buck_nekkid

Learned at Harvard....and any decent negotiation or sales course. Wow, a simple behavioural concept of anchoring bias made into an article to suggest that the Adel/Geel was somehow special. Obviously fluff filler whilst nothing else is going on.

These three are not in our best 22. None of our players are. Preseason begins in about 6 weeks, every player should start from zero. They should work their butts off to earn a place in the team. No one gifted a spot any more. You earn it, or play at Casey. These three have the same chance as everyone else.

Why is there an assumption of a 'gentleman's agreement'? The trade was completed in the two club's interests. Now we shift to drafting. For us not to evaluate all potential draftees and go to the draft clear on our order of preference would be ridiculous. If a GWS academy player was the best, and available at 3, we would have to nominate them. I think the idea of nominating kids to 'force' someone to burn their points is also stupid (you might just get stuck holding the bunny). I don't know too much about the academy kids, but we bid on 'glass jaw Heeney' last year. If Mills is as good as they say, or even Kennedy slides to 7, then we should have interviewed them, evaluated them and be ready to pick them. It is then up to the academy club to decide if they want to bid up and match for them or not. However, these clubs have actually already shown their hand by trading down for points. This means they limit their ability to draft anything else other than the academy selection at the quality end of the draft. We, on the other hand, have the ability to draft academy (depending on matching strategies) or non academy kids with our delicious picks 3 and 7. I think we are in a really good spot. I would be pizzed if we now didn't go after the best available simply to benefit another club.

So if we finish better than 11th, we have done well. We have essentially traded next year's pick (>7) in a deep draft year to get two goes at the top talent of a shallow one. Very, very good thinking. Should be lots of quality deep next year (from reports), so I don't see a problem. 3 and 7 bring us top end talent, I can see the team bringing in a smokey (aka Vanders), upgrading Vanders and Harmes. King to stay a rookie. Our list, if healthy, starts looking half decent. Roos has done his job in turning the 'tanker' around (yes, pun intended...)

Lots of teeth gnashing.... We got rid of a mercinary who didn't want to play for us, who screwed up the plan A deal with GCS. Toumpas wants back to SA, and the consensus was he was never going to make it due to lack of speed, lack of heart and lack of poise. Port did us a favour ( shows, moving back 3 picks means they have low expectations) We targeted Kennedy, and got him. We got a second and a third rounder. I think this is OK. If we do a bit more with these picks coming in, then we can judge the whole thing at the back end of the week.

But if the bird eats the bugg, we will be left with milkshake all over our faces...

Any mention on Adcock? Could we get a few years from him- do a Cross'? DFA, so no cost... Edit..too late to get names right...

I would keep him. he can play at Casey and be backup h/b as needed. Paying out players should be done under extreme circumstances. Hopefully he can add some leadership and direction for the young fellas. If he could dispose better, he could still add something.

Was it King's development that saw the end of Fitzy? King developed well in 2015, and if he progresses at the same rate will be the ruck/forward that Fitzy was supposed to be. Would love to see him get upgraded after a super 2016. Clunking marks and kicking goals at Casey, and showing his skill below the knees and in the ruck as required.

Lance Franklin is an amazing player. I wish him a speedy recovery. Regardless of the attempts here to smear him with rumour, he deserves to have the space and privacy to work through any mental health issues associated with his 'pre-existing scenario'. If he was your father, brother or son, how would you want him treated? That should be your standard.

KC, you have been a godsend this season...again. I really appreciate you reporting in and commenting on Casey. Well done, mate.

That was just unacceptable. That first half was as bad as I have seen. Second to the ball, no intensity, rubbish skills.... We win a quarter and that is supposed to be some 'salve'? We made Carlton look like contenders. They were crap, we were worse. I will not go again this year. The GWS game will be the worst attended ever. I sat through the Bulldogs game. I sat through that. I made a commitment to turn up, where the F&&k were the players?

Neil Balme wants his shirt back!

Thanks for answering the diet question, Saty, it confirms what I had heard. Interesting that some love it and others think it is bananas... I have heard that Port Adelaide led the way, and loved the results. What seems different now is the acceptability from a physiological point of view, rather than it being a 'diet' fad. Changing topic, Tapscott as a double no show does not look good for his future with us. Maybe someone else has whispered in his ear...

Saty, a question for the next time you speak to the boys: I heard Dr Peter Bruckner say that the Melbourne players were switching to a high fat low carb diet, with carb loading before matches. Just wondering how the boys are coping/adapting, and if they are noticing anything different?

We have signed Jetta, but does that mean a guaranteed upgrade? If JT is on the LTI, he can play up anyway, and we get an extra draft pick. That would be my strategy. We can upgrade as we go, to suit needs.

For a bloke that says something like "I realised AFTER the season that I need endurance, so have been working on that with a specialist coach.".. Sheesh! Why didn't the guy build his endurance before, or during? Why wait? And don't you like Roosey's game plan where it is not about one way running? Don't care what he does at Geelong. He was never going to make a difference to Melbourne with that sort of selfish approach. I reckon these are the sorts of elements that need to be weeded out of the club before we can get a culture of success. If it works for Geelong, so be it. He was a list clogger at the demons.

Reason to: you are a Melbourne FC supporter. Reason not to: you are not. Pretty easy. Melbourne is my team. Regardless of their performance, they are my team. If I withdraw support when they struggle, what sort of supporter am I? Melbourne do not have to demonstrate anything for me to choose that they are my team. I keep proving that I am a worthy member by paying my membership. Each to their own. If you wish, there are easier teams to barrack for. They are not for me. I am not cut from the Mitch Clark "run away when it gets tough" school of life. Last season, when we knocked off the Toigs and I was sitting at the city end- that moment paid for my membership. I expect more. But please, Hawthorn or Sydney beckon. Or else you are a real supporter.

7 games on free to air compared to Hawks 15. Hopefully we get our shwit together in the next few seasons and earn better time slots and getter coverage. If we serve up dross like previous years, we don't desrve more.

10th, 94.2%

Doesn't matter. Wait and see who looks OK. We can do a bullies and throw a million bucks a year at them next year if we screw it up. That's how the system works now, right?

Wines: exceptional early. (Viney pretty good also!) In most clubs, kids develop in the 2s until they are ready. At MFC, we pin our hopes on them and throw them to the wolves. Let's give them a couple of years development, and then have this discussion. The Toump may be a great long term prospect.

Member is a forward. We wanted the best developing defender. If the Saints were into Frosty, then it was not a like for like. We don't need the member, we have Dawes, Fitzy, hogan. We need the replacement for chip. Therefore, going at 23 to get the defender, not risking him going in the PSD to the saints, makes sense. Where the go in the draft has little impact on their future performance. We need to select the best we can that suits our needs. If Roosy and co had the toughest interviews, maybe we have a process for getting the right players in. Let's see what they land, and we do with them. The proof is in the pudding....

Isn't he under age? Otherwise he would have been a lions Father/Son possibility? Think he is next year.

Frost had interest from St Kilda, so had to do it.