Jump to content

Featured Replies

3 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

Max has also signed until 2022, no doubt on generous but not over the top money. But if Ben has a great season he'll get offers of huge money, hopefully not Tom Boyd level stupidity but it could be close to the 1M a season. Will the saints have the salary cap after their splurge this year? I doubt they'll want to pay him that to play CHB. 

And if Max is the better footballer then all of a sudden you have to pay him 1M+ on 2023 on.

Essendon banking the draft picks and cash from selling Daniher then offering it up to the Suns seems likely to me. The romance of playing with your brother might not be worth another million or so in the contract.

 

Very good point you make.

I hope ess don't get him, that's why we should make an offer this year, whilst we have such a high pick; even maybe our next future pick as well?

 

"If you cast your bread upon the water and you have faith, you'll get back cash.  If you don't have faith, you'll get soggy bread."  - Don King.

 

A F dreaming:

Melksham -- McDonald -- Vandenberg/Harmes

Fritsch -- King -- Hannan/Zippy small

 

"Monsters are real, and ghosts are real too. they live inside us, and sometimes they win." - Stephen King.


1 hour ago, Wrecker45 said:

They admit it, in a round about kind of way after the fact. Dustin Martin?

I was talking about those who sell the whole drafting concept

That can be recruiters,  draft predictors,  those directly involved and so on and so forth.  Supporters as well obviously.

The strike rate is what it is with top-end picks but there are very few who even want to acknowledge the actual data that comes later. 

I came to terms with drating in 1985. That's right,  before it even existed here in Oz.  Most people I know felt the same way then too.

It's a glorified lucky dip and always has been.  And if you add up the whole risk/reward as opposed to trading for 'real' talent,  the choice isn't difficult for me. 

But hey,  that's just me.  Others can have a completely opposite view and that's their right

But I get really annoyed at those who happily go along with the choices that the club makes and then turn on the club when those choices go South. 

And then there is the messiah mentality.  I'd rather play safe and know what I'm getting.

Other sport bodies around the World would probably be shocked if they knew that professional football teams here in Oz are built on the back of high school age draftees.  But no one is looking at the AFL except AFL people.

The NFL draft from College but College football is full on.  And the draftees are 22 years old (on average)

And their strike rate amongst 1st & 2nd rounders isn't great either.  Clubs over there trade for talent more than what we do yet the draftees are 4 years older.

 

Edited by Macca

1 hour ago, Redleg said:

How do you bank draft picks?

Either getting Sydney to put a future pick in the deal or trade a current pick to a team for a future pick next year. Similar to what Adelaide did with Carlton. Or the opposite of what we did with the Gold Coast back in the Oliver/Weid draft. With live drafting now I'm sure they'd be an opportunity, just a matter of taking the risk and knowing they'd have to be patient for a year.

In fact I think we'd very much consider trading pick 3 for pick 6 and GWS' future first so we've got 2 hits at next year as well. Patiently waiting for that pick to come isn't ideal but it could pay off next year, especially if the Giants don't back up.

4 hours ago, Rocky said:

ugh! i thought this was all confirmed prior to the trade period. so freaking confusing. ok whatever. what a messed up system. just keep it simple afl! way to alienate the fans.. surely the rule is to reduce the examples of clubs not having an up and coming players (like us currently), by insisting that clubs must utilise first round picks.. 2015 was a lifetime ago!

I think it was a mixture of the original rule being really confusing, a new rule and a rule only starting once the first 4 years was up... Messy stuff as per usual with the AFL.

 

 
2 hours ago, Macca said:

I was talking about those who sell the whole drafting concept

That can be recruiters,  draft predictors,  those directly involved and so on and so forth.  Supporters as well obviously.

The strike rate is what it is with top-end picks but there are very few who even want to acknowledge the actual data that comes later. 

I came to terms with drating in 1985. That's right,  before it even existed here in Oz.  Most people I know felt the same way then too.

It's a glorified lucky dip and always has been.  And if you add up the whole risk/reward as opposed to trading for 'real' talent,  the choice isn't difficult for me. 

No AFL club has won the flag primarily on the trade.  Hawthorn has ignored the draft in this rebuild and have gone all in on trade and FA.  They have a great coach and a strong culture. If anyone can make it work, they will. It's the perfect test of your theory. I'm not buying it but there's plenty to play out over the next few years.

Edited by Fifty-5

we need to stay away for King.  The overblown price and expectations would make this very unattractive.  St Kilda may want to do it for the ‘romance’ of it, and The Bombers need a forward tall.  We have seen Weid’s path - it takes big guys a while to develop to top level.  Would think the money is better spent elsewhere.


51 minutes ago, Fifty-5 said:

No AFL club has won the flag primarily on the trade

Of course

We are still in the drafting 'First' era ... and it's been that way since 1986.

No club has ever even attempted to build their list with trading as a primary objective (at least in the more recent past)

And I'm not advocating that any club should trade primarily

I am looking for a shift in the thinking.  Not a complete departure.  A bit of both with a leaning towards trading. 

Don't forget that by 'AFL' law,  we have to draft at least 3 players and I'm happy to adhere to those conditions (for now at least)

Edited by Macca

11 minutes ago, Fifty-5 said:

No AFL club has won the flag primarily on the trade.  Hawthorn has ignored the draft in this rebuild and have gone all in on trade and FA.  They have a great coach and a strong culture. If anyone can make it work, they will. It's the perfect test of your theory. I'm not buying it but there's plenty to play out over the next few years.

They ignored the draft but they have also nailed some late picks in Worley, Lewis and Sicily.


Just now, whatwhatsaywhat said:

good for the afl

handy when you are one of their franchises, no?

It is great for the AFL. But also for all the clubs in it. It is super important for suns and giants to be successful. Too much investment already anfms in rbe future for it to fail.

A good sign king commiting. No doubt they are selling to a bunch of really talented young men that  this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be part of group that saves and builds an AFL club.

Really if they can get the culture right it the gc is a beaut place to live for a young fella focused on being an elite athlete (not so great for elite party heads - boring as bat [censored]). Warm all year round, fantastic beaches  um fantsstic beaches. Did i mention the weather?

Basically it just means the Saints are gonna have to pay through their teeth if they want to pries him out of his contract at the end of next year.

I say we go after Max now ?

10 hours ago, buck_nekkid said:

we need to stay away for King.  The overblown price and expectations would make this very unattractive.  St Kilda may want to do it for the ‘romance’ of it, and The Bombers need a forward tall.  We have seen Weid’s path - it takes big guys a while to develop to top level.  Would think the money is better spent elsewhere.

I have seen Wieds path. It appears to be going nowhere. We need a real forward ready to go. I wouldn't be relying on the two we currently have. We should have taken Finlayson last year when he was availble and out of favour in my opinion. 

26 minutes ago, binman said:

It is great for the AFL. But also for all the clubs in it. It is super important for suns and giants to be successful. Too much investment already anfms in rbe future for it to fail.

A good sign king commiting. No doubt they are selling to a bunch of really talented young men that  this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be part of group that saves and builds an AFL club.

Really if they can get the culture right it the gc is a beaut place to live for a young fella focused on being an elite athlete (not so great for elite party heads - boring as bat [censored]). Warm all year round, fantastic beaches  um fantsstic beaches. Did i mention the weather?

good post.

good surf, good weather, traffic not too bad, good golf, good cycling, good mountain biking, hinterland is great, Byron is close, Noosa is close. Brissy is close. Short flight across the dutch the snow, not far to JaPOW. List goes on.

Also worth remembering that apparently the Suns and GWS were instrumental in the recent big $$ broadcasting rights deals.


Good on him.  Who knows if the AFL helped with this, but I thought the way the Saints talked about getting him next year was unprofessional and arrogant.  I'm stoked they won't get him next year and will have to pay up massively to get him out of his contract if that does come to pass.

EAD St Kilda. By the way they've been talking about it you'd have thought he was already living at Moorabin. Seeing their meltdown on BigFooty is pure gold.

 

Good on Ben for showing he is up for some hard grind.  Shows character. 

Next year the spotlight would be on his every move.  This gives him the time to develop away from the Melbourne AFL fish bowl. 

Wish him well.

Selfishly not happy, but this would have to be nearly the biggest and most significant re-signing in the suns history. 


Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

Featured Content

  • PREVIEW: Carlton

    Good evening, Demon fans and welcome back to the Demonland Podcast ... it’s time to discuss this week’s game against the Blues. Will the Demons celebrate Clayton Oliver’s 200th game with a victory? We have a number of callers waiting on line … Leopold Bloom: Carlton and Melbourne are both out of finals contention with six wins and eleven losses, and are undoubtedly the two most underwhelming and disappointing teams of 2025. Both had high expectations at the start of participating and advancing deep into the finals, but instead, they have consistently underperformed and disappointed themselves and their supporters throughout the year. However, I am inclined to give the Demons the benefit of the doubt, as they have made some progress in addressing their issues after a disastrous start. In contrast, the Blues are struggling across the board and do not appear to be making any notable improvements. They are regressing, and a significant loss is looming on Saturday night. Max Gawn in the ruck will be huge and the Demon midfield have a point to prove after lowering their colours in so many close calls.

      • Clap
      • Like
    • 0 replies
  • REPORT: North Melbourne

    I suppose that I should apologise for the title of this piece, but the temptation to go with it was far too great. The memory of how North Melbourne tore Melbourne apart at the seams earlier in the season and the way in which it set the scene for the club’s demise so early in the piece has been weighing heavily upon all of us. This game was a must-win from the club’s perspective, and the team’s response was overwhelming. The 36 point win over Alastair Clarkson’s Kangaroos at the MCG on Sunday was indeed — roovenge of the highest order!

      • Love
      • Thanks
      • Like
    • 4 replies
  • CASEY: Werribee

    The Casey Demons remain in contention for a VFL finals berth following a comprehensive 76-point victory over the Werribee Tigers at Whitten Oval last night. The caveat to the performance is that the once mighty Tigers have been raided of many key players and are now a shadow of the premiership-winning team from last season. The team suffered a blow before the game when veteran Tom McDonald was withdrawn for senior duty to cover for Steven May who is ill.  However, after conceding the first goal of the game, Casey was dominant from ten minutes in until the very end and despite some early errors and inaccuracy, they managed to warm to the task of dismantling the Tigers with precision, particularly after half time when the nominally home side provided them with minimal resistance.

      • Thanks
    • 0 replies
  • PREGAME: Carlton

    The Demons return to the MCG as the the visiting team on Saturday night to take on the Blues who are under siege after 4 straight losses. Who comes in and who goes out?

      • Thanks
    • 222 replies
  • PODCAST: North Melbourne

    The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 14th July @ 8:00pm. Join Binman & I as we dissect the Dees glorious win over the Kangaroos at the MCG.
    Your questions and comments are a huge part of our podcast so please post anything you want to ask or say below and we'll give you a shout out on the show.
    Listen LIVE: https://demonland.com/

      • Thanks
      • Like
    • 29 replies
  • POSTGAME: North Melbourne

    The Demons are finally back at the MCG and finally back on the winners list as they continually chipped away at a spirited Kangaroos side eventually breaking their backs and opening the floodgates to run out winners by 6 goals.

      • Haha
      • Love
      • Thanks
      • Like
    • 255 replies