The Cold Hard Truth

Out: B Moloney (inj.), J Rivers (inj.), C Bartram, D Bell, J Bode, L Dunn In: S Buckley, N Carroll, A Davey, J Frawley, C Johnson, M Whelan B....Carroll.........Warnock......Whelan HB..C Johnson....Garland........Buckley C....Wheatley......Jones...........Bruce HF...Bate............Miller............Davey F.....Wonamarri...Sylvia..........Green R.....White..........McLean.........McDonald Int: P Johnson, Frawley, Morton, Yze Emg: Bell, Valenti, Bartram Possibly too many changes, but changes like Bell and Bartram are overdue. Bartram was very tough and courageous against the Filth and Bell's strength is very important when he can enforce it, but both are hurting us too much with their disposal and decision making and need to get back to Sandy and work on it. Bode and Dunn don't offer enough and C Johnson and Buckley deserve their chances. Yze gets another chance only because with Green and Sylvia he can be a good medium foward capable of kicking 2-3 goals but he'll have to play some very good footy to not be an automatic ommission once Newton is ready. Frawley is lucky, but has shown enough to be a great defender and needs patience and persistance for him to grow and develop into what he can become and the best way to do that is to keep giving him big tasks ala Garland.

With the excitment Nautini is generating, he has the potential of been a fan-favourite and a marquee player which is something we desperately need. A type that brings supporters to the game to watch. Even in such a dissapointing season this year, players like Auzzie Wona bring Melbourne supporters to the game because he is exciting to watch and a player of the future.

I feel C Johnson should be played before Bode. C Johnson is in his fifth year on the list and has played very well at VFL level in recent weeks. Lets not die wondering and give him 3-4-5 games in a row at AFL level to settle himself and see what he can do. Bringing him in for one game here are there isn't great experience for him as well as the pressure of knowing he is the first bloke to get dropped every time he does crack the senior team. Just a note, Buckley and C Johnson are both similar in height and size as Birchall and Ellis from Hawthorn. They have pace, endurance and both could be potentially very damaging half-back flankers / wingers and should both be given a better chance to show that at AFL level.

The most promising aspect of our developing key defenders is versatility. This year we have seen Garland, Frawley and Warnock all play on both big and small, quick fowards and done a promising job in most cases. I agree. With support in 2006 (i think), quite a few in the media were suggesting Carroll wasn't too far off All-Australian selection. I think Carroll brings good aggression, courage and strength to the side and with the emergance of Warnock and Garland, I think we will seem him have a bigger impact on games if he is given another chance.

Alternative strips are a great way for clubs to market another jumper to their supporters. I can't understand why clubs like Essendon don't embrace it and other clubs like us do such an ordinary design that no one will buy? I would love to see a home jumper, alternative strip (permenant and not changing every year) and a third, different design for the pre-season competition. With a good alternative strip based on heritage (predomitaley red and blue with the MFC crest like suggested by Demon4Life) we can use the pre-season jumper to try new patterns/logos/colours and change that around every year to keep creating new products to sell.

Great jumper. Perhaps outline the MFC crest and the numbers in gold?

I understand when he returned to the Eagles this year he agreed to a set of conditions - of which i confidently assume are now breached - and WC will follow through and delist him. If they don't, the AFL will intervene and force them too.

Holland was traded for pick 20 to Richmond. Which was subsequently on-traded to Western Bulldgos from Richmond (along with pick 6) for Nathan Brown. Bulldogs then on-traded pick 20 to Geelong for Peter Street. Geelong then on-traded pick 20 to West Coast for David Haynes. West Coast eventually drafted Sam Butler (not Gilmour who went pick 21 to Richmond) So its actually Holland - Sam Butler

Pick 4 will be one of Palmer or Cotchin. As I said in another post, hopefully one of Henderson or Rance slip to 14 so we can pick up a first-round KPP as well to get some balance while playing to the rules of 'best available' as well.

With five spots still to fill on the senior list (assuming Bode will be promoted) I can't imagine we'll let anymore players go this year.

This kid is a champion competitor above all else. Tough, skilled and relishes in the pyhsical part of the game. The type of player we have been crying for since Viney retired. Will blossom in 08 if he can get his body right - and hopefully be part of a very ferocious midfield of McLean, Moloney and Jones - will do a lot of damage.

Not just limited to players... Terry Wallace. Currently 3 years down on a five year deal. Terminating the contract and having to pay out another two years could potentially be whats keeping him at Punt Rd. Denis Pagan? How many years did he sign on when he joined Carlton?

St. Kilda has added plenty of depth to their list with Gardiner, Schneider and Dempster with King a very handy addition to fill their biggest hole. All for basically nothing. If the forgotten Michael Gardiner steps up and they pick up a key position player like Henderson or Rance at pick 9, the Saints are looking pretty solid. How first round midfielders Armitage and McQualter develop could really help Saints push top 4-6 next year.

MelbourneFC 2008: B: Frawley Carroll Whelan HB: Petterd Rivers Bell C: Bruce Jones Green HF: Bate Miller Robertson F: Davey Neitz Newton R: White McLean McDonald Int: Jamar, Yze, Sylvia, Moloney I'd imagine to see Bartram, Dunn and C Johnson push for the 22 every week as well as those we pick up at 4, 14, 21 and 3 in the PSD. Miller will have first crack at CHF and hopefully he can cement himself there. Doesn't help himself with poor decision making, but i never felt Daniher used him well either especially when he is thrown from end to end every week. Miller is a good size and a good runner who will attract a key defensive player leaving Newton and Bate to hopefully line up on smaller bodied players and really do some damage. I know he is maligned for not kicking many goals, but we don't need a CHF to kick lots of goals - we have plenty of firepower in Neitz, Robertson, Davey and now Newton and Bate with Bruce and Green always kicking 20-30 goals a year - we just need a CHF to keep presenting to structure our movement foward, take away the pressure off Neitz and inforce a strong physical presence. Would like to see Sylvia unleashed and push into the midfield in the absense of TJ. With a fully fit Moloney, our midfield is looking very powerful with some tough bodies rotating through there. Will do plenty of damage in '08. Jamar gets the nod at this stage but the econd ruckmen is still very much undetermined at this stage.

From AFL website: TRADE ONE: Adelaide receives: Sydney’s round two selection (currently No.28). Sydney Swans receive: Martin Mattner. TRADE TWO: Carlton receives: Chris Judd and West Coast’s round three selection (currently No.46). West Coast Eagles receives: Josh Kennedy and Carlton’s round one and two selections (currently No.3 and No.20). TRADE THREE: Adelaide receives: Melbourne’s round three selection (currently No.37). MelbourneFC receives: John Meesen. TRADE FOUR: Brisbane Lions receive: Collingwood's round one selection (currently No.14). Collingwood receives: Cameron Wood. TRADE FIVE: Brisbane Lions receive: Travis Johnstone. MelbourneFC receives: Brisbane Lions' round one selection (currently No.14). TRADE SIX: Adelaide receives: Brad Moran. Kangaroos receive: Adelaide's round three selection (currently No.37). TRADE SEVEN: Adelaide receives: Brad Symes. Port Adelaide receives: Adelaide’s second round selection (currently No.28). TRADE EIGHT: Richmond receives: Jordan McMahon. Western Bulldogs receive: Richmond's round two selection (currently No.19). TRADE NINE: Sydney Swans receive: Henry Playfair. Geelong receives: Sydney's round three selection (currently No.44). TRADE TEN: St Kilda receives: Adam Schneider and Sean Dempster. Sydney Swans receive: St Kilda's round two selection (currently No.26). TRADE ELEVEN: Richmond receives: Mitch Morton. West Coast Eagles receive: Richmond's round two selection (currently No.35). TRADE TWELVE: St Kilda receives: Steven King and Charlie Gardiner. Geelong receives: St Kilda's round six selection (currently No.90). TRADE THIRTEEN: Adelaide receives: Western Bulldogs picks No.30 and No. 38. Western Bulldogs receive: Ben Hudson and Adelaide’s pick No.43. TRADE FOURTEEN: West Coast Eagles receive: Western Bulldogs picks No.22 and No.54. Western Bulldogs receive: West Coast Eagles picks No.30, No.35 and No.62. TRADE FIFTEEN: Western Bulldogs receive: Tim Callan and Geelong's fourth round selection (currently No.66). Geelong receives: Western Bulldogs' fourth round selection (currently No.62). TRADE SIXTEEN: Kangaroos receive: Ben Davies. Collingwood receives: Kangaroos' round six selection (currently No.96). TRADE SEVENTEEN: Kangaroos receive: Sam Power. Western Bulldogs receive: Kangaroos' third round selection (currently No.48). TRADE EIGHTEEN: Carlton receives: Richard Hadley. Brisbane Lions receive: Carlton's fourth round selection (currently No.52).

Of the names offered up for trade that recieved no takers: K Bradley, R Dyson, M Johnson (Essendon), M Williams (Hawthorn), D White (Port Adelaide), D Meyer, J Schulz (Richmond), J Bolton (Sydney) Will be interesting to see who of the list doesn't re-sign or gets delisted and enters the PSD.

Great pick up for Carlton. With the addition of Judd, Hadley and most likely Kruezer - along with the development of Gibbs, Murphy and Walker and the return of Nick Stevens - the Blues midfield may show some promise next season. Scotland and Houlihan will provide good depth as well.

The Bulldogs probably thought pick 22 was too high for Ben Hudson and Adeladie thought their next pick too low so they had to re-arrange the picks to get one around the 30 mark which they have done. I agree its bizzare, but this way they haven't over paid for Hudson.

Sydney's future is not looking very promising. They have blooded very few youth in the last three seasons and to loose young Dempster, their young brigade is looking pretty shakey. McVeigh could possibly be the only one under 22 regularly in the side?

Symes is a great pick up for the Crows. I'm not sure why they would persist with Moran when they have Biglands returning from injury and Griffen and Maric showing a lot of promise. If anyone I thought they would have pushed harder to get Cameron Wood to come home.

I think the future of Neitz will largely depend on how Newton and Dunn develop and how Miller goes under DB. We might need him to stick around. Same goes for White and the progress PJ, Jamar and Meesen. McDonald, Holland and Yze will probably find '08 hard to fend off the young players pushing into the side more regularly and call it a day at seasons end.

I believe Richmond paid half of Ben Hollands contract in his first year at Melbourne so i guess we can now call it even...

Toughen up gorgeous. 1. Two incidents don't look good, but you have no idea what provoked them. From juniors, Brock has been a terrific leader, player and clubmen and i can't understand why you (and many others) choose to be so narrowminded as to ignore all his positives and focus on these two incidents. 2. Out of our control. Judd followed the cash and i you'll be hard to find many non-carlton supporters who think it was a good choice. 3. We got pick 14 this year, last year in the 'superdraft' we probably would have only been offered a 20+ pick. Not to mention Daniher probably felt we would push top 4 this year and therefore held onto the senior players. 4. I guess we don't know what was offered from Sydney, if it was a third or fourth round pick i'm glad we kept Miller. His decision making has been poor and been thrown from end to end hasn't helped him, but he is tall, strong, and a good runner and Bailey probably is just in thinking he can get a lot out of him. 5. Time will tell. Early days but your right to recruit someone that appears to be at the same rucking level as two others on our list. As for Sylvia - i really like this kid. Injury prone yeah, but when you look at his ferocious tackling and physical impact - he's the type of player who doesn't need a lot of touches to have a big influence on the game - the type of player we need As for Bruce - this year was terrible; he looked slow and his skills were awful - but at his best he is very good (and more consistent then TJ), your right there will be big pressure on him in '08, but who knows what injuries he was carying this year.

From the AFL website: TRADE ONE: Adelaide receives: Sydney’s round two selection (currently No.28). Sydney Swans receives: Martin Mattner. TRADE TWO: Carlton receives: Chris Judd and West Coast’s round three selection (currently No.46). West Coast Eagles receives: Josh Kennedy and Carlton’s round one and two selections (currently No.3 and No.20). TRADE THREE: Adelaide receives: Melbourne’s round three selection (currently No.37). MelbourneFC receives: John Meesen. TRADE FOUR: Brisbane Lions receives: Collingwood's round one selection (currently No.14). Collingwood receives: Cameron Wood. TRADE FIVE: Brisbane Lions receives: Travis Johnstone. MelbourneFC receives: Brisbane Lions' round one selection (currently No.14). OTHER TRADES: B Hudson (Adelaide) and T Callan (Geelong) to Western Bulldogs have been agreed to by all parties with details yet to be finalised.

Best case scenario: Cale Morton goes to Richmond and after Judds return home, the West Coast favour a WA player which will allow us to pick up Cotchin. Then hopefully one of McEvoy, Henderson or Rance is still available at pick 14.