Striker475

Just want to note on compensation - for first-round picks, the pick is immediately after the pick the club gets at that point in the draft. Now, all over The Age today is the suggestion that Melbourne would get the Ablett level - two first-round picks. We're looking at the 2011 draft as basically a spud mob - but the 2012 draft looks to be one of the best in a long, long time. Load up. Three first-round selections. One will go on JV (understandably) but we will get two others on top of this. Load up in that 2012 draft as the final echelon and push from 2015.

It does stink. Carlton will try to cheat the system at any moment in order to get ahead. They have for years. I don't think it stinks as much if the person doing the contract-making is not a part of the MFC hierachy. I would expect that they would be a Melbourne supporter - noone is that naive - but I'd suggest that Jimmy and Schwab will, if they discover who the person(s) are, just guarantee that there is no link directly from the club administration to the other party in an inappropriate way.

Yeah. Any of Pick 1-3 in that draft? Try Pendlebury + another on for size I'd say.

Well technically 'Carlton' had nothing to do with it, but the fact that Richard Pratt was at the time president of Carlton, as well as owning Visy, definitely made it a Carlton-oriented offer. The club can't talk to these people, but what if, say, Jimmy talks to Jules Lund, who then talks to the businessmen? Wonder how that goes.

This would be up there with the most terrible things to occur in the AFL. We have seen consummate professionals function at clubs apart from the Pies. Yes, there is the Nathan Buckley example, but they can function at other clubs too. You look at the four greats of the late 90s-early 2000s - Hird, Buckley, Voss and Ricciuto - all ultimate professionals. Yes, Buckley did show a level of single-mindedness that perhaps the others did not show, but nevertheless all four became greats at the same time with dedication and effort at four different facilities. Countless players have flourished and thrived at less than stellar clubs. The player I'd regard as the best I've ever seen, Wayne Carey, came through the hellhole that was Arden St. You had the Hawthorn team of the 80s at Glenferrie Oval - not exactly a highlight for training facilities. Victoria Park was effectively falling apart for awhile, yet Collingwood continued to use it as a training base until the Lexus Centre - with Nathan Buckley. Furthermore, I'd suggest that we now have some of the best facilities around. Five years ago when we were in the sheds at the Junction Oval it was a different matter, but now we're in a brand-spanking new training facility with plenty of equipment, one which is guaranteed to be backed due to it being the home of no less than four clubs. It's as good as the Lexus down the road. Yeah, Collingwood have their Arizona trips. They have a few extra sports-scientists. But you're going to hit a point where you cannot actually progress anymore despite the improvements. Anyway, I think Collingwood have far bigger problems. Their own salary cap, for a start.

I reckon 8 will survive in Vic. The question mark is, and has been for 25 years, North. Of the others though, who can you really see going? The Bulldogs, while still getting a handout, have a solid paid-up base. Yes, attendances have been down this year, but there's still a lot of paid-up people. Us? The cash is still there, we link to the MCC cash, we are growing (5 consecutive record membership tallies) and the AFL will not let the oldest club die, means too much to the heritage and to the game worldwide (remember, second-oldest club of any footballing code WORLDWIDE). The Big Four of Carlton-Collingwood-Essendon-Richmond kick along no matter how bad they're doing cos of their massive membership base. St Kilda and Hawthorn have both used recent areas to promote themselves and grow, and are both now sustainable. The two AFL questionmarks are definitely North and the SA question. The SA issue has a lot to do with the SANFL though - I will not be surprised if the PAFC license is removed from the SANFL and given to the members of Port a la the Victorian teams (bar North). The conflict of interest and poor management of football in SA is primarily the fault of the SANFL every way I read it.

Good to hear, let's hope he can recover from the knee then. Do you reckon Fitz has the body makeup to turn into that hulking monster of a FF we're crying out for? Or (for those who have seen him) Cook?

I'm not about to sleep with him, but he is something. And clearly he's been taking some lessons from LJ as to how to take a hanger...

Just paid up the $15

Party line on contract. Trotted out his 12, 13, 14 year line. Now about this weekend - called it crucial. They turned the heat up on LJ - suggested that if it was in Melbourne he'd be in strife, but DB replied with the fact that he has been criticised on the tape.

Coming on after 7pm

Not what he said. Rules committee changed the rules so that a 'franchise player' such as Ablett (or, in the event, Scully) would end up getting extra compensation because of their value. Hence Geelong getting two first-rounders.

The more I listen to Schwabby, the more I think he'll stay. It's interesting that Tom has been trialled by fire. Schwab said he's been asking 'Why don't they just believe my word?' I'd say he'll appreciate how Schwab and the club has come out and been helping him with this despite the media storm.

still going

God did anyone else hear the Brad Green Metro Solar ad? Hardly knew it was FOR Metro Solar, would have thought it was for MFC memberships.

You've got to remember that free agency doesn't apply until a player has been at a club for ten years. Only player that is vulnerable in 2012 is Jamar I believe. The restricted FA is for 7-year players, but MFC gets to offer a matching deal in that case.

He's already said he wants to stay for life. Plus Bull is here which almost certainly help a heap.

They just said 6pm

GWS will almost certainly take Mark Blake. Apart from that... - Port will probably take a punt on Lobbe next year - Adelaide definitely need one as a backup - Richmond definitely need one. Adelaide may persist next year and actually try to snare Jamar through free agency end of next year. Richmond, on the other hand, will be looking. I doubt Hampson or Gawn will go there - Gawn knows he could win a flag now and be #1 when Jamar retires, while Hampson is definitely #2 at Carlton.

Money Money Money A week is a long time in football. Two weeks? Even longer. It may have been my bad case of man flu, it may have been the cold, but it felt weird not having the Dees play as the march to the finals revs up. And yet, we look at last week, where all news finished effectively for the Dees when a certain tackle was cleared, to now. Two men, key to this particular fixture and to the future have both already been in the news, albeit for different reasons. Both symbolise two great things about the Melbourne Football Club. Their names? Austin Wonaeamirri and Tom Scully. Aussie is part of the indigenous 'brigade' at Melbourne. Along with Liam Jurrah, Aaron Davey, Neville Jetta, Jamie Bennell and rookie Kelvin Lawrence, they continue to deepen and enrich this club's great connection with the indigenous community. The club has done great things for the indigenous people of our country, and continues to do so. Saturday night, in a way, the indigenous community says thanks. While its thanks are, of course, given regardless, it is noted by many that at TIO the bulk of the crowd are indigenous Australians. They cheer for every player, but the indigenous players get a roar, regardless of their team colours. Yes, the club does get a pay day from it. But it is a way to continue fostering a connection with these players now and into the future, to set up the structures to have more indigenous talents ply their ways for the club. Of course, other talents ply their ways too. And the spotlight will surely shine on arguably the brightest of them this Saturday, Tom Scully. Figures are being bandied about. Offers have been received. The question is being asked. Lot of hype for a 20-year-old. Will he stand up? Matchups David Rodan vs Jamie Bennell - Jamie Bennell, in a key match-up? Really? Well, yes. He's our premier man against the Rodan type - and he was clinical against Richmond when Port won earlier this year. Bennell has done well this year on similar players, such as Nahas and Krakouer, but this will be a genuine test. Port Adelaide Midfield vs Melbourne Midfield - Some of the greats of the game (see Cornes) versus the young guns. Melbourne have the edge in my opinion, but who knows? The Game and The Prediction Port have only won two this year - and one was up here, against Richmond. They have more Darwin experience, yes - but are struggling no matter where they play. Melbourne need the win to rally and continue their push for a spot in the 8. The reality is that Port are in struggletown right now. I can see them going close - depending on which Melbourne turns up. Honestly though, I'm expecting a typical ten-goal Melbourne win. Dees by 68.

What they could offer that we'd take: - Delidio - Martin - Cotchin - Vickery - Riewoldt That's it really. We don't want picks in this year's draft - unless Richmond really stuff it up they're going to be late first round, and this is a spud draft beyond the top echelon by all reports. I'd suggest Carlton are a better bet. That, or (assuming we delist him) taking a Robbie Campbell, something like that.

I'd love to see the loading on this contract. MFC surely remembers that a lot of players are up for contracts end of next year? A few of the other interesting things... - Aaron Davey (our highest-paid player right now) is veterans-list eligible as of 2013. I didn't realise this until now - that frees up a LOT of cap space for subsequent years. So does Mark Jamar, but if reports are to be believed there may be a move from one of the SA clubs for Rush based on UFA. Nevertheless, that gives us a heap of room for pay rises at that point. - Col Sylvia and Cale Morton still need new contracts. The former is a must keep, the latter, who knows. - $1mil/year over 5 years? I would suggest it's structured a little bit differently than that, especially if GWS want to hit up a Pendlebury or a Goddard at the end of 2012. - Just on everyone mentioning free-agency for a lot of players, remember Restricted FA is for 7-year players with that club, and UFA for 10-year players. - Finally, actual quotes from actual people rather than [censored] speculation!

3 weeks reduced. I'm thinking there should be a good behaviour introduced for first-year players based on their junior record.

Although steering a sinking ship doesn't sound that good. http://www.seek.com.au/Job/chief-executive-officer/in/adelaide-adelaide/20153564

Arguably I'd say 2013. 2012, by the rules of it, will be uncompromised regarding teams getting extra picks, but because GWS will probably spoon it it means that 2013 will be the first one where a non-new club is likely to finish bottom. In terms of latest though, I'd suggest it would be the 2017 draft - the first draft where no club will have concessions.