This is clearly unlikely, but could the club go back to Brand Trac and say 'start reaching out to other clubs, and make it public'? It could spook GC a bit. I know he's nominated GC, but so what? This is our biggest asset we've had in years (maybe Dogga equal). We are trading away arguably our best player. We should not settle for less than what we ask for. I also don't think we're being unreasonable either.

2 minutes ago, Adam The God said:

No they don't. They need one of their top 10 picks for academy bids.

I know we love to Eeyore, but let's live in the real world for a little bit.

Correct. and it also doesn't matter in the slightest what the Suns think is fair for Petracca, in order to get him they have to either match or decline what WE think is fair.

it's amazing when people are so desperate to be negative that just basic logic goes out the window.

You don't walk into JB HI FI and set the price of a new TV, the seller does, you can negotiate but at some point you have to say yes or no to the asking price

pretty clear our asking price is Bailey Humphrey

27 minutes ago, Gator said:

There's no comparison between Humphrey and Petracca.

Gold Coast's position is that they won't trade Humphrey and clearly Melbourne's position is that it will trade Petracca, even if they're reluctant.

Nothing Cameron has said is at odds with that situation. The only question is will they blink on Humphrey. We'll see.

Was about to post the same thing. These are two very different situations although there appears to be somewhat of a nexus between the two. However, the posturing by Melbourne and Gold Coast are almost diametrically opposed. I don't really see how some are conflating the two scenarios as being hypocritical.

GC would want to be a little careful - if they mess around too much, Brand Trac will crack the sads.

Edited yesterday at 00:111 day by Ethan Tremblay

1 hour ago, The Jackson FIX said:

Top 10 pick this year, 1st rounder next year, 2nd rounder this year and next. Offload Cam McKenzie if necessary. More than enough to get it done if they want.

What they have in stock for the Merrett trade can just be shifted to GC for BH if they really wanted him.

Only one problem with that, they know if they trade BH to another club Tracc stays.

That would be crazy on their part.

They agree to trade BH, but to another club, to destroy the Tracc deal.

Do you see that happening?

Tracc is a “yes” from CAC away from being a Sun.

Imagine for a moment if the Suns refused to pony up Bailey Humphrey, and then the MFC walked Trac back in the doors. and then in 12 months time BH again wants to leave.

the Suns probably blow a premiership window

I guess it’s how you rate Humphrey and whether you think he is an upgrade on Trac next year. I think in 2026, Humphrey could have more influence at GC as a mid forward than Trac. 2027 and beyond, BH could be anything..

Edited Wednesday at 22:441 day by SPC

On another note how greedy are GC. Gifted the best juniors year after year, already a talent rich list with depth we can only dream of, yet still want to have their cake and eat it too.

[censored] em. Them and Freo are amongst my most hated now.

59 minutes ago, DoubleH said:

Craig Cameron mentioned that they’re now negotiating on the Trac deal and didn’t rule out a player trade involvement but followed with Bailey not to be available still…so is this still GC posturing hard or is the Bailey dream over?

There’s just under a week to go. Dream’s not over until deadline is done, we’re just going to have to sit tight.

If, as others believe, we are not prepared to hold Trac to his contract then we are stuffed. we'll have to accept what we get.

and if I'm the suns I'm offering the Flanders pick and their 2nd rounder.

18 minutes ago, whatwhat say what said:

There’s no incentive to do anything at the point in time

All the media noise is just that; noise

I think everyone is well aware that discussions outside the narrative are happening and it will play out before close of business next week

And there you have it.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the deal is already done, but it needs to be seen not to be a rushed trade.

These guys do this every year and most of them get along quite well and their media talk is the click bait .

Edited Wednesday at 22:471 day by Redleg

14 minutes ago, Trust The Process said:

This is clearly unlikely, but could the club go back to Brand Trac and say 'start reaching out to other clubs, and make it public'? It could spook GC a bit. I know he's nominated GC, but so what? This is our biggest asset we've had in years (maybe Dogga equal). We are trading away arguably our best player. We should not settle for less than what we ask for. I also don't think we're being unreasonable either.

I think this is a bit unnecessary. We have been clear from the outset that Trac is a contracted player and it is up to GC to make a deal that turns our head. It is perfectly reasonable for us to take a position that for us to let Trac go that picks alone wont cut it and that we need a player that will imprive our list and that llayer is Humphrey. Otherwise we are happy for Trac to stay.

Dees need to be strong here. We've been weak negotiators in recent times in order to get deals done. It's time we were more firm and get more in return for our best players leaving.

It's an easy narrative as Jaded said. Humphrey wants to come home. Petracca wants to go to GC. GC are in essence refusing both those players requests and doing them and both clubs a a disservice. It's bad for their desires outcomes as well as their reputation going forward.

29 minutes ago, Very Jaded said:

A better tactic would be for Humphrey's manager to come out and say: "we understand that Bailey signed a contract, and when he signed it his family circumstances were different. We have told Gold Coast why Bailey needs to return home, and we hope they would do the right thing by the kid and let him get back home to family"

You have to flip the narrative, and make it seem like GC are stopping a kid from going home on compassionate grounds, DESPITE there being a good trade solution on the table that gets everyone what they want.

Lets see how this plays out

Also, get Lamb to say what Cameron just said but with ‘Petracca’ instead…

If Bailey wants to leave then him or his manager needs to come out and say it, until that happens we are either keeping track or excepting picks, and unless we have a plan to turn those picks into a top 4 pick I would rather just hold track to his contract

Just now, brendan said:

If Bailey wants to leave then him or his manager needs to come out and say it, until that happens we are either keeping track or excepting picks, and unless we have a plan to turn those picks into a top 4 pick I would rather just hold track to his contract

I think this element is overstated. If BH is telling the Suns he wants to leave, and he's happy to go to Melbourne which i believe he is, what is being said publicly is largely just optics.

The Suns would be having discussions around "Well if we hold him this year, and miss out on Petracca maybe a Hawthorn or Collingwood gets him next year for a couple of late first round picks"

This moment is a bit like when Adelaide offered a war chest for Clarry, we held him too long and now we'll get a much worse return.

it all depends on if they're confident they can bring him around

Just now, rpfc said:

Also, get Lamb to say what Cameron just said but with ‘Petracca’ instead…

Nah, we have already come out and said Trac is a star, and we want him to stay, so unless someone blows us away with an offer, he's not going anywhere

Cameron essentially took a big dig at Humphrey. We need to not play that game, and remain steadfast that we love and support Trac and would have zero issues keeping him at Melbourne, because he is a loved member of our team and not a petulant child as Cameron basically suggested Humphrey is

(That not being the truth is irrelevant!)

2 minutes ago, rpfc said:

Also, get Lamb to say what Cameron just said but with ‘Petracca’ instead…

The one difference is that Petracca has publicly stated a desire and destination to leave and we have given him our blessing to explore. Bailey Humphrey & GC have not.

5 minutes ago, SPC said:

I guess it’s how you rate Humphrey and whether you think he is an upgrade on Trac next year. I think in 2026, Humphrey could have more influence at GC and a mid forward than Trac. 2027 and beyond, BH could be anything..

Trac is a mature player with Premiership experience who will help GC take that next step and is the cherry on top of a super talented list who are right in their window. Humphrey is talented young player with 200 games ahead of him who becomes part of our core group of similarly aged players. This trade is a win win.

Just now, Demonland said:

The one difference is that Petracca has publicly stated a desire and destination to leave. Bailey Humphrey has not.

Not yet... and we have no idea what Humphrey is saying behind closed doors

Trac is 29 and not a flight risk in the sense of needing to go home

We can keep this play for Humphrey going for the next 3 years, as can other clubs

Just now, Very Jaded said:

Not yet... and we have no idea what Humphrey is saying behind closed doors

Trac is 29 and not a flight risk in the sense of needing to go home

We can keep this play for Humphrey going for the next 3 years, as can other clubs

The media interviews and posturing we are talking about are the public face. I’m sure a more honest game is being played out behind closed doors. There is porbably still plenty of posturing and playing of ducks and drakes, but the backroom talks are likely to be a little more genuine than the bravado we’re seeing being played out on the radio.

22 minutes ago, Redleg said:

Only one problem with that, they know if they trade BH to another club Tracc stays.

Nobody knows the answer on this until it happens/ doesn’t happen but I would put my house on it GC is confident they could get a deal done for Trac with draft picks if this happens

39 minutes ago, Very Jaded said:

A better tactic would be for Humphrey's manager to come out and say: "we understand that Bailey signed a contract, and when he signed it his family circumstances were different. We have told Gold Coast why Bailey needs to return home, and we hope they would do the right thing by the kid and let him get back home to family"

You have to flip the narrative, and make it seem like GC are stopping a kid from going home on compassionate grounds, DESPITE there being a good trade solution on the table that gets everyone what they want.

Lets see how this plays out

I mean, that would be the sensible way to do it...

I'm not exactly sensible....

I WANT FIRE AND BRIMSTONE!!!! 😆

1 minute ago, The Jackson FIX said:

Nobody knows the answer on this until it happens/ doesn’t happen but I would put my house on it GC is confident they could get a deal done for Trac with draft picks if this happens

I don't think they are, because we have told them all along we won't be trading Trac for picks alone.

IF they can involve a West Coast and we walk away with pick 2, then it's perhaps a different story, but unfortunately for them Flanders picked St Kilda, and they have very little else to negotiate with other than Humphrey, who WANTS to come home. Especially because they need high point value picks to get not one but two top 10 academy boys.
They won't get their boys with picks 87 and 102.

We are not exactly going to them and saying it's Anderson or nothing. We are offering them a fair deal for a kid who clearly wants to move back to Victoria, and who will net them a lot less when he leaves as an OOC player.

Do they want a McVee like return for him in 3 years time when he requests a trade to the premiers who hold pick 18? Or do they want a return for him now in the form of Trac, who they have just a one week window to grab?

4 minutes ago, Demonland said:

The media interviews and posturing we are talking about are the public face. I’m sure a more honest game is being played out behind closed doors. There is porbably still plenty of posturing and playing of ducks and drakes, but the backroom talks are likely to be a little more genuine than the bravado we’re seeing being played out on the radio.

I still think this is in play but GC being so adamant does nothing for them if they backflip. No one will ever believe them again.