..talk of Foster is the back is bad, he might come ok but a longshot, hence slipping down the order and dawgs passing him up.. ..has talent, just unsure if he can withstand afl..

..this year we have tried to go after engine room types, but I was talking more in general draft in draft out.... ..since the dark days, when we ought to have concentrated on engine room and kpps.. ..we haven't, save some longshot rookies.. ..luckily a few rookies have come good..

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

You think FA is dead already? A bit of coin will be released with the looming retirements. Snag a couple of decent mids to replace Judd and Carazzo et al. Additionally I think with our new-found accuracy firing blindfolded at the KPP draft picks list ,we can for the first time really concentrate on midfield depth in the draft . Instead of paddling a barbed wire canoe we are only in an old canoe with a few leaks.

I agree with Synbad, our top quality in the midfield is weak.

We desperatly need guys like Bells, Everitt, Yarran, Curnow, Carrazo to take the games by the balls. Gibbs, Murphy, Thomas, Judd are good quality but none are currently elite like a Lewis, Fyfe, Pendlebury, Selwood.

I think everitt is the one this year who can step up and be a big help in the midfield. His player 100 games across 3 clubs and at the age of 26 is ripe to take that next step.

I think Malthouse has built a solid side, but solid doesnt win you premierships. We need more from the 24 and overs to be contenders.

Atleast we look like we are going to hit harder in 2015.

We need Cripps and Whiley to improve.

Bell I'm not sure if his awareness will improve. Has the will and the grunt but....

..Wiley is steak knives, he will give us good games sure, but he will be second to third string midfield, and if he plays 50 senior games for us, he's done well..

..free agency is not the way to build a team, if we chase two good kids via free agency, our list management cost wise will be way out of balance..

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

If Fyfe and Lewis are elite, then so are Gibbs, Judd and Murphy. If Thomas' explosiveness is returning as it seemed last year (and according to track watchers), then he'll be up there as well.

That's excluding the output of players like Yarran, Docherty, Tuohy, Jamison, Henderson, Kreuzer, Carrazzo, Curnow, Everitt who all have elite attributes for the positions they play, and some have the capability to take their game to an elite level (and have in the past when fully fit).

If a lot of things went right for us this season, we could push deep into the finals. That said, I think we're likely to be top 8 material, which isn't exactly a dramatic step forward.

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29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

Gibbs, Murphy, Judd, and Thomas are an elite midfield.
What they would need is help , a few good sized intelligent play makers , hard nut extractors to spread the load.
Unfortunatly our cupboard is bare and the young guys will need some time to come on, just be patient.
Mick has it worked out nicely, it will take a few years to turn it around.
Ciao

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Go Blue Boys

We are going to be super competitive this year, and may even win a final or two if luck goes our way with injuries and opposition.

We've had two excellent years of recruitment/trading, and have cut a *lot* of dead wood.

Soooooo exciiiited.

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O say does that star spangled banner yet wave.

Not sure about "BellS" and Carrazo", but you're selling Bell and CarrazZo a little short.

Double post

It would be great to get back to where we were 4 years ago but with more talent.

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I am as mad as hell and I'm not going to take it any more!!!

All about the "'tude" robertbb.

Everyone who gets a mike in there mush has said the same thing " we only want guys who want to work hard" that's very refreshing and a none to subtle dig at Eddie, Waite. Jeffy and Robbo.

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I hope Essendon* folds.

..it might be a dig at them Cimm, but there's very very few on our list that can say it with a straight face.. ..half a season doesn't count for much, versus years of lazy play.. ..I like the sound of it, and the signs late last year were good.. ..but two way running is a dirty word at the CFC, I'll wait and see if they back it up..

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

Nope ... An elite midfield is made up of a large number of strong contributes

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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.

@#$%&! you just like to be negative and contrary. Might I suggest getting laid?

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O say does that star spangled banner yet wave.

..it's not negative, it's factual.. ..up until recently there has not been enough hard working players.. ....we've heard all the talk before, year in and year out.. ..judd has said in the last 12 months that we are mediocre, that the team hasn't tried hard enough.. ..for less than half a season the signs were good, but the players have cried wolf too often to take their words at face value.. ....the team culture stinks, and it needs more than a few months to prove otherwise..

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

Rank the tiers of the midfielders on the list then?

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29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

..it's not about midfield talent, it's about midfield work ethic, team work, and self sacrifice.. ....something we have barely shown on a regular basis for over a decade.. ..it's why we are called soft and front runners, it's why we can't string more than a few wins together.. ..its why certain players get bullied and smashed on a weekly basis..

..too much work left to too few, year in year out..

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

When it comes to running both ways it would be good to see Murphy showing the way.

It's very much about a creative , intelligent midfield being able to distribute the ball efficently. The game is won in the middle of the ground always has been.
We have Judd the master superb vision , Murphy and Gibbs no slouches either , Thomas, Carrazzo &. Simpson can all play their parts too.
What they need to finesse their game are 2 or 3 smart hard blocking, bullocking types prepared to put their bodies on the line to abosorb pressure and release them.
I think Crisp, Whliley perhaps Bell , Holman and Walsh later are a chance.
The foundation is gathering form, we need patience , we're coming from way back , it will take time.
Ciao

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Go Blue Boys