Slartibartfast

Same as others.

Ashley Sampi says hi.

Rawlings wasn't "moved on", he went to NM and was poached. So only one assistant was moved on and McCartney had been there for a long time. I would have thought that it was healthy to have a few assistant coach changes - new voice, new message and all that and I'm surprised it wasn't a few more. Jennings (I think) wants to coach his own team with a view to getting into a senior coaching position, Viney's role was administrative and Sam Pietsch was strength and conditioning. Yes 2019 was a horror show, I didn't enjoy it at all. But then when I realized that only about 4 players had uninterrupted preseasons and seasons I understood why. If we fall in a heap this season then it's a real worry but I'm pretty confident we won't.

Petracca looks fat.

Well I think you're right in terms of who we will select but it says volumes about Goodwin. I didn't bother opening the thread on Goodwin during the season as I suspected it was full of wrist slashing and irrational criticisms of him. But I saw enough references in other threads to confirm my suspicions. But one thing is pretty clear. Goodwin is an outstanding communicator and representative of our Club. Whilst I think his pressers are bland and usually say nothing (a frustration to supporters seeking information but probably a skill in itself) he has been front and centre at attracting players and staff to our club. When interviewed players leaving or joining our Club invariably mention how impressed they are with Goodwin and footy department personnel such as Burgess and Richardson have said similar. He is largely responsible for attracting targetted people to our FD. I know there will be those who question Goodwin after last year but it's pretty clear from what Burgess said (16 of the 22 who played in the PF had post season surgery) that 2019's performance is mainly the result of fitness and injury to players. I think Goodwin is a fantastic coach and we are lucky to have him. Next season will tell us a lot but I'm supremely confident.

I've missed you so much Pro, welcome back.

I don't know why so many have so much difficulty "getting it". Frost was traded because we had a surplus in his position, he was out of contract and he was worth something. And with what we got for Frost we could spend on what we needed - Langdon. Trading Frost wasn't us saying Frost was no good, he was traded for something valuable because he was good. It's not hard. Have another go at understanding it.

I'm not in the slightest bit disappointed to be using our first pick on an elite HBF if that's what he turns out to be and that's who we pick. We are pregnant with midfielders but our small back situation is close to dire. Hibberd is finished, or close to, Jetta is getting on, Salem is the only small back with a good period left to play and I'm not sure who else we've got. Whoever it is will have to either move from a better position (Harmes, Brayshaw, Fritsch) or jump out of the pack - Lockhart, Sparrow. Good distributors from half back are gold as Redleg is saying, just look at Whitfield, Sheppard, Hurn, Houli and Haynes. I'm all for getting someone of that class.

No.

A preliminary final was much better than average and if you can't see why there was a significant decline in 2019 I can't help you, and heavens knows I've tried. Can you name the half that got flung.

How did they go in 2018 or have you forgotten?

Mahoney might threaten to go to all the other suitors for Frost. Oh, that’s right, how many other suitors are there? We’ll get what we can, we don’t have any cards. Strange isn’t it, with so many here thinking Frost is such a good player his services aren’t more in demand. Mahoney shouldn’t bluff. Get the deal done and move on. We need the list space and we have no cards.

Don't people get sick of bagging Oscar? It's such a bore. Last time I looked he played for us and hence we should support him.

I don’t think anyone is thinking Papley for pick 3. We’d want something pretty significant back.

So is Jacob Townsend.

I rate Papley higher than most here. If someone had told me we'd trade pick three for Papley and Langdon I'd have been fairly happy. So on that basis pick 3 for Papley and Sydney's second rounder fits. We won't get him, his salary is the sticking point and if NM are offering $800,000 that's us out of the equation. But he's exactly what we need and we should be in the conversation.

It’s not really. $500,000 in 5 years time will be a below average pay probably.

How did CD rate the teams we put on the field Steve? Serious question. I know you're down on the Club but it not as though we saw it even close to its best.

Well it's not, but anyway..................

I've got no idea where Elliott will go but I think he will leave Collingwood because otherwise he would have said he's staying already. His decision on Brisbane v Melbourne will be mainly based around where he wants to live. Does he want to leave his social network in Melbourne, is there a lure of Brisbane being "out of the footy bubble". Does he want to be close to family (really, after living in Melbourne for so long), what does his girlfriend/wife want to do - I don't know if he's married. Does he want the hassle of moving home. It will depend on other things: how does he compare the clubs potential - I don't think this is the issue many are making out. Everyone in footy knows why we faltered this year and how easily fixed it is. And a tougher draw and a few injuries in Brisbane next year might see them fall. how does he respond to the coaches - MFC have attracted just about everyone we've wanted to since the Roos/Jackson era. Richardson and Burgess against stiff opposition, May and Lever when there were other suitors. Both coaches/footy departments are very impressive internally. What role does the club want him to play. Midfield/forward, forward. Does he know others at the Clubs. and the list goes on. People are taking a far too simplistic a view of this. The offers will be similar and his decision will be fundamentally personal and not related to rating one club above another. Edit: Dazzles information, if true, now means Collingwood are back in the frame and will most likely retain him. Players basically prefer the devil they know....

Burgess would be a huge selling point for us. It's a big move interstate and by the sound of things they haven't established a dialogue before now. We are the one's to beat if he moves.

I thought I saw it here. I might be wrong.

I think you might underestimate what goes into recruiting a player. We have targetted player a long way out (Lever, Langdon) including Elliott. Before any money is mentioned you must convince the player that your club is the one he should play for. That includes values, culture, future prospects, the role he will play and so on. If he doesn't like that money won't even be mentioned. Elliott is a good player who most likely could choose a number of clubs. He's chosen us by the sound of it. We beat the Hawks, that's why they are out of it. Mahoney, Goodwin, Taylor and a number of others have most likely played a role in convincing him we are worth his future. Obviously once that's done the money counts but it's the last piece to fall into place.

Time to get off his back Red, we all know what you think. He’s MFC so let’s support him.

And if Goody had been lukewarm Elliott might have said "they aren't really interested". You're just looking for reasons to criticize. I don't think Bin is naive.