PaulRB

Deck chairs...

After all the crap Neeld has had directed at him, Roo's has only manage a couple of wins better. As they say, you can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear... Its the players...

Was at the game and given our static play, turnovers and lack of fluid ball movement, its maybe a blessing we lost as we won't be able to continue to paper over this rubbish.

Most of Roos former underlings are aiming to coach teams late into September and do what every coach aspires to be involved in, and learn how to do... Win a flag. Or they could come to Melbourne and be second banana in the 7th year of a rebuild that has yielded a handful of wins... this season. Tough choice. They'll come if we rise in 2015, be onboard for 2016, and ready to take over in 2017.

I agree the AFL will do what suits them. But I bristle at suggestions that marking the compo up to Band 1 for Frawley is a favour. The MFC would NOT have traded Chip for anything less than a top 5 pick? ie anything less than Band 1. So the free agency policy, even with the compo "favoured" up to band 1, gives us NOTHING, and is worse for us as it takes away our ability to decide on trading Chip or not... We are being fleeced once again.

I'd further the argument for a PP with the following: 1. during our rebuild we were retarded by the AFL's introduction of draft concessions to the expansion clubs. 2. during our rebuild we were retarded by the AFL's introduction of free-agency, resulting in the departure of a disproportionately high number of our experienced players. 3. during our rebuild we were retarded by the AFL's change in stance on tanking, where what was condoned as "acceptable tanking" (Carlton's Kreuser cup fiasco) was redefined as "unacceptable tanking" by the AFL. All of these factors were introduced by the AFL and have impacted the lower placed teams of the time (Us) more than they impacted higher placed teams. This results in us down the bottom longer, with lower revenue, members and morale a resulting additional factor... It is an AFL policy driven cycle of decline. While other internal factors are involved, these AFL driven factors alone have hurt us and prolonged our period near the bottom of the ladder. What happens in two years when we lose Roo's if we're still haemorrhaging experienced players, and sitting in the lower reachers of the ladder? Goodnight Melbourne.

In the mini-analysis in The Age of Free Agency moves (if they went to higher clubs or lower clubs) of the 17 players listed, 3 were from Melbourne (Sylvia, Maloney, Rivers). Two of these went to current finalists. While i'm not overly upset about losing those three, if you add Frawley to the list this year, then we are officially becoming a feeder club, losing our experienced players to more successful clubs in an era of football dominated by mature bodies and wise heads. If you add the losses of Clark, Jurrah, Wonna as additional unexpeceted talent losses during this period, its no surprise we've struggled on the field. To break this cycle and hold onto our players despite free agency we need to rise quickly, and the AFL should facilitate this with a PP in addition to the Frawley compo...

Losing Colin for Bernie was a great deal... Speaking about Sylvia, who has had a disappointing first season in the west, Lyon said: "He needs to go back (to the WAFL) and deliver actions that will build trust within the match committee that will select him and, more importantly, his teammates. "He's played a certain way for a long time and he needs to shift, because we're not bending to Col. Col will bend to us. He knows that and he understands that." http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-07-30/teams-fremantle-v-carlton

Simple solution. MFC pre-season is moved to the Big Island come 2016-2021

yep, and every season of mediocrity risks losing old supporters forever. I know, my 73 year old father is wavering. We're in a bind, can't afford to lose, cant afford to build...

You do know that last year was not 2012? And that we had a different recruitment manager in 2012 than we do now (2014)? Don't agree that theres no difference between Watts and Morton Do agree that an improved season and wins lift clubs needs, but then so do great recruits...

Voting "I don't care" is NOT the same as "hoping to finish last". Not sure why you've assumed them to be the same. You argument dismisses Pies and Hawks as irrelevant then conveniently claims the Blues example is relevant, all too convenient. There are no guarantees in drafting. However, draft order gives those with earlier picks greater choices and as such are more valuable.

Failing to trade and draft well in the past has nothing to do with what picks we had at our disposal at the time, and has even more limited relevance to our likely performance in this area going forward. Lots of clubs have finished last and built premierships on their drafting efforts (i.e. Hawthorn and Collingwood). I'm not against those who voted "livid" to finishing last, there would be a short term pleasure in coming home with a wet sail. However, it would be at the cost of longer term benefits, which to me results in my being ambivalent and disengaged. Different strokes for different folks.

Half the games we now play are official dead rubbers in terms of finals in 2014. Those games against contender, we won't win. So for the 7th year in a row we enter the final rounds with: 1. the season over in terms of finals, 2. playing several bottom 8 clubs who have started to shelve players (GWS), or decided to "struggle" (WCE and Blues) so as to as low as is possible (having done this before). 3. a win making it harder to draft the players required to rise up the ladder. 4. obsessive interest in who we can draft or trade for, noting that a win means less currency in this realm. 5. Blowhard supporters getting on their high horse if some fans lose interest! The way seasons pan out for bottom 8 teams results in ambivalence. Fans are stuck between two equally strong desires resulting in a feeling of being stuck and not caring. To be explicit these desires are 1. the desire to fight hard and win every game 2. the desire to draft and trade the best talent in the land to rise up the ladder The AFL has these in opposition, resulting in "I don't care", or more accurately "I don't care because my desire to win is muted by my desire to rise."

Signed with whom?

Roo first said not to coaching, then relented for two years maybe three. Roos then relented for another year... In two years (2016) we should be rolling into the finals with all the hard work starting to pay off, PJ says to Roos "How about another two years mate and you see us to a flag?"

Might also read we reckon we can sign Paul for another three if we don't force him out with a successor?!

Maybe next year we can talk about Paul staying on as head coach for years 4,5 and 6? I mean he's young, we'll be on the rise...

I think the PP will be activated if this year for us if we are in same category as Lions and Saints. The AFL will be very keen to help out Brissie (who's list is in really bad shape), so-so about helping Saints, and getting over us being perennial losers. If we're smart we'd align with Saints and Lions to petition the AFL for a PP at end of first round... Eddie shouldn't mind that too much.

Maybe like our current captains, will have dual coaches, with Roos and Bomber both steering the ship..? Who'd be a better development coach? Match day coach? etc... maybe the beginning of a beautiful thing..

If we could repeat the success we've had with Vince and Dom again this recruiting season, we'd be extremely well placed come 2015. Fingers Crossed.

Sounds like an over-zealous phone canvasser trying to boost their numbers with a story.

Better luck with Clarke and Hogan playing full season this year and we'd be knocking on the door of the 8. So pass for mine given that.

From the Age - ASADA claims Hird alleges 'conspiracy'

The cost of having Frawley leave is that it limits the value we can gain in pursuing another free agent with the cash freed up from Clarke's retirement. If he stayed we'd have Frawley plus one of Petracca and Brayshaw, Plus Stretch (2nd or 3rd round) Plus a $ 650k+ Free Agent. So we'd gain a lot if Frawley stayed. Assuming we can nab a free agent.