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Tom Pretoro from Jesse's management company was just interviewed on SEN and said they will sit down with the Dees during the summer to discuss his contract. He went on to say that 'Jesse will be part of Melbourne's future for a long time to come.' Almost form the horse's mouth!

Fulfilled the brief. Pity others couldn't.

Thanks Stannis, well done!

Well, I can understand the decision even if I would have given him another year. Well done to him - he was fantastic these last two years, and he gave me new appreciation for professionals who just do their job and play with heart and effort. I hope it is appreciated by the younger players at the club too.

Thanks for 2 fantastic years Crossy. Your contribution to our club as a whole was above and beyond what we hoped it would be. Now it's time for some of these young guys to step up and take your place.

Very hard to imagine a better role model for players at the time he was picked up by our Club. Well done Crossy, on a great career and thanks for your contribution to the MFC. I really hope you take up the role in our FD that has been offered to you. We will be a better team if you do!

We'll have a hard time replacing him. He's been so important.

Totally unexpected for me. The guy is topping the "time on ground" list for us regularly this year. Had we shown him the door last year, for example, it would be 22 cumulative games or so more that we'd have seen from Matt Jones, Bail, McKenzie et al. The club must be bullish about our midfield prospects, or very bearish about his physical condition. In either case I'm taken completely by surprise, but have no choice but to trust they know what they're doing. I wish him well and thank him for two years of excellent service.

Assuming Jack Trengoves recovery goes to plan and he can get back to playing, he will be the perfect replacement for Daniel Cross. Right down to the elite contested marking for someone of that size.

Grimes. Crossy has been great, but at 33 next year it was clear that he had lost a yard of pace and his skills were beginning to fade as well. I've loved him at the club but it's the right decision at the right time. As I said above - it's now time for others to take responsibility and step up to the fill his role in the side. We couldn't rely on him forever.

Great pick up for the club but it was time. Well done on a fine career that many of us could only dream about.. I hope he will be remembered as a good demon player and that he works wit the club in some capacity. Would hate to see him go back to the dogs

Would love to see Crossy kept around as a development coach, the type of bloke you want at your footy club, in whatever capacity we can squeeze him in.

Cheers Crossy you have been great for our club and your professionalism showed the younger brigade what is required and what we have lacked for so long I hope you remain in some capacity with the Dees and my only regret is we didn't get hold of you at a younger age All the best to you and your family in the future

Fantastic career and contribution to the club, his influence will have rubbed off on alot of our young blokes!

Must be retarded. Pass.

Daniel Cross - 32 Jimmy Toumpas - 21 I get what you mean Olisik, but there is still plenty of time and upside to Toumpas' game. Cross has been great for two years but we can't have him in there forever. If we want to move up the ladder and start to become a real football side then the pressure is now on our guys in the 21-24 age bracket to really step up and make a difference for us going forward.

Well done Picket. You've taken a thread that should be about celebrating a players career to taking more shots at the club. All class.

Hell no

FFS Farewell game for Crossy and possibly Russian, time for respect not making a silly statement. First 10 mins of the second quarter was the issue last week not the first, effort was there in the first just not the execution of the plan

Clearly he is highly valued by the Club. http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2015-09-02/roos-hopeful-cross-will-take-on-new-role Extract: Cross has been offered a position as development and rehab coach and Roos said the 32-year-old would be a great acquisition to the football department. “He’s got a sports science background and he’s done some study in that area and that’s his passion. But we’d like to talk about a role that helps him involved in the development of players and running with them,” he said on Roos’ Views. “If he wants to play [for Casey in the VFL], then that’s probably another conversation as well, so we’re just starting the conversation of what he might want to do. “The first part of it is that he was very keen to play [on] and it’s just getting over the disappointment of his career ending. He had an idea that that was going to happen, but it still comes as a bit of a shock.” Its a shame that it came as a shock to Crossy. Looks like there is a Shannon Byrnes role for him. Hope he takes it. He will be very good for the young guys and good off-field support for Nat Jones.

I went back and listened to the SEN recording and to some extent 'Members Wing' is correct but it needs to be put in full context of the discussion:- The Ox asked Petroro: whether they are negotiating with Melbourne to get a long extension or a multi year contract...for Jesse? Petroro's (not quite verbatim) response was: ...we will sit down over the summer and start a discussion...Jesse is really happy in Melbourne...when the time is right both parties will sit down and start to look towards Jesse's future...but he is obviously a huge part of Melbourne's future. So in the context of the question, the response to me meant the next contract will keep Jesse with us 'for a long time to come' but to be fair Petroro didn't use those words. You can form your own view at the 12 min mark: http://www.sen.com.au/programs/the-run-home There seemed little doubt that there will be a contract extension negotiated over the summer. Jesse is contracted till 2017 so even a 'short' extension eg 3 years will keep Jesse a Demon till 2020. That's a long time to me and I would be very happy with that sort of contract extension.

He was just on SEN. Gee whiz some of you are melodramatic. Seemed like his mind was still in it but ultimately his body was slowing down. It was clearly a mutual decision. I think they both knew his time was up.

Quite different. Saying he is a big part of the future could mean anything really... 'the future' is contained within his current contract. Saying that he will be at the club for a long time to come is another thing altogether and insinuates that he'll be signing a long term contract. Anyway, Paul said to look for the positives, so I'm taking this to mean he'll be signing a 7 year extension.

He had a couple of great games this year (notably our wins against the Dogs and Pies) but he was exploited by opposition pace far too often. As much as I loved him the last couple of years it's the right call by the club, his time had come. Hopefully whoever fills his spot does it with as much heart and effort as Cross showed throughout his career.

He is having way more fun than us.

I'm interested in us getting better. Redden would make us better. He can turn it over but usually pretty reliable by foot. He's a very solid player. I was hoping one of Newton, Riley or Michie would make it. I don't believe they will. Redden is a massive upgrade on them. I think a change of scenery would freshen him up too. He's a B/B+ midfielder. Similar to Jones leading into his three B & F years. I want pace, contested ball winning ability and elite kicking as key criteria for future mids but that's a very tough thing to find. It's even harder to find if you're us. We need to be realistic about where we're at. Redden is the type of trade that would make us better. We've got to draft A graders and trade for B graders until we become a potential top 4 team and then we might be able to pinch an established star looking for a premiership. Jones, Vince, Tyson, Viney, Brayshaw, vandenBerg and Redden is a good start with genuine hope in Petracca, Stretch and Neal-Bullen. That's 10 midfielders plus Kent, Salem and Watts. Add an emerging A grade ruck in Gawn and we're getting there. It's still the midfield isn't it?

If only I had listened to my father all those years ago. He told me in 1959 that following Melbourne would just be a vale of tears. But I called him an old fool......said that we were a superpower ...that we would go on forever.....forever...! Now..what's left...just a big pile of scarfs....and they're still giving us new ones! Now I know it's all my fault....all of us....the coach has spoken.....our saviour.....Paul Roos , who art in heaven give us this day our daily excuse and forgive us our negativity as we forgive those who trespass and receive the full $5000 fine. Lead us not into sarcasm for thine is the kingdom the power and the glory of the mighty demons forever and ever............

The first time I was harrassed for being a 'Mexican' was in Port Headland way back in '96. I just told this bloke to not be so concerned and that I was only here to take his job and shag his wife.

Hollow? I don't care if we had to beat the Western Sydney Under 12 Irish Dancing team if that is the only way to break the Ethiad hoodoo.

Thats a stupid idea.

They put these together ages out from the end of season. The bigger stuff-up was Griffen and Cooney on the cover of the Dogs calendar for this year.

Never saw this bloke shirk an issue. Always played till the siren went. Knew his stuff and loved the contest. Be a name that would be well remembered in any team photo. Really humble speech; a man's speech

As mentioned by others, this is very much a 'mixed emotions' decision. Professionalism, dedication, and commitment personified. If you could bottle what Crossy displayed week after week, you would make a fortune. Altho his time in red & blue was only 2 seasons long, I won't forget: 1. Generally, his judgement and courage in 'filling the hole' and taking intercept marks regardless of what was coming at him; and; 2. Specifically, his Herculean effort (after being burnt by Zacharakis for 2 late goals last year against Essendon), to somehow manage to 'go again' in the dying moments and execute a centimetre perfect pass to Christian Salem who coolly/calmly slotted the winner. Heartfelt thanks for your contribution.

Jones is a B grader with one A grade year. A player needs multiple A grade years to be considered genuinely A grade. Well they do in my book. Redden is also a B grader. I'll let you worry over the degrees of difference. Btw, it wasn't overly difficult to win a B&F at Melbourne these last few years. Do you need reminding that Matt Jones and Terlich have come top 5 ?

The Bulldogs supporters were equally gutted 2 years ago in losing Crossy. Probably more so. Ultimate professional who gets the best out of himself. I find this one a poor decision on face value of what he offers to the Mfc, not just off field - but on it! I can't explain the clubs decision. Cross sets an example, just as his speech to the players, indicates. Hard working, humble, even when told his time has 'come around, full circle.' Cheers, Crossy. Thanks for your professionalism.

He'll be even better when the player he taps it to is a team mate

Daniel Cross 33 when next season starts. Jimmy Toumpas 22. Cross had 39 touches as a loose man in the backline, most of which were after the game was already won and he had been caught with the ball multiple times. Are you a footy watcher or stats watcher? Was a decent game, but he has gotten slower as the year has gone on.

Congratulations Crossy on a wonderful career, and thank you for your contribution over the past two years. If there were 20 other players on the teamsheet each week who worked as hard as you and Nathan Jones do to get the best out of themselves, we wouldn't be in our current predicament. I wish you all the best for your future. Sadly, though, the game has passed you by and your lack of leg speed and dubious disposal have become a liability. Whilst some will look at possession stats and suggest that you were worthy of a new contract, the reality is that teams pay you no respect because they know you won't hurt them with ball in hand. Therefore you are allowed to pay loose in defence racking up the touches, whilst your opponent causes more damage with half the touches elsewhere. I said at the start of the year that if you were in our best 22 by season's end, it would be a fair sign that we had failed to progress as a club. Here we are six months later and you will probably finish top 5 in the B&F again, and the side is still uncompetitive most weeks. Once again, the onus is on our young midfielders to step over the pre season and become quality AFL players. If that doesn't happen, so help us Tom Cruise.

Lets not overlook the fact that he now comes onto the coaching staff and will still have a role at the club but not onfield. Well done Crossy and thank you for your fantastic contribution to our club

As for Crossy. Right time, glad the club did it. I have no doubt he's been a pretty inspiring leader to have had over the past two years and I'm sure many of his professional footballing and training habits have rubbed off on some of our younger guys. Played with the intensity and heart that you'd hope every player would display every week. Was always a liability with ball in hand and his pace is now gone. Absolutely the right call. No need to [censored] a half dead-horse. Even if that horse had a heart as big as Phar lap. Congratulations on a monumental career Daniel Cross. You've been huge.

Really quite disappointed that we didn't give him another year. He has been great for our club, and his contribution on the field and off it has been invaluable. I hope he sticks around in a coaching role, if he wants to. Big shoes to fill. Thanks for everything Crossy, it's been a pleasure having you in red & blue!

If Watts and Dunn have stayed this far - they won't willingly leave now I wouldn't think.

One thing I am certain about Toump is that he gives 100% to try and be the best he can be. By now we know that he'll never be Ollie Wines but we have to move on and while he's giving 100% effort, get behind the kid, encourage him, no bronx cheers, and help him be the best he can be.

I cant believe the positivity about this if its true. The club has already held on to him too long and he should have been traded when there was still some doubt in the wider footy about whether he'll make it. he was drafted as an outside mid but he has no pace, was recruited for his elite disposal but he panics under pressure, has not even a concept of defensive efforts or making your opponent accountable and spent the last few months struggling at vfl level. Typical mfc - hold on to them until everyone is 100% certain that they cant play. this is cale all over again and i will be proven right

Or any of the other veteran cats about to be shunted

Demonland these days:

and then ask Hogan, Brayshaw, Salem, Gawn and others who have formed bonds with Jamar for their loyalty in return the treatment of Junior, Green and Miller did wonders for developing our culture

But Masten was crap for years ? Even in their superior development program. Clearly some players take longer. I'm in the "recruiting was crap/development was crap" camp when it comes to the MFC. It's not an either-or.