeah, you'd think Jamar and McKenzie would come back in as well. Just read Whelan is unavailable too, so not a possibility.

My amended changes -

IN: Robertson, Jurrah, Jamar, McKenzie, Rivers*

OUT: Bail (quad), Bruce (wrist), Newton, Miller, Johnson

* - Provided his groin is 100% fine. If there is even the slightest soreness, he should be rested for the rest of the season to be ready for pre-season. A reoccurence of OP now could well be career-threatening for Jared.

And if you wanted to get there early, there is a curtain raiser (11:30-12:20) featuring the likes of Neitz, Grinter, Febey (both), Leoncelli and Anthony McDonald plus a few others from memory

Will be there, cheering u on! How's the fitness mate?

No shameless self-promotion, 'russian'?

For those unaware, our very own poster 'the_russian' will also be lining up in the curtain raiser!

(Lee, sorry if u didn't want anyone to know that! )

McLean and Rivers I wouldn't risk until next year... particularly if Rivers really does have issues with the groin again.

Agree. Their seasons should be over now, as far as i'm concerned.

Pity Wheels is still listed as 1 week. Would've liked to see him play this week an make a charge toward his 150th.

Admittedly they were before my time, but by all reports Malthouse, Sheedy and Matthews were never blessed with anything resembling the skills of a Buckley or even a Lyon, but achieved varying degrees of success by being tough, uncompromising players who would sooner kill you than give up the contested ball.

Before my time also, but from what i've read and heard from older friends and footy supporters, Matthews, despite being a downright thug, was a highly skilled, absolute champion of the game. (edit- already pointed out by H and others, didn't see it before i posted).

That said, you make some good points.

Although i, like many others, love the romantic notion of a former captain and 'heart and soul' player of the club, coming back and leading us to the flag they never got in their playing careers. Sentimental to the extreme degree i know, but I'd love nothing more than Lyon, or preferably Todd Viney

(who's done his apprentiship) coming back and leading us to the great heights we haven't seen at our club for 50 years.

I'd like our trademark in years to come to be a ruthless, tough and uncomromising "win at all costs" approach.

St Kilda this year are playing that way, and if all goes to plan, in 3-5 years times our boys will be doing the same.

Is it really necessary to wear those thigh bandages that make it look as if his undies are falling down???!!!

LOL

JJC, those shorts are thermal compression 'skins', great for keeping the muscles warm and aiding in circulation. You'll find most players who've had soft tissue or groin injuries like to wear them.

What were you doing looking at his thighs anyway? Hehe