Melksham would add nothing to our list. Next!!!!

So the Lions are trying to get Matt Suckling via the PSD, because picking him as a free agent will ruin their free agency compensation (which indicates to me the AFL have cut a deal with them for over-compensation).

Would we have any interest in him? Seems rather foolish for a team as hopeless as the Lions to start getting cute with their recruitment, could easily lead to uncertainty and unease from the player and his manager, opening up the potential for another club to swoop.

Edited August 18, 201510 yr by Lamashtu

Melts ham would walk into our best 22... Look at how we played on the weekend...so why not look at him?

Positives...goes hard, good disposal, goal kicker, good age, 100 games on the board, smart player....

So the Lions are trying to get Matt Suckling via the PSD, because picking him as a free agent will ruin their free agency compensation (which indicates to me the AFL have cut a deal with them for over-compensation).

Would we have any interest in him? Seems rather foolish for a team as hopeless as the Lions to start getting cute with their recruitment, could easily lead to uncertainty and unease from the player and his manager, opening up the potential for another club to swoop.

I could well be wrong, but Matt Suckling strikes me as a player who looks much better in a good side that can get him the ball. I'm not sure a player of his type would fit at a lower club right now. His kicking is excellent but he needs to have a system that not only gets him the ball but gives him time to use it.

I could well be wrong, but Matt Suckling strikes me as a player who looks much better in a good side that can get him the ball. I'm not sure a player of his type would fit at a lower club right now. His kicking is excellent but he needs to have a system that not only gets him the ball but gives him time to use it.

Probably similar to how Malceski has been going this year at the Gold Coast...

When is Scully out of contract?

Probably similar to how Malceski has been going this year at the Gold Coast...

I reckon Malceski only had one focus when he moved to the Gold Coast and that was enjoying retirement.

When is Scully out of contract?

Whenever he decides he wants more cashola.

C. Dawes to Brisbane

S. Martin to Bulldogs

N. Hrovat to Demons

J. Toumpas to Crows

T. Lynch to Demons

J. Howe, J. Grimes & Pick 6 to Gold Coast

H. Bennell, D. Gorringe & late pick to Demons

Sign M. Suckling as URFA

Trade in S. Grimley on the cheap

Upgrade A. Vandenberg & J. Harmes

Allow C. Garland to walk as Free Agent (use the cap space)

Delist: M. Jamar, J. McKenzie, R. Bail, V. Michie, A. Riley

2016 - MELBOURNE 22

FB: Dunn, T. McDonald, Jetta

HB: Lumumba, Frost, Suckling

C: Bennell, N. Jones, Tyson

HF: Vandenberg, Hogan, Kent

FF: Lynch, Grimley, Garlett

FOLL: Gawn, Vince, Viney

INT: Brayshaw, Petracca, Salem, Watts

2016 - CASEY 22

FB: ?*, O. McDonald, Terlich

HB: Cross, Fitzpatrick, White*

C: M. Jones, Neal-Bullen, Newton

HF: Trengove, Pedersen, Hunt

FF: ?*, King*, Kennedy-Harris

FOLL: Spencer, ?, Hrovat

INT: Gorringe, Harmes, Stretch, ?

* Equals rookie

Gives us two live picks at the National Draft, plus the two rookie upgrades and then two picks at the rookie draft. I'd be giving 1 year contract extentions to Cross, Pedersen, Hunt, Fitzpatrick and the two rookies King & White. Couple that with M. Jones, Terlich OOC at the end of 2016, we'll have plenty more players available for the chop in 12 months time also.

• I am not an advocate of mass delistings given the draft is meant to be very thin.
• McKenzie, Bail and Reilly are almost certain to be delisted and Terlich is a fair chance to have his last year paid out. Others who might be delisted are Fitzpatrick, Jamar, Toumpas, Michie and Hunt.
• Garland and Howe will be offered contracts and the ball is in their court. I would like them both to stay and feel we will get undercompensated if they leave.
• We have to upgrade Vandenberg and Harmes.
• Our prime target should be Dangerfield. He is a top five player in the game and would instantly give us a real chance at finals.
• I feel we are most lacking outside run and skill. If we don’t get Dangerfield, we should be trying to get a player like Motlop, Yarran, Lewis Jetta or Harley Bennell.
• I think Geelong are in a pickle and will delist Kelly, who is still playing well and would be a good short-term player for us.
• We should look to trade Toumpas for the best deal we can get.
• I’d consider trading Dawes, but I feel his contract was probably front loaded and I doubt we would get a decent return.
• We should look to trade with Sydney or GWS for their first pick by packaging lower picks together. These clubs only want the points required to get their Acadamy players. i.e. trade our second, third and fourth rounder to Sydney for their first pick.

The dream result would be:
• Get Dangerfield via free agency.
• Retain Howe and Garland.
• Delist McKenzie, Bail, Reilly and Terlich.
• Trade Toumpas for a 2016 pick.
• Trade our second, third and fourth rounder to Sydney for their first pick.
• Retain Cross and Jamar on short-term deals. Jamar is interesting given his age, but we only have three ruckmen on our list, so if he goes we may need to get another one.
• I assume we will look to retain Hunt, but I haven’t seen him play.
• I am undecided on Michie and think the last three games will decide his future.
• I am also undecided on Fitzpatrick.
• Enter the draft with only our first pick and Sydney’s first pick. (Using very late picks to upgrade Vandenberg and Harmes.)

It seems that among Essendon's 20 uncontracted players there are 5 Free Agents:-

Tom Bellchambers, RFA

Courtenay Dempsey, UFA

James Gwilt, UFA

Tayte Pears, UFA

Brent Stanton, UFA

Jason Winderlich, UFA

Watch the AFL deal EFC back into the early rounds of the draft if some of those guys go and it gives a few 2nd round picks.

What is suppoosedly a shallow draft becomes a lot weaker, especially when you add all the FA's floating around that are likely to attract 1st round, end of first round, 2nd round picks ie Suckling, Dangerfield, Selwood, Leuenberger.

Plus all the Academy players (4/5 in the first round), so on the current ladder our 2nd rnd pick will be about pick 28-30 ie the 28th-30th best player!! Yes, the Academy clubs need to pay the 'draft points' but they are getting the best players.

Can't see a strong case for keeping any but our 1st pick.

Edited August 19, 201510 yr by Lucifer's Hero

• I am not an advocate of mass delistings given the draft is meant to be very thin.

• McKenzie, Bail and Reilly are almost certain to be delisted and Terlich is a fair chance to have his last year paid out. Others who might be delisted are Fitzpatrick, Jamar, Toumpas, Michie and Hunt.

• Garland and Howe will be offered contracts and the ball is in their court. I would like them both to stay and feel we will get undercompensated if they leave.

• We have to upgrade Vandenberg and Harmes.

• Our prime target should be Dangerfield. He is a top five player in the game and would instantly give us a real chance at finals.

• I feel we are most lacking outside run and skill. If we don’t get Dangerfield, we should be trying to get a player like Motlop, Yarran, Lewis Jetta or Harley Bennell.

• I think Geelong are in a pickle and will delist Kelly, who is still playing well and would be a good short-term player for us.

• We should look to trade Toumpas for the best deal we can get.

• I’d consider trading Dawes, but I feel his contract was probably front loaded and I doubt we would get a decent return.

• We should look to trade with Sydney or GWS for their first pick by packaging lower picks together. These clubs only want the points required to get their Acadamy players. i.e. trade our second, third and fourth rounder to Sydney for their first pick.

The dream result would be:

• Get Dangerfield via free agency.

• Retain Howe and Garland.

• Delist McKenzie, Bail, Reilly and Terlich.

• Trade Toumpas for a 2016 pick.

• Trade our second, third and fourth rounder to Sydney for their first pick.

• Retain Cross and Jamar on short-term deals. Jamar is interesting given his age, but we only have three ruckmen on our list, so if he goes we may need to get another one.

• I assume we will look to retain Hunt, but I haven’t seen him play.

• I am undecided on Michie and think the last three games will decide his future.

• I am also undecided on Fitzpatrick.

• Enter the draft with only our first pick and Sydney’s first pick. (Using very late picks to upgrade Vandenberg and Harmes.)

I think you have summed it up perfectly although, If we trade away our second third and fourth round picks it doesn't leave us with much to trade for a potential depth player or a ready made player like we did with vince and pick 23.

People's thoughts on Stanton?

I think most people think he's rubbish, therefore he's a bit underrated.

Not a world beater, but would fit in our 22.

People's thoughts on Stanton?

I think most people think he's rubbish, therefore he's a bit underrated.

Not a world beater, but would fit in our 22.

He is a good player but he is very loyal to Essendon.

Melts ham would walk into our best 22... Look at how we played on the weekend...so why not look at him?

Positives...goes hard, good disposal, goal kicker, good age, 100 games on the board, smart player....

Melksham is a horrible decision maker with very poor disposal. What game have you been watching?

Melts ham would walk into our best 22... Look at how we played on the weekend...so why not look at him?

Positives...goes hard, good disposal, goal kicker, good age, 100 games on the board, smart player....

damaged goods.......and we've had enough of them

He is a good player but he is very loyal to Essendon.

May want a change of scenery though. I'd definitely look at him as a UFA on a one year contract due to the drug scandal.

no-one from essendope

no-one from the filth

May want a change of scenery though. I'd definitely look at him as a UFA on a one year contract due to the drug scandal.

I met him at the beginning of the year and he seemed very close with his teammates. And the recent quotes make me think he isn't going anywhere.

"I've always wanted to be a one-club player. I've spent probably just under half my life here. It's a part of me and it's a fantastic club to be a part of. I've built a lot of good friendships, not only players but staff as well."

People's thoughts on Stanton?

I think most people think he's rubbish, therefore he's a bit underrated.

Not a world beater, but would fit in our 22.

Underrated by the EFC fans but I reckon he's ok but probably not in the age profile we're now after.

The only Essendon player I'd go near is Zaharakis- clean from the drug saga and quick

Plus one less player to have destroy us every single time we play Essendon

I'd look at rookie listing Elliot Kavanagh.

Was a gun youngster that never got a run at Essendon. Don't know what else might have been happening behind the scenes, but talent doesn't disappear. Has been in good form for Essendon's VFL team lately, but looks likely to be delisted.

I'd look at rookie listing Elliot Kavanagh.

Was a gun youngster that never got a run at Essendon. Don't know what else might have been happening behind the scenes, but talent doesn't disappear. Has been in good form for Essendon's VFL team lately, but looks likely to be delisted.

Cale Morton, Lucas Cook, Jordan Gysberts, Sam Blease need I go on?

Cale Morton, Lucas Cook, Jordan Gysberts, Sam Blease need I go on?

No no stop.... I'll talk ... I'll tell u anything ...just no more torture!!!!

No no stop.... I'll talk ... I'll tell u anything ...just no more torture!!!!

OK, boys put away the water board, we have found their vulnerability.