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Yes, this is also about May and the club working towards improving the list. It's one thing to say that we can play Hogan as a defender and another for the proud forward to actually want to play as a defender. McDonald, Hogan and Weideman in the same forward half simply doesn't work, whereas May coming into our defence is significant to our fortunes. Weideman's progression is key in all of this. The club has always rated him highly and his ability to take contested marks and be BOG in a final would give the club confidence that we can make the best of an unwanted situation. I don't think we win the flag in 2019 with a defence that includes Frost and McDonald. A defence that includes May and McDonald is much better equipped to take that next level. And with Lever back Gawn will be able to push forward more next year rather than drift back to intercept mark. The club will be doing everything to ensure Hogan leaving actually makes us better. May is worth one first rounder and Hogan should yield two. Does the club take the other pick to the draft or use it for more immediate gains. I'm a Hogan fan, but it is possible we improve from his leaving.

Christ some of you people are insufferable. I merely wanted to give an indication that things are actually moving along, that this isn’t all just media speculation, meetings are happening and serious decisions are being made - i.e. this isn’t the Chris Judd saga where our name is thrown in there to add more interest, or one adventurous journo joined the dots based on little evidence, then the rest jumped onto a rumour to fill column inches. But I’m not going to spill all the beans. You’ll find out when you find out.

you should be banned , have you ever lost anyone ? have you ever lost someone to cancer ? have you yourself lived with having cancer ? yes I know all about it . how dare you say what you said.

Probably not necessary given what he's gone through, mate. Even if this trade eventuates, I imagine most on here will always hold a soft spot for him.

Seriously I am so sick of this “he is going he is staying” every single year since he’s been at Melbourne. Doesn’t feel like he has ever really committed to the club. If he wants to go home, we will be ok and I wish him all the very best. Lets get maximum value for him and move on from this conjecture every season.

What a beautiful thing - the filth nutted in the last moments. Melbourne must learn from that. The weagles were jumped and trailed by 5 goals yet fought their way back - that's what premiers do.

He said he had an ankle operation post season finishing, characterised it as a "clean out" of a troublesome ankle and said it was booked straight away as there's not all that much time between season and preseason. Similarly Oliver, Hannan, Jetta, also had ops.

New 1 year deal. http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-09-28/dee-kennedy-harris-earns-new-deal-after-strong-end-to-year

Well, this post could have been worse...

I am already over it and to me Jesse is an opposition player apparently a Docker. All I care about now is what we get for him in the deal.

This reads exactly how I think I should feel - disappointed but circumspect. Jesse has been our symbol of hope and has blossomed in to a fantastic player. For some reason though I’m just feeling excited by the opportunity. As @ProDeeand others have said, there’s an opportunity for us to use this to actually improve the list further. It also feels like a weight off - the constant speculation over his future has been pretty wearing. I hope flog supporters don’t boo or abuse him when he lines up for Freo for the first time. He stuck fat through those tough times despite his incredibly tough personal circumstances, and goes when it hurts us far less. For those who like to wail about loyalty, he’s shown it in spades. He goes now because the club has changed its message from “we can’t live without you” to “you can explore opportunities”. He has waited until the expectations of saving the day have been lifted. He’s still a favourite in my eyes.

The JFK 1 year contract extension more than softens the blow for the impeding Hogan departure.

He's a class act 'chook'...pity he has to coach Coliingwood. Taking the time to console the cheer squad members before the game is the measure of the man.

The third tall forward point loses a bit of cache when you see the club chasing hard for Preuss from North Melbourne. You might be able to fit 3KPPs into the forward lineup but not 3KPPs and Gawn/Preuss. On a side note, it was refreshing to see how Nathan Jones is dealing with the issue compared with Tex Walker’s fit of pique last year when it was announced that Jake Lever was leaving the Crows. AFL trade news: Melbourne’s Jesse Hogan to be traded to Fremantle for two first round picks, per report

The tears of Collingwood fans will only make us stronger.

That was brilliant. Was ambivalent at the start and didn’t care about the result, but glad I watched now. Well done both teams - either would have been worthy premiers.

The usual hack posters are up in arms. Two top 10 picks won't be enough for Hogan and one is too much for May. They never change.

I more concerned with me seeing a flag, the club seeing flags, than Jesse. He can look after himself.

I know the situations are a bit different with the personal struggles Jesse has had to go through, but far out Tex Walker should be taking notes on how Jonesy handled that question.

It’s never a bad day when Collingwood lose a grand final by less than a goal !

Why the sad sacks?? Nothing better than those pricks choking after kicking the first five goals. Only us winning a gf would be better. This is awesome. Make no mistakes they are the enemy. Dogs.

@Ugottobekidding is clearly a troll. People get sucked in very easily.

Only reason I'm happy the Eagles won. If Collingwood won we'd be hearing all about it from every bandwagon. The Eagles can celebrate as loud as they want in Perth.

You know that for me the Collywobbles is back and they have secures their 27 th Runner up a record that will never be broken. However they lost another close one and that was made to happen when their banner ripped off the pole well before the game. No sympathy for them at all. As for WCE good luck to them take your cup back and celebrate it in WA we don't need you around us.

Really thought I'd be ambivalent today but soon as the pies got ahead my hatred for them kicked in. I really hoped they'd lose a close one and it all came true. That eagles team song is an abomination. Hope we get to sing a real song next year.

Actually genuinely feel sorry for them with that, no bigger day that it could’ve gone wrong for them.

They had a shot McGuires face after the game. It was wonderful. After hearing him go on all week about the filth I was glad at the result.

I didn't give a rats about the result until with a few minutes to go Jeremy Howe took a defensive mark. He's probably a nice bloke but right then I realised I never want to see him as a premiership player with Collingwood

Well, as a Melbourne supporter I found the final score of that very satisfying!!

Why do posters continue to perpetuate the myth that the Lever trade was for 2 first rounders only? We got a 2nd back and late 4th to mid 3rd round upgrade. Do you always say keep the change when you hand over a $50? It was actually a better deal than the originally mooted 1st + 2nd. Particularly because we finished high in 2018 and this year's first was devalued. It was a good deal IMO.

Not a chance Jonesy doesnt know anything

Stop biting and posting junk he will not be heading to the Suns, think it's this week he flies to Europe and everything is now between the clubs. Don't expect it to be done quickly either with many clubs going to be involved in the interchange of picks where Freo end up with two first rounders and Hogan not being their only target this season but he is the priority.

Completely fair enough for him to take that offer. He has a future and family to take care of. Anyone saying he owes melbourne is delusional, he owes his family to take the sydney offer IMO. If the dees want him they should at least offer him 2 years.

Feel a bit for Dunne. He did the hard yards with us, didn't choose to leave and didn't mess us around when it was time to go. Found a niche for himself and has performed well. Missing out on a career long dream is tough especially has he may not get many more chances. Not barracking for the Pies tho'...

Nah...' @Mach5' mail is usually pretty good... He doesn't play that game. If he can't say more then that's fair enough by me. You lose a good source if you burn them. We get some great info on here if you know who to look for and on what subjects.

Suffer in your jocks Howe.

Ha ha ha ha ha! It couldn't have happened to a better bunch of mugs! And yeah, my hatred of anything black & white runs deep.

I understand your perspective but I honestly feel it’s an overreaction. Not only because I rate Hogan a slightly inferior player to the way you view him, but also because this isn’t the NFL or the NBA where a single franchise player can come in and mean the difference between winning a premiership or not. Did the Blues win one with Judd? How are Sydney going with Buddy. Close but no cigar. No, AFL footy is more nuanced and team orientated than that. Key forwards are great but they don’t hold all the aces the way the perhaps once did. Freo will add a fantastic player to their list but the Demons have an opportunity here to make a great fist of this situation and fix up several areas of the 22 which may have otherwise hindered us from winning a premiership/s. Key defence and outside midfield class. If we can bolster these areas and look to Weideman, Petracca and others to step up in class and support TMac in the forward 50, it is very arguable we’ll have a stronger TEAM overall than we would have had Hogan remained. Very arguable. We beat some top teams without Hogan in 2017 and 2018, including some big victories interstate. He’s a very good player but his loss is not the catastrophe you’re making it out to be ... IF (and that’s a big “if”) we play our cards right here and make those p.ricks out West pay through the nose for him. That’s my take anyway.

Sorry mate Kolodjashnij. It’s definitely sad to see him go but I was also told very reliably no senior member at the club didn’t think this was a serious possibility. So plans are in place

Reliably told Jesse has A. Formally asked to be traded to Fremantle. B. The dockers have agreed in principal to 2 first round picks this year for hogan will be either 6 &10 or 9&10 and an exchange of later picks. Some haggling to go on there. Steven may looking all but certain to join in exchange for one of those picks. I suspect kk will be involved in that deal. apologies if this news is already known, I haven’t been able to keep track on this thread.

FFS - they've demonstrated numerous times over numerous years, that they are shrewd operators. You'd almost think supporters assume they don't know how to handle negotiations....

I’m nervous that Mahoney and Co are not going to drive a hard bargain. If we lose Hogan for May and chump change that will be a seriously disappointing outcome. It must be May and either a very good pick or a very good starting 22 player. I want May but no way is he of equal value to Hogan, not to mention the fact that we have the whip hand over Fremantle in this exchange. They need the player more than we need to give him. Like many Demon supporters I will be watching on with keen critical interest as to how shrewdly we negotiate this. We traditionally have not been renowned for coming out on the winning side of trade table deals. A few yes but more often than not we’ve been the ones picking up the dropped soap in the prison shower. I hope those days are over.

Thought Jones handled himself quite well. Between a rock and a hard place as to how to answer that but he played a deft bat imho. Really...what else was he going to say. Well done Chunk.

One thing we can probably all agree on is that JH never really got a clear run at it, without something going on, be it family, his health and injuries. If he does get a clear run at it for the next 5-6 years, it is scary how good he could be. If anyone thinks we shouldn't be asking for the absolute most for him, you are seriously undervaluing his potential.

Reality is they’re in a grand final and 16 teams ain’t.

He looked gone for all money early in the year but really turned it around. All credit to him...

Because it would have been so easy as a young player in that team and system. He's 23, played 70 games and about to enter his prime. I like him, because I've seen him play. Put him in a quality side and he could be one of the pick ups of the trade period.