He's clearly playing the kids right? Blooding all those youngsters.

Tell us about his diamond formation at stoppages could you?

_________________
The only way for some people to understand is for them to be on the receiving end

Left wing moralists
In self serving denial
They shit me no end

..agreed, the players mentioned as not being played, have been played.. ..if they didnt have opportunity thru pre-season and early rounds, then i might think otherwise.. ..but they've been played, and have not measured up to MM's standards..

..this is the thing.. ..standards are being raised.. ..who once may have 'been good enough', isn't when measured against these new/higher standards.. ..and ppl are still thinking the last few years standard is good enough, when it obviously wasnt..

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

People harping on about playing Laidler, Duigan and Hampson have to have a close look at Northern Blues games.
They haven't exactly been ripping it apart at that level.
Rather, its been the kids like Menzel, Graham, McInnnes and Buckley (early in the year) who ve been putting in good performances, and presto, they ve been rewarded with senior call ups.

_________________
James Hird and Essendon* FC - #FOREVERDRUGCHEATS

I haven't been to the main board for three weeks. Straight back to the Essendon* thread for me. I'm used to friendly, constructive threads these days.

I will say however, that Laidler, Duigan and hammer out of the team suggests tanking is the last thing on the club's mind.

I will also say that there would be a very, very small group of players who would be off limits for trades this offseason. I think some brutal honesty is required. Maybe a discussion with Mick and say - if you're here for five years, then let's blow it up now and rebuild the list from the ground up. The only players I would have off limits are (for either talent/position or emotional/culture reasons) would be;

Simpson
Henderson
Murphy
Judd
Menzel
Jamison
Carazzo
Walker

That's it. everyone else I would entertain offers. Some (Gibbs for etc), it would need to be a godfather offer. Others, clear them out.

This list in it's current form will not compete for a flag.

Anyway, back to drugs in sport.

Oh, I bet you'd gladly part with Jamison if offered the right deal Punter...we could do a deal with Teaguey in WA couldn't we? He loves Jamo. Straight swap for Mitch Brown?

Id add:
Graham
Buckley
Bootsma
Temay
McInnes

Only because they re still young and with the right development staff, can blossom.

Will be a very productive off season. You know it!
Mick WILL make the hard calls. He doesn't care for reputations if he see's benefits FOR T HE TEAM in trading big name players.

_________________
James Hird and Essendon* FC - #FOREVERDRUGCHEATS

Keep
Dennis Armfield
Tom Bell
Eddie Betts
Joshua Bootsma
Dylan Buckley
Jaryd Cachia
Andrew Carrazzo
Levi Casboult
Edward Curnow
Frazer Dale
Jeff Garlett
Bryce Gibbs
Nicholas Graham
Lachlan Henderson
Michael Jamison
Chris Judd
Matthew Kreuzer
Patrick McCarthy
Andrew McInnes
Brock McLean
Troy Menzel
Luke Mitchell
Marc Murphy
Mitch Robinson
Sam Rowe
Kade Simpson
Tom Temay
Zach Tuohy
Jarrad Waite
Andrew Walker
Simon White
Christopher Yarran

Delist

Andrew Collins
Marcus Davies
Aaron Joseph
Jeremy Laidler
Rhys O'Keeffe
Heath Scotland [retired]
Matthew Watson

Trade or Delist

Nicholas Duigan
David Ellard
Shaun Hampson
Robert Warnock
Kane Lucas

Can not see Mick delisting or trading Lucas for some reason.

_________________
James Hird and Essendon* FC - #FOREVERDRUGCHEATS

Softly softly hey!
Where is that going to get us??

Another one who overrates out list.

Id be moving on Rowe and or Casboult...
But Rowe in particular..

No hope!!!

Watson same.. Mitchell same...and id give McCarthy another year... shape up or ship out too next season...

_________________
Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

I think Mitch Brown is vastly overrated. I can see why, he looks the part, well put together. But I can't recall a game where I have thought he provides much.

Jamo fits into the emotional/culture section of my list, Doc. And I do think he and Hendo are getting to the point where they work pretty well with each other. Regardless of how the style of this team changes again next year (and it will change significantly after the purge which is imminent), capable key backs are non-negotiables and we do have two of them. I'd leave him there, and maybe add McInnes to the non-trade list.

The worrying thing for me here is that we're the club that has to panic and try something risky on the trade table this year. Even worse, we've pre-empted it, publicly.

Not too many clubs around in a similar position, that we've overrated our playing list, missed the premiership window, don't have the youth on the playing list to sell a rebuild, and still paying full salary cap.

We have to make changes one way or another - either to expediate a rebuild, or get the necessary players in if we think we can still have a crack at a flag. Clubs will smell blood, and as such, the risk of one-sided trades like Mal Michael and Paul Williams that happened in Malthouse's first year at Collingwood are going to be high. Just the way the market is, we need to trade more than most, if not all other clubs.

_________________
BLUES 2010: PAV AND JUDD = FLAGS. DOING IT FOR THE LOVE OF DICK PRATT.

HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR TALKINGCARLTON SUPERCOACH 2009 YET?

We haven't promised anything yet (unlike we did with McLean) so there is still hope.

_________________
Just because I'm offended, doesn't mean I'm wrong.

Overrate? Seriously you want to get crap for our top players????

Also I have listed 10 players that won't be at our club next year i think that's more than enough

If we were to "radically" alter our list these would be my untouchables list

The Untouchables

Bryce Gibbs
Lachlan Henderson
Michael Jamison
Chris Judd
Matthew Kreuzer
Marc Murphy
Mitch Robinson
Andrew Walker
Chris Yarran

The Young Untouchables
Levi Casboult
Nicholas Graham
Troy Menzel
Luke Mitchell

After watching the 4th quarter against Collingwood last week I can now understand why.

I'm not a fan of his but it's hard to justify getting rid of him when he is prepared to run when alot of others aren't.

Let's get serious... I know he gives me (us) the shits but there a plenty more that will go before Lucas

He'll be there next year... because our list is so crapola

_________________
“I would rather have questions that can't be answered than answers that can't be questioned.” ― Richard Feynman

trade value is at its highest - sell !

Crap for crap? So much for being "top". We'll take that kind of logic to our football graves.

_________________
Just because I'm offended, doesn't mean I'm wrong.

Seconded. Saints would have paid massive overs for him on the $'s for output. Though on this years form, Eagles had the right idea in trying to swap for Hooker on trade table.