Ted Lasso

For your own sanity just write this year off mate, let PJ get things in order and we will see where we end up next year, might be a totally different footy club by then.

Pretty hard to convince anyone to come to us over other teams at this point, might be better off to look to free agency and the draft for some talent until we get our house in order abit more, i think we can become and attractive destination again fairly quickly.

It was Whitfield 1 Toumpas 2 through pretty much the entire year, GWS made some, in all honesty strange choices in Plowman and O'rourke that got Toumpas through to us, i still wonder if that was part of the Hogan deal.

On the first part, i think his comments demonstrated it may be more about not having the guts then not having the heart, but like i said i have no issue that he left, but he left on really bad terms which is what i have an issue with, he had the choice to handle things differently, he hasn't that's just the reality of his decisions unfortunately, imo he can bag the club all he likes but we pretty much got Hogan and clark in return correct? something like that anyway, he is getting well overpaid up there and good on him.

then who do we draft with picks 2&3 in your opinion?

I heard the same, Nic Nat was a highlight reel but Watts was supposed to be Nick Rewoldt mark 2.

I have no issue at all with the fact he walked, at his age if i got offered a contract like that i would too, my issue was the big song and dance, if he had of said, this might be a once in a lifetime opportunity, and was honest about it, i doubt anyone would have a problem with him, the fact he is being a total [censored] about it now is nothing but a poor reflection of a young man who has never for one game earned the money he is on up there, really should look at that before he gets too cocky.

Frawley would be off his head if he signed anything with us right now unless we offered him a stupid amount of money, Sylvia i'd prefer to keep because we can't afford to lose a strong bodied midfielder and Watts, well maybe it would be best for him to move on? who knows? what if Watts got us Carlton's first round pick #9 and we got Dom Sheed and James Aish because of that?

Keeping in mind he is 23 and probably 3-4 years off his peak, he is well on track to be a really good player for us, disposal can be improved and if i remember correctly we were always desperate to get the ball in his hands when he was first drafted so maybe that's a confidence thing?

jack viney might also mcqueen

Had an idea for our Potential 2014 lineup, maybe optimistic but this is the thread for it. B: Mcdonald Frawley z.jones HB: Grimes Garland Terlich C: Toumpas Viney Aish HF: Sylvia Hogan Trengove F: Clark Dawes Howe FOL: Gawn N.jones Sidebottom int: Dunstan Fitz Sheed sub: Kent very young lineup but i think if we get a PP Trade pick 1 for Steele Sidebottom and first round pick (12 overall) Pick 2: James Aish Trade Jack watts to Carlton for 1st round pick (9 overall ) pick 9 ( Dom Sheed ) pick 12 ( Matt Crouch ) pick 19 ( Luke Dunstan ) next pick ( Nathan jones brother looks a good defensive prospect, has similar traits such as work ethic as his brother. this sorts out our playing list long term, we will then be in a position to focus on developing what should be a very good side going forward, went for hard in and under mids as i feel they're a universally effective type to target and all listed would add instant improvement to our list, Aish, Toumpas and sidebottom provide the outside polish.

Really surprising that i have read 5 phantom drafts tonight, not one has sheed in their top 10? perhaps if Watts wants to go to Carlton we could trade him for their first round pick and use that on Sheed, Pick 1 ( trade for established mid) James Aish, Dom sheed and then Luke Dunstan at 20, jones with the next pick after that would be a very handy outcome!

josh kelly for mine is this years tom scully, hard runner with great skills, maybe too skinny for what we need?

zeibel is suspended every other week, reckon that hurts his captaincy claims abit

I totally agree, need to hold our nerve and make the other clubs offer the best possible deals for Boyd if we choose to trade him, make no mistake, teams will be desperate to get this young man on board.

We all want to see MFC where it belongs again, PJ has the restructure under control so we need to fix two things to have decent prospects for 2014 and beyond 1. culture, the ability to gain and retain talent, develop it and get the most out of the players we bring in, i think Todd viney has done a great job in terms of the draft, all of the players he has bought in besides stark have offered quite abit. 2. midfield, we need at least 1 senior mid to provide on field leadership and teach the younger players.\ if we get those right we will imo be a much better side in 2014, might well do what GC have done this year.

Some would say it's fair enough these blokes would be considering their options, i tend to agree in col's case, he isn't going to be part of our next flag, he has given us ten years service and all that. On the other hand, both these blokes have the ability to stand up, put in the effort and make a dramatic difference to this side, neither show leadership, willingness to dig in and work hard. maybe it would be best for them to move on if they aren't willing to dig in and do what's required and what we want/need them to do it.

Ratten, Simon Black, Kirk, or Ling any of those i think could do the job well, ratten would obviously be my preference due to his experience, Kirk or Ling would be great for culture, and Black would be able to help the midfielders grow as players in a way we are currently lacking, he has been an elite mid for a long time.

Surely Strauss would be worth a Run, unsure on Blease, think Kent plays the role we want Blease to play and will become better at it within another year, blease may be the crumbing forward we're after but i am really not sure. Viney is certainly too young to be captain, make Jones the captain for god sake, might be worth giving Trengove a run at casey, not that he hasn't been making solid contributions, just to play in a team more likely to win, remember what it's like to dominate games and maybe get used to not having the pressure of being captain of a basket case again?

Brian Royal imo was as big an issue as Neeld and still is, we need to recruit the best available midfield coach for next year, not just to develop players but to help the players get some clearly defined roles, can't waste the talent we have on board plus will get at the end of this year.

It would be very interesting to see how much a better midfield coach would make us, some basic stoppage structure and a cut in the ease of which the opposition take the ball away could make a big difference, as well as the natural progression and development of Viney, Toumpas, Kent and Matt Jones, Trengove will be better with a full pre season, how much better remains to be seen, and Grimes was really good early this year so i can't see any reason he can't be that good or better next season, if we add 2 mature mids to guide those boys and maybe one prime age mid like Daisy we will be a much better side. Ultimately it's about the cultural change though, won't matter who takes the field if the culture is no good.

What about an expanded salary cap, and first access to free agents who's season is over? as well as a PP

boyd, aish and dunstan at 19 would be lovely

might wanna show abit more on field before he gets to cocky

I know he is older but wouldn't the experience be worth paying overs potentially, or would they bundle him with another player maybe? I'm sure they're one of the teams that will be keen to get their hands on Boyd.