Any reason to assume he would not join Hawks or Cats like usual?  the Cats may not have that much cap space but I'd imagine he would go there for less if needed

mmmm see he is a restricted free agent which makes life more difficult.

Would hate to trade one of the crown jewels for him.

32 minutes ago, ProDee said:

Gaff is having a great year and much of what I didn't like last year he's addressed, so I'm all on board.

Unlike Wise, I'd be surprised if he stays with West Coast.  It's just a gut feel.  Them playing well might make it harder for him to leave though.

If he did leave he'd perfectly top off our list.  I also reckon we'd be close to the top of his wish list.  Play at Etihad every second week, or play at the G where you used to go to as a kid to watch your beloved Demons ?

Or get paid squillions at a currently pox team lose every week, phone it in, hate your job - and then go watch the Dees @ MCG every few weeks....hmmm

2 hours ago, McQueen said:

Okay, let's get this straight.

He is 25 years old, turning 26 next month.

And if you rate him on par with ANB or Harmes then I'd challenge your comment of "watching a little bit of the Eagles."

If ANB or Harmes turn out to be as good as Gaff I'd be very, very surprised.

Thats funny thaught I had the age right but wrong on that is fine. I don't think a player like Gaff would be on the money we could throw around and I don't think his talent is quite there. We are paying what I would call overs on Lever.

1 hour ago, Petraccattack said:

Would need to trade Tyson for a pick and have Vince retire to be able to afford Gaff.

If we add him to our already superb, deep and ultra talented midfield we would be unstoppable.

So Gaff would be the one thing we need to go from losing to the Hawks by 67, to being "unstoppable"?

 

Reckon you might be overestimating his impact Pet.

I was at a lunch where Goody spoke just last week. Our interest in Gaff one of the first questions he fielded. Response was a resounding yes, accompanied with a wry grin (my interpretation at least). ?

6 minutes ago, faultydet said:

So Gaff would be the one thing we need to go from losing to the Hawks by 67, to being "unstoppable"?

 

Reckon you might be overestimating his impact Pet.

Melbourne's structure has completely changed over the last 4 weeks. It bears no resemblance to the first few rounds. Against Hawthorn the only tall in the forward-line was Hogan. The last few weeks it's been Hogan, McDonald, Weideman and Gawn on rotation.  It's no surprise with this new structure Gawn has kicked goals each of the last 3 weeks.  He had no chopout against Hawthorn.  Unless you consider Harmes and Petracca a chop out.

The back six have also individually hit form. Previously Oscar was the only one who could hold his head high. 

Brayshaw to the middle has been important.  And Salem played his best game last week going back to a back flank.

When referencing our season I'm surprised how some supporters don't recognise what has been a quantum shift in so many areas.  

We are a very different proposition compared to the early rounds.

That said, I get that the noise won't change until we beat top eight teams.

20 minutes ago, ProDee said:

Melbourne's structure has completely changed over the last 4 weeks. It bears no resemblance to the first few rounds. Against Hawthorn the only tall in the forward-line was Hogan. The last few weeks it's been Hogan, McDonald, Weideman and Gawn on rotation.  It's no surprise with this new structure Gawn has kicked goals each of the last 3 weeks.  He had no chopout against Hawthorn.  Unless you consider Harmes and Petracca a chop out.

The back six have also individually hit form. Previously Oscar was the only one who could hold his head high. 

Brayshaw to the middle has been important.  And Salem played his best game last week going back to a back flank.

When referencing our season I'm surprised how some supporters don't recognise what has been a quantum shift in so many areas.  

We are a very different proposition compared to the early rounds.

That said, I get that the noise won't change until we beat top eight teams.

Great precis.

Adelaide will be a test, in the warmth. Innit McGovern out and lots more injuries so not sure their best team will be there, but I don't give a flick of the fast donut, just want to beat them then Dogs and Pies into the bye.

43 minutes ago, ProDee said:

Melbourne's structure has completely changed over the last 4 weeks. It bears no resemblance to the first few rounds. Against Hawthorn the only tall in the forward-line was Hogan. The last few weeks it's been Hogan, McDonald, Weideman and Gawn on rotation.  It's no surprise with this new structure Gawn has kicked goals each of the last 3 weeks.  He had no chopout against Hawthorn.  Unless you consider Harmes and Petracca a chop out.

The back six have also individually hit form. Previously Oscar was the only one who could hold his head high. 

Brayshaw to the middle has been important.  And Salem played his best game last week going back to a back flank.

When referencing our season I'm surprised how some supporters don't recognise what has been a quantum shift in so many areas.  

We are a very different proposition compared to the early rounds.

That said, I get that the noise won't change until we beat top eight teams.

The final line is my concern.

We have been mauling garbage sides, and its great to finally see us putting it together against sides that we should.

But, I think our true improvement can only be measured against the best teams. While I can see that we are playing with a different setup to the first few rounds, I wont be in any way convinced that a player like Gaff will be "cherry on top" material, until we start rolling top 4 sides consistently. We didn't just lose to them, we got blown away. 

 

Here's hoping.....

From The AFL website:

McGovern has put talks on hold, probably until season's end, while Gaff is reportedly being targeted by five Melbourne clubs.

12 hours ago, Wiseblood said:

If he wants to come back home for money then I don't think we're ahead.  You would expect the Saints, North (who have tried to poach anybody with two legs over the last couple of years) and Carlton to have more money to give.  The Bombers wouldn't have a whole lot of wriggle room and us, well, we must have something to spare lying around.

However, if he wants to come home to potentially win a flag, then the decision at the moment is a no brainer.  Three of the mentioned clubs are absolute poo and going nowhere fast, while North are batting above their average, just like Mick Martyn did with any woman he  dated in his lifetime.

If we can offer him competitive money then we're a mile in front of all the clubs mentioned.  I still think he's more likely to sign with the Eagles but I'd like to think we're a sneaky chance of nabbing him as well.

I would think that his parents are aging as we all are, and other family moving ahead with their lives.

I sense for some reason that Gaff wants to come back east.

 

I think that if we acquired both Gaff and Sloane, these missing links would enable us to fast-track into real contention.

Both will aid our transition from the centre bounces, and from our backhalf.

 

I hope the club goes overboard now,,, to get both of these two mature players this year.

Sloane could give us 4 good years of leadership and elite midfield play.   Tiding us over from Lew and Vince and then Jones... adding to our leaders in the 26-8Yr age bracket.

Gaff fits well within our 2nd layer of leaders, in that 24-5 Yr age bracket.

Edited May 18, 20186 yr by DV8

9 hours ago, dl4e said:

You could say that about the whole Eagles team ATM. I have watched a little bit of the eagles this year and over previous years and I have not changed my mind on Gaff. He is 27 or 28 and we have enough players of his ilk such as ANB and Harmes which we don't have to pay a fortune for. He can stay at the eagles for all I care.

approaching 26Yrs of age this year.

https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-west-coast-eagles--andrew-gaff

We need his running power.

 

 

On 5/5/2018 at 9:07 PM, WERRIDEE said:

Jackson said we still have enough money to bye 1 more gun.

?

lets make a wee bit more room, for 2 of em.

On 5/6/2018 at 6:51 AM, R.I.P. Troy said:

Bye bye Vince & Lewis. Hello Gaff.

Now that would be lovely, just lovely 

Payout Lew this year, and hire him as a playing assistant at Casey. One of these boys should stay on at Casey.

Sadly Pedo may get caught in this Cap scenario, as well.

8 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

So .. I assume it's trade Tyson for a draft pick thus freeing up some of the salary needed to pay Gaff?

(Kent)?  

Offer Gaff a 5Yr contract, ramping up after 2020.   I imagine we'd need supporters to help with out of footy career areas, to help their families ?

On 5/5/2018 at 9:07 PM, WERRIDEE said:

 I would go for Sloane before Gaff but it would be great to get either of them.

We need Sloane as well. (Tyson)?

Offer Sloane 4Yrs, heavy Front ended.

Edited May 18, 20186 yr by DV8

2 hours ago, Roger Mellie said:

From The AFL website:

McGovern has put talks on hold, probably until season's end, while Gaff is reportedly being targeted by five Melbourne clubs.

The Hawks will be in that mix.

Not to mention E'dies hat will be in any ring.

20 minutes ago, DV8 said:

The Hawks will be in that mix.

Not to mention E'dies hat will be in any ring.

The Hawks won’t be in the mix if they land Lynch. 

1 minute ago, Demons11 said:

The Hawks won’t be in the mix if they land Lynch. 

They'll find a way, they, are horethorn.

We cannot get bullied by big clubs, any longer...   It's time to stand up and FIGHT,,, teeth and claws !

 

NOW is the time:... we need all our supporters to dig-in and help, to get us to the upper echelons of AFL.

 

No good diggin in when we are down all the time.... its the time NOW, to really get stuck in.

22 hours ago, mordja said:

Inside mids - Jones (2-3 seasons left), Tyson (meh but gets the ball), Viney, Oliver, Petracca (coming), Brayshaw, ANB (more HFF, no silk)

Classy outside mids - Stretch (far from proven), Hunt (more HBF), Salem (maybe)..... 

I'm on board with Gaff as far fetched as I think it is.  

Let Wines go. We took Toumpas, like we took Tyson.  

That's a stretch saying Hunt is "classy" ?

16 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

That's a stretch saying Hunt is "classy" ?

... classy, that's Fritz, surely.    can't think of many others, I'd call classy. ah, Oli.

4 hours ago, Roger Mellie said:

From The AFL website:

McGovern has put talks on hold, probably until season's end, while Gaff is reportedly being targeted by five Melbourne clubs.

There only one Melbourne club. Melbourne.

8 hours ago, faultydet said:

The final line is my concern.

We have been mauling garbage sides, and its great to finally see us putting it together against sides that we should.

But, I think our true improvement can only be measured against the best teams. While I can see that we are playing with a different setup to the first few rounds, I wont be in any way convinced that a player like Gaff will be "cherry on top" material, until we start rolling top 4 sides consistently. We didn't just lose to them, we got blown away. 

 

Here's hoping.....

Abberation

Gaff will be at Melbourne he used to barrack for them after all.

Isn't that the way it goes?

3 hours ago, DV8 said:

?

Payout Lew this year, and hire him as a playing assistant at Casey. One of these boys should stay on at Casey.

Sadly Pedo may get caught in this Cap scenario, as well.

 

Offer Sloane 4Yrs, heavy Front ended.

Why pay out Lewis his form has been good? No need to be greedy. Grabbing Gaff will be enough. Sloane is too old not someone we should be looking for.

Pedo won't be on the list next year no matter what happens.

Sloane?

Not sure why anyone even bothers mentioning Sloane...

9 hours ago, DV8 said:

They'll find a way, they, are horethorn.

We cannot get bullied by big clubs, any longer...   It's time to stand up and FIGHT,,, teeth and claws !

 

NOW is the time:... we need all our supporters to dig-in and help, to get us to the upper echelons of AFL.

 

No good diggin in when we are down all the time.... its the time NOW, to really get stuck in.

Glad you're passionate and these comments to me a nonsensical. We've landed Lewis and Lever in the last few pre seasons. So we're not bullied. 

And something to warm the cockles - A contact of a contact of a contact (I've been umming ahhing about putting this forward, as  I know certain personnel hate this), alluded that Gaff was not dissimilar to Lever, in that Goodwin and co have been maintaining relationships with him for years...unless something drastically changes...well...not dissimilar to Lever.  So in my mind, it'll play out quite nicely for us.

Edited May 18, 20186 yr by Danelska

West Coast reportedly have an offer on the table for 750k x 4 years. Given he is a restricted free agent, we would probably have to go higher than that.

That sort of money is starting to get up to the pointy end of players in the competition,  and I've never been 100% convinced  by Gaff. But there is no doubting he fills a need.