Grand New Flag

Many of you have misunderstood Watts reasons. Watts was used as a scape goat and hung out to dry by Neeld. Neeld misunderstood how to get the best out of Watts. Quite frankly his treatment by Neeld was appalling. The way Neeld treated Watts makes me feel sick, it was disgusting. If I was Watts I would want to know that I did not have another coach who would regularly publically humiliate me. More importantly I would want to know that the coach woudl be someone who could devlop me and the team. Watts was rattled by Neeld. Watts has never had the on and off field support both mentaly and physically that a young number 1 draft pick requires. His development has been lacking due to our horrible culture, failure to maintain senior players and failure of the club to correctly protect a boy in a mans world. He is a significant asset that sadly we have trashed. Watts will come good, he will become an outstanding player. If he leaves, it will be another arrow through the heart of the club..... don't sugar coat this. Another number 1 pick walking out on us could start a stampede and would further wound the mentality of our players. Watts manager has had interest from 13 clubs (I am personal friends with his direct manager and know Paul Connors as well). If he does leave we will get a very good player in return. The entire comp can see how poor Melbourne is at developing talent, the entire comp can see Watts silky skills, and his overall talent. He has a good charter, and all clubs would back themselves into making him into a star. If he leaves I believe he is off to Carlton. MM has been his mentor and MM would make him into a champion. I get the impression that if we don't get Roo's he will walk. Don't blame Watts, blame the club. We must do all we can to hold Watts. I beleive he is our best player.

Maybe..... time will tell. I am only reporting on what I am hearing.

I have been meaning to come on here for some time to discuss where we are at re Roos. Simply there is nothing that has happened that has changed the view of where we are at. Roos is still seriously considering, the club is rightly putting a back up plan in to place, however the club still remains more than hopeful, but confident he will become our coach next season. Roos needs to see we have our house in order, this is a major issue, and from what I hear this why he is not confirming interest. AFL concessions also likely to be a reason. It remains telling that he will not declare no interest. He may also have issues with interstate movement with his family (not confirmed with me), this is something I have only heard on Demonland. Interesting on OTC tonight. Jackson was very clear about football department spending remaining at least at this seasons levels. He seemed to be driving this point. Maybe there is something to be read into this. Regardless, nothing Roos said suggested to me things have moved positively or negatively at this stage, everything remains in process. As I have said before, a decision will be made seasons end. Lets not sugar coat the alternatives, they may be good, but Roos is our man. Again I can confirm the board remains confident. Roos continues to leave the door open. He is not one to play games, he would not be doing this if there was no chance. I hope the MFC, MCC, board and all other stake holders create the right structure and environment to bring him to the red and blue.

He has been playing deep back with shut down roles and winning each week, not many players have been consistently beating their opponents this season. Yet he is smashed on here. I never said he was at the level of Garland only that he has been consistently winning his position like Garland and playing his role successfully. RPFC: I respectfully 100% disagree and again suggest that more than half our list deserves criticism before Dunn.

Ridiculous! This thread should be locked.

Also unfair to drop any of our forwards considering we only had 19 inside 50s and most of those were to the advantage of North players.

Dunn: You can't be serious. I thought he was our best on Saturday. Dunn was on a very dangerous player in Lindsay Thomas who is Norths leading goal kicker with 45, and kept him goalless despite endless inside 50s and opportunity for Thomas. He was the ONLY Melbourne player to beat his opponent on the day. Further Dunn's form has been consistently good. He is given a role each week and this season has almost always completed his role with distinction. Dunn made one poor error which cost us a goal, but outside this was excellent in an awful performance. I can't understand the Dunn haters on here. He is doing his bit. He goes in hard on every contest, wears his pride on his sleave, shows controlled aggression and usually wins his position. He has been close to our most consistent this season, behind Garland. With the roles that Dunn is given he will never be BOG, but due to the ball constantly being in Norths 50, he was our best on Saturday. Clint..... watch the game on replay and spare your frustration to those who do not go hard enough and lose their position every week.

Hogan will be close to useless if we cant get the ball to him. Watts, Dawes, Howel, Clark (when fit), and Hogan, it would not matter if this was the best forword line in the history of the game, if we cant get our hands on the ball, and get some sort of foward entry that is not kick and hope or mis kick ,our forwards line wil remain redundant. As a forward why would you stay at a team than does not give you any opportunity. It goes without saying, but if we can't get quality ready to go mid-feilders this off season, that can step up next season, we will lose what looks like our great hope..... our forwards. We are a good chance to lose Watts seasons end regardless, although this would break my heart, at least we could trade for an A Grade Mid. We should try and keep Watts at all costs, because he will become a champion, but if he chooses to leave all is not lost. We can't afford to lose any others, we must spend all our picks on mids........... ready made mids. Simply our survival depends on it.

Yes, that is my understanding. Roos has put conditions on a move to Melbourne and Peter Jackson & the AFL are trying to fill those conditions.

Sorry mate, I have nothing. As I have said before, Roos will not make a decision until later in the season.

If Roos decides to coach again it will be at the MFC.

Dunn is given a job to do each week, and does that job usually very well. Playing deep in defence he will never be one of our best but he is beating his man most weeks under significant pressure due to massive inside 50 count. Further Dunn can play all positions outside of ruck which makes him a valuable utility and depth player should he lose his place. I don't think he should be considered as trade bate.

I have also considered your argument that we should trade a KPF for a mid. My view is not this season. Lets see how everything pans out after next season and if we truly have too many high quality KPF than lets look at trading one for a mid at the end of 2014. With better supply next season surely we will get better value then.

Neeld................... make no mistake..... the worst coach in the history of the game. Craigs performance has been good, but he is made to look better than he is because Neeld was that bad.

Confirmed as 100% BS by Roos. Not only did he confirm that he had he not been to Perth of late, nor seen any houses but also had never heard of the suburb of the house he was meant to have bought. He found the rumour very funny.

Don't think we need anymore B Grade talls, so not interested in Duigan, however, Laidler may be worth a look. He is of AFL quality, but just up against a fleet of small running players at Carlton. We need Roos or Williams to have any hope landing decent players. Who is gods name would want to come to the MFC? We are a basket case and career destroyer. Come on Roos, save us from ourselves and sign.

Not sure what you were able to get on, but the max bet of $20 that I was allowed to place at $7 would still be a good win. A decent dinner for my wife and I to celebrate.

For the record, and for people not to be carried away, from my understanding the current odds are not a bad reflection on reality. Perhaps $1.50 would now be the fair market. A deal has not yet been done yet.............. but its looking dam good.

I do not see any formal framework, certainly not one made public. This would create the tanking issue again. I expect it to look ad-hoc even though it may not be. I also know that some sort of mini-draft is being considered. The AFL has brought in US experts to consider different options on evening the comp. This is how seriously they are taking it.

The AFL want to even up the competition. The combination of two new franchises and free agency has significantly stretched the divide between the top clubs and the bottom clubs. This is very unhealthy for the AFL, it significantly weakens the competition. Over the coming years you will see the AFL go to unprecedented lengths to try and close that gap. Over the coming years Melbourne, WB and St.Kilda will all be given significant draft concessions from the AFL to re-even the comp.

Roos will not commit until he has draft concessions confirmed along with board and GMFO appointments. Although things are looking good with ever increasing likelihood, we should not expect a signing until late in the season. As I have said before the MFC have been in pursuit of Roos longer than is admitted.

Dunn has been playing his role very well. Don't think he will be considered for demotion.

Things are moving in our favour.

My sources say this is not true. As for the interview, it was well played by Watt. He said without saying it that he did not like Neeld, he did not respect Neeld and nor did most on the team. He said pretty directly that Neeld did not have the interpersonal skill required to caoch at the senior level.

????? I am sure its been said, but he is a free agent. He either signs with us or he signs with someone else................ he can't be traded. There is simply no point in not trying to re-sign him.......... regardless of how disappointed you may be, he is still in our best dozen players and should be our best player. So we will be weaker if he does not sign.