hoopla

.... depending on the quality of Rookie pick no. 110 which is all we have got for a player who might be part of a Grand Final side in 12 months time..

Yes .. it is a good article Interestingly it does draw attention to the Bruce timing issue - which is the one thing that has disappointed many of us.

I would have hoped that with full and frank communication, Bruce's departure might have come to a head sooner. "OK Cam this is our best offer... if your not going to take it we're prepared to help arrange a trade to the club of your choice .We don't want you to go - but if you must then the least we can do - in both our interests - is to work something out together. You don't want to be left in limbo at the whim of the draft - and we don't want to lose you down the track for nothing." It sounds as though we just left him with a "take it or leave it" contract confident that he would sign. Did he indicate to us that he would probably stay with us - and that he just needed time to let it sink in? Did he then change his mind - without attempting lever a better deal?.Did Hawthorn's apparent interest increase after it took Kyle Cheney? Or did we just sit back .... and tell the media that we expected to see him at training ....as if we were taking him for granted? Some posters seem to want to attribute all of the blame for this breakdown in communications to the player. I'd be very surprised if the club did all that it could to secure the best on-field and off-field outcomes

It takes two to tango........... I'd suggest that to lay 100% of the blame for a communication breakdown at the feet of one of the parties is a tad unrealistic

What I don't like is the fact that the club failed to maintain effective communication with one of its required players. The club fully expected him to re-commit - there was even a note on the website to this effect the very day he quit. The club was complacent. We should understand all of our players well enough to know when they are so fundamentally disillusioned that they are prepared to walk out the door.Generally speaking well managed organisations don't get nasty surprises.

Has to be BAD to lose a 200 game player attracting interest from other clubs for nothing.The fact that our relations with a senior player broke down so badly that we missed an opportunity to get something for him suggests that aspects of our player management/ communication need to be improved. It is also a bit simplistic to suggest that he won't be missed on the field in 2011. Bruce's ability to go back one minute - and forward the next - created rotation options for the coaching staff - which was an asset to our development program.Bruce's real value to the team - apart from his experience - was his adaptability

I may have respected your mate as a player ..... but I certainly don't respect his knowledge of today's AFL coaching relationships ...... For a Melbourne man , your mate must be closer to Essendon than David Evans is - if he knew half way through the season that Hird would be coach in 2011. Have you asked him why he didn't tell pass on this information to Chris Connolly at the time? While you are at it I suggest you explain to him that no contract has ever been sufficiently watertight to keep people away from their mates. This bloke might be a good friend of yours - but if I were you I'd take his opinions on the Melbourne Footy Club with a large grain of salt in the future. [Just a thought : Did your mate play in the 80's? Was he a midfielder -cum- back pocket player? You might just like to make sure that Chris Connolly didn't take his place in the team!]

Couldn't agree more. Royal brings a great depth of experience to our coaching group - including recent experience at a club with such a strong defensive mindset that it has played in the last 2 (3!) Grand Finals. At Melbourne he has the opportunity to take charge of an emerging group on the way up .... which makes it a good career move for him. He has commanded respect across the competition for a number of years. St.Kilda's loss and our gain

Well said Demon Hill.Good to see a supportive "Jimmy-like" response to Watts04's expression of concern.

I understand where you are coming from, Chrystal Dees ... but I really don't think Jim would mind well-meaning supporters sharing their concerns on this site ..... and if that means an occasional question from someone who hopes he isn't out of the loop , then so be it. I am one of those who sees "no news as bad news " ........... and I just pray that I am wrong. Take as long as you need Jim - just get well

Just noted that Sanderson is staying with Geelong I haven't seen any announcement that we are seeking a direct replacement for Wellman. With Todd Viney now on board - and he won't have been cheap - there is a possibility that we will just shuffle the deck chairs - with Mark Williams moving to back-line coach and Scott West doing the mids on his own ( maybe with TV as a sounding board) If we are looking to add a backline specialist to our full complement of coaches - then we need to push it along before all the available talent is locked away.

Saw Jim's twitter a few weeks ago saying he was having radical new treatment overseas .... but there's been nothing since to say that it has been successful Just a bit worried about you big fella. Hang in there!

Well I've seen him play several times...... and I've never seen a more consistently dominant player

I agree. I think Hale - as a big marking forward and relief ruckman - would have really added something to the balance of our list ..... and I can't get too excited about the difference between picks #12 and #17. Just have to trust the FD to get it right ( and hope that doesn't mean another year alternating PJ, "Frank" Spencer and Juice Newton!)

Got to be false. Nobody would want Eddy after watching the Grand Finals ..... we certainly wouldn't Got to be from someone with a twisted sense of humour

Even if he was - I wouldn't discount him. If the senior coach ( Knights) didn't want to develop defensive skills , the backline coach was on a hiding to nothing. Laidley? - not sure he'd be interested in being straight backline coach

Hudghton would appear to be a terrific prospect .... but he has wanted to keep his building business going so far - and he may not want a full-time coaching career.I'd certainly be talking to him Gary O'Donnell is now available. Forget his time at Essendon - he was part of Brisbanes coaching panel for a while. Would have to be worth consideration

All up - pick "30-ish" for a big forward and experienced back-up ruckman...... not a bad deal. I don't place a lot of store on the drop from pick 12 to pick 17. Its very subjective. What are the chances that the player we want will go between 13 and 16 ? What are the chances that player will become a superstar As I recall Hale was originally a top 20 pick - and I I'm prepared to back our FD to get the best out of him. He has shown he can play at AFL level. He has a couple of big bags of goals. Bear in mind the impact on our structures. All of a sudden the opposition is going to have to worry about matching up on a tall marking forward as well as on Watts, Jurrah and co. All up he's a far better bridge between Jamar and Fitzy/Gawn than PJ and Frank (" Some mothers do áve em") Spencer

I think I'm right in saying that Spencer cannot remain on the rookie list for another (4th) year. The only way to safely retain him would be to promote him to the senior list. Otherwise we'd have to send him to the draft (and/or rookie draft)and take our chances in line with the other clubs. To me his value is highly questionable - and I'd be reluctant to give him a position on the senior list without fully exploring all our ruck options.

Sorry High Tower.... I was just extending the play on words... We certainly have a star on our list if Ablett is not as good as Gawn.....

Yes ... a lot of good judges have been saying for a while that Ablett is as good as Gawn.....

Barts is clearly very focussed ... and very determined. He may be driving a very hard bargain in terms of years and/or dollars relative to our other young players. The delay might well be his

Good point! Its all about team balance. We want a gorilla up forward - to change with Jamar .... and Hale is just the go. The fact that things aren't working out for him at North - who have 3 top quality rucks in McIntosh, Goldstein ( who is only 22) and Petrie doesn't mean he isn't up to standard. .

Yes Hale can definitely ruck .... he began his career as a ruckman - and only went forward when McIntosh emerged. I'd take him as a knock ruckman over PJ any day- (quite apart from the fact that he can mark) Realistically big Max is at least two years away ... even if his knee hasn't gawn

I think you'll find he is already contracted for next year. He has been good this year - and is probably in our best 22 at present. Whether he is good enough to be in the best 22 of a premiership contender down the track is problematical. His decision making under pressure still worries me.