Nothing against Brown but i would swap him for Daniher, bonus is we get the next five Daniher generations..

Have we ever had a good result from a former Dons player?

Can only remember Heffernan at Half rat power and Moorcroft past his best as well.

4 minutes ago, Biffen said:

Have we ever had a good result from a former Dons player?

Can only remember Heffernan at Half rat power and Moorcroft past his best as well.

We haven’t had many AAs in the last decade but one of them was a former Don so I would say ‘hell yes’ to this 

3 minutes ago, The Jackson 6 said:

We haven’t had many AAs in the last decade but one of them was a former Don so I would say ‘hell yes’ to this 

Hibberd?

Probably the only good one .

7 minutes ago, The Jackson 6 said:

We haven’t had many AAs in the last decade but one of them was a former Don so I would say ‘hell yes’ to this 

We have done well with AAs the last 5 years though.  Havent had a run this good since the early 90s I reckon, and at this stage Petracca would have to be in the 2020 team and maybe Gawn too.

19 minutes ago, Biffen said:

Have we ever had a good result from a former Dons player?

Can only remember Heffernan at Half rat power and Moorcroft past his best as well.

Melksham and Hibberd.  Heffernan was ok. Moorcroft was always going to be a shocker. 

5 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Melksham and Hibberd.  Heffernan was ok. Moorcroft was always going to be a shocker. 

I couldn't help but thinking Heffernan was still on the Bummers payrole when he played with us.

Heffernan was AWFUL for us

Paying overs, to EssUndone, for a lame once good player would be just so Melbournian.

21 minutes ago, whatwhatsaywhat said:

Heffernan was AWFUL for us

Makes Brayshaw look like Usain Bolt

22 minutes ago, whatwhatsaywhat said:

Heffernan was AWFUL for us

His heart wasn't in it.  He never wanted to leave Essendon and it showed.

20 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

His heart wasn't in it.  He never wanted to leave Essendon and it showed.

Disagree. Heff was alright for us. He was basically a straight swap for Woewodin in many's eyes and supporters looked down on him because they didn't want Woewodin gone. Heff had a couple of injuries along the way, would have stayed with us if we offered him a two-year deal after 2005. Essendon offered him the extra year so he took the security. I think he was a Melbourne supporter and still keeps in contact with the old playing group (despite being on the Essendon board previously). It's not usual for ex-players that played for multiple clubs to actually support both their former clubs. I saw Earl Spaulding walk out of Optus Stadium after the 2018 Preliminary Final wearing a Melbourne hat and scarf (and his daughter wearing what looked his old number 5 jumper), yet i've also seen Earl in Carlton attire in recent years. .

21 minutes ago, Northern Summer said:

Disagree. Heff was alright for us. He was basically a straight swap for Woewodin in many's eyes and supporters looked down on him because they didn't want Woewodin gone. Heff had a couple of injuries along the way, would have stayed with us if we offered him a two-year deal after 2005. Essendon offered him the extra year so he took the security. I think he was a Melbourne supporter and still keeps in contact with the old playing group (despite being on the Essendon board previously). It's not usual for ex-players that played for multiple clubs to actually support both their former clubs. I saw Earl Spaulding walk out of Optus Stadium after the 2018 Preliminary Final wearing a Melbourne hat and scarf (and his daughter wearing what looked his old number 5 jumper), yet i've also seen Earl in Carlton attire in recent years. .

Definitely a Dees supporter. His old man Tony loved the club, used to Barack for Melbourne even against the Bombers when Chris was there. Good family and good Terang Lad.

Definitely didn’t play his best footy at Melbourne but we have been a retirement village for some time.

1 hour ago, FireInTheBennelly said:

I couldn't help but thinking Heffernan was still on the Bummers payrole when he played with us.

Yes Heffernan signed a 3 year deal at end of 2002 with Dons. Then they had salary cap issues and traded him to us. We had salary cap issues too and took Heffernan as long as the Dons paid about 1/3rd of his salary. He played well in 2003 then declined through injury and confidence. Didn’t want to leave the Dons ultimately and returned after 3 years. The Dons offered him a 3 year deal for 2006 and we offered 2 years. But he finished after 2007 as he was spent. We got some value for a guy who cost us minimal. 

2 hours ago, Biffen said:

Have we ever had a good result from a former Dons player?

Can only remember Heffernan at Half rat power and Moorcroft past his best as well.

Technically the Reverend.

Former Bombers player and was a good result 

9 hours ago, Wiseblood said:

His heart wasn't in it.  He never wanted to leave Essendon and it showed.

I reckon that’s rough. It’s true that he didn’t want to leave Essendon (evidence by the fact that he went back) but he had his moments at Melbourne. I don’t agree with the implication that he didn’t put in.

The problem was that Heffernan was overrated to begin with. He’d played well in an extremely strong Essendon team and that created expectation, but there was a reason he, Blumfield and Caracella were selected as the sacrificial lambs when they had salary cap issues. The perception was made worse by the fact that we were crap in 2003 when he came on, and we all know how rationally fans view things when they’re not going well, and once the minds have been made up, there’s no changing them. When he went back to Essendon he didn’t magically become elite again even though he should have been in his prime; by then they had descended back to mediocrity and he looked the same journeyman than he was at MFC. He was finished by 28.

Moorcroft on the other hand was clearly out of his depth. Not quite sure what the MFC were thinking with that one.

14 hours ago, Wiseblood said:

Edit - although I believe he is a free agent, or at least a restricted one, at the end of the year so you wouldn't have to deal with Essendon.

 

14 hours ago, Lord Nev said:

He's a free agent chaps.

For the relatively low salary he will command they are likely to get a 2nd round pick comp.  With all the academy players this year and finals that is likely to be around pick 40 +/- (unless the AFL pull a swifty ala Ablett).

No way Ess will accept that pick - bad optics with members etc.  So I reckon they will threaten to match thus forcing a trade ala Adelaide with Dangerfield. 

Last year they wanted a top 10 pick plus a player (Heeney or the like) from Sydney.  They won't demand that this year but they will make life hard for the bidding club.  Members will demand it. 

On all counts it is caveat emptor!

2 hours ago, Nasher said:

I reckon that’s rough. It’s true that he didn’t want to leave Essendon (evidence by the fact that he went back) but he had his moments at Melbourne. I don’t agree with the implication that he didn’t put in.

The problem was that Heffernan was overrated to begin with. He’d played well in an extremely strong Essendon team and that created expectation, but there was a reason he, Blumfield and Caracella were selected as the sacrificial lambs when they had salary cap issues. The perception was made worse by the fact that we were crap in 2003 when he came on, and we all know how rationally fans view things when they’re not going well, and once the minds have been made up, there’s no changing them. When he went back to Essendon he didn’t magically become elite again even though he should have been in his prime; by then they had descended back to mediocrity and he looked the same journeyman than he was at MFC. He was finished by 28.

Moorcroft on the other hand was clearly out of his depth. Not quite sure what the MFC were thinking with that one.

If I recall correctly, the AFL changed the trading rules after the Heffernan trade to ensure that a contracted player could not be traded against his wishes. If that is correct, Heffernan must have still been under contract to Essendon when they traded him to us without his own approval. Under such circumstances, I could imagine it would be hard to be motivated to play for us at his best. Nevertheless, I thought he played for us as well as he played for Essendon. It's just that the players around him at Essendon were that much better which made him more productive.

Anyone remember O'Brien. I think we got one good year out of him. 

1 hour ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

 

For the relatively low salary he will command they are likely to get a 2nd round pick comp.  With all the academy players this year and finals that is likely to be around pick 40 +/- (unless the AFL pull a swifty ala Ablett).

No way Ess will accept that pick - bad optics with members etc.  So I reckon they will threaten to match thus forcing a trade ala Adelaide with Dangerfield. 

Last year they wanted a top 10 pick plus a player (Heeney or the like) from Sydney.  They won't demand that this year but they will make life hard for the bidding club.  Members will demand it. 

On all counts it is caveat emptor!

Sorry mate, don't agree.

The Dangerfield example wasn't because Adelaide matched the offer and forced a trade, it was because of good will from Dangerfield and Geelong. Geelong didn't even make an offer.

Clubs just don't match the offers when they know a player wants out. I might have missed one, but thus far into free agency it hasn't happened once. Add that to how often players stay long term at a club after requesting a trade and it's a bleak picture for Essendon.

Essendon have absolutely shot themselves in the foot with this situation. They're left with a player who does not want to be there, whose worth has gone down with injury, may not play this year at all and hasn't even had discussions with the club about next year (contracts are on hold at the moment but discussions can still happen).

Edited July 14, 20204 yr by Lord Nev

14 hours ago, Biffen said:

Have we ever had a good result from a former Dons player?

Can only remember Heffernan at Half rat power and Moorcroft past his best as well.

Ray Smith, a half back in the mid seventies. Clark, a great player in the early nineties until he was injured.

51 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

Sorry mate, don't agree.

The Dangerfield example wasn't because Adelaide matched the offer and forced a trade, it was because of good will from Dangerfield and Geelong. Geelong didn't even make an offer.

Clubs just don't match the offers when they know a player wants out. I might have missed one, but thus far into free agency it hasn't happened once. Add that to how often players stay long term at a club after requesting a trade and it's a bleak picture for Essendon.

Essendon have absolutely shot themselves in the foot with this situation. They're left with a player who does not want to be there, whose worth has gone down with injury, may not play this year at all and hasn't even had discussions with the club about next year (contracts are on hold at the moment but discussions can still happen).

If anyone is going to do it, it'll be Essendon. Dorodo likes to get his name up in lights, so would be most likely to try and go down this route. From my understanding if they did that and drove a hard bargain, then the player can refuse to sign the contract and then go into the drafts? So Joe would have to be comfortable to be able to go into that situation. In a lot of ways our trading away a 1st this year, helps as that diminishes what they could ask for, in particular if we hold firm on not letting any players go (unless we need too for salary purposes) - that's if we even wanted him. 

3 hours ago, Lord Nev said:

Sorry mate, don't agree.

The Dangerfield example wasn't because Adelaide matched the offer and forced a trade, it was because of good will from Dangerfield and Geelong. Geelong didn't even make an offer.

Clubs just don't match the offers when they know a player wants out. I might have missed one, but thus far into free agency it hasn't happened once. Add that to how often players stay long term at a club after requesting a trade and it's a bleak picture for Essendon.

Essendon have absolutely shot themselves in the foot with this situation. They're left with a player who does not want to be there, whose worth has gone down with injury, may not play this year at all and hasn't even had discussions with the club about next year (contracts are on hold at the moment but discussions can still happen).

You may have missed a key word in my post: "threaten".  I didn't say Adelaide did match the Geelong offer.  I said they threatened to match:   "ADELAIDE CEO Andrew Fagan has all but confirmed the Crows will match any offer made for restricted free agent Patrick Dangerfield, ensuring the club gets the best possible deal".  crows-set-to-match-any-offer-for-dangerfield

If Ess are faced with a comp pick around #40 I have little doubt they will also threaten to match to get a better deal. 

16 hours ago, Wiseblood said:

His heart wasn't in it.  He never wanted to leave Essendon and it showed.

Exactly. And then he went back to Essendon! He was even quoted as saying he never wanted to leave Essendon.

Edited July 15, 20204 yr by Coq au vin

17 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

You may have missed a key word in my post: "threaten".  I didn't say Adelaide did match the Geelong offer.  I said they threatened to match:   "ADELAIDE CEO Andrew Fagan has all but confirmed the Crows will match any offer made for restricted free agent Patrick Dangerfield, ensuring the club gets the best possible deal".  crows-set-to-match-any-offer-for-dangerfield

If Ess are faced with a comp pick around #40 I have little doubt they will also threaten to match to get a better deal. 

Fair enough mate, still disagree though. The Dangerfield trade is VERY different to the Daniher situation.

Dangerfield, at the peak of his career, wanted to go to a specific club to be back home. An amicable situation was worked out without free agency offers even being made.

Daniher requested a trade away from his current club without such reasons. He just wants out. He likely won't play this year. He's not necessarily going to a specific club so various offers will be fielded and his value is questionable.

Essendon can 'threaten' whatever they want, but it's pretty clearly easy to call their bluff given the circumstances.

And still, no club has matched a free agency offer and kept their player.

Really can't see Essendon getting into a bidding war trying to keep a player who wants out. Especially in a unique year like this when salary caps are going to be a different kettle of fish.