Dawes requests trade to Melbourne

[Ricochet]

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/dawes-requests-trade-to-melbourne-20121012-27hw4.html

Chris Dawes has requested to be traded from Collingwood to Melbourne.
The 24-year-old has settled on joining the Demons ahead of the Western Bulldogs and Brisbane, who made a strong late pitch to lure him interstate.
Dawes made his decision while on holidays in USA with his girlfriend, with all four clubs informed this afternoon.
The Demons, who have also expressed interest in Essendon forward Scott Gumbleton, must now negotiate a deal with the Magpies.

[Capper]

Wow the pies are doing well out of the free trade period. Good picks for Dawes and Wellingham

[quinny88]

Is Mark Neeld panicking a bit or am I being a bit harsh?
Im not trying to stir the pot, I actually like the Dees but I have no idea what is going on in Neelds head sometimes..
People are so quick to forget that by the end of 2011 Melbourne were predicted as one of the sides to make the finals the following year, or very close. I know this well because they have always been compared with Richmond over the past 3 or so years and most people in the media had always put them a step ahead of us in their development.

Enter Neeld..
It started round 1 this season when his Collingwood influenced gameplan (that Melbourne clearly arent capable of playing at this stage) was revealed and they were smashed by Brisbane at the G, which was the beggining of a horror season.
He persisted to play guys like Morton despite every supporter calling for his head and wanting someone like Couch in the side.
He refused to play Moloney, the man that won the best and fairest the season before and was Melbournes best clearance player.

Then comes trade week.. and the first move is to go after Shannon Byrnes, a small forward that has played in patches  but mostly on the outskirts in a great era at Geelong. A reasonable player, but a player that will be 29 early next season. Not what they need.

Then Moloney walks (understandably) and they decide not to match the offer from Brisbane which is fair enough, he clearly wasnt popular or required in Neelds eyes.
During this time though they are targeting a tall forward to help out Mitch Clarke. They missed out on Cloke which would have been a great addition, but to even consider Chris Dawes just baffles me. The guy has had one good season in his career, in 2010, the year Collingwood were almost unstopable. I would have been made to look good in that side. Dawes is no good. This a old buddy thing with him and Neeld from the Collingwood days, theres no other reason for it. Pedersen is reportedly up for grabs, throw everything at getting him anyday of the week over Dawes.

Like I said, maybe im being a bit harsh but these seem like band aid solutions which I know all about given Richmonds recruitment history over the past. What do Demons supporters think about it all?

[Spite]

I think you'll be pleasantly surprised next year quinny, Dawes can play football, especially when used in the right position!

[quinny88]

I think you'll be pleasantly surprised next year quinny, Dawes can play football, especially when used in the right position!

What do you mean by the right position, Forward?
Mate I hope for Neelds sake and particularly for Melbournes sake that he proves me wrong because if he doesnt fire from round 1 next year heads will be on the chopping block.

[Mat0369]

at Collingwood asking for pick 20 for Chris Dawes

[Purple 77]

Neeld is far from panicking.......

Moloney didn't play because he wasn't performing. Funnily enough, Melbourne have an abundance in inside Mids, so when he doesn't perform, he is easily replaced. What we don't have is outside Mids, seems like blease is sort of one, but that's about it. Byrnes is a fantastic addition; looked at his year assessment at Geelong, and they said although he played only 4 games, he actually had an outstanding year in the vfl, I hear he averaged nearly 30 a game. Of course byrnes played in patches in Geelong; 1) be was used as a small forward (are they ever consistent?), and 2) he wasn't exactly part of the super midfield, so he wasn't really needed a whole deal anyway in the mid. IMO Byrnes will be a much improved player, as he is now a bigger fish in a small pond instead of the other way around. Byrnes is EXACTLY what we need; a person capable of breaking the lines and being that outside mid. He also has great disposal and he brings much needed knowledge of a good team.

Dawes is a good player who had a bad year. Dawes didnt fluke playing good Footy over the past couple of years, and not trying to get into quinny, but do you really think in professional football that Neeld would only get Dawes just to have another buddy? That would never happen, especially from the professional, no nonsense mark Neeld.

I think you are being a little harsh lol but I suppose neither of us can predict the future, so time will tell. Look at Mitch Clark...... No one thought he'd be a good forward for Melb and was touted as a mistake by Melb. Look at him now

[T Dog]

As a pies man...facing a forward line of Clark, Howe and Dawes will not be easy..if they can meld togethter  and fire up :o

[quinny88]

Neeld is far from panicking.......

Moloney didn't play because he wasn't performing. Funnily enough, Melbourne have an abundance in inside Mids, so when he doesn't perform, he is easily replaced. What we don't have is outside Mids, seems like blease is sort of one, but that's about it. Byrnes is a fantastic addition; looked at his year assessment at Geelong, and they said although he played only 4 games, he actually had an outstanding year in the vfl, I hear he averaged nearly 30 a game. Of course byrnes played in patches in Geelong; 1) be was used as a small forward (are they ever consistent?), and 2) he wasn't exactly part of the super midfield, so he wasn't really needed a whole deal anyway in the mid. IMO Byrnes will be a much improved player, as he is now a bigger fish in a small pond instead of the other way around. Byrnes is EXACTLY what we need; a person capable of breaking the lines and being that outside mid. He also has great disposal and he brings much needed knowledge of a good team.

Dawes is a good player who had a bad year. Dawes didnt fluke playing good Footy over the past couple of years, and not trying to get into quinny, but do you really think in professional football that Neeld would only get Dawes just to have another buddy? That would never happen, especially from the professional, no nonsense mark Neeld.

I think you are being a little harsh lol but I suppose neither of us can predict the future, so time will tell. Look at Mitch Clark...... No one thought he'd be a good forward for Melb and was touted as a mistake by Melb. Look at him now

Fair response purple, I expected  someone thats a Melbourne supporter to stick up for them but I do stand by what I said until they prove otherwise.
Just In response to some of your points, Moloney certainly wasn't the only one not performing at Melbourne this year yet he seemed to be the one to get dropped and subbed when experience was needed in the midfield. All I know is that I was one happy man when Richmond played Melbourne and he started as the sub.
By saying Burns played in patches I was actually refering to the fact that he was never able to take hold of a permemnet position in the side, which is fine, Geelong were a very good side over that period and Burns is still a good player but at nearly 29 years of age I dont see his worth in a young side trying to build. If he was 2-3 years younger then yes.
As far as my opinion on Dawes im not basing my opinion on him from one year of football. I have always thought he was a receiver and they type of player that was made to look a lot better than he was in a good side. That showed this season when Collingwood never looked at their best and he was ordinary. Relationships have a huge bearing on clubs wanting certain players and visa versa. Chris Dawes nominated Melbourne as his club of choice, I can garuntee the reason behind that was because of his relationship with Neeld and Leigh Brown. The same as Chris Knights coming to Richmond to play with his best mate Maric. Its not the sole reason behind it but its certainly a major factor.

Mitch Clarke has only played about 10 games with Melbourne so he has proved very little thus far but I must admit he did thrive before his injury and looked a new man. I really do Hope Dawes is the same but I dont think he is anywhere near as capable as Clarke. 
And yes I probably am being harsh but like I said, I like the Dees, I have a lot of Dees supporter mates that are very frustrated and nervous about the recruitment plan put in place.

I will be more than happy for you to bring this up in 6 months time if im wrong and tell me to stick it where the sun dont shine haha

[Purple 77]

lol  :)

Though this doesn't mean I'm comfortable with what melbourne is doing  :-X I worry about melbourne with everything they do lol

If anything, I can't see why they are not targeting more midfielders! Apparently Farren Ray is on the radar, but we need more IMO. No use having big guys in the forward line if you don't have the players with skill and polish to get the ball down there.....

But, you gotta have faith in your team, so I couldn't help but defend them lol, time will tell like it always does  8)

[CrowsFan]

Byrnes is a fantastic addition; looked at his year assessment at Geelong, and they said although he played only 4 games, he actually had an outstanding year in the vfl, I hear he averaged nearly 30 a game. Of course byrnes played in patches in Geelong; 1) be was used as a small forward (are they ever consistent?), and 2) he wasn't exactly part of the super midfield, so he wasn't really needed a whole deal anyway in the mid. IMO Byrnes will be a much improved player, as he is now a bigger fish in a small pond instead of the other way around. Byrnes is EXACTLY what we need; a person capable of breaking the lines and being that outside mid. He also has great disposal and he brings much needed knowledge of a good team.

Had a look at his VFL stats and 30 per game is a fair exaggeration! He played 16 games and averaged 22.81 per game (12.25 kicks, 10.56 handballs). Kicked 14 goals and also averaged 3.75 marks and 5.38 tackles per game, including a massive 17 tackles in 1 game!! :o

[Scrads]

Byrnes is a fantastic addition; looked at his year assessment at Geelong, and they said although he played only 4 games, he actually had an outstanding year in the vfl, I hear he averaged nearly 30 a game. Of course byrnes played in patches in Geelong; 1) be was used as a small forward (are they ever consistent?), and 2) he wasn't exactly part of the super midfield, so he wasn't really needed a whole deal anyway in the mid. IMO Byrnes will be a much improved player, as he is now a bigger fish in a small pond instead of the other way around. Byrnes is EXACTLY what we need; a person capable of breaking the lines and being that outside mid. He also has great disposal and he brings much needed knowledge of a good team.

Had a look at his VFL stats and 30 per game is a fair exaggeration! He played 16 games and averaged 22.81 per game (12.25 kicks, 10.56 handballs). Kicked 14 goals and also averaged 3.75 marks and 5.38 tackles per game, including a massive 17 tackles in 1 game!! :o

Can't deny that is a pretty decent statline though :P

Idk if Dawes will flourish or fail at the dees, will he look worse with the lesser amount and quality of midfield delivery...?

[Purple 77]

Byrnes is a fantastic addition; looked at his year assessment at Geelong, and they said although he played only 4 games, he actually had an outstanding year in the vfl, I hear he averaged nearly 30 a game. Of course byrnes played in patches in Geelong; 1) be was used as a small forward (are they ever consistent?), and 2) he wasn't exactly part of the super midfield, so he wasn't really needed a whole deal anyway in the mid. IMO Byrnes will be a much improved player, as he is now a bigger fish in a small pond instead of the other way around. Byrnes is EXACTLY what we need; a person capable of breaking the lines and being that outside mid. He also has great disposal and he brings much needed knowledge of a good team.

Had a look at his VFL stats and 30 per game is a fair exaggeration! He played 16 games and averaged 22.81 per game (12.25 kicks, 10.56 handballs). Kicked 14 goals and also averaged 3.75 marks and 5.38 tackles per game, including a massive 17 tackles in 1 game!! :o

Well it looks like I heard wrong  :P lol

[Purple 77]

Dawes a Demon!

[Capper]

So its Dawes and 58 for 20 and 45. Is that correct??