Priority irony

The unfolding so-called 'tanking' issue that threatens Melbourne Football Club has many facets, but none more intriguing that the club's failure to gain the desired elevation through acquiring low draft picks.

The apparent focus on the conclusion to the 2009 season turns the spotlight on the resultant draft picks. Tom Scully, famously, is no longer with the Demons, instead reaping huge rewards from the Giants and Jack Trengove had the Captaincy thrust onto his shoulders whilst still learning the game.

Similarly, Jack Watts has yet to discover where his red cloak is, put his red underpants on the outside  and lead the Dees to the promised land. 

And perhaps it's the Trengove captaincy that is most damning of the club's strategy. In their pursuit of youth, almost at any cost, they found themselves without any leaders worthy of the name in the playing group.

Did the Demons unwittingly show the Suns and the Giants how necessary on-field leaders would be with such young playing groups? The Demons' activities in the just-finished trading period show what a significant dearth of leaders they have had.