So if we waited until now we could trade pick 29 for Melksham and keep pick 25.

Small difference, but every inch counts. Could be the difference between picking and missing a star player, like when we wanted Jack Redden and Brisbane pounced and we got Jamie Bennell.

Pick 29 for Melksham should've been our worst case scenario as well. We should've offered a late pick and held off on Melksham to late, then swooped in with 29 if we absolutely had to. As for Kennedy, we could've got him cheaper, and played hard ball with Howe. Pretty amateur stuff from the MFC.

Pretty amateur stuff from the MFC.

There goes that ironyometer again.

They're the professionals mate, you're the amateur. Not the other way round.

There goes that ironyometer again.

They're the professionals mate, you're the amateur. Not the other way round.

I wish they'd start acting like it.

Pick 29 for Melksham should've been our worst case scenario as well. We should've offered a late pick and held off on Melksham to late, then swooped in with 29 if we absolutely had to. As for Kennedy, we could've got him cheaper, and played hard ball with Howe. Pretty amateur stuff from the MFC.

I dont totally disagree with much of this. I think we went far too early and keen.A possible thinking was to get things rollings? maybe, but at what cost.

Essendon are only too happy to unload any of the 34. :Lets not be chumps about it. They simply played /playing all for fools. Doing quite well Id say. We could have taken Milkshake at teh end of trade period..12 oclock ish Thursday for what ever late 2nd rounder we had left and for 2-3 years only

Here is definitely a case of Goody/ Macca seeing something they liked in the Lolly shop window and just couldnt wait..I dont blame them however..Itts the job of the Trade people to manage it ..Not a shining endorsement of skills for mine.

However they may still arrive somewhere near their intended cache come the end of trade sans the biggun which seems to be off the hook.

I'm ready to ride the Melky Way in 2016

#ridethemelkyway

Are we fully committed on pick 25 (vs. pick 29)? According to this morning's paper, it still adopts the wording of 'a second round pick' suggesting that we can utilise 29 and retain 25. Also, I cannot see why we cannot use 50 to get Bugg and either utilise 25 in the draft or use it on another player such as Plowman or Tomlinson (both of whom seem to be up for grabs)!

Pick 29 for Melksham should've been our worst case scenario as well. We should've offered a late pick and held off on Melksham to late, then swooped in with 29 if we absolutely had to. As for Kennedy, we could've got him cheaper, and played hard ball with Howe. Pretty amateur stuff from the MFC.

how would you have any clue what we 'could' have done? We WANTED Melksham and Kennedy and that's what they COST. We can't just TELL a club what we would like to give up for their players.

how would you have any clue what we 'could' have done? We WANTED Melksham and Kennedy and that's what they COST. We can't just TELL a club what we would like to give up for their players.

Well we given up 25 when we could've waited and offered 29. We made our hand known early, and we played it early. Bit quick on the trigger, that is just my opinion. Also, we can tell a club what we'd like to give up for their players, its called the trade period.

Well we given up 25 when we could've waited and offered 29. We made our hand known early, and we played it early. Bit quick on the trigger, that is just my opinion. Also, we can tell a club what we'd like to give up for their players, its called the trade period.

how do you know we didn't float that with Essendon and they said no deal we'll take 25 thanks

we can tell them whatever we want but they don't have to accept it

we wanted Melksham so we got him

how do you know we didn't float that with Essendon and they said no deal we'll take 25 thanks

we can tell them whatever we want but they don't have to accept it

we wanted Melksham so we got him

We declared our hand, and we were in a rush. IMO that deal should've been ongoing even now, and we should've been prepared to walk away from it. Much like St Kilda with the Carlise deal, if that were MFC in that position pick 5 would've been handed over on day 1. All I am saying is that there is no need to rush things, I just thought that was commonsense.

We declared our hand, and we were in a rush. IMO that deal should've been ongoing even now, and we should've been prepared to walk away from it. Much like St Kilda with the Carlise deal, if that were MFC in that position pick 5 would've been handed over on day 1. All I am saying is that there is no need to rush things, I just thought that was commonsense.

Agree. The contract that we offered Melksham blew any other potential suitor (if any) out of the ballpark. We could have sat on this trade until the Howe deal was finalised.

Agree. The contract that we offered Melksham blew any other potential suitor (if any) out of the ballpark. We could have sat on this trade until the Howe deal was finalised.

Still amazed how many posters are privy to so much inside information to form these black and white judgements.

Still amazed how many posters are privy to so much inside information to form these black and white judgements.

His manager came out and said that Melksham would either stay at Essendon or go to Melbourne. That was a couple of weeks before the trade went through. But carry on if you must.

His manager came out and said that Melksham would either stay at Essendon or go to Melbourne. That was a couple of weeks before the trade went through. But carry on if you must.

because it's just impossible that one of the other 16 clubs could swoop in and offer Essendon more in a trade?

His manager came out and said that Melksham would either stay at Essendon or go to Melbourne. That was a couple of weeks before the trade went through. But carry on if you must.

And its our fault he said that? Still building castles on scraps of information and the mis-information that is dribbled out by partiesas it suits their cause.

I'm ready to ride the Melky Way in 2016

#ridethemelkyway

because it's just impossible that one of the other 16 clubs could swoop in and offer Essendon more in a trade?

Just like GC offered more for Howe. How did that turn out for us?

Once an uncontracted player commits to a club as his destination, 99% of the time that's where he'll end up. Which is why we held the upperhand on the Melksham deal.

And its our fault he said that? Still building castles on scraps of information and the mis-information that is dribbled out by partiesas it suits their cause.

That makes no sense. His manager states that it's Essendon or us, and you say that it's a scrap of info? It was pretty categoric if you ask me, and proved to be correct.

I wish they'd start acting like it.

I know! If only they'd act like a like a professional with the same commitment that you show in acting like an amateur!

Sorry RPFC, I can't agree.

Kavanagh and Zaharakis managed to see this for what it is and get out.

He's an elite athlete and responsible for what goes into his body. I don't buy the 'players were duped' argument. There were too many shady goings on for a reasonable person to not have sincere doubts.

Hiding behind a veil of feigned ignorance doesn't change the fact that he was involved in the regime. To let him get away with this sort of behaviour provides others with a template for future cheating.

So no, I won't give it a rest. I'm extremely unhappy that he is on our list. The only way I'll be happy that he's wearing red and blue is if CAS clears him and provides a damn good reason for it.

From the current information at hand, I judge him to be a drug cheat. If new information comes to light clearing him, I will change my stance.

So Trengove, Dunn, Fitzy and whoever else was named in the texts between Bates and Dank are subject to the same treatment?

So Trengove, Dunn, Fitzy and whoever else was named in the texts between Bates and Dank are subject to the same treatment?

They hardly have the same level of evidence against them and none of them are currently being taken to CAS by WADA.

Pretty big difference I would have thought.

Hardly apples and apples, Gonzo.

But yes, if any of our players were to receive infraction notices or have similar action taken against them, I would call them drug cheats too.

I'm ready to ride the Melky Way in 2016

#ridethemelkyway

With Petraccattack and The Melky Way in the side we will be much more attacking and dangerous in 2016.

And lets not forget JFK (Ben Kennedy) who will give us some dash and long kicking.

The Bugg Whisperer (Tomas Bugg) will complement them well.

With Petraccattack and The Melky Way in the side we will be much more attacking and dangerous in 2016.

And lets not forget JFK (Ben Kennedy) who will give us some dash and long kicking.

The Bugg Whisperer (Tomas Bugg) will complement them well.

I thought Rex Hunt retired.

Well we given up 25 when we could've waited and offered 29. We made our hand known early, and we played it early. Bit quick on the trigger, that is just my opinion. Also, we can tell a club what we'd like to give up for their players, its called the trade period.

You've assumed that the Melksham deal is completely unrelated to the subsequent deals. For all we know, none of the subsequent deals, including those not involving Melbourne directly, may have happened without the Melksham deal happening when it did.

Still amazed how many posters are privy to so much inside information to form these black and white judgements.

Still amazed how many posters care about the difference between pick 25 and 29.