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Melksham for 25 is a fair deal. He's a relatively young, talented player who has played over 100 games of footy, so Essendon have already done all the donkey work for us. He is also a much more talented player than your average AFL footballer, and could fill a very good role for us in an area that we have been poor in for a number of years (providing line breaking run from half back). When I think about his recruitment I keep thinking about Rhyce Shaw. Shaw was an inconsistent wingman who was always in and out of the VFL. He was traded for a 3rd round pick to Sydney, who gave him a specific role in defence to use his run. At the time everyone was laughing at Sydney for trading for Shaw, since he was always derided by Collingwood supporters. Shaw took this simplified role, along with his added experience, and played nearly 150 more games with Sydney, including finishing 2nd in the B&F twice. Melksham has talent and speed, and has been underperforming for the last two years at a basketcase of a club. I don't think it's unreasonable to expect that a move to a better club, along with a simplified role across half back, would see Melksham become an important member of a good team. Certainly there is a better chance of him doing it than pick 25 (or whatever it becomes). You certainly couldn't pick up a player with his talent in this draft with pick 25.

I like the idea of McCartney working with Lennon again.

The hatred for Howe on here is putrid and really sick. Get a grip people, he is a footballer who is clearly being pushed out of his club and he is looking for a another club and contract to secure his short term future. Why would players want to come to a club, whose supporters behave like this, to a player who has played 100 games for them.

We really need a 'WTF' button... I would call it The 'dee-luded' Button.

I was engaged to a girl who died suddenly. I married another girl 3 years later. Harsh? Nope. I loved the first one more than I ever did or ever can love a girl; I worshipped the ground that she walked on and if you told me to this day that she was less than perfect then I'd spit in one eye and punch you in the other. Sam Stynes, Trisha Broadbridge, Glen McGrath... I always cringe a little when someone suggests that they moved on a little too fast (not suggesting that is what being said here btw). I think it is that you move forward, not on. The grief never lessens. I still cry about her loss 15 years later, and am trying hard not to right now, but we are creatures that need a mate, a lover, a friend. It's no disrespect to do that to a lost one and you know in your hear that the one you lost want it for you, and if things were reversed you'd want it for them. At least that is where my head is at.

Stupid clubs with their stupid wins and their stupid success I hate all other clubs

Usually by this point in October my bush telegraph is smouldering. But there's bugger all out there this year. This is only a gut feel, but I sense something clandestine happening. The Hamish Hartlett example shows where Melbourne are at. I heard that weeks before and was sworn to secrecy. We unearthed the chance of him walking, but when other clubs picked up on it was a feeding frenzy until Port ended it with 6 years. Reckon we've got the cards stapled to the chest, lest the more attractive clubs roll in and bury us. Bit to play out yet.

Get it happening. If reports are true of the Tiges wanting Grimes then throw in a pick with him and we'll take Lennon. Grimes and a 3rd rounder for Lennon? I think we need to keep building on this 'core' young group who will be the ones driving the club in a few years. Salem Viney Brayshaw Petracca Hogan Tyson 'The Core' All really highly talented and competitive kids at a similar age.. The driving force. Players like Melksham, Bugg and Kennedy obviously help by adding depth and providing immediate relief and protection for some of the other kids we have coming through. We'll also need a couple more experienced heads like Cross over the next year or two. But the most important thing for us at the moment is to keep adding to this group. Lennon fits the bill. Skilled, competitive and at a similar age.

On the run from who???

Who gives a [censored] who he chooses. He ain't a FA

You forget one critical issue here

Well, considering that the deal hasn't been done yet and the vague language of a 'second round pick' - perhaps we are trying to secure another 2nd round pick to give for Melksham.

Yeah, I think we need to cool down with the rhetoric; I don't think the club is trying very hard to keep him - we want to improve the team and he has currency and may not be in the team in 2016. We have played this perfectly so far, IMO, so well that some of you think this is Howe 'betraying' the club...

I'll stomach Melksham, but genuinely don't want this bloke.

I get and understand that free agency was voted in by the players through the players association. But from an external stand point I pose the question. What is the point of free agency? In the players eyes, free agency allows movement and freedom in joining their desired club of choice after serving a number of years at the club. Fair enough. However, it seems like players these days even in and out of contract hold majority of the power in determining where they actually go and who they want to be traded to. Players and their managers being at their respective club for as little as two years can just up and say 'X player has requested a trade and wants to play for X club' and more likely than not, that player lands at the club he has nominated to go to. Which brings me back to my initial question. What is the point of free agency, when players can simply request a trade to whichever club they want to go to? To me, free agency just makes things a lot more difficult in determining compensation, holding up proceedings if a team has matched a restricted free agent offer, powerhouse clubs simply injecting top end talent and not having to give up anything for it etc. I just don't understand the need for it when players are ending up at clubs they want to play for anyway in OR out of contract..

We will get Parish for sure. Absolute gun/jet apparently. My mate who works for the Falcons has said he has seen Goodwin in the rooms already at several games watching Parish specifically.

Howe isn't a free agent. Melbourne shouldn't care what he wants. He wants out and we want the best deal. If he's not happy, he can go into the draft. Sick of selfish players getting their way. He has done SFA in football. The nerve. We should have our best interests at heart. And only our best interests.

So we give away Howe to move up 3 places in the draft? Dumb deal for us.

That's true that you can only trade what you have. With so many speculative permutations and possibilities it's truly mind boggling what will come to fruition. Interesting that North are interested in Howe. And I'm interested to see what their offer may be and whether it trumps GC/Coll. Surely pick 15 is being offered by North, if they're to trump Collingwood and GC. It wouldn't be the Pies current first pick and if the Pies are after Aish and Treloar, I can't see them involved even if they are offering up Kennedy. How about our pick 25 or even better a compo pick for say Toumpas ? (to Port for 29) and Howe for pick 15 return? Where we could obtain Melksham with 29, keep 25, and have remaining 6, 15. Maybe Kennedy or Bugg for 3rd rounder (not sure if we could get both) and if we're somehow in the ball park where GWS are holding strong on the right deal for Treloar - offer them what they want 6 & 15 (2 x first rounders). Surely that trumps the Pies?? Holding onto 25 for our first pick. IN: Treloar, Melksham, Bugg, (maybe Kennedy....PSD??) OUT: Toumpas, Howe Long shot, but from hearing Gubby this morning, GWS are looking for a better deal, other than Collingwood. edit: Did I just say that all out loud...

Today cost me a lot in data for absolutely nothing. Need to try and tune out...

I don't think it is for supporters with little to zero knowledge on the WADA investigation to worry about. Everyone writing about their concerns on the issue I ask you one question, do you really think the club hasn't looked into this in detail? Both from a legal stand point and a football one. All I'm worried about is the player we are receiving and I feel it is a good move, a speculative pick for a player who has already played some good football with room to also improve.

Howe to Gold Coast for Pick 19 Pick 19 to GWS for Bugg & Pick 27 Pick 27 to Essendonfor Melksham Howe gets us Bugg & Melksham. Win for me!

That settles it. Howe and Pick 6 to Hawthorn, in exchange for Pick 18.

JKH is not fast.

Lots of clubs are known for dragging deals on, because some clubs don't want to give an inch and would like to get something in return. GWS want something big for Treloar, is that Collingwood's fault? Essendon want pick 5 from StKilda. There's a few dominoes to fall first to allow other trades to get through. The old 'Not dealing with the Pies attitude' won't serve you well. Many didn't want a bar of GWS after the Scully & Phil saga, but the Dees dealt with them for Tyson and secured Hogan through the mini-draft.

Brilliantly evaluated.

Hey !!!!!!

Is that what they call a Back Dawe deal ?

This is the first time I've posted in this thread. I hope the content below is appropriate - given from what I've read on this page alone it looks as though a few can do with a chuckle. Read this today by a poet from Vic who is a long time Eagles follower. TRADE IS POETIC KARMA by Josh Vinecombe I'd like to reflect as an Eagle, On Carlton's trade for Judd, The one involving Kennedy, When the PM was Kevin Rudd. With Kreuzer, Gibbs and Murphy, And the cash of Richard Pratt, Carlton's hopes were growing, While ours was dashed with that The trade of the century, Our Captain and Number 3 For an unproven forward, In the shape of Kennedy. Which club would be the winner Only finals tell the score. Now it's eight years later We know who won for sure In the year that Judd retires, The Eagles are Number 2 Kennedy wins the Coleman And the Wooden Spoon is Blue

How's my sauce look now Dazzle ??? Not everyone on here is full of hot air

Best of the luck to a wonderful woman

Howe met with Buckley in Bali today and wants to play for the Pies.

Pass the joint please

Those skill tests are pointless time/media fillers. The recruiters already have all the information they need about their skills after watching them play for 2 years. Athletic results are more difficult to get a hold of, which is why the camp exists.

End of day 2 and nothing has happened! Saw this in the Age: "Zero Hanger understands that St Kilda was looking at recruiting Brisbane defenderJordon Bourke before Jake Carlisle became available and it is entirely possible they will revert back to that plan if they cannot achieve a worthwhile trade with Essendon, who stand to lose their star key position player for nothing". Would love to see this happen...then that Dodo at Ess will rue the day he decided to be such a pain in the backside. Double this perverse delight if Dodo holds up our trade for Melksham and we take our money elsewhere!!

What are you talking about Barney, the WADA thing has been mentioned since page 1 and discussed in depth. Talking about the Melksham thread, not this one.

Isn't it ironic that the media report that the AFL have turned trade period into such a hyped up show, whereas in actual fact, it's root cause is probably found more at the fingertips of forum posters. Hacks like Barrett and co plagiarise and sensationalise it a little and fuel the big dirty trade period monster.

Player movement with the option of using a transparent, consistent trade arbitration system would clean up an awful lot of the mess. Of course, at the moment it is very hard to advocate for anything centrally administered given the current governance culture of the AFL. Basic principles - Players should be allowed to leave a club; they are not the property of a club just because they were drafted. Clubs losing players should get 'draft/list value' equivalent compensation to allow them to balance players lost with replacements. Clubs gaining players must be made to pay a 'draft/list value' cost to prevent the creation of a super-incentive to recruit from other clubs rather than drafting kids. The only really tricky part is how to set the 'cost' of a transfer. Clearly, it is insufficient to just say salary = value. * One option is to add a premium based on the destination club's football department expenditure. Remembering that the rich-poor club gap in footy dept budgets can exceed $100k per player. * Another modifier which might be used is the number of recent draftees at a club; committing every club to having an investment in developing new AFL talent. If you're not developing new talent then you pay an additional premium to bring it in from somewhere else. This would implicitly and gently increase free agency costs for teams which already have a large group of mature players, while also easing the costs for teams going through a draft-based rebuild. It is a direct counter to the 'feeder-club' concerns of free agency. * Retention should be rewarded, for both player and club. Its good for the game and the fans to be able to build enduring connections and confidence. The old veterans list structure was a bit clunky and arbitrary, but an incremental salary cap bonus rewarding players for career service with a club would be a nice small incentive. Maybe for every year beyond eight that a player is with a club, 5% of their salary is exempt from salary cap. Drafted at 18, by the time you're 30/31 a quarter of your salary is a free bonus for club and player. This both encourages retention AND extends careers. Good for everyone!

If anyone thinks that Grimes for Lennon would be accepted by Richmond or that these Beatles puns are funny, they did too many drugs in the 60s

What about the following: Melbourne Give: 2015 and 2016 1st round picks GWS Give: Treloar, Bugg and 2015 2nd round pick

All opinions point to the fact that the draft is indeed a lottery as some have pointed out. Melksham will thrive in our (new) environment in my opinion. Not many players in the whole league who have some of the skills this kid has. And as far as my 'Collingwood supporting mate said this' and my 'Essendon supporting mate said this......' Really have a good think about that before affixing any relevance at all please.... This reminds me of the Frost trade for a second rounder where people got their knickers in a knot. Obviously there was a method involved and the result was Frost, ANB and Oscar Mc for the one pick. Good deal I reckon. Not to mention extra picks giving us the ability to delist more if they see fit. I think I'll trust our FD on this one.

The main problem with trading is that players have a veto and the players want the opportunity to veto a deal so that they don't end up in a different state to where their life is set up. In the US - players of all major codes live elsewhere to where they play, but that is not the case here. Your solution doesn't really allow for them the freedom to choose where they live - which is the base requirement that they feel they deserve. Getting them out of that mindset will fix your scenario but it will largely address the issue of the current scenario. My changes: - UFA after 7 years of AFL footy (on any list, it doesn't restart with a new club), - Every contract after that the player is UFA, - FA compensation remains for players paid a certain amount (Top 10% in AFL) - 2 bands - one behind 1st round pick (Top 5%, 2nd behind 1st round 5-10%) - Traded players can re-negotiate their contract or simply allow their current one to be left in place, - Players can not veto trades, - Player taken in top 10 are given 3 year contracts with a 1 year team option, Players in 10-30 are given 2 year contracts with a 1 year team option, - Draft age to be lifted to 1 full year out of Year 12, The green changes are the ones I would give to the players to get them to swallow the red. I really don't think current players care about the draft age and contracts given to draftees. Give me two weeks in charge...

Gubby Allen is a well known arrogant [censored].

Not sure if anyone is listening to trade radio right now, but this list manager bloke from GWS sounds like an arrogant [censored].

CB is right. Free Agenecy is a mechanism that only works if clubs own the contract in between and can trade players without their approval. At the moment the players can veto everything then leave when they want, which hamstrings clubs.

Nothing wrong with free agency, the issue is contracted players choosing where they go and clubs having to get permission in order to trade a player.

Yes he will.

So odd, it is just absolutely none of anybody else's business. Why do people have such a sense of ownership about this kind of thing?

Footy people?

I thought Slobbo, for once, summed up the Howe situation quite well today: "Jeremy Howe asked for a trade from Melbourne on Monday. He wants somewhere about $500,000 and the Demons basically said you bugger off. For a guy who can mark the ball and, as yet, do none of the other fundamentals very well, it points to a huge salary and a huge ego for a player whos living on taking a speccie every second week."