montasaurus

The other thing that is on his side is age.

were not talking about a 31yr old who could be finished, were talking about one of the leagues top defenders that has years left.

We just have to wait..........

Brad Green, Brock and maybe N.Jones - definately high rated players.

The issue is that we don't have another 3-4 so when they cop the close attention no one else stands up.

But if Col can step up, along with Maloney and if cam bruce can rediscover himself we are well on the way. Grimes and Carl morton look like gems and buckley is on the verge as well. so in 2 yrs add watts/nick nak and a couple more and were starting to build a good list of "A" players some of which will take the next step to "AA". P.Johnson if he can stay fit will also be apart of this list.

All of a sudden things are looking up but really col and maloney are who a lot of this rests on next year, and I believe if they step up a couple of others will come along for the ride as well.

Good to see the MFC building on an existing relationship.

Hopefully the next news is the big one!

I,ve been hoping since the end of last season for just this news.

2009 should be the year for col to move from being a good contributor to potential star for us.

Do i get the feeling we a building a very physically tough and strong side for the future!

Rivers won a Rising Star in his first year in 2004. However over the past few years of football, there is a greater emphasis on pace and mobility around the whole ground not just the midfield. And despite having good judgement he is not fleet of foot nor with the body sized to play one on one on the bigger players. I think the logic for a new recruit is the same as it is for Rivers. They play the same game. And with the demanding nature of AFL and the increased speed at which it is played, footballers cannot afford to miss any football let alone 2 years on the sidelines. In River's case there is no certainty that he will be back given his OP problems.

Geeze I hope your wrong!

but your right about 2yrs out of footy

Putting the draft aside,

What a great job all seem to be doing at the moment. For the first time in a long time the club seems to be going in the right direction, the right mix b/w coaching/operations/etc seems to have finally been achieved. Bailey being called a "hard ass", well thats music to my ears, everything I hear about bailey is positive.

1 more night and things will get even better again for us!

I have been hearing wispers for 18mths that there is a big problem at the Hawks. I don't want to name names but I think this is reasonable unofficial common knowledge. I was hearing that 2 players have returned their 3rd positive test as well and for some reason this info is being held even though the policy is to name the players on the 3rd. Next 3 months should be interesting to see if anything comes of these rumors. I wonder if the AFL is in damage control with premeirship stars possibly involved.

I still rate him as the best defender we have, assuming he is fit etc.

Draft HIM

Draft HIM

Draft HIM

Draft HIM

Draft HIM

Draft HIM

Draft HIM

Draft HIM

Draft HIM

You read right. I posted this nearly 2 months ago.

I know Cales brothers (and possibly parents now?) are here in Victoria, so there is no go home factor there. But if there was for Swift, him being best mates with Cale would help to kill that off you would think?

I really hope we get Swift at 17. From all reports he tested well at draft camp, and the doctors tests came back positive, so I'm frankly surprised he's listed that low in the Phantom Draft.

SOLD on the idea now. My concerns were Go-Home and injury. So on that basis we could be in with a real chance as no WA clubs late 1st round and they would be a bit gun shy i think of both the above concerns.

Can I become an Afl Memeber as I go to a lot more games than just the Dees but be classified as a Melbourne Memeber?

Personally I would not give the AFL a cent. Also you will find the atmosphere is increadable in MFC reserved seat areas. I've sat in the AFL members a couple of times (one was a melbvcoll) - no atmosphere + having to sit with the CFC rif raf

Same reason why I dropped my MCC membership 17yrs ago and have been a paid up MFC member ever since.

And i'm even more certain that WC will take Swift at 18 if he's available. Statements like that are just plain stupid, sorry to sound mean but that's what they are. If we rate Swift higher but take that risk that we can get him at 19 because we think "we have to go tall with pick 1 & 17" and then WC take him at 18, we have the stupidest recruiting team in the league. That sort of decision would rate up there with freo's trading record.

Not sure if I can agree with you there. SWIFT IS A RISK. How can any of us judge if his body is up to it, only the medico's but even then they will be guessing. I can see what you are saying about west coast, but if we do take swift there is a high chance they could take the next best tall as there is a strong chance they will still take rich at 2.

TALL KPP's are our 1st priority this year

There's no auto-reply.

Yeah I see what you mean, but I feel for this sort of issue (where our club is trying to bring everyone closer together) there should be interpersonal reaction between the club and the supporters trying to save the club.

I've said this before, and in a few emails to the club, I don't see why we can't use qualified volunteers to respond to emails (then have them checked by an overseer or someone like that) and then sent out.

I feel no response is required from the FC. An automated response to state that your idea has been recieved, reviewed etc etc was enough for me last year re retaining members is tough times.

Title I suppose explains it all anyone wanna help me?? I went to every Melb game they played last year me and 3 of me mate wanna join.

MFC website will give you all the different options, if you go every week a reserved seat would be the go. Club is also offering a deal with the age Fri-mon for $25/year of which 15 goes to mfc. Wait until monday if you want a reserved seat.

Good stuff, the more who sign up the stronger we will be. (I singed up my pets last night as well!)

I think the comparison of Garland to Scarlett is a little off the mark I think Garland Silvagni is a better one. I saw a lot of similarities in the way garland played in the last half of the season to how sos played, similar agility and closing speed. I would definitely be leaving Col in the backline, undecided on Martin though thought he showed a lot in the backline so wouldn’t be against building a solid back half around Garland and Martin.

Good Call - Garland Silvagni, little bit of sean white as well?

Thats if swift is available. The video I have seen of him is excellent, maybe pick 19 might be the go if any of the following are avail at 17:

RYAN SCHOENMAKERS

TOM LYNCH

JORDAN ROUGHEAD

SHAUN McKERNAN

I'm certain we must go tall with our first 2 picks

I don't think Buddy came with quite the fanfare that Naitanui has

From my memory he was still rated in the top few of that draft.

Who knows for sure, he could still go #1 for all we know.

funnier things have happened. (think back to Buddy)

I think he will go at

4 - Port

or

5 - Ess.

This really would be the kicker for a recruiting department. How good can a great ruckman really be? Even if he's the next Cox, what does that give us? First use and an extra midfielder? No. What we want is the next Hird, not the next Fraser... I can't believe no-one's made the observation that Watts bears a striking resemblance on the field to James... Or am I the only one who thinks this?

Hopefully in 10yrs time we will be saying geez that hird guy was a bit like our WATTS!!!!!! I can't see the logic in a ruckman when we have an emerging superstar on the list in PJ and spencer to back him up.

Saturday is my Birthday, so you can guess what I have asked for. The big #4

My logic is simple.

His profile is a general result of media hype.

I have seen 6 players - maybe even 10 I would consider before him from their 30sec highlight packages.

Melb will not take him

WCE - No need for him

Fre - Seem to favor Hill

Before you know it he could slip to below top 5

I think there's more to it than that.

We can't say 'despite our educational and rehabilitation efforts' unless we actually make them (which we or another club would need to do).

And in that case such a system needs to be properly researched & set up. Contingencies need to be put in place.

We would need to make sure we are capable of meeting the AFL's requirements in terms of his testing.

This is not a 5 minute decision, regardless of sponsorship issues. But that IS an issue for us, as we don't even have one yet.

Why make it potentially harder for us to get one? But if we do have one already lined up that is not yet announced, I'm all for going to them & sounding the idea out THEN proceeding with inquiries into whether we can make it work or not.

Its been bandied about a lot & its called 'due diligence'.

'due diligence' - I think this is the point that the "pro Cousins camp is after"

The only direction from the club that we have heard is "no - he does not fit into our direction"

But surely a part of 'due diligence' is to look at the best players available at the time and because of this ben would have to fit this at some stage of the drafting process especially PSD. If MFC are a definate no I hope another club has the guts to draft him earlier then expected to save supporter backlash about missing him and then having him star with another club next year. I have no doubt he at 30odd young is capable of wining our B+F next year.

WHAT WE NEED TO HEAR - "WE ARE CONSIDERING ALL OPORTUNITIES IN BOTH DRAFTS FOR THE MFC", Re Ben - "Lets see what happens!"

here, here......

If we have the opportunity to draft ben (with the last nat draft pick or PSD) and pass, I'll WANT ANSWERS!

Hammer me if you will but I think Scarlett looks better cos of the team around him. Garland is much quicker and is a chance to beat players like buddy one on one, Scarlett one out in the goal square against buddy is lacking in the initial burst of pace to keep up with him

fire at will

Fair point, but scarlett has done it year in year out even when geelong were a basket case.

Garland needs a few good years before i can rate him ahead of scarlett. But I do agree re his ability to beat his player lets hope he can keep doing it. If he has a stand out year, surely he would be a chance of all aust.

I will not be suprised if He is not taken in the top 5. Risky draft given the "talent" that is available.

I feel like it is 2 days until xmas. The presents are wrapped and under the tree but we don't know what we are getting. For me the interest is in picks 17 and 19. If we get these right, MFC could set itself up for 5yrs. I wonder what we are getting this year!