How true is it that MFC players were asked by Bailey about trading Trav? I read it on here a while ago but didn't pay much attention to it until i saw him own the GABBA in the fourth quarter on friday night. Apparently only one player told Bailey to keep him.

The rest were happy for him to go. Is that because they thought he would no longer benefit the club with his off field behaviour or they just wanted to save their own backside and showing no loyalty to the only playmaker we have had the last 6 years. After all, Trav did reject big offers from Sydney and the Filth to stay with us.

This is what really hurts me at the moment, especially with some players we decided to keep. Thoughts, anyone

Truth. I don't see why you're upset though - it was a good decision, IMHO. We're not going to be a contender, so a decent draft pick works out alright in terms of list management. Given TJ's apparent off-field indiscretions, it's probably a step in the right direction in terms of the 'culture' too.

Talking of off-field issues, I heard TJ tried to pick a fight with a guy at The Chalk Hotel on Saturday night.

Because he was a careless, uninspirational footballer who wouldn't make any difference this year had here been here. Good riddance. Brisbane can have their one good year out of him.

Grimes will be an unbelievable pickup for us.

Best thing we could of done and hopefully we get some more draft picks at the end of the year for some other senior players

I agree with the trade, but TJ was one of the most talented players we've had in a while. I hope he carves it up in Brisbane. Mathews will get way more than one year out of him.

The truth is that when the players were advised by MFC that the Club would seek to trade TJ there was no complaint and hardly a murmur. Says volumes about the guy. Get over it.

The truth is that when the players were advised by MFC that the Club would seek to trade TJ there was no complaint and hardly a murmur. Says volumes about the guy. Get over it.

Exactly. Compare that to the Woewodin trade, there was nearly a riot.

Brisbane can have their one good year out of him.

That's precisely what I think will happen too Chilli. I reckon he was always going to burn it up this year. He has a point to prove after all. Next year he will be back to his same old ways.

The truth is that when the players were advised by MFC that the Club would seek to trade TJ there was no complaint and hardly a murmur. Says volumes about the guy. Get over it.

Agreed. Given our current plight would any Melbourne member rather have Travis at 28 over Jack Grimes at 18? I think not.

It was also alleged nobody in Victoria wanted him

It was a good trade

i heard that DB told people at one of the club open days this year that the players did have a vote and only one person really wanted him to stay and i also heard that no other victorian clubs had any interest

How true is it that MFC players were asked by Bailey about trading Trav? I read it on here a while ago but didn't pay much attention to it until i saw him own the GABBA in the fourth quarter on friday night. Apparently only one player told Bailey to keep him.

The rest were happy for him to go. Is that because they thought he would no longer benefit the club with his off field behaviour or they just wanted to save their own backside and showing no loyalty to the only playmaker we have had the last 6 years. After all, Trav did reject big offers from Sydney and the Filth to stay with us.

This is what really hurts me at the moment, especially with some players we decided to keep. Thoughts, anyone

Hahahahaha... only playmaker....thats gold.

Were you at the same games I was? I saw one good game every six or so on average. Not bad from the worst performing number one draft pick in 20 years.

Hahahahaha... only playmaker....thats gold.

Were you at the same games I was? I saw one good game every six or so on average. Not bad from the worst performing number one draft pick in 20 years.

Dumbest comment I've read yet....

# 1986 - Martin Leslie (Brisbane Bears)

# 1987 - Richard Lounder (Richmond)

# 1988 - Alex McDonald (Hawthorn)

# 1989 - Anthony Banik (Richmond)

# 1990 - Stephen Hooper (Geelong)

# 1991 - John Hutton (Brisbane)

# 1992 - Drew Banfield (West Coast)

# 1993 - Darren Gaspar (Sydney)

# 1994 - Jeff White (Fremantle)

# 1995 - Clive Waterhouse (Fremantle)

# 1996 - Michael Gardiner (West Coast)

# 1997 - Travis Johnstone (Melbourne)

Dumbest comment I've read yet....

# 1986 - Martin Leslie (Brisbane Bears)

# 1987 - Richard Lounder (Richmond)

# 1988 - Alex McDonald (Hawthorn)

# 1989 - Anthony Banik (Richmond)

# 1990 - Stephen Hooper (Geelong)

# 1991 - John Hutton (Brisbane)

# 1992 - Drew Banfield (West Coast)

# 1993 - Darren Gaspar (Sydney)

# 1994 - Jeff White (Fremantle)

# 1995 - Clive Waterhouse (Fremantle)

# 1996 - Michael Gardiner (West Coast)

# 1997 - Travis Johnstone (Melbourne)

I think White has been better over the journey but you could add Headland(1998) and Fraser (1999) to that list. Although he has time on his side Cooney underwhelms me.

I think White has been better over the journey but you could add Headland(1998) and Fraser (1999) to that list. Although he has time on his side Cooney underwhelms me.

Defiantly Fraser!

It's interesting looking at that list. Of the first 6 top 1 draft picks, McDonald was serviceable and the rest were outright duds. Even now it's still a difficult pick to get right, even if the choice is obvious at the time.

Headland comes under the same banner as TJ I reckon. All the talent in the world, but bankrupt in the head department.

Grimes will be an unbelievable pickup for us.

Best thing we could of done and hopefully we get some more draft picks at the end of the year for some other senior players

I agree that Johnstone should have been traded, but would have prefered a straight swap with Cameron Wood. Pies gave up pick 14 for Wood, and we got the Lions' pick 16 for Johnstone. We then could have kept our 2nd round pick instead of trading it for a non-ruckman in Meesen.

I agree that Johnstone should have been traded, but would have prefered a straight swap with Cameron Wood. Pies gave up pick 14 for Wood, and we got the Lions' pick 16 for Johnstone. We then could have kept our 2nd round pick instead of trading it for a non-ruckman in Meesen.

I would have loved that.

I would have loved that.

I wouldn't have. A gun midfielder (living in hope, of course) is always going to be better than a fair-to-good ruckman. I'll wait until I've seen how Grimes goes before slashing my wrists.

Defiantly Fraser!

or definitely?

or definitely?

PMSL. Yes I meant definitely. Definitely!

I agree that Johnstone should have been traded, but would have prefered a straight swap with Cameron Wood. Pies gave up pick 14 for Wood, and we got the Lions' pick 16 for Johnstone. We then could have kept our 2nd round pick instead of trading it for a non-ruckman in Meesen.

The pick 14 the Pies traded for Wood, was on-traded to us for Johnstone

And we traded Meesen for a third-round pick, not second

I must admit, Wood has looked quite promising for the Pies in the first 2 rounds this year. But agree with Nasher, if Grimes lives up to the hope surrounding him, he will be a better pickup