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The last ten pages on this thread feature some of the worst demonland posts i have ever read. The trade period isn't a race - the club that gets the most trades earliest doesn't win. Because rushing out and committing early may just ruin your chances of capitalising on opportunities that appear later on. To the guy posting the endless praises of Geelong for having an a+ grader fall in their lap and for trading in two b- graders in I would say this: the past does not automatically result in future chances being successful. Geelong traded in Mitch Clark and Sam Blease last year and jury out on one, fail on the other. When you have so many quality players leaving do you draft in replacements and hope you get it right or top up on b-graders and assume your unproven youngsters will automatically be as good as your departures? Sounds a lot like MFC post 2006 to me. Plenty can go wrong. To the I want an a grader criers I'd say Judd went to Carlton and they were still a poor side. Dayne Beams is at Brisbane and fighting off the spoon. We need to back in and develop our core of youngsters rather than rely on a saviour. As for Toumpas. I like him and his heart but I have watched him carefully and I'd be staggered if he makes it at AFL level. Staggered.

I don't really know how to describe how I feel about this deal. This just about sums it up

I look forward to the day i'm like the Hawthorn supporters in my office and have no idea trade week is even on.

Ahh it is so nice to see DL returning to its usual positive self. Apparently Roos, Goodwin, McCartney and co have no idea what they're doing

Jeez you lot go to water easily. Essendon are going to the well in a big way - trading out experienced players and loading up on draft picks. Sure, they might look like geniuses in 5-8 years time, but they could also get very badly burned - MFC of all supporters should know the risks involved in going to the draft. Have a look at past drafts - there's always at least two and as many as four bust draft picks in the top 10. That's a 20-40% chance you'll pick a complete dud that won't play 50 games, and that's if you're generous and call picks like Richard Tambling a decent selection. Then there's a lot of just decent players; sure you might get Nick Riewoldt, but you're just as likely to get Mitch Thorp, and far more likely to get Lachie Hansen. The MFC is continuing its strategy of incremental improvement. It's too early to say if it's a better or worse strategy, but what's certain is we're taking much less of a gamble. I just cannot understand why we are collectively throwing ourselves off a cliff over this.

I know we won't do it, but I'd say **** you Howe, you'll go to the Suns or into the PSD. And I'd follow through.

Posters on here seriously make me laugh - he has not even kicked a football for us - it could turn out to be the most brilliant trade of all time or a complete dud - how would we know. Vince was an inspired choice and posters were unhappy with that one too. How about we all take a chill pill and wait for 2 weeks into the season proper and then go on a savage rampage in the vein of " why did we take Toumpas over Wines (substitute Melksham and whoever else we missed out on)

MFC at trade week "c'mon help ol' Josh out here"

lol, any excuse for a sook. So we gave up pick 25, big deal. Move along. Welcome to the MFC, Jake.

I haven't been this excited since we recruited Tom Gillies.

Just re Melksham (http://www.boundforglorynews.com.au/free-agenttrade-analysis-jake-melksham/): "Melksham has played as a run-with midfielder, but he’s also shown great signs as a defensive half-forward. He racks up inside 50s, although his delivery in there could be better. He can win his own ball on the inside, as he has terrific strength and desire, but he also runs hard enough to be a link-up player on the outside of the contest. As mentioned, he’s a tackling machine and he’s at worst an above average tagger." "Melksham’s form fluctuated a lot throughout 2015, but he played three outstanding games, and all three were games where the Bombers rose to the occasion in tight clashes. In Round One against the Swans, he finishes with 20 disposals, a goal, 10 contested possessions, nine tackles and six clearances. The next week he had a season high 26 disposals against the Hawks, with 12 inside 50’s and 22 uncontested possessions. He capped the season off with an excellent performance against the Suns, with 10 one percenters." ... and: "Pick 25 in this draft will slide down to around pick 30 when it is all done and dusted with academy selections and compensation picks. 30 is just about spot on for Melksham, as he fills a clear need in the Demons’ midfield. He’s still quite young, but he also brings experience to the Demons and he’s the enforcer type that can keep other teams from tormenting Melbourne’s younger brigade."

I wasn't too enthused when it first broke that we were interested, but our track record over the past 2 years has been very good and I'm happy to back the club. Pick 25 seems overs but it's not really. It's a second rounder which is what a 24 year old, 100 gamer is worth on the market these days. All the best Jake, I'm hoping like crazy that you can come straight in a be a positive, consistent contributor to the side.

You do realise pick 3 was coming from GC..... are you just making stuff up?

Club going all out for Prestia... Pick 3 would have sealed the deal. I understand the frustration. Dees still very confident he will be in red and blue 2016.

Are they starting a tunnel ball team?

There is a minute and a half I won't get back...

Source?

Just read an article the Hun that Collingwood plan to turn him into an 'Isaac Smith' wingman who can push up forward... Wowee aren't Collingwood in for a rude shock! W anker..

Over 100 games at 24 is a good achievement. He becomes a walk up start to our 22 and I think will flourish in a new, fresh environment. Pick 25 is a fair price to pay for that.

He's a Demon now so I'll suck it up and give him a clean slate, which I'm sure he'll appreciate... Welcome, Melksham.

Pfff, what would Pelchen know? Or Goodwin, McCartney or Roos? Demonlanders said it was a terrible deal so it must be.

You do understand how [censored] ing stupid that reads, yeah?

I negotiate contracts for a living No amount of gonad growth banging of desks or tough talk works What works is having an alternative offer, finding common ground and looking at the big picture - Michael corleone - strictly business

You're a Howe apologist.

He is very angry with Howe or his manager.

Rubbish, it's the Saints fault for stuffing around - trade should have been done on day 1.

Don't understand the consternation - he's a better player than those we delisted and will likely walk into our 22. I'd have him in the team ahead of guys like Grimes or Watts as well. Whatever you say about him he is a competitor and I think he'll relish playing in a different environment with a FD that isn't run by an egomaniac. My only concern is the WADA penalties as I think the Essendon players will get smacked. Not sure what, if any, assurances the AFL has given to clubs that trade in EFC tainted goods. I would assume none and we wear the risk but I guess offering him a 4 year contract (if that's what eventuated) means we have faith that he'll be a long term player even if he copped the maximum 2 years.

Give it a rest and reserve your judgement for 2016, when we actually see his output for the MFC. I think most of us will be pleasantly surprised. No point sooking right now.

Oh, the irony.

Bit harsh on Kent and telling the development team to lift their socks, they have done well in the 2 years they have been there. Otherwise I thought it was pretty much right.

Agree, And not only that. If the whinging peanuts on here think there is something to be gained by the club being public about their intentions they are delusional. Its a negotiation and the worst possible position is to lay your cards on the table for everyone to pick off. Clearly some here have never been involved in a negotiation of any substance. Posters complain about us not being able to get A graders at the trade table have zero idea about how difficult it is to get them to a club like Melbourne that has been poor for a decade. You have to play the cards you are dealt and there are only certain players up for trade in any given year. When they are, you are competing against the seriously competetive clubs like Hawthorn and Geelong. And you only have certain picks and player currency. Howe sems to be the player we have with the most currency and the club I am sure is trying to the best it can to genrate the best return. They have known he was leaving for some time. In fact they may have even pushed him. They have been talking to clubs for more than 12 months, not 2 weeks. They have a pretty good idea of who is doing what. Judge them at the end of trade period. Not during trade period when the keyboard heroes want the information NOW!!!! FFS Dangerfield has gone to a club and accepted (if you believe reports) around $700k a year less than was offered by Melbourne. Do the peanuts here really think there was anything else the club could do to get Dangerfield? It's laughable.

Has speed, has maturity, kicks goals and has played some bloody good football. Is also prone to making some absolutely appalling decisions, going missing and frustrating supporters like not many others. Pick 25 in a weak draft is worth the punt. Money seems fair although length of deal if 4 years a risk. Clean slate now that your a Dee Jake welcome aboard.

we'll end up with steak knives and an ab-fab machine. bloody marvelous.

Howe can eat a dik.. Grow some balls FFS melbourne and [censored] Collingwood! At some point the club has got to do whats best for our backyard and future. Time to change the landscape and go right against Howes decision. Seriously as if the Club is going to bother with in the future like they do with all of our past players.

Mahony just stated that Ben Kennedy WILL NOT be part of the Howe deal. wow

[censored] him. If Gold Coast offer us a better deal than Collingwood then trade him there. He's not a free agent.

I watch less and less games , to be honest I didn't watch 1 minute of this years grand final or last years the game is boring with , 4 teams wining , 12 of the last 15 ? We used to even have the day off at work , this year I opened and had a busy day , all my staff even worked But sadly I see a division getting clearer and clearer , I feel we are too one of the bottom ( feeder) clubs for the top teams I hope not but it seems if a powerful club or top team want a player they will get them . Maybe the first round in the draft is just 10 picks , then start round 2 so the bottom 10 teams ( didn't play finals) get 2 picks before the ones that played finals this won't stop the top teams taking whoever they want but might help the bottom teams get more of a chance and win some more games I think/ hope the AFL look at doing something before its too late , there is time . Maybe they might act now that GWS and GS and even Brisbane are all losing players If they don't we better get used to the same teams topping up and playing off , Look at Geelong one year out and I reckon they will be top 4 next year

It's Pick 25 because of where we finished. It makes a pick in the third round, which is in the early 40s, too low. If we finish higher up the ladder then our second rounder would be somewhere between 30-32. That's just the way it is. If we get something back that's a bonus.

Hawthorn getting Carlisle is good for football. Why? Because if Hawthorn can offer Essendon a better deal than St Kilda then they should have every right to trade him there. It's up to the Saints to improve the offer, this is how it should be.

People just won't hear a bad word about Melbourne players. Kent has done bugger all in AFL footy. He's been on the list 3 years and has played less than 5 really good games. He's had far more 8 possession, irrelevant matches than he has had good ones. I don't have him in the Terlich category, and I know his left foot looks a million bucks, but he absolutely needs to pull his finger out. I would love to know why we haven't been mentioned at all for Seedsman or Freeman who offer that line-breaking pace we so desperately need.

What is a success though? Besides landing a gun free agent (and for free not in a match and trade) I think success is hard to judge. Because to win a trade you almost have to have the club on the other end stuff up. Even if you get a superstar to nominate you like Brisbane and Beams it costs a hell of a lot to get them. We've made some really good moves over the last few years. But when you break them down almost every deal has cost something to get something which is how it's meant to work. Our best deals: Letting Sylvia walk for pick 23 Garlett Our very good deals: The Vince trade with the Sylvia pick Signing Crossy Letting Frawley walk The Salem Tyson for 2,20 deal We can't recreate any of those this year it seems and that might be disappointing, but it's also about opportunity and needs. There isn't a Garlett this year as far as I can tell. We don't have a Sylvia to flick or a Frawley. We don't have the need for Crossy type. Trying such an ambitious move as the Tyson trade isn't really on the table. I find it hard to think Howe and Toumpas out for Kennedy, Bugg and Melksham makes our list any worse. I'm a touch disappointed we didn't have someone better than Melksham lined up knowing Howe would leave. But then I look around at the trades and I struggle to see who it would be. For the late 1st to 2nd round market (because we aren't signing a star this trade period) there's: Henderson, Yarran, Zac Smith, Redden (left for success), Jetta, Sinclair (contracted, would avoid us), Bennell (no), Ben Lennon (unlikely). It's not a great bunch. Aish and Freeman are the 2 young players out of contract, leaving cheaply and possibly available that could fit our list build and have great upside. But I'm not exactly disappointed we didn't get them. I don't think West Coast made a single trade last year and they jumped right up the ladder. The Dogs traded out Cooney and Griffen for Boyd (who rarely did anything) and jumped up the ladder on the back of their kids improving not trade ins really. Hamling was a nice find as a delisted free agent and that was about it.

If we trade up to pick 3 who's to say we want to take it to the draft???

10/10

Thanks Alanis.

I doubt you will.

I can't see Gold Coast being interest in downgrading 3 to 6 in a trade only involving Seedsman. They will rightfully say we want Howe, and if we can't have him, you can forget pick 3.

Oh, God, suddenly I don't want either!

I work for Champion Data, capturing AFL and TAC stats every weekend during the season. Seen every game Parish has played in over the past two seasons, he's a star.

I don't why you would delist Cross and recruit Rosa, makes no sense at all.