Just now, BigDavidNoitzzzz said:

Ballparks would've been floated here.

The first convo a player manager has sans mention of $ would likely be the first.

correct. Ballpark would have been mentioned but not an exact amount to relay back to the player manager

2 minutes ago, Demon Forever said:

Cant answer that bit about flanders, I dont know!

Either way..... we will have learnt one or more things, and be better prepared.

Bound to be a little learning on the fly as you understand the other party(s) better.

I agree ... it's up to BH to decide his move.

I have a mate who's brother owns one of the biggest player agent agencies in Australia. They are simply their to stretch the $ as they are paid a percentage of the contract value.

19 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

I’m sorry but that makes even less sense. “We’ll give you more money but you have to commit to us before we tell you how much”

Yeah. No way we said whatever Demon Forever is selling.

They open the conversation on money, because then it’s a real conversation. Saying anything before is amateurish.

9 minutes ago, Demon Forever said:

You dont go for a job interview and talk money straight away, you go through the process and if it fits, you negotiate the pay at the end. No different!

Melbourne know that if it becomes an auction, that is the last place we want it to go. Factors like many of the posts previously suggest leave us out in the cold. No Training ground, likely non finals team, exit of some stars etc.... We cannot be in a situation where his player manager is attempting to auction us off against other teams because we will lose.

We’ll have to agree to disagree on this. My theory on Humphrey is his manager is trying to get his client more dollars, likely by squeezing GC. My thoughts are he’d be needing some offers from outside clubs to make this happen. That’s where we knock him over and make us his next club. Either way it’s all a long shot.

Edited 3 hours ago3 hr by Roost it far

2 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

We’ll have to agree to disagree on this. My theory on Humphrey is his manager is trying to get his client more dollars, likely by squeezing GC. My thoughts are he’d be needing some offers from outside clubs to make this happen. That’s where we knock him over and make us his next club. Either way it’s all a long shot.

Listen to BH comments about his future. "We will see what the future holds".

He wants to come home and whether that is now or in a few years, he sure as hell isnt signing a contract extension with GC

2 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

We’ll have to agree to disagree on this. My theory on Humphrey is his manager is trying to get his client more dollars, likely by squeezing GC. My thoughts are he’d be needing some offers from outside clubs to make this happen. That’s where we knock him over and make us his next club. Either way it’s all a long shot.

Ignoring trade capital for a bit, As soon as a $ is floated, they can go to other clubs and say Melbourne are offering $X, what about you? no issue with a ballpark being given for now. Player agents would be able to give a relatively accurate guestimate to the players as well.

Just now, roy11 said:

Ignoring trade capital for a bit, As soon as a $ is floated, they can go to other clubs and say Melbourne are offering $X, what about you? no issue with a ballpark being given for now. Player agents would be able to give a relatively accurate guestimate to the players as well.

Spot on

1 minute ago, roy11 said:

Ignoring trade capital for a bit, As soon as a $ is floated, they can go to other clubs and say Melbourne are offering $X, what about you? no issue with a ballpark being given for now. Player agents would be able to give a relatively accurate guestimate to the players as well.

Yes but the other clubs do t have the Petracca Chips we do

7 minutes ago, No10 said:

Yeah. No way we said whatever Demon Forever is selling.

They open the conversation on money, because then it’s a real conversation. Saying anything before is amateurish.

1 minute ago, Roost it far said:

Yes but the other clubs do t have the Petracca Chips we do

Agreed, that's why i said ignoring trade capital. Definitely have an ace up our sleeve there.

6 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

We’ll have to agree to disagree on this. My theory on Humphrey is his manager is trying to get his client more dollars, likely by squeezing GC. My thoughts are he’d be needing some offers from outside clubs to make this happen. That’s where we knock him over and make us his next club. Either way it’s all a long shot.

Tell me, If Trac gets to GC, where does Bailey Humphrey sit in their team position wise?

Both play the same roles. He isn't kick out Rowell, Anderson or Touk. He is a midfield/forward. Same as Trac.

5 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

Yes but the other clubs do t have the Petracca Chips we do

Expensive, and not always satisfying but coming to a Club near you ( maybe )

1 minute ago, Demon Forever said:

Tell me, If Trac gets to GC, where does Bailey Humphrey sit in their team position wise?

Both play the same roles. He isn't kick out Rowell, Anderson or Touk. He is a midfield/forward. Same as Trac.

Agreed but if you’re GC why do you let him go for Petracca when he’s contracted on low money for 3 more years? This is the bit that has the question marks around it and is the reason we’re even in the conversation to land him. It’s what’s in those question marks that makes this intriguing.

4 minutes ago, Demon Forever said:

Tell me, If Trac gets to GC, where does Bailey Humphrey sit in their team position wise?

Both play the same roles. He isn't kick out Rowell, Anderson or Touk. He is a midfield/forward. Same as Trac.

That’s what Trac has been told - mid/forward rotation.

I think they could easily fit both in the side.

It’s probably the next guy who gets pushed out, which is someone like Ainsworth.

Which is a bit weird in a Dimma-side because Ainsworth is that pressure forward his game plan has always relied so heavily on.

57 minutes ago, GS_1905 said:

I think its a management strategy designed to create an untenable situation. Its really the only tactic contracted players have. Make it public that he wants to leave, get a few reporters to write stories like "Melbourne have to trade him, there is no coming back from that etc etc".

Sure is - and the Suns will have more journos pushing their case than we do. Benefit of being an AFL nepo baby.

1 minute ago, Roost it far said:

Agreed but if you’re GC why do you let him go for Petracca when he’s contracted on low money for 3 more years? This is the bit that has the question marks around it and is the reason we’re even in the conversation to land him. It’s what’s in those question marks that makes this intriguing.

You let him go now, because in 3 years when he's OOC you are never getting Petracca in return for him

The decision is simple, what is more valuable to Dimma, Trac and winning a flag now, or Humphrey potentially staying into the future.

14 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

We’ll have to agree to disagree on this. My theory on Humphrey is his manager is trying to get his client more dollars, likely by squeezing GC. My thoughts are he’d be needing some offers from outside clubs to make this happen. That’s where we knock him over and make us his next club. Either way it’s all a long shot.

RIF.. wherever he would go, were he to go , he most definitely will be on a lot more coin. Player happy, Manager ca-ching!! 😀

Somewhere in among all this there still exists the notion ( if only an ideal ) of player satisfaction. He's going to want to enjoy the gig, fit in , tick off whatever KPIs exist in the mind etc. Not all clubs will necessarily fill that check list. $$$ is a very important consideration but not the be all and end

It's not quite just a bidding war though one might breakout .

These players aren't [imho], being solely motivated by money. It's about a vision ( granted a sponsored one ) but a vision none the less.

Just my 5c worth 😉

1 minute ago, Jaded No More said:

You let him go now, because in 3 years when he's OOC you are never getting Petracca in return for him

The decision is simple, what is more valuable to Dimma, Trac and winning a flag now, or Humphrey potentially staying into the future.

Possibly but Hardwick would surely have watched Petracca this year. I just don’t see him switching out the two and thinking he’s improved their chances. I’d take Humphrey over Petracca in 2026 everyday of the week.

2 hours ago, Lucifers Hero said:

They bring the same skill set.

Merrett idea of leadership: captain walks out on struggling club, teammates and fans.

And Hawks have plenty of leaders backing up Sicily.

People are seriously undervaluing Merrett

You can not like what he's done recently, but he's a gun, a 6 time B&F winner, and he makes Hawthorn immediately better and puts them straight in line for a flag.

Humphrey having the same immediate impact as Merrett is unlikely. Sure he is a future investment, but Hawks are in a win now mode. They need to win one before Gunston retires.

They looked into Trac because this is where they are at with their list.

Edited 2 hours ago2 hr by Jaded No More

1 minute ago, Roost it far said:

Possibly but Hardwick would surely have watched Petracca this year. I just don’t see him switching out the two and thinking he’s improved their chances. I’d take Humphrey over Petracca in 2026 everyday of the week.

As my post above re: Merrett, people are undervaluing Trac because we are all a bit over him and his drama.

But he is still an incredibly damaging player, 2nd in our B&F, scored 10 Brownlow votes, can play multiple roles, and with an extra pre season post injury he will be back to his peak fitness no doubt. He is also a total professional, and would be a fantastic asset to a young team who is lacking experience and need a big game player, which Trac is.

Hardwick is not at the Suns for a long time, he's there for a good time. Like Lyon he is restless. He wants to win a flag, and he wants it now.

They could definitely win it based on just natural development of their players, including Humphrey, but that's a risk you are taking while other clubs around you also develop and get stronger. Or, you can inject a sure thing into your team now.

This opportunity to land a Trac, a Merrett or a Butters is very very rare. Waste it at your own risk.

Also where we are is not where GC are. We would take Humphrey over Trac, because we are unlikely to win a flag in the next couple of years. We want to build the list now around the likes of Kosi, Disco and Langford. GC have young talent coming into their club like it's going out of style. They will never have shortage of quality players.

Edited 2 hours ago2 hr by Jaded No More

19 minutes ago, roy11 said:

Ignoring trade capital for a bit, As soon as a $ is floated, they can go to other clubs and say Melbourne are offering $X, what about you? no issue with a ballpark being given for now. Player agents would be able to give a relatively accurate guestimate to the players as well.

18 minutes ago, Demon Forever said:

Spot on

Sadly this is pretty much what happens. Agents are talking with anyone and everyone to maximise there clients return and would 100% be saying a "certain Vic club is offering X/Y/Z" for sure to create other opportunities

We won't have offered an official contract but I can guarantee we've gone to his manager with some numbers written on 'the back of a napkin' so they know exactly the term and structure.

Would be something like:

• 2026 @ $X

• 2027 @ $X

• 2028 @ $X

• 2029-30-31 @ $X

1 hour ago, Demon Forever said:

Confident with the chats last week. Another meeting scheduled. MFC have told him that if he wants it to happen, he must drive it

That is the post that spells it out succinctly.

He or his Manager need to tell GC that he wants to go home and that if they don’t allow it, they will have an unhappy player, who can’t perform at his best, who will use FA at the first opportunity and swears that he will never extend his contract ever.

If he says that to GC they have to consider his position seriously.

17 minutes ago, The Jackson FIX said:

I think they could easily fit both in the side.

Most definitely. But Humphrey would almost certainly find himself getting even less time in the middle in this situation. If that's a concern for him, Melbourne begins to make more sense.

11 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

Possibly but Hardwick would surely have watched Petracca this year. I just don’t see him switching out the two and thinking he’s improved their chances. I’d take Humphrey over Petracca in 2026 everyday of the week.

I wouldn’t.

I expected 2025 to be a rebuilding year for Trac. I think he’s in great condition, works his butt off and is competitive. If he plays for GC next year, I’d expect an AA type year from him.

I really rate BH but he has never played full time mid, hasn’t shown the running power to be one and still needs to work on his consistency. He could explode but I think it’s a far better bet that Trac outperforms him in 26.