MadAsHell

No one from either club quoted with any comment, nor Wellingham or his agent. I'll take it as a page filler for now, Ralphy may have just been reading this thread. But who knows?

It;s just not BT and Channel 7. The whole AFL media are horrible and there's no accountability for any of it. One thing that really grinded my gears this weekend was Brian Taylor on Saturday Night making the comment that Collingwood are now through to their 7th Prelim Final in 9 years. I also heard Channel 10 run with the same stat and at least one other media organisation do the same yet i can't remember who. Funny thing is these are Collinwood's results over the last 9 years. 2012: Prelim Final* 2011: Runners Up 2010: Premiers 2009: Prelim Final 2008: Semi Final 2007: Prelim Final 2006: Elimination Final 2005: Did Not Play Finals 2004: Did Not Play Finals If you were to go back to 2003 & 2002 they were runners up both those years, but otherwise I count 5 Prelims in 9 years, not the 7 the whole AFL media seem to be running with! The standard is at an all time low. How I wish the only AFL media I could read was written by Martin Flannagan and every game I watched was called by Clinton Grybas (rest in peace), Gerard Whateley, Matthew Lloyd (special comments) and Tiffany Cherry (boundary rider).

Combination of BP and the players themselves for not rising to the standards set from the new regime. For the record I still think Gysberts can become a good player. But only if he pulls his finger out, and whether it's with us or another club is the big question?

Didn't say Stevens had issues, just that he sounds like a bit of a [censored]. To quote Mark Neeld at the coaches information sessions on Wednesday July 11th. "We'll only recruit people of the highest quality to represent the Melbourne FC" or words to that effect. Now I'm only going on second hand information here, but it's sounding like Stevens may not fall into that category.

They are his first choice but they'd have to satisfy GC with a trade and with their first round draft pick to go on Daniher F/S and Essendon notoriously bad to tarde with, I can't see them getting Caddy across the line. Puts us in with a good position. Both first round draft picks with injury issues who will struggle to get games in their respective teams for different reasons. Essendon need more clearance midfielders to help out Watson, we need more tall forwards to help out Clark. Reckon it's a very realistic trade.

I've changed my thoughts to what they were a week or so ago after hearing Steven's may be a bit of a [censored] and that we're starting to sound like a bit more of a chance at the likes of Caddy & Jacobs who I initially thought we were no shot at landing. Assuming we loose: Green (ret), Bartram (inj/ret), Bate (FA), Moloney (FA), Rivers (FA), Bennell (delist), Jurrah (delist), Lawrence (delist) & Cook (delist). Free Agents: Shannon Byrnes Jordan Russell Trades: Pick 3 to GWS for Jesse Hogan (MD Pick) Pick 4 to Gold Coast for Josh Caddy & their 3rd Round Pick Ricky Petterd & Pick 13 to Port Adelaide for Ben Jacobs & their 3rd Round Pick Stefan Martin & Port's 3rd Round Pick to Collingwood for their 1st Round Pick Jordan Gysberts to Essendon for Scott Gumbleton Draft: Collingwood's 1st Round Pick: Rory Atkins 2nd Round Pick: Jack Viney (F/S) Gold Coast's 3rd Round Pick: Nathan Hrovat 3rd Round Pick: Dean Towers 4th Round Pick: Josh Scott 5th Round Pick: Daniel Nicholson (upgrade)

Don't know abour personality or workrate olisik. But from what I've heard from some friends in Adelaide he's got pretty good pace and good courage. I rate him as a similar player to Dean Towers from North Ballarat from the limited footage I have seen of him but possibly not quite as fast given that Towers is as quick as they come.

Knowing our luck that's probably exactly what would happen. Reckon it would just be an old case of high risk high reward if it came off. Think he's worth the punt and if we managed to secure Hogan in the MD then worst case scenario Gumby couldn't get on the park we'd have Hogan to come through in 12 months time.

Agree with you there Wiseblood. Gumbleton is at the top of my shopping list for KPF's.

Either did I. Considering the age gap of the two and the fact Davey hasn't fired a shot in the last 2 years, I reckon for that trade to work, we'd be the ones needing to throw in a pick. Either way Neeld came out on the radio today saying Davey's going nowhere. Gysberts for Gumbleton would be more realistic I would have thought, but I could be way off.

Can't see Essendon agreeing to that.

I think we can both drink to that BH!

I don't disagree with a lot of what you've said. I do think that Gawn will get his body right and will become an awesome ruckman and I think Fitzy will be pushing for Martin's role in 2013. This is the only reason why I'd look at trading Stef, but again, only for the right price.

Think that they're after both. Watson is rally the only inside mid of any note that they have. On the outside they've got Stanton, Winderlich, Dyson, drafted Kavanagh etc. So I think they'd find Gysberts really appealing, especially if they miss out on Caddy which I have no doubt they will. I would love it if Mason Shaw fell to us at Pick 13 but I doubt it will happen. I expect he'll go somewhere between pick 7-11. Stringer could fall to us by pick 13, although for some reason I reckon the Doggies might take him at 6. Plus personally I'm really keen on either Kennedy or Garlett there. Issue I have with Edwards is he's only 184cm. He plays like a KPF but he isn't really one. Can't see him making CHF. I still think short term our best options are either Gumbleton, McKernan or Cornelius or possibly take a punt on Khan Haretuku in the PSD.

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!!! I'm really keen on this guy. I'm really hoping we can nab him with our 4th round pick in the mid 60's. Hoping he or Dean Towers drops to us there anyway.

I'm just going off a mixture of my own opinion after having seen him play with Casey on a few occassions, what seems to be the wider AFL media opinion (Kevin Sheehan included) and what I've heard out of our CEO's mouth when I was present in the room. You're the one that seems to be basing their opinion off nothing other then the fact we need an inside midfielder. What is it they say about people who live in glass houses? Edit: And I've never said what I suspect will happen will be fact. It's simply my opinion based on what I've been witness to. We'll have to agree to disagree that there's a chance we may pass on him if it came to it.

You're right. That wont be popular!

Why would West who's currently Geelong's No 1 ruckman and playing in a succesful side want to come to Melbourne where he'd be our 2nd ruckman and be forced to play a foreign CHF position?

They may keep it secret to try and stop clubs from trying to manipulate it like that.

I mentioned in another thread that if we were to trade Gysberts, this could be a fair trade. Two high draft picks that both haven't quite made if for injury reasons. We need tall forwards and they need more midfielders. Could work?

Post of the year!

Don't have any links to anything for you sorry BH, only from occassions when I've listened to either an SEN or watched the odd episode of TAC Future stars and they've talked about some of the best players in the draft the same names are always mentioned Whitfield, Grundy, Toumpas and Daniher. Viney mentioned also as a top 10 prospect but haven't heard him mentioned in the same category as the other 4. FYI by saying "some of you" your implying I'm in that category, otherwise you could have used the phrase "others on here". Still if you're not including me in that category then I withdraw my accusation and I apologise. Anyway I'm 99% sure he'll end up at Melbourne with a deal being arranged, but worst case scenario and one can't be struck, based on what Cam Schwab said I wont be suprised if we passed.

Can find me anywhere that Viney has been rated in the top 3, not top 10. That answers itself really. Think you've missed the point I'm making Ben-Hur, I'm not saying Viney wont be any good and I'm not saying he wont become the greatest player ever to play the game, he very well could. I'm saying he's currently not rated in the top 3 U18 year olds in the land at this point in time. And neither were any of Fyfe, Shuey, Redden, Beams, Sloane, Rockliff in their respective drafts, hence the draft order they fell in. I'm not talking about where they'll be rated in years to come, and how they develop, I'm talking about now on exposed form which is what players are drafted on. If you'll care to actually read the posts and not just go off half cocked you'll see I rate Viney highly and think he'll be a great player and I hope he comes to Demonland. All I've said is to not be suprised if Melbourne did pass if it came down to it. To quote Cam Schwab from one of the coaches information session I attended "We wont be dictated to by Sheeds". And for the record if you read my posts you'll see that I think we should trade Petterd & Gysberts and delist Cook so keep the abuse in check! Edit: Oh and by the way, I think we'll get Viney in the 2nd round after sorting out a pre arranged deal with GWS & GC before FS nominations.

So you're not interested in Jack Viney as FS with our 2nd round draft pick?

James Stewart eligable Collingwood FS. With Collingwood's 2nd round pick likely to be in the late 30's to early 40's I expect a Richmond or St. Kilda to nominate him with their 2nd round pick and Collingwood to match that with theirs. Meaning both our 2nd round picks will be tied up. That's why I reckon Martin and our 3rd round pick for their 1st round pick might work. With that pick I'd be hoping we can land one of Matthew Haynes, Jackson MacRae or Laine Wilkins. Outside running midfielders/forwards with really good pace, and in Wilkins case really good kick also.