Adam The God

It depends how the rest of the team is moving and whether they're presenting options.

I'd say it's excellent in fact. It's been that way for a while now.

We were still bombing it to the square to Gawn though, Chook. Yes, Gawn doesn't carry the same focus as Mitch, but I think we'll really struggle to kick a winning score this weekend. Even if Clark isn't kicking bags, he straightens us up significantly.

You obviously missed his Franklinesque run down the boundary line and pass to Pedo? He didn't hold onto his contested marks last week, I'll agree, but he was playing hampered by injury and was still able to influence the game in stanzas.

We talk about important pieces of the MFC puzzle. Long term, he's essentially the top piece for me. Yes, we need an A grade midfield, but I still consider him the premier defender in the league. Put a decent midfield in front him and he'll be a devastating prospect. He's a Dustin Fletcher with line-breaking ability.

I've been waiting for this. It's actually my biggest MFC footy fear at the moment. We must retain him. He's the only genuine A grade defender I've seen at Melbourne in 25 years. Offer him a four year deal, a five year deal if it'll get him over the line.

Yeah, it appears to be all about ego. I don't think this thread will reveal anything though, DG. However, I will watch it with interest.

He's an arrogant little fella, Seedsman. I used to coach his brother and saw quite a bit of him around the traps. He didn't look that built today, but seems to be doing well though and is not shown up in his contested footy.

I agree.

Completely agree, THBT. I thought I could see where we were going after that victory. I haven't seen it since though. I hope I see it this weekend against, it must be said, an injury hit bottom 6 side.

Nothing has changed just because we smashed GWS in one quarter. Neeld knows this. We have to turn up on Sunday, otherwise it will have all been for nought.

Who's going to kick our goals though? We're not playing GWS this week.

You're quite right.

You could well be right, RGRS, but my impression of Barry is that he'll play the flanks offensively and defensively. Of course, I could be wrong. Either way, I've said midfielders seem to be hard to draft, small forward is one position we've had some talented players in. I wouldn't be utilising free agency cash to lure a small forward unless we were certain of being unable to attract a decent FA mid. I'd prefer to go the rookie draft or pre season draft.

Woey was gone two years later and had one superb season with us. He was A grade for one season I reckon. While Yze was a great talent, but would go missing in big games. Had the skills and x-factor of the very best, but not the consistency IMO.

The MFC plays the game to win Grand Finals, not simply participate in them. Although it must be said, I'd taking mere participation at this point. I think the combination of Clark, Dawes and Hogan could be as good as, if not better than, what the '98 forwardline would have been, had the Ox not done his knee.

Whilst I believe the crumbing forward is a need worth addressing, as I stated in another thread, I think Hogan, Clark and Dawes are mobile enough for the moment. We have more pressing needs. Address the midfield first. Get that right and then we can look to fill the crumbing forward role and the other position I believe is lacking; the small, zippy defender.

Yep, DemonWA. Midfielders, midfielders and midfielders. Incidentally, I'm not sure I believe that midfielders are easier to find than KPP, which seems to be the common perception. I know we've stuffed up a few selections, but I haven't seen an A grade MFC mid in my life time (25 years).

The thing about these guys is that they're all mobile talls. Whilst I think we'll eventually need a classy crumber (or two!) to go all the way, I think if we improve our midfield, that forwardline will certainly be capable of cracking the top 8.

I wish our President came out and stamped Caro's rubbish out like Eddie has tried here. Brad Scott also came out today and claimed she has a vendetta against Brayshaw. Don never claimed that of her and Schwab, though she clearly did. Perhaps he should have? Wilson makes everything personal. Perhaps it's a defence mechanism in a so-called "man's world"?

Ah, gotcha. Thanks HT.

Agreed. I've essentially paraphrased this. I'd question whether Chip has bought in. Of course this could be a confidence thing or simply fed up from years of defeats. Though, when the team ran out on the ground the other day, he was the one revving the team up. So I could be wrong.

Whilst I agree with a lot of what you say here BH, if we can improve our midfield, I think we'll see a drastic climb up the ladder. Naturally if it were to be this season, we'd have to uncover a few unexpected gems. Matt Jones would have to begin to get clearances like Nathan Jones. Viney would have to join in and Sylvia would have to become consistent. IF the midfield is playing accountable footy and winning its fair share of clearances, we will look like a much better side. Our defence will suddenly look like the great wall again, as confidence will flow through the entire team. It all starts in the midfield though. Your midfield makes your other players look better or worse than they are. EDIT. There was no inappropriate language used in the post. I edited it for its grammar.

Yep. He mentioned this on Triple M before the game on Sunday.

Jones didn't appear to lack fitness last season. At least it didn't impinge upon his ability to get the footy. That said, I think Jones has been one of Neeld's success stories. How much can you attribute to Neeld is an unknown, but he's certainly improve under Neeld's reign.