The Trade/Draft Rumour Mill

[BAMF 4,350]

What about Nick Joyce from the Adelaide Crows. Is he worth drafting as a rookie? He is listed as a midfielder and he has been in the system for a couple of years. Adelaide has just delisted him.

177cm 69kg. Very small

[Little Richard 6,262]

Well, I think we did ok and that's all that matters. Won't know for sure for a few years yet...

Any word on possible PSD targets?

I would love to get a contract hold out from another club...

And Matt Thomas intrigues me.

Does he intrigue anyone else?

I think Thomas is definitely worth a look, I was surprised that he was delisted actually.

[jnrmac 20,060]

We got two experienced, proven AFL quality midfielders, two young midfielders of an age where they are ready to hit their straps, and we remained in the top 10 of the draft, in a draft where there should definitely be A grade mids available at our pick. I literally cannot think of anything else we needed to get out of this trade period.

We could have got a bona fide star but difficult as an undesired destination... And we need to rebuild faith in our playing group which I think we did by not trading out anyone. The dummies in the media are forgetting Hogan. Quite possibly better than anyone in this draft. If you take the media comment that Tyson would have been 1 or 2 in this draft I reckon we have 2 of the best 3 kids. And still a top 9 pick.

Two players averaging over 20 possessions, Vince and Cross - we only had Jones that did that. All of a sudden our midfield can get the pill and the opposition can't.

Need our ppl like Strauss, Blease, Tappy to really to a step fwd. McDonald to grow. Howe to become more than a one trick pony. Tyson, Clark and Dawes to get on the park and stay there.

I still see rucking as a big issue for us. They must have faith in Jamar but I think he's past it.

I'd give us a B+ or A-

[jnrmac 20,060]

Luke Molan.

A tad harsh, because he was apparently a top kid, but using pick 9 on him in that draft was idiotic.

Hardly idiotic. Was well regarded. We/he were unlucky with his body.

[Slartibartfast 17,262]

We could have got a bona fide star

Who?

[Ron Burgundy 8,584]

Hardly idiotic. Was well regarded. We/he were unlucky with his body.

Was predicted to go at about 30.

We used pick 9.

[Old Man Rivers 326]

I think Thomas is definitely worth a look, I was surprised that he was delisted actually.

Agree here Matt Thomas is worth a closer look. Built like a rock, only 26, has just won a Margery Medal. Port decided he did not fit there new direction, He seems to address all our immediate needs. Definately an option I am open too!

[FarNorthernD 5,861]

Luke Molan.

A tad harsh, because he was apparently a top kid, but using pick 9 on him in that draft was idiotic.

I think the story was that Daniher said he wanted the toughest, strongest, no backward steps footballer of the draft. The recruiting department delivered Luke Molan to the Rev.

Luke's story is below but it would be fair to say he had a harsh run with injuries. If you were looking for a symbol of Melbourne's luck over the past decade the nearly number 14 would make a fair mascot.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/a-super-unlucky-pick-from-the-superdraft-20091124-j5uy.html

[Hannibal 5,814]

That draft isn't what people think it was.

Look it up.

Dal Santo at 13, Kelly at 17, and not much else...

Nine of the next 15 selections taken after Molan played over 100 games and 6 of those played over 150.

It may not have been a stellar draft, but Molan was a diabolical selection, as Cameron has since noted.

[Deeoldfart 8,016]

I found Barrett's contradiction in relation to Hogan laughable. On the one hand he totally ridiculed our 2012 recruitment without acknowledging that Hogan was a product of that process, but when it was suggested that Hogan would effectively be part of our 2013 recruitment, he blurted out that Hogan can't be included, because he was recruited in 2012. Wants it both ways!

[jumbo returns 6,741]

Nick Smith

At least Smith played a final.

[rjay 24,917]

I found Barrett's contradiction in relation to Hogan laughable. On the one hand he totally ridiculed our 2012 recruitment without acknowledging that Hogan was a product of that process, but when it was suggested that Hogan would effectively be part of our 2013 recruitment, he blurted out that Hogan can't be included, because he was recruited in 2012. Wants it both ways!

I think the combined draft/trade period of 2012/13 could be a major turning point for the club. Bringing in Hogan, Viney, Toumpas, Kent, Tyson, Michie and pick 9 (Lennon) is pretty good work. We made a few strange decisions with Byrnes, Peterson, Rodan and Gillies and I'm not convinced with the Dawes selection, I reckon that's the only one that has a big question mark. I know he brings leadership etc. etc. but he has to prove it on the park and is yet to do that. He cost us a good pick in a strong draft.

[Robbie57 2,020]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-10-26/what-we-learned-from-the-trade-period

After hearing Peter Ryan's and [censored] Barrett's thoughts in the latest AFL trade video (summary) regarding Melbourne at ~ 14 min mark, I swear Peter Ryan must read demonland.

As for Barrett, I couldn't help but laugh as he again tried to stir the dees fans, dam he's [censored] and I hope he gets hit by a car.

I haven't listened to Barratt much but was shocked by his head in the sand approach even dismissing the other gypsy who offered to explain it wasn't Tyson for pick 2. An opinion is only valid if based on the real facts not some invention.

His unconcealed hatred was further exposed later when he praised the tigers for trading for what the said they needed even if the paid overs. My recollection is that is what we did. No doubt a bit over on Vince but under on michie. Tyson was done for effectively pick 18 or so.

Barrett Is in my view hopelessly biased against us and should just fess up makes him look bad.

The good thing was the other 2 on the video were openly laughing at his position on us.

Rating D is just spiteful. We might have done better but clearly we did pretty well given we are not a club of choice.

I will now resume ignoring Mr Barratt.

[ChaserJ 5,089]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-10-26/what-we-learned-from-the-trade-period

After hearing Peter Ryan's and [censored] Barrett's thoughts in the latest AFL trade video (summary) regarding Melbourne at ~ 14 min mark, I swear Peter Ryan must read demonland.

Ryan is AFL.com's Melbournefc focused journalist. I'm not absolutely certain, but I think he may be a supporter, or at the very least has a soft spot given the amount of time he has spent covering the club. I generally find him well informed and balanced.

[titan_uranus 25,014]

I found Barrett's contradiction in relation to Hogan laughable. On the one hand he totally ridiculed our 2012 recruitment without acknowledging that Hogan was a product of that process, but when it was suggested that Hogan would effectively be part of our 2013 recruitment, he blurted out that Hogan can't be included, because he was recruited in 2012. Wants it both ways!

Classic Barrett.

Quite easily AFL's biggest [censored].

Edit: [censored] = choose your own derogatory word.

Edited October 26, 2013 by titan_uranus

[Yossarian 1,820]

I choose plum.

[whatwhat say what 22,745]

Pretty sure Pete Ryan is a filth man unfortunately.

Good dude tho. One of few in the media who actually know anything about us at all.

[Its Time for Another 4,208]

He cost us a good pick in a strong draft.

I don't agree. The Pies drafted Broomhead with the pick we gave up for him. Ever heard of him? If you look at the next 7 or so players in that draft who we could have picked I haven't heard of any of them doing anything this year. A pick is only worth who you can get with it. A point Mr Barrett will clearly never understand. If Dawes gets over his injuries he could well still prove to be the best option with that pick.

[RalphiusMaximus 6,048]

Nine of the next 15 selections taken after Molan played over 100 games and 6 of those played over 150.

It may not have been a stellar draft, but Molan was a diabolical selection, as Cameron has since noted.

That is just a totally unfounded call. The guy had his career destroyed by injuries before it even started. How is that anything but bad luck? For all we know he could have been a 300 game forward for us without those injuries. This is one case where you can't just list off the players taken after him as evidence of a recruiting failure. We will never know how good he could have been had he not broken down, so there is no basis for comparison with any of the players who managed to stay on the park.

[jnrmac 20,060]

Who?

I'm saying our trade period could have been better had we traded for a bona fide star. We don't know who might have been available because Melbourne is was an undesirable destination. Let me put it another way. Had we been a Geelong or Coll wanting to trade a pick 2 we would have been attractive to a candidate like a Goddard last year. Being Melbourne our options were limited.

So we might have been able to do better but realistically we did as well as we could have,

[Demoneyes 562]

People will be wanting to come to us next year after our glorious rise up the ladder! D home will be the place to be!

[Dee-licious 1,949]

I don't agree. The Pies drafted Broomhead with the pick we gave up for him. Ever heard of him? If you look at the next 7 or so players in that draft who we could have picked I haven't heard of any of them doing anything this year. A pick is only worth who you can get with it. A point Mr Barrett will clearly never understand. If Dawes gets over his injuries he could well still prove to be the best option with that pick.

Hvroat (inside mid) and Towers (Mature Age inside mid) - we would have taken either of these two. Both have played some good games for WB and Syd respectively. But I am happy with Dawes

[Hannibal 5,814]

That is just a totally unfounded call. The guy had his career destroyed by injuries before it even started. How is that anything but bad luck? For all we know he could have been a 300 game forward for us without those injuries. This is one case where you can't just list off the players taken after him as evidence of a recruiting failure. We will never know how good he could have been had he not broken down, so there is no basis for comparison with any of the players who managed to stay on the park.

Rubbish. The guy was a dud.

[rpfc 28,386]

Nine of the next 15 selections taken after Molan played over 100 games and 6 of those played over 150.

It may not have been a stellar draft, but Molan was a diabolical selection, as Cameron has since noted.

It was a terrible selection, as I have noted previously when people were actually wondering how we are so bad earlier this year.

I simply meant that the draft itself is remembered as a Superdraft and it really wasn't.

[TRIGON 4,783]

Classic Barrett.

Quite easily AFL's biggest [censored].

Edit: [censored] = choose your own derogatory word.

I usually book my appointments to see him for the following Tuesday (and then cancel because he's not that useful).

On our trading I'd give as an A-, an excellent performance and would be an A+ if we'd been able to engineer a pick upgrade via a fringe player.

All in all well done to Josh and the team.