hoopla

White, Yze, Robbo all hoped to get picked up by another club after they were moved on, none of them were. I therefore think the club was more than vindicated with their decision. Bruce will probably play on somewhere else but that is his call and one that nobody will really care about in 12 months time.

.... 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..

Great article... Well that summed up about 300 posts on here (writen in all different ways, pretty much saying the same thing). Totally agree with all that

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.

There has been plenty of people suggesting the club has handled departures badly over the last few years. Not 1 of those posters has had a suggestion of hoe it could have been handled better..

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

Why do you or anyone suppose the club is at fault in these negotiations ? Bruce was the one who went away to think one supposes . Melbourne had offer(s) on table . Just wasn't to Bruce/nixons liking. They docked around not the club . It wanted resolution , Bruce wanted to invoke what he thought to be leverage and he came unstuck and is now pointing the finger everywhere but at himself.

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 have just had a very interesting conversation with a respected past player of the club. He is not 100% happy about the Brian Royal appoinment as well. However for different reasons. He has no worries with Royal as a coach. What he said was that Chris Connolly stuffed up the situation. He said he was told half way through the season that Knights would be sacked and Hird appointed the new coach of Essendon. Connolly should have known that and that Wellman and Hird are good friends. So therefore as he said Connolly should have nailed Wellman down with a water tight contract with very short time to sign to see if he wanted to stay at Melbourne towards the end of the season.

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!]

I am really pleased that we are getting some hard core experience back into the coaching ranks. Viney and Royal are both seasoned campaigners with know how and both have the discomfort of unfinished business twisting their guts but for different reasons. These are the guys we want.

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

Agreed.

Nothing wrong with genuine concern with asking. I am sure that Jim would be most happy for anyone to pass on the 'facts' if they had them.

It is why he is so public with his fight.

Never shy people away. My mother is fighting the same battle and Jim has been inspirational in being so public with his battle

The support from others cannot be underestimated. Watts04 has shown support by taking time out to ask.

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

All of us are thinking of Jimmy constantly. I'm not comfortable with this being the basis of a thread though, fully understanding and sharing the genuine concern you have, Watts 04. We just have to respect the club and the great man himself to tell us what he is prepared to and when. Needless to say there is not a person in this forum, this club, the AFL, indeed in all of Australia and Ireland that is not drawing on every inch of our spirituality to help him through this. If anyone can beat it, our Jimma can. The man is a legend.

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!

Any of you actually seen the kid play a game of footy?

Firstly, it's a bit sick if you have.

Secondly, what shite are you talking if you haven't?

Same goes for all of the other info we get from all of you on draft prospects

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

A bad miss. Personally I would have paid up (swapped first round picks), but saying that I trust the FD, they have done a great job over the last 3 seasons, this is their job and they know best.

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!)

Latest rumour is that a deal has been done between St.Kilda and Melbourne. Robert Eddy and Jarryn Geary to Melbourne for Matthew Warnock, just soughting out a shuffle of draft picks.

Posted on FoxSports website...

Can't say that I like that trade....

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

No thanks, not if he was Essendon's backline coach.

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

Melbourne: Pick #17 + Hale

Nth Melbourne: Pick #12 + #32

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

Agree

Spencer will be kept. Gawn will be developed and get a full year at Casey touch wood, Fitzpatrick the same. PJ will be delisted.

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.

He is reportedly still weighing up both offers now that Geelong has re-submitted a new offer. Those judges wouldn't know, if Gary doesn't at present.

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.....

Mmmmmmmm. So Max Gawn is a tall Gary Ablett?

Works for me.

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

Well i spoke to him at the after match function after round 22 - so unless he has signed between then and now he is still uncontracted.

I can't believe we haven't signed him yet.

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

and your having a go at people wanting to get Hale, who couldn't get a game in another shite team, but you think Mckinley is interesting but could not get a regular game for the wooden spooners

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.

.

Is there any evidence that David Hale can ruck?

I'm really not trying to dissmiss the guy but it seems that he's been best used as a stay at home forward

Bit slow, can't do much once the balls is on the floor.

No thanks, unless there's someone who can actually help Jamar in the ruck I think we're in a not too bad position.

As difficult as it may be to accept, PJ did a really great job once he returned in the last couple of months. Is there much diff b/w Hale and PJ's ruck work? could be seeing big Max anyway

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

Does anyone know what’s going on with Clint Bartram’s contract?

For mine he is a bit of a forgotten player, despite playing 21 games this year.

I think he is a vital cog going forward and an area we’ve always battled in – key small back.

SIGN HIM NOW!!!!

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.