As previously mentioned it was the aim of the MFC to trade for 2 A Grade Mids and also leave one top ten draft pick. (My apologies for suggesting pick 2 would stay, I later corrected this.)

There were a number of A Grade players targeted but Dangerfield, Hannebery plus a couple of other A Grade Swans were the players MFC gained traction. Mitchell was also targeted as a Tyson style deal. Melbourne were prepared to trade virtually any player on the list for the right price to also help bring these trades to completion.

MFC came very close to securing Danger, Danger had agreed to be traded to us on a massive contract but never asked to leave. Roos was never going to trade picks 2 and 3 for one player which was what Adelaide were asking. When the Adelaide administration were unable to get Danger to commit to a new contract last week, Pick 3 and a later first round pick became the asking price. The tigers had shown interest in Trengrove for pick 12. This deal was on the clasp of being done but unfortunately Trengrove failed his medico. MFC then went to look for a replacement and shopped Watts around. Several good teams were prepared to trade their first round pick 10 -20 for Watts, however Roos put an end to this. Roos values Watts much higher than a pick 10 - 20 but no teams were prepared to offer more. Roos wants to keep Watts. Other players were also suggested but no deal was done. On a side note I don't believe the rumour that Adelaide were prepared to offer pick 10 for Trengrove.

Attention then moved back to Sydney, it was hoped that Sydney would have salary cap issues this would force them to off load one of their A Graders for pick 2. MFC were also hoping to trade out another player for a pick around 10 which they would have hoped to get Lever. Another option was to trade for Mitchell with pick 2 swapped for a later single digit pick that would have been used for Lever. Clearly no deal was done. It was difficult to get the targeted Swans players to agree to come to the Dees and Sydney are not yet in a position of being forced to reduce salary cap. This will be an issue for them next year, when they will be forced to let players go....... but they want to win the premiership first.

We also made a play for Toby Greene.

Roos is targeting Lever and Brayshaw in the draft. Brayshaw is a lock in, it will be interesting who Roos takes with the other low pick.

MFC is now is a super strong position with massive salary cap space. It will be making big plays for FA next season and you can bet Danger and Sydney players are at the top of their list.

So to the riddles...... if you care.

Congratulations to Ignition who was closest to the pin, although many correctly solved the first one.

"Our likely trading partner is black and white but not a little bird"

Answer: Sydney. A Swan can come in black or white and is not a little bird.

"Tick, tock, the black mouse has run up the electric clock.

Lancelot lurks with feathers or fur to the command of his sir."

The black mouse is Dangerfield, time was running out to complete this deal and Watts had been offered as part of the trade. Watts was later withdrawn.

Lancelot is the "Jack of Clubs", Watts is the Jack of Clubs. Watts is Lancelot. There were several clubs interested in Watts and he would go where he was traded. Sir is Roos.

Ok so they both ended up not happening, trade week is a moving beast. I am sorry to any that somehow feel offended. For god sake it was a rumour thread, lighten up!! I am sure I will cop some more abuse, please its a waste of your time, I simply don't care. The tread was boring, trade week was boring, I had been muted and thought I would add some fun. It did make me laugh.............. very hard.

One more thing, Demonland deteriorates when its members start bickering. We once had a site called Demology. It was destroyed by its members bickering, lets not let Demonland go down that path.

Could it be Roos the psychological master. Watts was out there, clubs were prepared to offer reasonably for him, but Roos has said, 'no you're my boy, I am backing you in'?!

Top Shelf all round again GNF !!!!

GNF - Does Roos like Brayshaw and Lever because Petracca will be taken or he because he just rates them better?

Cheers and thanks for the debrief

Thank You flag,

Thanks GNF, you're a man of your word and I, for one, look forward to your insider info, whether it comes in riddle form or not.

The revelation that a Watts trade could have got Dangerfield on our list burns in the pit of my stomach. You probably should have left that info out as it will fan the flames for all the Watts haters out there.

I think this place took a turn for the worse when the riddler posted his opportunistic shyte

Correct or not, I like reading the rumours.

Keep posting!

Thank’s GNF, please don’t let the negative types ever stop you from sharing what you know.

I think this place took a turn for the worse when the riddler posted his opportunistic shyte

It was hardly GNFs riddles that made Demonland take a turn for the worse; how can posting rumours be construed as being opportunistic? At least by making them a little more "interesting" or "cryptic" a few got to exercise their grey-matter.

I found it quite amusing that some took it all so seriously.

Well done GNF. I ridiculed, but it was all tongue in cheek.
Interesting you say Lever, i'm leaning towards Mcartin. I posted my mail i had with someone that has worked with him down at Falcons (which i will again post in here), which kind of had me salivating at a Hogan/Mcartin/Dawes combo next year:

MY MAIL:

Just spoke to my connection down at the Falcons. He said that if Petracca goes pick 1, we must take Mcartin. Said the kid is an absolute brute, who plays aggressively and can mark, kick, tackle, out body and the rest. Makes me think of what could be with a combination of Hogan and Mcartin down there for the next 10 years. Also said he is a monster that would be ready to go round 1.
Said he played bottom age last year, and made the All-Australian side, and also actually broke Dom Sheeds collar bone in one of the matches.
Downside is that he has diabetes, and has sometimes had to run off the field to check his levels but is making good progress in learning how to manage this.
Anyways just what i got told. For me, if Petracca goes #1 like he is expected to, MCartin and Brayshaw would be my wishes.

Thanks for the info.

So sad that we almost had Danger... next year we HAVE to perform better on the field so we can attract some big names through FA. We sure have the cash for it!

It was hardly GNFs riddles that made Demonland take a turn for the worse;

I didn't say that and I'm not sure how you interpreted my post like that

Thanks GNF. Assuming your info is correct (sorry, but what else can I say?) the most striking thing to me is that other clubs were prepared to offer picks 10-20 for Watts. There would be many Watts haters/critics on here who dislike him more than these clubs do it seems. I'll continue to rely on the professional AFL recruiting teams and Roos and expect improvement.

Even if all of this is rubbish, it's entertaining.

Fantastic stuff, thanks.

So we can expect another rubbish year from Jack Watts. His confidence would be pretty low if we shopped him around to every club.

So we can expect another rubbish year from Jack Watts. His confidence would be pretty low if we shopped him around to every club.

most players would take it as a much needed "kick up the butt".

Hopefully Jack doesn't feel self-entitled and sooky and take is as you suggested.

I enjoy reading rumours.

The amount of detail in the narrative gives me reason to be suspicious of the completeness of the information.

I have no doubt that you have got snippets of genuine info, I suspect that you have managed to join a lot of dots and have filled in some blanks to form a compelling story. A career in politics or journalism awaits.

Obviously targetting Brayshaw because Petracca a lock at 1. If the Saints let him slip we will take him no doubt about that. Clearly Roos after the best 2 mids on offer. Saints would be silly to try and play games here.

I didn't say that and I'm not sure how you interpreted my post like that

You said, and I quote, "I think this place took a turn for the worse when the riddler posted his opportunistic shyte".

I was assuming that "this place" was referring to Demonland, the "riddler" was a reference to GNF, and "opportunistic shyte" was a reference to his riddles. You genuinely can't see how your post might be interpreted in that way?

You said, and I quote, "I think this place took a turn for the worse when the riddler posted his opportunistic shyte".

I was assuming that "this place" was referring to Demonland, the "riddler" was a reference to GNF, and "opportunistic shyte" was a reference to his riddles. You genuinely can't see how your post might be interpreted in that way?

i believe he was referring to the bell-end who popped up on Demonland with the actual name and avatar of 'The Riddler'.

You said, and I quote, "I think this place took a turn for the worse when the riddler posted his opportunistic shyte".

I was assuming that "this place" was referring to Demonland, the "riddler" was a reference to GNF, and "opportunistic shyte" was a reference to his riddles. You genuinely can't see how your post might be interpreted in that way?

No, there was someone called "The Riddler".

I feel ridiculous even writing it.

You said, and I quote, "I think this place took a turn for the worse when the riddler posted his opportunistic shyte".

I was assuming that "this place" was referring to Demonland, the "riddler" was a reference to GNF, and "opportunistic shyte" was a reference to his riddles. You genuinely can't see how your post might be interpreted in that way?

No there was some idiot that joined earlier this week posting riddles as "the riddler" who indeed posted shyte.

Obviously targetting Brayshaw because Petracca a lock at 1. If the Saints let him slip we will take him no doubt about that. Clearly Roos after the best 2 mids on offer. Saints would be silly to try and play games here.

And then Petracca, slips, we take him, random player X ends up dominating and the wailing & gnashing of teeth starts because "we should have taken him"

I can't wait !

To the OP, thanks GNF