Maldonboy38

Sorry, DOF, didn't mean to lure you into my growing expectations. Even though it was to juniors I found Roos very, very good in those clips. I remember a decade or so ago seeing video of Dennis Pagan prematch and I got a similar kind of vibe. Boy I hope I am not setting myself up for more MFC burns again!

Sorry, Dazzledavey36, but I now dislike you. You have officially ruined the preseason for me. I've never met you but you have given me that glimmer of hope for 2014 that I was determined not to allow myself. I was determined not to be burnt again by raising expectations based upon preseason changes. You have now ruined this for me. How could I not have more hope after seeing Roos at work - even if it was at junior level. Great video clips of a great coach with great communication skills who clearly and without compromise demonstrates the run and structure of modern footy. I cannot adequately communicate via a keyboard how impressive I found Roos' clarity and simplicity in those videos. I can see Jones, Trengove, Clark, Frawley, Toumpas all hanging off his every word and growing week by week.

I remember playing in the Maryborough/Castlemaine league in 1982. I was 16 or 17 in my first year of open age footy and I was on the wing in the 2's. We were playing Primrose on the large open spaces of Maryborough City Oval. Being 6 feet tall and about 70kgs I was running near the boundary, right in front of my dad who was an old fashioned, tough uncompromising policeman. A huge thug ran (waddled?!?!) up behind me and gave me the best whack I ever received - right in front of my dad. I still can't believe he didn't jump the fence. I tried to play on but couldn't balance or run straight for about 10 days. To be honest, I am glad the stupid thuggery of 70's and 80's football is gone. I was witness to, and participant in, some dangerous ridiculous stuff. Introduction of the second on field central umpire went a long way to fix country footy. Names like Scully who played for Talbot who was terrifying; most of the Chewton team who were psychotic; and a Maldon player called Docker O'Keefe who was suspended for 10 years for donging a goal umpire from Kangaroo Flat who spat on his neck. To be honest, they weren't the good old days - even if they did feel like it when in the midst of it.

Moved to the country when I was 10, started footy at 11, played 13 seasons until I was 27. I missed a lot of footy between 13 - 15 due to sport and motorbike injuries. Best level was playing in the Bendigo Football League. In my last game I went up in the ruck came down on both feet tearing my hamstring and groin upon landing. I never played again and to this day my hamstring/quad/groin is still the area of weakness. When I was 16 nad started playing open age footy, the full-backs were still kicking drop kicks! And one bloke coud stab pass with such force we asked him to stop because it hurt so much. I still miss it. I love running and swimming but nothing beats the skill and physicality of our great game.

We must keep Byrnes and Jetta as small forward options. Having said that, I don't think Roos used the small forward option in his time at the Swans. Nick Davis was sort of in that role but was more of a lead up, marking type of forward. I am finding it really tough to sort through our list and find 3 who need to be delisted. Magner might struggle but Roos will love his grunt. Nicho has to be in the sights but guess what, Roos will love his grunt. With his head injury problems, maybe Bail won't make it either.

This trade period has been really positive and I feel really good about 2014. But I can't trust the MFC enough just yet to make a full emotional commitment. I will be attending a lot of the preseason training at Casey like I do every year, and I will take the usual interest in all the build up. But I am keeping expectations to a minimum. The last 2 years tore my heart out so my trust quotient is running at an all time low. I am absolutely loving the quiet but strong approach of Bartlett, PJ, Roos and Mahoney. The trade ins have been outstanding. But we haven't trained or seen how Roos' game style impacts our existing players. Because of all this, the only commitment to hype I will make is I reckon we will only suffer one big loss in 2014, and in the games we lose we will be only 20-25 points away. 6-7 wins.

Barrett is making the same mistake so many modern journos make. As soon as he gets some TV exposure he begins to not only report and "journal", but offers his opinion as if people think it is worth something. And even though Neeld's trade approach last year was a failure - it also was NOT scattergun. It was a specific plan to bring really good training examples in and among our very young list. The plan simply didn't work. Scattergun implies no plan. Does Barrett seriously think that Roos and the footy dept. people are trading players in without clear objectives? We are yet to see if the plan works but it is clear what they went after, and they got exactly what they wanted.

Blease, Evans and Toumpas look likely for this kind of role.

I can't see Blease being delisted or traded because we need outside pace to compliment Roos' stoppage based game plan. Dunn can be annoying and I don't see him in our best 22, but it would be a mistake to let him go. He is good back-up for injury. I was a huge Rohan Bail fan but with repeated head injuries and horrible kicking efficiency I would be letting him go. I see Strauss in our starting 22 but he possibly has the best trade value of allthose players on the fringes of the team so if any are traded it could be him. Tappy is also a good trade option.

B: GarlandFrawley Strauss HB: Grimes McDonald Blease C: Watts N Jones Vince HF: Trengove Dawes Toumpas F: Hogan Clark Howe R: Gawn Viney, Tyson I: Fitzpatrick Michie Evans Sub: Barry Roos loves his team to attack from a stoppage at half back so pace is needed. Grimes and Blease have that pace so I have placed them there. The only problem is they are both notorious turnover specialists. I am hoping Roos' training methods and instilled confidence can improve Grimes and Blease disposal. I don't have either of Clisby or Terlich in the 22, and would love to fit Clisby in. The sub is the big one for me. So I have gone for an outside roughie in Barry.

Paul Roos uses the trade and draft to build a team rather than bring in individuals with exceptional skill. Vince is a very good footballer, while Michie and Tyson have shown skill and potential but it looks like they have been chosen to complete a group of midfielders of about 10 players. This will likely form the guts of Roos' game plan. We have a lot of players who can move through the back line and forward line but I reckon we lack two things: A small forward. A line breaking backman (Birchall, Shaw, Grigg) I can't see either of these types available in the PSD, so we might have to wait until 2014 to trade them in. Food for thought though: Small forward: Barry, Jetta, Byrnes, Strauss, Tapscott Line breaking backman: Blease, Evans

Just back from my son's soccer match, straight to Demonland and it is confirmed - we got Bernie Vince. Well done MFC. Vince, Vichie and Tyson - a very good trio to introduce into out list. Wrapped. Edit: that was supposed to read rapt.

If he can stay injury free, I reckon he will be fighting Blease and Barry for a spot on the wing. At this stage I see Barry winning that position, but it will be a close call.

What impresses me about this is that is was pretty much on no-one's radar. No dip-stick journalist was given a leak or an inkling of this trade. Both Michie and Tyson were done qyuietly but effectively. No smiling, puffed up MFC rep holding up a jumper at a photo shoot. I loved Roos as a player - one of the best backmen I have ever seen, who invented the "third man up" role. I hated him as a commentator/special comments man. He came across as wise after then event and smug. But I am loving his leadership through this trade period. I can't remember MFC ever entering the trade period like this before, or achieving so much on the quiet. Loving it.

I didn't know a lot about this kid, but the highlights reel was a bit of a revelation. His evasive skills are Pendelbury-esque, and his hand skills remind me a bit of Simon Black. I am not suggesting he has the qualities of those two great players but he is the type of player we have not seen for a long time. Since Flower and Farmer, who have been great evasive players for MFC? Nathan Brown was very good but could not kick. My October just got a very good, very warm feeling about it. Our starting midfield could look like N Jones, Tyson, Trengove, Vichie and Viney. Add in Vince (possibly), Watts, Toumpas, McKenzie, Barry, Blease, M Jones and Evans. I promised myself I would not emotionally invest until after round 11 and I stand by that comment. However, if we also land Bernie Vince I am going to find it very difficult not to have expectations on 2014.

Roos' trading history appears to be that he doesn't trade to "complete the list". Rather he trades for players he sees playing in the best starting 22- 25 players. Richards, Mattner, Shaw & McGlynn were traded in and played immediately. I reckon he will do the same with us. Vichie will start in the 22. Whether it be Vince and Lyons from crows or Shiel/Buntine from GWS - they will be brought in to play immediately. I am not a fan of the Bugg/Buntine deal because neither of these players have excelled. We don't need better players with pick 2 - we need some great players. If we can land Cross the same applies - he will play. All of this is speculation of course, but our starting 22 in 2014 is going to be a huge surprise to us all.

Vince is a very good midfielder, probably averages B+ across a seasons. He is a walk up start for our midfield. Get the deal done MFC but do not use pick 2 unless a genuine A grade 22 year old is included in the deal. Perhaps Shiel, Vince and Michie coming our way in 2014?

Although it sounds like MFC are doing nothing, saying nothing and achieving nothing, I believe this to be far from the truth. I am convinced that they have known for some time what trades they want, who they would trade, and who they are a chance of getting. It is just that the new board, footy dept and coaching panel are running a tight ship with controlled, strategic leaks to this journo, that commentator etc... All this speculation and rumour on this thread is just cud-chewing for us who remain at a distance. A bit of fun and rumination.

We need so much attention paid to the stoppages, with an urgent need for a Cross/Sewell type and an equal urgent need for some close in tight skill like SHiel or Sloane. But we cannot totally disregard the need for outside run and class. Dom Barry and Toumpas will give us this, as might Evans, and this is also where Blease fits in. I like what Blease has to offer but I would no longer keep him ahead of the other three.

The Roos succession plan is filled with both risk and potential - all new things are. There are other succession plans around (Sydney, Collingwood), but the plan was not in place before the senior coach has coached a single game. But it is wrong to conclude that the risk is too high or that failure will be the concvlusion before it has been tried. Tagging the opposition best player was new once. So was the flood. So was the forward and defensive press. So was Pagan's paddock. Let's step back, give the Dees succession plan some time, and then review. Surely unformed potential it is better than the Neeld era!?!? As for Dew, it must be clear to the Swans that Dew's heart is no longer with the Swans. He has been offered a job that is very, very attractive and he simply wants out. The Swans are mad to want to keep him now. He might be wearing red and white, but in his head and heart he is examining the Dees list, thinking about the Dees trading, and beginning to get his head around working with Roos. Stop being pig-headed, Sydney, and let the man leave. And I love the fact we are quietly, gently but forcefully having our way. No media leaks, just a strong powerful undercurrent of hard work and bullish recruiting of staff.

This is a good move by the Dees, but unlike many posting here, I was a fan of the Russian and thought his tap work was sublime at times. His last two years were a mess due to horrible coaching and constant injury. All the best at your new club - hope you get a few more years. He is likely to be a sweetener in a package trade deal because he has so little currency left. However, at t club with a well organised, professional and capable midfield I reckon he still has a bit to offer.

If we are to take one of Chappy, Cross or Sewell I would take Sewell instantly. He has monstered us over the past 5-6 years with his big body and aggressive attack on the contest - he would be an instant lift to our midfield stocks and he is an influence player. Others around him lift because of the way he plays. If he is available - go get him MFC. If we do land Sewell, and a fringe midfielder like Vichi from Freo or Greenwood from NM, then keep pick 2 and use it on Aish or Scharenberg. Can you imagine the stoppages with N Jones, Viney and Sewell going at it? Is that the sound of hope I hear????

When the senior assistant succession plan was first announced I threw the name of Bassett into the mix. His work at Norwood has been a very in kind to Roos at Sydney. Bassett not only brought a tough and successful game plan that led to a premiership (and now two), he had a huge influence on the culture of the entire club. I am not yet believing he will be part of the Roos succession plan but I would be very pleased if he was. I listened to Josh Mahoney on SEN this morning, and his tone suggests that MFC already know which player(s) they have in their sights for pick 2 and they are waiting for the other club to put forward their full offer. I get the same sense from Mahoney with this senior assistant coach role. It sounds very much like they already have their man - they are just waiting for all contract accountabilities to be tied up and then the person will be announced. Sounds very much like Dew to me. I heard Dew interviewed in 2009. I always thought he was a bit of a dumbo but during that radio interview he was thought provoking and articulate about the 2008 Hawks flag. Very impressive.

Nick Smith would be a welcome addition to our training and playing culture. He would bring that "team first no dick head" mindset which Roos loves. However, pick 2 should not be mentioned next to his name unless Luke Parker is coming with him. MFC - pick 2 SFC - Smith and Parker We might have to also give over a later draft pick (e.g.pick 54) or include in the trade Jamar due to the Swans losing Mumford.

Impressive CV to say the least. Quote: "She has a strong interest in governance, and is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and regularly presents workshops and forums regarding good governance and strategic planning practices". I may be dreaming, but is it possible that the Dees could end up being run like a top line business? No runs on the board yet but it looks promising.