nup. end of 2016 will be 6 years, not a fa

rfa - 8 years

ufa - 10 years

Unless the rules change again which, with a new CBA on the horizon may not be out of the question.

Kel O was at the club before mark neeld.

Excuse my ignorance, but who is Kel O?

I LOVE THIS TRADE.

We currently can't attract A grade talent to our club - but VERY importantly there is actually very few A grade players that move clubs relative to the amount of teams.

So what we've essentially said here is that we will back ourselves to bring in quality players through the draft and then if that makes us a more desirable team to FA's because our future looks bright then so be it - but if not we still have quality coming through.

I also love it because it signals a desire to get better immediately without sacrificing longevity. Next year our first pick may be a lot higher and to be honest thats what we ALL want.

Our footy club is being well managed. It almost makes me want to cry.

Just received this text message from my mate who works at the Falcons (where Parish plays), who also just so happens to be a mad bombers supporter:

"YOU [censored]! You have stolen Parish from us. Melbourne must have been onto this for a long time ago, they must have known they were going to trade to get an earlier pick hence why Goodwin was all over Parish and the Falcons (saw him in the rooms regularly). You now have secured the best 3 midfielders in the TAC Cup from the past two years, plus the best forward. No excuses for your team now."

happy we got this trade done,,,, BUT.

looking at this, in the ladder & H&A games integrity, this dose nothing for the integrity of the games for clubs to try to win, rather than position themselves strategically.

...... another nail in coffin of integrity,,,,,, but this is for a different thread to be done.

Honestly, I am pulling my hair out thinking who we are going to choose at pick 3.. Parish or Curnow.....This really feels like a Toumpas vs Wines situation again. One bloke is clearly the highly rated player, the other is a big bodied solid midfielder who is explosive.

HALP ME

If we do pick Darcy Parish with # 3 then we owe it all to our dear friend Chris from Camberwell who, although somewhat misinformed, did raise the call for us to get him and in their own way, the recruiters at Melbourne went out and made it happen.

Son of Les! LOL Now all we need to do is secure Cam McCarthy and Chris from Camberwell's prophecies will have been fulfilled!

Excuse my ignorance, but who is Kel O?

Kelly O'Donnell

Kelly O'Donnell

Former Melbourne wingman and former coach of the Murray Bushrangers U18s, was at Freo for a while with Chris Connolly in a similar role before coming back to Melbourne. Lovely bloke to chat footy with.

Umm, no he's not

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-05-13/whos-up-for-grabs-the-preliminary-list-of-2016-free-agents-

God it's not a very enticing list which makes the argument to reduce the qualifying period for FA even stronger. On the surface people will be against it but both clubs and players will be better off for it.

The only player on that list worth pursuing is Hannebery (assuming he hasn't already extended?)

Well done MFC for backing yourself in and making it happen NOW.

I really like the idea of bringing in 2 top 10 picks to have 12 months with Roos before he leaves. And who knows if McCartney goes for another coaching gig next year. We need to develop these players and make it happen now.

It sells a lot of hope to Members having two top 10 picks, but it sells even more hope and confidence in the direction of the club to kids like Hogan.

If we can develop them properly there will be a really good core coming through in a few years time.

For what it's worth, one of the top player managers told me in July that Melbourne's first pick (which at that stage was about pick 3) was being "locked down on a kid called Darcy Parish, and won't be going anywhere".

Kelly O'Donnell

Thanks. Not too sure what he has to do with my post...

Assuming we finish 11/12th next year, the trade will look like this:

Melb: 3, 10 & 43

GC: 6, 7/8 & 29.

Win/Win for both clubs.

GC know this draft is weak and will target next year.

Melbourne obviously has targeted players that we want for this year that we can now get. It also shows with the growth of players like Hogan, Brayshaw, Viney, Petracca etc that the club thinks we won't be relying on the draft in the next few years. Get the players we want now, manage them and watch this team transform into the next Hawthorn.

Great trade MFC! After an average trade season so far this has filled me with hope and optimism!

What's Paul Little so happy about?

Where the fark can I find some Curnow highlights other than the three seconds that are shown on his 'future stars' interview?

Is this bloke the real deal?

I keep hearing comparisons made with Stringer and Fyfe. But is a natural footballer like them?

Does he understand the game?

Or is he another athletic 'modern day prototype' player with X-factor? (ie Jared Brennan)

I want a motherhucking footballer.

I like to think of this trade as the 'anti-tank'.

hahah yes good one

Anyone still think we got screwed on Howe? We plugged pick 29 directly in to a trade we were going to use Howe in. That was his market value.

Anyone also still care that we used 25 instead of 29 for Melksham?

Anyone still reckon they'd do a better job than the amateurs at the club at the moment?

I'm feeling so smug right now. Hehe.

Enjoy.

Mahoney has said we will definitely take the picks to the draft http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2015-10-21/we-wont-trade-picks-no3-no10-mahoneyas that is where our A-grade players will come from (same as other DL's have said).

As an aside kudos to GCS for honouring the pick upgrade trade even after they didn't get Howe.

Now I'm suddenly interested in the top picks in the draft.

I agree.

First thing i did once it was announced was to check the AFL website's Phantom Form Guide.

Maybe we have an agreement with GC that we will tank to finish bottom four next year, so that they have a high end pick with our "future first rounder", then we will do a simple trade of Prestia for a 4th rounder...

(I'm kidding BTW...)

Just received this text message from my mate who works at the Falcons (where Parish plays), who also just so happens to be a mad bombers supporter:

"YOU [censored]! You have stolen Parish from us. Melbourne must have been onto this for a long time ago, they must have known they were going to trade to get an earlier pick hence why Goodwin was all over Parish and the Falcons (saw him in the rooms regularly). You now have secured the best 3 midfielders in the TAC Cup from the past two years, plus the best forward. No excuses for your team now."

That is so good I feel like printing it out and putting it on my wall

Honestly, I am pulling my hair out thinking who we are going to choose at pick 3.. Parish or Curnow.....This really feels like a Toumpas vs Wines situation again. One bloke is clearly the highly rated player, the other is a big bodied solid midfielder who is explosive.

HALP ME

watch the highlights

Curnow for me!!

This has surely all come about as a result of being unable to attract the 'A' grade midfielder? So we have to develop our own but I plead ignorance in regard to how we'll now use those picks in a "shallow" draft?

Shallow means lack of depth, rather than weak at the top.

I think its a good deal, provided we pick hard players that can kick or one of those and a key forward prospect.

There's a huge problem everyone is overlooking: How are we possibly going to squeeze 2 more gun midfielders into a rotation that already has Jones, Vince, Melksham, Kennedy, Trengove, Tyson, Kent, Viney, Salem, Brayshaw, Vandenberg and Petracca?

:D

The article I read on AFL.com said we are also looking to secure Matt Rosa presumably with a late pick?

Gone to GC for pick 31.

Just received this text message from my mate who works at the Falcons (where Parish plays), who also just so happens to be a mad bombers supporter:

"YOU [censored]! You have stolen Parish from us. Melbourne must have been onto this for a long time ago, they must have known they were going to trade to get an earlier pick hence why Goodwin was all over Parish and the Falcons (saw him in the rooms regularly). You now have secured the best 3 midfielders in the TAC Cup from the past two years, plus the best forward. No excuses for your team now."

All of Parish's game-changing qualities were on show in the Geelong Falcons' qualifying final against North Ballarat, when he collected 27 disposals, had seven tackles, five clearances and eight inside-50s. Parish is tough, composed and is a quick-thinker: he hunts the ball, darts away and doesn't take long to make a decision. Parish tested at the combine but didn't stand out in any of the events. That shouldn't be a surprise or a worry. He's a natural footballer and one who steps up a level when the ball is there to get and offers plenty of dash.