mauriesy

They still have the same contract, expiring in 2010. In terms of list management, they are demoted to the rookie list, freeing up their position on the main list for new draft selections ... that is the biggest advantage to the club. If they show any 'resurrected ability' in 2010, they could theoretically be upgraded back to the main list in 2011. They can also become nominated rookies and play where there is a long-term injury (although Meesen is himself a 'long-term' injury problem). Neither player loses out financially in 2010 by being rookied.

The Hun Superfooty home page this morning has ten thumbnail pics of Kevin Sheedy. Talk about overkill.

He is the captain, for obvious reasons. He plays unless he's injured. If he can have this sort of influence on a somewhat wayward player like Colin Sylvia, and get him playing good, focused football, then his influence on other younger players will be just as great: ""He's just got such a good footy brain and in life as well. He will listen to you, but he will give you advice straight down the line as well. He's an old-fashioned country guy, who won't beat around the bush - he'll tell you how it is," Sylvia said. "It's taken him a long time to get where he is - probably five years ago no-one would've thought he'd be where he is now. He's become one of the best leaders at the club [and] he's respected that much it's unbelievable. "He does everything so professionally and always does things right. He's someone you can really look up to." Minor point: McDonald will be 33 all of next season (he'll turn 34 after the season ends, when he most likely retires). Many players of McDonald's durability have plenty of playing capacity left at 33.

McDonald's spot in the side is not debatable. He is the captain, for his obviously excellent leadership capability, therefore he gets a spot. A ship without a captain to steer it does not know where it's going, and can easily run aground.

Colin Sylvia on James McDonald: Sylvia said his stand-out season had a lot to do with the advice of key people and credited captain James McDonald in particular for helping him to concentrate on football. "He's just got such a good footy brain and in life as well. He will listen to you, but he will give you advice straight down the line as well. He's an old-fashioned country guy, who won't beat around the bush - he'll tell you how it is," Sylvia said. "It's taken him a long time to get where he is - probably five years ago no-one would've thought he'd be where he is now. He's become one of the best leaders at the club [and] he's respected that much it's unbelievable. "He does everything so professionally and always does things right. He's someone you can really look up to."

I am looking forward to winning the premiership in 2013 with a team entirely built from draft picks. Bailey can get up on the stage and shout "Chris Judd, Robbie Warnock, Luke Ball ... YOU WERE WRONG!"

Agree. He's got a year. In that time, either he finds the confidence and becomes something, or he's out the door. I don't see why we're gnashing teeth over him this year. And I don't see Buckley as having been such an exciting prospect that we need to argue one or the other.

Geelong has showed us that premierships are won with 14 midfielders, a ruckman and a smattering of three talls. What's the big obsession with KPPs (in the draft) and traditional field positions?

I reckon James will play most of the year as a small backman. He did well in that role in the latter half of 2009. He's hard at it, leads by example, has a cool head, his disposal is fine and has always been the best tackler at the club.

Why don't we just tele-conference from Seattle?

Perhaps we could sign up Nick Gill.

Every year players leave football clubs. List development demands that you remove under-performing players in order to draft more. Players are going to be unhappy, it's something you just can't help. And with our ever more youthful list, the next few years will see fewer retirements and even more de-listings. We've only got three players who will reach natural retirement age over the next 2-3 years (McDonald, Bruce and Green). So there's going to be a lot more 'aggrieved players' who will leave the building. Get used to it.

They've been moved to the "Previous Players" list. I note that where the MFC website talks about the start of pre-season training and the players returning, that "Cale Morton, Jack Grimes, Stef Martin, Jake Spencer, Kyle Cheney, Jordie McKenzie and Shane Valenti were part of the first group that returned."

Since Miller and Jamar have re-signed, the four players left in the gun are the ones you have listed. The departure of Robertson, Whelan, Wheatley and McLean will allow us to use picks 1, 2, 11 and 18. If we want to use any or all of picks 34, 50 and PSD1, then up to three of those four are in trouble. If we want to also elevate Spencer, then all four are likely to go. Unless we pay out someone else.

I thought those who nominate for the National Draft are not able to set a minimum acceptable contract period or salary, but those who nominate for the PSD may set the terms for their contracts?

Batemans Extra Bitter Shiner Bock Moose Drool (for Mark Coughlan or Wayne Henwood) Arrogant Bastard Ale (for Carlton supporters)

Brock (apparently we no longer stock it)

The correlation with that and Fevola on the Footy Show crossed my mind too. Something is wrong at Channel 9 when it comes to understanding modern community sensibilities. No wonder they've gone downhill.

Have to do that anyway. Seven or eight (draft picks, rookie elevation) into four (retirements/trades) currently doesn't go.

The only things that don't gel with me in this story are 1. if Judd dislikes Fevola so much and sees him as such a "cancer", why was Judd himself with Fevola on the Blackjack tables "losing $2000" (Herald-Sun report on Crown video footage) from 2pm, several hours before the Brownlow presentation; and 2. how it portrays Judd as a paragon of virtue, which he most definitely isn't.

When did they change their name to the Hippogriffs?

You forgot "No one wants to come and play for Melbourne".

Given that this is trade week, shouldn't the title of this thread be Manage a Trois?

Would anyone here give 11 for Darren Jolly?

If Davey's (and others) contract is somewhat front-end loaded, and the overall salary cap increases by $1.4 million to $9 million in 2013, and we can go from 92.5% to 100% (another $750,000), I don't see that necessarily being much of an issue.