MadAsHell

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.

Agree with you there Belzebud59 in that it really is the only way to get there as there is no parking. However this can be rectyfied by the AFL. For example open up the MCG parking and have a few express trains from Jolimont to VP just as one thought? And although it would take 3-4 years before VP would be up and running the way the contact works with Docklands 44 games a year have to be played there until the end of 2014. Therefore if we did have a new stadium next year almost no games would be played there. So that' why I believe it's still a better option then PP. Just in my opinion mind you. And Nugget Jones the biggest problem with the transport to PP in my opinion is the trams are always to packed and not frequent enough. Think most people would rather go the train then tram, but again that's only my opinion. I do see why some people would prefer PP mind you.

I can understand the feeling towards VP however as a solution to the stadium deals I think it's the best solution. Already on a train line which PP isn't. A 35,000 seat stadium there would be ideal (based off Westpac stadium in Wellington NZ) especially for St. Kilda, Roos and Bulldogs. I'd imagine 3 would be the most amount of games we'd have to play there as MCG deal isn't as bad as Docklands. Bottom line is VP and PP are the only shorter term options and VP would be the most easily accessed by the public.

IN: Bell, Spencer (McNamara), Whelan OUT: Bartram, Frawley (inj), Rivers (inj) Spencer I agree is an automatic inclusion if fit. If not I'd give McNamara a go. Bell will be a automatic inclusion to take the Bulldogs best medium size forward and I think it's time Whelan came back. Bartram is unlucky as Dunn could be the best to be dropped but I do like having Dunn there as an option to go forward. FB: Bell, Warnock, Whelan HB: Bate, Martin, Bennell C: Morton, Moloney, Davey HF: Sylvia, Miller, Petterd FF: Dunn, Robertson, Maric Foll: Spencer, Bruce, McLean Int: Grimes, Johnson, Jones, McDonald Emerg: Bartram, McNamara, Newton

Word is Frawley will miss one or two so should be right for QB. No idea on Rivers as yet. I'm hoping he'll only miss the one at worst.

By 2011 he'll be playing on the ball in a Kouta type role. He showed today what we've all known he poseses.

Wouldn't it be so sweet! hehe.