Norf. Is Jay Clark taking the [censored]? 

If he does go to Nought he will be universally loathed by all clubs...

I hope Gaff signs at North. We need to save our $$$ for Josh Kelly next year. Move some pieces around this year and make some room. Trade Tyson, delist others who aren't needed, retire Lewis, Vince and Jones within the next year and make some room for Kelly. 

25 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

We have nothing to give Sydney 

Except 4 points

7 hours ago, demonstone said:

The cretins on Bomberblitz reckon they've got him, and they always seem to have the good dope.

 

7 hours ago, MSFebey said:

Worsfold connection perhaps?

Are you referring to the player Gaff, or to the good dope?

10 minutes ago, monoccular said:

 

Are you referring to the player Gaff, or to the good dope?

The cook.... I mean chemist 

I don’t get it, if they don’t come to us, I’d much rather big name free agents go to clubs like ours who have been down for some time in North, Saints and Gold Coast. 

How sh it is it seeing them go to Geelong, Hawks, Swans or especially the drug cheats. 

7 hours ago, Megatron said:

Why would we need to give them anything? Isn’t he a free agent?

minor details mega.

My guess is the media are saying Norf based on the size of the offer. He doesn't have to accept the highest one.

11 hours ago, Sir Why You Little said:

If he does go to Nought he will be universally loathed by all clubs...

If he goes to Nought ..... he'll be good for nothing......

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2018/08/16/report-gaff-tossing-up-north-offer/

Doesn't a Brayshaw run North ???

13 hours ago, Robot Devil said:

Gaff to North has a lot of symmetry with the Judd to Carlton scenario. 

WC player returning to Melbourne on big dollars to play in a team that achieves SFA until he retires (and even then they still suck).  

You could insert the MFC here and your post would still have some merit.

If Gaff doesn't end up a Demon he's going to be labelled a mercenary by most supporters.

So if NO GAFF, what's plan B? Ed Langdon isn't the answer. We are definitely chasing at least 1 A grader, possibly 2 according to Mahoney earlier in the year.

13 hours ago, KingDingAling said:

I hope Gaff signs at North. We need to save our $$$ for Josh Kelly next year. Move some pieces around this year and make some room. Trade Tyson, delist others who aren't needed, retire Lewis, Vince and Jones within the next year and make some room for Kelly. 

This is something I can really get behind, unfortunately I've never heard Kelly linked once with us not even a whimper of speculation. Just seems like wishful thinking at this stage 

Does anyone have an approximation on how much of an offer we would have actually been able to put forward?

5 minutes ago, johndemonic said:

Does anyone have an approximation on how much of an offer we would have actually been able to put forward?

Is there actually any proof out there that we actually have? Or even interested in Gaff of late?

I for the life of me can not see why anyone would ever want step foot into North Melbourne.

Most bland and boring football club going around! They rarely attract big crowds, they have a coach who is nothing but a A Grade Phlog, they have no brand and stand for nothing!

Yet we hear guys like Gaff and Polec are certain land at this irrelevant club?

Money does talk hey.

Edited August 17, 20186 yr by dazzledavey36

4 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

I for the life of me can not see why anyone would ever want step foot into North Melbourne.

Most bland and boring football club going around! They rarely attract big crowds, they have a coach who is nothing but a A Grade Phlog, they have no brand and stand for nothing!

Yet we hear guys like Gaff and Polec are certain land at this irrelevant club?

Money does talk hey.

Off topic, but who's the better coach, Chris or Brad?

31 minutes ago, johndemonic said:

Does anyone have an approximation on how much of an offer we would have actually been able to put forward?

Reports are WCE have offered $850k and North are offering $1.m+

• Given club comments that we have the sal cap for 2 A graders we could offer somewhere in that range.  
• An offer needs to be one that WCE won't be able to 'virtually' match (that would allow them to force a trade ala Dangerfield).
• The club narrative has been about a balance across player payments.  So even tho we may have the sal cap we may not be prepared to upset that balance and risk existing players being offside or risk not being able to afford our players coming out of contract next year (s).   

Hopefully, we have someone else in the pipeline if we miss Gaff.

Edited August 17, 20186 yr by Lucifer's Hero

I posted a few days back that the North offer is longer at seven years and is worth almost $2M more. The only way he would come to Melbourne is on the hope that he would be able to make up the difference on his next contract.

Not much hope.

3 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Reports are WCE have offered $850k and North are offering $1.m+

• Given club comments that we have the sal cap for 2 A graders we could offer somewhere in that range.  
• An offer needs to be one that WCE won't be able to 'virtually' match (that would allow them to force a trade ala Dangerfield).
• The club narrative has been about a balance across player payments.  So even tho we may have the sal cap we may not be prepared to upset that balance and risk existing players being offside or risk not being able to afford our players coming out of contract next year (s).   

Hopefully, we have someone else in the pipeline if we miss Gaff.

Hard to see anyone around that we would not have to trade for. Big decisions to be made

Given where our list is at, one or two 'A graders' shy of where we want to be, and knowing:

• We have seen considerable development in a number of players this year like Harmes, Salem etc.
• Spargo and Fritsch have had immediate impact
• Oscar Baker is developing at Casey, and could be an outside ball hero for us with the right development.
• We have some structural holes (back up ruck) that are screaming out for attention - will Bradtke be this??  How far away??
• We have some players with large unfulfilled potential (Trac for example, Getting Viney on the park, Getting more from Hogan, etc etc)
• A few players are probably ready to be retired, or to shift back to Casey type roles

Gaff looks like a good get, but do we want to join the bargain shoppers on this one?  Somehow I doubt it.  We make a reasonable offer regardless what North offer and stick to it.  Our big get was Jake Lever last year.  I don't know who else we would want that is available, and unless we are going to 'wiggle someone loose', we may have to give up more than we want to so that we can get what we want.

Has Lynch actually signed anything ?

12 minutes ago, buck_nekkid said:

Given where our list is at, one or two 'A graders' shy of where we want to be, and knowing:

• We have seen considerable development in a number of players this year like Harmes, Salem etc.
• Spargo and Fritsch have had immediate impact
• Oscar Baker is developing at Casey, and could be an outside ball hero for us with the right development.
• We have some structural holes (back up ruck) that are screaming out for attention - will Bradtke be this??  How far away??
• We have some players with large unfulfilled potential (Trac for example, Getting Viney on the park, Getting more from Hogan, etc etc)
• A few players are probably ready to be retired, or to shift back to Casey type roles

Gaff looks like a good get, but do we want to join the bargain shoppers on this one?  Somehow I doubt it.  We make a reasonable offer regardless what North offer and stick to it.  Our big get was Jake Lever last year.  I don't know who else we would want that is available, and unless we are going to 'wiggle someone loose', we may have to give up more than we want to so that we can get what we want.

It's the free agent status that makes it logical to chase Gaff. Your points above are all valid but we have an opportunity to add a proven A grade mid with 170+ games to the team who is in their prime.

Stuff the waiting and hypotheticals based around our current list... Let's jack our team full of more stars while we can.