Cheap Seats

I didnt know he had Asian heritage

Is he any relation to Wayne?

Seconded

Would love the melts if an actual decent player decided to leave.

Agree with your points @Macca What makes the AFL so hard is the talent is limited and the options to attract and recruit players is also limited, and both can be affected by AFL house decision on a year to year basis. I agree with posters above like Steve etc. Success is heavily reliant on having your house in order. But we also need to understand the restrictions Its a tough industry. Nothing is a given and continued AFL assistance is an insult to the league. I don't care what our strategy is (draft and rebuild or bring in talent via FA and trading). Just stick to it and see it through (specify a realistic time frame), support the prople and strategy and build something for once. Dont crumble when it gets too hard. Anyway a bit off topic. It will be very interesting to see what we do with pick 3. I have a strong feeling we will chsae established talent and i think thats a good idea.

Under the current AFL system clubs dont choose players the players choose the clubs. 100% word of truth. The players (or manager to be more precise) will sound out clubs interest and present the options which best suit the players needs. Money and success are generally the highest priorities. We should be thankful some players still believe in loyalty and comradeship. One of the msin reasons why the draft is such a big deal for struggling clubs is because if you're unable to attract contracted talent the draft is the only option. And we all know how successful that option alone is. We are not the only example of self combustion I've said my peace on the afl enough for one night

Maxy oozes leadership.

Is that before or after GCs compo picks?

Seems like next year is the year..

Haha this gets even better Terry Wallace on trade radio spoke about the AFC statement just released (related to the GC compo picks). If anyone thinks the AFL aren't up to their eyeballs in club land are naïve. On minute they're sprucing their new rules (live and future trading) the next minute we will create another new rule for another objective and stuff anyone who gets affected. The AFL need to get out of club land and administer the game fairly - Gil needs to go

Yep mirrors my thoughts as well. We get too caught up with analysis that we forget spots need to be filled and we need to be competitive. Once we establish ourselves as a successful team we can worry about the cream on top.

Ok fair point, in my attempt to be diplomatic you're rightly pointed out that I contradicted myself (no excuses but I am out and about on the phone) To be clear there are 2 issues at play here The first issue is - Club administration. And I've stated multiple times I agree with you about the importance of good administration. Draft picks have zero affect if your house is in order, and everything is going right for you. Like you've pointed out the RFC is a great recent example. They were able to use FA, drafting and strategy to build a winning culture. But how long did it actually take them? I've argued you're point in the is Goodwin right guy thread - that the MFC has been it's own worst enemy by not being able to stick to a plan and giving the right help to people they employ to fore fill roles. The other issue is AFL directed compensation. GC have been given an unprecedented number of compensation picks for poor performance. No other club ever has received such compensation (not including the launches of the 2 x expansion clubs), and there have been a few clubs in recent memories who have been poor for a fair while. While draft picks do not guarantee success, as per argument 1 - they certainly help give an advantage or a leg up to improve in a shorter time frame. While you might not be offended that GC have been given a leg up to help them improve quicker to meet AFL objectives, others have the right to be. The main issue here isn't that one club gets assistance, or the MFC have missed out. My issue is the AFL are dictating rules based on self interest. Per your argument re administration for a club to get it right under the current conditions set by the AFL - there should be no compromised drafts, there should be no restrictions in Free Agency or contracts, because it would be up to the clubs to get it right (their drafting, player management and strategy etc), There should be no interference from the AFL apart from applying the rules. Not dictating new ones when they feel like it. The AFL have their hands in a lot of clubs business. It's not just draft assistance, its player management and contracts. You're kidding yourself if you think club administrators haven't been hamstrung due to AFL rules or AFL interference. IF getting it right was so simple all clubs would be successful?

Yes. I agree and understand all of that. But that's my point. You're happy for the Afl to help their experiments to make sure they're successful so they dont fail. Yet its at a cost to clubs like ours. You dont have to be upset about it. And i agree with your main point that its up to the mfc to get it right. But i still.maintain that people have a right to be [censored] off about it.

You're completely missing my point. The point isn't about what the MFC should or shouldn't have done, it's about AFL house applying the rules unevenly. In an even league with set rules why should GC get draft assistance? As per above you've answered my question (per the highlighted section) - My point is, the competition should be even and not comprised to meet AFL objectives. it has nothing to do with MFC, it is a statement about AFL house I'll leave it at that.... like you've said it is more important that the MFC get and keep their house in order - Draft assistance is not the answer to our woes

I think to best sum it up for me it's, Gold Coast were rewarded for poor management. I get they need help, but the help should be even across the competition for the same circumstances. What they've received is a competitive advantage. But we all know the draft isn't an automatic path to success. People have been following this club for years, and we have been a basket case for decades. I don't blame people for getting upset and asking when is it our turn? Why should the "new" club get a competitive advantage over a club that has existed from the start? What other competition allows for such variations in rules? Don't get me wrong, I really do agree with your points, but people have a right to be [censored] off with AFL house. Just to be clear... im not talking about the MFC should get priority picks, im just talking about the fairness or lack of in the AFL rules from year to year.

Yes, like I said I agree with your points. What I'm saying is that there are issues with the fairness of the competition which can make governing clubs difficult. If you're a bottom feeder like us - where are the resources coming from to be best practice? To employ the best people in the industry? I am not sure there would be too many leagues in the world where the governing body have such a big say in the day to day running of club land, player contracts, compensation etc... Even the Free agency rules are heavily weighted in unfairness to clubs. Rules vary from year to year in every facet of the competition. How many high end FAs end up at bottom clubs? I personally don't think it is that simple to just fix administration. But I 100% agree with your points it plays a huge part in making the competition work for you. The competition doesn't make it easy for teams who don't have massive following/money/influence.

I agree with your points But i think you're glossing over how badly run the afl administration is. Amatuer I'd describe it as. Rules are created in the best interest of the administration and not the competition as a whole. Afl interference in club land, trades and contacts would be unprecedented in orher sports

Very big call... but I agree. On this years form, you can add some others to that list as well. I won't name names but lets hope this year was an anomaly

Haha thread of the year

Wow... How bad does the MFC have to be to get that kind of help? So let's get this straight, the AFL bring in the 2 x expansions clubs give them 2 - 3 years to get established. Long story short - the AFL and GC have f'd up the management of the club so the AFL decide to hand out picks willy nillie, yet if it was a Vic club its tough luck. So clubs like the MFC, saints etc (the bottom feeders) just have to cop it because what are they going to do? Thanks Gil, you've shown again it's all about your pay packet and not the integrity of the game.

I've got a feeling the AFL might have given the club an inside tip. We know what the GC got out of that meeting with Gil, will be interesting to see what we get.

About to be an update on ch 7 sport. My guess is Elliot is staying at pies. Update - it was ben reid

I thought Petty showed a lot as a forward (needed some work on skills, but didn't look lost). I felt getting Keath would have given us a lot of flexibility. Im very keen to see what else is in store for the trade period.

Wouod Keath choosing dogs be another factor? Or is it simply cap space?

Drugs?