Choko

That's a shame. I suppose he would have just said "Well Greg, I have sources that suggest....."/

Was Denham still on when Swann rang in?

Work out who has been actively re-contracted. I don't know exactly, but I think the "safe" list is pretty small, and includes Jones, Clark, Howe, McKenzie, Frawley, Trengove, Grimes, McDonald, Jamar, maybe Bail. Virtually all the rest have been told they are either tradeable (though obviously they will not necessarily be successfully on-traded), or they have to wait for list management final culling decisions. So when they are told that, they go to their managers, who then look to see who may be interested. Managers like taking the ascendency.

Can I say, and this won't make me popular, but Denham is right that a lot of our senior players are putting their feelers out in the market. However, he makes it out to be a bad thing and I think it is a good thing. Senior players' lives have become a lot more difficult under Neeld. He doesn't respect players because they are senior, he respects players because they do deeds that earn respect. He is also brutally, brutally honest with players, and the senior players are used to a more "cushy" existence. There is also MFC's recent track record, in particular Bruce and McDonald (more McDonald, but I don't want this to become another one of those discussions!) that makes senior players cautious of MFC's motives. Neeld has made no secret that he thinks things need to drastically change. You don't put a 20 year old into captaincy and shun almost all of the pre-existing leaders if you're happy with the status quo. I say all the power to Neeld. Overdue. The result of that is disenchanted senior blokes. And by the way, don't kid yourselves, it's not just the players that have put feelers out - the club has told almost every player on the list that it is testing the market with them. It's actually the club that has put the feelers out, and players have responded. FWIW, I think that Neeld is preparing to trade Watts, but only for the right price. And I think if the right price came along (an elite midfielder comes to mind), then I would do it. That's not to disrespect Jack, bc I actually rate him, but the fact is you don't trade junk for treasure.

He's like an un-freakish Moorcroft. Oh well, didn't lose much.

Hi all, I may be confused because I am not sure if I (or anyone!!!) fully understand the draft rules, but I see the Viney thing like this. If we think that GC or GWS will bid on JV, then we have 3 options: 1. Take JV at 3; 2. Let them take him and get the "number 2"; or 3. We can trade away our pick 3 so that, no matter what, we can get JV with pick 26. If we have decided that, no matter what, we will take JV, then obviously we want to take him with pick 26 and not pick 3. So the only way to ensure this happens is if GC and GWS don't bid, or if we don't have pick 3. I am unclear what we can do to induce GWS and GC not to bid, but I know we have to be careful because of draft tampering! Is it the case that we can trade pick 3 before having to nominate f/s with that pick? If so, then I guess this would be why Collingwood is offering players for pick 3, and perhaps that is why we would consider "overpaying" with pick 3, so we are "better off overall" because we can still use 13, and have 26 for Viney. So it appears a lot of this comes down to timing. Specifically, can we perform trades before or after we know whether GWS/GC are bidding for JV? If we have to make a decision first, then we are in an unenviable position and perhaps we are best trading pick 3 for current needs (not necessaily for Dawes and Wellingham, although that may be the best we can get). Or even better, wouldn't we then try to trade pick 3 for say pick 9 and a player (because at pick 9, we would be getting value for JV still). If it is the case that we have to nominate f/s before the trading commences (which I think is the case?!), then surely we wouldn't be even thinking about discussing pick 3 until we knew whether GC or GWS were bidding.... Also, where does the allocation of compensatory picks for free agency come into it? After father/son? Before or aftert eh start of trade week? Because that might be relevant too?! Help!

You're kidding aren't you? I am not worried by the article, but super impressed! The guy is a professional footballer first, not a lackey for the MFC. He is also only 18. He is saying that he wants to come to the MFC NOW, but if he doesn't, he will play his heart out for whoever has the faith in him. If every player was actually secretly hatching a plan to come to the club they barracked for as a kid (or that their Dad played at) before they even kicked an AFL ball in anger, that would be far greater cause for concern. I also object to the title saying he has threatened us. Not at all. He is saying he will offer his loyalty to whoever offers it to him.

What was interesting is I got the distinct impression you could look at who won our awards, take them out of it (except Rivers), and everyone else is not safe.

So what I took from the night was this: - Riv is Max Gawn. I would be surprised if he stays. He will go somewhere that may have a chance of winning a flag. - Our captains are really outstanding people. - McKenzie is the guy you would want in the trenches with you. - We are going to be extremely active and aggressive at the trade table. Quite a few of the players I spoke to are unsure about their futures at the club and have been told they may be traded. - The club actually perceives its biggest problem as a lack of key forwards. We are very much in the hunt for one. In fact, we think a lot of our failure this year was in the way the forward line functioned, not the midfield. Interesting ... - Moloney leaves on good terms with the club, bad terms with the coach. - Neeld is a very domineering force internally, and has a ver clear view on how things are going to be - although he is a good listener and players know where they stand (quite the opposite under Bailey).

LOL. If you don't make that your signature, I will be gutted. It's basically your demonland life slogan, right there!

Moloney may have left in class, but he checked out long before he left. That wasn't classy.

Your family's a mess!

I really rate Monfries as a smart mobile forward who is capable of presenting and taking a strong mark on the lead. I am not sure if he fell out of favour at the Bombers because of his lack of engine maybe, but I think he would be a very good acquisition at MFC.

I wonder where all of this leaves Cale Morton?

Moronic post. No point explaining why.

This is pretty disappointing on a number of levels. Firstly, Brent clearly checked out after not being put in a leadership position, and was not emotionally there for the whole year. As an elite, professional sportsperson, that is pathetic. Secondly, as a result of this, he has diminished his own value in the marketplace. That affects us too. Whether it is poor man management by Neeld and the FD is a matter of conjecture. One one reading, Moloney didn't "buy in", so he should "buy out". On another reading, we have mismanaged a solid, B+ midfielder and leave our list even more vulnerable than we started. It's all very well to say that the clean out was always coming, but let's face it, when Neeld started, we had certain names in the "gun", and Moloney wasn't near the top if that list.

They are not even close to the match of many other clubs. Sorry. Rose coloured glasses. If I had more time I would type the equivalents at a couple of clubs. Agree however that our under 25s haven't been given a fighting chance due to leadership and until very recently, facilities and coaches etc...

I have never heard any attitude issues with Gys. I would be absolutely shocked if he were delisted or moved on.

I wanted to "Like", but I can't bring myself to.

There anything you do like?

I understand what you're saying, but if it is true that he will be better at a different club, under a different coach, then you would have to ask why it is that Neeld couldn't get him there.

I love how you think we should get Lenny, presumably because of his skills and values, and yet that would involve leaving the club he has given his heart and soul to and coming to us.

I still think that Petterd has the ability to be a very good player. It is actually quite hard to know exactly why he hasn't been given more of a chance (when others keep getting a game), but the fact he doesn't is damning in and of itself. Only the inner sanctum knows if he will ever have the attitude. If he does, or can, I think we should persevere for at least another year. If he doesn't then I agree we should try to offload. But we will get a packet of Kettle chips if we are lucky.

Well that's assuming two things. Firstly, you are assuming 186 is a reflection of his coaching ability. I don't know about that. Secondly, you assume he needed to get 2 years. I don't think that had to be the case. He could have been given one, and told absolutely explicitly what a pass mark was. I don't think Bailey would haev been in a position to refuse 1 year instead of 2. I am not saying it should have happened. I am saying the fact it didn't is to me some recognition that he was a mistake all along.

I agree re the consistency. People make their mind up about something, and attribute whichever attributes they want to to that, and not others. Personally, I hold the Board responsible for key administrative positions, key performance indicators and for the strategic direction of the club. I think as a general comment the Board gets a tick on those aspects they can directly control. I think our administration is limited in its talent. Some are great, some are poor. That makes it really hard to pinpoint whether things that are done poorly are the responsibility of those in charge, or the nature of a traditionally underfunded administration which is still not up there with the best in the league. I think what we don't like about our Board and admin is that communication is quite PR spun, and the opportunity for honest reflection on things we need to improve isn't always there. That would be the same at all clubs. I personally think we spend too long polishing turds at the MFC and should sometimes call a turd a turd and move on.