chipa

I woke up this morning with a crazy thought that perhaps the club is a bit concerned about the way Mitch Clark may recover from his foot injury. Don't get me wrong, I pray this is not the case as Mitch is out most important and favourite player, but the fact that the club is targeting Dawes, Pederson and secured Hogan - maybe they are just stocking up incase Mitch can't play a full season next year? Thoughts? P.s I love Mitch and this probably isn't the case whatsoever!

this was mainly in regards to the GWS and Gold Coast games, which one would think we have to be some chance to win.

I know a majority of you will say this is nonsense and we need to try our best to win games for team morale, etc. But let's face the facts: Our list simply isn't good enough at the moment, we have too many battlers and/or players who are unwilling to give it their all for whatever reason. Whatever your opinion, if we have to take Jack Viney with a top 3 pick this year, it would be a disaster, no matter what his worth. We need to inject as much young talent this year and by tanking it means we will have at least picks 1 & 2 and will be able to pick up Viney in the second round. This means that we would be acquiring at least 3 players that will walk into our starting line up next year, without even considering what we might do with free agency. I know this will sound a bit extreme, but to be honest, we can't get any worse at the moment and drastic, unprecedented changes need to occur at seasons end. I suggest trading/getting rid of Moloney (clearly doesn't care anymore and from an outsiders perspective, is not a good role model for our young players), Sylvia (sure - he COULD be a great player, but his attitude stinks and is something we cannot afford to have around the club if we are going to rebuild into a super team) and then of course the usual suspects such as Dunn, Bate to ensure the list is completely cleaned out. Since 2006 we have gone half hearted in rebuilding, but now is the time to make a stand and clean out all the junk. No compromising, no risks, just do it!

I'm going to be honest, I am completely devastated, bewildered and shocked at our lack of development in this early stage of the season but after watching the Casey game on TV yesterday, it looks as though we've found ourselves a potentially great midfielder in Rory Taggert. He disposes of the ball excellently by foot, does the hard things and wins his own ball; not to mention his finishing skills in front of goal. I know it's too early to call, but he is almost Dustin Martin-like in his approach and it would be great to have a player of this calibre after we made a huge mistake of not picking up Martin in that draft. Any thoughts or things to add about this kid?

At the very least, omissions must include: Macdonald (loves to fumble and take the game on before he even gets the ball, not to mention trying to be too fancy when he does get it), Mckenzie (i will admit he was ok today, but ffs, learn how to kick!), Green and Blease. As for the inclusions: who cares!

It is beyond me that at this day in age, guys like Mckenzie can still get a game. Sure, he has the ability to win an in and under ball and extract it by hand as well as lay a strong tackle. But we all know if you cant kick, you cant play. His inability to hit a target by foot and his hesitation to kick the sherrin is simply not good enough - not to mention his lack of pace. You may all say, at least he has a dip and put his body on the line. But who gives a [censored] ! You don't build a good team around guys who can't hurt the opposition with their disposal. It's time to get some real athletes into the middle, rather than just hard nosed midfielders who earn their coin jumping under a pack. A starting point would be putting Grimes in there. This is just a starting point...I don't want to even begin talking about this so called 'complex game plan'.

Neeld was just interviewed on Seven News by Sandy Roberts and said that Jack has a slight hamstring strain and has completed his allocated amount of pre-season time on the ground. He is being rested this week and will be available for round 1 selection.

I have been told by a very, very reliable source that Nicholson is guaranteed an upgrade for the start of the season. I can also say, without as much clarity that Magner was seemed to be ahead of Couch for rookie upgrade before the practice match where Couch was among the best.

I got down to training for the last half hour and was super impressed with our kicking efficiency. Concluding the match simulation drill, the squad was split into 2, with one half playing 'keepings off' in a 50m by 50m square with only KICKING, while the other half was also playing 'keepings off' in a 20m by 20m square with disposal only by HAND (each group effectively had 2 teams of bibs and non-bibs). We looked like a totally new team with our ball skills by foot. The drill would last for about 7 minutes and the ball would only hit the deck at most 2 to 3 times. Can't wait for the season to begin so we can actually see it all in real match play!

Could someone please clarify something for me...with this automatic rookie elevation, does this mean they are placed permanently on the senior list and are no longer considered a rookie or is it just for this year? Thanks in advance

I went to training 2 weeks ago and Morton certainly doesn't look any bigger whatsoever. If anyone else thinks otherwise they are delirious

I really hope we don't pick this guy up - he would be the ultimate list clogger Big deal if he came 4th in the Liston trophy, Shane Valenti won it and was an average AFL footballer at best. Travis Tuck struggled to play consecutive games at Hawthorn for 4 years; he has terrible disposal by foot and would simply be a terrible pick up considering we have Viney and hopefully another couple mids to come in 2013.

I cant seem to find a thread of our best 22 so please feel free to merge this if one already exists, but this is how i see our best 22 going into season 2012: FB: Garland Frawley Tapscott HB: Blease Rivers Grimes C: Bail Trengove Jones HF: Petterd Watts Howe FF: Davey Clark Jurrah Foll: Jamar Moloney Syliva Int: McKenzie Green Morton Martin Unlucky to miss = Bennell Jetta Bartram Gawn Would like to hear your thoughts...

With the conclusion of Trade Week can someone please find out what draft picks the club now holds and how many players we still need to move on to use those draft picks? Additionally, what do you think will happen now with guys like Maric and Dunn?

I haven't seen too much of MacAffer to have an opinion on his fit for MFC, but from what i have seen he isnt much of a small forward? Isn't he of a similar build to a guy like Dunn? Please feel free to correct me if im wrong...

So has he signed with freo or not?

What's the latest with Warnock, we've been pretty quiet on this front for a couple days. Hoping we can get a deal done

Good call! None of those guys other than Sylvia have the ability to break a game open with legitimate pace and flair. Blease could be a solution to this but i can picture him playing off the half backline next year. We should look to be trading for a pacey midfielder as well as a polished, mature aged midfielder. By acquiring these 2 types of players our midfield will have all the makings of a quality top grade midfield.

at the end of the day, Mark Neeld will be the only guy at the club to know whether Dawes is really worth pursuing. if we end up making a play for him I have full faith that Neeld has made the correct decision. p.s if you cant tell, i couldn't be happier with our new coach!

Can someone please tell me how I can watch or listen to the entire Press Conference from today??? They only have an exclusive one on one interview on the melbourne website. Cheers

The only appointment that would make me happier than this one is to get Malthouse. Neeld is essentially Malthouse's right hand man behind Collingwood's tactical brilliance. We have now secured the services of a coach who has been at the best club in Australia and seen how a proper club should be run. We should expect some big changes at the Dees in the coming weeks/months. Get excited, this is a great selection!

couldn't agree more! i understand it's a tough decision but he has had all year to think about it! i cannot believe there was no announcement/decision this week, its become a massive joke now.

I simply cannot fathom that the Bulldogs are demanding 2 first round draft picks for Callan Ward and that we are likely to receive similar compensation for Scully (if he leaves). I understand that Ward is a better player than Scully to date, but how can you compare a guy who was pick 19 and has had time to develop his body and prove himself to a guy that was pick number 1 just two years ago and has played just 30 games? Surely the compensation given out by the AFL has to be significantly greater for Scully than Ward...2 mid ranged first round picks is an absolute joke!

it pains me to say that we've seen the last of scully in a melbourne jumper...there only appears to be one option for the kid now and that is to head to GWS he has lost the faith of all dees supporters and his silence has been deafening seeyoubye tom scully! thanks for nothing!

The number one priority for the club during the off season has to be to secure the services of a solid, reliable midfielder. Before we go searching for that big bodied, gun forward, we need to win the ball out of the middle and get some quality service into our forwards. By doing so, it will improve the likes of Watts, Howe, Jurrah and Petterd by a considerable amount!