I'm truly worried about the message we have sent out this trading period to the group.
I know they have needed a kick in the gut but not sure we have handled this well at all.

What message?
Lots of huffing and puffing.... but the house was built of bricks not straw,,,

theyre soooo good.. noone wanted them!!!....that should be a message in itself

and we have a good 6 to 8 slow midfielders on the list still...
at least we got rid of a bakers dozen hbfer types.. we still have another set on the list

what are u worried about???

their ex captain told everyone theyre a "mediocre" lot..... surely theyre not shocked!!!... forst time in history.. a player has called his team mates "mediocre"

i dont remember another time.... maybe u do???

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This is getting scary...unless we have takers for Laidler, Duigan, Casboult, Rowe, Lucas, Ellard, Bootsma ...for GWS players or 2nd round picks.

I love the way (I mean hate the way) GWS dont value 3rd round picks.
Just looking at their list I can see why its easy.
Also says that the quality is anyone's guess after the 2nd round (pick 30ish). May 4 or 5 beauties...perhaps.

I can see why they'd be circling Jamieson, Robinson and Yarran. They're all gettable at the right price.

If they're circling, lets see who we're circling.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I am not sure that I would take any notice of reports about morale in our playing group. We have recently had two clear examples of the media reporting about relationships between the coach and players that were completely wrong. During the year and recently reports that Yarran wanted out allegedly due to clashing with Mick. Chris Yarrans interview in Ireland was full of praise for Mick and expressed contrition about how he (CY) had handled the sub business. Then both 1AW and his father spoke out about a report that Andrew Walker had supposedly fallen out with the coach. Both said that Andy got along with Mick very well and thought he was a great coach.

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“Before you criticise someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticise them, you're a mile a way and you have their shoes."

Then there is the fake Bootsma Twitter account

Agree with your point in general, but I'm not sure I would read too much into the Yarra interview.
To me it sounded a bit like Chris toeing the company line and saying what was expected of him.

I hope that Mick is building a 'team first' attitude at the club, but I'm guessing there's still a way to go.

..i would have thought late in the season his increased work ethic and defensive focus was the best way to judge how he had taken the constructive criticism on board.... ..i also think with Betts gone he might feel more secure, since there was always an element of there being 1 too many small fwds, and now with him and jeffy increasing their fitness and ability to work further up the ground i think they'll both feel more confident..

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..if you can't be good, be good at it..

We had years of depending on individuals to get us over the line, so this will taken time to be beaten out of the group.

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James Hird and Essendon* FC - #FOREVERDRUGCHEATS

I'm not - its a professional sport. If players cant handle issues professionally (ie without their feelings getting hurt) then the sooner we get rid of them the better.

I'm not a fan of having picked up malthouse but whilst he is employed by the club, he should have the full support of everyone at the club.

If so many players want out & are exploring their options, why aren't they leaving like the Sydney players?

Not buying it.

Just as a point of order, I don't think the players required a kick in the guts. A kick in the arse would have sufficed, and from the sounds of it, that's what they were given. I view a kick in the guts as a bit more serious.

I don't think we can assess this until Friday when trades are finished

If we get Docherty and Thomas and effectively keep all our picks - hopefully offload laidler for something that is a pass and infinitely better than last year

A better mark for the trade period would include getting another KPP - Hopefully this is getting worked on now
Everyone knows that I would prefer to keep boots but if we got a young and good kpp I would do it

Cant understand not having a look at Bruce -I think our forward line looks infinitely better and more dangerous with Henderson in it

frank, per bluepill - be calm. stay strong. good position. irons in the fire. etc.

Agreed.
Let's hope they can step up and be flexible in the roles Mick will ask of them.

It could be Yarran's time to shine.

However Jeff might find he gets more defensive attention next season with Eddie gone ...

This should be a priority if we can better Saints pick# 41. KPP that can swing forward (good contested mark by all reports). Ideally Hendo up forward but what to do when/if Waite is out injured?
Backs: Jamison, Watson and then 3rd talls of McInnes or White
Forwards: Henderson, Waite and then the raffle of Kreuzer (not a forward), Casboult & Rowe.

Young player and we need to get young (quality) KPP's on our list.

Jeffy was in AA form when Eddie was out injured/suspended this year. His down patch started the week Eddie came back against Essendon*.

Yarran was awesome up front with Jeffy as well. Then Eddie came back and Yazz was hardly sighted. Hopefully it will be good for all of them..

Hasn't Bruce nominated St Kilda as his preferred destination?
We can't say Docherty is over the line coz he's nominated us and complain about the Brisbane flogs not getting the deal done, then in the next breath say we'll trump St Kilda's offer to get Bruce here.

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@cecil_anderson

well, we can cecil. it would just be silly to say it that's all.

Bluey, I accept that it may just be Chris Yarran "toeing the company line" but even if it is, it is demonstrating a level of maturity and maybe better commitment to team. His comments about Mick seemed genuine to me.

Even when MM was not my favourite person when he coached Collingwood, I used to comment about my grudging admiration for how he seemed to build sides that played for one another. So hopefully we are improving and establishing a "team first" environment.

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“Before you criticise someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticise them, you're a mile a way and you have their shoes."