18 minutes ago, Demon Jack said:

Not from the horses mouth, but promising nonetheless.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-08-01/demons-coach-paul-roos-expects-outofcontract-defender-tom-mcdonald-to-definitely-stay

 

I am happy to go with that and what McDonald has himself said on the MFC website!

Expecting the classic Demonland backlash, but word is that McDonald has been offered a very nice package from Swans. They're planning for life after Grundy/Richards. 

Person well-connected in Sydney who is friends with Tom Harley has said that their view is he has verbally agreed. McDonald's management were made an offer mid season and told them that if Melbourne did not match that client would be likely. Going from the new MFC approach of paying people what they're worth, it would seem that if Tom has bigger offer (considerably bigger by sounds of things) then he's out. Nothing to do with lack of direction from MFC, Swans have played finals 14 of last 16 years.

If it eventuates, I wonder what it would be? I'd take Aliir Aliir and a pick for McDonald (but chances are they wouldn't want to part ways with Aliir given they'd be losing another defender). 

Tom Mitchell linked with move to VIC but only Hawks/Carl/Ess in the media. 

If true, I'm throwing Hurley lots of $$$$. They way I view it: if the net gain is Hurley for McDonald, we've upgraded.

 

We shall see what unfolds in the next month.

On 01/08/2016 at 7:41 PM, beelzebub said:

Can I play advocate ?  We desperately need Backs going fwd.  They may not necessarily be of Scottish ilk  

but if the backs go fwd who is going to defend, bub?

6 hours ago, Red and Blue Flame said:

Expecting the classic Demonland backlash, but word is that McDonald has been offered a very nice package from Swans. They're planning for life after Grundy/Richards. 

Person well-connected in Sydney who is friends with Tom Harley has said that their view is he has verbally agreed. McDonald's management were made an offer mid season and told them that if Melbourne did not match that client would be likely. Going from the new MFC approach of paying people what they're worth, it would seem that if Tom has bigger offer (considerably bigger by sounds of things) then he's out. Nothing to do with lack of direction from MFC, Swans have played finals 14 of last 16 years.

If it eventuates, I wonder what it would be? I'd take Aliir Aliir and a pick for McDonald (but chances are they wouldn't want to part ways with Aliir given they'd be losing another defender). 

Tom Mitchell linked with move to VIC but only Hawks/Carl/Ess in the media. 

If true, I'm throwing Hurley lots of $$$$. They way I view it: if the net gain is Hurley for McDonald, we've upgraded.

 

We shall see what unfolds in the next month.

I know Tom Harley well. I'd be beyond shocked to find out he's running around telling people information like this that ends up on websites like this. I'd take all of that with a big grain of salt.

Not offering an opinion on whether he's staying or going but this source sounds highly unlikely. 

Roosy almost never goes out on a limb on anything but he came out emphatically saying he's staying. Good enough for me until I hear it confirmed from the Club one way or the other.

On 7/31/2016 at 7:38 PM, mo64 said:

FFS. The game's on the line, and you're content with players making basic mistakes? We're forever destined for mediocrity with that mentality.

T-Mac with his flaws, is one player who has enjoyed an injury free run.. That alone adds contract value!

 

Gee the Swans do it well. You have to respect how they operate. They identify needs and fill them. Smooth operators and a well run club.

We have no idea if Tom is going to move but gee you'd hope the Dees aren't stupid enough to just let him walk. 

Don't get me wrong we will need to be compensated as Toms a RFA (im not 100% on this). And i wouldn't blame Tom.for choosing a club like Sydney. 

But depending on the deal (and i really respect our list management and recruiting teams and the great jobs they sre doing. Todd and Josh and everyone are doing a top job) it would really pee me off if Tom left. The AFL and their equilisation are rubbish. Poor clubs just keep rebuilding with picks while the strong stay strong and cherry pick talent to fill needs.

You need to be GWS and have years of forst rounders to rebuild.

If Tom goes then Hoges follows in 2017 i reckon I'll give up AFL. But until then will watch with interest.

End rant.

PS thanks for sharing Red and blue and its time, and i know nothing is concrete but as a betting man and history i'd put money on Tom leaving at this stage.

I reckon Tom McDonald will re-sign, as will Oscar.

They both seem very committed to the club.

It's an incredibly unusual situation to have two brothers drafted to the same AFL club with the very same pick (no. 53) albeit 4 years apart . I suspect Tom would have to answer to more than a few people, including his parents, were he to leave in circumstances where the MFC really wanted to keep him.

 

4 hours ago, Ron Burgundy said:

I reckon Tom McDonald will re-sign, as will Oscar.

They both seem very committed to the club.

It's an incredibly unusual situation to have two brothers drafted to the same AFL club with the very same pick (no. 53) albeit 4 years apart . I suspect Tom would have to answer to more than a few people, including his parents, were he to leave in circumstances where the MFC really wanted to keep him.

Thanks Pollyanna

It's amazing how TMAC for TOM MITCH gets thrown up a month earlier and then all of a sudden you get people coming out of the woodwork saying their mates mate knows someone high up in sydney that can confirm an offer has been made.

16 minutes ago, Unleash Hell said:

Gee the Swans do it well. You have to respect how they operate. They identify needs and fill them. Smooth operators and a well run club.

We have no idea if Tom is going to move but gee you'd hope the Dees aren't stupid enough to just let him walk. 

Don't get me wrong we will need to be compensated as Toms a RFA (im not 100% on this). And i wouldn't blame Tom.for choosing a club like Sydney. 

But depending on the deal (and i really respect our list management and recruiting teams and the great jobs they sre doing. Todd and Josh and everyone are doing a top job) it would really pee me off if Tom left. The AFL and their equilisation are rubbish. Poor clubs just keep rebuilding with picks while the strong stay strong and cherry pick talent to fill needs.

You need to be GWS and have years of forst rounders to rebuild.

If Tom goes then Hoges follows in 2017 i reckon I'll give up AFL. But until then will watch with interest.

End rant.

PS thanks for sharing Red and blue and its time, and i know nothing is concrete but as a betting man and history i'd put money on Tom leaving at this stage.

McDonald isn't a free agent. He's only 23.

17 minutes ago, Unleash Hell said:

Gee the Swans do it well. You have to respect how they operate. They identify needs and fill them. Smooth operators and a well run club.

We have no idea if Tom is going to move but gee you'd hope the Dees aren't stupid enough to just let him walk. 

Don't get me wrong we will need to be compensated as Toms a RFA (im not 100% on this). And i wouldn't blame Tom.for choosing a club like Sydney. 

But depending on the deal (and i really respect our list management and recruiting teams and the great jobs they sre doing. Todd and Josh and everyone are doing a top job) it would really pee me off if Tom left. The AFL and their equilisation are rubbish. Poor clubs just keep rebuilding with picks while the strong stay strong and cherry pick talent to fill needs.

You need to be GWS and have years of forst rounders to rebuild.

If Tom goes then Hoges follows in 2017 i reckon I'll give up AFL. But until then will watch with interest.

End rant.

PS thanks for sharing Red and blue and its time, and i know nothing is concrete but as a betting man and history i'd put money on Tom leaving at this stage.

McDonald isn't a free agent. He's only 23.

We need TMac to sign from a list perspective. One of our weaknesses is ready made quality key defenders, We're currently playing both Frost and OMac, who are both young and still finding their way. Mac is the only one on the list who is a sure thing. I don't rate TMac that highly, I think his decision making is poor, his skills are average, but he can usually hold his own to defend one on one if required. That said we still need to re-sign him from a list perspective and find another quality key defender. Losing him sets us back a step when we need to keep moving forward. We have improved this year, but so have other clubs and we need to keep up with them or we'll never crack into the 8.

8 minutes ago, Members' Wing said:

McDonald isn't a free agent. He's only 23.

Cheers

I was pretty sure he would have to be traded for but dont have the time to look it up atm.

 

23 minutes ago, johndemons said:

It's amazing how TMAC for TOM MITCH gets thrown up a month earlier and then all of a sudden you get people coming out of the woodwork saying their mates mate knows someone high up in sydney that can confirm an offer has been made.

I don't think we're in the hunt for T Mitch, so a straight swap is unlikely.

35 minutes ago, Unleash Hell said:

But depending on the deal (and i really respect our list management and recruiting teams and the great jobs they sre doing. Todd and Josh and everyone are doing a top job) it would really pee me off if Tom left. The AFL and their equilisation are rubbish. Poor clubs just keep rebuilding with picks while the strong stay strong and cherry pick talent to fill needs.

You need to be GWS and have years of forst rounders to rebuild.

If Tom goes then Hoges follows in 2017 i reckon I'll give up AFL. But until then will watch with interest.

End rant.

PS thanks for sharing Red and blue and its time, and i know nothing is concrete but as a betting man and history i'd put money on Tom leaving at this stage.

Unfortunatly I have the same fear, history just isnt on our side. The only player who demanded more and eventually got it was Cloke, dont realy want that scenario to repeat to us. If Tom says he is leaving then I think it is time to have a tantrum. None of this "ok we will work out a reasonable trade" I would expect us to continually make unreasonable demands. Allir, a first round pick and a nice set of steak knives. Make trading with us an absolute nightmare. I'm happy to be resonable getting players in but scrap that when we are losing players.

Unfortunately with Sydney there is no trade imaginable that wont result in us being set back a long way losing Tom. He goes and our 2017 finals hopes take an enormous blow. He goes and we dont get a new key defender? well, then our finals hopes will be crushed before the preseason even starts. 

Side note: Ik there has been romours in the past that TMac might want Hogan to sign first, but I wouldnt be surprised if it is the other way around. Lose our key back and Hogan's chances of success go way down. (no source, just a thought)

17 minutes ago, ArtificialWisdom said:

Unfortunatly I have the same fear, history just isnt on our side. The only player who demanded more and eventually got it was Cloke, dont realy want that scenario to repeat to us. If Tom says he is leaving then I think it is time to have a tantrum. None of this "ok we will work out a reasonable trade" I would expect us to continually make unreasonable demands. Allir, a first round pick and a nice set of steak knives. Make trading with us an absolute nightmare. I'm happy to be resonable getting players in but scrap that when we are losing players.

Unfortunately with Sydney there is no trade imaginable that wont result in us being set back a long way losing Tom. He goes and our 2017 finals hopes take an enormous blow. He goes and we dont get a new key defender? well, then our finals hopes will be crushed before the preseason even starts. 

Side note: Ik there has been romours in the past that TMac might want Hogan to sign first, but I wouldnt be surprised if it is the other way around. Lose our key back and Hogan's chances of success go way down. (no source, just a thought)

Maybe it's both and they should go down the pub and sort their [censored] out together.

1 hour ago, Ron Burgundy said:

I reckon Tom McDonald will re-sign, as will Oscar.

They both seem very committed to the club.

It's an incredibly unusual situation to have two brothers drafted to the same AFL club with the very same pick (no. 53) albeit 4 years apart . I suspect Tom would have to answer to more than a few people, including his parents, were he to leave in circumstances where the MFC really wanted to keep him.

 

I know for one that I wouldn't give a flying stuff what my parents, or my brother, thought.

1 hour ago, Unleash Hell said:

Gee the Swans do it well. You have to respect how they operate. They identify needs and fill them. Smooth operators and a well run club.

We have no idea if Tom is going to move but gee you'd hope the Dees aren't stupid enough to just let him walk. 

Don't get me wrong we will need to be compensated as Toms a RFA (im not 100% on this). And i wouldn't blame Tom.for choosing a club like Sydney. 

But depending on the deal (and i really respect our list management and recruiting teams and the great jobs they sre doing. Todd and Josh and everyone are doing a top job) it would really pee me off if Tom left. The AFL and their equilisation are rubbish. Poor clubs just keep rebuilding with picks while the strong stay strong and cherry pick talent to fill needs.

You need to be GWS and have years of forst rounders to rebuild.

If Tom goes then Hoges follows in 2017 i reckon I'll give up AFL. But until then will watch with interest.

End rant.

PS thanks for sharing Red and blue and its time, and i know nothing is concrete but as a betting man and history i'd put money on Tom leaving at this stage.

He is not a free agent, they will need to trade 

2 hours ago, mo64 said:

I don't think we're in the hunt for T Mitch, so a straight swap is unlikely.

I just meant, anyone could come up with an idea for a trade in a thread and a few weeks later someones mate will be talking about hearing some inside goss at the water cooler about said club. 

 

TMAC for Jeremy McGovern. You heard it here first, and you'll be hearing it again from someones mate later who's wife's cousin does Trever Nisbetts (WCE CEO) wifes hair at a perth salon. She's a gossiper old Mrs Nisbett, almost as bad as Tom Harley

 

3 hours ago, It's Time said:

I know Tom Harley well. I'd be beyond shocked to find out he's running around telling people information like this that ends up on websites like this. I'd take all of that with a big grain of salt.

Not offering an opinion on whether he's staying or going but this source sounds highly unlikely. 

Roosy almost never goes out on a limb on anything but he came out emphatically saying he's saying. Good enough for me until I hear it confirmed from the Club one way or the other.

Except he didnt. What he said was "players dont leave for money....so I think he'll stay" One thing Roos is great at is using the media to say what HE wants to say and not what they want to. I read that as slap to Tmacs manager and to Tmac. I think he must have a big offer he's considering  and  I reckon theres something on the table for Oscar as well. So Roos is just kind of saying that "morally" players stay when the team is rising and dont go chasing bucks. But it may be that that is exactly what Tmac and O mac are going to do. I SO hope Im wrong.

2 hours ago, Wells 11 said:

Except he didnt. What he said was "players dont leave for money....so I think he'll stay" One thing Roos is great at is using the media to say what HE wants to say and not what they want to. I read that as slap to Tmacs manager and to Tmac. I think he must have a big offer he's considering  and  I reckon theres something on the table for Oscar as well. So Roos is just kind of saying that "morally" players stay when the team is rising and dont go chasing bucks. But it may be that that is exactly what Tmac and O mac are going to do. I SO hope Im wrong.

Maybe, maybe not. He's put it out there and said he thinks he's staying. Take it as you will. Doesn't mean he knows for a fact he isn't leaving.

Say he decides to leave and go to Sydney. Who are about to be paying Buddy $1.5mill a season and Tippett around $800,000 a season. And supposedly TMac $700,000. Doesn't leave a real lot for the rest of the squad. TMac can't get there without a suitable trade. Their best pick will be around 16-18. That won't do it. Maybe if Mitchell goes to Carlton as rumoured and we get their first pick via Swans. Although they are saying they aren't going to spend a lot of money on one player. So seems unlikely. Plus we don't want to go back to the draft to start all over again. Maybe that pick then goes to Dons for Hurley. And our second rounder for Hibberd and next year's first rounder and a player to GC for O'Meara (who proves he is fit, in a medical carried out by the Richmond medico's who we hire as a one off.) Or alternatively next year's first rounder or less to Crows for Crouch. 

Now that would be a good trade period. Enjoy Sydney TMac, where I'll be happy to watch you live at the Swans while Hurley gives us magnificent solid, error free footy in our backline.

8 minutes ago, It's Time said:

and next year's first rounder and a player to GC for O'Meara (who proves he is fit, in a medical carried out by the Richmond medico's who we hire as a one off.) Or alternatively next year's first rounder or less to Crows for Crouch. 

Hurley and Hibberd is enough. I don't think we need to continue the draft pick upheaval until we've seen how we go from there the following year with a more solid defence. We should keep our options open in regards to what we need in 2018, we may need a forward and a midfielder/defender and having two first rounds (2017+2018)  to work with will be more helpful.

This begs the question, Who is most likely to be available at the end of 2017? Any nostradamus' in the forum?

Just now, johndemons said:

Hurley and Hibberd is enough. I don't think we need to continue the draft pick upheaval until we've seen how we go from there the following year with a more solid defence.

This begs the question, Who is most likely to be available at the end of 2017? Any nostradamus' in the forum?

I'd be more than happy to continue on to a proven fit O'Meara or Crouch this trade period. 

I would be surprised if there is anyone of that caliber in 2017. 

6 hours ago, johndemons said:

It's amazing how TMAC for TOM MITCH gets thrown up a month earlier and then all of a sudden you get people coming out of the woodwork saying their mates mate knows someone high up in sydney that can confirm an offer has been made.

Has nothing to do with Tmac for Tom Mitchell??

 

Heard on SEN with Andy Maher and Brett Anderson that Geelong are into Tom MacDonald. Makes sense, Lonergan will be 33 next year.

He's not a free agent, so they would have to trade for him.