P-man

I'm not bothered by the white. It's the hideous graphic design. Few logos would look good when blown up to that size. We get it. The club has a new logo. No need to ram it down people's throats. Whoever said it looks like a cheap basketball knock off you might see on the streets of Thailand was spot on. It needs to be binned at the earliest opportunity.

Yep. Grimes shouldn't have been on the field in the GF. He clearly still wasn't feeling 100%.

I'd rather not put the mockers on any of the incoming players. I was in favour of giving Trenners another year so it wouldn't be him. I don't see White sticking around long tbh and I'm certainly not convinced he's a better halfback option than Grimes. As I've said many times I thought Grimes was still capable of performing at the level. One good game and one poor game played in a role that was foreign to him wasn't enough to change my mind on that. But he's gone and we move on.

I'd say Dunn was our best out, backed up by the fact he's still playing AFL next year. It's a clear improvement to the best 22 with introductions of Lewis and Hibberd, and ultimately this is what matters in terms of what is to be acheived in the coming two/three years. It's the next rung down where the scales tip slightly the other way if you're talking immediate improvement. The Casey side will feel an impact with some senior and reliable players at VFL level (Dunn, Grimes, Jones, Michie, Terlich, Newton) being replaced by project types or existing Casey players (Hannan, McKenna, DJ, Kielty, Smith). I think Dunn in particular is a loss that will be felt at Casey, I guess it comes down to how important it is to have a strong VFL side. I think you'd rather have it strong than not, but how valuable is it if that strength is attained through middling players who can't cut it at senior level? I'd have retained Grimes for another year personally, and Michie I think was a little hard done, but the rest I think are understandable changes in terms of replacing NQRs with potential. Hannan and McKenna especially look to have a bit of x factor about them. Something you can't really say for any of the players who are going out.

Did he not nominate for the draft? That would be going above and beyond if he was to stick around to continue helping develop the younger players. Wouldn't rule it out with Grimesy.

It's tempting to give it the Veruca Salt treatment, but I still see 2017 as a steadily building year. The positive thing is that finals is now more than pie in the sky. It will widely be deemed a pass mark for next season. My personal prediction is making 8th place by the skin of our teeth. There are however bigger things on the horizon. A finish of 9th or 10th won't stop me from thinking a jump into the top four can be achieved in 2018/19. That's when I will start to think seriously about the damage we can do in September. It's worth noting that however smooth the transition might appear, this is still going to be Goodwin's first season as senior coach. Zero teething problems seems unlikely. 2017 will continue to be a bumpy ride, but a fun one all the same.

Amazing too that in an age where a lax approach to concussion both here and overseas has come under increasing scrutiny, H decides to take action against a club being extra cautious in the interests of his long term health.

If it was MFC games that triggered the fourth year, the club could just as easily have played him at Casey rather than conspire w doctors to leave him on the sidelines. The whole claim is totally bizarre. I've given him the benefit of the doubt at various times, but if there's an ounce truth to this then there can be no more defending him and I'll be pretty happy to see the back of him.

Gotta hand it to Wattsy. Changes his hair colour and it ends up as an article in the Hun and Patrick Dangerfield tweeting about it. The bleach blonde looks seems to be coming back into vogue for some reason. A few of the EPL players are doing it. It looks absurd to me but if he's playing well then he can wear a purple wig with silver highlights for all I care. These reports on Brayshaw have me excited. His highlights package when we drafted him remains the best I've seen. Talent to burn. Can't wait to see what he can produce next year.

Had to read the thread to get a reminder I believe it was the successful defence of Viney's controversial bump in the Crows match.

It's entirely relevant. We don't know anything of this story from the club's point of view. What we do know is that there were serious mental health issues that were apparent well before he arrived at the club. That has to be considered when looking at Richmond's overall level of responsibility in terms of contributing towards his anxiety and depression. Of course every workplace should care about employee welfare regardless of history, that's pointing out the obvious. You are however speculating on exactly what Richmond did or didn't do in this case to help him. The blame game is a dangerous one when you don't have all the facts at hand.

I enjoy a dig at Richmond as much as anyone, but the fact he had suicidal tendencies two years before arriving at the club says alot. Best of luck to him in finding peace.

I'm more of a Barry Colon fan.

It blows me away that after 7 years at the club even our own supporters still call Trenners "Trengrove". There should be a study on why his name is seemingly impossible to learn.

Salem and Stretch massively stick out on that list. So in that grouping it's one of them, but they should both be taken out as they are a class above and both starters in what I consider the best 22. Of the rest, I'll go BenKen. Having recently watched his 2016 highlights, I got a reminder of how good he was in the first half of the year. http://youtube.com/watch?v=bxt4UkJC5_Q If he can string close to a season together of that standard he could cement a spot. The problem is going to be getting enough opportunity at AFL level. He could be looking at a similar fate of so many second stringers who are immediately in and out of the side.

Noted and moving on.

This thread actually got to 5 pages? Fair enough.

You do understand that the thread is about predictions, including less likely ones. Predicting something that would surprise people is kind of the whole point. I would ask that you not clog up the thread with more of your insane rants against a battling player.

I agree, however under the current wording there is a clear argument that says they are in breach of the rule. It requires a redraft to more closely match the intent. The Vickery shenanigans are dodgy as hell though. If the AFL slides that one under the rug then it won't be the last we see of clubs manipulating the FA arrangements.

I blame myself. A sure way of getting someone to do something is telling them they can't do it

Agreed. I rate them as being very capable of making a jump. I think our midfield bats deeper than theirs, and I rate our young talent in that area especially as being better. But it must be acknowledged that they continually kill us with their run and spread and until we can match them in that area they are arguably a more dangerous side going forward particularly now they have shored up their key position stocks. The question lingers as to how they will respond once their influential senior players retire. Overall I wouldn't trade our list for theirs, though I'm sure Saints supporters would apply the same in reverse. That's where bias comes into play. But I see both sides battling it out for spots around 6-9 in 2017.

Given peeps are placing their 2017 predictions in the 2016 thread, it's time for a new thread. Who are your surprise packets and big improvers for 2017? What other predictions do you have relating to MFC's performance, results, anything (except injuries you jinxing ar$ehole)? The post containing the best prediction or predictions (quality being relative to quantity) wins and will succeed 2016 winner @wretched.sylph Predictions close Friday 17 February.

Honestly, it would sadden me a bit. I know money was a big factor in getting him here, but his place in MFC history would be cheapened in my eyes if he officially becomes nothing more than a paid mercenary. I admit that's more of an emotional response than a logical one. He did a great job at the club and people are entitled to move on in their careers. But he arrived at a unique time to fulfill a unique role, and all his words about Jonesy lifting the cup being one of the best days of his life would suddenly feel a bit empty. By the same token, Roosy is now part of the past. He's entitled to do what he wants. But yeah, it would be a little saddening to see him at Collingwood of all places. Brisbane I could stomach a lot better.

I side with Ox on most things but he needs to build a bridge. It's an opportunity for the players to make a statement. It's also about time the fans got over this ridiculous notion of "we don't go to Etihad". Grow up.

I recall in Goodwin's appearance on 360 he singled out Stretch for his professionalism and someone who requires less hand holding as a result. It was an openly glowing appraisal. I reckon he'll line up in Round 1. afl.com.au not even listing Stretch as an emergency is a clueless omission. He's certainly ahead of Harmes.