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Well done Bernie Vince - a thoroughly deserved win. It's been a long time since we've had a "run with" player who is an offensive weapon unto his own - in fact, I can't think of one ever. At his best he's a ball accumulating beast - the only thing that differentiates him from the top class of midfielders in the competition is the ability to do it every week of the year I think. He definitely went up a gear and rediscovered the form that allowed him to win a B&F at Adelaide. I reckon the story of the night is Jack Viney though. It wasn't until I stopped and thought about it after the last match that at no stage did he really have a form slump throughout the year. Jones and Vince are ahead of him in the pure class stage, but no player delivered at a consistent level every week more than Viney. You'd think at 21 he's still got absolutely stacks of improvement left in him, too. I can't believe he came so close to pinching it after missing such a large chunk of the season with injury. An absolutely fantastic effort and a good reward for a good season.

Just putting out some love for jack. His breakout year has somewhat gone under the radar given hogan and other youngsters coming up but he was unbelievable this year and it's been highlighted now with almost winning the BnF off 16 games! He hasn't even played 50 games yet! We have an absolute beauty here and I believe he will lead us to success. Some stats: No 1 average tackles. 6.6 - next highest vince with 4.8 No 1 ave contested possessions. 12.1 - next highest vince 10.2 No 1 ave clearances 5.6. - next vince 5.2 No 1 ave centre clearances 2.4. Next jones 1.5 Another preseason and a full 22+ games next year and watch out! I'm confident he will become a genuine A grader. With confidence his disposal will continue to improve.

I think it's pretty easy to forget how good Jack Trengove is, him getting back to full form would be like adding another Brayshaw. would be huge if he can get himself right.

The 4 year deal is around 300 - 385k a year. He will be on same at the Bombers minus two years. It's more the extra two years for security he is waying up. We are offering a 3rd round pick,Essendon will play hardball and wan't 2nd round. Watch this space.

And yet replacing Watts with someone like Melksham seems like pointless deck chair shuffling. Happy for Watts to stay or go but let's be sure we're improving the list.

Best trade period ever. Anything else now is a bonus.

Melbourne FC ✔ @melbournefc Vince: I can't thank the playing group enough for the way they've welcomed me in, they're like brothers. #bluey2015 Melbourne FC ✔ @melbournefc Vince: I see myself now as a Melbourne Football Club player for life. #bluey2015 I think Bernie really loves the Dees!

22? Thought he was in his 40s.

Would keep Watts ahead of that ASADA poisoned Melksham potato any day of the week

I think Trengove is a perfect replacement for Crossy off half-back. He has the elite marking for a mid-sized player, plus a high footy IQ. He is perfect for the Beau Waters role.

Top 10 draft pick means there's clearly 'something' there. You've got to possess either some sort of talent, some elite attributes/traits to get you there. He's not potentially an upgrade on the list cloggers. He is a [censored] upgrade on them. How anyone can refute that I have no idea... His season in 2013 shits all over any 'best form' we've seen from Bail, McKenzie or Jones. It sounds much more to me like supporters gathering like vultures in an excitable way only to be talking about their own personal 'dislike' for him. From what I've been reading on this thread, it sounds as if posters don't want him because of this supposed '[censored] attitude' or 'hot-head' character that he is. Is that really a good basis for forming a view on whether or not a player like him could be at the very least an upgrade on our deplorable depth who we've had to hold onto for far too long? As for his personal attributes and qualities, again I'm sorry but I have to disagree with you. I see him as someone who is really competitive and has a flair of aggression at the ball and player, he is a really hard runner, he has an ability to hit the scoreboard. I agree he's not an elite kick but I see it as more of a decision making thing than anything else. Similar to Viney. If we're talking about his draft number I'd say that he possesses qualities that are much more important to the foundation of a side than qualities we've seen with our own past top 10 draft picks who haven't made it. Morton being one. No competitive edge, outside receiver, poor contested player, poor tackler, no elite kick etc. As for Garland, he's a 28 year old senior figure at our club who's fluctuation in form over the years has been painful to watch. Regardless of the bluey, (which is voted by members of the board), his position in the backline could be filled by someone who provides more than just a 'beat your man' philosophy. The backline is a major problem and I see Garland as someone who in this day and age of football, doesn't provide enough run, intensity, counter attacking play, foot or decision making skills to propel us forward. Melksham is a young midfielder who even if he was playing at Casey, would absolutely be an upgrade on having someone like Matt Jones as a depth midfielder. Do you genuinely believe we'd be better off having one of Jones, McKenzie or Bail as a replacement for an injured starting 22? C'mon.

A very good point 'Forest Demon'. Here is how the top 20 ranked on a average votes per game basis, their Bluey position, total votes, average votes: 1 2 Viney – 327 votes 20.4 2 4 Hogan – 286 votes 14.3 3 1 Vince – 328 votes 14.3 4 3 McDonald – 300 votes 13.6 5 5 Jones – 270 votes 12.3 6 15 Salem (113) 11.3 7 6 Cross (242 votes) 11.0 8 7 Garland (218 votes) 10.9 9 12 Gawn (134) 10.3 10 8 Garlett (216 votes) 9.8 11 32 McDonald (19) 9.5 12 13 Tyson (130) 8.7 13 11 Brayshaw (146) 7.0 14 9 Howe (151 votes) 6.9 15 26 Jamar (34) 6.8 16 10 Dunn (148 votes) 6.7 17 31 Fitzpatrick (20) 6.7 18 17 Jetta (102) 6.4 19 16 Lumumba (112) 5.9 20 23 Pedersen (39) 5.6 Source: B&F Votes, MFC website for # of games. This table points to player consistency throughout the year and consistency is something we crave. Viney totally smashes it with an average of 20.4 per game from a cluster of players around 11-14 votes per game. Amazing how well Salem did to come in 6th on this basis. What I like is that our top 10 is a good mix of experience and youth! A great core for our future!! The disappoints are our 'missing' leaders: Dawes, Grimes, Dunn 6.7 and Lumumba 5.9 a long way off the pace! An amazing performance by Jones polling so well with a neck injury all year. Cross and Jamar can go out with heads held high in the top 15 BTW It would be interesting to decipher approx how many BOG's say Viney may have etc Does anyone know how the voting system works? eg how many coaches allocate votes and how many per game. eg 3,2,1 like the umpires, 5,4,3,2,1, like coaches or something else? Really enjoyed the trophy winners comments. Sounds like a lot of bro love is developing among the team! EOE

A millionaire.

Melksham isn't/wasn't slow. There are knocks on him as a footballer, but he is a really good runner who moves very well. If we are going for him it will be because we think he is a better footballer than he has shown himself to be at Essendon. He has good attributes that would be help him be part for an AFL team, as he's quick, has good endurance, moves well and is versatile (and only 24). For a team that lacks run, these are attractive attributes. Remember how much people were laughing at Sydney for taking Rhyce Shaw? His background was very similar.

stevethemanjordan, you talk like you know it all, but that's a lot of text with very little actual substance. Comparing Melksham with the likes of Matt Jones, Bail and Terlich is a [censored] poor argument, in fact it just highlights the type of player Melksham is. Better than those 3, wow, what a game changer. Melksham is no good, hasn't been any good in his first 6 years and that won't change. Try aiming a bit higher.

Time for my weekly whine about whichever amateurs are running the MFC website Its almost 5 PM the day after the B and F and all the only media they have on there is the Daisy Pearce speech........ surely they are taking the [censored].

To anyone thinking about dredging up comments from the pre-season where posters predicted Jack would struggle to be best 22.... ... this is the place to do it

Is it really that hard for supporters to take an objective view and put aside this childish 'dislike' for him? Melksham is the same age as Trengove. Would you rather give him a list spot ahead of Matt Jones, Bail, McKenzie, Terlich? All of whom are older, were never rated as highly as him and we've seen how high their ceilings go? Give me a [censored] break. Giving a previous top 10 draft pick the opportunity to prove that he can play at a club who has had without out a doubt the most laughable stock of depth players within the AFL makes complete and absolute sense. Do you think our list managers and coaches sit there saying 'I hate Melksham, he's a dud so I'm not interested'?! Haha. What's the worst that could happen anyway?! We give him a two year deal and he doesn't make the grade?! Big [censored] whoop. He provides more than our depth players as is! And the potential gain is much higher than keeping Matt Jones for another two years! Jesus, it's really not that hard to see why we might be interested in giving him a chance.

I think what posters continually forget is that history suggests certain players respond really well to a change of clubs. As an example, never in my wildest dreams did I think Stefan Martin would become a really consistent and valuable AFL ruckman let alone last this long on an AFL list. It's clear he needed a change. The same can be said for many players. Jay Schulz from Richmond to Port. Kennedy from Hawthorn to Sydney. Conversely, I'm also aware that there a host of names who haven't 'come-on' even after changing clubs. But looking at the Melksham case, we're talking about a former number 10 draft pick. Clearly, he was rated. He actually possesses attributes that our list lacks. I can't understand why the same posters who vehemently defend the development of Jack Watts are happy to completely write off a player who has been similarly frustrating for supporters. Those saying that he's at the same level as Jones, McKenzie and Bail are kidding themselves. We are talking about a former number 10 draft pick who dominated a TAC grand final the year he was drafted and had a breakout AFL season in 2013. These are the kinds of players that the club need to continue to give chances to in the hope that we can steer them on the right path. We have arguably three of the best development people/coaches within the AFL. As I've previously said, of course he is not someone I'd be desperate to bring to the club, but if we could get him cheaply on a two year deal, I think it'd be a good move by the club.

There are plenty of other MFC players who have been no better than Watts who get far less heat here. Even if we leave aside the spiteful and mean spirited (of which there is more than a 'little'), the extraordinary level of heat repetitively focussed on Watts is effectively maligning him regardless of the factual basis of what is written. Doubtless it is because we all held such high hopes and have been disappointed. But many of us are sick of the relentless posts putting the boot into him - every second thread somehow ends up bringing Watts' poor performance into it. It even got into the discussion of last night's final with a couple of posters taking the opportunity to say Watts' would be a waste of space in such a high pressure final. Perhaps so, but most of us could think of a few other current players who would be the same.

Ever since Jack came to Melbourne as No1 pick there has been so..so...so many Jack Watts threads that it's not funny Some love him.....Some hate him....... Every thread has the same arguments for both sides. I like Jack and I want him to be the footballer that I think he can be. But I now believe in the footy dept that we have now.....So I will leave it up to them. I don't think I have seen such a malinened player in all my years of supporting this club.

What makes it even better is that Carlton is one of those clubs now "interested".

What a great night! The Hawks get smashed. Frawley plays a putrid game. Viney, McDonald & Hogan make top 5 in our B&F And most important, the article referencing us to the Melksham trade has been amended to another club!

Colin Garland haters- take note Well done to all the winners, especially Viney. Kid gives his all and has had a tremendous season despite his injury.

Nice to see Hawthorn have no salary cap

The booing of Goodes is Fing ridiculous.

If Melb were playing finals I wouldn't give a rats scrotum where we were playing tbh.

With all due respect, Steve, you've based the idea on getting him on the fact he is a previous top 10 pick (which all Melbourne supporters should know means nothing) and that he is, potentially, an 'upgrade' on the list cloggers who shouldn't be getting a game anyway. He is soft, his disposal isn't great and he's a plodder. Not the greatest mix on the planet. I hope our FD have their sights set on other players who will truly improve our depth. I do find it slightly ironic that, for a bloke who bags out someone like Garland, you're happy for us to pursue someone who is nothing more than soft, depth player, but one who may be banned from playing football in the near future. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

And we award the Tom Gillies "Rubbish Poster" award to you, picket. Congrats and enjoy your win!

Not in my book. As a fan, I reckon the coaches are 100% correct this year with their voting. You can speak for yourself, but not for all other fans.

The Garland result is the biggest surprise to me, he may do his job but his use of the ball has been costly this year.

Obviously Todd Viney read it, choked on his steak and called to get a retraction.

Mitch White with 16 votes after one game is impressive.

Melbourne FC ‏@melbournefc 34s35 seconds ago Roos announces that today was development coach Brad Miller's last day (he is moving to Sydney) and thanks him for his work. #bluey2015 Daniel Cross to take up his spot?

Fascinating.

Remember we were all debating whether the Dees should take Freeman or Salem? Good times

The sad fact is that Jack has not lived up to supporters high expectations of him. He is very talented when he has the ball in hand, but does not have the killer instinct to go in and get the hard ball, not really a chaser and not a significant tackler. He will work well with a team that can deliver the ball to him because he is a reasonably good mark and kick. He will probably play finals footy before his Melbourne team mates if he is traded. I wish him all the best whether he stays or goes as he has tried in his way, it is just not in is personal makeup to do the hard things.

Potentially his career tally of goals.

Viney fixed himself. It comes back to that 'competitiveness' thing - the willingness to improve yourself as a footballer - which keeps getting talked about among the younger players at the club. It'll become, hopefully, the nexus between these players in a successful Melbourne team for the years ahead. If Freeman ain't got it, he ain't got it. We can try but he's gotta help himself first. As for an offer, well, he's gotta nominate us first, otherwise I reckon our first-round pick will get involved in a complex deal, and I don't want that.

Gotta say, without sounding shallow and all, I always assumed he was a mature-age recruit. Some guys just don't get the genes.

Could've hid them both behind Hale's forehead.

Gus faded badly. He really should have been rested a couple of times through the year. By the end he was getting ten touches a game.

Wow awesome effort Jack Viney! Misses 6 games and nearly takes out the bluey.. Amazing effort. Leadership group next year beckons.

Jack Vatts.

Lol. He'll probably get to Hawthorn too. If so, this league is a joke and fast becoming the EPL.

Kali, I think you may be better off supporting the Pies - you like things Black and White.

Also, I'm sure Goodwin will have a pretty good idea about how much or little upside Melksham has.

Obviously Melksham is not the 'A-grade' midfield target we'd be hoping to land over the off-season, but as far as topping up the depth of our list goes, there are a number of things that appeal to me about him. Firstly, I rate him higher than a host of plodders we currently have, some of whom are about to be off-loaded. Those names include Bail, McKenzie, Matt Jones, Terlich, Riley. He possesses more attributes than all of those guys. He'd be a much better 'depth' replacement which we'll actually need considering injuries hit every list hard during most years and we all witnessed shallow our depth is. Secondly: As a former top 10 draft pick and with one consistent playing season in 2013 with a top 5 BnF finish, there is clearly something to work with. How many times have we as supporters seen players benefit from a new start at a different club? He fits the age bracket of games experience that we sorely miss. He sits at just above 100 games played. Thirdly: We have to remember that the development of our really young guys in Stretch, Neal-Bullen etc is extremely important and players like Melksham can provide good cover for a year or two while our young kids develop the right way at the lower level. MFC have a history of playing their young guys too early and a in a side that doesn't give them enough support. Id be happy to give a fairly experienced and relatively young AFL player in Melksham a chance at showcasing himself for two years as a means of giving further time and development to our younger guys. He's a hard runner, is tougher than some posts suggest and his skills are actually better than all of those names I mentioned in my first point. Of course I wouldn't want to move heaven and earth to land him and I'm also not sure what the wada/asada deal is with him etc but if he were a third or fourth midfielder we landed this year and didn't have to give up much for him, I'd be pretty stoked.