Norm Smith's Curse

Superb post. Well said.

1. Craig built that Adelaide list and Sando is just riding on the new coach syndrome for my mind. He is HIGHLY respected and we were lucky to get him given that Collingwood and others were circling. 2. I will guarantee anyone here that MFC will take Viney at what ever it takes - pick 3 pick 78 - doesnt matter he will be a Dee... End of story. Any other speculation is incorrect. I know this as a fact. 3. The claim that Neeld was hired on a pitch of 'our list is great' is incorrect. Neeld was approached because we wanted a harder discipline coach who demanded 'elite level standards at every level and unrelenting high performance'. Some did claim that our list was the bees knees and I think our list underperformed in 2012 because many were not coping with the heavily increased fitness regime. Many players have said as much. But it appears that we may lost a large chunk of our list and both the Scott brothers have been pretty harsh in their assessment of our list over the last four years. 4. If you think you can doubt Neeld and Craig based in 2012 you just dont understand footy to be frank. They may prove to be unsuccessful but its impossible to say based on recruiting and based on the vast increase in training standards. 5. No surprises with the direction RE recruiting - our development of drafting potential has obviously been poor in the past. While I'd assume that we'd have to get lucky eventually, all indications via media, rumour and contacts suggest that we are approaching just about EVERY free agent or trade option we think can play a role which is unprecedented. We want and need older leadership and Neeld made that pretty clear early in the season that he saw that was significantly lacking in our 2012 listed players. Lets revisit this post in Julyish 2013 and see what people have to say then.

Given that all evidence suggests that we have nearly sounded out every availably free agent and made numerous approaches for trades already the evidence doesnt support that opinion.

Its not up to Caddy where he goes - its up to the gold coast. But anyway, I dont agree with this point. We might have to pay overs to get some talent but some will realise that we have a lot of draft picks that might come on and an a-grade might go from being one of many at one club to a leader and hero at MFC. And some good leadership of that calibre might help bring on some of our draft picks. Opportunities, salary cap pressure in other teams with more scope for longer contracts at MFC. Mayeb even history.

With the first name starting with K?

I like goldsack as a player. he looks ideal to me.

So shall we agree to throw the kitchen sink at him? Something perhaps we should have done to Scott Thompson?

I most certainly agree with this comment. MFC needs to be wary of stocking up on more unproven potential when the last 6 years or so have shown that we may not be at the forefront of seeing that potential or allowing it to be realised.

A guy at my work thinks a good analogy for the MFC is an old, lame, feral dog that wanders around a town needing to be put down but no one has the time to waste a bullet. A little harsh but probably closer than the US...

And neither the Neeld or Bailey's demons were even close to the side that Daniher led into a grand final in 2000 - so what is your point??

I disagree that Cloke or Caddy are a-graders.

If we can prise an a-grader from their club, or if their club has significant salary cap squeezes, or interplayer issues a young a grader might relish the chance to come and play for a side like ours with a decent supporter base and some up and coming draft picks that by the law of probability have to come on sooner or later. But the most important thing is to build a strong perception that we are professional, focused and that we have good training facilities or we will never have a chance.

Good to see you are consistent - as in consistently poor posts... Once again according to you our best players include Jurrah and Moloney - because their 2012 seasons were utterly amazing... People who understand the game however would see that Jurrah will probably never play AFL again because of his personal issues and because it seems pretty clear he isnt made for the rigours of professional football and will see that Moloney is now slower than nearly all midfielders in the comp which is why we were so comprehensively beaten in the midfield this year - miles too slow... And i say that with respect because Ive loved Moloney's hard at it menatlity for years. Your idea of our best players seems a romanticised whim of five second grabs of Jurrah's occasional talents rather than an understanding that one players fairweather talents dont equate to quality premiership sides... As for 'rejects' Ill reiterate the point that Grigg was seen as a 'reject' as was Darren Jolly when he left the Demons...

Stuie your ignoring the biggest thing in footy now days - money... Everyone has a price. We may have to pay overs now but once we get momentum we will attract more players. People here seem to have this romantic notion that every player in the AFL wants to play for a good side that is playing in finals at the time and will not waver on this for a few extra bucks. if players arent attracted to MFC it has more to do with the suggestion that our administration and coaching standards were below par. To players its not a game of heart - its a professional sport. if we can show that we have elite level training, facilities and support base trust me we wont have trouble attracting one or two A-graders providing we can prise them from their club and on the probable condition that we have to pay overs to get them here. Some younger players who might be disgruntled at their club realise that they could be superstars with guaranteed game time at a club like the demons and realise that those draft picks have to come on eventually with the right leadership. Our biggest problem is the continued perception that we are a rabble admin and coaching wise through the whispers from Tom Scully and the tanking debacle. But mark my words - this trade period is the most significant in years and if they stuff this up i very much worry where we will end up...

I came to this conclusion by applying logic: Mark Neeld basically has until round 11 or 12 of the 2013 season to show some significant improvements or his appointment could be at risk. All the people I have spoken to with varying insights into the direction of the club under Neeld suggest that there will be wholesale list changes pending - and our feelers for out of contract and free agent players have left almost no stone unturned which again supports the argument that wholesale changes are pending assuming we can attract some of these potentials. Shannon Byrnes is a given. The training regime should start to yield dividends next season and it will be clearer who is up to it and who isnt (if it isnt already clear with pending delistings and trades). Pick up a few more seasons players with a few years in them still like Koby Stevens, Chris Knights, that tall from North combined with a bolstering of our mids with Viney and if lucky Wellingham (has Goldsack signed?) and presuming the large list changes can gell as a team and get Neeld's direction we might see some significant improvement. That being said there are so many variables here that I could not even predict what will happen. I personally believe a win would be 8+ wins in 2013 or a ladder placing around 10ish. But it could all go pearshaped again and see us down at 18th and Mark Neeld's coaching future snuffed out with Ratten taking the reigns in 2014 the only prediction I have is that a lot of players will have proven to Neeld that they have 'behaved their way out'.

Oh learned one. If the midfield next year had the inclusion of Viney and Toumpas then probably not from day dot, but just because most of our draft picks in the last 4 years or more have taken eons to come on (if at all) doesnt make that the AFL norm. Daniel Rich comes to mind...Buckley from day dot. Brad Green's first season was impressive,etc.

In grade 1 a mate and i agreed that when MFC win the premiership we would walk down the main street of our hometown naked!

Baranows cigar bar in Hawthorn had a night on with these Islay malts and it really opened my eyes. Wow! I havent tried this particular shiraz - had one recently from Strathbogie that was amazing.

I just heard that our chances of getting Levi are minimal.

Greg making things up I'd say. Did he manage to squeeze in his usual basketcase demons whack? While I think Rodan is a tidy player or was in his day he is the last thing a team like ours needs and I doubt that we would be interested - and if we are its a knee jerk thing that would concern me. Dees are in the hunt fo Koby Stevens from what I've heard - Ben Warren as well but it looks unlikely that Levi will leave the Blues...

I'm a little worried about one large contract for the midfield. We need more than one player to improve in that area. bigtime.

Poor post mate. Most of the players we are talking about are proven players (byrnes), or young with potential. Look at Grigg as an example - a reject almost from one and a GREAT player at Richmond. lets face it - other clubs 'rejects' are probably a step up from some... Darren Jolly was basically a disgruntled 'reject' from the dees - gees that one didnt pan out... LOL

No mention of THornton - word was we had also approached his management.

if we could pull that off id be wrapped LOL

Interesting times. To be honest there are some names there that I would be very happy to see in the red and blue.