Arrow

I also forgot Taggert and Tynan in the above players. Any progression from these 2 only adds to the depth. Anyone who made it out to his VFL game knows he is a model player we are looking for IF he can translate that ability into the AFL.

Don't think we can get that far ahead Phil but my general stance is that, there are many factors leading towards us rising up the ladder rather than falling down. We have: - more leadership (Byrnes, Dawes, 2nd year of new captains) - more development (self-explanatory, expect Watts, Tapscott and post 08 draft classes to have far better years) - consolidated coaching and in house group (Neeld and his sub committee along with Schwab and his gang are finally stable) - Fitness (We were made aware the last 2 thirds of last year were getting us fit for 2013) - The best side of the draw (we play top 4 teams only once) Compare that to the losses which are basically - Rivers - Expectation of a fall in ability for some of older players (possibly Jamar) We have all been optimistic in previous years, but thats just to get us pumped for the new year. When you look back were their really reasons for optimism? Those expecting immediate impact from draftees will be sorely disappointed. I'd love 18 games from our pick 4 and Viney, but they won't turn around our team. I'm reliant on our old 'fringe' players to become AFL players. Strauss, Tapscott, Bail, Gawn, Morton, Trengove, Sylvia. If 3 or 4 of these guys have strong 18-22 game season we'll move up the rungs of the ladder rather than down. I didn't start the thread to profess the opening of the window after 2 trades. I wanted to gauge whether supporters were as impressed by our moves this off-season as I am. As I stated in the OP, I feel like the off-season 'team' has done their job. They have recruited bang on who we needed or required, we got the best we could and have catered for all our needs. Relying on either a Wines, O'Rourke or Toumpas pick 4 I wouldn't change one thing. For mine its now over to Mark and the boys to bring home the bacon per-say, and finally live up to the potential of some of these players.

No, not quite yet. We all know actions on the footy field speak far louder than the actions off- field however for the first team since arguably late 80's early 90's I'm sensing something from the outside that hasn't been smelt for years. Fear. Tell me the last time you had a friend say Wow Melbourne are having a dip. Tell me the last time we've been this aggressive and unrelenting in the trade period. Neeld and co. are bringing change to the MFC and boy is it refreshing! After 2 and a half weeks of the trade period, and really 22 weeks of the AFL season Melbourne were knocked pillar to post by the media, and rather than other years were the spotlight was taken off us due to other clubs equal ineptitude, we forced them to back up. Denham, Bartlett & Barrett all look like absolute fools because we have shown players we do have a light at the end of the tunnel, and we are an attractive proposition; finally. The most important thing for the club is to get supporters and members on side. I'd argue we have done too much in the 5-10 years in bringing this club off it's knees to a self-sufficient unit. Now was the MFC's time to deliver back to us. I'm so impressed to see we're not going to die trying. I made the thread earlier in the off-season saying the 8 next year is not out of realms of probability. It's still highly unlikely, but the pulse is beating again at AAMI Park. The moves the Football Department have made will set up Melbourne Football Club to have a crack with the big guys in a 3-7 year period, it's now the responsibility of the players and the coaches to develop and grow together and bring the Red and the Blue what we so desperately yearn for. Can anyone else feel the quivering?

Donald McDonald said it was best for both parties to go their seperate ways therefore, would take nothing more than upgrading their 5th pick I'd think. That said he [censored] on someone's car outside Crown and I don't think he's any good regardless but a Crumber is something we need.

I hope Melbourne hold off a bit. It seems they are chasing Clinton Young quite hard, and I'm guessing only have the money to do so as they believe Dawes is gone. If we can hold off trading for him until after they have signed Young suddenly the ball is firmly in our favour. Dawes currently is in contract, but if they recruit Young thinking he's gone they have no option to get rid of him... Thus potentially us getting a slightly better deal. Trade week does end a week after free-agency does so it's entirely possible; just be interesting to see whether the club had the balls to take it up to the big guys in Collingwood.

Perhaps "I wish Range Rover would do more polls!"

None taken. I find myself firmly intrenched with a group of friends who have been drafted or are about to be drafted and therefore it enables me to hear things like this. The exact person who told me this is actually Jack Viney's best friend and he said Jack who is friends with Nick was wooing him but for whatever reason decided he wasnt interested in playing at Melbourne. My comment was as much about how the world has changed that enables kids to say that. You say I can't believe an 18 year old would do it, but Josh Caddy a 20 year old just DID. We'll see, the same bloke told me he was ALL over Jackson Macrae, JV's friend from Carey, and make it very clear he'd love to select him. Not sure he'd take him over Wines at now pick 4 but interesting to see the type of player he likes.

What a joke you are. You're willing to write off a guy who broke his leg and than fought and deserved his way back into the team saying he is too nervous under pressure, yet you advocate keeping the guy who's been given 50 chances and has shown only something in about 2 games. Strauss' disposal efficiency over his career is 84%, Morton's is high 60's. The best day off this trade period would be seeing the back of this weak, useless liability and he is a human metaphor of what's been wrong with our club since 2007 (ironically also the year he came here).

Heard from a guy who is friends with this Vlastuin character, and Neeld interviewed him at the Combine, however he looked him in the eye and told him I don't want to play for Melbourne, something about the bad culture. Absolute rubbish for an 18 year old kid- I feel like gone are the days were its an honour to play in the league, 18 year old's lead by this Josh Caddy idiot think they pick and choose what happens. I hope Viney splits that little **** in half.

Good call for DL7 on the HFF. I'm happy to go down back once we've won the game but only after I've kicked 5 or 6. As you know I am new, what do we wear?

Very very good potential in Lamb. Remains only person to recieve the perfect score in the very difficult Buckley kicking challenge at Combine. God we could use some good picks but I think he was around pick 15 so he'd cost us 20-35 draft pick.

Best thing you've written. Your week break has served you well RR, I had a good chuckle. Imagine Riewoldts jitters when staring down the barrel at the waving condom.

Whether we like it or not, it seems the AFL is hell-bent on adjusting the benching rotation system to minimise the use of the bench. Melbourne were shown up to be an incredibly unfit team last year, and I think as the years progress it will be the teams that are able to run out the games the best that will benefit the most from the new rules. What we have just done in the last 2 days is not only fill 3 immediate needs (under midfielder, bustling key forward & fast wingman) but we have identified two major components, in skill and fitness and targetted them. Hogan ran a 10.09 3km time, which is Nick Riewoldt-esque. To put it in perspective Andrew Gaff the free running mid for WCE ran exactly 10.00. Difference is Hogan carries around a whopping 97.3 kgs. Barry on the other hand, also ran 10.09, which was the equal 3rd best time of the combine. His skills are very slick, another area the Demons have targetted and drafted accordingly. The point of my post is, there is a system to what we are doing. Neeld has targetted areas in which he thinks Melbourne will most benefit, and it is refreshing. The re-build ends at the completion of the 2012 draft. From that moment on, it's only a road to the top.

He's from SA why in the world would he go back to WA? Just because his Adelaide jersey is an eagle doesn't mean he'll want to go back to The Eagles?!?!

Direct comparison both in looks and game style is Jack Ziebell. He hurts you for the sole fact he will run harder than you and go harder than you. Nothing needs to be elite because he is one of the few with an elite mind for football and he'll be a class player for many years. That said I'm still hoping for Toumpas.

By the rules he can't step straight in. He cannot play for Melbourne next year Olisik so he will have no say whether we finish on the bottom or the top. Jesssssus

That's good to hear Davos. Alot of supporters expect every player to weigh 95, be toned to the house and also run 10.5 100m sprints. Dom will fill a need of a really fast dashing HBF, winger ala Hill or Lewis Jetta. Most aboriginal players in his body shape aren't ready made players so I'm sure he'll spend first 10-15 weeks in VFL and hopefully by than be ready to slot in with some much needed pace! Melbourne have been silly in the past in looking at the raw data of speed; the 20m dash time but the issue has been they've drafted all the fastest most unfit players. They sure are fast but after 10 minutes they'll never reach peak speed again in the game. I'm incredibly impressed seeing Dom ran a 10 minute 3k which is just phenomenal athleticism and fitness in any sport. This pick will be great for the Dees.

Given this is your first post I'm taking it you have some sort of relationship with Dom so please tell us more. Attributes and bad characteristics etc. I see he is very small and Jetta-esque which I do not care about- you need some lean players; just pray he has an appetite for the contest.

Right here baby!

http://www.thisisafl.com/forums/f33/2012-nab-afl-under-18s-fixture-12390/index2.html If you want to know about Mr. Barry's skills go and have a look at post number 25 on this forum and the little emotion this poster uses to describe it. I'm getting aroused already.

Sorry looking back my wording is poor, I mean GWS don't really need 13 or 20, it's not those picks they're worried about, they just want pick 3 over 4. We should get pick 20 back without using pick 13 as a sweetener. Pick 3 is exactly what they want and giving us 20 as a thankyou is a great deal for both.

Melbourne is believed to be close to securing a trade of pick three (and possibly pick 13) with GWS for pre-listed under-age key position star Jesse Hogan and pick 20. GWS don't really care about pick 20 let's be honest. We'll get it back for using pick 4. Furthermore even better news quote from Emma Quayle from twitter: No-one would be happier about coming to Melbourne than Jesse Hogan. Mad Demons supporter. Even though he lives in WA he follows the Dees. I want to poo myself for how perfect this relationship is.

Apparently we will also recieve pick 20 along with Hogan for pick 3, which we could than use to pick up Dawes? WOooo

YES! THIS IS THE BEST DAY AS A MELBOURNE SUPPORTER IS SO LONG. WE ARE MAKING A DIRECTION AND TAKING IT! I WANT TO CRY, SUCH A SH!T YEAR AND FINALLY A DAY WHERE I CAN SMILE. MFC4LIFE!

screw caddy! pick 4 for second pick in the mini draft is all i want! Get Hogan please Dees!!