Adam The God

I agree to an extent here. Once we inject some experience and class into our midfield, we will improve drastically. Our list is in better shape than many outsiders and indeed MFC supporters think. We just have an absolutely dearth of talent and experience in the most important place on the ground. Anyway, the part I disagree with is that the midfield is 'the easiest part of a list to put together'. Everyone says this, but to me it's a bit of a fallacy. I turned 26 in June and during my 26 years of supporting the MFC, I cannot recall us ever having an elite midfield. We've had front running midfields with some B graders that have had A grade years, but never consistent champs. That's what this club needs if it's to seriously challenge in this league. The rest of the pieces are slowly falling into the right place, but Cotchin's game against Hawthorn on Saturday highlighted further the importance of dominant midfielders, who can stand up against the very best opposition. We need A graders. We need at least two A graders to start with and then they will elevate someone like Nathan Jones to A grade. It's easier said than done. I won't go into who we should target specifically, because I've banged on about that across a couple of other threads, but on the whole, I agree that we certainly have the makings (ie potential) of a very good list. It's all about development, experience and game plans. We may appear soulless at the moment, but it was never going to turn around quickly. It takes a good HOF, a top-line coach that can instigate change and the continued support of the AFL to ensure our board and football club have the support they need to turn it around.

I respectfully disagree, BB. You only have to look at Trengove's U18 video to see he was clearly drafted as a 'boiler room type mid', as you put it. With his lack of anaerobic and aerobic power, he's simply not a chance of winning consistent clearances at the moment. I haven't given up hope of JT becoming a solid clearance player. Where I think he'll flourish will be on the outside. He's still young and seemingly crippled by OP. I don't hold the same hope for Grimes, but his ball winning ability tells me he could one day be suited to the 'boiler room'.

Every time Grimes gets the ball he makes his possession redundant by turning it over. Look, I'll retract the 'plodder' comment, Chook, but I maintain the same view as TU. If his kicking doesn't improve, he will never reach B grade. Jobe Watson couldn't kick either and he's turned it around, so there is hope.

Flexibility is modern footy though, BB. Players will be played and asked to play in multiple positions. Further, there's no way either of these guys aren't mids. They certainly are. They're just struggling at the moment.

Viney also drafted Toumpas over Wines. That was the correct decision. You are contradicting yourself here though, 316.

Spot on, rjay.

I agree that he's not the D grader he's showing at the moment, but his disposal seriously needs some inspection, otherwise he won't ever make B grade. Yeah, the #31 stuff is rubbish.

Top post as usual, PSD.

Come on, mate. Grimes has never been awesome and certainly not this year. His kicking has never been good and his decision making consistently leads to him coughing up the ball. He's a plodder, who's been overrated from the beginning. I love that he's a Melbourne man. I love the leadership qualities he apparently has, but from very early on, it was obvious that his disposal was well below elite.

Well, he's clearly moved down the pecking order at the Hawks and the contract we should offer him would expire in 2016, so the extra year. He wouldn't be on as much as we could offer him either. Go hard, FD.

Sewell is a real chance. I think we should be throwing the house at Sydney's Kennedy. Martin is struggling to get his own game to a consistent level, let alone guiding other players. That said, I'd probably take Martin, but it would depend on the cost.

No. We need players that can win their own ball. Sewell can still do this. He would walk into our midfield every week, even next year. Offer him a big three year contract. The leadership he would provide our young mids (those already there and those no doubt coming in) would be invaluable.

This is exactly what I've been saying, TU. Completely agree. Grimes is lucky if he's a C grader and I reckon we should be trading Howe, while he still has perceived value.

Stop looking to the past and live in the present. Surely you've learnt that from the Schwab debacle? PJ has come in and said enough of that rubbish. Have respect for the past, but we have to move forward.

Well, that and competent coaching staff.

I agree with those that are saying take Boyd and trade your way to experienced mids. I simply can't see us being able to get the same value in return. You then have the next two picks to take say Aish and then Sheed at the end of the first round. I'm still for trading Howe too if we could land an experienced B grade mid. Go hard in the trade and FA period too. Sewell has to be on our shopping list. He would offer Jones a bit of a chop out, not to mention some guidance to the rest of our young mids.

Gotta keep Watts unless Carlton offered us Marc Murphy. It's not gonna happen. He will be a damaging player with confidence and good players around him. Pretty much agree on the rest though, minus perhaps Rawlings and Spencer.

He's never been able to kick a football though, Chook. He was a turnover king in previous years and now he struggles to find the ball. When he gets a pre season into him, he'll be able to find more of the ball, but he'll still turn it over by foot and hand.

And who turns it over to give Cameron the sealer? That heart and soul player in Grimes. The question must be asked. What does Grimes offer us?

There we go. That's the difference between Trengove and Grimes. Grimes cannot kick a football. One kicks a captain's goal, the other misses without any pressure.

I am going to go back on the Kent comment though. Easily his best game. Cannot kick from a set shot though.

I'm sticking to my guns here. Trengove's been good. Get off his back.

I flicked it over to the Richmond game and I turn it back and I've missed the first two minutes. In this time GWS have kicked two. What the hell happened?

I reckon Trengove's been alright. Apparently I'm alone there.

Agreed. He had a good quarter, but his disposal and decision making is a worry for mine.