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FWIW and because this is the rumour mill thread, I'll put this in here. Sources are reasonably good and seem to match info being put about elsewhere. * The proverbial is going to hit the fan in the next fortnight with multiple infraction notices to be served by ASADA on several NRL and AFL players with the number of Essendon players hit to be between 10 and 15; and * A Victorian club (not us) in diabolical financial strife with AFL intervention required to bail out the club. This doesn't look promising after the AFL clubs put pressure on the Commission to limit assistance to the MFC. Most of this came at a Friday lunch attended by some people of influence. About Melbourne, I heard absolutely nothing.

If we're believe everything we read in the media then all 17 clubs were against us getting assistance and, on that basis, while I don't have any problem with them getting the same financial package as us, I would oppose anything bigger and certainly, if they perform badly next year, they can forget about applying for a priority pick. They played in a grand final as recently as 2010, they do awful things with 17 year old schoolgirls and they burn dwarves - all important reasons why they deserve no sympathy from anyone.

There are a lot of dreamers on this thread.

We already handed over Cale Morton, what more could they want?

If they voted against our PP then I hope we vote against any assistance.

2 and 21 for Shuey and 8? I hate when I spitball. Gets my hopes up...

I remember a quote from when we first "signed" him when he was 16 and he was asked what number he'd want and he replied with 24 as he was going to be twice as good as his dad.

I got married yesterday and my beautiful wife and I are mad Melbourne supporters. For our engagement party 12 months ago my brother got me a framed signed Jim Stynes jumper, straight to the pool room. Little did I know he had also organised a signed framed Nathan Jones jumper which says "congratulations Josh and Kathie go dees" and signed by Jones who is my wife's favourite player. She has a little crush on him. The club also sent 3 photos with personal congratulations and signed from Trenners Watts and Grimes. It is all amazing. Not sure if anyone involved with the club gets on here but I am so thankful they way they treated us was amazing and it really made our day!

The irony that i clicked on this thread and it didn't work because i got an internal server error

Anyone else receiving an Internal Server Error message. I have been getting them all afternoon. I hope we haven't broken the new server already. What's going to happen if we land a big fish during the Trade period?

What do you think shuey is... do your reserch!

These days players nearly always get to their club of choice. While we're certainly best placed to satisfy West Coast's demands should Shuey decide to head home, I feel we need to convince him that Melbourne is the club to entertain. Collingwood are losing Thomas, Jolly and Shaw, so we may not be able to pay him more. So why would he choose Melbourne ? I actually can't think of a genuine reason, as his loyalty as a child will be long gone. If I was Roos I'd be knocking on his door and selling his vision. Roos is probably our best/only hope.

If you knew who was actually in the Old Boys Club you would not be so smug.Viney fell out with the oh-so-evil Lyon-Stynes-CC-Schwab Nexus and left the club for Hawthorn as a heralded Assistant Coach (if there can be such a thing), and then poached back to Adelaide before we got him back to run the Development and Player Strategy a couple years back. At some point we are going to have to stop culling and start building and while there may be a hatred of everything related to the MFC at this club it doesn't mean you get to just lump Viney in there without more evidence than vague illusions of his various roles.

Happy to see him make his own history with number 7.

Naysayers stuck in the pre-Roos era. I know for a fact that at least two clubs are very interested in pick 2. I know that Shuey is viewed as a definite possibility. I know that west coast now with a coach will entertain the idea. it was the same naysayers that said there was no chance we'd get Roos. We have and we have already grown in stature as a consequence. we are win win. We get a good trade we do ok. But few trades ultimately come through and then we just pick up Aish or Kelly.

Well, that was harder than it was meant to be!! North was very well coached by Josh Francou (who is off to Sydney), tagging Suckling & dropping big men back into the Norwood forward line to keep it close & nerve racking all day. Nathan Bassett told 891ABC that he did not have a job in 2014 then hastily added "other than coaching Norwood". Just go get him Roosy! Norwood's defensive pressure at the ball & forward press would put the Melbourne sides of the last-half decade to shame. I will try to attach a photo of the scene when the Premiership Cup was presented. Nearly 37,000 attended the last game at AAMI Stadium (based on the traffic, I swear they drove 37,000 cars!) The SANFL allowed the crowd onto the arena for the presentation. It was just like a giant country grand final (yes, I know...) But that is what makes Adelaide special. And it was very special hearing "It's a Grand Old Flag..." played at a dual premiership celebration. One day, we will all hear it on the MCG...God & Roosy willing PS Cooling on Aish. He's top 10 but not #2 pick. Dumont is at least as good. Georgiou would be a sensible "moneyball" defender. Edit - added photo, I hope https://www.dropbox.com/s/waicmu1ixmqc1f2/20131006_180545.jpg

Can't wait till he takes a hanger over Gawn will be mark of the year!

Obviously she doesnt know her footy if she thinks Shuey is slow.

Pick 2 is worth whatever it is in the given market. Pointless comparing to players of other years or drafts.

Would not happen. Giving up an extremely promising midfielder for a 6 pick upgrade would be laughable list management. Pick 2 is overs due to his injury history preventing him being on the park, but when he is there he produces more often than not. He is explosive and breaks lines. If we were to get him via trade, it would be Pick 2 for Shuey and either their 2nd or 3rd round pick.

WHERE DO WE SIGN?!!!!!

We don't need inside mids and we don't need outside mids we need good quality mids. These guys play inside and outside and some of them are also goal kickers, check most of the top teams and this is the case. Define the inside and outside mids at Geelong and while you're at it name the small crumbing forwards.

A few years ago a mate who is a Kangaroos supporter posted a bs trade on the Roos forum and stated it from sources "inside the club" that at face value appeared feasible just to see what the reaction would be. Within half an hour, blokes were ringing up SEN with it. People post all sorts of crazy crap at this time of the year............believe none of it unless it comes from the club.

lol Welcome to our planet! The TV is overrated but pastries are good. Enjoy!

as a matter of fact it does!

That's not what he said and you know it. Don't derail a thread with your personal vendetta.

Nasher will have to pedal faster.

It's Trengove. He's our captain.

Very interesting to read all you're reviews and thoughts. I have actually been privileged enough to play alongside Kelly & Freeman from u13s till now. Being in the same team for a number of years, i have got to know them both very well. Before i get onto them both, i'd first like to alert you that all these Phantom Drafts are rough rough estimates, as the national recruiting manager of Sydney spoke to us about how the Emma Quales & co want to know everything from clubs, except why would clubs tell them the truth. The players they rate in order so it can be public knowledge - this is these peoples profession they arent going to publicise their teams prized pick!!! He even said last year a number of the players in the top 20 didn't even get drafted. Both terrific blokes. Freeman - is made for AFL. Explosive, powerful, competitor that from u13s day would tear the field apart. Get it from the centre, break the lines and kick goals. The beast inside him proves he has what it takes to make it in the next level. Kelly - is a professional. Swift mover but very light frame. I for one, arent sold on him making it big time at the highest level. I can see a Cale Morton/Tom Scully all over. He is a runner!! but will take time to develop and dont think its what we can afford to waste our time with right now. I hope for his sake he makes it big time because he deserve. But for us MFC we should give it a skip. He is very silky and often finds time when he has the ball, but i can see how at AFL level he would get exposed!

Only for a guy like Shuey or Rockliff who would fit in that list. You also have to consider there's no Jack Martin or Jesse Hogan in this draft so our pick 2 is really equivalent to a pick 4. If this was an untouched draft we'd be looking at one of Hogan, Martin or Boyd and probably not trading the pick. The names in pick 4 aren't nearly as consistent as pick 2's.

Interesting looking at another website who has gone at pick 2 the last 10 years! Hodge, Cotchin, Coniligio, H Bennell, Naitanui, Trengrove, Gumbleton, Dale Thomas, Roughead, A Walker. A handy group! So do we really want to trade pick 2?

I would be surprised if took anyone other than midfield, midfield and more midfield this draft/trade/FA period.

Anyone that thinks we will be able to convince West Coast to give Shuey up for less than pick 2 is kidding themselves. Values change when someone is still in contract. 15 of 21 games in 2012 and 9 of 13 before injury in 2013 were 23 possession+ games. A 60/40 kick to handball split confirms he has a good balance of inside and outside. He averages more than 4 tackles a game and just under a goal a game. That is a strong all round package and is a smart target that will be worthwhile of the pick if we can pull it off.

Dees win by 20 goals over the Bombers at Olympic Park. The lead was by over 10 goals at half time and with Paul Gardner coaching, I didn't expect the boys to let up and while I wasn't able to follow Supermercado's commentary but I'm sure the Chris Sullivan line cracke a mention at some point. Well done lads ... Reports to come.

What?! You don't think WCE will jump at the opportunity to trade Shuey and Gaff to us for pick 2?

If I'm giving up pick 2, I want Gaff AND Shuey. I don't care if we have to give a little more to get it, but losing pick 2 for just one of them really hurts. It just reeks of one of those old trades you hear about, like when Freo came into the AFL. Todd Ridley to Freo in exchange for the pick that selected Matthew Lloyd.

Hogans contract is for two years starting after the draft, he is here until the end of the 2015 season.

Who does he replace in a fit side though? Making him sound like a superstar but he isn't best 22.

Gotta be the Saints then.

This is mentioned elsewhere and contradicts the post above. This is the obvious place for discussion on the subject matter - West Coast star Luke Shuey attracts plenty of interest from Victorian-based clubs Collingwood appears to be the frontrunner but our pick 2 and the fact that there's a prominent place in Melbourne's midfield for a player like Shuey. I haven't followed him a great deal but this was interesting -

COLLINGWOOD president Eddie McGuire and coach Nathan Buckley have blamed a culture of "selfishness" for the club's failed 2013 campaign. The Magpies were bundled out in the first week of the finals after a shock elimination final loss to Port Adelaide at the MCG. The anger arising from such a disappointing season was evident in the key pair's addresses at the club's Copeland Trophy count at Crown on Friday night. Maybe they lost because their coach and team are DH's.

You could look at the quality of the player. One possible alternative could be to look at the actual rules instead.

Go back and read what he's posted, he's only been posting it all year.Also, they finished first, and we finished basically last. Consider what difference that may make when pondering draft positions.

Flaky, lazy, doesn't run two ways, outside distributor with good skills, smooth mover, X factor, always injured... Some of that sounds like a typical Melbourne player. The old Melbourne. Not the Roos Melbourne. And not where we are right now.

Matured Garlett says he's ready for a second chance: Garlett set for second chance So where do people see this kid going in the draft? I know we need midfielders and that should defiantly be our first priority but we also need a small forward and he is really highly rated. He could probably also go through the midfield. As I said midfielders first but if we can I would definitely go for this guy (value has decreased due to his behavior but has now had an extra years conditioning). We are one of a few clubs that needs to take some risks.

DYNASTY by Whispering Jack James Aish doesn't turn 18 until next month but on Sunday he will be looking to win his second successive premiership with highly fancied SANFL Club Norwood in their grand final against North Adelaide. And in the event of that second flag going to the hot favourites, the young draft prospect who comes from a family that's about as close as you can get to royalty at the Redlegs won't be the first in the family to achieve the feat. I learned of the family tradition back in the early 1980s when I was an occasional visitor to the home of my wife's sister when her family was living in Adelaide. Apart from catching the odd Test Match at the beautiful Adelaide Oval (I once sat next to Graeme Yallop and Ian Callen in the flight up) and the beach at Glenelg in summertime, the thing I enjoyed most about the trip across the border was going to the Parade ground to watch the Redlegs (who else?) going around. James' father Andrew and his uncle, Michael were stars for Norwood in those days. Michael was a young prodigy who achieved just about everything in South Australian football. At 20 he was a Magerey Medallist beating home a star-studded field, some of who became VFL legends later on in the 1980s. By 23, he was a dual premiership player (1982 and 1984). Older brother Andrew stood in his shadow but shared in the 1982 flag and had a respectable six year career wearing the number 43 for 89 games (62 goals) from 1981 that included two games for South Australia. A sister, Susan, represented South Australia in both netball and softball. But the football dynasty began a generation earlier when father Peter Aish started under legendary Norwood coach Jack Oatey in a career that spanned between 1953 and 1962. Wearing the numbers 30 and then 1 in a career of 162 games (9 goals), he captained his side in his last three years and was later coach. Described as an "elegant" footballer, Peter Aish was best and fairest in 1960 and 1961 (mainly in defence), played five games for his state and is a club life member and hall of famer. Michael Aish commenced his career with Norwood in 1979 and played 15 seasons for 307 games (449 goals). His career highlights included the 1981 Magarey Medal, four club best and fairests (1981, 1983, 1984 and 1992), a Fos Williams Medal in 1983, All-Australian honours in 1983 and 1986, club and state life membership as well Norwood Team of the Century and Norwood and South Australian halls of fame. He played 15 games for his state and was twice captain (1986 and 1989). With a CV like that, Michael Aish clearly must have has something going for him. If the word "elegant" described his father then all I can say is that the apple didn't fall far from the tree. He was composed, courageous, had great evasive skills, rarely made a mistake and personified presence on the field. There was a time in the mid 80s when I harboured the hope that the relationship between Norwood and Melbourne, which came not only from the colours and the "Redleg" connection but also from the fact that the clubs had exchanged players in the past (Graham Molloy to Melbourne and Ross Dillon and Stephen Kerley to Norwood), might lead Aish to cross to Melbourne to join our own silky smooth champion Robert Flower and to give the Demons an unbeatable combination on the wide wings of the MCG. However, he continually resisted big-money offers to move to play with various VFL clubs, remaining loyal to Norwood and South Australian football. During a particularly bleak period for the Melbourne Football Club, it was a minor consolation for Demon fans to follow the ABC coverage of a SANFL Grand Final with a Norwood premiership the outcome. I remember Aish's second flag in 1984 well. The Redlegs had finished in fifth place but swept all before them in the finals including the Port Adelaide Magpies in the decider. The coach was Neil Balme who later coached the Demons and whose brother Craig was a member of the grand final team. Norwood was also Neil Craig's club back in the 1970s. There was nothing better back then than to see the red and blue toy with the black and white and humiliate the magpie army in a granny even if it wasn't the real VFL deal. Aish was well tagged for most of the game in '84 but I recall the slightly built winger who wore a helmet and set the crowd alight with a long run on the wing that resulted in a crucial goal for his team. The man who wore the number 8 for Norwood has a son Jesse who also plays for the club today but while it's unlikely that he will take part in Sunday's SANFL grand final, nephew James will continue the family tradition in the last big game of the year. James Aish has twice made the NAB AFL Under-18 All Australian team demonstrating that the genes of the Aish dynasty have been successfully transferred to this generation. Last year, at the age of 16, he became the youngest player in SANFL history to win a senior premiership, kicking the goal of the day and amassing 23 touches on a wing. Dean Terlich, now a Demon, was a teammate. I suppose we'll never know whether grandfather Peter thought of leaving the comforts of home to move to football's "big smoke" in Victoria. Michael and Andrew also stayed home for the duration of their illustrious careers. I don't even know if one of the clubs that sought Michael was Melbourne (he would surely have been the icing on the cake around 1987-90 when the club challenged for a flag) but by the end of next month we will certainly know whether an Aish will finally cross the border to wear the colours of the red and the blue and continue the dynasty over here. FOOTNOTE: Melbourne has offered up its second pick in the coming national draft to the trade table in exchange for a suitable exchange of players and/or draft picks. Aish is currently considered as one of the contenders for selection number 2 behind Eastern Ranges' key forward Tom Boyd.

I like ice cream.

If it accounts for anything, I had a dream I worked for the MFC and traded pick 2 for Luke Shuey before he was ever mentioned as a possible get.. Usually my dreams weirdly are a reliable source to predict the future, take of it what you will.

I understand the logic that picking up Sloan and Shuey would have been game changers for us, based on the players they are now, but I am big doubts that we would have been able to turn them into the players they are now based on how poor we've been at developing players over the years. I reckon it would be easy to argue that had Strauss and Blease not gotten injured, and had they been recruited by a different club, then they would be better players then they are now, AND, we might be talking about how we stuffed up selecting Sloan and Shuey instead of those two.

ET told him to go home.