TheVoice

Watts has been great this year but we're best served with him as our 3rd tall. Never will Jack be known as a pack crasher or put doubt in the mind of a defender going back with the flight. Pedo does this. Not to mention his body work, bumping and contested marks. Watts in the ruck has been a bit of a revelation but I'm not sure we want him and his lightly framed body exposed to the rigours of No.2 ruck work for too long. Anyway I just think Pederson is extremely stiff to be dropped from a team who has won 3 on the trot in which he has evenly contributed to. And the side is weaker without him.

Hope your right Cards. But pride is a good motivator and I'm sure they would love to maintain their successful record against us. Our team selection this year has been baffling at times and these changes seem no clearer to me at all.

Totally agree. Pedo gives us a big body in the wet to crash packs and knock the ball to ground. Also a good 2nd ruck option. This as opposed to a lightly framed KPF 2nd gamer when we have a finals chance on the line. I'm ok with ANB for Garlett as he should go ok in the wet. Agree that Michie is a bit left field as he offers very little imo. I would have stayed with Harmes in the wet. If I were Carlton I would be pleased to see these changes.

Feel his frustration completely. Highly capable clearance, in and under player forced to play the 'nothing role' of a defensive forward whilst his team is crying out for a midfielders. When his impact is diminished in this role he is dropped to the VFL where no amount of 30 possession games or listings in the best will earn him a recall. No communication was offered to him to explain his situation despite his proactive approach to seeking feedback from coaches on how to improve. Can not understand how Magner could not hold a position in our midfield over the last 2 years considering our situation. Players such as him and Valenti are stamped too slow/small and shown the door much too easily when what remains is laughable. These types are not often found in the midfield of a premiership side but when you can't even win games I would choose these guys first to get the job done in the trenches.

North Melbourne for mine. They belt us every time we play them, especially at Etihad. Although round 1, 2014 would be no different, I want our boys to start building a rivalry with them that is born from not standing for their dominance over us anymore. They see us as soft, silverspooners (currently spot on) and I want this Paul Roos led MFC to represent the exact opposite and therefore what better team to start disproving this image against. Plus I'm sick to death of their whining supporter base who ring in and complain at the mere mention of our name on radio. I would love nothing more than to start handing out some punishment to the Kangas and their supporters.

Great work on the banner. Looks great! Would of loved to have seen Jeremy Howe up there though. Gives 100% every week, bleeds red and blue and is the name my kids call out when kicking the footy.

Great email Darbsy and good on you for writing it. It actually made me feel a little sad as my 3 kids are all little Demons and go to school. I hope your email gets pinned up on the locker room wall during the week for all the players to have a read. Probably wont make the slightest difference but I think the players need to be fed this type of information, If not to hear of the heart break our junior supporters (and MFC teachers) are going through, then to highlight what those Richmond Ferals are thinking of us come Saturday.

Incredible! Would Collingwood stand for their players names being exposed? doubt it. Especially when not a single Essendon name has been mentioned. Do we have any legal standing here?

Toumpas (first year recruit), Viney (first year recruit), M.Jones (Unheard of Mature age, first year recruit) and Kent (first year recruit) added to our fitter, yet still young and no runs on the board midfield. Forgive me, but on paper that lineup does little to scare the battle hardened and star filled line ups of the Collingwoods, Hawthorns and the like. I am excited with the inclusions of Toumpas and Viney but they are a long way off meaningful contribution to a already young and struggling midfield. The other midfield recruits will show their worth when the action begins.

Under the table dealings hey? Looks like the makings of Caro's next story to me.

Shoddy article from Wilson . . . . . Again!! Reporting that there is fresh evidence from unnamed sources about a meeting about something. Followed by standard, rehashed media beatups of our supposed tanking over the last 5 years. . . . Hmmm. Pathetic!

Think the Kangas might have folded on Pederson for pick 49 today. Without knowing the inner workings of our willingness to offload him, I thought Gysberts was worth giving another year. We have seen so little of this kid since his amazing debut games that we all feel like he has something to offer. Bit disappointed

Great to see so many positive comments despite us losing a respected, servant of our club. One of my favorite players over the years. Great courage, poise and steely determination. Think he will be missed by many of his team mates too. There have been many Melbourne players who have nominated Riv as the biggest club pest (in a good pest way) in their interviews. Best of luck Riv. You deserve any success that comes your way.

Pick 20 is overs. Collingwood are searching for anything they can get their hands on, If we didn't have the bulldogs breathing down our necks in negotiations I would tell the pies they can take or leave our third rounder.

Keep. Worth persisting with.

I think a happy medium can be found between the above posts. Whilst I see and agree with some of what Ripper has said it is hard not to see all the positives Neeld has implemented at the club. I have not seen such an aggressive re-jig of the club in my time and the appointments made in Misson, Craig and the like have been master strokes. I am relatively pleased with our approach to this free agent / trade period and although no stars have been grabbed (Hogan, pick 4 & Viney = potential) we seem to have adequately addressed the shortcomings on our list. In saying this though, the last few years have made us all question why we invest so much of ourselves in this club when it's performances hurt us so much. We all seem at our happiest and most optimistic at draft time only to be brought back to reality with a crashing blow round 1 of the new season. Whilst Neelds boldness, professionalism and ideals give me great hope for the direction this club is heading, I will temper my emotions until something of note has been achieved. I'm sure Neeld would want nothing more from MFC supporters.

I was all for trading pick 3 or 4 for an A-grader with the right fit early on and with trade week starting Monday I' m still open to it. The reality is however that no one of note and in their right mind would be willing to be traded to us. This leaves me with only wanting 2012 draftees. The mini draft doesn't sit too well with me. These kids are over 18 months away from having any impact for us and we need all the help we can get right now. The variables associated with getting a 17yo kid who has been projected as a top line pick 12 months out from the next draft seem too great to say the least. Recruit now and for the love of God recruit well!!

Short answer - No Long answer - these 2 players are B and C players at best (think Heffernan and Holland - would anyone pay pick 4 for those 2?). Both have seemed reasonably competent in a top 4 side surrounded by 'A-Grade' talent in their prime. Should they both get to MFC they will be the number one targets for opposition sides with no more hiding behind talented team mates. This article is no doubt Collingwood generated propaganda designed to put the heat on our recruitment team. Hopefully our team can see reason through the mist of our need to get established talent and see this trade for what it is - a BIG win for Collingwood. Despite the unknowns associated with a high end draft pick, their trade out value should be associated with the exchange of a big name player(ala Judd to Carlton) and not a B and C grader package. Add to this their current standing at their current club (one who won't get a game next year and another who wants out) and why would we be so quick to offer up so much so soon. Collingwood cannot afford to pay Wellingham what he wants and would not get a desired trade from WC given Wellingham's stated desire to get there. I would be interested in getting him but only for a 2nd rounder and possibly a player. Be strong MFC and pay what he is worth and don't allow our well known desperation for established players dictate the terms. Dawes 2012 has destroyed near all of his trade value. Whilst I respect his ability to make an AFL list, Dawes is a very limited big man, who is neither imposing with his size or damaging to the opposition. He is a confidence player who currently has none and is unlikely to find any with us. The luxury of being around good players with elite delivery at Collingwood has hidden his limited capabilities. I struggle to see any benefit in getting him especially given what we will be asked to pay for him.

Heard the end part of this interview where discussion was focussed on the possibility of MFC getting Dawes. I had no idea who was being interviewed at the time but was amazed at the way the person being interviewed was reading my mind about why in the hell MFC would pursue Dawes. When Andy Maher thanked Mike Sheahan I threw up a little in my mouth.

Forgive me if this has been mentioned over the previous 30 pages but I read recently that the Bulldogs are rallying for Jack Martin, GWS under 17 pick, with their first round picks (5 & 6 I think ). With these picks in GWS's hands ( 1, 5 & 6 ), it might be worth the risk for them to nominate Viney with their first pick. With Viney rated somewhere in the 5-10 range, and the very likelihood that we will select him if forced to, this will provide them with a player who would not be there at 5 or 6 if we got Viney 2nd round. By nominating him in this scenario they do run the risk of us passing on Viney and them missing out on players like Whitfield, Toumpas, Grundy or Wines, but at the same time it does provide them with some motivation to do so. Something GC doesn't really have. For the record, I am firmly in the take him at 3 camp, but totally in favour of giving the opposition the impression otherwise. This kids attitude alone makes him worth pick 3 and I don't want to see him running around in any other colours but ours.

Oops! Sorry guys. Didn't think of that.

"One player Maxwell may have been due to mind this weekend, West Coast forward Quinten Lynch, is also set to be missing after receiving a one-match ban for charging, which cannot be downgraded because of his bad record. The Eagles may choose to fight that verdict at the tribunal tonight because Lynch does not risk a longer ban if the challenge is unsuccessful, just additional carry-over points. While his impact to the back of Scott McMahon on Sunday came just after the Roos defender had taken a mark, Fraser reckoned Lynch's forceful approach breached his "duty of care as a player". "If you go into the contest . . . knees-first like that, even though there's an attempt to hit the ball right at the end there, we think that's worthy of a charge of charging," Fraser said. "Going into a marking contest like that . . . has the potential . . . that you break somebody's back."" (The Age, 11/09/12) Pretty sure Scott McMahon's vertebrae are all still in place. Makes me laugh.

Read Jollys article the other day and whilst I was interested to hear details into the swans culture (couldnt care less about Maxwell and the pies) I couldn't help but feel like it was another veiled swipe at us from a jaded ex player who carries baggage from his days with us. This isn't the first time Jolly has written an article using MFC as the example of what not to do (His article on coaches and how Daniher traumatized him). Great to see you rose from the ashes Jolly and hey you can string a few words together just leave us out of your next article cause for mine your starting to sound like Gerard Healy.

1. Clarke 2. Jones 3. Frawley 4. Jurrah 5. Sylvia 6. Blease 7. Watts 8. Trengove 9. Howe 10. Grimes Jamar just missed out. Important but doesn't do enough around the ground. T.Mac also an honorable mention.

" . .Harley Bennell playing a jaw droppingly good game where he was best on ground by a million miles. This is the sort of kid who other clubs draft with high picks, while we're going around being permanently cursed because somebody shagged a witch in the home changerooms before the 1965 season." Ha ha ha ha ha ha Great read Super!!