Moonshadow

Welcome Choke. Worse things have happened than agree with olisik. I just can't quite think of any ATM........

No you could not. Your post adds nothing. Cale Morton had a good first 2 years for a skinny kid. He showed a lot of confidence and ability. He has lost that confidence and his body is still wafer thin. I think he is the best of his brothers (which is not saying a lot, granted) and, if Neeld thinks he can be of value, I back him to develop and work Cale hard, and get out that potential many saw after 40 games. A second preseason under Misson might make a big difference. But if Neeld doesn't see hope, there is nothing more to do than trade him, as he has a contract for 2013.

We have two EX-all Australians at the club. I think if we sign Grundy and Jamar has another year like 2012, we will regret not trading him now and he'll be traded this time next year for lesser value. Really, Jamar has had only one good season. Regardless of when he was signed, I'd be looking at all options. We are still developing and plenty of clubs have only young, talented rucks on their list, knowing that they will develop with the team.

Unfortunately, Gawn/ Fitzy/Jamar will never be as good in any combo - ruck or fwd - as Cox or NicNat (settle Rangey....) Cox could very well be a high quality permanent fwd, if Worsfold chose to. And NicNat will be, in due course. That is why one or even 2 of Ped/ Dawes/Gumby is a good idea, at the right price. Also, if one or both of Clarke/Hogan went down with a LT injury (touch wood no), the above recruits could step in. Or would you prefer the likes of Rivers, Garland or Silvia to do that again for another year? PS - please please please lets keep pick 4 live for a gun mid in the draft - Toumpas, O'Rourke, Wines.

Sellar is ok in the back line, I like him there. When he runs straight at the ball and can see his options up ahead he generally does well. I don't think he's clever enough (runs to the right spots, uses space well, assists crumbers, etc) or a strong enough mark to be a key fwd. Think we'll find him improve in 2013, assuming he is given a contract, which is likely if Riv leaves. One of Pederson, Gumby, Dawes at the right price would be a good pick up for 2013 and beyond. Difficult to expect too much of Hogan in 2014, ok if he plays 6-12 games. I like the idea of having 3 or even 4 KPFs on the list because at any one time it is possible that a KPF will be out injured, or poor form dictates they need a spell in VFL. Look what happened when Clark went down mid-year. Competition for spots on the list is important. Added to this mix of KPFs is Fitzpatick, who will show his worth next year if the rise in improvement continues. Starting to get a little excited!

It has been noted by many draft watchers (on forums, media and club talent scouts) that this draft is very good at the pointy end, but drops off after that significantly. Trading pick 4 for picks in the teens is madness. Give me one BMW over 2 x Corollas any day. Hogan will be worth it IMHO, but a gun midfielder is what we need to compliment taking Viney. This draft is rich in mids, next year is better for KPPs, apparently. Toumpas, O'Rourke or Wines, please.

Too many on the mark. That's a certain 50m penalty.

Cheers Dr G.

My understanding is that GC have pick 1 in the MD and we pick 2 - these are picks, not specific players. While GC have said they will select Martin with this and we Hogan, I'm not sure there is a binding contract between these players and clubs. Is there a chance GC could select Hogan before us this time next year? I'm not sure of the exact rules. Anyone know for sure, rather than speculation?

If we were to match Port's offer to Beamer (highly unlikely) then he could only go there as part of a trade. I don't get it that a club would trade for a FA or RFA when they can be obtained for nothing. Compensation then comes from the ND.

Another midfielder, especially if we get Grundy at pick 4. Viney and Barry are too little from a so-called supper draft blessed with midfielders. Where are the midfield FA and RFAs we were gonna target? With Beamer seemingly gone, we severely lack experience in the midfield.

It's unfortunate, because I think he's a good footballer when he's given a bit of freedom in the ruck. 2011 was not a good year for us, but Martin showed considerable promise against a lot of quality opposition. I wouldn't be surprised if he developed to be amongst the best 10 rucks in the comp. Just wont happen with us. Should be worth something in a trade.

Lol! You have combined perhaps the most humorous analogy (stick insect) with the most repulsive (P Scully calendar) I have heard in a very long time!

I'm aware you are somewhat besotted with Stef Martin, YDE, but you should also be aware that Martin is of little use to us as a second/resting ruck. He really does his only good work as a solo ruck. He's of more value to us as a trade, unfortunately. If you love him, let him go. I'd suggest you (legally) download and watch the film 'Born Free'. Jamar and Gawn will be our rucks, with Spencil as depth. If we get Grundy, then he may well get a number of games in 2013, and push Spence further down the pecking order. I do think the Russian needs a big 2013 to survive on our list. He's been around long enuf to be well aware of this and he'll rise to the challenge. Good luck with Stef.

Bate is a FA. He has no trade value as he can go where he likes. Please do some research.

Lol! Errrr......... have you even bothered to look at the players we've acquired in the last week or so? Each have elements of elite speed, endurance, kicking, etc. Dom Barry is anything but a big, muscly, heavy brute. Lol!

I very much doubt any players will be delisted until the trade period has closed. However slim the chances, these to-be-delisted players are also trade bate (pardon the pun). Once delisted, these players effectively become FAs. Exceptions might be players who have walked out on the club or retired, eg Jurrah, Green, Lawrence. Can we please look at the MFC contract list before calling for player A to be cut even thought they are contracted for 2013?

My god, this trade period makes our previous 5 year's trade efforts look like Crafternoon gatherings of the local CWA. (Mitch Clark excepted, of course)

Bennell's place on the list could be in jeopardy if we got Jace Bode back.

Yep. GWS badly want Whitfield, Toumpas, and Grundy. They can have maximum of pick 3 for Hogan. No more. Otherwise, we'd happily take Toumpas or Grundy with pick 3. They can only trade Hogan, they can't draft him next year (I believe), so pick 3 is the best they'll get. Simple really, or it should be.........

I think posters criticisms of our drafting over the last 5 years are completely valid. After all, we are not full time, handsomely paid, recruiting specialists who are selecting the future of our club. As members (some of us) and, therefore, stakeholders in MFC, we are perfectly within our right to expect the best draft selections possible from the professional recruitment team. If they get it wrong, we want to hold them to account and know why they made that selection. Why would I make a list of this year's top 20 draft picks? I'd have as much chance of picking this weeks tatts numbers as getting the 2013 draft order right. That's why I put my $ and trust into the club to get it right.

Been training with us for a year or 2 already. Will still be on a slightly more restricted program than the senior players, as the young guys often over-train.

I'm sure Rangey/neeldstherealdeal will still manage to get up a 'did we make the right call on Jack' poll.

WOWEE! You're right! Monday, followed by Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday......... and so on.

Pick 4? Good lord no! Why stop at that? Why not pick 3 & 4 plus 13 for a large bunch of B/C graders from other clubs that will struggle to get us out of the bottom 4? We need a number of elite mids and one more quality KPF. Dawes and Wellingham are not these.