Adam The God

Then draft it is. I'm simply advocating that we explore all avenues.

Nothing less than A graders with pick 2. I've already mentioned Kennedy a few times. I've also noted that if nothing falls our way, then we go to the draft.

Just watched the replay of ON THE COUCH. Loved Jackson's comments RE: Melbourne have too often looked to employ Melbourne people, rather than simply appointing the best people for the job. Thankfully someone said it. If anyone gets [censored] off with that comment, I want them as far away from our footy club as possible. Further, really enjoyed the mentality of getting the footy team right and the focus on the need to develop.

I think we'll win. Frawley will shut down Cameron and we'll get up by a couple of goals.

Yeah, I'd say "[censored] off, Stockdale".

Short term issues. If they are laden with draft sanctions, they will struggle for the next decade. You only have to look at Carlton and our predicament now. A lack of senior players. It may not affect them short term, but that depends on whether their players are banned. Drafts are so important. If you are banned for two years that can have dire long term effects. If the Commission come down firmly with draft sanctions, they may well include FA too.

Spot on, RM. Every time we moved it quickly inside forward fifty we looked dangerous. That's how the best sides do it. I watched Hawthorn do it all Friday night.

I've mentioned that if pick 2 doesn't lure an A grader, then there's no point. Use it on the best young kid. I'd be poking my nose around Collingwood. I'd be getting in Sewell's ear. I'd be getting the lay of the land, not simply sitting back and saying 'oh, we'll never land anyone'. Who knows with regards to Kennedy. If they win another flag this year, he might say it's time to head home on lucrative coin. My point is, we simply don't know until we put the second pick on the table.

Crouch looks a goer too.

If you mean 'who do you think we'll get for pick 2 in the draft', then I couldn't say I know this pool of players well enough to comment. Aish and Sheed look the goods, but how that translates to AFL, I have no idea. I'd prefer to leave that in the hands of people who have watched them copious times and followed them for a while. My impression from the four games I've seen is that there is a lack of inside class in this pool. I could well be wrong. If the club believes this notion is incorrect, then I'm all for keeping pick 2. I'm simply not convinced at this stage, coupled with the fact I believe we need to improve our midfield next year. Not in three or four years time. With regards to putting the second pick up for trade, I think it's particularly defeatist to simply say, as some DLanders are doing, no one worth their salt will come to Melbourne. We have to shake some branches and see what falls out. If we like it, we deal. I doubt anyone on here is privy to certain opposition players and whether they would or wouldn't jump at a lucrative offer. Who'd have thought we'd get Clark or Dawes? 'Crackpot' Neeld, as you've dubbed him, quite rightly, managed to get both of them across the line. Imagine what Roos or Williams could do. The 2014 season will see us with a top line coach. That makes us a slightly more palatable proposition. Whilst I'm probably still in the camp of best available, I fail to see what another potential flanker/outside runner is going to add to our list. I completely concur on the 'class' aspect. However, I think Toumpas and Viney both have inherent class. In fact, the latter reminds me of a young Kieran Jack, but probably has more natural talent having grown up with the game. Having said that, I'm also mindful that quite a few MFC players have shown that class and then failed to develop/deliver.

I actually thought he was probably in our top 2 or 3 yesterday. Not saying much given our performance, but a much better return.

He was never truly in contention.

Mitchell or Sewell aren't quick either. They still dominate. It's whether he can win consistent contested footy that concerns me.

You mean the tens of thousands that jumped ship during the Knights years? Turn it up. Just as Carlton's membership suffered through the draft pick penalties, if Essendon cop similar, they will be in the wilderness for years. When they are up and about again though, they'll smash us for members.

You've been advocating that we draft Kelly though haven't you, Ben? How would he help us win contested footy? We need more inside mids. Simply stockpiling youth is a path we've been done before. Without experience around the youth, footy teams fail. GWS is a prime example at the moment. You need that experience around the youngsters to assist and cultivate their growth and development. During this coming off-season, we need at least one marquee inside mid. I keep saying Josh Kennedy from Sydney. Lucrative, long-term contract to bring him back to Melbourne in front of his friends and family. I understand the likelihood of snaring him is low, but we must be aggressive and we would hold the adequate compensation if he were interested in coming home. Obviously, the ideal scenario is Roos coming to Melbourne. That may sway Kennedy or another top Sydney mid. If we have decent coaching, Kennedy and some FAs (Brad Sewell for example), you're suddenly far more competitive. You seem to have your finger on the U18 pulse more than I do. I'd be interested to read who else you'd target in this draft. We have plentiful youth, I'd be putting pick 2 on the table and seeing what experience is offered. If nothing decent is, then obviously you look to the draft and hope. From my admittedly less than knowledgeable position, this seems a reasonably weak draft for inside mids though. Loved to be proved wrong.

True, mate. Very sad situation. But instead of sinking into our shells like the players do, the recruiting staff and the FD in particular should be rigorously pursuing methods of eliminating the glaring weakness of our list.

I've been very critical of him this year, mate. All he's got is the leap. What else is he offering? I really want us to be aggressive at the trade table this year. We obviously need to ensure that team harmony is in tact should we trade him, but it makes sense that if we can land ourselves a top mid for a flanker, you'd do the deal just about every day.

Look guys, we all know that you have to give up value to receive value. ie. Not Tapscott for Ablett. We need a midfield. I'd love to keep Howe up my sleeve for that extra bit of danger in the forward half, but the midfield is far more pressing than a flanker - as you rightfully point out, Tim. Howe is a great leaper, but has a tendency to drop the easier ones. If it came down to Howe or Watts, I'd be trading Howe every day of the week. Watts' disposal and decision making is just too damaging to overlook. If you get a midfield that can dish to the likes of Watts, we won't need a Howe with Clark, Dawes, Fitzy and Hogan. We'd need that extra little bit of x-factor in the forwardline, but draft someone with genuine pace to fill that role. Howe isn't quick. While he has perceived value, if we can get an experienced A grader, I'd pop him on the table.

Forget Wines, DF. I'd jump at him for pick 2, but Port won't trade and he won't look to leave within his first contract.

I agree with the sentiment, DA. We must be rigorous this draft/trade/FA period. If we don't fix our midfield, players of Frawley's ilk will leave and we will struggle to attract anyone. As obvious as it sounds, we simply aren't competitive with this midfield and although experience is important, I don't believe it is our entire problem. We lack the class that every other midfield has. I think we should be going really hard at an established player (Sydney's Josh Kennedy for example) and offering a 5 or 6 year deal at $800,000. Front load that as much as possible and then go hard at some B grade free agents. The following year go hard at a few Gold Coast and GWS mids coming out of contract. We go hard while we have the cap room to spare.

Trade Howe. See what we get. One of the most frustratingly one dimensional players we have. Made more infuriating by the fact that he has talent, just not the application it would seem.

It's not the list on the whole, rjay. It's the midfield. Without a workman-like midfield, it exposes every other area on the ground. That's not to say we don't have holes in the forward or back half, but no team will be competitive if their midfield rubbish. That's our predicament at the moment.

Craig's in a tough position, but has shown that he is only marginally better than Neeld. That says it all really.

I think we have to stop looking for saviours, WYL. Having said that, I think Roos and Williams are the best choices to dig us out of this mire. Williams clearly wants to coach again. If Roos says no, go with Williams. I still firmly believe Roos will be/is coming though.

Boom goes the dynamite, stuie.