Bollocks. As if the afl or wada would give such an assurance. The club would have a best guess on outcome most likely and would factor a possible suspension into the equation in a similar way they would a potential injury.

i concur

This is out of the AFLs hands now ( thankfully ). They can make NO assurances. Will the AFL try to wiggle out needing to be the bad cop ? Absolutely. In the end though the AFL has no choice but to rubber stamp whatever is the outcome of Wadas appeal to CAS.

I still think any dealings to do with any of the 34 are just flawed.

Im ambivalent towards Milkshake as a player but emphatic in my concerns about importing a player who will inevitably get banned.

It concerns me slightly that Port are into Toumpas.

They identify and nurture midfield talent as well as any club - and they obviously know Toumpas from his playing days in Adelaide.

Do you reckon we might know him a bit better than Port Adelaide ?

Melksham and Kennedy for a second rounder (in a supposed weak draft) is solid.

I just see them as immediate upgrades on McKenzie and Riley.

They offer more. Provide greater versatility as far as attributes go and have scope for much more significant improvement. (Especially Melksham as he has money in the bank from a few years back).

Not sure why anyone would be annoyed/upset about this....

Unless of course you suffer from cognitive dissonance.

Which sounds like it could be the majority of posters on this particular thread.

Edited October 6, 20159 yr by stevethemanjordan

Josh Mahoney confirmed Melksham wants to play for Demons. He cited Goodwin and McCartney having both coached him and knowing his ability.

if B Mac is driving it, thats a good sign. The man knows talent and how to develop it.

Could almost change the title based on that Mahoney interview. He'll be here next year.

He JM had a great 2013 Toumpas has had 1 great game it's a no brainer Toumpas will be playing full time in the SANFL in 2018.

Edited October 6, 20159 yr by Middymalt

He JM had a great 2013 Toumpas has had 1 great game it's a no brainer Toumpas will be playing full time in the SANFL in 2018.

Wow what a narrow assessment. And said so emphatically !

Wow what a narrow assessment. And said so emphatically !

Thankyou

Lock it in.

Will be at Dee's next year.

melksham and kennedy for our second rounder would be okay (wada-pending).

Melksham and Kennedy for a second rounder (in a supposed weak draft) is solid.

I just see them as immediate upgrades on McKenzie and Riley.

They offer more. Provide greater versatility as far as attributes go and have scope for much more significant improvement. (Especially Melksham as he has money in the bank from a few years back).

Not sure why anyone would be annoyed/upset about this....

Unless of course you suffer from cognitive dissonance.

Which sounds like it could be the majority of posters on this particular thread.

Geez you're an irritating poster.

Anyone who has the temerity to disagree with you has their intelligence insulted.

And I'd suggest that people who find giving up a 2nd round pick for two blokes who can't get a regular game in bottom 7 clubs a touch baffling perhaps have good reason to.

You cite a need to increase our depth, and that's all well and good. But these are not players who will change games for us or even be good foot soldiers. They're players who their own current club's supporters are more than happy to see leave.

For the first time in a long time I've got some faith in the footy department so am happy to reserve judgment, but I find the deal underwhelming.

What I won't do is mock you for disagreeing.

So what? Awful player, why would we be interested?

When posters dislike the personality of a player and decide to base their entire argument against recruiting that particular player because of the dislike, it's completely nonsensical. That seems to be the trending theme of this thread. I'll mock them all I like.

Either that, or people just refuse to see any positivity surrounding Melksham as a footballer. You being one.

In your first post, you state that he's awful which means you didn't see his season in 2013. Or if you did, I'm even more baffled. Awful is a strong word 'Members Wing'.

Do you think Watts is awful? How many die-hard supporters on this forum think he's awful? Only a minority. Because he plays for Melbourne.

Chatted to any other die-hard supporters from other clubs about him? Overwhelming majority would think he's awful.

Generally, die-hard supporters don't have a [censored] clue what they're talking about because they cannot see past their teams colours.

Melksham coming into our side for an injured starting 22 player over McKenzie, Bail or Riley actually would help. And if Kennedy was another, it would help too. Our depth has been non-existent. Melksham has runs on the board. Bridge the gap between your best and worst players, and you begin to become a more competitive team when injuries start hitting. That's a fact.

It's all part of the puzzle.

Edited October 6, 20159 yr by stevethemanjordan

West Coast were into Morton, Fremantle were into Sylvia, Geelong were into Blease, North Melbourne were into Gysberts and Richmond were into Maric.

I'm not concerned.

A bit different. Most of those players were let go for next to nothing, and Sylvia was a FA, so AFL covered the compo.

Geez you're an irritating poster.

Anyone who has the temerity to disagree with you has their intelligence insulted.

And I'd suggest that people who find giving up a 2nd round pick for two blokes who can't get a regular game in bottom 7 clubs a touch baffling perhaps have good reason to.

You cite a need to increase our depth, and that's all well and good. But these are not players who will change games for us or even be good foot soldiers. They're players who their own current club's supporters are more than happy to see leave.

For the first time in a long time I've got some faith in the footy department so am happy to reserve judgment, but I find the deal underwhelming.

What I won't do is mock you for disagreeing.

You insinuate the reason why Ben Kennedy hasn't been getting regular games is solely to do with his ability or talent as a player.

Again.

Clearly no idea.

I'm assuming you thought (Josh) Kennedy was a dud at Hawthorn before he moved to Sydney then? And the countless others who once moved clubs, became valuable players.

Edited October 6, 20159 yr by stevethemanjordan

Do you reckon we might know him a bit better than Port Adelaide ?

Like how we knew about Trengove's foot?

Like how we knew about Trengove's foot?

So you're equating a doctor's role with the coaching staff's footy acumen ?

Great logic.

When posters dislike the personality of a player and decide to base their entire argument against recruiting that particular player because of the dislike, it's completely nonsensical. That seems to be the trending theme of this thread. I'll mock them all I like.

Either that, or people just refuse to see any positivity surrounding Melksham as a footballer. You being one.

In your first post, you state that he's awful which means you didn't see his season in 2013. Or if you did, I'm even more baffled. Awful is a strong word 'Members Wing'.

Do you think Watts is awful? How many die-hard supporters on this forum think he's awful? Only a minority. Because he plays for Melbourne.

Chatted to any other die-hard supporters from other clubs about him? Overwhelming majority would think he's awful.

Generally, die-hard supporters don't have a [censored] clue what they're talking about because they cannot see past their teams colours.

Melksham coming into our side for an injured starting 22 player over McKenzie, Bail or Riley actually would help. And if Kennedy was another, it would help too. Our depth has been non-existent. Melksham has runs on the board. Bridge the gap between your best and worst players, and you begin to become a more competitive team when injuries start hitting. That's a fact.

It's all part of the puzzle.

The personality of a player? I've got NFI what his personality's like, I'm basing my arguments on all I've seen of him as a footballer, and facts. The fact of the matter is that he's struggled to get a game for Essendon for a long time. My old man is Essendon, I watch a lot of them and he's amongst the most consistent butchers of the footy in the comp.

You make an interesting observation about die-hard supporters overrating their own players. Why then is every single Essendon supporter ecstatic to see the back of Melksham? If Watts or Howe, two of the most maligned players on our list, were to leave there'd still be howls of protest from a vocal minority. There's been none of that from Bombers supporters. Barely a dissenting voice.

As for Kennedy I've seen him play at ones and twos level. He's another one like McKenzie and Matt Jones who dominates in the VFL but struggles badly at AFL level.

I'm not saying there isn't extenuating circumstances for both of them. The supplements saga would have been incredibly draining, and Collingwood has a good young midfield. But please don't try to dress these two up as a real coup for the club.

... two blokes who can't get a regular game in bottom 7 clubs ...

It's just not a factor. Jeff Garlett couldn't get a game at Carlton either.

It's just not a factor. Jeff Garlett couldn't get a game at Carlton either.

Because he was being an absolute idiot off-field for a while. Had plenty of runs on the board on-field. Completely different set of circumstances.

But please don't try to dress these two up as a real coup for the club.

Who said it was a coup for the club?

Not every trade is going to fill us with excitement, nor does it need to.

Because he was being an absolute idiot off-field for a while. Had plenty of runs on the board on-field. Completely different set of circumstances.

So you accept that there are circumstances above and beyond footy ability that might lead to players not getting a regular game with their club.

You insinuate the reason why Ben Kennedy hasn't been getting regular games is solely to do with his ability or talent as a player.

Again.

Clearly no idea.

I'm assuming you thought (Josh) Kennedy was a dud at Hawthorn before he moved to Sydney then? And the countless others who once moved clubs, became valuable players.

Why else isn't he getting games then oracle if not for his ability and talent? His injury record is pretty good off the top of my head.

J Kennedy was in and out of one of the best midfields in the game, and a lot of the time was being played out of position.

There are a hell of a lot more examples of recycled discards not getting games at their previous clubs then having little to no impact when given a second chance at another club. Riley, Newton and Michie being three of them.

So you accept that there are circumstances above and beyond footy ability that might lead to players not getting a regular game with their club.

Garlett was in and out of court on assault charges, lost his drivers licence and was dishonest more than once to the club.

As I said above, Melksham has had a tough couple of years but so have all the Essendon players.

Have I missed something on Kennedy? Has he had a number of off-field issues I'm not aware of?

Edited October 6, 20159 yr by Members' Wing

What's the real story behind Kennedy though? Rated by more than not, Pies will take a pic in the 40's for him in a supposed weak draft? What are we missing here?

I have a contact that worked for Collingwood last season in a match analyst role. He told me that Bucks didn't rate Kennedy's defensive work rate. Looks great with ball in hand but has a long way to go as a two way runner

I have a contact that worked for Collingwood last season in a match analyst role. He told me that Bucks didn't rate Kennedy's defensive work rate. Looks great with ball in hand but has a long way to go as a two way runner

If that's an accurate assessment by bucks I can't imagine roos would be keen