Earl Hood

It's a farce lower teams will lose their better players just as they need them.

Look you have to take a more unbiased look at this issue of equalisation. Equalisation in the AFL is more subtle and sophisticated than just handing out the odd priority pick here and there. It's about ummh, well look at MFC, Vlad reckons we have this young talent all lined up and gee that big kid who hasn't played a senior game yet is going to be good and..... Well I could go on.

The point is equalisation is not about priority picks, money hand outs or evening up the fixture. It is more about knowing your place as a second tier club and being grateful to the AFL for the previledge of playing second fiddle to the top clubs. Given that why would you want any of these high priced players like Buddy or worry where they go? Just accept you position in AFL life. Got the picture now and any attempt to buck the system will lead to another riot by the "other 17 teams who are not Melbourne" as Vlad is apt to say.

Not sure I'd want anyone from Messendon unless they were cleared of potential suspensions.

Yes good point. We would need an absolute clean bill of health if that would be possible. Good heavens Dank seems to have been everywhere from the Bombers, MFC and every second club in the NRL!

The Hood and others - you either need to do proper research or simply look for my posts; the Bands for compensation are;

1 - the pick after the clubs first round pick.

2 - an end of first round pick

3 - the pick after the clubs second round pick

4 - an end of second round pick

5 - the pick after the clubs third round pick

Therefore, Franklin will net Hawthorn pick 17 for Band 1 and the MFC for Sylvia pick 21 for Band 3 (IMO). That's if both clubs don't do anything else in FA. Which is seperate to DFA, but don't get me started on that.

Sorry I am lazy on research rpfc. What determines the bands? You have franklin at 1 and Sylvia at 3. I don't disagree but what is the criteria for the bands? Again if it is about how good the team is we have an issue.

I think we should be working the Bombers and Adelide for a draft swap for a mid. Both clubs are desperate to get into the draft so lets leverage off that as a first option. Who would they cough up for a chance at pick 2 or 20? We are in a position to play hard ball.

Both are x Premiership players and Buddy is a Coleman medallist as well.

Sylvia is a modestly performed player in a bottom of the ladder side.

If he leaves the compensation will be in line with that record IMO.

I hope the compensation formula has nothing to do with the player's club performance or we are building in AFL sanctioned inequality. Perish the thought that Vlad would be into that, unless it suits him at the time, depending what mood he is in when he is questioned, if you know what I mean.

I have since done some research and find the formula for compensation is vague but does look at the FAgents new contract. So the Age's Gleeson is well off the mark. On the basis of a supposedly $12M, six year contract for Buddy, the Hawks would pull a number 1 pick. Won't happen I know but if it was number 2, our pick, I will lead the charge on AFL headquarters myself.

It is an interesting formula. The top sides will by definition have the better players, who will only walk for over the top contracts. But this is then rewarded by the AFL. Where were we on equalisation policies?

I know it is the start of the silly season but not sure where you are getting pick three from?

In my wildest dreams based on past performances I could not see us getting more than a second round pick for Sylvia.

He has scored bugger all in the Club B&F and Brownlow over his ten years.

It was a question based on Micheal Gleesons article in today's Age. He is saying the Hawks would get pick 18 for Buddy while the Pies would get pick 11 for Daisy. Both were early first round picks, the compensation for both is a pick one spot after each club's existing draft pick. I know another variable is the players contract amount in relation to the rest of the team. I don't think raw talent is in the FA compensation equation but it is the AFL I could be wrong there.

Obviously I'd prefer he stay, because at the very least it shows the rest of this list when you become a FA it doesn't mean you HAVE TO go, but if he does go I honestly don't care who he goes to, as long as it isn't essendrug.

I hope they get no one, lose everyone and are on their knees by 2016 and relocated to Darwin or Tassie by 2017. I hate them and want them to burn.

Gee BBB stop beating about the bush tell us what you really think of the Bombers!

If we lose Col to the Bombers and we don't bring any Free Agents into our list do we then get Pick 3 as compensation?

Somewhat of a revelation when he got his chance in the midfield but unfortunately went down with a foot injury which ended his season after round 13.

Games MFC 2013 9 Career Total 13

Goals MFC 2013 6 Career Total 6

Games CSFC 2013 1 Goals CSFC 2013 1

Keith "Bluey" Truscott Memorial Trophy 116 votes

I thought he looked like a player in a couple of games this year but he is one of about 10 other MFC players that we cannot keep on the park to give them game time, to build their confidence and to really get a good idea of whether they have what it takes. Evans, Taggert, Fitzy, Bail, Jetta, Gawn, Clisby, Blease as well as Clark and Dawes.

After an enjoyable weekend following the Hawks and pretending they were my team and trying to forget I have followed the Dees for 53 years I have thought long and deep about following one side in a team sport with so little success for half a century.

The joy I have seen from most other team supporters over that period looks fantastic from the outside.

Unlike a lot of others I have seen two flags but to be honest I can barely remember the first and the second and last is beginning to fade.

That joy I have not seen for 49 years.

I have asked myself numerous times over the last two years why I go on.

If I am very honest it is that while the MFC exists I cannot leave.

Strange to continue to put myself though such pain with almost no chance of getting the ultimate goal in my lifetime.

Late last night I ask myself ( over a single malt or two ) would The worst thing be for the MFC to disappear?

The answer for me is no.

The worst thing for me would be to go on producing results like the last two years.

So I will go on buying memberships and going to games with a forlorn hope of improvement.

However too many more like the last two and I think I am done.

But can the bloody MFC improve to the point Where I can look for to winter weekends with a chance of winning games?

That is all I ask, not too much is it?

I feel your pain having missed those two flag just. All I think is if we have finally got rid of the overpaid clowns running the place and we have professional people in charge we will go forward,drafting will still have its problems, there will be wins and losses but if the decision making is right, if there is a coherent strategy to get ahead, we will. For so long we have been lead by part time, narrow thinking near do wells on the Board.

read inbetween the text TH.

its almost Xmas.

You are being too cryptic for me. What is the meaning of your hieroglyphics?

Some interesting (to me anyway) observations about Hawthorn's list:

The Imports

They have filled gaps probably better than any club. They have players wanting to go to the club which helps. But they have lured Gunston, Burgoyne, Lake, Gibson and Hale. All have been tremendous pick ups and held down critical positions.

Body shape

They have a lot that are in the same vein. Tall but not particularly big:

Shiels 183cm/84kgs, Suckling 187/86, Smith 188/82, Ellis 187/80. Gunston 193/84, Lewis 186/88, Savage 182/82, Bruest 184/84

These guys are strong and contest as well as anyone yet they aren't massively big. In fact I'd say they look skinny. We can seem to get the right combination of strength. speed and endurance.

Speed

Smith, Rioli, Bruest, Buddy give them great run. We are so far behind them in speed it ain't funny.

Kicking skills

Goes without saying but they are extraordinary with their accuracy - altho it helps greatly they run and spread incredibly well.

System

Their press and pressure were outstanding. They seem to have changed it slightly but everyone does their job and their captain is brilliant at organising everyone around him. In the last quarter he went back and even though Lake was having a blinder, Hodge marshalled the troops back there as well as anyone ever has.

The culture of the club is amazing, here is a club that played in 8 GFs straight yet found themselves on the poor end of a merger proposal, The way they have re-engineered the club is actually pretty incredible.

We have a long way to go.

BTW FWIW was speaking to a Swans premiership player yesterday about Roos and he said he was really good but he wont hang around if its not working - hence the 2y contract with a third year option.....

To be optimistic the Hawks list is awesome but the Dockers went very close to knocking them over despite attrocious kicking and first time jitters. That may not be an excuse but it shows the value of a simple, defensive, disciplined game plan that players can buy into and execute. Secondly you need at least 2or 3 A grade inside mids backed up by 2 or 3 outsiders to put pressure on the opposition. This is where we don't measure up. However I would say we match the Dockers in key forwards and backline so that leaves us looking for 2 to 3 elite mids to bridge the difference, in theory. How hard can that be?

Well the problem is we have been searching for a dominant midfield for as long as I can remember. Is 20 years close to the mark?

Wow that was a really big image

And sounds like really big rubbish!

Spot on Belzebubsy, the AFL caves in to pressure regarding our priority pick and yet there's always some small print available to GWS that enables them to squeeze another top liner into their team. Can you imagine the All Star line up they'll have by 2016. Sure, no one in Western Sydney will give a flying flock about them but we will be force fed a diet of what a great achievement it is.

RTG don't stir me up! According to Vlad we have an ample seam of young kids on our list, a big kid who has not played an AFL game, a father son and Jimmy T. Gee that look out Hawks! We need help, a second round priority was a minimum I thought. But no it's GWS that gets it all. They have already passed us for heaven sacks but still they get more. Scully on a squill ion and now it looks like Buddy on two squillion. Is there anything more we can do for them?

reminds me of ALEXII SEBASTIANmore than happy to keep as a reserve fill in specialist

The KAOS assassin, master of disguise with a fondness for bourbon? Didn't realise he ever played AFL!

Let us look at the facts, hawks finished on top with 3 losses, they are playing at their home ground, they were runner up last year. It all points to a Dorks win if you work off the odds! But then both sides are physically equal for the challenge. But for me if you have been there you might just get a jump start to set you up for a win.

That is what Grimes tries to do.

Jack Grimes has more strings to his bow as a midfielder than Terlich would.

Keep in mind we'll have two midfielders next year with Viney progressing.

Then on top of that there about about 5-6 guys who are worth persisting more with in the midfield than Terlich.

Those players :Trenners, Toumpas, Howe, Jones, Grimes and McKenzie will probably tag most games.

I understand where you are coming from, but maybe you underestimate how important Terlich is down back as well.

If Terlich isn't down back, so we want to see more of Dunn? I don't! And.. I'd rather Terlich running out of the backline than Frawley.

Given how bad our mid field is I am not sure why we haven't used Dunne more in the mid field in the past 2 seasons. He has had some success in the past as a run with tagger but we haven't persisted. He did tag Judd this year with some success but then failed to hold

Ablett, not surprisingly.

He has some attributes as a forward and as a half back but why didn't we keep him as a bigger bodied tagger? Just because we had Jordie? At the moment I think he would be a keeper because Roos just might work out a very simple role for him to play that suits his mature body, size and experience, here is hoping.

I would suggest this acedemy is an AFL initiative, not funded by the Swans. Coaches throughout the State, hundreds of kids on the program, heightened interest in the game etc etc is all well & good. I don't think the notion that a couple might end up nominated to the Swans as Rookies warrants the over-the-top reaction from Richard Colless.

Yes this the key question, who is funding the Academy, this little advantage for the Swans? If it is funded by the AFL well Colless is a hypocrite who no doubt had his say about Draft assistance for MFC and has his opinions about equalisation as long as he keeps his bloated salary cap. I mean you can imagine the cost of living problems Kurt Tipping is having to deal with as I write this guff.

I would love it to happen but would there be the commitment from Liam? And is his body up to it? He spent a lot of time injured in 2012 that led to the problems. Modern footy is unforgiving and tends to push out the freakish types like Liam and could I add one Alan Jackovich.

I dream but if only the Gods were on our side I would have witnessed Liam and Wonna in 100 games, the Ox reinventing the centre half forward role and Jackovich kick a 1000 goals over 12 seasons. But then I wake up.

For me, Col was the standout player for the season. We expect excellence from Nat Jones but Col lifted his game in the face of huge adversity. He has improved every aspect of his game and its a credit to his character.

And call me biased but as a long time half back, back pocket type later in my second rate suburban football career, after being an old style centre man, when you are getting pumped week after week, there is no worse place to be than in the back line. It is just relentless pressure and every failure is pillioried by the crowd. But gee I am talking about an era when it was largely pick it up and kick it stuff, running in numbers, hand balling had just started. I would hate to be a half back these days in a poor side. You can't win, you are a sitting duck as the midfielders stream down the ground and all the forwards just take off in all directions. No place for the faint hearted. I have a lot of time for Col and Chip for what they have had to endure these past 5 years.

its a bugger when you wake huh. Its a nice thought though

OK just give me a fit list and a team that plays as a team should. Can I ask that much?

In my more optimistic, delusional moments I dream of a coach thinking outside the box and having a full and fit list that has grown and improved. We suddenly have a 195 cm mobile Watts playing midfield and rotating forward with a fit, mobile, angry 200 cm mobile forward in Mitch Clarke playing as a big bodied mid to help out our insiders that may include a mature FA plus Cross.

If the mid field is competitive then our back line has a chance and our forward line of Dawes, Clarke, Howe, hogan, etc, suddenly has 60 plus inside 50s to work with.

The missing pieces are a rebounding half back one option is Grimes; a smart,tough back pocket, Jetta? (Oh for another M Whelan). A crumbling forward, Dom Barry? A young Aaron Davey would fill the post of defensive forward and offensive forward but they are a rare bread.

The other missing parts are a team that actually plays as a team, that makes a big difference to everybody's playing ability.

Let us hope he gets through the AOD cream issue and that there aren't more players involved. But can we get to the bottom of his lack of speed and acceleration? We have never heard anything from the club apart from his foot problem which should not impact your acceleration. How do you loose speed at his age? If he gets that back we have a player.

Just as well the decision was finalised today prior to the Brownlow count when MFC will no doubt set a record for the lowest number of club votes ever recorded since 1924. That wouldn't be a good stat for AD to put up for PP discussion.

I wish to apologise for my ridiculous prediction yesterday. It turns out we only had the lowest number of club votes since 1931! It sums up exactly where our list is at in my opinion but Vlad is pinning a lot of hope on a big kid who hasn't played a senior game yet, a father son and Jimmy T to drag us out of the deepest morass any side has been in since 1931 for God sake.

16 votes total in the Brownlow. Is that a record? Less than GWS who have draft assistance, bloated salary caps and exclusive zones, extra player numbers still in operation but that is OK. They apparently need all the help they can get whereas for us it is zip! We have a huge vain of young talent just waiting to be unleashed on the comp next year according to AD's submission today.

By AD's logic all extra assistance to GWS and the Suns should cease now. Both teams have passed us and they do have immense pools of talent ready to show their stuff! But curiously the other 16 teams who are not GWS or the Suns are not livid or violently opposed to yet further assistance. Only according to the Hun if assistance involves us!

Melbourne polled less votes than GWS.And no [censored] PP.

Is 16 votes a record low?

I watched the vision. Did MFC even have a table at the event? Or were we on a table outside in an annex?