Looks like we're being used as leverage again.

I hope we're building up credit with agents with all of these stories about us being linked to players. Anytime an agent needs one of their players re-signed they come to Melbourne, we publicly express interest and soon afterwards they re-sign with their club. I'm probably giving our list management more credit than they're due, but this is how things work in the NBA. Rather than being a [censored] bag to agents we build a positive relationship which comes in handy when we negotiate with any of their players who we actually want.

A quick survey of Essendon supporters at work: "Go ahead, take him..."

Exactly the attitude of Carlton supporters to Garlett last year.

why...WADA issue "Holidays" to athletes

you men like Hird, & maybe Watson, seen O/S recently ???? holidays?

WADA have their pound of flesh,,, & have been seen to sort the issue of supplements in AFL. We all got the message over the last couple of years, its not about vengeance Blzb, its about change.

..... change has happened already.

I asked HL to do that before. Clearly it's a little harder to fit him in than he expected.

Jetta Dunn Lumumba

Frost McDonald Salem

Vince Tyson Melksham/Vandenberg

Kent Pedersen Brayshaw

Petracca Hogan Garlett

Gawn Jones Viney

Ex Bench: Trengove, Dawes, Grimes, Stretch, ANB

IMO...Melksham makes our team easily, I think he can have more of an impact on games compared to the players I have put on the bench.

Edited September 14, 201510 yr by Henrietta Lumbago

you men like Hird, & maybe Watson, seen O/S recently ???? holidays?

WADA have their pound of flesh,,, & have been seen to sort the issue of supplements in AFL. We all got the message over the last couple of years, its not about vengeance Blzb, its about change.

..... change has happened already.

if that were as you suggest then WADA wouldnt be bothering with an appeal.

I suggest they (WADA) have NOT their pound of flesh. Who's been banned/suspended yet ?

WADA dont deal in slaps on wrist...thats the AF"s preserve.

That 'message" won't resonate until they can say..."see that lot sitting over there( not playing ) ?...thats your lot to anyone crossing the line "

This isnt "vengeance"...this is due punishment...make no mistake

I'm assuming that they'll be monetary fines rather than bans.

There is no provision in the rules for that. Guilty = banned.

The only question would be how long.

Kinda sad that the most discussion on the trade board is around this guy... we really need a fresh rumour to oome out linking us to a good player.

There is alot of action thats going on behind the scenes.

The club is just very good at not leaking things which i like very much.

There is alot of action thats going on behind the scenes.

The club is just very good at not leaking things which i like very much.

yeah Id agree with that...smoke and mirrors

hopefully hiding behind curtain #3 is another Vanders and waiting behind the 'secret' door is some 'defector' keeping 'sehr schtum'

all to be revealed when and where....one hopes

Exactly the attitude of Carlton supporters to Garlett last year.

Not the Carlton supporters I know. They loved him, but admitted he might do better in a different environment.

We just fix the WADA business by getting a new rule brought in by the AFL to say that penalty only applies to current (2016 onwards) "Essendon" players. Problem solved

Not the Carlton supporters I know. They loved him, but admitted he might do better in a different environment.

Clearly the ones you know are the moderate ones, maybe the Malcolm Turnbull variety. I wonder how they feel about Kennedy, Betts, Waite and Jacobs?

Oh for sure, I just meant any rumour even if it is total rubbish

After all thats what it mostly al is until the trade period starts.. just need something to take my mind off Jake Milshake

Ok, I'll bite. Nate Fyfe to the Dees on an 8 year deal.

Clearly the ones you know are the moderate ones, maybe the Malcolm Turnbull variety. I wonder how they feel about Kennedy, Betts, Waite and Jacobs?

Well, my friends are all drug addicts.

But yes, it was hilarious yesterday. They were texting about Waite and Betts the night before. Great stuff.

Ultimately, it's disappointing that we're having a conversation about Melksham, because it says a lot about the state of our list.

Edited September 14, 201510 yr by AdamFarr

You know what you're going to get out of Melksham now, he has been in the system for a fair while, in terms of improvement it will be questionable if he can his game to the next level. Even though he was picked up with a top 10 pick at this stage he doesn't show elite capabilities, just a average- solid defensive midfielder. He may make our 22 next year- not guaranteed, but to improve your list you wouldn't want him there for 2017. He may be better than Bail and Riley but that doesn't mean much.

Wouldn't you rather take a punt on the draft and see what Jason Taylor can find?

I'd much rather Sam Dwyer, who has just been delisted by the Filth, than Melksham. I think Sam offers more as a footballer and we'd get him a hell of a lot cheaper. I'm not suggesting we recruit Sam either but I know who I'd rather have.

if that were as you suggest then WADA wouldnt be bothering with an appeal.

I suggest they (WADA) have NOT their pound of flesh. Who's been banned/suspended yet ?

WADA dont deal in slaps on wrist...thats the AF"s preserve.

That 'message" won't resonate until they can say..."see that lot sitting over there( not playing ) ?...thats your lot to anyone crossing the line "

This isnt "vengeance"...this is due punishment...make no mistake

I think you've missed the whole boat Blzb...

the afl appeased the aflpa, with no sanctions,,, after asada did nothing, but made a rotation policy of their very 'own',,, & the (deliberate/inept???)? paper work & investigating...

so after those things were dealt to the peoples concerned;

...... then WADA got involved with they're ape peal, they have got their monkey,,, after the fallout of discontent hit the players with the appeal announcement, costing them form & happiness, ending up with that monkey getting his juste dû, & sent packing.

I would say WADA is satisfied; As I expect the AFL is relieved, & also not in court challenging any other ape actions, & the aflpa will be satisfied at this point.

this is a diplomatic & sports political outcome. just as our not guilty verdict was... tried in the public arena, not guilty your honor, but we'll donate $500,000.00 to the poor box for your discretion's.

.

I could have saved you all a couple of years of thoughts & virtual Ink, wearing out your keyboards, from the start of this joke of a trial.

Jetta Dunn Lumumba

Frost McDonald Salem

Vince Tyson Melksham/Vandenberg

Kent Pedersen Brayshaw

Petracca Hogan Garlett

Gawn Jones Viney

Ex Bench: Trengove, Dawes, Grimes, Stretch, ANB

IMO...Melksham makes our team easily, I think he can have more of an impact on games compared to the players I have put on the bench.

So you rate Melksham equal to Vandernberg?

No Watts? No Garland? Either you dont rate Howe or you figure he is gone. (so do I)

There is no way I would get rid of Watts and pick up Melksham.

From your 22, I wouldnt have both Dawes and Pedersen and would replace one with Garland.

But that decision would not impact Melksham getting a game.

I would rate Grimes as ahead of Melksham and before anyone goes off their head, have a look at how Grimes year rates against Melksham's best year of 2013. (ill give you a heads up. Grimes has less clangers and better disposal dif)

So Melksham would be getting a spot on the bench ahead of Stretch, ANB, JKH, Newton, Michie, Harmes. I would argue that all of these players would go past him in 2016.

Plus any other trades that take place that actually input a best 22 player.

I think you've missed the whole boat Blzb...

the afl appeased the aflpa, with no sanctions,,, after asada did nothing, but made a rotation policy of their very 'own',,, & the (deliberate/inept???)? paper work & investigating...

so after those things were dealt to the peoples concerned;

...... then WADA got involved with they're ape peal, they have got their monkey,,, after the fallout of discontent hit the players with the appeal announcement, costing them form & happiness, ending up with that monkey getting his juste dû, & sent packing.

I would say WADA is satisfied; As I expect the AFL is relieved, & also not in court challenging any other ape actions, & the aflpa will be satisfied at this point.

this is a diplomatic & sports political outcome. just as our not guilty verdict was... tried in the public arena, not guilty your honor, but we'll donate $500,000.00 to the poor box for your discretion's.

.

I could have saved you all a couple of years of thoughts & virtual Ink, wearing out your keyboards, from the start of this joke of a trial.

sorry mate you don't get it. This is nothing about the afl now . Never was

So you rate Melksham equal to Vandernberg?

No Watts? No Garland? Either you dont rate Howe or you figure he is gone. (so do I)

There is no way I would get rid of Watts and pick up Melksham.

From your 22, I wouldnt have both Dawes and Pedersen and would replace one with Garland.

But that decision would not impact Melksham getting a game.

I would rate Grimes as ahead of Melksham and before anyone goes off their head, have a look at how Grimes year rates against Melksham's best year of 2013. (ill give you a heads up. Grimes has less clangers and better disposal dif)

So Melksham would be getting a spot on the bench ahead of Stretch, ANB, JKH, Newton, Michie, Harmes. I would argue that all of these players would go past him in 2016.

Plus any other trades that take place that actually input a best 22 player.

I rate Melksham higher than Watts, Garland and Howe ( who I think all will go ) but that's my opinion, which everyone is entitled to.

Melksham would be between the 15th and 22nd player I choose to be in the team and he gets a spot on the bench easily...

I rate Melksham higher than Watts, Garland and Howe ( who I think all will go ) but that's my opinion, which everyone is entitled to.

Melksham would be between the 15th and 22nd player I choose to be in the team and he gets a spot on the bench easily...

4 years on $400k+ with a potential 2 year ban for a guy that's 15th-22nd best player in the team that finished bottom 6 is a waste IMO.

If this is what we can look forward to then God help us.

sorry mate you don't get it. This is nothing about the afl now . Never was

Ok, we shall see when the outcome is finalised, & public.

I don't think players will miss many games,,, if at all. it won't be printed like wada backs off, but the outcome will be similar.

4 years on $400k+ with a potential 2 year ban for a guy that's 15th-22nd best player in the team that finished bottom 6 is a waste IMO.

If this is what we can look forward to then God help us.

4 years on $400k+.... pffft. let see what he gets when done & dusted. ambit claims.

Melksham for MFC #45... in a weak draft, thats fair

Melksham for MFC #45... in a weak draft, thats fair

This is Essendon we're talking about.

Their demands will be nothing short of hilarious.

I'd much rather Sam Dwyer, who has just been delisted by the Filth, than Melksham. I think Sam offers more as a footballer and we'd get him a hell of a lot cheaper. I'm not suggesting we recruit Sam either but I know who I'd rather have.

I liked what I saw of Dwyer so my ears pricked up when I read he had been delisted. Then I read that he's 29 and was recruited as a 26 year-old.

Average footballer, sub-average bloke, does not really offer anything that we are in desperate need for, has no flexibility (just an out and out midfield plodder) but is probably an improvement on our other NQR who will most likely be delisted anyway.

Personally, I would prefer the club playing guys like ANB and Harmes ahead of him, but that would be the spot he is competing for.