The Chazz

The issue is that the F/S bidding process is the first thing completed before any trades (No sh!t Sherlock!). That means for us to get any special deals going with GC/GWS prior to this to ensure they don't bid on JV, it has to be happening as we speak. Could you imagine Schwab going to the GWS CEO, who was put in to that job by Vlad to make sure it runs well, asking for a special deal? I wouldn't trust that bloke, would imagine he would run straight to Vlad crying "draft tampering". Same goes for the Gold Coast. If we got caught out, we would lose pick 4 (our compo pick), and most likely be stripped of our mid 1st round pick. Is it worth it? On the other hand, if GC/GWS come to us asking for a special deal, absolutely will we listen to them (as we have our hidden voice recorder in the top drawer of the $80,000 desk. Take tha tto Vlad crying "draft tampering". Special deals can GAGF. If they bid, we talke Viney at 3, simple. We're getting a jet, plus we've still got 4. That way we don't have to be bent over by GWS/GC. I still think we win in that situation. Of course we would prefer him at pick 22, articles like that one on the AFL website only help our cause.

I totally agree that our midfield needs addressing. I'm against Wellingham, especially throwing $600k at him. I think we could invest that money for someone much better for the same price or a slight bit more. I think Wellingham is overrated, especially considering he isn't getting the first or 2nd tag at present, and I don't think he is value for money. Mitch Clark is on similar if not a bit more, but at least he is giving us some value. If you want to spend big dollars on a midfielder that will come in and make an immediate impact, throw $3.6m over 4 years at Bartel. You'd only be paying an extra $200k a year, and I know which player would give us a better return on the investment. You have addressed the Stef Martin thing poorly. Leigh Brown was only ever a 3rd string player himself, just like you commented about Martin. Brown had Jolly and Cloke ahead of him, and Martin has Jamar and Clark. When Brown was in the top 2 of their big men, they weren't winning premierships, hence why they went and got Jolly. Gawn is a ruckman only, so he shouldn't be considered in this argument. Fitzy could be that Leigh Brown type, but at the moment, I'd have Martin ahead of him. Premiership sides alway have that type of player, we have one (Martin), but you want to give him away at the hope that Fitzy can make it? If anything, Sellar is playing that role at the moment, and I would like to think Martin could rise above him, especially given Brown works for us.

So Collingwood get Martin for the loss of Wellingham? I would expect their asking price for Sharrod would be greater than that.

Over $600k a year for Wellingham? Surely we wouldn't be that stupid. As someone said the other day, he needs to work out if he is Jarrod or Sharon. While tha trelates to his name, it also relates to his play if you ask me. Sometimes he's a Jarrod, other times he's Sharon. I don't want him. I have to ask, if Martin is a possibility of playing that "Leigh Brown" role, and Collingwood are desperate for that, what state does that leave us in? Collingwood are still playing finals the last I looked. It would be argued that we are more despearte than most teams for certain types of players, yet people want us to give one away? Not only that, the "type" that Collingwood are despearte for, and who you think Martin could turn in to, Leigh Brown, is on our bloody coaching roster. If someone can turn a player in to a Leigh Brown type, I'd expect the best person to do that would be Leigh Brown himself! No-one knows what it will take Stef to become Brown more than Brown!

Would they not thank him though?

It was agreed upon that all players, except Jones, would start with a 250 vote head start such was Jones' dominance this year. The fact that some players ended up with double figure results just shows how far backwards some have gone.

Pass.

I know the chances of it happening are as high as me impregnating Scarlett Johansson, but I'd throw everything we own at Jimmy Bartel. What more can he do at Geelong? He's won premierships, a Brownlow and Norm Smith, etc, etc. The Cats have to be on the slide, we are already at the bottom so could pass them on the way up? Would Jimmy want to come on this journey that Neeld is trying to take us on? A player of Jimmy's qualities both on and off the field would attract 5000 new members.

Really RP? I mean, REEEEEEALLY? Oh dear. Thanks for confirming what most already knew in regards to your distrubingly low intellect.

Ok V12, let's say you're a new resident to Casey, looking for a team to support and buy a membership with. You hear people talk about the great work the MFC does in the area. You look at the ladder, see where we are, probably turns you against us, but you look at the Club's website for more inspiration to join. You look at the membership packages and it's "First and Forever" that you see. What does that mean to a potential new member? We finished rock bottom in 2012, and that's the best we can come up with for 2013? I, like most, will not let a marketing campaign determine if I'm going to renew. That doesn't mean I can't give the marketing department a spray if I feel worthy, and guess what, I do feel that way. The only part of the campaign that ticks the box for me is the "Remember first - to play each game as if it were your last". I demand improvement in 2013. I assume that the coach is the same. A membership campaign isn't going to do that, but it can show where the Club is at with their expectation of player and supporter.

If I did need a pretty slogan to make me renew, I would've already signed up as soon as I saw this one. I want one with a bit of c**t about it, one that other teams look at and hate. One that puts our supporters in a position where they HAVE to sign up. One that puts a public expectation on our players, and the Club as a whole. "100% Buy In" is something like that. "No More Excuses" is something like that. It shows a Club is united and going forward together. "First and Forever" is neither here nor there for me. When you are in a position like us, trying to lift ourselves off the canvas and make a statement, it has to come from all aspects of the Club. Perhaps "100% Deesire, 100% Deetermination, 100% Uncondeetional" (as I said, I'm not a marketing expert!). While our tradition is something that other Club's don't have, we are at a stage where 2013 is basically our "first" season (of a new era). We've be down for so long, we've cleaned out the list, the coach will have the players that he wants, 2013 is when it starts. If we don't pull our finger out, the "Forever" part of our membership drive will be irrelevant.

We were first, correct, about 150+ years ago. I'm wanting to know what we are doing in 2013, and am looking for something other than our history to show me that the expectation of the entire Club has been lifted, not just the playing group. We are now currently debt-free, and have been for about 2 years (IIRC). That's great, but now I want to go from being debt free to being a Club that is very well off financially, and striving to be one of the richer ones in the league. It can happen, just like our team can improve, it's going to take great, strong people to drive it. Just like it's going to take great strong coaches to put things in place that are non-negotiables, as well as great, strong players to do it. After the past 5+ years, it could be argued that it's a lot longer, we're going to need great, strong supporters to smash through that 40k member level, and in the near future be looking at 50k+.

So do we just walk away? I'd like to think that if the Club believe that Ling is our man, that they would make an offer that is too good to refuse. Everyone has their price.

Snap!

Personally, something along the lines of "Total Buy-In" would be relevant. You could have the players that have had "total buy-in" since Neeld's arrival, and now it's time for all Melbourne supporters to have "Total Buy-In" and get on board. Something along those lines - I'm not a marketing expert, so perhaps someone that is could come up with a term that is more appealing to what I've written but means the same thing. Last year I wanted "No More Excuses". Was shot down because it was Neeld's first year, so was happy to put it on hold for 12 months. I'm pretty sure if I made the suggestion of "No More Excuses" again, we'd come up with 101 reasons why we shouldn't have that this year, including the fact that we lost Jurrah, that we are the 3rd youngest team in terms of experience, that we're goin gin to the season with too many injuries, etc, etc, etc.

First and Forever? Wow, that makes you want to run through brick walls to go and renew. A soft, uninspiring slogan.

Not sure why my original post was deleted re. questioning where the balconies are at the Flamingo. This is obviously a very tragic event, and I pass my best wishes on to his family and the Club. I think it's important that the series of events is made public in due course. While it may seem I'm speculating (let's face it, 5am in Vegas, I doubt he would've been going for a morning jog), it's important for our players to realsie that, while they have every right to let their hair down at seasons end, that they are still human and sh!t happens, even to them. Nb. I hope this doesn't offend anyone. I'm trying to get a point across in the most sensitive way in a crap situation. If it causes angst among posters, I'm happy for mods to delete it. Cheers.

I didn't think there were balconies on Vegas accommodation? I know their foot bridges had very high barriers, for the same reason as no balconies - to stop people doing the jump. Regardless, very tragic news.

But, but, RP, Gys was injured for most of the year. (Nb. I agree with you - I'm taking the [censored] in this post).

Melbfc - if you could, would you take Jack Darling? If so, Williams would only need to add 5kgs or so over the summer (not at all impossible), and he'd be a similar figure. Col Garland actually has JD's size. What is the "right" height/weight that a KPF needs to be? It's always an interesting one.

But you wouldn't allow the same with Martin?

I can appreciate this view, and no doubt it is the majority, but all I can do is look at his 2011 form when required to play 1 role (ie in the ruck) for weeks on end. He played some very good football when left in the one position. I think he's harshly criticised on this forum. I know his form guide wouldn't paint a pretty picture, but there's just sumfin!

Loved Dutchy if for nothing other than being able to call him The Human Muscle ©. Wow was he ripped, had muscles on his dandruff.

With half of them not being able to play in 2013. Personally, I think having Viney, Toumpas, Stringer/Garlett and at worst someone at 20ish, with all players ready to go Round 1 in 2013. Could be that we add Wines or O'Rourke in there and get Viney at 20ish. It would be very stupid of GWS to dummy bid for Viney at pick 1. That's not to say they won't, but reality is that they could stand to lose Whitfield if they do. Their choice.

We will see RP, but don't give me the "told you so" if Viney "slips" to the 2nd round. You and I won't know if any special deals were made. Sure, if we trade Petterd to the GC for pick 70 it might look strange, I'd probably say that's his market price. We will foever agree to disagree on this subject, and as your posts give me the type of headache you get when you drink a frozen coke too quickly, I'm not going to respond any more.