MadAsHell

We'll be a good shot to win this one, especially seeing as Green, Rivers & Frawley will all be back. If we do win this one it means that we can't win the games against Richmond or North Melbourne otherwise we'll go over our 4 wins. Doesn't matter if we do loose though because we'll thump them in the coming years, don't like the look of them going ahead, can only think of half a dozen players who look like they'll have much of a future.

Round 14-v-West Coast Round 20-v-Fremantle And we'll beat either Richmond or North Melbourne. We'll also have close calls against Collingwood round 11, Essendon round 12 and Port Adelaide round 15. We'll win exactly 4!

The below names are the players who I think will most likely be in the gun to get delisted, traded or told to hang up the boots. Personally I don't think we'll clear out any more then 6 at most. That would allow 4 picks in national draft, 1 in pre-season draft and 1 to be promoted off the rookie list. Bate Bell Dunn Jamar McDonald Newton Sylvia Wheatley Whelan If I had to get rid of 6 I'd be looking at; Bell Dunn Jamar Sylvia Wheatley Whelan

Yes but don't forget Watts and Butcher wont be able to hold down key positions next year either. While Watts will most likely be able to play in a pocket in the seniors I'd expect Butcher to spend most of his first year with Casey. We'll need Robbo for at least 2010 to give Watts and Jurrah an extra year to get their bodies right to take the mantle. While I agree the hard decissions could very well come for McDonald, Whelan and Wheatley all at seasons end Robbo will be a required player for at least one more year.

Sadly I'm still not convinced about Jamar, in fact I'd have him 4th in our ruck pecking order. I was impressed with Meesen's ruck work in the 4 games he's played. Johnson had a good game against the Eagles and we all know Spencer is a long term project. Jamar doesn't do enough around the ground for mine and doesn't win enough hit outs to compensate for the lack of ball he gets. Personally if Jamar, Johnson and Spencer are our ruckman to pick from for the rest of the year I'd be going with Spencer and Johnson every time.

Does anyone know exactly who is and isn't out of contract at season's end? Obviously I know Watts, Bleae, Strauss, Bennell, Jetta, Bail and Jurrah are contracted for next year, but does anyone know the list of players who's contract runs out at the end of this year?

You could very well be right. I guess it will come down to whether or not sides look to top up on experienced players to try and pinch a premiership in the next 3 years seeing as the following two drafts will be compromised or if everyone just decides to play it safe. Only reason why I thought some clubs may be willing to trade is if the rumor of this being a weak draft is true, therefore they may see more value in proven players rather then the new ones in this draft crop.

Hahaha!! Very good. I meant more for the fact that they are lacking some midfielders and he may be happy to go there seeing as he is mates with Didak and he'd probably get more of a chance to play on the ball at Collingwood rather then with Melbourne where he tends to play half forward.

Don't get me wrong RR I agree with you that neither Sylvia or Dunn would be worth a first round pick on their own. That's why you'd put them in a package, for example with pick 18. Makes it a more realistic trade that way.

With the general consensus being that this years draft is going to be very thin seeing as Gold Coast are getting the 17 year olds I wouldn't be suprised if Melbourne only use the minimum 3 picks in the national draft. So we'd need to clear 5 spots in my opinion. 3 for drafting and 2 to elevate Spencer and Valentti. The people I'd expect to be shown the door would be: Whelan (enforced retirement) Jamar (delist) Bell (delist - I was under the impression he was out of contract at seasons end) Dunn (trade with pick 18 for higher pick, eg 16. Bulldogs may be interested in someone like Dunn.) Sylvia (trade with pick obtained for Dunn for higher pick eg 12. Collingwood may be interested in someone like Sylvia) This could see us with draft picks 1, 2 and 12 for example where we can obtain 3 really good players in what will be a thin draft to go with the bunch of exciting kids we already have.

From what I've seen of Watts and how he handles himself I have no doubt that he could take it all in his stride. I think Watts and Grimes will be the future captains and Vice captain at some point, just a question on who gets which role and when?

Davey for mine to take over at the end of 2010 when McDonald retires. Brock McLean will get the VC role however the captain role after Davey eventually retires will fall the way of Grimes in my opinion.

It's an absolute joke! The AFL better flip the whole bill, there will be less then 20,000 there. Could have got the 24,000 needed at the G but no chance we'll make money from a game at Docklands.

Agree with your thought on Wheels. He has been a great servant of the club and I'd love it if this is his last year that they bring him into the side for round 13 and play him out the year so his final game against the Saints in round 22 at the G would be game number 150. Think we'd all like to see him go out that way.

Will be very nice, with any luck we'll have Watts to debut against the Eagles round 14 at the G and after Wonna has a few games with Casey we might see him back round 15 against the Power at the G.

I agree with you entierly. The way I see us progressing is bottoming out again this year to only win 4 games and finish last with picks 1 & 2. Improving next year to win 6-10 games and finish 10th to 12th. playing finals in 2011 finishing in the bottom half of the top 8 possibly getting as far as the semi finals and be a genuine premiership contender by 2012. Best case scenario of course and I think Bailey has them on track. I think we'd all be happy with that type of blueprint.

Did hear about him on sunday to. Maybe if we come 15th only winning 4 games then we can look at him at pick 3. Scully & Christensen in the midfield would be nice to see.

You'd cut Robertson before Dunn? I know Robbo's 30 but that's still the craziest thing I've ever heard!

Jack Grimes and Jamie Bennell will get nominations for sure this year. I think our next two most likely will be Maric and Watts. Other potentials will be Cheney, McNamara, Jetta, Spencer and Strauss. Not to sure how many games each of them will play between now and the end of the year but would all be in with a shot. However having said that we wouldn't get anymore then 5 max for the year IMO.

He's only played 2 games but is already an automtic inclusion in our side when fit, that's why he came back in to side even though he didn't do an awful lot for Casey against Coburg the week before, it was just about him getting match fit. With Grimes and Watts developing and having players like McLean, Moloney, Miller, Rivers, Green and Davey on our list we are looking very good as far as leaders and potential captains for the future go. Add to that the potential recruitment of Scully and hopefully Dylan Grimes aswell at pick 18??

Dunn = trade bait at seasons end for mine. Haven't heard anything but I just think he may be one of those players they look to move on to further improve our position in the draft.

32,129. Lets go Dees, I'll be in hospital but will be there in spirit.

My understanding is that when Docklands opened a contract was entered into with the AFL that no new venues would be built to host home & away and finals football in Victoria until the end of 2025. Also there's an agreement that Docklands gets 44 home & away games a year until the end of 2014 when it's then reduced to 30. However PP and VP were still in use at the time so they can still be used technically. Was all overseen by Wayne Jackson who we all know wants to reduce the number of Victorian clubs so that's probably why the stadium deal is so bad.

You do make a good point about MCC council and their car park. I think these are all big problems the AFL may have no matter where they look to put a 3rd Melbourne venue. One things for sure it will be interesting to see what solution they do come up with.

Our kick ins should only be done by Davey, Whelan (when playing) or Green. Our best kicks and more experienced players. But yes I to am glad it cost us the game. hehe.