Maldonboy38

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.

This is an interesting one because it is more than rumour, twitter feed from some twit, or an anonymous "my brother's sister's boyfriend's doctor's aunt" Facebook post. Rawlings is seen up there on MFC official business. Unless he is desperate to move from Brisbane, Rockliff is mad to leave. Considering he is contracted I cannot see the Lions letting go of their midfield gun who has 3 year's work in him for anything less than picks 1 - 4. Two things in our favour. He knows Jade Rawlings He would respect Paul Roos (and if the dislocation between Voss and players is real, this is a big plus for us)

I take your point Old Dee. But I reckon either of a young gun midfielder, or a talented fringe midfielder who was being courted by the Dees would be caught in-between a number of contradictory thought processes: 1 - Melbourne are rubbish and I could end up playing in a rubbish team. 2 - Will I see finales at MFC? 2 - I will, however, get full game time in the midfield 3 - Paul Roos is a great coach and establishes an impressive player development model. 4 - Melbourne will probably improve under Roos. And amid these factors, Paul Roos as coach will be a huge factor in finally luring the right player. I agree that there are no runs on the board, and as I have posted many times now I refuse to emotionally buy in to the Roos hype until I see substantial and consistent runs on the board. But players looking to leave their current club, be coached well, and end up in a great club culture - that will be very attractive because of the Roos. The drawback is knowing that in 2-3 years time MFC will have a different - and currently unknown - coach.

If pick 2 remains on the table from the Dees, at some time during the trade period various clubs will bite, they have to. It is too good an option to dismiss because "no-one wants to go the Melbourne". With Mahoney stating that pick 2 remains an option but only in exchange for a select group of players, a club with some young gun midfielder who wants to leave will take a very big bite at this carrot on a stick. The "not wanting to come to Melbourne" factor is being fully negated by the "I want to be coached by Paul Roos" factor. Based on the reliable foundations of rumour and innuendo, I see the following: Pick 2 getting us a young gun midfielder like Swallow, Sloane or the like. Pick 20 a talented draftee. Picks 36 and 54 being attached to players like Tapscott, Blease, or Strauss to target players like Greenwood from NM, Myers from Essendon, Later draft picks being used to gain Jolly and/or Cross.

1 x 1-year deal for 1 of Chappy or Cross sits about right with our needs at present. Not both players. No huge, luring salary. No 2 year contract. No promises. = win for MFC.

Shaw will go to the Suns I reckon, a lot of trade stuff seems to be aligning that way. And it looks as though MFC are playing a very good trade game. Go hard for Shaw without any attempt to really land him, possibly to draw attention away and price down on some other player. Shaw is not worth $500K + pick 2, nor $500K + pick 10. He is a good, almost great back flanker but we should be paying this $ for midfielders and/or A graders.

Roos' pattern while at Sydney was to trade his first or second round draft pick to get a 22 - 24 year old player from another club, and this player would end up straight in the 22. Shaw, Richards, Mattner etc... Usually it was one of this type of trades per year but someone with access to stats might be able to clarify this. He actually used draft selections later than no. 30 to pick up young players. If history is any guide he will continue to use this model. With a lot of trades on offer this year it could be a real win/win for MFC. So I reckon we will only trade in 2 players: - 1 young gun midfielder (plus other pick) for our no. 2 pick - Swallow, Sloane, Adams - 1 older player for a much later draft pick - Chappy, Cross, etc... The fly in the ointment is our play for Heath Shaw. It sounds like MFC are going hard for him and this could mean a third trade. Middle rounds draft picks will pick up youth.

So the Hawks consider goal kicking practice and accountability is innovation? Give me a break. Coaches have been doing this for years. The point is that systematic goal kicking practice works and every team should do it as a matter of course. And MFC should move Heaven and Earth to get Yze on board if his influence has been this immediate.

Yes, he is a look alike for our Jack. At the end of a depressing 2013, we could all do with a huge dose of his joy and freedom.

Thanks Demonland, for creating and maintaining a great forum for us Dees supporters. Thanks to all those who worked - both up front and behind the scenes.

This my tip from yesterday: Hawks by 13. I want Freo to win and will be barracking very hard for them in from of the tele. But the Hawks will win because: 1. Freo's impressive wins over the past 2 weeks have come on very narrow grounds, which has suited their choking, manic press very well. The MCG is very wide, almost a circle, and this means the defensive press gaps are wider and Freo have to run more to fill these spaces. Hawks kicking skills will find a way through these gaps. 2. One of Roughhead, Franklin or Gunston will kick 4-5 goals. I can't see Freo's defence successfully covering all three. 3. They will attack Crowley and give him the worst 2 hours of his life. I wouldn't be surprised if they "take him out", or hassle him so much he is subbed off. Mitchell could end up with 30+ possessions. David Mundy for the Norm Smith. Not far off - and Mundy played well. Ballantyne and Pierce - absolute shocking games. Bad kicking has cost so many side premierships over the past 20 years - extraordinary.

Fyfe is an absolute gun. If I had the choice of recruiting anyone from another AFL team I would take him in a flash. He rates 8+ in every skill department and has a huge dose of courage. And we chose Cale Morton. I am going to need a double shot of Tullamore Dew now just to get through to the Grand Final.

Always get a bit teary watching that. Robbie played like that week in week out and we rarely saw him on tv because of the Collingwood/Carlton/Richmond/Hawthorn bias. This bias still exists. Flower had the evasive ability of Sam Mitchell, the courage of Lenny Hayes, the outside pace and skill of Isaac Smith, and was as amazing in the air. He was an exceptional footballer and I wish we could get 1 player just a little bit like him. And don't get me started on the Brownlow medal. Keith Greg gets two for being soft as butter, and Gary Hardeman gets robbed. Libba, Dippa and Plugga get a Brownlow!?!?

I almost lost my eldest son to Geelong - because of the brilliance of Ablett - until Jurrah burst on the scene. Hearing my boy yell out "Juuurrraaahhh" every time Jurrah went near the ball was magic for a Dees dad. Every move he made was breath-taking. It would be a very, very long road back to AFL footy. And to be honest I can't see him doing the hard physical yards or coping with the even tougher psychological battles in order to get back. But I would go to every Casey home game just to see him play. If he made it back onto the MCG for a home game (Queen's Birthday v Pies) it would be sweeter than mum's iced vo-vo biscuits.

Hawks by 13. I want Freo to win and will be barracking very hard for them in from of the tele. But the Hawks will win because: 1. Freo's impressive wins over the past 2 weeks have come on very narrow grounds, which has suited their choking, manic press very well. The MCG is very wide, almost a circle, and this means the defensive press gaps are wider and Freo have to run more to fill these spaces. Hawks kicking skills will find a way through these gaps. 2. One of Roughhead, Franklin or Gunston will kick 4-5 goals. I can't see Freo's defence successfully covering all three. 3. They will attack Crowley and give him the worst 2 hours of his life. I wouldn't be surprised if they "take him out", or hassle him so much he is subbed off. Mitchell could end up with 30+ possessions. David Mundy for the Norm Smith.

I see us with only 2-3 wins in the first half of 2014 as our players struggle to break free from Neeld's poor game style and embrace the stoppage based game endorsed by Roos. Players like N Jones and Trengove will be the players who get it first and lead the rest of the team into the new game style. We will win 4-6 games in the second half of the year and end up with a percentage around 75% But the measures for success in 2014 will be: - a percentage of 70-80% - Stoppage wins, contested ball wins - Equalising possessions and disposals per game. This was the key to our weakness under Neeld. - Playing an even game across 4 quarters. So often we were in the game for 3 quarters and got blown away by a 6-10 goal blitz in 1 quarter. Edit: add 1 more thing. Beat the Pies on Queen's birthday. Pllleeeeaaaasssee!!

We have salary cap room, a good number of high draft pick numbers, Jesse Hogan about to come in, and basically untried talent of Barry, Evans, Clisby. So apart from trading in for 1 experienced mid - Cross - and 1 young gun - Swallow - we should recruit/delist rather than trade on a mass scale. This process has started with the 5 delistings and 2 retirements in recent days. Blease, Tapscott, Strauss and Gawn are easily AFL standard players who have been retarded in their development by pathetic development and poor coaching. Getting rid of them now with an experienced and proven coach would be madness.