1 hour ago, Sylvia Saint said:

Hard to see Hawthorn and Geelong ever dropping to the bottom half when they get to top up their lists with decent players year after year. 

They might have to trade for their targets, but once a player 'nominates' them, the gun is loaded and finger on the trigger. 

 

I can see both dropping in the not too distant future.

They're running out of ammo and making desperation moves.

The Cat's first desperation move in Clarke has been a bust with a few more to follow, the Hawks are heading down a similar path.

Quick summary of Terry Wallace's analysis of our list

- Good decision to remove the older players (Dunn, Garland, Dawes) from the team. Allows the youngsters to grow together.

- Need a half back with good ball use. Therefore Hibberd will be a good pickup.

- We're lacking a bit of ruck depth. Need Gawn to stay fit and uninjured.

- Bit of concern regarding our lack of experience in our key position players. Expect some inconsistent performances.

- We're a good chance of finals next year. We'll hopefully be a lock in 2018.

- Damian Barrett expecting a 'curveball' move from us in trade period this year. Watch this space.

1 minute ago, rjay said:

I can see both dropping in the not too distant future.

They're running out of ammo and making desperation moves.

The Cat's first desperation move in Clarke has been a bust with a few more to follow, the Hawks are heading down a similar path.

I agree. You need more than Tom Mitchell, Tyrone Vickery and Jaeger O'Meara to make top 4. Especially with guys like Burgoyne, Gibson, Hodge, Mitchell & Roughhead nearing the end.

The other side of it is the reason they were so successful is they were a well oiled machine. It will take a little while to actually oil the machine again and there is no guarantee it will ever get near the heights they had.

4 minutes ago, Demon Jack said:

Quick summary of Terry Wallace's analysis of our list

- Good decision to remove the older players (Dunn, Garland, Dawes) from the team. Allows the youngsters to grow together.

- Need a half back with good ball use. Therefore Hibberd will be a good pickup.

- We're lacking a bit of ruck depth. Need Gawn to stay fit and uninjured.

- Bit of concern regarding our lack of experience in our key position players. Expect some inconsistent performances.

- We're a good chance of finals next year. We'll hopefully be a lock in 2018.

- Damian Barrett expecting a 'curveball' move from us in trade period this year. Watch this space.

He's a genius. 

Because we have done it two years running, he's tipping it this year. What a spud he is.

3 minutes ago, Demon Jack said:

Quick summary of Terry Wallace's analysis of our list

- Good decision to remove the older players (Dunn, Garland, Dawes) from the team. Allows the youngsters to grow together.

- Need a half back with good ball use. Therefore Hibberd will be a good pickup.

- We're lacking a bit of ruck depth. Need Gawn to stay fit and uninjured.

- Bit of concern regarding our lack of experience in our key position players. Expect some inconsistent performances.

- We're a good chance of finals next year. We'll hopefully be a lock in 2018.

- Damian Barrett expecting a 'curveball' move from us in trade period this year. Watch this space.

Looks like both Wallace and Barrett have been reading the 66 pages here

38 minutes ago, Redleg said:

Clearly the AFL have got it right on equalization, as can be seen once again, by where players want to go.

Geelong, Hawthorn, Adelaide, Collingwood are 4 of the leading destinations for players.

We need these struggling clubs to survive and AFL head office has got it right.

 

Finally for me the penny has dropped. AFL's definition of equalisation is that EVERYONE gets to play for Hawthorn!

12 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

He's a genius. 

Because we have done it two years running, he's tipping it this year. What a spud he is.

'Curveball' he said...a mighty step-up from 'scattergun'.

1 hour ago, Luther said:

Think OD meant he'd love the Dees to be hated in the same fashion as the Hawks - me too. Don't think Mitchell is a big loss in terms of a trade target. Won't thrive when S. Mitchell, Lewis and Hodge are gone and all the weight is on his shoulders. He has had Parker, Kennedy, Jack etc to work with at the Swans and will be exposed IMO.

Think our time for being 'hated' is coming. Looking forward to to it. 

Must soon grasp how to use the multi-quote functionality.

5 minutes ago, TRIGON said:

Finally for me the penny has dropped. AFL's definition of equalisation is that EVERYONE gets to play for Hawthorn!

close - "EVERYONE gets an EQUAL chance to play for Hawthorn!"

9 minutes ago, TRIGON said:

Think our time for being 'hated' is coming. Looking forward to to it. 

Er, it's footy

2 hours ago, Moonshadow said:

Thankfully it's not us leaking good players to other clubs this year.

Another step up next season and we might just attract a couple of real good ones in 12 months.

Who are the OOCs and FAs next year worth having a crack at?

 

2 hours ago, stevethemanjordan said:

That's what I want to know.

I'm sure we're saving and have an idea of some potential targets right when we're in the sweet spot and opposition players can genuinely see we're a club on the rise.

As soon as we finish 5-8 on the ladder, we're in business for big names.

Need to keep our under 23 core together though.

Regarding the 2017 OOC players there will be more than 200 players OOC next year (every year in fact) so its far too difficult to assess them.

But, here is an early list of 2017 FA's http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-05-13/the-2017-free-agents Now is the time to get in their ear!! 

Last week a caller to SEN said Carlton had wined and dined Fyfe during Grand Final week.  Apparently, they want him as an FA next year (for free) and have created a war chest of $2m p.a. for him.  While its hard to see the $2m being accurate the attempt to get him may not be too far fetched, especially as it caught Andy Maher a bit flat footed and he didn't refute it.

Of course, Freo can put a spanner in the works (ala the Dangerfield trade) and meet an offer and force a club (Carlton) into a trade. 

 

1 hour ago, Sylvia Saint said:

Hard to see Hawthorn and Geelong ever dropping to the bottom half when they get to top up their lists with decent players year after year. 

They might have to trade for their targets, but once a player 'nominates' them, the gun is loaded and finger on the trigger. 

 

They'll both dip further each year from here on out. Neither are winning the flag next year.

I wonder which player we have our eye on in the draft with this years 2nd round pick, if we're only willing to give our 2017 2nd round pick for Hibberd.

 

Putting together odds and ends, am I right in suggesting the rumours are: we are offering ESS our 2017 second round pick for Hibbard in an attempt to become a third party in the Mitchell to Hawthorn trade, by offering them our 2016 second round pick for Jordan Lewis? Perhaps we can find another pick through Dunn/Garland to Bris/GC. 

Brisbane have picks 19 and 21.

Gold Coast have picks 22, 23 and 25.

i wouldn't be surprised if we are eying off either 19 or 21 for Dunn and Pick 28.  We get an upgrade and they get Dunn.

6 minutes ago, hells bells said:

Brisbane have picks 19 and 21.

Gold Coast have picks 22, 23 and 25.

i wouldn't be surprised if we are eying off either 19 or 21 for Dunn and Pick 28.  We get an upgrade and they get Dunn.

Funny you mention this.

The Essendon bomberblitz forum suggested this trade on the basis that we then on trade 19/20 to Essendon for Hibberd.

I suppose we would say "they were dreamin" and in fact the follow up comment on bomberblitz was that no one would pay for Dunn when he could be had for free!!

Wonderful how different people see the world.

4 hours ago, stuie said:

Melbourne has left Etihad Stadium after meetings with a number of clubs, including the Brisbane Lions and Essendon today. 

There was no deal completed to secure Michael Hibberd from the Bombers, while the Lions made inquiries about defender Lynden Dunn.

Demons football manager Josh Mahoney said forward Chris Dawes did not attract any interest on the opening day of the NAB AFL Trade Period.  

 

Maybe we could get Hibberd for free if he suggests a breach of contract action vs our generous offer of next year's second round pick!

13 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Funny you mention this.

The Essendon bomberblitz forum suggested this trade on the basis that we then on trade 19/20 to Essendon for Hibberd.

I suppose we would say "they were dreamin" and in fact the follow up comment on bomberblitz was that no one would pay for Dunn when he could be had for free!!

Wonderful how different people see the world.

Dunn can't be had for free as he is contracted for 2017. But the spuds on Bomber Blotz wouldnt know that.

2 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

Dunn can't be had for free as he is contracted for 2017. But the spuds on Bomber Blotz wouldnt know that.

I think they were meaning that one could make a nominal offer (say 4th round pick or the like)

15 minutes ago, CBDees said:

Maybe we could get Hibberd for free if he suggests a breach of contract action vs our generous offer of next year's second round pick!

He already said he would happily go back to Essendon, so no chance.

 

I think we'd hope to take 19-20 into this years draft and trade 2nd Round next year to Bombers for Hibberd.

It's a gamble for both sides.  If we go very well next year it's a pick 30+.  If we have a few injuries to critical players it's probably an upgrade for the Bombers on pick 28 this year.  Hibberd is not worth a top 20 pick.

ESSENDON is happy to part with defender Michael Hibberd for a second-round pick, however it would prefer it was this year's rather than a 2017 pick.

Dees, Dons close to finalising Hibberd trade Peter Ryan

2 hours ago, Luther said:

Think OD meant he'd love the Dees to be hated in the same fashion as the Hawks - me too. Don't think Mitchell is a big loss in terms of a trade target. Won't thrive when S. Mitchell, Lewis and Hodge are gone and all the weight is on his shoulders. He has had Parker, Kennedy, Jack etc to work with at the Swans and will be exposed IMO.

Spot on Luther. I cannot wait till we are hated for the same reasons as the Hawks.

Could we possibly end up trading:

Melb give pick 28 and 46

Ess give Hibberd and 39

Improves our third, and get hibberd for our desired 2nd

19 minutes ago, wheaters31 said:

ESSENDON is happy to part with defender Michael Hibberd for a second-round pick, however it would prefer it was this year's rather than a 2017 pick.

Dees, Dons close to finalising Hibberd trade Peter Ryan

dons are the worst team ever to deal with