Demon17

If Clarkson is a true professional and Melbourne throws the kitchen sink at him, he will take it. Issues about lists quality etc. over a 5 year deal - which is a lifetime offer for someone of his age - will not/should not count in his decison. Pickering will be telling him the same. This issue is a professional one, not that emotional - thats the angle for us fans to take. The cash comes from the Board's resolve, quite correctly, not to pay Scully an outrageous salary which would destabilse the team. Whatever happens this move says to me the Board/G. Lyon and Co. are seriously on this case for next year. I'm excited that there's a firm hand on the tiller.

The worst thing the club could do is to appoint anyone on the strength of 6 games at the end of this season. Think Geischen, Primus, etc.. Be clever about this next move.

Well written QueenC . This post should be mandatory reading for everyone, inclduing AFL leadership, and then shut down this thread. If Tom goes he is going to oblivion, if he stays gerat for us. I cannot still believe this GWS team has any legs. Has Demetriou ever lived in Sydney let alone been to the West. This process is the greatest waste of money since I don't know what and the AFL is tantamount to negligent in the matter from a business persepctive. Fortunately I'm not a shareholder. Go Dees

Fully agree Hardtack, its just that the GWS model offers such a quantum of difference never seen before that we cannot envisage the impact on the team if he stays, and we expect him to forgoe an offer that would be ridiculous is too much to expect

I now think he needs to go. The financial model due to GWS puts this issue into new territory. Nothing like this has happened in prior years. If he stays legitimately, he will have sacrificed 100's of thousands of $'s per year. Absolutelt unrealistic to expect this from anyone. Thus if we match the deal, it will have a huge effect on the rest of a terrifc young playing group. They will eventually start looking at their own bank balances etc and compare - its human nature. In summary, we can't afford him so lets all move on . He should do the same and cut the crap about waiting etc. Screwed again by Andrew Demetriou not thining this through

You got it in one Dee-luded. Its a lock. The coach he 'feels' for as he said last night is Ratten. The AFL are aware of this move also already.

Already in discussions with Carlton

From a seriously good source today - Management discussions already underway with Carlton - hence the article last week about Malthouse not feeling to be a solid Magpie. This wasn't a cooincidence. Ratten was never in the frame for 2012.

Great advice. Also its best to pick up the dog droppings before mowing - especially in Winter.

I'm off to Norway/Sweden next year too!

Correct

Isn't the theory that the sub should be a serious runner who can outrun the tired opposition in the last 1/4 Thats' not LJ. Also he still neesd seriuous minding and will occupy a good Tiger defender if starting on the ground.

For the sake of accuracy its two finals appearances since 1982. I think in 1995? No wonder they're a bit anxious!

I like your thinking! Good plan, but is Beamer a stopper or give him a shot to take on Martin?

There is some truth in this when you remeber back to the John Northey days - if you can. That was the toughest Melbourne team I remember and the game was never over till the bell. We haven't been like that for some time. Examples-Round 22 Western Oval 1987, making the 88 GF after the 87 heartbreak, etc.

Frawley back in form and control surely! A goal from 55 out wasn't a bad effiort either

In yesterday's pre-game on SEN, Chris Connolly said Stefan martin was the smartest person wearing an AFL jumper at the minute, and included coaches in that. Is he also rocket scientist as well as our new gun on-baller/forward? Does anyone know? Connolly said he took some time to understand what was needed to succeed at AFL level, as opporsed to his other life interests.

I am expecting a big pump up of Jack on Footy Classifieds tonight by G. Lyon. - maybe with a little bit of early days yet but maybe its all working out after all.

Although not playing the true position, i liked the way he semed to be in everything and imposed himself into contests clsoe-in, feeding out the ball, but importamntly continued contesting all day and all over the ground. I would now say we NEED him and would be dissappointed if he was forced out say through injury.

You ARE joking???

That's because a Melbourne player, and I think it was Stinga - but not certain- , siad that the Richmond team were arguing amongst themselves and he called them the Richmond netball Club. Farmer took mark of the year from memory. Won by 12 goals.

Well said Queen C. IMO we have been largely leaderless since the Viney days (Except Junior that is). I don't susccribe that Neita was a great leader - great warrior isn't the same thing. The evidence is the whole flakiness on field we experienced in the Daniher years and this legacy still lives on. We are only now fixing the list management debacle from those years as well. Our next generation will fix this given how well we have drafted in the leadership stakes - Trengove, Grimes, Moloney, Frawley. This is what needs to be fixed now or for 2012 - along with plans, and team development etc

very true but for players going to GWS - welcome to the world of irrelevance. As anyone who knows anything about Sydney culture in general and in sport, AFL does not register in the media up there. Scully and others will spend 10 years in the wilderness in the outback suburbs. You need to live out in the west because of the diabolical traffic, etc. Anyone who goes there deserves all the money they can get. Remember, Sheedy is in this for himself and don't enyone think otherwise. Lets all move on. We still have a nucleues oof a great future in Trengove, Tapscott, Gysberts, Frawley etc, led next year by moloney. The gamne plan - that's another question.