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**** you Taylor Adams. Taylor's a girls name.

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2013-10-02/frawley-still-a-true-demon-in-dark-times Best full back in the game, and he loves the club. You can tell it kills him every time we lose. This guy deserves success more than any player on our list. Imagine being the full back in a team that has the worst midfield of all time. And yet he still smashes his direct opponent every single week. Would love if we could tie him up to a contract extension in the next few months.

Seriously, Jed Lamb has a brother called Sean? I love their parents.

MFC offer pick 2 & pick 38. MFC ask for Rockliff and pick 24 from the Lions. I believe the Lions want Boyd and may take this on.

I'd offer a 3rd rounder for Shaw and work from there. Collingwood don't want him, Shaw doesn't want to be there, he'll be going cheap, not that Collingwood would let you know that.

How is that a tough question, when the answer is clearly "no"? A tough question would be "how would you handle a more experienced team mate who isn't pulling their weight on/off the field?" or "how do you handle failure".

Tom Boyd on Trade Week Radio was just asked which clubs the boys are a bit afraid of during interviews. He said that the one most of them are dreading is Melbourne because they are asking the tough questions and are putting the boys on the spot.

He heard about Roosy's no d1ckhead policy and knew the jig was up. He's a high half-forward finisher, but an average midfielder. He's never made a difference to our on-field fortunes and frees up some cap space. I genuinely wish him well.

Dean Bogan was on SEN this morning or last, asked who the biggest tightarse he'd ever played with was: Tom Scully. No surprises there.

Mahoney- "if a player has been in the system for 20-30 games and his 24-25 yeas of age that would be pick 2 worthy. That must be a misquote. If we want a 24-25 year old mid we want one with 60-100 games ready to go not one that barely played.

Amazing list of experience. Good mix of business, not-for-profits and sports. Liked this one: "Throughout her travels, she spent time with leading organisations, such as the New York Yankees, Washington Redskins, New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, Manchester United FC, Arsenal FC, LA Live and Madison Square Garden." Make her the successor to Roos!

10 years in 2nd gear. Thanks Col.

Yeah but would ya swap em for pick 2

Don't think that our decision to trade pick 2 is any reflection on Aish or whoever is available in the draft. It's more that we need established midfield talent and we have identified a player (or two) that suit our needs.

The feeling I got out of that interview is that we are already in fair advanced with a club or player and close to getting a deal done with pick 2. Will be interesting to see who though. I mean you wouldn't just say its highly likely we will trade pick 2 when you already haven't got someone in mind. Anyone else get that feeling?

Just worries me whenever Barret opens his mouth, noting ever good really comes out.

Crows were all over Trengove. And Toumpas. WA teams are all over Hogan. Why bother drafting anyone? We should just give up... FFS.

This isn't a new scenario. We've been snuffed by the likes of the Pies, Bombers and Blues (and to a lessor extent the Cats) for years. That's how they became strong winning culture clubs while we wallowed and scrounged our way as bottom feeders, looking for the scraps for decades. Nothing's changed. The big boys don't wish to give up the power they acheived from back then. Who would. We've been part of the dumbass mediocrity clubs within the VFL (now AFL) that accepted this carp and we (with the other small fry) continued to roll over on it for decades. I would also include the Hawks in here. They secured the Morning Peninsula zone in the late 60's which produced a prolific breeding ground for them and many a great footballer. Some insignificant ones as well. You know, minor name players the likes of Knights, Mathews and Dermy, just to name a few Extract courtesy of wikipedia.... From the mid-1960s, Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon (and to a lesser extent Geelong) perennially dominated the competition because their greater wealth allowed them to monopolise top country players and build up greater playing strength than was previously possible, while Footscray, St Kilda and Fitrroy were in grave danger of folding. The VFL's response was to zone rural Victoria and the Riverina of New South Wales in a similar manner to metropolitan Melbourne. Because of the sparseness of Australia's rural population, the country zones related not to the player's address, but rather to the league in which he played. This difference made zone boundaries impossible to adjust and was a critical component of the failure of country zoning. Because the VFL was aware that discrepancies existed in the strength of each zone, it was originally planned that the zones would be rotated every year so that each club would obtain a chance of receiving the best young country players. However, Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon had productive zones and were naturally unwilling to give them up for less productive ones, so the zones remained the same from the inception of country zoning until it was abolished in 1986. There was also no provision for demographic changes which occurred in the various country zones, which exacerbated the problems mentioned above.

Adams clearly doesn't want to play for Melbourne, and Shiel is still contracted. Let's try and be just a tad realistic.

Impressive CV to say the least. Quote: "She has a strong interest in governance, and is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and regularly presents workshops and forums regarding good governance and strategic planning practices". I may be dreaming, but is it possible that the Dees could end up being run like a top line business? No runs on the board yet but it looks promising.

Every hill in Melbourne was windy yesterday. And today.

I'm really hijacking here, but finally I did ask if Melbourne had spoken to him before the combine.. They had. I asked him about his thoughts in coming to Melbourne, and he said like anyone you do pay attention to the terrible year they had, and how bad development and team harmony looked under Neeld. However, he stated he was shocked at how he considered their interview to be one of the most indepth and constructive. The line of questioning was very direct and the approach the club has about where it's going and the type of players it wants was very firm. They did touch on the past and expressed to him that the MFC wanted to draft players who wouldn't stand for poor results and is he the type of character who plays football for passion or because he's always been good at it. I don't know if it was a dig at current players but seemed to be incredibly interesting. I asked if he'd be happy to come to Melbourne and said yeah I'd be stoked.

It amazes me the amount of unrespectful communication on this site towards others. I feel it is some people's mission just to tear apart every thread with no real desire to add something meaningful! Please remember this is a thread for all who love the Demons. We are all supporting and (hopefully) members of the same team. Any little piece of information should be welcomed and not trodden into the ground time and time again. The amount of abuse and bad comments towards some posters makes me cringe and I certainly hope that those that do these posts do not have a bigger issue to deal with like a bullying claim or possible suicide of the receiver as has happened on facebook and elsewhere and to a personal friend of mine. Be nice and respectful. You may feel better for it!

Except experienced talent and/or marquee player(s).

From afl.com.au: The Giants were forced to re-affirm that exciting midfield prospect Dylan Shiel was a required player after reports he wanted to return to Victoria. Shiel is contracted for the next two seasons so is unlikely to move although he has attracted interest from several clubs with Melbourne understood to be most keen. AFL.com.au understands Shiel would be open to a move but the Giants want to retain him. Shane Savage's future is also not totally clear. The Hawk played in the 2012 Grand Final but missed selection in the 2013 premiership team. He showed good form with the Hawks through the year and was solid in the finals for the Box Hill Hawks after being dropped for the finals. Melbourne and the Eagles are understood to be among several clubs interested in talking to Savage if he is seeking further opportunity outside Hawthorn. He is contracted with the Hawks until the end of 2014 and the 22-year-old is likely to be a required player. He will meet with the club this week.

Ideally you wouldn't trade the pick and you'd expect a pick two player to be a superstar of the game. I'm always against trading top 5 picks for that very reason. That said, this club isn't in a usual situation. If we're to retain the likes of Jesse Hogan we have to start winning games of footy. Reluctantly I reckon it's the right call. But we better get someone pretty bloody good. And seems as though there'll be a first round pick back in return.

It was only towards the end, but it became apparent to me that there's definitely been some productive conversations taking place regarding pick 2. He was put on the spot, hesitated and then was pretty unequivocal that it would be traded. It didn't strike me as someone just fishing.

Here is the interview: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/2013-10-02/radio-interview-josh-mahoney

Definitely a strong rumour going around about Shuey wanting to come back to Victoria.

You know, i don't even care if you're completely full of shiite, just having this true in my mind even for a short time has made my day

Roos "are" or Roos "is"?

me thinks you are taking the numbers that Mahoney rattled off a bit too literally

Wow Shane Mumford and Tom Scully are bound to be best buddies with their shared love of cash.

Dude on SEN talking to OX has linked MFC to Luke Shuey... Ox thinks he used to be a Dee supporter!

So if you think it was inevitable on legal grounds, is it not also inevitable that some day someone will also challenge the restrictions the AFL currently puts around it? Then say goodbye to the clubs and the comp as we know them. Not a world I want to see, but it is the result of the commercialisation of every aspect of society in recent decades. Maybe evil is too strong a word but it's not far off.

yeah I know this is a rumours thread, but seriously when is the last time two clubs traded that much between them in a single trade. Besides Adams doesn't want a bar of us (basically confirmed by Mahoney), why do people keep bringing him up?

Great to hear Maybe we can have a prediction thread to see who is closest to the pin My prediction - Melbourne trade pick 2 and 20 to West Coast for Andrew Gaff and pick 6

It makes sense to trade pick 2 for a player and a mid first round pick. It's an even draft where pick 2 could be just as good as pick 10-16

Outstanding CV, which seems perfectly fitted for assisting with the rebuild of the Melbourne Footy Club from the foundations up. Welcome Kate, you have just embarked on a journey which you will never forget (hopefully for all the right reasons). ps. If you haven't already done so, I suggest you take out life membership of Demonland. Without question, it's the most informed place in the world about every aspect of MFC operations. (lol).

I take no issue with the criticism of the cost of living allowance given to Sydney and GWS. IMO it's wrong. There are clearly other things that are wrong. Father son comes to mind allowing teams to pick up players below their real value. The draw, the split of earnings from crowd attendances, the Sydney academy and so on and so forth. These are issues that in medical parallels range from ingrown toe nails to broken arms, they can be fixed because the body is strong. In a business as complex as the AFL who is dealing with 18 self interested clubs (just note the hypocrisy of Carlton's Buddy comments), State and Federal governments and drug and other authorities the landscape changes continually, reasons for decisions change and mistakes will be made. Perfection in relation to the smaller issues is not what I judge the CEO of the AFL on. I judge him on the big issues. Aus kick numbers have never been higher. Attendances are close to historical highs. TV ratings are high. Facilities that clubs now have are exceptional compared to a decade ago. Stadiums have been developed and if you happen to be in SA or go there as I do the move to the Adelaide Cricket Ground and the brokering of the move from AAMI Stadium is a wonderful thing for football. AFL has a greater National presence under AD with two new teams Revenue has grown from about $170m to $440 in his time allowing money to be poured back into the game. Player welfare is much greater and support for players who leave the game is now available. There is now a coaches association. Struggling clubs are now supported rather than extinguished or moved. In short, the AFL has consolidated its position as the premier sport in Australia despite the challenge from world codes like soccer and basketball. While many look at the performance of the AFL in terms of how it effects their club I don't. I look at the overall strength of the game. PA have shown this year that with good management the AFL provides an environment where teams can prosper. No PP there and no COL allowance. We have shown that with bad management teams can suffer and I suspect Saints as well. Hawthorn were worse than us in 1996 and rejected our takeover. The path of the two clubs, operating under the same conditions, shows the difference management can make but the AFL have provided the opportunity to all. If we fail it won't be because Sydney had a cost of living concession. It won't be because we were denied a PP, which, by the way, was an AFL decision supported by the other clubs not determined by them, it won't be because of the draw. AD has given us an environment where we can succeed, we just haven't. Aussi rules has never been stronger. That's AD's primary objective and legacy and he's done it very well.

What I find funny is that the swans are going against the grain of everything that Roos built at the swans. After building a club that has everyone playing for each other because they've been developed from the ground up, they now turned it into a club for club for mercenaries who play for the dollars. I hope the side effect from this is that it makes it harder to accommodate some of their mids in the future.

The amazing thing about the 'AFL could block Buddy's move' article is that the AFL is concerned that Sydney may have made a hole for themselves, not that their policies are making a hole for everyone else.

Sydney is a big market and there's only one club and a circus act in town at the moment. The Swans have little competition and a selection of Visys with which to make cosy third party deals to which the AFL has hitherto turned a blind eye. Then the AFL sends people on an equalisation junket who have no interest whatsoever in equalisation and this is what you get. Meanwhile the sycophants bow and pray to the neon gods.

Lamb and Jaensch I wouldn't say no to, but Patrick isn't much chop at all.

hogan viney toumpas generation will be the ones to reap the rewards if they come. sad to say it but everything is stacking against clubs like MFC to improve. the "premiership window" theory is no longer valid. With FA , the big clubs will stay up there, constantly topping up with guns. theres no guarenteed fall back to the pack for the big clubs anymore. just go buy a fyfe or a franklin and away you go again.

Either that or we've achieved nothing noteworthy.

The folder was emblazoned with the words operation rockliff top secret.

Actually on the thread topic, last Friday I was dining with a friend when a young lad predicted to go top echelon in this draft dropped in and was nice enough to give us some of his time. Without probing too much we asked him who had contact with him, how the speeches went and where he was expecting to go. Very very interesting hearing how aggressive some teams were in getting answers, and how personal others were in asking questions I thought wouldn't normally be asked in a job interview situation. Nonetheless that topic is for another time. The important thing was he briefly bought up Tom Boyd and I asked him what he thought. They had played a few games together along the journey and I asked him if he was surprised about the hype. His response was: 'I feel sorry for him'. I replied he's about to be picked up number 1, be on $150 clicks a year and have an AFL career surely you're kidding me. His response was I'm not feeling sorry for him for that.. I feel sorry for him because he'll never ever be the player people want him to be. He is 205cm and 105kgs playing against boys. He stated in the local TAC comp, his teams FB was 81kgs. He and his teammates said his one attribute is overpowering opponents, and for his size he even does it poorly in comparison. His skills left alot to be desired and unsurprising due to his height but this lad said he was the worst below his knees for any PF he'd played with. He stated Daniher and Hogan were far better options and would influence their clubs far more. He used Patton as an example and stated how he dominated TAC Cup and since coming into the AFL has had some good games but is still yet to impose himself. Boyd isn't half of what Patton is, and compared how in the future he saw a Jack Watts (expectations far outweighing performances). He said he was a great guy, a good teammate but it was very interesting to hear. I've always said I wouldn't be interested in Boyd I just want a midfielder but given this, I'll pay close attention to his career and see if infact he was proven correct.

Hey, I might change my name to that

Was told that he was gone before the last round has spoken to five and six clubs and thinks he still has a lot to offer body is good. Passion is sport and science and wants to stay in that industry. said it would be the perfect scenario Did some practical work with the Western Jets. Wallace said he sets the standard in regards to training and professionalism Wallace also said he would fit a Paul Roos type player. Said he is hungry to play and would go anywhere. Has been training hard already. Wouldn't mind going to a club to help young players out and even win. Wallace also said Cross is one of the best trainer he has ever seen in his time. He is also sets the standard and very team orientated. Wouldn't name the clubs he has spoken to out of respect and said the talks have been positive. Wallace just mentioned after the interview that he would be the perfect fit for Melbourne.