Maldonboy38

Keep Gysberts is an interesting one. I reckon it is only fitness and size holding him back. In my opinion he has classy hands in close and is a good decision maker. We lack these qualitites so much so I don't think we can afford to lose him unless we get somethig better in return. Jetta. Keep him. Loved his attack on the footy a week or so ago and injuries have cruelled him. Rivers. Don't be ridiculous - he is a keeper. Spencer. Keep him. If Jamar or Gawn get injured next year we need him. Bartram. . Cook. Totally untried but is probably on shakey ground. Trade Martin Bate Petterd Delist Bate Bennell Morton Davey Unsure Moloney. Still yet to be convinced he is going anywhere. Dunn Bail Jurrah As much as I hate to type this because I have been an avid supporter, Watts needs a rocket. He won't be delisted or traded because he has skills that no other player on our list has (decision making, awareness, keeps his feet) but if Neeld's benchmark about urgency is to be believed, Watts is no certainty.

Gotta like this kid. He looks the goods, has an impressive physique for a younger player and has grunt. He will be in starting 22 next year.

1. Jones 2. Rivers 3. Howe 4. Grimes 5. Clark Honourable mention to Trengove, and Sylvia will poll really well in the last 6 games.

I was at the game today and the wind was horrible making the game almost unbearable to watch. I cannot believe that the Casey Council has not planted any trees at the north side of the ground to break the wind. Casey played dumb footy when they had the wind. Coach Brett Lovett gave them specific instructions at each break, depending on whether they were kicking with or against the wind and they continued to not allow for the wind on the defensive side of the ground. So many out-on-the-full or running out of bounds. Having said that, Werribee played better footy and outmarked Casey on many occasions. Gysbert was marvellous in close but got caught a few times. Sheehan was good at times. Spencer was really good and was the only tall person to make an impact on the game. Can't believe I am typing this but he kicked really well today. Lucas Cook ran all day but dropped a lot of one grab marks. Couch is like an energiser battery - just keeps going. Moloney was often tackled by two or three and looked disinterested in the 4th quarter No. 68 for Werribee is a total tool. Was strutting around as if he had kicked a bag in an AFL final, and even stooped to mouthing off at Casey supporters over the fence.

My love of this club is undiminished. Red and Blue for life, no compromise. But my passionare hunger to go to games, watch them on TV, buy merchandise for my kids is at at an all time low. Cannot believe I am watching ANOTHER finals series wihtut Dees in it. I feel flat as hell right now.

It is difficult to articulate exactly what I feel about 2012 becasue there has been so little to get passionate about except a feeling of desolation. I feel empty, disenchanted, bored and even the finals aren't bringing a spark. I didn't expect miracles this year, but the loss to Brisbane in round 1 took the wind right out of my sails and I never recovered. My only real joy was booing Scully and seeing Howe become an astronaut every week. Where will the improvement come from in 2013? I can't tell but the upcoming preseason is going to be very interesting.

Jones, Trengove, Sylvia are able to get the ball and we have Gysberts (potentially) Magner and Couch as fill-ins. Getting the pill doesn't seem to be our major deficiency. Every player has to go and get it and our contested possession stats are improving well. It is the players 5 - 7 metres off the contest who receive the 2nd handball who are supposed to run, carry and deliver with class. We are horrible in this area. I agree with Big Red Fire Engine: have a look at Ellis, Young, Suban or even Dal Santo. Think of Hawthorn: Sewell, Lewis, Guerra going in hard and feeding it out to Mitchell, Burgoyne, Isaac Smith. Think if the Swans: Kennedy, Bolton and Jack feeding it out to Goodes, Hannebury, Jetta. We need a midfield that is able to look something like these examples. As for Gumbleton, he could be a smokey for us because apart from Clark and Howe we don't have many players who are genuine good marks. Aside from Gumbleton's injuries and strange kicking action his marking is a feature. Possible as a ready-made lead up forward and then we are not totally reliant on Lucas Cook developing. Small back pocket in case Bartram doesn't return? Nev Jetta looks a beauty but might be used in the midfield. Any trade prospects or mature age SANFL / WAFL / VFL men who could fill this role?

Another unsubstantiated channel 7 rumour story? I am not convinced that he is going anywhere. Next.

I knew some [censored] would post this comment! Maldon primary and Castlemaine High School in the 1970's - is that far enough away from private schools for you? I am soooo sorry to have disappointed your blinkered, class-system short sightedness.

First, if anyone thinks expensive private schools don't produce hard men, you are a fool. Professional rugby union players, big business, aggressive entrepreneurs - the list goes on. This is just blue-collar penis envy. Poverty or hard physical work don't naturally produce hard, tough people - it produces desperate people. Tough people come from all walks of life. Cloke - no thanks Tippett - maybe. But do we actually need two power forwards??? Boak - not convinced Caddy - good option. Go get him Wellingham. Good option. Don't know enough about any others to comment, and don't trust media gushing about whichever player they are choosing to pump up or shoot down that week.

Seriously - I am, and am super annoyed that I can't be there.

Reliable defender who can't get a game at the Filth, but isn't he a bit injury prone? If I am mistaken about injuries then yes we should go get him. Reliable in a one-on-one contest and a reasonable kick.

I was a definite "no" until he was moved to the backline earlier this year. Since then he has been better than solid, interspersed with a few classic dumb-Dunny moments and brain fades. He is one of the better kicks in our team. BTW does anyone know how to get his kicking efficiency stats for 2012? He is a huge body and has on many occasions imposed that body on a contest. He has become a good role-player, and if he is not watched will kick goals. However, if Neeld delists 8 players I reckon Dunny is gone becasue I cannot see much improvement ahead. I reckon he has been ruined by playing out of position, from being in and out of the starting 22 more than a honeymoon groom on his wedding night, and our player-development system has been below par. If Neeld delists less than 8 players, Dunn stays.

Yes, yes, yes to all the above. Well done Crawf52 on starting a positive thread. Add: the return of Nev Jetta the amazing return of Strauss an encouraging early few games from Josh Tynan a rampaging, raring to go Max Gawn for 2013

Collingwood Carlton Essendon Hawthorn Whenever these teams play each other we have a saying in our red-and-blue-mad household: we don't care who wins as long as they hurt each other. As much as I hate to type this - I prefer Carlton due to draft picks. I cannot adequately express my loathing for the above four teams via a computer screen.

You may have gone to Hampton Park Primary School and if so we can forgive you, but the thread title is Top 10, not top 14.

Cloke is a proven power-forward but I don't particularly want him at the Dees. Our need is class in the middle. Listening to Schwarz and Scott Lucas on SEN last night and they both agreed that our defence is in really good shape, and forwards stocks are OK - at least in terms of potential. It is our midfield that needs class and pace. Having said that i am not all that convinced of Boak either. Since he became the flavour of the month I have seen himn play a couple of games and think there are players of equal potential to Boak not getting games at other clubs (two at WCE whose names I can't recall) who we should go after. If Carlton get Cloke, and I reckon they will, I don't reckon they can also afford Goddard - the Dees should be in Goddard's ear as much as possible at the moment. He would bring some serious class and skill, even if he has no further improvement.

I heard the full interview and was impressed. He was fairly honest and open and came across as thoughtful and articulate. He gave very few, if any, straight-bat answers except for the one about his future with Melbourne. But you could tell he definitely wants to stay at Melbourne, it all just needs to be worked through. After the Scully rubbish I don't think any MFC supporter will ever be persuaded until the ink is dry, and I will believe nothing as a certainty in this instance until I see that ink on Blease's contract.

Riversis best 22 and will be for some time. I had my doubts a couple of years ago but he has been terrific in the past 2 seasons. Reads the game well. Is tough as old boots to beat. He is our third-man-up man and every good defence needs one. He is a leader. And he is very consistent - rarely puts in a shocker. His skills are a bit dodgy at times and he gets monstered by the gorilla forwards but I would be really annoyed if he was traded.

Jones Grimes Clark Frawley Jamar Watts Trengove Howe Jurrah Rivers I wanted Blease in this list but he remains potential at this stage, even though the potential is quickly becoming reality. I also wanted T McD, but he just misses out. Some may question my placing of Rivers, but he remains in the top 2-3 effective footballers on our list and we would have been further stuffed over the past 3 years without him.

1st: Jones 2nd: Rivers 3rd: Howe Watts and Grimes to poll well. If Jones continues to develop he could end up an MFC great. As for curses, yeah they could be real, but not in a footy sense. Jones will be fine.

Tom has had a greatv season and we see great 200+ game potential, but he must improve his kicking. Unpressured turnovers have led to goals to the opposition on many occasion. He has probably had more of the ball than Chip but I am not sure if he has been better. However, Rivers has been our best defender this year by a mile. He has played forward on a few occasions but his defensive play has been outstanding at times. The B&F is probably out of Jones, Rivers and Howe.

I am sorry to disagree and be a minority but this is the best clash strip MFC has ever produced. It keeps the red and blue but adds a light colour that provides the clash alternative to another dark jumper. I agree that perhaps using it against the Saints might not be the best option, but it is a recognisable, well designed and classy looking jumper.

I haven't posted for a few weeks because Demonland has become so heavy, whingy and depressing but I had to add my 20c worth. For the first time in a long time I saw some signs of new life. Endeavour and ticker were not an issue for most of the game Nev Jetta was ferocious at times. Blease played four quarters, Grimes leadership - a really good leader emerging here.. Players actually the game on and spreading - yes, I actually saw both defensive andattacking spread!!! Don't get me wrong, we are still horrible at times, but what I saw gave me the best hope I have had since the Bombers win. The forward line was non-existent for most of the game but we have some good players injured.

We have been in this position before and we have emerged from it. We will again. Yes, we are a rabble at the moment and unbearably skill deficient to watch but I have hope. Why? I remember Hawthorn when Clarkosn took over. They were so bad, getting beaten by big scores, no skill, and constant kicking around the half back in an arc because they had no forwards. Clarkson had a vision for how footy should be played and he stuck to it through many months of bad footy. What is worrying at the moment is that Neeld has shown no real game-day capacity to coach. If an opposition player is dominant then Jordie tags him. Apart from this there are no other options and few fresh ideas. The cattle we have may limit this. However, Neeld has swung Garland and Rivers forward etc... , plays Watts as a backman, has felt free to drop Davey, Green, Moloney due to form. He has not put up with the soft rubbish from Petterd, Morton or even Watts. And our contested ball is much better On top of all this has been our never-reducing, ever-increasing injury list. How would we have gone with Clark, Jurrah, Gysberts, Strauss, Jetta, Gawn all fit and firing for most of the season? I don't have total faith in Neeld but I can see that he has a process to follow, and although it is painful I will give him another pre-season, another trade period, another draft and hopefully a run with less injuries before I make a full assessment of him.