WELCOME TO THE MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB – JAKE MELKSHAM

[jötnar 25]

Ah, so you want to get in to specifics about what steak knives are going to be added. FMD, thanks for wasting my time.

Appropriate avatar.

You are so quick.

Edit: And can I have my hook back?

Edited October 12, 2015 by jötnar

[Barney Rubble 1,576]

Yeah, but our 2nd rounder next year will be approx. Pick 36...

And maybe the players we want to trade out are already linked to different clubs.

Very very silly billy!

[nutbean 8,838]

This is just so speculative - people were happy with swapping Clark for Lumumba - both to my thinking have been a bust. (some were happy with the original Clark get and some werent)

Some were unhappy in what we gave up for Vince and that looks like a steal now.

This is absolutely "time will tell". I won't shed a tear ( of sadness or joy) until I see him play for us and watch what we produces.

[Jaded No More 68,974]

Salem is reported to be moving into the guts

I read the first 6 words and nearly vomited

Salem to play midfield. Salem NOT moving anywhere.

Phew!

[Gator 17,480]

Chris Pelchen, who's been doing this for a long time at 3 clubs, said a week ago he thought Melksham was worth in the vicinity of pick 20-25.

[Jaded No More 68,974]

This is just so speculative - people were happy with swapping Clark for Lumumba - both to my thinking have been a bust. (some were happy with the original Clark get and some werent)

Some were unhappy in what we gave up for Vince and that looks like a steal now.

This is absolutely "time will tell". I won't shed a tear ( of sadness or joy) until I see him play for us and watch what we produces.

Clark has been a bust, but we were criminally screwed in that trade given Clark's potential ceiling. He came with high risk, high reward factor.

Lumumba has also been a massive disappointment. He was a low risk low reward.

[KingDingAling 3,758]

If we wanted to do the trade now, we have either Pick 25 or 43 to offer. Essendon won't accept 43, so if we REALLY want him, we can only pay what we have in the bank, which is Pick 25.

While it may be considered "overs", there's nothing we can do about it, unless we orchestrated a deal for us to get a late 2nd round pick from somewhere.

It seriously isn't that hard to understand.

No, we can offer them 43, or tell them to wait. We might be able to get another pick to satisfy. All we have done here is bend over to Essendon. They are in no position to play hardball, because they have WADA hanging over their head. Let's watch a professional club like St KIlda deal with Essendon over the next few days.

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

I read the first 6 words and nearly vomited

Salem to play midfield. Salem NOT moving anywhere.

Phew!

I was about to post the same thing. Don't scare me like that, beelzebub.

[mo64 5,881]

It's evident that Milksham was targeted by the FD as a priority get, most likely several months ago, to fill a specific role in the structure that they are building.

After the wins of recruiting last year and just acknowledging the professionalism by which Roos, Goodwin, Viney etc... go about selecting players to bring into the club, I've got confidence this deal will be good for us.

No, our priority targets (big fish) all fell through, and Melksham was on the next line of targets. He's hardly a priority.

[What 18,810]

Well he can certainly kick long goals off either foot

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1k5DFakV9E

[nutbean 8,838]

Clark has been a bust, but we were criminally screwed in that trade given Clark's potential ceiling. He came with high risk, high reward factor.

Lumumba has also been a massive disappointment. He was a low risk low reward.

I think Lumumba should produce a higher reward that we received - he perennially finishes well up in the Pies B&F. We weren't screwed on Clark - has never been able to get his body right and yet again failed him. We certainly won big time with Vince.

[jnrmac 20,189]

Salem is reported to be moving into the guts

I think you'll find Salem said he wants to try and move into the midfield. A bit different...

[deeko 952]

Pick 25/28 seems like a bargain for an established player to me. Reckon people way, way overestimate the value of draft picks.

Agree. Especially when (hopefully) its another weak draft. Other than 2013 its a lot more miss than hit so I don't mind giving the pick the flick for a ready made player who will start round 1.

Historical picks 25-29

2011. Seb Ross, Todd Elton, Sam Kerridge, Fraser McIness, Alex Forster

2012. Spencer White, Viney (f/s), James Stewart, Tim O'Brien, Tom Clurey

2013. Daniel McStay, Zac Merrett, Sean Lemmons, Lewis Taylor

2014. Daniel Nelson, Toby McLean, Lukas Webb, Dillon Viojo Rainbow

[DeeSpencer 26,083]

Pick 25/28 seems like a bargain for an established player to me. Reckon people way, way overestimate the value of draft picks.

Later picks I agree, but even in a weak draft you are a chance at a good player with pick 25 and there should be ways to find guys good enough to fill gaps with late picks.

I think the need to find more quality players should trump the need to find decent depth in the 22, especially when it's a player in Melksham who hasn't demonstrated any leadership ability or other intangible quality as far as I know.

We are banking on improving Melksham and/or reinventing him in a new role and that's a dangerous game to play I think.

[The Chazz 4,077]

No, we can offer them 43, or tell them to wait. We might be able to get another pick to satisfy. All we have done here is bend over to Essendon. They are in no position to play hardball, because they have WADA hanging over their head. Let's watch a professional club like St KIlda deal with Essendon over the next few days.

Yep, like we did with Frost last year? Last minute trade, had to give up 23 as we didn't "collect" any other more "market value" picks for him.

Sometimes you just have to pull the trigger. With Melksham, we will likely have the deal done tomorrow morning, meaning we can now focus on our next target.

We're not flucking around anymore. We know what we want to do, and we go out and do it.

[DeeSpencer 26,083]

The half back talk does give me some hope, with Howe and Cross leaving.

If we play 3 talls defenders and Jetta in a back pocket then we are left with:

Salem, Lumumba, Mitch White, Grimes, Terlich. The last two aren't AFL grade. White is a rookie who might be good enough to play more next year but probably isn't a full time starter.

So Melksham would slot in to a starting role.

I just hope he can adapt and play it well. He's ok but not amazing in the air and doesn't make good decisions under pressure from what I've seen. But maybe the space at half back and being able to kick off both feet might help him.

[daisycutter 29,743]

Pick 25/28 seems like a bargain for an established player to me. Reckon people way, way overestimate the value of draft picks.

and underestimate (or wilfully ignore) any wada actions tbd

the elephant is still in the room

[Nasher 33,617]

and underestimate (or wilfully ignore) any wada actions tbd

the elephant is still in the room

I willfully ignore it. I can only assume the club knows what it's doing in that regard.

[SaberFang 7,151]

Curious how we're going to also get Bugg and Kennedy without getting Essendon's third rounder back. I'd think Collingwood will want something in the 20s for the latter, Bugg something in the 30's.

[Redleg 41,492]

Yeah, we are a bit of a laughing stock when it comes to negotiation at the trade table.

Who said?

[mo64 5,881]

Agree. Especially when (hopefully) its another weak draft. Other than 2013 its a lot more miss than hit so I don't mind giving the pick the flick for a ready made player who will start round 1.

Historical picks 25-29

2011. Seb Ross, Todd Elton, Sam Kerridge, Fraser McIness, Alex Forster

2012. Spencer White, Viney (f/s), James Stewart, Tim O'Brien, Tom Clurey

2013. Daniel McStay, Zac Merrett, Sean Lemmons, Lewis Taylor

2014. Daniel Nelson, Toby McLean, Lukas Webb, Dillon Viojo Rainbow

I like all the highlighted players. Too early to call on the 2014 crop, but McLean and Webb look ok for the Dogs. Of the others, McIness and O'Brien are developing KPPs at top clubs. I'd say more hits than misses.

[PaulRB 6,411]

No, our priority targets (big fish) all fell through, and Melksham was on the next line of targets. He's hardly a priority.

Mate, Its Day 1 of the trade period!

Yet you're claiming that we won't land a big fish? based on what?

Then, you claim inside knowledge of the priorities of the FD. My claim about Melksham being "a priority" is based on the FACT that they targeted him weeks ago (publicly) and pushed through getting him on Day 1.

You're quite strange.

[Redleg 41,492]

My claim about Melksham being "a priority" is based on the FACT that they targeted him weeks ago (publicly) and pushed through getting him on Day 1.

When was the trade completed?

[PaulRB 6,411]

True. Not completed, I stand corrected.

[binman 43,821]

Pick 25/28 seems like a bargain for an established player to me. Reckon people way, way overestimate the value of draft picks.

A view shared by Leigh Matthews.