Have we started the lets get Brian Lake thread yet?

What a good idea. and a lets get David Hale thread as well.

Set your sights higher.

Dustin Martin along with Pick 12 and their first round draft pick next year?

And people acuse Carlton of over valuing their players......

Out: Howe and Toumpas

Use the currency acquired to bring:

In: Melksham, Kennedy, Bugg

Keep our first 3 picks in the draft.

Work out if we are going to pay out Jones and Terlich and draft either a 4th rounder/PSD, pick up a delisted player or add extra rookies.

I'd say that would be a reasonable result for this trade period.

A typical one-eyed supporters response.

'Thrilled' at the thought of keeping an underachieving and terribly inconsistent senior player and 'underwhelmed' at potentially picking up three players who will without doubt help the depth of the list and are upgrades on those who have been delisted, thus improving our side overall.

Really pushing the foresight boundaries there.

See that record over there Steve? It's broken.

Whilst not an 'exciting' name, Bugg (along with Kennedy & debatably Melksham) adds to the overall quality of the team. Apart from their ability to kick on the left foot, they point to an attempt emulate another Hawthorn trait. If a soldier goes down, another can take their place.

Our publicised targets offer depth in areas of need, are versatile and all would challenge for best 22 spots. Competition for spots increases when the squad is fully fit, and we have league average (or better) replacement players when injury inevitably hits.

Whilst attracting a 'star' or two would be great, we also have to look at improving the overall quality of the team as well. Crucial as we look to climb the ladder.

Out: Howe and Toumpas

Use the currency acquired to bring:

In: Melksham, Kennedy, Bugg

Keep our first 3 picks in the draft.

Work out if we are going to pay out Jones and Terlich and draft either a 4th rounder/PSD, pick up a delisted player or add extra rookies.

I'd say that would be a reasonable result for this trade period.

I don't think that deal makes us better but we are kind of stuck if both Howe and Toump want out.

Whilst not an 'exciting' name, Bugg (along with Kennedy & debatably Melksham) adds to the overall quality of the team. Apart from their ability to kick on the left foot, they point to an attempt emulate another Hawthorn trait. If a soldier goes down, another can take their place.

Our publicised targets offer depth in areas of need, are versatile and all would challenge for best 22 spots. Competition for spots increases when the squad is fully fit, and we have league average (or better) replacement players when injury inevitably hits.

Whilst attracting a 'star' or two would be great, we also have to look at improving the overall quality of the team as well. Crucial as we look to climb the ladder.

Gtfo out with such rationality.

Whilst not an 'exciting' name, Bugg (along with Kennedy & debatably Melksham) adds to the overall quality of the team. Apart from their ability to kick on the left foot, they point to an attempt emulate another Hawthorn trait. If a soldier goes down, another can take their place.

Our publicised targets offer depth in areas of need, are versatile and all would challenge for best 22 spots. Competition for spots increases when the squad is fully fit, and we have league average (or better) replacement players when injury inevitably hits.

Whilst attracting a 'star' or two would be great, we also have to look at improving the overall quality of the team as well. Crucial as we look to climb the ladder.

exactly, & we need to improve our quality from our base levels, & grow our upper quality level as well. its a holistic picture. no point having a Plugger Locket in the goal-square, if we cannot dominate possession as well.

we take all improvements, without spending our future at the same time.

Highlights [6.10.15]

The Saints have confirmed that Jake Carlisle has undergone a medical at the club and that they are very interested in recruiting the 24-year-old. Chief Operating Offer Ameet Bains told NAB Trade Radio it was down to the Saints or Blues for Carlisle.

Luke Parker is going nowhere! Despite rumours circulating this week that the Swan wanted to leave the club, his manager Ned Guy has told NAB Trade Radio today that he is looking to sign a contract extension before Christmas.

Hawthorn duo David Hale and Brian Lake have officially announced their retirements from football. Hale said he would look to move into coaching post-career. Brian Lake said he had pitched his case to the Hawks to play again, but would now look to play local footy, and was interested in remaining in the admin and coaching side of the game.

Melbourne list manager Josh Mahoney has confirmed that Jake Melksham wants to go to the Demons. Mahoney also confirmed the club was monitoring Collingwood's Ben Kennedy.

Meanwhile, Ameet Bains said the Saints were confident the club could secure a deal with Collingwood midfielder Nathan Freeman, indicating the conversations with him had been so far positive.

Steve Johnson says he is open to playing at a club outside of Victoria, but he is yet to fully decide whether he wants to extend his career into 2016.

Geelong's Josh Walker could be on the move, with the Blues being touted as a potential suitor. His manager Ned Guy telling NAB Trade Radio he could potentially be part of the Henderson trade to Carlton.

Conclusion: Quite frankly, I don't think anything new was revealed today and I suspect the rest of the week is going to remain much the same. When the clubs are able to do some real trading then we might see some action but so far, it's all white noise.

Parker's manager said all indications are that he will resign, not that he definately would. Am i jumping at shadows?

See that record over there Steve? It's broken.

No it ain't.

Your ears just aren't attuned to the music yet.

Parker's manager said all indications are that he will resign, not that he definately would. Am i jumping at shadows?

Yes, I think so. Parker isn't going anywhere.

Parker's manager said all indications are that he will resign, not that he definately would. Am i jumping at shadows?

He couldn't have been more definitive that Parker would remain a Swan long term. Jeez.

I just question whether they have any possible grounds for a reduced payout. The deal was pretty clear from the beginning that if he broke down they were still on the hook for the full amount. That's what they agreed to in return for being allowed to bypass the RFA rules. I see no reason for the AFL to negotiate.

Despite their recent consistency and successes, they do remain an AFL 'special project' and frankly nothing would surprise me from AFL HQ. So if Sideney look like missing finals for more than a year or two at most I am certain that they will get more 'special consideration'.

Ok, if we get Bugg, Kennedy and Melksham, plus we get Kent, Trengove and Petraca back you would expect us to go tall with in the draft

Reading between the lines:

2016 we'll have the most expensive VFL team in history.

Might very well be reading between the lines.

Just on the wrong page.

Whilst not an 'exciting' name, Bugg (along with Kennedy & debatably Melksham) adds to the overall quality of the team. Apart from their ability to kick on the left foot ...

... they're all competitors.

Given that giving 100% consistently has been one of our biggest failings, trend/direction in who we're targeting is pretty clear.

We're targeting A-graders too, but due to our list profile, i.e. talented youth, we have to be careful not to overpay. We're also not presently a destination club, although managers have more interest in talking to us than 2 years ago.

Almost verbatim what Mahoney said.

Might very well be reading between the lines.

Just on the wrong page.

No I don't think so.

All these players that are going to be stars at other clubs......no interest as yet....

Dawes/Watts/Grimes could yet see out the last year of their contracts in the two's.

Ok, if we get Bugg, Kennedy and Melksham, plus we get Kent, Trengove and Petraca back you would expect us to go tall with in the draft

Don't think so, Roos historically wont draft a tall early, may involve player exchange for taller experienced players in the Hall, Jolly, Ball, Richards, C.Bolton mode. If we keep the ealry picks think we will go a big bodied mid.

Whilst not an 'exciting' name, Bugg (along with Kennedy & debatably Melksham) adds to the overall quality of the team. Apart from their ability to kick on the left foot, they point to an attempt emulate another Hawthorn trait. If a soldier goes down, another can take their place.

Our publicised targets offer depth in areas of need, are versatile and all would challenge for best 22 spots. Competition for spots increases when the squad is fully fit, and we have league average (or better) replacement players when injury inevitably hits.

Whilst attracting a 'star' or two would be great, we also have to look at improving the overall quality of the team as well. Crucial as we look to climb the ladder.

Agree totally chaser, if we reduce our turnovers (due to poor skill level) we improve drastically where we win the the majority of those games we should against teams around us and we certainly at a minimum stay in games for longer against top 6 sides and start pinching a few

I'm glad our footy dep agree with me on Garland. I think he might get back to his best for a few years before he retires.

Grand final over.

Trade week yet to begin, but we have trade radio.

Melbourne, cultural capital of Australia.

Parker's manager said all indications are that he will resign, not that he definately would. Am i jumping at shadows?

I think it was maybe a Kennedy, that was our possibility, if the swans are in cap trouble? but with Goodes retiring, that helps them somewhat?

I don't think we were a real possibility for a young gun making their way in the world, but a gun at the other end of they're career, is another story.

Ok, if we get Bugg, Kennedy and Melksham, plus we get Kent, Trengove and Petraca back you would expect us to go tall with in the draft

I think we should anyway Dr... Curnow sounds like a player who could play mid or forward. he's My Ace... & Wei de-Man.

we are thin on for replacement for Hogan, if he was to get, down ?

I would go tall for these guys early, & look to pick up medium mid gems in the rough.

Seems sensible to recruit 'cheap' players who are young, competant but not yet achieving great things.

They are basically replacing draft pick 60+ (or Bail/McKenzie), and we will know much sooner whether they are going to deliver, while someone else has already paid the coaching and resources cost to get them through their first couple of pre-seasons.

Obviously within limits. The hunt for serious quality through draft and trade must go on.

But it also must be remember that modern sustained success examples like Hawthorn, Sydney and Geelong did a lot more trade-based recruiting of quality players once the terms-of-trade had shifted in their favour by being able to offer success and a proven competent operation.

Right now, we appeal to players trying to break into a team. In three years we'll be the club of choice for mature players looking to eject from sinking ships. I promise!