djr

I wonder if the article was written to show a point of difference with our training compared with other clubs. I wonder whether EQ was alerted to this and thought it would be a good read. If there is no difference, she could have gone to any club to write the same story. Just a thought.

I think people have got to realize that Neeld no longer wanted Gysberts and Martin. They targeted Pedersen mid season and got him. They targeted other specific types / players and got them all except Farren Ray. Does it matter that we only got pick 53 for Martin (whom I particularly liked) when the most important thing was to free up space.

The % disposal efficiency stat can be misleading. A player can build up his %DE stat by chipping the ball around in the back line. I think any figure over 70%DE for kicks over 40m would be considered elite. Unfortunately I don't think they have a stat for that.

Just as a matter of interest, does his two-year contract begin in 2014? If so, does he just get VFL match payments next year?

With all due respect you cannot look at it like that. You cannot look at each individual trade and judge whether we paid "overs" on that trade. You need to look at the whole trading period and decide whether the club has achieved its objectives. If I was Tim Harrington/MN and I said to you 5 weeks ago that what we need for 2013 is some more big bodies in the forward line more experienced players that have tasted success and know what it takes to get to the top and to teach our kids what is required to realize their potential more talent in the midfield, both inside and outside. Better running mids that can run and spread and improve our uncontested possession count some crumbing forwards that can also play in the midfield some versatile big men that can play multiple roles to pick up young talent that will fill designated roles over the next 5-8 years to make hard decisions on our existing list and trade/delist players that we believe won't take us to the next level then I feel you would not disagree with these objectives. I think overall the club has achieved what they wanted to achieve from the trade period. They obviously had a clear plan of the type of player they wanted and vigorously went out to get them from what was available. I think the only one they missed out on was Ray, hence the David Rodan pickup. I think they did a brilliant job in achieving what they set out to do. Only time will tell as to whether the strategy was sound. Just my thoughts

Totally agree with your observation 46. I listened to David King one morning on SEN calling for the club to sack Neeld and cut our losses. A few weeks later they had MN on the program and DK asked just some lame questions about how tough it must be to be an AFL coach. Not one probing question. It was quite pathetic.

I was wondering this week why Mark Neeld was going so hard after Dawes, Gumbleton and Pederson, coming out and saying that he will try and get them all. It got me thinking that Clark's recovery might take longer than what we think. Just a thought.

[sigh] its becoming sooo tiresome reading posts like yours everyday. I am so sorry that you seem to live in such an anger space. We all know how shite we have been but if you can't see any light at the end of the tunnel, then I am sorry for you. You might want to look at other aspects of your life that causes you to think this way.

Its all about integrity. If I was Jason Taylor and a MFC official asked directly / indirectly for some 'tips' then I would be very disappointed in that official and even question the values of the club. But that's just me.

I sincerely hope he hasn't given any 'tips' and I sincerely hope no one from the MFC has asked him.

There hasn't been much said about Jason Taylor's impending move to MFC since Collingwood got upset about poaching their people back in February this year. It is my understanding that he will leave the Pies after the national draft to join us as the National Recruiting Manager. I assume that a contract has been signed and he is definitely coming. Does anyone have anymore news on this front?

Give me a break. The kid is only 21. What young ruckman would you prefer to have in your team ahead of NikNat. Both he and Watts will become elite.

It gets a bit frustrating at times when posters use acronyms expecting everyone to know who / what they are talking about. I know some are obvious and that's OK, but others are not. Who is DP?

I thought it was a great opportunity for David King to ask questions to support his rant earlier in the season for MFC to cut their losses and sack Mark after a 8-9 rounds. Of course he wimped out……gees, these journos / commentators love dishing it out when they don't have to face their adversary but when they do, they don't have the guts. It tells me how much of a theatre our game is.

The quote that stood out for me was "I think the biggest thing I brought was the standards I set for training and how I prepare myself for footy,”. It proves to me that training and the preparation of players to be AFL footballers under the Bailey era was far below the standards set by other clubs, even average clubs like Brisbane.

Jack, a thinly veiled AFL conspiracy?? Don't forget that this was all agreed to by all the clubs including Melbourne.

Sorry, I mean mid first round compo pick.

This guy can play serious footy. A risk?.....Yes, but I would be willing to offload our mid round compensation pick for him.

There hasn't been much commentary re Brad Green last night. Did he get up and speak? If so how did it go down?