Winners at last

Why?

Hawthorn are ruthless at this sort of stuff themselves. Refer Hale, Gibson and Gunston from Adelaide last year. Instead of being the hunted I think we should continue with going after good Out of Contract Players. Clark, Dawes and Byrnes shows we can do it. We should have the cap room and help the players we want get the best deal, improve our list or at worst clog up other clubs salary cap. We could become real pests now.

Wouldn't stop at CR either, lets get after some of those good GWS and GCS kids nicely tuned up for us after two years in the system and who may want to come home.

Anyone out of contract at Carlton?

The only really good "get" has been Clark. Collingwood clearly no longer rated Dawes and Byrnes couldn't get a game at Geelong. Attempts to get Ball and Warnock were laughed off.

Can't quite remember the scenario with Cloke but if MFC's offer bumped up his salary then there was at least some upside.

I'm still amazed (and pleased!!!) that we got Clark, but MFC doesn't seem to be viewed as a desireable home by top players.

Dream on.

Perhaps one could also ask

When is a man not a man?

When he's a freak in a sideshow ...

@"The Freak" by The Zoot

Dream on.

I think I've said something like this before but if you picked teams using the old school method of lining everyone up against the shelter shed and the captains selecting their teams one at a time does anyone think they would care too much about what champion data has to say?

I was always one of the last picked. Thanks for reminding me.

How could Cale Morton fall into the "Below Average" category when there is a "Poor" category?

Original post(er).

Cheers bro.

Who's doing the bullying?

The OPer was deliberately provocative, as he usually is. The OP didn't invite a discussion re Tapscott at all, it invited a discussion around whether or not Tapscott was a(nother) dud. Very different.

And polarising.

Excuse my ignorance but what does OP stand for?

Clearly a ripping bloke. But repeated turnovers are soul destroying for a side. Hopefully he can improve that part of his game. Otherwise I agree with the majority that a tagger with poor skills is a relic of a bygone era.

On that same topic, my favourite coach was Swooper Northey. He got the most out of the playing group. But football's way more sophisticated these days. The days of ranting and raving are pretty much over. (Alan Killigrew RIP). It's about developing plans and systems. Not so many one on ones these days. It's more about excellent skills and keeping possession which is why turnovers are murder.

• As if. He's a top bloke though.

Is a med student an abject failure because he hasn't yet cured cancer. Give it some time.

Chook, with the utmost respect, I don't think that's a great analogy.

I think it is a slightly bigger ask for a medical student (let alone a team of highly professional and experienced medical researchers with massive financial backing) to develop a cure for cancer than for Brian Royal to improve the MFC midfield.

if a med student could improve the standard of the MFC, then perhaps that option could be investigated? And Mr Royal could work on the cancer cure.

As for Australian films, I agree that Wake in Fright was a ripper. Lantana was great, and I didnt mind some of those quirky films in the early 80s like The Big Steal and Death in Brunswick.

I am ridiculously fussy when it comes to films. One of the worst films I have ever seen is Red Dog. Corny, dreadfully overacted. If I hadnt taken my daughter to that film, I would have walked out half way.

I re-watched The Elephant Man the other day. Now there's a film! John Hurt's performance was brilliant. He was beaten to the Best Actor Oscar by De Niro in Raging Bull. The film was beautifully made and acted.

Another one i really liked was American Beauty.

As for comedies, my favourites are Napoleon Dynamite and Groundhog Day.

In the words of Frank Woodley "I wish that hadn't happened" (contemplating his unfortunate experience).

I think that wearing gloves is clear evidence of tanking.

Missing Mitch for the start of 2013 is not the end of the world as we have some new players to test and kids to expose to afl, but a few things that hurt us without Mitch

He is going to be a big part in changing our habits to winnings ways

He is still a younger player himself, and every minute he misses is a minute of development he misses

Mitch will make Dawes and pedo and even howe better! He's aggressive, and takes the number 1 defender away from a bloke like Dawes who needs the confidence

And for once I would like to start a season well, maybe crush port round 1

I know if we wanna be any good we can't depend on one player, and we must take it easy with Mitch, but gee he makes our side look so much better!

Not the end of the world? You can't be serious!!

"Fear not supporters! I will return and smite the other 17 teams." - Mitch Clark*

*may not be an actual quote

Not an actual quote? Really? I could imagine Mitch using the word "smite".

I've been watching Real Humans on SBS, Saturday nights. Really good.

The Club's record over the past 5 years speaks for itself. There is only one way to change perceptions, and that is (sustained) success.

For some reason, Gilies reminds me of Clint Bizzell. Hopefully he performs as well. It could be hard to break into the backline, but if so Garland looks to be the player under the most threat.

Jordie McKenzie = great trier and probably a great bloke. But I'm not convinced he'll be in the 22 every week.

Evans debut game for MFC was underrated. Was against the Saints in rd 9 2011 at Etihad and picked up about 27 touches. He looked like he belonged but his disposal was a bit suspect. I agree that these 2 could be big surprises in 2013.

I was at that match. Yes, he got a lot of touches, but Saints didn't bother manning up on him at all. Presumably because he did no damage when he got the ball.

I certainly hope he succeeds, but I don't think you could read much into his performance that day.

Greg "the tool" denham

the bloke is a dead set joke and anything that comes out of his mouth is dribble.

Perhaps even drivel?

one of my oldest mates lives in East Bentleigh & the land value has skyrocketed in the last 5 years or so.

It is now classed as inner city.

In 10 years the club could name it's price.

That is a huge block for apartments potentially.

I am a grammar Nazi. "Its" as you have used it is a pronoun. Pronouns do not have apostrophes. Or to put it another way pron'oun's do no't have apo'strophe's.

Does anyone else think that Grimes could be our version of Luke Hodge?