Hell I'm a week early but I feel we need a distraction from yesterdays attempt at an effort.

So I thought it is time (almost) to reflect on this most debated of trades:

TJ for pick 14...

Many claimed that the Lions midfield would free the gifted but attention seeking TJ to impose himself on the game like never before. It seems however that the Lions experience has not been to different to ours. From this mornings Age: Travis Johnstone was arguably the coldest man, finishing with just eight possessions. Debate it all you like but TJ's effect on the Lions has been minimal.

Don't get me wrong I loved the bloke. He for me however, also personified the club under ND. Overripe, full of false hope, undisciplined... just not hard enough. I'm happy with the trade, as for me it was never about Jack Grimes (that said I hope he is going to be a great player). Rather it was about a beginning of a transformation at the Mfc. Despite yesterdays effort, our position on the ladder and my hours of laying in bed fretting about the financial fight we face, you can't deny that we are a very different club now than this time last year and you might argue that it all started with this trade.

Anyway.

I have memories of a few obviously hysterical posters claiming to have put their houses on TJ for the Brownlow. So to kick this wee discussion off I want to ask how the punters are feeling about their outlay with one round to go?

Won't get a vote

Glad we got rid of him. Should have done it years before.

as far as i'm concerned we might as well just have delisted him for nothing for all the difference he was going to make on our next chance at a flag. We found someone stupid enough to give us the captain of Vic Metro for him and it was a fantastic trade.

wanna put money on Trapper ?? tell ya what...give it al to me..after he comes no where I wll give you half back.. all win-win :D

We laughed all the way to the draft after that trade. I was happy at the time, and am even happier now than I was then.

Why did we get rid of Trav, he was our only in and under player! lol

Fork

Have known TJ (family friend) for 15 years so it`s fair to say i had the blinkers on.

I was probably one of the posters questioning the decision. i know understand and appreciate why it was done.

When you know someone and have to read the [censored] on here it can be hard, however deserved.

Trav was and is many things but one thing he isn`t is an `attention seeker` as you claim.. Quite the opposite i would of thought.

Anyway glad it was done now... Jack`s a gun and TJ `s surfing for a livin` on the Gold coast.

is your argument based on 1 game? Pretty sure he hurt his hammy early and was only on for 60% of the game. I think he has had a pretty good year for them. It is always hard for a player to change clubs and get use to a new environment especially after ten years with 1. He also only ever had 1 coach.

Getting a bit old people taking pot shots at him now he is not even at our club!!

Move on losers

Fork

Have known TJ (family friend) for 15 years so it`s fair to say i had the blinkers on.

I was probably one of the posters questioning the decision. i know understand and appreciate why it was done.

When you know someone and have to read the [censored] on here it can be hard, however deserved.

Trav was and is many things but one thing he isn`t is an `attention seeker` as you claim.. Quite the opposite i would of thought.

Anyway glad it was done now... Jack`s a gun and TJ `s surfing for a livin` on the Gold coast.

Robbie, just to clarify, my labeling of TJ as an "attention seeker" was referring to the fact that he generally received the No. 1 tag and relative "attention" from the opposition.

Agreed, Travis, was probably one not to draw attention to himself, I see where we've become confused.

Peter my argument is based on yet another season of unfulfilled promise. Surely if TJ was ever going to step up and be the player I think most believe he is, it was this year. Plenty of "cattle" around him to take the pressure off a little, a new coach, team and group of supporters to impress, but more than anything a point to prove. If you wish after 11 years of AFL football, to continue to make excuses for him your most welcome.

I am not taking pot shots at TJ, a guilty part of me wanted him to be a one club man. Rather having a bit of fun at how hysterical some were when he was traded, myself included.

The punters silence is deafening...

he could get more votes than the total by melbourne players

Regardless of how TJ and Grimes perform, I thought - and still think - it was the right decision for us.

I would have been comfortable with TJ performing well at Brisbane - it wouldn't have made the decision any worse, given that TJ won't be around when our next flag tilt comes around.

Why did we get rid of Trav, he was our only in and under player! lol

:D

Regardless of how TJ and Grimes perform, I thought - and still think - it was the right decision for us.

I would have been comfortable with TJ performing well at Brisbane - it wouldn't have made the decision any worse, given that TJ won't be around when our next flag tilt comes around.

:D

On what I saw of Jack Grimes at Frankston Oval today I doubt that any MFC supporter will have any concerns in years to come about the decision to trade TJ.

you're a beautiful man barry

On what I saw of Jack Grimes at Frankston Oval today I doubt that any MFC supporter will have any concerns in years to come about the decision to trade TJ.

Music to my ears, we're going to miss you mate...

if there was any reason as to why travis johsntone is no longer at melbourne, it was saturday evening!

played a terrible game but was also terrible from the body language, his second efforts and his willingness to do the slefless acts that make champions!!

TJ is my fav player, now only not my fav MFC player. The guy has tallant but after this year im guessing he will never deliver. If leigh mathews cant make tj what he should be then i dont think any player can. We did really well out of the draft to get grimes. To me even if grimes never playes a game, it has allowd another young player to take tj's position. I did hear bails on footy show yesterday tho saying 2-3 years we will struggle. to me its more like 4-5 i recon.

I did hear bails on footy show yesterday tho saying 2-3 years we will struggle

That's the kind of positive attitude people want to hear.

you're a beautiful man barry

You obviously haven't met him.

TJ is my fav player, now only not my fav MFC player. The guy has tallant but after this year im guessing he will never deliver. If leigh mathews cant make tj what he should be then i dont think any player can. We did really well out of the draft to get grimes. To me even if grimes never playes a game, it has allowd another young player to take tj's position.

the most sensible thing i have ever read that you have written. well done.

he could get more votes than the total by melbourne players

He could, but he wont.

Kind of sums up his attitude doesn't it?

I'II put up my hand as one that thought the TJ trade was a bad decision. Don't forget he has played some very good games this year and as well as some poor ones.

Because Grimes hasn't played a game Brisbane have won the trade stakes this year and we are all hopeful of course that Grimes will give us more value over his career than TJ. I definitely hope I was wrong about this trade but I am not conceding yet until Grimes plays quality senior footy.

I'II put up my hand as one that thought the TJ trade was a bad decision. Don't forget he has played some very good games this year and as well as some poor ones.

Because Grimes hasn't played a game Brisbane have won the trade stakes this year and we are all hopeful of course that Grimes will give us more value over his career than TJ. I definitely hope I was wrong about this trade but I am not conceding yet until Grimes plays quality senior footy.

What does it matter if TJ's played good footy this year? How would that have helped us? Best case scenario, it may have allowed us to put in some better performances, although whether that would have meant (m)any more wins is debatable.

However, in the scheme of things, wins in the next couple of years are virtually meaningless when it comes to winning a flag, as we're a long way off contending, and TJ will be over the hill by that time.

What does it matter if TJ's played good footy this year? How would that have helped us? Best case scenario, it may have allowed us to put in some better performances, although whether that would have meant (m)any more wins is debatable.

However, in the scheme of things, wins in the next couple of years are virtually meaningless when it comes to winning a flag, as we're a long way off contending, and TJ will be over the hill by that time.

even if TJ's presence alone gave us a few more wins that would just mean we have pick 3 or 4 instead of 1 in the draft. Absolutely no downside to the trade at all.