Thehardtackler

Michael Evans if he gets some games, which I think he will in the second half of the season when other midfielders are rested.

This latest piece is overflowing with bias and venom. Wilson must be sued by Melbourne FC immediately.

I think that the Daily Maggot says everything that the AFL need to consider on this tanking nonsense: http://thedailymaggot.com/?p=2390

Think that if you read between the lines in the McLardy statement then you will see that he has implied that any AFL investigation into Melbourne FC has already been compromised by 'The Age' newspaper. He talks about it being 'independent' and 'transparent'. Well it has been anything but 'transparent' and I think that what he is really saying is that because of all the media speculation and trial by media we have not been treated 'fairly' or 'properly' to quote him. I think that Melbourne may have been given the nod that there will be no sanctions and that they will have to ride out the storm. Demetriou is being directly challenged by these allegations as he believes that tanking does not exist in the AFL and Melbourne FC already got a clean bill of health from a previous report. The Harrington piece below the statement on the website also suggests that Melbourne FC may have been told by the AFL that they will not lose draft picks already. Caroline Wilson may actually have compromised the AFL investigation with her piece and her leaked sources and inadvertently made it difficult to charge us with anything because she challenged the AFL's integrity as well as that of the MFC, all be it not wittingly.

Caroline Wilson is a busy body. I don't rate her writing at all. I think that Martin Flanagan and Emma Quayle write good stuff but the quality that Wilson writes is often not better than the beat up junk that you get in the Herald Sun. Tanking investigation into Melbourne is over. The AFL are now far too interested in Adelaide and Kurt Tippett to care about us. We are a completely different club from the one in the Bailey era.

You've got to think like Mark Neeld. There are certain players he will play that some of you don't rate e.g. Magner

I think Neeld might play a 22 that looks like the following for the first game:

FB: Macdonald, Frawley, Garland

HB: Watts. McDonald, Grimes

C: McKenzie, Jones, Magner

HF: Sylvia, Dawes, Blease

FF: Byrnes, Clark, Davey

R: Jamar, Trengove, Viney

Int: Pedersen, Sellar, Rodan Sub: Jetta

You might find players like Nicholson, Dunn, Barry, Taggert, Tynan and Tapscott will be played less often as we rotate our squad for different ovals, conditions, fatigue etc.

Here's something else that you would complain about. I like what Mark Neeld has done so far in the trade period, bar not getting Farren Ray. Don't be surprised if we get Justin Sherman in the PSD, he is just the kind of player Neeld might like. He will give us some outside run. He can make an extra target forward and he tackles quite well and will put his head over the ball. He just needs an attitude adjustment, much like Pedersen.

8 is reasonable but a few close losses to give us real hope for 2014!

I'm not sure about that. My experience of Channel 7 is that they are normally well behind the 8 ball and that if they are mentioning something then it is usually already a done deal!

Channel Seven Six O Clock News said and I quote 'Farren Ray has been linked to Melbourne'. I don't know what that means. Does it mean we have done a deal? Maybe Whispering Jack or Nudge know. If anybody can shed light on this then please post.

What is this nonsense that Damien Barrett is spouting about Lynden Dunn being signed by GWS tomorrow as an unrestricted free agent? It is being reported in the Off Season Facebook site.

Actually reminds me of Colin Sylvia in terms of his marking but he is far more mobile than Sylvia.

At 90KG he is a must to help protect smaller players in the midfield. In 2-3 years time this kid could be a real enforcer in the midfield and he could play up forward if required. Jake Stringer is also one we should try and get if we hold onto pick 20. Looking at the other players in the draft Stringer could still be there at 20 because of his injury concerns.

No we need Viney and Wines together. Wines is a friend of Viney's, a Melbourne supporter and a very talented footballer. Toumpas can go to a SA club where he will be happy!

The trouble is fitting Wellingham into our midfield. With Viney next year we will have Trengove, Jones, Viney, McKenzie, Sylvia and Howe as possibly in our best 22. One of these players will have to regularly miss out on being selected. Also bear in mind that we have Magner, Tapscott, Taggert and maybe someone like Wines/Stringer (because we will pick up another midfielder). How do we keep all those egos in check when they won't be guaranteed a game every week?

What some posters here seem to forget is that both Tim Harrington and Mark Neeld have said that they would ideally trade a pick like 13 for an established player or players. This is probably because you can only develop a certain number of young players at a time without becoming overwhelmed. We would still have to develop another 4-5 draft picks from this year, plus quite a few from last year and PSD and Rookie players drafted this year. Imagine the resources needed. Bringing in established players helps with that development process.

When Jack Viney comes to the Demons next year players like Colin Sylvia will step up big time because they won't want to be shown up for hardness at the ball and desire by a kid!

Hopefully the AFL will do the right thing and fine Brock McLean for his tweet. I am sure that Melbourne FC has already flagged it with Adrian Anderson.

Gysberts is still in contract, therefore he cannot go for nothing and he cannot go without our say so unless he wants to break his contract.

Are you kidding, the fastest demon would be Sam Blease, Michael Evans or Daniel Nicholson.

Koby Stevens is a must have for a reasonable price but Jay Van Berlo and Hayden Jolly are both delists with some potential. Neeld might be able to turn them round. They are both hard bodied enough to go from Game 1 2013.

Not all players who are rated highly in the draft bring it at AFL level so I would suggest that unless you have something pleasant to say then you say nothing at all Rhaz and Trenners. Take Jack Watts. He was a number one draft pick who will take considerable time before he is turned into a key position player.

Ken Fletcher told me that Gumbleton was seen as a gun forward when they drafted him and a lead up player who could kick goals.

I am not too bothered about picking up Caddy and think that taking someone like Oliver Wines with Viney would be a good move. Josh Toy is a guy that I actually taught and I really rate his character and skill. He is quite versatile and can play in the middle as well as down back. He has not gone well at Gold Coast mostly because he is homesick and because he has been dealing with the aftermath of coming to terms with the loss of his father. I think that he is a solid player, with a great 60 metre pinpoint kick who is much tougher than he has so far let on. He is also very mature and would not rock the boat in terms of the club culture.

To answer Ben-Hur on one of his questions. I spoke to Jack Watts today when he came to my work and he told me that he will start down back next year and will then be moved back into the forward line later in the season. Hope this helps!