jnrmac

No it didn't. They have been talking about for a considerable time. The only thinkg that changed was GC no longer get Howe but they get the pick we received for Howe.

Its the 18th midfield in the comp. That's about as deplorable as it gets. But if you think its OK then........

I am disappointed too but the reality is you are very limited in what you can do and it now depends heavily on players wanting to come to you. We aren't aware of who they have been talkng too so can't really comment, Dangerfield was apparently thrown a blank chq, Parker was chased... what more can they do?? Part of the rhetoric as we know about Roos is that it plays to a wider audience. Its not simply telling supporters we will be aggressive, Its telling other clubs, 'make sure you speak to us because we have picks and players and will look at every deal'. We are definitely a club that others can do deals with and I would surmise we get to see a lot of potential deals - but closing them is tremendously hard. Having said that, so far I am very underwhelmed with what we have done. There is an arguable improvement in the list but its marginal at best and we have to improve massively overall (but particularly in the midfield). And we have to improve relatively - most people don't get this. Improving our list is one part of the equation but everyone else is doing the same. We have to improve relative to the top teams and this is where free agency has farked it up for the lower clubs. In any given year the bottom team will improve relatively against the top team by a single draft pick (because after the first pick the picks are essentially equal). If you stuff that pick up like we have done you haven't improved. With FA players leaving bottom clubs to go to the top clubs, the bottom clubs are worse off. So much for equalisation.

[censored], Not one recruiter in the land thought that. You're a revisionist dreamer.

He's a competitor. Thats the theme this year...

I don't like this personally but will wait til trading is over. Just shows how difficult it is: we can't land a big fish and players nominate their own terms, even when under contract. The system has to change. Those that don't rate Howe or Toumpas will be happy but for mine Howe had much more currency that what we ended up with. Toump for Kennedy seems like a small win because BK is more a contested type, faster and is not a deer in the headlights.

You are more likely to persevere with a high draft pick altho Melbourne has mad a habit out of prolonging careers like Danny Hughes and Rohan Bail.......

Probably only the games played stat - everything else is pretty subjective.

Howe - Hardly cashing in if the contract is $350k and GC and NM supposedly offered him more. Toumpas - spot on

Been away so haven't read the thread fully but did I read Emma Quayle somewhere say that had we not chosen Toumpas we would have chosen Bne Kennedy?? Surely that can't be right. Where are the posters that swore black and blue it was a choice between Toumpas and Wines? What is the real story here?

I can hear Banjo music.....................

Go back to sleep

We all know the culture has gone down the gurgler since Buiddy went there.....

We need competitive footballers with skills - tick We need runners - tick We need to improve on the players we delisted - tick Goodwin has intimate knowledge of this guy's ability. We need to back his assessment.

This could be where Howe really farks us up because we might have got a second rounder in the mix with GC that we could have used in this scenario

There must be a reason why they wouldn't play him. Was on the list for long enough. We know what he can do. Had to go really. By the OP's reasoning we should have kept Kyle Cheney and Brent Grgic... LOL

Ah I see you are bringing back the ol wet tram ticket OD

We do but we need to keep improving relatively. ITs not good us improving if the premier and those below them improve more. Free agency has farked the whole system. Apparently in the NFL a player can only leave under FA and go to a team below them. I like that idea.....

Thats a better deal for us.

Good for you. Gawn was recruited in the 2009 draft. Your foresight is astounding

Interesting isn't it?? Some had the werewithall to refuse to go along with the programme. Maybe the drug training they received kicked in. Maybe they spoke to their manager or Doctor or partner etc For mine that is damning on those that did take part in the programme and indicates they should not receive any of the sympathy that the football industry seems to want to give them. Hang 'em high I say.

Totally ridiculous comparison. Gawn had shown nothing. Kent had shown plenty.

Yep because the last time a melbourne player kicked 8 goals was...........

His Watts analysis is spot on. Saying Stretch has disposal issues is a bit bizarre.

WADA are still conducting interviews going over old evidence etc. The defence team are somewhat shocked that new evidence is still flowing in. I suspect (but dont know) they will seek extra time to review it etc.