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While on holiday in Germany guess who my fiancee and I ran into yesterday, yes Jake Melksham along with Michael Hibberd. Initially running into Hibberd I had a very very brief conversion with him. A minute or two later and around the corner waiting for him was Jake. So straight out I asked "Are the rumours true mate, will you be at the Dees next year?" A little coy and thrown off he replied "it's highly likely". I responded "well i'm a Dees supported" and the conversation turned to his and our trip with him relaxing quickly. Overall we spoke to him for about 5 - 10 minutes and he was a very nice bloke. He didn't have to stand there and chat but he wanted to once we found that commom ground on travel. He asked us many questions as we did to him and shared the usual travel stories and experiences. Aside from the start we didn't talk any footy and I didn't want to push it, I got the impression that was the last thing he and Michael wanted to discuss and righfully so as I'm the same with my line of work atm while on holiday. Overall I think he'll enjoy a fresh start, and after that conversation welcome aboard I say and I hope he flourishes. Cheers!

Not sure how much help I am going to be this year. The Board Member who was giving me the inside word pre-mid last season (Roos to coach etc) is now an x Board Member........ and for some reason, can't imagine why, my friend from the football department who I regularly have beers with, no longer talks shop with me. Maybe I have blown my cover. Not withstanding I have done my best work, extracted my best info, at the Grand Final in previous years. Alcohol loosens lips big time. Lets wait and see.

my memory is a bit different sure johnstone was a superb kick of the ball but i also remember plenty of kicking clangers like steviej he would often try to do too much with some of his kicks

My God you are painful

He's got a bung leg...Freo would be lucky to get a third rounder for him.

Kicked one against the Saints to put us in front with a minute and a half to go.

The Demonlanders who have immediately rejected the idea of drafting Melksham should consider how many players who got a game for us this year would be completely incapable of kicking some of those goals: eg 60m out, or off the non-preferred from 50. His more recent form means we shouldn't pay a lot for him, but if we get to point where this bloke is a depth player (rather than guys like Bail/McKenzie/M Jones/Riley etc) it will be a sign we are a MUCH better side.

After all the pages on DL devoted to 'we should have taken Wines over Toumpas' and Port end up with both of them... ...ha ha...the ultimate irony!! Only at Melbourne!

Considering the outstanding recruiting in the last 2 seasons since Roos & co took over I trust that Melksham will be a wonderful recruit. Roos has a long, strong record of rejuvenating players. He knows what he is doing. Personally I am excited about the prospect.

AFL rules out priority picks for Lions, Blues Poor things...

Spoke to Col recently at a Dees game and I highly doubt this.

Great to have you back GNF. Don't let the haters dissuade you from posting trade rumours or personal musings.

Watts was terrific as third man up this season. But of course he's not going to work as a a back up ruckman. One thing that the club will consider, even if many fans don't, is the age profile of the club. If we trade Watts, Jones, Terlich and Howe in addition to the older players we have already axed we will have will have a whole bunch of players 18-22, some 22-24 and SFA 25 and over. That does not work which means that if they trade Watts and Howe it will have to be for a player with a similar age profile not a draft pick. Look at the caning Melksham is getting on here. What mid twenties player that might be swapped for those two is going to have DL jumping up and down for joy?

Dissociative identity disorder or just bat-[censored] crazy? Whichever way, you're truly one of a kind.

Im actually surprised 4 years is at all necessary...to get him to change clubs. Youd have thought anyone who had enough of that environment would jump at any half way reasonable offer. 4 years seems excessive ...to me.

He kicked a decent goal from the boundary line against GWS when it was required so what you're saying is a gross generalisation, not to mention, rubbish.

Ive been super impressed with how MFC has gone about things but this trade truly flies in the face of logic. It's not about Milkshake's value / ability. It's about his pending banning. I just don't get it.

The Demonland members who have been around a while may feel that this exercise has been done before.

Fremantle were keeping him fresh for the finals.

I'd rather give Toumpas a bit more time. With Butcher you know what your getting, baked potato.

Fair enough. I wouldn't have thought him being an option for membership cards will have any bearing on whether or not he will be traded. If we get a strong offer once the trade period kicks off, I don't think we would hesitate to pull the trigger - just my opinion of course. Thanks for the information though

I dont get it. The whole "he is better than Jones, Terlich etc" is utter crap. They are either out the door or will be playing for Casey for the remainder of their contracts. We are getting RID of these types of players and we bring in a guy that has been in and out of arguably Essendons weakest team for years. Enough of these fringe depth players. We simply cant afford to have them any longer. Goodwin has to get some benefit of the doubt, but its a baffling call to say the least.

I wish we could just find out one way or the other. If I have to face the reality of cheering for Jake Melksham, I want to prepare myself. That will take time. Possibly some practice.

I'm still not convinced that Melksham is the player we need, but it's not up to me. The two things that really bug me about this are: 1. 4 year deals for average players are not good practice. By all means, give Hogan a 10 year contract, and the rest of your top 10 players 4-5 year deals, but we need to stop handing out long term deals to everyone else. Dawes, Lumumba, Jamar, McKenzie - the list of poor decisions is becoming rather long, and that does not include the inappropriate shorter deals given to Barry, Evans and Terlich. 2. Why make commitments to players, particularly average players, before the trade period begins? We have no idea who might become available once proper negotiations commence, and I would hate to think we might miss out on a quality midfielder because we have given up our 2nd round pick to get Melksham.

Have to agree. Did anyone see what Ted Richards was like before he went to Sydney? Ugh.

Given WADA repercussions are hanging over this trade a second round pick shouldn't be mentioned. There is some quality kids around that mark.

don't you get the felling that the longer term heads are being moved closer to the door? all of them, apart from those few who aren't as infected by the old culture.

That's a great movie.

So by your reasoning we should trade Gartlett (some terrible misses for goal) and some bad fumbles. All of our players made mistakes through the year and if we got rid of them we wouldn't have a side. The only reason for the hate on here is that he was testing the market as all players do when their contract runs out. I thought Howe took some great contested marks in both the forward line and down back not "species" but strong marks in packs I also thought that he wasn't the worst player that played this year and the footy dept must have agreed as he has played every game for the past two years when others have been dropped or overlooked. I hope he stays. The grass isn't always greener.

Give it a [censored] rest...

Would it be reasonable to assume the club lost interest in retaining Jeremy after he put off contract talks and shopped himself around? Roos was pretty clear about only wanting genuine, dedicated competitors with a thirst to improve the MFC in 2016.

I wouldn't even put Watts in the same category as Johnstone in terms of elite disposers of the ball. Watts can actually be hit and miss at times where Trapper was simply sublime. He could run down the wing 4 or 5 bounces and drill a low pin point 50m kick on the chest of David Neitz. Johnstone along with Jurrah is the most naturally gifted footballer i have ever seen during my time supporting this club.

I think the asada issue is probably being overplayed here a bit. But the potential recruitment is just so meh. We should be aiming to recruit players who will be long term members of the 22, not who will be fringe initially and hopefully Casey regulars by halfway through a contract. Four years is ridiculous btw. There are seriously good players at all clubs who aren't offered 4 year contracts. We don't need this guy anywhere near that badly and by 2017 we will be asking the Matt Jones and Dean Terlich questions all over again.

We rate Goodwin. Goodwin rates Melksham. Melksham wants to be here. Let's hope the form of 2013 prior to the investigation is a more appropriate gauge of his abilities. Like Bugg, he's competitive, hard running and can hit targets.

One gets the distinct feeling that Melbourne are trying to move Howe on.

And? We might have been a mess a while back, but not anymore. We're very secure off the field, our coaching team is well entrenched and we are looking positive going forward. Plus we don't have WADA hanging over our heads. No need to be negative for negative's sake.

Surprised by the negativity coming from BB. I agree with Dazzle, was a very good interview. Seemed far less tentative than his earlier ones. Good to see him looking more comfortable in the red and blue now and sounded honest in the way he's pumping up the talent and culture at the club. Obviously hope to see more from him on the field next year, but if he was playing with two busted ankles this year then it seems a given. Having had two ankle surgeries this year, they proper [censored] you up.

Not sure Watts and Johnstone should be uttered in the same sentence as Melksham when it comes to disposal. Both elite disposers of the ball. Melksham is not. As for Vince having 3 a game, that's because he averages about 5-10 more disposals a game than Melksham and therefore more likely to make a mistake. If Melksham is in the door I'll back the FD, but I'm not expecting much. Every time I've ever watched him he's butchered the ball. I hope getting him in the red and blue changes things.

If I was GWS there's zero chance I'd trade McCarthy. He has 2 years to go on a contract and sometimes you have to set standards as a footy club.

Very happy to recruit Ziebell as well.

Ok, I guess at this point, any negative supporter opinions are worthless, so, with that in mind.......... Jake, thanks for choosing to accept the offer to play for the club that I support and love. I hope you can bring a determination to apply yourself to play at 100%, for 100% of game time, in 100% of the games we play. We are in desperate need of this application on our list. Once a trade is done, you are a Demon, for good or bad. Please, please help our team become a good one. faulty

You are definitely right that we can mount a better argument now, than we could back in the Bailey/Neeld apocalypse - BUT the question is still 'us vs our competitors' withe regard to attracting coaches and players I'm not being contrary for the sake of it, it just feels like you are claiming some sort of resurgence has already happened on the back of a 7 win season and Jesse Hogan I on the other hand still have a very uneasy feeling about what went on from rounds 13-22 this year, and the fact we really have no idea if Goodwin is another Neeld or not

Get the tissues out boys and girls. Welcome to the club, Jake. Let's hope you can recapture that 2013 form.

Said one of the half backs, would actually prefer Maynard long term. A really good kick and we can't get enough of these. ...and if you don't ask you don't get. Ask for the ungettable and get the one you really want.

There is a little bit of that, but I also think the club is no budging on it's valuation on him with the contract on the table. We know going forward how important the cap room is and, while I'm sure the club are happy for him to stay, he isn't a player we won't compromise the salary cap for.

(Re)interrupting this thread to apologise to Faulty and Ethan, and any others, for my cryptic, punctuationless post (24 Sept). Yes, Aberlour is a 'Highlands' single malt, from Aberlour on the River Spey, due north of Edinburgh / due east of Inverness and, yes, I (generally!) reserve it for wins. Hence "lookout 2016!" (positive, positive, positive...) Resume normal transmission.

Robbo is a pathetic excuse for a journalist. I thought his reputation on her was ill-deserved until I watched him interview Hogan.

Robbo asked Roos "Have you offered Dangerfield $X amount over X years?" Roos replied with "I haven't no" Buckley laughed and said "Ask a broader question" as in you asked if ROOS has offered in which he said he personally hasn't so Buckley was getting Robbo to ask a broader question as in "Has Melbourne offered him a contract"

Derr! It's a given, everyone looks good in a Melbourne jumper!

Fark Witts