14 hours ago, BigBadBustling said:

Thanks for that, very interesting.

So realistically, given he thinks he'll be into full training before Christmas, Tommy Matthews isn't coming from as far back as Lindsay did last year?

He will likely only start running before Christmas. He appears to be further back in his rehab and recovery from his PCL injury than Xavier Lindsay was at this time last year.

13 minutes ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

Well not many actually, only a handful of us wanted him at 8 (12), can’t wait until he lights up our fwd line.

Maybe. But I reckon sometimes recruiters virtually play a game of "chicken". Latrelle was in the mix and being Kosi's cousin Melbourne quite believably might nab him. But if they felt Melbourne didn't quite rate him #12 then maybe both Melbourne and the clubs with picks before Melbourne's next one might risk this fact and both wait to pounce at or near that next Melbourne pick. It wouldn't surprise me if this has happened before - a bit like an investor selling at, say, 4.00, but suddenly the share price drops from 3.96 to 2.00 and stays there for years.

2 hours ago, Greg Schneider said:

CJ was contracted for another two years at Hawthorn, clearly they were happy to let him go, if they wanted him they would have kept him, he was sub most of the year. Steele was clearly tapped on the shoulder, you don’t trade your captain for a future third round pick if you want to keep him, think you’re twisting these narratives a bit

most of the year?? 3 times during the season and the 3 finals out of 20 games.

Haw had an over supply of running defenders which is CJs best role, hence he got pushed to the wing. Haw was happy for him to stay but being able to play his best position is why he is at Melb.

2 hours ago, 640MD said:

If this proves to be in true in some future moves, that players choose to come rather than us selecting delisted players

Then yes it’s looking good again and can only improve our club and standing. .

Do those know and see and hear things that we don't?

Hmm, nuh, how could intelligent players know more than our respected media groupies?

2 hours ago, Greg Schneider said:

CJ was contracted for another two years at Hawthorn, clearly they were happy to let him go, if they wanted him they would have kept him, he was sub most of the year. Steele was clearly tapped on the shoulder, you don’t trade your captain for a future third round pick if you want to keep him, think you’re twisting these narratives a bit

Contracts mean nothing except locking in a players salary.

I think we recruited well this year.