Pates

I agree, I would rather us get a good deal than get reemed in a deal for Pederson. If the Kangaroos want to low ball us and insist on a pick that he is not worthy of than I'd rather us not take him. If we get Stef for 33 I will be stoked, if we on trade that to the Roos I will not be as happy.

No to the Bombers deal, yes to 24 for Stef and Gys. It would kind of sting as I've like both of them (Gys in particular) but the FD seems keen on moving both of them on. But I would be extremely [censored] if we ontraded that for Pedo. Much as I like Gys I do have to wonder the likelyhood of him getting into our team, especially with Viney and whoever we take with pick 4 coming in.

If we can't organise a trade for him, surely we'll hold on to him. There isn't any worth in delisting him and trying our luck with an unknown draftee at 40+.

Bottom line is the compensation is based on their upcoming contract not their ability or B&F finish etc. It's a similar system that delivered us the same compensation picks for $cully as the Cats got for Ablett. I'm not happy about it (at all), but we've had some wins recently with picks and the $cully stuff so we'll just have to accept it. Just hope that 49 will be enough to get Pederson across the line.

Offer our last pick, hopefully they'll take it.

Happy it's at the G Happy we've got a team we should be beating IMO if we played this game later in the year we'd be getting 2000-3000 less people, first round will always get a few extra through the gate. I'm definitely not a fan of the AFL's split round idea for the opening round, purely a money making idea and for me just makes a mockery of an already compromised draw.

I give a stuff about him going, but there are two reasons why I wish him good luck at Geelong. The first is that I think we have the players to cover him, Tmac showed showed a lot this year, we have Dunn and Watts playing in the backline, Garland and Frawley, and then Sellar as depth. He would likely have a place there is if he stayed, but he's not going to be a killer blow of a loss in terms of his skills and ability. The second is that he has been at the club for a long time and has had to put up with some truly crap years. If he'd stayed he would very likely not play in a premiership. At the cats he has a crack at doing that. He hasn't left Melbourne because he doesn't want to be here, he's left because he wants finals footy and a chance at the big one. To me he will always be a Demon.

Good luck to Jared, I really would've liked him to stick around but I can understand why he wanted to have a crack with Geelong.

What has changed is our attitude, whereas before if players didn't show much initial enthusiasm for the club than we seemed to stop pursuing them. But Neeld and Co don't seem to give up without a fight, and they also have a plan B in play well before plan A is finished (good or not). We have built our list in foundations with young players and now we're filling it up with ready players who have come to do a role at the club. Aside from Byrnes we have got players that will (hopefully) also be here for the long term. What I'm really hoping is that there are certain players that will see them as a threat and try to lift their game, I've said it a lot but we haven't had competition for spots for a LONG time. This will create it. If there's a younger player that see the likes of Byrnes as a threat to his position, I say fantastic and I hope they take up the challenge. Like much of what Neeld did last year, 2012 was him giving the current list a chance to impress him and see who embraced his ideas, and now he's bringing in players who are ready for his style for 2013. Should make for a very interesting year.

Depends on a few factors. If we get Pederson then what (if any) role will Stef have in our best 22? If we don't get Pederson (from all reports unlikely), how will we play Stef? The other question is how will big Max come on after a full pre-season? As you pointed out with the new ruck rules it favours the taller ruckmen, and if Gawn is able to keep himself out on the park and develop some skills he would surely be a better option than Stef. Dawes should not, and will not ruck. Would rather the same for Mitch but could be our relief ruck if needed.

I just threw up a little.

I believe Martin was re-signed for 3-years earlier this year, if we aren't able to do a trade (which wouldn't surprise me) we're stuck with him. I do wonder whether if we get Pederson whether we back him in to be our chop out ruck. With Clark and Dawes in there as well as possible chop outs it really does make Stef's position in the best 22-25 in jeopardy.

Good work Dees, and welcome to the MFC Dawes!

I don't know how this became another Sylvia thread but I'll just quickly make the point the Mark Neeld specifically commented on how much improved Col's work rate was in the second half of the year. Considering Neelds philosophies I'm very happy to hear that. Back on Dawes, if the pies manage to squeeze out anything more from Melbourne they will have done very well. I do wonder whether Dawes's manager coming out and saying pick 20 should get it done played our hand too soon, it didn't really leave us with any middle ground to go to. I think most would agree that 20 is about right (if not a little over from us), but because that could have been our "compromising" offer that has now become our first offer. Thing is he's worth more to us than he is to collingwood, and they know it. Worst part is that the Pies might make us sweat for a while just to [censored] us off.

It seems pick 20 will be what we need, anything over that is too much and I'd be surprised if the Neeld and co saw it any other way.

I heard the Melbourne Bears comment this morning as well and thought just when I thought he couldn't become more of a [censored] he just topped himself! This is great work from Neeld and Brown, pick 20 may be a bit over but don't forget we were sniffing around last year and would've probably paid more not just in picks but in contract. Neeld is building HIS list now, and I'm liking what I'm seeing.

Surely with us getting Byrnes and Barry, and we currently have Jetta and Bennell (although I'd imagine at least one getting delisted) we don't need/want him.

Kind of annoying that, I would've thought Beamer would be rated higher than Byrnes but then he did have a terrible year.

I actually think it's more to do with how many current players they have, not how much they are paying them. It's starting to sound more and more likely he'll stay at Melbourne with these new developments, if he can't get to the Cats I don't see him going anywhere else. Since Gysberts has been mentioned in this article as well, I hope the Neeld coaching panel give him another crack. I've always liked him, and you can't use last year as a measuring stick given his badly interrupted year.

http://www.melbourne...88/default.aspx Jack Watts was paraded around with the no. 4 Guernsey with Ron Barassi in front of the media and was placed in the spotlight by us. I really hope that the club has learned from that and will allow Hogan to develop in the background and then make his debut in the quietest way possible. I know when the club is down the bottom and struggling we have to clutch at straws for media exposure and marketing, but I gotta wonder whether Watts would be a more confident player by now if we hadn't pushed him out there as much as we did.

Good luck to Cook, shame we couldn't see him out there in the red and blue.

I'm not a Morton fan, he's frustrated the hell out of me for a long time. If he wants to go and we can get someone semi-decent for him I say we take it and be done with him once and for all. If he stay he stays, and I'll back him when he pulls on the red and blue. But I would be quite happy to see him gone. I don't know anything about this Meredith bloke, but from what I have read I'd be happy take him in a swap.

Sad to see him go but it's the best thing for both him and the club. Clearly was not one that bought in to Neelds grand plan, wasn't going to figure as a key player next year and he's found a club that seems to like him. I don't know how he'll do there, but I wish him all the best.

I agree, and its not like we're damning ourselves for the future at the same time. We've got Viney already, Hogan for next year, we'll have pick 4 for a gun 18yo, we're chasing Pederson. Dawes, Byrnes, Ray are designed to come in and have an immediate impact, which will create competition for spots. As long as we get them for a good price, I see no problems with these acquisitions.

If the repeatedly reported trade of 3 & 13 for Hogan & 20 goes through, I'd say Dawes for 20 would be a comfortable result. Bear in mind we also have the Rivers compo pick which could be about late 20s. Martin for Ray would be a loss for us IMO, would take a late-ish pick on top of it.