Josh Mahoney on SEN today:

Trade Period - We are going to be involved in a couple of deals this trade period.

The rumours - Some are close, some are made up.

The coaching transfer - Goodwin will own more in 2016 (board meetings, media, game plan). Roos will coach on gameday

Petracca - training at the moment and wants people to come back and train with him. He is pumped.

Trade Targets

Melksham - Essendon and Melbourne are on the same page and will get done at some stage. Seems like we are close to the mark with each other.

Parker - He'd fit nicely but we never were thinking this was going to happen. We enquired but that seemed like due diligence rather than an actual offer.

Bugg - He said he is not sure when the deal will be done. He will help us through the midfield and in defence. I wasn't sure if he was indicating that it wasn't going to get done or if it wasn't happening on day 1. The question was "Will Bugg be the first trade done on day 1". Sounds like if it does happen it wont be till late in the trade period.

Bennell - Melbourne did their due diligence but we thought the risk and cost was not worth it for the Dees

Our Players

Dawes and Watts - all names get thrown up at trade time - a 'team' asked about them in a meeting (which is why it was leaked) but the club that asked hasn't followed up, so he assumes they both will be at the Dees in 2016. Only 1 club has enquired by the looks of it.

Toump - looking at his options. We think he can be an AFL player, he is assessing his options. Seems like we are waiting on him more than anything.

Howe - getting to the stage that the club and Howe need to make a decision. They (Howe and manager) know Melbourne's position, they are waiting on Howe to respond. The sticking issue is the gap in money (which we knew).

It was a lightning interview, not much more than what we already knew. They mentioned Kennedy but wasn't really discussed.

Basically exact same thing he said on trade radio im guessing.

Basically exact same thing he said on trade radio im guessing.

I ended up getting the chance to listen in and yes, you're right. Nothing new apart from Melksham officially naming us as his club of choice, and it sounds like the deal will go through without too much hassle.

Everything else was the same as trade radio but that's to be expected with trade week not starting until next week.

I ended up getting the chance to listen in and yes, you're right. Nothing new apart from Melksham officially naming us as his club of choice, and it sounds like the deal will go through without too much hassle.

Everything else was the same as trade radio but that's to be expected with trade week not starting until next week.

I'm guessing knowing how impossibly they over value their players that we are prepared to give up our 2nd rounder. Talk about being bent over for a player who has a 2yr ban hanging over his head. Can't imagine them being reasonable and accepting a 3rd rounder which is all he's worth, if that given the potential ban.

I'm guessing knowing how impossibly they over value their players that we are prepared to give up our 2nd rounder. Talk about being bent over for a player who has a 2yr ban hanging over his head. Can't imagine them being reasonable and accepting a 3rd rounder which is all he's worth, if that given the potential ban.

Possibly, although there is still plenty to play out. Getting Melksham might be part of a three way deal, or we get a different second rounder in return for a player we off load. Sounds like we are pretty close to the mark with what they want so we can't be going too overboard.

It was exactly the same as the Trade Radio interview, both questions and answers. You'd think that Schwarz and Marko would have tried to think of something different to ask. Even something like "How determined are the club to pry an A-grade midfielder in this trading period, and will they be prepared to part with their first pick to do so, or are they intending to wait until free agency 2016 when players such as Prestia, Sidebottom will be free agents?"

Melksham & Bugg certainties.

Kennedy likely.

Thanks for the report.

So am I right in saying that the Bugg trade is confirmed; in that Bugg has stated he wants to come to Melbourne, and Melbourne has said that we want to have him?

Has there been any word from Kennedy's agent? Any word from Collingwood that they are interested in trading with us?

It's an interesting week that has seen so many trade ideas being talked about openly.

Some are reading a lot more than I think they should re the lack of mention of the likes of Prestia (interesting that auto text puts Prestigious).

IF there is behind the scenes stuff going on, as I am 100% certain there is, why show your hand on radio?*

Ox could well be part of any conspiracy of silence.

It all adds to the immense joy of the trade week / month / season.

* for fellow pedants, before you jump at me, I do realize that if one did show a hand on radio nobody would see.

Why does anyone really think/expe t a club, its fd manager to come with whats really going on.

This is footy-poker. Sure you see the river cards but the rest is kept close to your chest.

Reckon we could snag Bugg for a 3rd rounder? Or would we have to part with our 2nd

I reckon Bugg, Kennedy and Melksham (which we already know) have definitely agreed to come to us, hence the reason why Mahoney has been more forthcoming about them. Howe is 99% gone too based on the way that Mahoney answered about him today...they're basically waiting for him to tell him which club is going to pay him the most cash.

No doubt there is some stuff happening in the background which may or may not land us an A grader so fingers crossed.