Theo

It's all very well funding public transport above roads, but nobody addresses the issue that to push people to use public transport you need to vastly increase the parking spaces available at existing railway stations. I can't see this happening. I spent 40 years travelling by train to the city and apart from different rolling stock (trains) very little seems to have changed since I was a boy. I recently travelled to the city by train and although I live in Dandenong I always drive to East Malvern Station to park my car. This is a station with a very large carpark. Alas, at 10am I could not find an available space and had to park illegally on the grass. The same applies at Dandenong and Yarraman and further along at Westall and Huntingdale. Also the bus timetable does not compliment the rail timetable and doesn't even run after 9pm and not at all on Sundays. I support the East/West tunnel because people who live in the South/East will know that when travelling home over the Bolte bridge there is only ONE lane that exits to the South Eastern suburbs. It's incomprehensible that a city like ours has such inept planners and/or governments that cannot plan 30-50 years ahead. The Monash Freeway was obsolete before it was opened as it only had 3 lanes. What a joke. It cost more to add a 4th lane than it did to build the road in the first place.

If Dangerfield doesn't move this year, I bet you will see him in a Geelong guernsey next year under FA.

Looks like Billy Stretch can do everything but kick, pick up the ball with one grab, sprint repeatedly and jump high. Perfect for MFC

Clubs are now waiting for players to be delisted. That way they can pick them up for free as a delisted FA. If Blease is delisted some clubs will show interest as there would be minimal risk for that club.

The AFL Players Association want FA to come in after a player has been at a club for only 6 years. Clubs like ours will be nothing more than a development nursery for the more successful clubs. Unless we can climb up the ladder quickly our best players will always be tempted to leave. What should happen is that FA players should only be allowed to choose a club that did not make the top 8 for maybe top 4.

Merrett will be 30 in December. Unless we pay next to nothing for him I don't see the point of recruiting players that can only give us 1-2 years. It might be a short term gain while Roos is still coach but then we are back to square one. Am I missing something or would we be better targetting a player than can give us at least 5 years service.

We need to recruit like Hawthorn. I noticed that many of their very good players were mid to late picks in the draft or rookie selections. I.e Will Langford - pick 77 (2013) Luke Bruest - Rookie Matt Suckling - Rookie Taylor Duryea - pick 69 Paul Puopolo - pick 66 Ben Stratton - pick 46 Sam Mitchell - pick 33 Angus Litherland - pick 55 If we can get our early selections right and then be astute with our late selections we could be competitive very quickly. It's all about recruitment and development. I live in hope that we can turn things around. I am so jealous of Hawthorn but I respect so much what they have done..

This week a contributor to the rumour file on 3aw said that Dangerfield has just bought a property outside Geelong.

Peter Hudson murdered this blond haired kid every single time. Paul played some good games but for some inexpiable reason made silly mistakes that cost us goals. Similar abilities to Alistair Nicholson and Matty Warnock whereby you felt very nervous when he had the ball.

Caleb Daniel was the kid that dominated the last two games SA played in recent Championships. Although only small he was impossible to tackle and his skills both hand and feet were excellent. At Roosy's pie night I spoke about Wright, Petracca, Brayshaw etc to Paul during the QA session. I finished my question by talking about this kid.Caleb Daniel I'm sure that he had never heard of him and when I said that he was only 168cm he laughed. Do you mean 186cm. No Paul 168. Laughter....laughter. I said that this kid dominated and would be a fan favourite Laughter....laughter. He obviously thought he was too small but my God no other kid took my notice as much as this player. Matt Campbell and Liam Pickering who were commentating were rapt in him. He has firmed in some of the phantom drafts but could slide to a late pick because of this height. I would love this kid at MFC.

No certainty that he will go. Reports on radio this morning indicated that potential suitors are becoming nervous because of his poor form. Maybe not worth the price tag originally offered. MFC has an offer on the table.

I'm sure they said a free keg will be on after the North game. If you want to make sure contact the Duke. Confirmed. A free keg after the game win or lose.

I was there with my wife and son and I must say it was a great night. Premium beers and wine non-stop. I asked Max who he believes are the best young players on the list. He only mentioned one, Christian Salem. It was clear from Roos that McCartin and Wright won't be drafted by us. I may have drank too much but I got the distinct impression that Jack Watts won't be a MFC player next year.

He said they won't pick based on 'need'. such as their need for a key forward. Will pick 'best available'.

Maybe Jess could pair-up with one of our good players that are likely to play 100 games. The gene pool is promising.

If "Grand New Flag" is right we will negate any Frawley compensation by luring players from other clubs. This is what he said under the Frawley topic. I am hearing: * Paul Roos will sign for a 3rd year............ its as good as locked in. * There has been informal discussions with Bomber, as senior assistant next year. There is a good chance Bomber will end up at Dees but unsure of what his position will be in a succession plan. * Paul Roos has been working very hard at encouraging target players he wished to bring to the club. This is all unofficial and via managers as season still on. I am told these talks are going VERY well. * Confidence of Frawley staying is low. Club has been preparing for his departure. However, still not 100% that he is leaving.

I agree that you need a mix and as MFC supporters we would love to draft Stretch. However we should not let sentiment get in the way. After watching Stretch in the Champs this write-up from a contributor to 'Bound For Glory' sums up Stretch pretty well. If we have Toumpas do we really need Stretch. I liked Caled Daniel or SA Captain Jake Johansen much better. 41. Melbourne – Billy Stretch (Glenelg) Height: 182 cm Weight: 71 kg Player Comparison: Xavier Ellis Stretch has copped a lot of attention this year and has found a lot of criticism coming his way which has been very harsh on a kid who has some great assets. He is a skinny kid who floats across half forward or on the wing and loves to get the ball in his hands and run. His kicking lacks polish but is not as bad as has been reported early in the Champs. He is a good linkman across the forward half, but I don’t see him as a real game changer. Stretch isn’t likely to be in and under, winning his own ball but he knows his limitations and positions himself in spots where he can be dangerous and help his side. He often sits 30 metres away from the play, sweeping up loose kicks and pumping it back into dangerous spots. His exposure to senior football at Glenelg can only help him. Demons fans have put a lot of pressure on Stretch to be a great player, and wanted to get a steal through the father-son system but Stretch is just a good solid second round prospect with one or two attributes that make him a good player – his speed and decision making, but not a whole lot else.

Adam Simpson was interviewed on radio yesterday. His main point was getting bigger and stronger midfielders. The inference was that players like Gaff would not be part of their best midfield in the future. This made me think that a player like Stretch may not be the type of player teams are looking for. Taller, stronger, faster with elite endurance are what clubs will be looking for come draft day.

If I didn't barrack for MFC I would put Viney behind McRae, Wines, Libba and Bontempelli. Bye the bye Libba senior was in Seminyak this week. Stayed at the Breezes Hotel/Resort.. The weather was fantastic.

All we have to do is change the posts from round to square above the padding. Deflections would we be easily seen. The square posts could be rotated 45 degrees so the corner points are in line each other along the goal line.

Sounds like Dermott Brereton

This would be my dream draft plus maybe Ahern (Vic M).or Howe (SA). Brayshaw had a shocker yesterday. Never imposed himself and lacked composure in the few possessions he had. Not in the same class as Petracca. I hope we don't draft Brayshaw. Caleb Daniel will be a cult figure whoever drafts him. Please let it be us. This kid can really play and be could unstoppable as a small forward/midfielder. .

A third rounder would be about right. After watching 3 SA games at the Championships (and taking the blinkers off) he is certainly a capable team player but not a game-breaker. Would love the club to draft Caleb Daniel who was by far the best player in the last 2 games. Although only small he is a game-breaker and never wastes a possession..He is much better than Stretch. In fact I would not rate Stretch in the top 5 SA players overall. Caleb Daniel would be ready to play next year whereas Stretch may take 3 years to have any sort of impact.

All we need for Jessie now is a long-term love interest from Melbourne.

Watching Stretch at he Championships he has that "silkiness" about him that Bob Murphy and Robbie Flower have/had. He may be small but he keeps his feet and doesn't shirk a contest. His dad was great to watch and given time his son may be even better. With 2 more "quality" inside mids, Stretch, JKH, Toumpas, Kent and possibly Blease could provide the outside run we need.