Maldonboy38

Kade Simpson very unlucky not to get in the 22 let alone the 40. Liberatore not getting in the 40 shows the selection panel focus on media attention and TV show favourites, rather than actual output. Hodge should not have got anywhere near the list. Garland was great this year but a lot of other backmen were better than him.

Anyone who wouldn't consider him needs a frontal lobotomy. He is a high performing, goal kicking, strong marking, hard as hell, successful, big-game player who has spent the last 10 years tearing the Dees apart like no other individual footballer. His injuries over the past 2-3 years are a worry, but he is everything that we are not. He will play until he is 33, and he is the type of player we need - even more than a Sewell or Del Santo. If Geelong don't offer him a contract, just go and get him and don't let him say no.

With Gawn, Spencer, Fitzpatrick and at a pinch Clark, we do not need another ruck option. And that is with the understanding (and hope) of trading Jamar and pick 2 for Adams from GWS. But regardless, Frawley is the most important and valuable player on our list and is worth 2 of McEvoy.

You are 95% on the money Demonof1994. Your trading possibilities work for me but I am unsure about Aish starting round 1. Jamar and pick 2 for Adams is a winner as I rate Adams very highly. The only downside is you have neither Fitzpatrick or Spencer in to help out Gawn: are you suggesting we swing Clark in and through the ruck? I hope not. Also, could Barry be a starter in 2014? He may compete with Evans for a place but Evans showed a fair bit until he got injured (again). If Watts leaves, Taggert comes into the 22 on the interchange and Trengove goes to the wing. FB: Clisby Frawley Garland HB: Grimes McDonald Terlich C: Toumpas Viney Evans HF: Kent Dawes Watts FF: Howe Clark Hogan RR: Gawn N Jones McKenzie I/C: Trengove Fitzpatrick Adams Greenwood

Jones, and Garland a very close 2nd. A huge gap - and then Terlich, M Jones and Grimes. If it was Brownlow counting Sylvia will score a lot of 1 votes so can't see him winning but will poll in many games especially around the time Neeld departed.

I agree, Chook. Some of the recruiting looks very attractive at the moment but sitting next to them are Gillies, Pederson, Rodan etc... Kent, M Jones, Terlich, could actually teach players like Watts and Sylvia about application. Add Hogan and Barry and the recruiting looks passable.

The difficulty with Dunn is he is both excellent and horrible, with no middle ground where he is consistent and reliable. Some of his kicking yesterday against the Doggies was sublime, while others were so pathetic it is difficult to understand his place in the team. At the end of last year I was 50/50 on Dunn and still am. But I am of the strong opinion that the rubbish player development at MFC has stuffed up a really good young footballer. In his first 10 or so games I thought we were looking at a great 3rd forward option.

6. Frawley. Passion, dash and touch of arrogance. Umpires almost killed him tonight. 5. Grimes. A hard running four quarter game 4. Watts. 4 goals great effort. Ran his guts out and at least ten times was one versus 2 or three alone in our forward 50. But his attempts at contested marking are often laughable and his defensive running is usually non existent. 3. Kent. Not a great game but he took the game on. 2. Davey. Some of his plays tonight were the Flash of old. 1. Trengove. Not a great game but he was creative, and was a big part in stifling the Doggies stoppages in the 3rd quarter.

Trengove - patchy but creative Grimes - a steadying presence N.Jones - given some freedom Watts - good night's effort Toumpas - just ok game Viney - not enough flair Frawley - very strong game Sylvia - very lacklustre game McKenzie - in and under Dunn- brilliant and horrible Garland - rare poor game McDonald - great individual battle Sellar - ok and horrible Kent - cause for optimism Davey - flashy and consistent Gawn - is a ruckman Howe - worth every cent Jetta - grunt and mongrel Spencer - a passable game M.Jones - not his best Terlich - many dumb moves Tapscott - should've kicked goals

That 2nd quarter - a 30 minute cameo of our season. The rest of the game was really enjoyable. One thing I did note - many of our midfielders's first touch of the ball is a fumble of some sort. When / if they do take possession, they are tackled or hindered in some way. For the most part we got murdered in close. Some of the running through the middle by Kent, Davey etc.. was superb. Loved the noise of the Demon Army - especially after the half time melee - well done to all concerned. Watts ran his guts out tonight, ends up with 4 goals, and people criticizing?!?! His one-on-one marking and pack marking are close to the worst I have seen for a big man, but don't question his effort with the ball. Still not sure if we should keep him.

What worries me is the increasing amount of expectation building up simply because of Roos. Getting him is a great coup, but he is the not the fix-all. He is one component in a matrix that needs to be built tile by tile by the Board / CEO. New CEO - check. New president - check Complete Board re-shuffle - ongoing. Appoint coach - ongoing Appoint assistant coaches - open Appoint captain - open. Re-structure business model / finance sources Engage new, long term, dedicated main sponsor. Re-engage membership - open

Sorry to be a pebble in the Demonland shoe, but I have seen too many false dawns and rays of hope. I can't let myself believe this until I see Roos in a MFC tee shirt at a press conference with PJ. If this comes to pass, I will be the first to run down my street in the buff with a Dees scarf around my neck yelling "Rooooos". At the moment it is the classic carrot on a stick and after the last 5 years I just can't do the "this might be great" celebrations.

I don't see any failings in condition or fitness. Our players are mentally stuffed; low on confidence within a game plan that was boring, complicated and devoid of freedom and initiative. Even medicos will tell you that 90% of a person's recovery from illness, injury or surgery lies within their attitude. It is the same in life, sport, everything. Get them confident and watch how fit and fast they look.

Who notices how many interchanges there are in a game? I don't go to the MCG and then spend half my time watching who is coming on or off and how much game time they play. I watch ball movement by hand and foot, high marks, huge tackles, bone-bruising crashes, goals from 50. I see Rioli, Howe, J Selwood, Ablett. Let them have 200 interchanges if they like just let them play footy and let me watch!!!

Because internally, within the confines of their own club, they are not only good players but they are known as leaders, thinkers and communicators. Not every great player can coach - Bartlett and Skilton for example - but some make the jump very easily.

Ling, Voss, Hayes, Simpson, Bolton - these are the sort of recently retired players who we need around the club in some kind of role. Voss is the standout player among that list, but it is the dedicated, hard-working, gut-busting, bone crunching professionalism that these players exuded that we have so little of. Probably only N Jones, Clark and Viney on our current list display this attutude. Maybe Frawley also at his best. Which of them could influence others - probably Ling or Voss would be my choice, but I wouldn't knock back what Bolton had to offer.

Bartlett is playing a certain line and it has quietly but powerfully emerged in all his statements so far. He wants the running of the club and the administration to fade into the background and to pour all the attention and energy into the football department/players. In light of this, I reckon he is going to play his cards close to his chest on everything he does in preparation for 2014. Apart from the coaching announcement when it comes, the other board decisions and management reshuffles will be made public in small media releases, and short radio interviews. We have been so poor in so many ways he is gathering a new group of people around himself and PJ, and they will do a lot of foundational, culture changing work away from media, away from the players, and even away from us supporters. The only exception is the AGM which could be a bit fiery. I like this approach. Let the media focus on Essendon, the finals, Buddy going to GWS or Daisy Thomas etc... I am not buying in just yet - we haven't even seen who the coach will be for 2014 - but I like this strong but quiet approach to institutional change.

Wow, it looks like some unbelievably poor decisions. Pederson and Rodan again. I just don't get this. What is the point? No Taggert. It looks like he isn't going to get a chance to show his wares. Davis gets dropped. I have no emotional investment left, and now we get this. Bored and p****ed off.

Admire Col Garland greatly. I hope the Dees improve quickly and play finals soon to reward players like him who have endured so much strife. Congrats on 100 games and a wonderful 2013. On another point and a bit of a tangent, is he a smoky for captain in 2014? His media work is better than anyone else at the club, he is articulate and thought provoking, he has genuine passion for the club and the jumper, leads on the field even when we are losing by 100 points and has had to work hard to get to where he is. Thoughts?

Viney is the best footballer of the new crop. But don't discount Toumpas after a full preseason either. But the battle for best first year player is between Terlich and Matt Jones. I give it to Jones because - he has better awareness than Terlich who continually turns back into trouble - although I don't have stats to hand, Terlich's disposal efficiency feels like it would be hovering around 50% at best M Jones for best 1st year player.

Retired Davey, MacDonald Delist: Senior: Nicholson, Sellar, Jetta, Rodan, Gillies Rookie: Couch , Magner Trade Watts, Jamar This opens up 9 senior positions and 2 rookie places Senior: Upgrade Clisby Hogan Rookie : Stark Unsure I want Pederson out but we cannot afford it Sylvia UFA Jurrah as possible rookie

There are a lot of big "ifs" about getting him back at the Dees, and a lot of factors - both personal and professional - have to align, but to have him back doing what he does best would get my three kids who are members back to the footy. I would be stoked to see him in red and blue again. But with Davey retiring, is there a mentor available who can fully come alongside? Do we ask Goodes, O'Loughlin, Michael Long to take up a personal mentoring role? Oh no, do I detect a sense of impossible anticipation for 2014? Gods of football, please don't do this to me!?!?

I caught about 20 minutes of the Richmond v Carlton game today, and was really grieving watching McLean and Petterd play well. It got me thinking about Footscray in the 1970's and early 80's. They gave away/lost Dempsey, Quinlan, Templeton, Barry Round, and others whose names are lost so far back. The Doggies lost these great players (Dempsey is still the best tap ruckman I have ever see) because everything inside the club stank of a loser mentality with no hope in sight. At the moment we have Moloney, Martin, McLean, Scully, Petterd, and Rivers, who left us. They are all getting regular games for their new clubs and we are back rotting at the bottom the ladder. History repeating itself again. What is really interesting is that once Malthouse got toFootscray the club began to turn. Can one man make such a difference? Can this happen at the Dees after such a mass exodus?

Stable CEO - check. President - check. ( I think ) I know nothing about Bartlett, and am struggling to see his connection to the MFC as anything but a professional move. Ability, vision, leadership are the most vital ingredients but I don't see any emotional/support connection - does he barrack for the Dees? I also hope he is not only an AFL liaison officer, who comes with strings attached. CAn anyone out there inform me on this?

We have to start looking at the attributes he actually brings to a game, and not the things we expect him to bring but never delivers. Kicking / kicking for goal - possibly the best since Trav Johnstone, and on the same level as Davey Marking. Rather poor really, but has improved immensely under Neil Craig. Tackling. Very poor, even when he tries to tackle. Awareness/Vision. Amazing, a common trait from who players who come to AFL from basketball. Physical presence/power forward. Very poor. Mental toughness/application. Worst aspect of his game. Dreadful. Aerobic. Really, really good. Team player. The other players really like him, but after the Footy Show last night this looks tenuous at best. So, for a bloke 6'5", with the above traits, do we need that player or can we improve our list via trade? IS there someone else on our list with his strengths? I am a huge fan of Jack, and voted above for him to stay, but looking at the listed attributes I am unsure. One thing I will say is that each year he has improved, and that says a lot about his training and growth. Will he produce in 2014/2015 the mental and physical toughness that he currently lacks?