Biffen

We all live and learn-Schwab has us in a very ,very ,very ,very strong position gong forward. Where are the Saints at?

A team of 20 QCs could not prove that we threw games . "Tanking" is more of an issue in Sports betting. Picking a development side ahead of a best side available is entirely different to tanking . This is merely a Melbourne bashing exercise by the press .They cant get enough of it . Bring it on [censored].

Schwab has been the man behind our draft strategy for the past five years ,along with CC . We have been actively attempting a rebuild based on youth and have made no secret of the fact .It is no surprise that some of the older players at the club have been disgruntled at this approach. The voice of some of these guys may have been a lot more relevant if they had shown more on field leadership and had attempted to protect the kids coming through the ranks .Instead they chose to speak out against the administration and divide the club whilst their own performances underwhelmed . What we have now is a team that is the third youngest in the competition ,with some more young talent coming through .We have a no nonsense coach and the last bite of the cherry in the draft before the rules change .I think Schwab has orchestrated our survival both on and off field whether we like it or not .I feel for the older supporters who may not be around in two or three years ,as I feel for the older players who have tried hard on the field of play . If I were CEO of Melbourne I would have followed the same path. The pain we all feel at watching our young guys make mistakes and our old guys not try will all dissipate when we have 22 talented ,well trained players at the age of 23-27 who are winning nearly every match.Mclean may be bitter that we could not afford his asking price at the time but I for one am glad there is a long term plan in place . Teams like the Saints ,the Bulldogs ,North and Freo and Geelong will slip down the ladder in the future as they need to introduce new blood.It may not look like it at the moment ,but we are closer to our next flag than these older teams . The future finals series will be made up of younger lists that will not suffer from retirements/delistings as we have in our re-build .I can see Essendon ,Richmond ,Meth Coast and even Gold Coast becoming stronger in the future as we will .Collingwood ,Carlton ,Hawks ,Swans , Crows and WCE have the window open as they have the right amount of games into their talent and their bodies are strong enough to cope. Next year will be brighter for us ,the year after even better . Those who cannot stay the journey and want to knock their own club should get off the reality bus now. Our recruitment policies are based on the realities that faced us after the Daniher years. I can cop the flak from tools like Brock McLean and I will laugh when we knock him out of future finals contests(if he is around). If your skin isn't thick enough to handle the abuse now then get tougher or get off the Reality Bus . Unfortunately ,being a Melbourne supporter is tough

Just voted for Neeld.Seems I'm in the majority by a long way. Tona-the wheels are falling off your barrow .

He didn't want the long term pain-he stupidly thought the "window" was opening.

Tanking is the wrong word -its called list experimentation and any club is allowed to do it . The alternative for a club in our situation is to recycle and patch up . No one can doubt we needed a fresh start . I though Brock was a great clubman and all that too but I found out the 10k bid at the auction was a nice way of paying a fine for some pi55y behaviour . I am looking forward to the time when the whole football world hates us. When we have the best and toughest 22 on the ground I will be happy . Bring on the slagging all you sh!t clubs. Get us a midfield with pace AND skill. Hacks like Mclean are going nowhere .

Pikey didn't lack SPEED in those days but he was a journeyman.Like Jamie Duursma.

Im sorry,lets have a coke and Hungry Jacks and then drive to the Telstra dome in a Toyota and watch some ads.

You clearly dont.We will try to locate a crane to help you get down from your horse.

What happens when 4 and 5 conflict like they so often do . The rest go without saying.

How is it going over in Nam mate-keep an eye on your Dong!

This thread exists already .

Contracts schmontracts.

Col Sylvia is mates with some good players-enjoys a laugh with them after a game.Recruiting strategy?

Post removed.Pourquoi?

Yep-and the moon landing was done on the set of 2001 a Space Odyssey.

Wow! I feel like drinking coke!!!

Ouch... Please don't go there girlfriend!

Nice one rookie.A great song for them is also Tuckers Daughter by Ian Moss. "Build me up just to tear me down"

Tappy will be a top player very soon-plus he is JTs best mate.He will be around for years .

Only Jolly and Scott Thompson in the past. Simmonds was not as good as White. Can't see Brock reaching great heights despite recent efforts. Can't worry too much about Bater and Dunn if they go. Dunn is so useless at ground level that he is unlikely to move mountains elsewhere. Bater is a good ,ready made player that may kick on . I'll eat my hat if Morton becomes a star at Freo.

This is the MFC Tona-not a sweatshop. We aint gonna sack Neeld so get real mate .

I agree.Buying up big names only gets you so far. Kelvin Templeton ,Jim Tilbrook ,Peter Moore ,Bian Wilson ,Brent Crosswell ,Chris Judd ,Nathan Buckley....... The road to ruin is to aim for instant success . Mitch Clark is an example of the type we need to get. It's got to do with ability and character. I remember when I played that before the big games some guys would go quiet and some would get focused . As a player you know who will perform almost before you go ou to play .

Facts are that 8-12 players will go. My guess is 9 or 10.

The test question is can they or will they be able to play well in finals. I know we have a way to go before then but that is what we have to "see" in a player.