3 minutes ago, Demon Disciple said:

It’s become untenable for Trac staying at the MFC. If he were, he’d only put in half hearted efforts.

My preference of course would be for a good quality player to be involved in the trade, but if picks is the only offer we get so be it. I would only accept picks 6 & 7 for Trac and maybe a second rounder though (not 6 & 20-something).

Sure the draft is not as deep or good this year, but good players always come out of poor drafts, JT will just need to nail them.

Trac, Clarry and May all going realistically means that we must rebuild. 2 top picks will help fast track that rebuild if we get them right.

What’s to say that Trac will ever get back to the player he once was? Will we nail these picks? Unknowns atm, just got to back our club in im afraid, as we are all simply passengers.

That's just untrue. They said the same thing last year and he finished second in the B&F ahead of Kossie who was All Australian and finished with 16 votes in the Brownlow. Not bad for someone who was half hearted. He's a professional he will give his all no matter what club he plays at.

6 minutes ago, Demon Disciple said:

It’s become untenable for Trac staying at the MFC. If he were, he’d only put in half hearted efforts.

My preference of course would be for a good quality player to be involved in the trade, but if picks is the only offer we get so be it. I would only accept picks 6 & 7 for Trac and maybe a second rounder though (not 6 & 20-something).

Sure the draft is not as deep or good this year, but good players always come out of poor drafts, JT will just need to nail them.

Trac, Clarry and May all going realistically means that we must rebuild. 2 top picks will help fast track that rebuild if we get them right.

What’s to say that Trac will ever get back to the player he once was? Will we nail these picks? Unknowns atm, just got to back our club in im afraid, as we are all simply passengers.

Which would tank his trade-capital in ‘27, and his general reputation in the sport. Can’t see it.

It’s a brave new world. Trac was professional and did a good job this season when he was much more “out” last year apparently. If GC don’t rate him enough to part with a player and it’s just picks then I think King will bank on himself being able to get Trac on board, and the club will tell Trac we’ll trade him next year if another club gets serious. King is still an unknown but he doesn’t lack confidence and with Clarry, McVee and potentially May going there’s no way he lets Trac go for picks.

Also FWIW Oliver, McVee, May could net us similar picks to the joke of a deal described here, (definitely if we do the traditional package picks for higher picks later on), to those touted for Trac. There’s just no way we take picks for Trac if we get some kind of combination of pick 12 from GWS, late first/second rounder from Freo (let McVee walk to the draft if Freo don’t come to the table, see if WC pass him up!), third rounder for May. Thats more than enough picks for us, don’t need more for Trac. Humphrey or bust GC.

Edited 21 hours ago21 hr by deejammin'

4 minutes ago, WERRIDEE said:

Not when it comes to Trac he can come around. When it comes to culture killers like May and Oliver then sure get rid of them.

Hoping he will come around is a huge risk. He doesn't want to be at the club. He is not the player he was, and he will be 30 early next year, and I can't see King or any other coach at Melbourne being able to change his attitude and his relationship with his fellow teammates.

As good a player as he was and even is, I would trade him for two early first-round picks so that King can establish a new culture that has been quite toxic over the last few years.

My God the way some posters are carrying on the kids of this years draft shouldn’t even bother nominating

They’re a bunch of hacks 😂

36 minutes ago, WERRIDEE said:

Were you the same person that said pick 7 for Curnow? Pick 7 doesn't even come close it's insulting really.

7 & 17 , trac is premiership norm smith etc etc curnow & butters are not…

Just now, Billy said:

My God the way some posters are carrying on the kids of this years draft shouldn’t even bother nominating

They’re a bunch of hacks 😂

I agree and why people fall for that type of thinking is baffling

The draft is full of surprises every single season and there are plenty of decent players past the first round of picks

We're drafting these kids way before they are the finished product so to have a defined evaluation is just wrong

Suddenly, many are moving away from being rapt with early draft picks to not wanting picks at all?

If that's the case, we should abandon the draft for the foreseeable future as Tassie will dominate the draft in 2027 & 2028

I'm sticking to my thinking that we'll end up with a whole host of draft picks (for May, Oliver, Petracca, McVee, Spargo ... and maybe even 1 or 2 more departures could bring more picks)

Rebuild through the draft as our best asset is Taylor (without him, I'd be more inclined to swap picks for established talent (Lever, Langdon, Hibberd, Brown types)

And rebuild to get back in the window - long term (we are not seriously contending next season, despite any sort of false hope that abounds) We couldn't even win games with Petracca, Oliver & May

And I know what Lamb and co. are saying about draft picks but I don't believe them. Ist and 2nd round draft picks will do us just fine

1 minute ago, Macca said:

I agree and why people fall for that type of thinking is baffling

The draft is full of surprises every single season and there are plenty of decent players past the first round of picks

We're drafting these kids way before they are the finished product so to have a defined evaluation is just wrong

Suddenly, many are moving away from being rapt with early draft picks to not wanting picks at all?

If that's the case, we should abandon the draft for the foreseeable future as Tassie will dominate the draft in 2027 & 2028

I'm sticking to my thinking that we'll end up with a whole host of draft picks (for May, Oliver, Petracca, McVee, Spargo ... and maybe even 1 or 2 more departures could bring more picks)

Rebuild through the draft as our best asset is Taylor (without him, I'd be more inclined to swap picks for established talent (Lever, Langdon, Hibberd, Brown types)

And rebuild to get back in the window - long term (we are not seriously contending next season, despite any sort of false hope that abounds) We couldn't even win games with Petracca, Oliver & May

And I know what Lamb and co. are saying about draft picks but I don't believe them. Ist and 2nd round draft picks will do us just fine

I reckon internally the view would be to take another 4 or 5 first round picks to the draft across 2025/6 prior to Tassie messing it up

I believe we will end up with three first round picks this year while retaining our natural 2026 selection

22 minutes ago, damienjr said:

Hoping he will come around is a huge risk. He doesn't want to be at the club. He is not the player he was, and he will be 30 early next year, and I can't see King or any other coach at Melbourne being able to change his attitude and his relationship with his fellow teammates.

As good a player as he was and even is, I would trade him for two early first-round picks so that King can establish a new culture that has been quite toxic over the last few years.

A Neeld culture of spoons is what it will give. I've already said in another he's a professional he will give his all at whatever club he plays for.

He hasn't held them to ransom like he did last year. He'd be happy to stay if a deal doesn't get done.

Relax.

We’ve only got another 10 days of this thread to go.

29 minutes ago, Billy said:

My God the way some posters are carrying on the kids of this years draft shouldn’t even bother nominating

They’re a bunch of hacks 😂

No the first 3 are great. It drops dramatically after that. You may get an ok player after that but they will be no Petracca.

Just now, adonski said:

I reckon internally the view would be to take another 4 or 5 first round picks to the draft across 2025/6 prior to Tassie messing it up

I believe we will end up with three first round picks this year while retaining our natural 2026 selection

3 x first rounders would be a terrific result, all things considered (and hopefully a number of 2nd & 3rd rounders as add-ons)

With trading, it's the sum of all the parts that is important. So we might lose a bit on 1 or 2 trades but win out on 1 or 2 other trades

And a clean slate with the new coach cannot be underestimated. King has been in the system for close on 15 years and he will know all about clear air

There's a real transparency to what is going on so at least we know were we stand

At some stage, post the premiership, we were always going to need to overhaul the list (we're not the sort of club that can contend year after year like the Cats)

Even Hawthorn & Richmond hit rock bottom after winning multiple flags ... Hawks have bounced back and who's to say the Tigers won't bounce back (they've got picks 2 & 3 in this year's draft)

6 minutes ago, Roy Boy said:

Relax.

We’ve only got another 10 days of this thread to go.

43 minutes ago, deejammin' said:

It’s a brave new world. Trac was professional and did a good job this season when he was much more “out” last year apparently. If GC don’t rate him enough to part with a player and it’s just picks then I think King will bank on himself being able to get Trac on board, and the club will tell Trac we’ll trade him next year if another club gets serious. King is still an unknown but he doesn’t lack confidence and with Clarry, McVee and potentially May going there’s no way he lets Trac go for picks.

Also FWIW Oliver, McVee, May could net us similar picks to the joke of a deal described here, (definitely if we do the traditional package picks for higher picks later on), to those touted for Trac. There’s just no way we take picks for Trac if we get some kind of combination of pick 12 from GWS, late first/second rounder from Freo (let McVee walk to the draft if Freo don’t come to the table, see if WC pass him up!), third rounder for May. Thats more than enough picks for us, don’t need more for Trac. Humphrey or bust GC.

We won't get 12 for Clarry we might have last year but Goodwin stupidly kept him. 32 at best.

2 minutes ago, Macca said:

3 x first rounders would be a terrific result, all things considered (and hopefully a number of 2nd & 3rd rounders as add-ons)

With trading, it's the sum of all the parts that is important. So we might lose a bit on 1 or 2 trades but win out on 1 or 2 other trades

And a clean slate with the new coach cannot be underestimated. King has been in the system for close on 15 years and he will know all about clear air

There's a real transparency to what is going on so at least we know were we stand

At some stage, post the premiership, we were always going to need to overhaul the list (we're not the sort of club that can contend year after year like the Cats)

Even Hawthorn & Richmond hit rock bottom after winning multiple flags ... Hawks have bounced back and who's to say the Tigers won't bounce back (they've got picks 2 & 3 in this year's draft)

This is what I was talking about needing to take a step back next year (miss finals) to then take two steps forward for sustained success. I

Grab a couple of early draft picks if we can on top off Langford, Windsor, Lindsay, Bowey, Rivers and Kozzie and let King cook up a brand new culture of high performance and professionalism.

I know I bang on about how poor the draft is but aren't you all glad that it's a poor draft. Essendon will get another Tstas and Hobbs while we got Langford and Lindsay. Essendon the gift that keeps on giving.

6 minutes ago, WERRIDEE said:

We won't get 12 for Clarry we might have last year but Goodwin stupidly kept him. 32 at best.

I really think if we take enough of his salary on we will get 12. Let’s see.

Just now, dazzledavey36 said:

This is what I was talking about needing to take a step back next year (miss finals) to then take two steps forward for sustained success. I

Grab a couple of early draft picks if we can on top off Langford, Windsor, Lindsay, Bowey, Rivers and Kozzie and let King cook up a brand new culture of high performance and professionalism.

Yep, we need to start again but I don't agree that we were ever going to start again post the 2023 season (which many have suggested - in hindsight)

4 years later seems about right especially with Tassie hastening the thinking

We'll need to rebuild and if so, we could at least push for finals in 2027. Next year is a year of the reset and consolidate

But we may well need another busy off-season after the 2026 season

17 hours ago, Cossie_84 said:

You cannot compare the Neeld era to the current one, mark neeld was a terrible club decision which followed another in Dean Bailey, but if you want comparisons in Neelds draft years as coach we drafted Jesse Hogan and Jack Viney, in 2011 and 2012 respectively, and Dean Bailey's era gave us Max Gawn, Tmac and Nev Jetta coming on the back off 24 wins in 5 and a half years between the 2 darkest coaching times in Melbourne's history, but if King can draft in 5 players of the above qualities then I'd say we would be sitting not too bad.

Our list does not need a full rebuild, a somewhat reset yes. But losing the 3 players in question is not the end of the road, as I said they aren't the first and won't be the last champions.

8 minutes ago, WERRIDEE said:

We won't get 12 for Clarry we might have last year but Goodwin stupidly kept him. 32 at best.

Geelong was offering their second round last year so something around 32, actually.

34 minutes ago, Macca said:

I agree and why people fall for that type of thinking is baffling

The draft is full of surprises every single season and there are plenty of decent players past the first round of picks

We're drafting these kids way before they are the finished product so to have a defined evaluation is just wrong

Suddenly, many are moving away from being rapt with early draft picks to not wanting picks at all?

If that's the case, we should abandon the draft for the foreseeable future as Tassie will dominate the draft in 2027 & 2028

I'm sticking to my thinking that we'll end up with a whole host of draft picks (for May, Oliver, Petracca, McVee, Spargo ... and maybe even 1 or 2 more departures could bring more picks)

Rebuild through the draft as our best asset is Taylor (without him, I'd be more inclined to swap picks for established talent (Lever, Langdon, Hibberd, Brown types)

And rebuild to get back in the window - long term (we are not seriously contending next season, despite any sort of false hope that abounds) We couldn't even win games with Petracca, Oliver & May

And I know what Lamb and co. are saying about draft picks but I don't believe them. Ist and 2nd round draft picks will do us just fine

Why people think recruiting just kids is baffling you need a mixture of both. Twomey has already said that after Duursma and Duff-Tyler not including Uwland who is an academy pick the draft drops off dramatically. North opted to give this years pick away to get 2 last year. Richmond want to trade this years 3 and 4. I hope your not baffled now.

1 hour ago, Mel Bourne said:

Sorry folks, having some tech issues over here.

Just need to see if my John Delosa thumbs-down button is working….

All good, mate, if the highlight of your day is pressing a thumbs-down on strangers, I’m glad I could give you something to do.
Glad to hear the thumbs still work,shame the brain-to-finger connection’s lagging though.

1 minute ago, WERRIDEE said:

Why people think recruiting just kids is baffling you need a mixture of both. Twomey has already said that after Duursma and Duff-Tyler not including Uwland who is an academy pick the draft drops off dramatically. North opted to give this years pick away to get 2 last year. Richmond want to trade this years 3 and 4. I hope your not baffled now.

What would Twomey know? Has he got a crystal ball? They are just 'educated' guesses and nothing more than that

Some of the nonsense talked about re drafting never ceases to amaze

In 5 years time will anyone even bring up the 2025 draft evaluation as being correct or not. Doubt it

Again, the draftees are just kids and miles off being the finished product

Believe what you want to believe but I'd rather remain a sceptic. The draft is hit and miss at the best of times

But Taylor defies the pattern and is a great asset. So we need to trust him to find the diamonds in the rough

If it was still Barry, forget it. Trade the picks

Just now, Macca said:

What would Twomey know? Has he got a crystal ball? They are just 'educated' guesses and nothing more than that

Some of the nonsense talked about re drafting never ceases to amaze

In 5 years time will anyone even bring up the 2025 draft evaluation as being correct or not. Doubt it

Again, the draftees are just kids and miles off being the finished product

Believe what you want to believe but I'd rather remain a sceptic. The draft is hit and miss at the best of times

But Taylor defies the pattern and is a great asset. So we need to trust him to find the diamonds in the rough

If it was still Barry, forget it. Trade the picks

Taylor is good at splitting picks and getting two good players. He isn’t always great at getting elite players (Langford firming to be the exception). It is also worth noting that sometimes he is so left field and it doesn’t work. Tholstrup would be the precedent. Nothing I’ve seen from him suggests he will be an A grade AFL player. So, like all drafts, this one is a just a gamble.

Just now, Trident22 said:

Taylor is good at splitting picks and getting two good players. He isn’t always great at getting elite players (Langford firming to be the exception). It is also worth noting that sometimes he is so left field and it doesn’t work. Tholstrup would be the precedent. Nothing I’ve seen from him suggests he will be an A grade AFL player. So, like all drafts, this one is a just a gamble.

Is Kolt supposed to be A grade at pick 13? You've got high hopes

And Kolt should have been used as a midfielder once the season was shot (post round 5) He was drafted as a mid/forward so where were the mid minutes? We wasted him this year but he's still a youngster

The MC played a whole host of players out of position

For instance, Windsor is a dashing wingman and McVee is a rebounding, attacking half back. Blind Freddy could see that

Goodwin was not the only issue at the club (as we're finding out) but the selection criteria and positional moves were amatuerish

14 minutes ago, john delosa said:

All good, mate, if the highlight of your day is pressing a thumbs-down on strangers, I’m glad I could give you something to do.
Glad to hear the thumbs still work,shame the brain-to-finger connection’s lagging though.

Did you just write this to….yourself?