The latest from Footy Classifieds:

The 4 clubs in the running: Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon & MELBOURNE

Gary Lyon has spoken to Connolly and Steve Harris today and they are ready and willing to make a big play for him.

Gary said he will do what he can to get Judd to the club. He said "he can have the #3 jumper and my first born if it gets him to Melbourne".

We have no money, no facilities and no profile to lure him with, so it all comes down to Judd walking back into the club for a meeting and falling in love with the place all over again.

We should throw every childhood hero of his into the mix, with bells and whistles and get some of our rich supporters to throw money and houses and business deals at him. As Caroline Wilson said, we have people in high places, but we just don't use them enough. The CEO of Ch.7 is a Melbourne supporter, he has more power than Eddie has at Ch.9.

It's time to get serious. If we are indeed in this war with the 3 big Victorian clubs, we have to do something extraordinary to lure him.

The latest from Footy Classifides:

The 4 clubs in the running: Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon & MELBOURNE

Gary Lyon has spoken to Connolly and Steve Harris today and they are ready and willing to make a big play for him.

Gary said he will do what he can to get Judd to the club. He said "he can have the #3 jumper and my first born if it gets him to Melbourne".

We have no money, no facilities and no profile to lure him with, so it all comes down to Judd walking back into the club for a meeting and falling in love with the place all over again.

We should throw every childhood hero of his into the mix, with bells and whistles and get some of our rich supporters to throw money and houses and business deals at him. As Caroline Wilson said, we have people in high places, but we just don't use them enough. The CEO of Ch.7 is a Melbourne supporter, he has more power than Eddie has at Ch.9.

It's time to get serious. If we are indeed in this war with the 3 big Victorian clubs, we have to do something extraordinary to lure him.

Ian Johnson should come into it and give his girlfriend a job....throw everything at him...plus we will have facilities just not next year

money is a concern any which way for sure... but apparently managable..so all tell me facilities are coming...profile is a work in progress ( I am really expecting that to change over the next five years actually )

Gang up with Stynes, Gaz, Barass etc.. The enthusiasm and 'new era' of Bailey /Connolly ...its still not a likely scenario...but not improbable

good to hear that Connolly and Harris have been preparing their pitch already... i really have alot of confidence in Connolly, Harris and Bailey getting Chris to demonland, much more confidence than I would've had in Daniher and Fagan to do the same...

If we are indeed in this war with the 3 big Victorian clubs, we have to do something extraordinary to lure him.

Not really. Pitch the new home to him. Use G.Lyon. The No. 3 jumper has just been freed up. He gets to play at the 'G more often then not. Ian Johnson can get Twigley a job at Channel 7. I think we are in with a huge shot.

Not really. Pitch the new home to him. Use G.Lyon. The No. 3 jumper has just been freed up. He gets to play at the 'G more often then not. Ian Johnson can get Twigley a job at Channel 7. I think we are in with a huge shot.

I hope it's that simple.

Unfortunately, if it was, he would have just said 'I want Melbourne'. You can bet that he already knows that the #3 is available, that we're building new facilities and that Ian Johnson is a Melbourne supporter.

We are no prized winner, that's for sure. He needs to have a strong passion for this club if he is to turn down playing for one of the 3 big Victorian clubs in favour of Melbourne. Sadly, we are not a blimp on the AFL's radar right now. It's easy for us to see the positives of this club because we love Melbourne, Judd probably doesn't love Melbourne as much and won't be blinded by it.

much more confidence than I would've had in Daniher and Fagan to do the same...

No disrespect to those two gents but I wholeheartedly concur.

is almost the first test of their cunning isnt it. 2008 hasnt even started.....or has it ??? lol

Gaz.. get property to give you a new guernsey with "3" and ambush Judd.. "" Mate ...its all yours !!..c'mon...lets get a beer to celebrate !! "

I still don't believe Essendon are in with a yelp. Nothing to really do a deal with WC, and nothing especially appealing about the club (other than being a big operation).

Collingwood are in 3rd place, whatever the nuff nuffs are saying. They are a huge club, with top-notch facilities. But they have even less than Essendon to offer WC, and are only really in the race because they are disgustingly arrogant.

We're a huge chance, based on what was said on Footy classified; We can appease WC with pick 4 and another player. Our ace in the hole will be Robbo. If we can trade him to the Bulldogs (an entirely plausible trade), possibly with our 3rd round pick, for pick 5, then we can offer WC pick 4 and 5 - obliterating anything anyone else can offer. Carlton will be blown out of the water.

Now all that remains is to put it to the man himself. I'm pleased to hear Garry is getting in on the act. I wouldn't say he was good mates with Judd, but Lyon's always waxing lyrical about him, and I believe he's somebody who Judd respects considerably. We need to remind Judd that in a couple of years our facilities will be just as good as the vermin have down at the Lexus centre, with the new Olympic Park precinct (I think many people are forgetting that). We need to get Bailey, Lyon and Harris in a room with Judd and Connors, all with a clear angle to run; Future, Past, and the Business side. If Bailey is half as impressive to Judd as he was to everyone in the selection process, we'd be mad to leave him at home. These are the sort of resources we aren't using well enough.

May we leave no stone unturned in our attempts to snaffle this once in a lifetime opportunity.

Gaz.. get property to give you a new guernsey with "3" and ambush Judd.. "" Mate ...its all yours !!..c'mon...lets get a beer to celebrate !! "

Geez, you've changed your tune !

I still don't believe Essendon are in with a yelp. Nothing to really do a deal with WC, and nothing especially appealing about the club (other than being a big operation).

Collingwood are in 3rd place, whatever the nuff nuffs are saying. They are a huge club, with top-notch facilities. But they have even less than Essendon to offer WC, and are only really in the race because they are disgustingly arrogant.

We're a huge chance, based on what was said on Footy classified; We can appease WC with pick 4 and another player. Our ace in the hole will be Robbo. If we can trade him to the Bulldogs (an entirely plausible trade), possibly with our 3rd round pick, for pick 5, then we can offer WC pick 4 and 5 - obliterating anything anyone else can offer. Carlton will be blown out of the water.

Now all that remains is to put it to the man himself. I'm pleased to hear Garry is getting in on the act. I wouldn't say he was good mates with Judd, but Lyon's always waxing lyrical about him, and I believe he's somebody who Judd respects considerably. We need to remind Judd that in a couple of years our facilities will be just as good as the vermin have down at the Lexus centre, with the new Olympic Park precinct (I think many people are forgetting that). We need to get Bailey, Lyon and Harris in a room with Judd and Connors, all with a clear angle to run; Future, Past, and the Business side. If Bailey is half as impressive to Judd as he was to everyone in the selection process, we'd be mad to leave him at home. These are the sort of resources we aren't using well enough.

May we leave no stone unturned in our attempts to snaffle this once in a lifetime opportunity.

If I was the Bulldogs I wouldn't trade pick five for a 29 year old with dodgy knees and a third round pick - in fact I'd say you were trying to play me for a sucker.

It's hard to see West Coast dealing with Essendon (no coach and historically they're [censored] at the trade table) and Collingwood where there's still a bit of bad blood from Fraser Gehrig (and they don't have the required early draft pick and it's unlikely any other Victorian club will give it to them). Richmond will just be praying he goes to the PSD. (aint gonna happen)

If I was the Bulldogs I wouldn't trade pick five for a 29 year old with dodgy knees and a third round pick - in fact I'd say you were trying to play me for a sucker.

Haha. Well I would be. But the Bulldogs are sniffing around Robbo. I'm sure we could come to some kind of arrangement that would see their pick 5 coming our way. In any case, pick 5 is basically a last-ditch, kitchen sink sort of effort. Ideally it won't come to that, but the option may well be there.

I have never denied he is an exceptional player. I still want to be convinced his medical situation in fixable. I still dont think he will be the magic bullet everyone is hoping for..It will take a team to perform to provide the results we all crave. But pragmatism is there too. He is on the market.. We are in the mix.. yeah...why not..

Reality also suggest we arent to get Kruezer or Cotchin.. Judd is perfectly acceptable ( roflmao )

I still worry over his fitness, and Id hate it all to fly back in our face if successful.

Let's face it. The only reason we aren't raging favourites is because we are Melbourne. Everything about the situation has Judd to Melbourne written all over it. If we didn't have such a reputation as a wet fish, everyone would be saying he was signed, sealed, and delivered, and Garry would be making time in his schedule on October 9th to travel out to Tullamarine (or Avalon, since we could probably only afford Jetstar after the Judd deal) to pick the man up.

Once upon a time a game was played at the G in rd 22. Both teams had nothing to play for and everything to gain by losing.

One team did what it had done for half a season and tanked it's arse off and gained the first pick in the draft. The other team did what football teams have been doing thoughout history - it played to win costing itself draft picks.

One day a brave Knight emerged. Telstra Dome or the G. Courage and Honour or the Dunghill Blues.

C'mon Juddy you know where your destiny lies.

Haha. Well I would be. But the Bulldogs are sniffing around Robbo. I'm sure we could come to some kind of arrangement that would see their pick 5 coming our way. In any case, pick 5 is basically a last-ditch, kitchen sink sort of effort. Ideally it won't come to that, but the option may well be there.

As much as i'd hate to lose robbo it would be great to get judd using pick 4 and still have a top 5 draft pick

If Sheeds was still at Windy hill i could understand the Bummers being in the mix.. without him ( or anyone...lol ) I just dont see the deal.

Carlton.. well i can see.. The Filth, will just because they would have to be ...and us..the sentimental blokes !!

I have never denied he is an exceptional player. I still want to be convinced his medical situation in fixable. I still dont think he will be the magic bullet everyone is hoping for..It will take a team to perform to provide the results we all crave. But pragmatism is there too. He is on the market.. We are in the mix.. yeah...why not..

Reality also suggest we arent to get Kruezer or Cotchin.. Judd is perfectly acceptable ( roflmao )

I still worry over his fitness, and Id hate it all to fly back in our face if successful.

That is my concern. Will he fully recover from this groin injury. Are there any examples of players that have and never looked back?

a 3 way trade could help the deal ,and one team not after judd thats wants one of our players is Bulldogs

I'll confess that i've changed my opinion. I initially thought that it was highly improbable that we would get him, hence my lack of enthusiam. But now that it's a possibility, i'd be pumped if we got him.

Here's my trade scenario:

Robbo and Jamar to Bulldogs for Farren Ray and pick 38.

Pick 4,21 and Ray to Eagles for Judd.

Bulldogs won't relinquish pick 5.

Another interesting thing to remember is he has said he wants to play at the G a lot more. So Collingwood and Melbourne are the only 2 out of the 4 clubs in it who's home ground is there.

He also said it ain't about the money, and it's his choice.

So we are in with a BIG chance here people....a VERY BIG chance. I'm really looking forward to seeing him play in the flesh next year!

I'm really looking forward to seeing him play in the flesh next year!

just be happy if he's wearing a jumper !!!

Robbo and Jamar to Bulldogs for Farren Ray and pick 38.

Pick 4,21 and Ray to Eagles for Judd.

Bulldogs won't relinquish pick 5.

Good shout mo. I think we may realistically need to get rid of a well paid individual, in order to at least give Judd a salary thats in the ball park (it may not be about money, but we can't insult him). Robbo is probably on 350-400k a year, and is uncontracted. Perfect option.

haha good one belzebub

just heard off my mate...its devastating if its true...he's working at the age, internship and they reckon its out of two clubs - us and carlton- thats not the devastating part

the devastating part is that the proposed trade is davey and our number 4 pick, or jones and our number 4 pick

They are both contracted for 2009, neither will want to go anywhere nor could the dees afford to pay out davey's contract inparticular, which would be around 300K, while trying to fit in Judds salary. When a player is contracted they have to agree to the trade. I would think that if judd was coming to the dees he would want the likes of Davey, jones and Mclean in his side. The dees tried to trade fergy at the end of 05 to the hawks but he didnt want to go so it didnt happen.

They are both contracted for 2009, neither will want to go anywhere nor could the dees afford to pay out davey's contract inparticular, which would be around 300K, while trying to fit in Judds salary. When a player is contracted they have to agree to the trade. I would think that if judd was coming to the dees he would want the likes of Davey, jones and Mclean in his side. The dees tried to trade fergy at the end of 05 to the hawks but he didnt want to go so it didnt happen.

I wouldn't want to be the player at the club that refused to be traded, thereby killing off the chance of getting Chris Judd.

Jones can't be traded, but Davey and McLean can be.