2. According to my spies out Carlton way, it was the Blues who initiated talks with McLean's management in the first place and this happened sooner rather than late in the season or after it was over. Given the way the game is played these days, McLean's on and off field form, the mix of players in Melbourne's midfield, the rapid advent of Jack Grimes and the imminent arrival of Scullgrove, it's not hard to work out that McLean's departure was always going to be a mutual thing.

Well said. McLean was a good clubman and did a lot for Melbourne when he was with us.

While I don't wish anyone in a Carlton jumper anything short of a miserable career, I think some people here are being very harsh on him.

He wanted to go, sure, but it doesn't seem we tried all that hard to make him stay, and we got a good deal out of his departure. It would be terrible if, like with Thompson, people begrudge him and start vicious threads about him for the next 5 years.

Maybe Santa can teach him how to kick.