Dr. Gonzo

He'll probably end up at Richmond, North, Essendon or even Collingwood, don't see any way he's coming to MFC.

Yeah I agree on both points.

Looks like he's probably off to Brisbane or possibly Carlton as Hawthorn is after Longer or maybe Hampson. We have a few rucks but none that I think would interest the Hawks, maybe Gawn or even Fitzpatrick but I don't think we'd want to give either of then up for Savage.

C'mon Melbourne, get it done if for no other reason than we could have a forward line boasting both Hogan AND Savage - the MEGA-POWERS REUNITE!!! But seriously this guy actually has pretty good disposal by foot and think he would be a good addition.

Mate I do agree, but first we need to get into a position where we have the players that warrant us even paying the minimum 95% of the cap. I seriously struggle to see how we will do so next year unless we can attract a FA on massive coin (which I doubt).

We will have the best midfield in the comp next year - Shuey, Sloane, Rockliffe, Selwood, Swallow to add to Jones & Viney - wow can't wait!!!

This move will put a final nail in the COLA coffin. Won't upset Sydney too much but will hurt GWS in the future.

Didn't stop Buddy and Mumford agreeing to deals with new clubs.

Yeah he missed quite a bit of time last year due to "injury".

Haha good one. Wait you are joking right?

They'd be in his ear already.

In most of my time watching MFC we've had a very good forward line, decent midfield but no KP defenders worth speaking of, the exceptions being Danny Hughes and Ingerson/Shanahan for a brief period. Now we have a gun FB, no midfield and a forward line who can't get on the park.

What I am completely failing to understand in all this is how Buddy has already stated he is off to the Swans and Mumford is going to GWS yet FA period doesn't start til Friday and trade period on Monday??? Am I missing something? I thought clubs couldn't approach/offer contracts to players until after these periods had commenced? Or is it one rule for some and another for the rest??

How big was the folder?

Or a few of those clubs who will never win a flag will die, there will be fewer teams, a more even draw and the quality of the game will be vastly superior as the talent won't be spread so thin across the comp. A good thing for the game possibly (although significant history will be lost) but catastrophic for clubs like ours, North, Dogs, Saints who could be forced to make way for the truly national comp.

Haha pick 2 for a 28yo with mental issues who plays as a rebounding defender not a midfielder, no thanks. Even getting pick 10 back is ridiculous, pretty sure the only reason they've stated this is because their preferred deal is to get Adams from GWS in a straight swap, maybe with pick 10 going back to the Giants. If we're going to blow pick 2 would rather go after Dusty, at least he's got plenty of years left in the legs.

Hawthorn's base is out at Waverley - I doubt you'll see too many heading out there to meet up before games/after games. For some that live in the area they might head there during the week/for training but it's not like it was in thr 60's or 70's with training after work on a Thursday, sausage sizzle and team selection. Most training sessions occur during business hours now. The sport has become professional. I think there's an argument our Admin & FD should be housed in the same building but I don't see the benefit of a social club in this day and age. There are the rooms at the G where premium members can meet and have a drink/feed and hopefully the southern stand facilities will be upgraded soon. I don't like the separation with MCC especially due to so much of our support there and the change rooms hidden away where most people can't access them but at the end of the day every club has to deal with that now. If we ever do get that elusive premiership, celebrations aren't held at social clubs anymore - a function room will be hired at Rod Laver or Crown or something where the players will go back to celebrate with those of us lucky enough to get a ticket.

I'd go for him if he could go through the middle but he can't - he is a back flanker and I'd rather have Grimes in that role. We could perhaps use another alongside McDonald, Garland & Frawley but not at the price Collingwood will want. Seems more likely to end up at GWS in a direct swap for Adams perhaps with swapping of picks involved.

Just two examples, and I don't mean to pick on you guys but reading through the threads the past few days the sense I get is one of impending doom if we didn't get the PP. Robbie, the Bulldogs, Saints, North etc are in a similar position to us yet they haven't been anchored to the bottom of the ladder for 7 years at any time during the national era. North hasn't had any top 5 picks from memory and the Dogs and Saints have performed very well recently with multiple top 4 finishes and were often in prime time slots. Being a smaller or poorer club doesn't preclude you from competng on-field and subsequently demanding better/fairer fixtures.

Of course a PP would help, any club could make that argument. What I am fed up with is the sense of entitlement that we "deserve" and are doomed without it. It would have been nice but not required for us to be competitive again, the decisions made so lets get on with the job of supporting Roos, Jackson, the new board members, FD and players instead of whinging about the unfairness of it all and how we have no hope. Regardless of whether that is the intent that is how it comes across. There are genuine grievances to take aim at such as the FIXture, no point wasting time on the peripherals.

That's my point - getting a PP doesn't guarantee anything and doesn't automatically follow that we'll be better/more competitive tomorrow. Regardless of which course we take the impact is years away. If we got a PP do you think we'll all of a sudden be premiership or even finalist contenders next year? Nothing worth doing comes easy, it takes hard work and time.

Why do people think Sloane is a realistic target? Has there been any indication whatsoever we have talked to him let alone could get him?

Cry me a f'ing river. Look at our early picks from recent years - Sylvia, McLean, Morton, Watts, Scully, Trengove, Toumpas - do you really think adding another one of these types of players to our club is really going to fix all our problems? This is what is meant when we talk about MFC having a "saviour" mentality. Getting a PP may have assisted us in some way but on the other hand it may not have - it is not a silver bullet that people on here are indicating it is given the level of whinging going on. Why can a club like Sydney take other teams rejects and borderline players and turn them into best 22 premiership players? Answer that and you'll have your answer as to how we can help turn this ship around. Look at what many of the Geelong players have said over recent years - it doesn't matter who you recruit if you don't have the right environment to develop the players once they get to the club. Work on fixing the environment or culture first (something through Jackson and Roos we are doing) and the rest will take care of itself. A player like Blease (or Sylvia) could be a very very good player under the environment, under the wrong one he will be a borderline best 22, in and out of the VFL.

Whatever we do we must use it on a hard-bodied mid who can compete and help Jones and Viney straight away.

FFS