Our Recruiting

[MFCforever]

If anyone on this board thinks we have improved our list by bringing in a spud farm then you don't know football. I said it once and I'll say it again it was the worst side named I've seen in a long time.

Byrnes, Roden, Seller, Pederson, Gillies - couldn't get a game at their respective clubs for a reason.

They are too old,too slow, too has been, too never been.

I would have Martin, Rivers, Moloney, Pettard in my side before any of these hacks.

Players playing out of position. Dunn, Garland, Howe, Clark,Sylvia.

Neeld is must be held accountable. We are ****ed for another couple of years.

Nice one Neeldy!

 

[RandB]

The players we have brought in isn't the problem. Most of them were always stop gap measures to bring in some experience. Our problems stem from not working hard enough in the areas that matter on the training track.

I also think we have to be more progressive with our FD. I know we have turned over some redundant staff but we need more ex-players who were at the top of their game in a modern context. Case in point Matty Scarlett at the Dogs is doing a great job with their defence. We have too many relics like Royal or ex-players who were role players who didn't master a genuine craft in their game style like Brown but just regurgitate what the head coach says. We need to teach these guys.

We have to be smarter and sadly fitter.

I think Byrnes will be good for us, not sure what Rodan will do and Gillies is a depth defender not worth worrying about. I think Pedersen could give value the more games he plays. They point is they were never meant to be an answer, they were a supplement. We have to get our shit together before big name players come near us.

On the players who left, Petterd was 1 dimensional, Rivers wanted out, Moloney had to go and Martin I'm not too fussed about.

It isn't the players as such it is what Neeld does with them but he can't afford to slot all of them in at the cost of our running game and development.

 

[PureFooty]

Brynes, was pathetic yesterday, he downhill skied, he showed his usual pace when he had the ball, but when he didn't have it, he was jogging at best. Rodan seemed rusty won't even bother discussing the other two.

 

[Supermercado]

So, assuming there was no sensible way of keeping Rivers or Moloney who should we have gone out and got instead? A few more 18-year-olds for the benefit of Casey?

It might not work but FFS wait a few weeks before breaking down in tears over it. It's not like we can cut them and go out and sign a bunch of other players now, so you're stuck with them one way or another - may as well hold off for a couple of weeks.

 

[Wonaeamirri33]

I also think we have to be more progressive with our FD. I know we have turned over some redundant staff but we need more ex-players who were at the top of their game in a modern context. Case in point Matty Scarlett at the Dogs is doing a great job with their defence.

Very true mate - that's where I'm at with my thinking about this. Royal and Rawlings need to go urgently, and I'd be replacing Brown too.

Maybe we could have a crack at Dunstall or Lynch to coach our forwards. I reckon that'd be worth pursuing, for example.

And Mal Michael would be a good option to go after as a backline coach. Ditto for Ashley McIntosh, Wakelin, Mick Martyn or Glenn Archer.

As far as midfield coaching... either Cameron Ling or Robert Harvey would definitely be worth chasing. Lappin and Ricciuto as well.

 

[Tulip]

Look at Geelongs youth, every player has the best chance to shine. We needed to keep each of our older players for a year longer to give our now failed youth a chance to develop.

 

[CTHORANGE]

There's no way I'd be prepared to say none of these recruits are worth it after one round. Gee whiz. It wasn't just those guys who failed to provide effort yesterday, it was most of the team.

 

[SilenceOz]

Sorry to intrude and I know you probably don't want my opinion.
But why on earth did your recruiters think it was a good idea to grab Rodan.
He was really inconsistent at Port.
Ok he can pull out these miracles and dodge, duck and weave between to make a goal out of nothing.
But he does that once a season not once a quarter..

 

[AllenJakovich13]

watching little speeders like Motlop, Christensen, Stokes today makes me wish we had these sorts of blokes/types in our side

 

[LeverPuller]

Sorry to intrude and I know you probably don't want my opinion.
But why on earth did your recruiters think it was a good idea to grab Rodan.
He was really inconsistent at Port.
Ok he can pull out these miracles and dodge, duck and weave between to make a goal out of nothing.
But he does that once a season not once a quarter..

Rodan actually gave us some run and carry that we sorely lacked in 2012 I thought. Wasn't great, but it was better than nothing.

 

[lose]

I agree about Rodan.. the others I can all understand why we got them but Rodan has really struggled to play footy to a high level and just doesn't seem like a good role model for our young group due to his very non defensive game style..

 

[Silent Alarm]

Go hard for people who want to play AFL football.

Private school boys who have been nursed through their juniors with sycophantic coaches will have complacency. Being told you're a star and you're going to play AFL one day can be stagnating, and well, pretty toxic for young people.

People like Michael Barlow, James Podsiadly, or even Kane Mitchell... guys who have done everything to play AFL, and guys who will do anything to be great footballers.

 

[LeverPuller]

Go hard for people who want to play AFL football.

Private school boys who have been nursed through their juniors with sycophantic coaches will have complacency. Being told you're a star and you're going to play AFL one day can be stagnating, and well, pretty toxic for young people.

People like Michael Barlow, James Podsiadly, or even Kane Mitchell... guys who have done everything to play AFL, and guys who will do anything to be great footballers.

What if we seriously took on and brought in half of Port Melbourne? Just target their midfield and raid 3 or 4 of them.

 

[CM Sean]

I think Brynes and Rodan did okay tbh. I thought there was an effort there from what I saw. The only issue was, all the players around them. Nothing they tried to create worked. They couldn't do it on their own. Both made their own share of mistakes too, I admit to that. They were far from perfect. But I won't be calling for their heads, nor will I question their selection at the table.

 

[Cannon82]

Will be curious to see how some of our cast offs do at the other clubs. Rivers slotted in well at Geelong and I didn't see Moloney's game but by reports he was one of their better players. If West Coast turn Cale Morton into half an AFL player then ... I don't know what that would mean. Peptide salad and match-fixing probably. Curious to see what if anything Gysberts does in the next few seasons - if he can crack into North's midfield then we shouldn't have given him away for peanuts when we've barely got anything to speak of in our own.

Given the number of high draft picks who've failed to come on over the last 7 or 8 years, the recruiters may not be the problem so much as the coaching/development team. So many players look promising for a season or so and then plateau or go backwards.

 

[Northworth]

Sorry to intrude
I reckon Pedersen will be good for you blokes once he gets a bit of game time into him. He can really be a good ruck option and could really assist your forward structures. He will be better for the run and will only improve.

Good luck for the year

 

[RandB]

I think Brynes and Rodan did okay tbh. I thought there was an effort there from what I saw. The only issue was, all the players around them. Nothing they tried to create worked. They couldn't do it on their own. Both made their own share of mistakes too, I admit to that. They were far from perfect. But I won't be calling for their heads, nor will I question their selection at the table.

I didn't think Byrnes was too bad either in the early stages. We just need 4 quarter performances across the board.

 

[shinboner spiggs]

hey guys, just an observation here
when i saw cam pedersen play yesterday i couldnt believe i was watching the same player that was holding down a key back post and switching to attack and kicking goals when he was playing in blue and white. he seemed to have beefed up but lost a bit of mobility. he looked quite tame as well and the squib mark was a clear sign there was something different. i think recruiting him was a good idea, he was a player who was in our best 22 for a year but somehow came out of favour in 2012, which was well spotted by your recruiters. for him to work he has to interchange back to forward which he did so well in 2011.
bounce back this week demons! we're all wishing you well

 

[It Just Is]

watching little speeders like Motlop, Christensen, Stokes today makes me wish we had these sorts of blokes/types in our side

Why didn't Jetta play on the weekend? He looked good against us in the nab cup.

 

[Blackas87]

Trade Gysberts for Pederson when we lack midfield depth, delist Lucas Cook after 2 years after he was never given a shot.

Paul Roos said this, he said surely Lucas cook could play the roles of either Pesderson and Sellar, traded a promising midfielder to replace a player we never gave a chance to, doesn't make sense.

 

[Son of Bruce]

One thing I found odd.

Jimmy Toumpas had zero core strength, he was pushed off the ball so easily and then didn't work both ways.

I know this kid is young and I agree he will be an absolute gun for you lot.
But if the kid wasn't ready to play - he shouldn't of.

If he was deemed ready to play by the MFC, then they have no idea, ZERO.
I was absolutely staggered and gobsmacked.
I thought the kid done remarkably well considering his weakness through his core.

Whatever they've done to that kid Trengove as well, they've done a good job.
He used to be explosive, now he can't run out of sight on a rainy day.

 

[The Prosecutor]

Very true mate - that's where I'm at with my thinking about this. Royal and Rawlings need to go urgently, and I'd be replacing Brown too.

Maybe we could have a crack at Dunstall or Lynch to coach our forwards. I reckon that'd be worth pursuing, for example.

And Mal Michael would be a good option to go after as a backline coach. Ditto for Ashley McIntosh, Wakelin, Mick Martyn or Glenn Archer.

As far as midfield coaching... either Cameron Ling or Robert Harvey would definitely be worth chasing. Lappin and Ricciuto as well.

I think you have the right idea.

Should you move Neeld on sometime this year, I would highly, highly recommend Melbourne go after Simon Goodwin for the senior role. Currently at Essendon as our midfield coach and has done wonders. Everything that comes out of the club is absolutely positive and he speaks with great insight.

Adelaide apparently were pretty keen but Goodwin was intent on honouring his contract with Essendon. Since SA is of the table, I reckon there's a good chance Goodwin maybe your next coach in the future, a damn good one he'll be too.

 

[Catsace]

Trade Gysberts for Pederson when we lack midfield depth, delist Lucas Cook after 2 years after he was never given a shot.

Paul Roos said this, he said surely Lucas cook could play the roles of either Pesderson and Sellar, traded a promising midfielder to replace a player we never gave a chance to, doesn't make sense.

I am intruding yes, but that was just a very odd result. A pick 12 in 2010 and gone already without a senior game? I think the only similar high pick in years gone by to have been cast off was Mitch Thorpe, who the Hawks excised i think after his initial contract as well. In fairness i don't think Cook got even rookied by anyone, but how does a pick 12 in this day and age just end up being something so far removed from what you were looking for as a footballer?

As a contrast, Mitch Brown at Geelong was a pick 15 in 2008, he's still on the list and being tried as a defender. Granted Geelong's probably got a lot more depth, but at least by the end of this year we'll know if he'll make the grade or not. In a young side like yourselves, having a youngster just disappear like Cook is rather strange.

 

[Cannon82]

Trade Gysberts for Pederson when we lack midfield depth, delist Lucas Cook after 2 years after he was never given a shot.

Paul Roos said this, he said surely Lucas cook could play the roles of either Pesderson and Sellar, traded a promising midfielder to replace a player we never gave a chance to, doesn't make sense.

Never saw much of Cook other than in the NAB Cup the first time around. Seemed to lead up the ground and provide a bit of structure like Miller used to do. Given the lack of movement we showcase most of the time I thought he would've been in the side sooner rather than later. I hear no big wraps on him in the VFL though.

Pedersen I don't mind as much as he's reasonably mobile, but Sellar and Dawes certainly.

 

[Bartram_Class]

To be fair, even at the time Cook was considered a surprise first round selection.

And it is telling no-one else bothered to step in and give him another crack when we moved him on. Just a dreadful selection.