Hannabal

Commitment isn't a static emotion. It can change with the breeze. I don't believe money is the issue. As stated in the article in The Australian, Connolly believes that money wouldn't be the problem, because he won't get anymore anywhere else. He's [censored] off because he was left out of the leadership group and missed out on a bonus because he didn't finish in the top 2 in the B&F. Considering his age, and where the MFC currently sits, combined with the fact that it may be his last contract, he's open to the idea of finishing with a successful club and have a chance at a flag. All reasonable, imo. Pick 16 to Hawthorn and swapping a couple of other picks may do the job. Whatever happens I'll remember Brad fondly.

Do you always jump to conclusions ? I wanted him well before the DC. That said, any 196cm classy key forward and reigning Larke Medallist who is the best mark his state coach has seen, with great all round footy skills, becomes the fastest non Aboriginal in 15 years of testing over 20 metres (until Smith surpassed him minutes later), then proceeds to place second in the agility test when it's manufactured for midfielders, demands rave reviews. I'm surprised more hasn't been made of it. This player will be a star.

The old 'put up or shut up', eh Vibes ? It's very complicated and difficult to summarise what one thinks will, or even could happen. Much depends on the meetings between the clubs next week. Each club is given 15 minutes with all other clubs where they'll pore over the list and say who they might be interested in. Then it's a case of seeing what they'd pay. What I think may, or should, happen will be irrelevant if the club in question has no interest due to their rating of said player, or if they have an over abundance of his type. McLean and last years draftees are about the only players that I wouldn't trade for the right deal. But even though I'd trade Green I don't believe that we'd get a top 20 pick for him in this draft. He's 28 before the first bounce next year and the only club that would perhaps even consider giving a pick in the teams would be Sydney if they lose O'Keefe. And even though I reckon a pick around 20-25 for him would be fair I wouldn't do the deal for a host of reasons. Likewise with Rivers. What we'd get for him wouldn't be enough. If he gets his body right his upside is enormous and he's still young. What I would trade him for we wouldn't get. There becomes so many moot points in trade week. If we could get a 10-20 pick for Davey I'd do the deal, but I doubt the club would. Guys like Bell, CJ, etc aren't worth a cold pie. The best we'll do is improve our draft pick situation by moving them on. Which I'd do, btw. Sylvia isn't worth trading because he's worth more to us than the draft pick we'd get. Unfortunately we just don't have any perceived value in the market place. So on reflection I haven't really been able to shake much from the trees. I doubt the club will either. I'll watch with interest.

If the MFC aren't serious about trading any quality then it will be a pretty lacklustre trade week. Something needs to be shaken from the trees.

His only moment was a nice pass to Neitz at the Punt Road end after a dash along the boundary line on the Member's side in the second half. He'd been terrible in the first. And he didn't do much after. That's not 'standing up'.

You're intoxicated by a couple of flashy things he does a game, but he brings no substance. He's never stood up in a Final or big game. Even his forward defensive pressure has disappeared. Did his B&F placing interest you ?

I'd trade him tomorrow, make it monday, for a top 20 pick.

It never ceases to amaze me how supporters can think that players who are borderline best 22 and are one bad year, or closer, to getting delisted are able to yield a pick such as 18 in a fantastic draft. The packaging of them together makes it even funnier. Crap + Crap + Crap = quality pick. Fail.

So he did make a top 10 list

Sorry, but he's as soft as butter.

You're delusional and making yourself look silly, kid. Bell, Miller, Green and pick 35 wouldn't get a top 10 pick. I'd recommend you go easy on the posting and read and learn a tad more. It's a little embarrassing.

As long as my arse points to the ground I will never defend Jamar.

It would be interesting to see all of Franklin's test results. I wonder if anyone could find and post them. I'm not sure where to look.

Dean Irving mark II ? He looked terrible at the G against Jamar. But in reality it was a typical game. Here are the stats of Jamar and Seaby in 2008. They're remarkably similar and Jamar probably edges him http://finalsiren.com/PlayerCompare.asp?Se...s=1368%2C373%2C No thanks.

Watts isn't soft, although there's a fair argument to mount that nothing hard has ever come out of Brighton Grammar. I've seen Jack live 3 times and will be amazed and saddened if we don't select him. He's the third fastest tested over 20 metres in draft camp history (he would've won most years), and he came second out of 75 in the agility test. Not to mention his other high placings in other various tests. All at the key position size of 196cms. His ability to evade opponents when the ball is on the deck, his excellent foot skills, and superb marking, which his coach David Dickson described as the best he's seen, makes him an extraordinary talent. Six months ago he was 16 yet you question his grunt ? It's great to make unsubstantiated throw away lines. I reckon this is the break the MFC has needed. Watts will be a star.

This result tells me quite a lot about the current coaching panel. And I like it. It tells me that other than McLean the panel didn't really rate anybody. Bruce won by default. Partly because he was the only player to play every game and he racked up high possession numbers. I don't think his winning was an overwhelming stamp of approval by the coaching staff. More an example of attrition. Bartram has the heart of Pharlap but the class of a Clydesdale. The Coaching dept know this as much as any supporter. They rewarded him with a top 10 finish because so many others don't play with his intensity and were undeserving. If you asked the Coaches to rate the list based solely on ability they wouldn't have Bartram in the top 15. Bartram's result is an indictment on every senior player that finished below him. Personally, I'd cut Bartram or trade him, because he doesn't have the skills to be a premiership player, but I recognise all that he brings to the club. They had Davey and Sylvia low. I'm wrapt. My concerns on Davey are well to known to many and I'm glad that they seem to be shared by the club. I went against the grain and bemoaned his third placing some years ago, much to the displeasure of many on here at the time. All in all it's a lamentable list. The supporters disappointment is matched by every person at the Club. Even more so. EDIT: when I say that the list is lamentable, I'm talking in its present form. I actually think that by the time this draft period is over it's youth will be as exciting as I can remember.

It's a different playing field this year, we know that, but we have to be as creative as we can to improve our position in the draft. We have to look at all scenarios including being the third party to some trades if there are benefits. As for copying another model ? Some of us have lamented our static list management for years. Some have lamented our lack of draft picks for years. As I said, I'm not speaking with the benefit of hindsight. It made sense then and does now. Jamar is still on the list, Carroll has a contract for next year, Meesen was signed for 3 years. I could go on and on. Supporters have their favourites, but unfortunately most are wedded to mediocre players. Even if they can't see it themselves. As for trading players for immediate success ? If there was a really highly rated under 23 then we'll look at it, but in the main I want picks, picks, and more picks.

I've stated before that we were deplorable at turning our list over in recent years. We kept mediocre players in Godfrey, Ward, Nicholson, Smith, Armstrong, Ferguson, etc, etc, for too long. There are current players in Bell, Jamar, Bartram to name a few who either can't kick, make the right decisions, or just aren't good enough. I've also lamented CAC's lack of draft picks over the years. And when he had them they were invariably average selections. This from a recent The Age article on the Hawthorn model from 2004; "The appointment of Clarkson in 2004 was fundamental to the embrace of the youth route and the preparedness for short-term pain. He encouraged the recruitment of his former Port Adelaide colleague Chris Pelchen to manage an aggressive list strategy. "We firmly believed that if we attacked the draft but also the trade period aggressively — not be reactive, be proactive in both the draft and the trade periods — then we could hopefully build a team from the ground up," Pelchen said." Now I accept that having played Finals in 04, 05, 06 that we didn't have plumb draft picks and that we thought our window was still open, but what a terrible evaluation of a list. And from that erroneous stand point we were basically completely passive. We sat back and did nothing. And it's not all hindsight. Some facts: from 2003 to 2006 which encapsulated 4 National drafts we took 14 players. By comparison, from 2004 to 2006 - 3 drafts - Hawthorn took 17 players. That's right, they took 3 more players from one less draft. But let's look at the quality of the picks. Of Hawthorn's 17 picks 15 were inside the top 40. They had 12 picks inside the top 26. We had 4. Obviously they had better early picks due to their position on the ladder, but they made a decision to be aggressive and proactive at the trade table. It's harder this year for the reasons we all know about, but imo this club needs to get its hands dirty and improve our draft position. I know there will be excuses made by apologists for our ghastly list management, and yes, the past is the past, but we must do all that we can to get another pick in the top 25. And we need to keep culling dead wood. We need to be creative next week. It won't be easy, but it has to happen.

Davey doesn't crumb goals off packs, this is more Wonaeamirri's go. Davey is at his best when he's pushing outside forward 50 and manages to get goalside of his opponent. Sweeping on to a loose ball goalside of his opponent being his trade mark. I don't mind short bursts in the midfield, but he doesn't have the physicality, work ethic, or penchant for the contest to spend prolonged periods there. So to answer your question it's option B for me, but he needs to work harder inside and outside of that 50 metre arc. His forward defensive pressure makes him a handy player, although much of that was lacking this year. I also find him dispensible due to some of the concerns I've always had about him, such as his inability to front on tackle and not always being prepared to stick his head over it. I'm happy to keep him, but I'd look to see what was on the table.

Davey has never stood up in a Final or a big game. Ever. Those that have been frequenting these Boards for years would know how often I've mentioned this as a concern.

Surely you're joking. You wouldn't get a cold pie for them. You're dreaming if you think you'd get second rounders.

I'm not really interested in Ray unless he came through the PSD, but the Dogs won't let that happen. However, I well remember some posters on here a few years ago carrying on about wanting to keep Ferguson and not wanting Brad Sewell in exchange. Many overrate our mediocre footballers yet are quick to call other club's players duds.

He's handy, but a very one dimensional player. It's great when supporters of lowly clubs argue about the merits of C graders. Not much else to discuss though.

Who said he was 'legless' ? So he'd had a few beers after a long season, when he knows he's going to miss another GF and possibly a premiership, coming off doing a knee and won't start his proper rehab til November. With clowns making uninformed disparaging remarks from afar it's no wonder some players have contempt for the general public.