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I have just read this piece and it truly resonates with me on several levels. Although, the wisdom of Steven May’s recruitment will ultimately be determined by what he achieves on and off the field for the club in the future, his story puts paid to any debate about who wins in trading. If it’s all about what a club gains and adds to its community then we have added a wonderful asset to the Melbourne Football Club for the next five years.

While in Amsterdam recently I had two extremely random MFC encounters. 1. My walking tour guide, who was an Amsterdam local, asked us who we followed in the footy after he heard we were from Melbourne. Before answering I asked him how he even knew about footy, and it was because his roomate was a diehard Melbourne supporter. Funnily, he knew all about Essendon's drug saga and compared it to FIFA corruption. 2. The next night, we did an awesome canal tour (Dam Boat Guys if anyone is after an awesome canal tour with some, erm, smoking flexibility). The guide was an Aussie that had been living in Amsterdam for a few years. While he was driving the boat at a blistering 5kmh, he was showing me highlights from the final vs Geelong and was almost in tears talking about how much he wished he was there. It was so random to find myself talking about the Dees on the other side of the world, twice, within 24 hours. What are your random MFC experiences while traveling? (NOTE: I asked the boat tour guide if he was the roommate of the walking tour guide, and he wasn't)

A brief summary of the kind of character we're bringing into the club.

Sounds like a few people on here are trying to con themselves. A bit like jilted lovers. Hogan wasn't really that good after all, not part of the team, didn't do the hard yards, doesn't play well in the big games... In this case I prefer to look at the glass half full approach, we traded out an exceptionally talented kid who didn't want to be with us and in doing so we came away with a better balanced list. Hogan hasn't had a clear run at it since starting with us, back, father, cancer, foot. The only thing that will hold him back now is injury or the like. I'm sure he isn't going to Freo with thoughts of playing with a perennial cellar dweller. They will be a lot better than given credit for and with a fit list will be around mid table to possible finals next season. There biggest problem is going to be the go home factor with some of their kids and I hope we are into them...

Thats because Roos said you will be better in the back line. Howe didnt like to hear that. So after 3 months in the forward line at the Pies, guess where he was shifted to?

Erm, slowly getting drunk in a pub in the Orkney islands on a sunday afternoon when I was a wee lad of 22, in 03' In walks a couple my parents age... get talking , from australia, "whereabouts" "adelaide" "oh, me, I'm from Melbourne....that Andrew Mcloud goes alright" "yeah, we don't follow adelaide - we're melbourne supporters" ....a few more drinks...turns out they had been at my parents wedding in country vic in 1968..and hadn't spoken since!

And that’s the crux of the matter.

Unlike Melbourne of the past, how about we forget others crap.

Much more important to retain our young core of talent, than to spend big on a cash chasing mercenary from another club. Oliver, Brayshaw, Weideman etc are going to cost us a fortune once other clubs start sniffing. Save the cash for them.

Well until we start training it's over for footy... This is the worst period of the year for me as footy gets taken over by racing, some weird pastime people continue to call a sport for some unknown reason. A more pointless pursuit I cannot think of. Can anyone tell me when we're back on the track? It will be a bit later this year because of our finals appearances, how strange is that. Bring on season 2019...and to think some want to shorten the season, must have rocks in their heads.

It seems that these days there are no rules about approaching opposition players during season and even when they are contracted for more than a year ahead. It didn’t worry Ross Lyon to approach Hogan and likewise, we should be keeping a close interest on Andrew Brayshaw over the next year or so and maintaining regular contact with him over how good life is with home and family in Melbourne.

Can I help?

Pure speculation by Langdon. The guy is an actual idiot.

When I was much younger my uncle took me to see the boys train. Once training was over the great Allen Jakovich stayed behind to work on his goal kicking. He was my favourite player so I was eager to get behind the goals and mark some of his kicks. After I caught 3 or 4 he then invited me to jump over the fence for some kick to kick. It only lasted probably less than 5 min but that was one of the greatest moments of my life, it cemented my love for Jako and the club.

I expect Tom McDonald, Jetta and Lever to be under serious consideration. I think they'll give May a year to just settle and not give him any leadership titles. Play your role and lead by your own standard.

Pissant clubs think they have to win trades. Good clubs focus on what it leads to. Winning games.

I can just hear the cries now as we pick someone else ... "I can't believe it's not Butters!"

Maybe that, but damo is right...Howe left because his manager shopped him around for much bigger money so aggressively that Howe effectively talked himself out of the place. Joined the Pies as a forward..lasted about three weeks there...then returned to the same role he had with us on about the same money. A fiasco on manager Ben Niall's part. Those saying Hogan did not feel accepted need to consider that Hogan clearly was not as invested in Melbourne as some of us invested in him...playing footsies with Ross Lyon 12 months ago FCS. We're better off the next 12 months without the distraction. It seems the refusal to extend is key here to the club's attitude.

This is a excellent article about May’s journey. He seems like a quality human. He is going to be huge for our team and the club as a whole. Steven May is the bloke who minds the huge forward that we haven’t had for so long. If he was at the club this year we wouldn’t have lost in Geelong and probably not against Sydney or Port either. He makes us a hugely better side even taking into account the loss of Hogan. I really believe that we are one of the best three teams in the competition going into next year along with Richmond and WCE. May adds that surety we have lacked. I can’t wait to see our backline when they are all fit. Him, Lever, Hibberd and Jetta working together will be magic to watch. Some serious hard nuts!

If anyone mentions Jed lamb again I'll put them on ignore.

I know its stretching things....but some recurring themes.... First Australian ( indigenous ) .. Oldest known peoples on earth First Aussie FootyClub Melb.....Aussie Rules.....Oldest documented football code in world First recorded game....played by Melbourne Grammar....same school May ends up at !! First Indigenous AFL capt. Bought his Mum a house. Its been impressed upon me , especially in the last week that this club, our club, is a club defined ( now ) by behaviours. It will go to some length to frame many of the ( recent ) actions by the MFC and how we intend to do business on, and off, the field. More and more as I see the club re-emerge it occurs to me we are far from being cursed by Norm Smith , we are being guided by him. It's taken this long to get to the core of who and what we are again. This lad, can't wait to put the jumper on and do it proud. I like this go Dees

@praha, what a time to be alive 1. My housemate Geert, who received a Dees scarf from me last xmas. 2. One of my best mates, known to peruse this site, with whom I work on boats. Edit: For what it's worth Geert told me excitedly about you, and Julian about you telling him about Geert. @Skuit is right about not trusting boat guys. But he also lives on a boat ?

McGovern made the match saving play and Barrass was great. Darling played 1 good quarter and Kennedy played well but his most important stuff was largely getting on the end of smart up field work. A midfielder kicked the game winning goal. We need to replace Garlett but big goal kicker Dean Kent is a good laugh

I like the current structure with two joint captains and joint VCs. We only moved to this smaller group earlier this year, and it would be silly to change it now imo. I'd love to see Max as joint captain with Jack, but I think it's unlikely to happen for 2019. It might be seen as too disruptive, and unfair on Jonesy who led us well through the 'dark times' when we had no other 'real' leaders. He has earned another year, I reckon. I think Lever will probably be promoted for 2020, when I'd expect Lewis to step down. A definite 'no' on May from me. He needs to earn his stripes at Melbourne before being considered.

I've had the pleasure to listen him speak at a few functions since he has arrived and as you said he just oozes leadership. I was extremely impressed at the player sponsors function at the beginning of the season when he just came up to a small group of us and introduced himself and started chatting. In all my time going to functions with players in attendance not one player has ever done that. Having said that I don't expect players to do this but it was a nice surprise for a young player at his first official function.

Put Lever in it. That guy ooozes leadership. I want him in.

A bit unfair. After a tough 2017 he presented in 2018 at 100kg and ran a low 6min 2km time trial. You don’t do that by gorging on Pavlova over Christmas. As much as I was bullish on Hogan, I think we will be a better team overall in 2019 and don’t risk losing Weid now. I’m also happy he’s at Freo because at WC he has the attributes to be a lot better than Darling, but at Freo I suspect he’ll get more frustrated than he did at Melbourne...

Oh dear god please tell me you're not talking about Jed Lamb the absolute rubbish footballer from carlton? Scrawny faux tough guy syndrome is little Lamby.. Dont understand the need to not only discuss what spuds to pick up but also from clubs who are rabble like Carlton and St Kilda. If these players struggle to get games at bottom side clubs then they have no hope getting games at ours. List bloggers at best. We're past that stage of picking up Ben Newtons, Aidan Rileys of the world.

Both parties got what they wanted. What’s the problem.

Lucifer’s Hero - just wanted to say thanks for this thread - it was driving me nuts trying to work out the list details. With your help I can sleep at last ?!

Yeah, nah. We targeted May, because we had a weakness in the backline that kind Freddy could see. Mahoney acknowledged this in his SEN interview. Our 2019 backline (when Lever's back) will be the best I've seen following the Dees (memory early 70s). Let's give it a go, shall we.

Save your trolling for the preseason training threads, chap.

Interesting there is a bit of that recently. Paul Roos preached that approach when FA was first mooted. Except cellar dwellers, clubs realise they can control the trade and will get better draft picks/players if they trade players before their FA year. The whole comp really benefits from pre FA trading: Firstly, there are fewer FA comp picks to distort the draft. Next year Shiel, May, Neale and Wingard would all generate 1st round FA comp picks. 2019's premier's first pick would be about 22 or over! Secondly, and this is really significant: the receiving club does not get the player free. Imagine those 4 going to Essendon, Demons, Brisbane and Hawthorn next year for nothing! Collectively they paid about 6 first round picks and some second round picks/players (+/- bits and pieces). This is much fairer than a system which allows a premier to get a key forward (Lynch) for zip! A huge free kick to an already strong team. As an aside, For the demons Roos, Goodwin et al have done a great job of insulating us from the 'go-home' factor. Our interstate players are Jetta, May and Neal-Bullen. I doubt they are going anywhere so we are reasonably protected from losing our best talent when they reach FA status.

State of play post trades. May is on a 5 year contract and I have 3 year contracts for Preuss and Kolodjashnij but not sure if the latter are correct. Advice to confirm contract length would be appreciated. Given our first pick before the draft (post comp picks) was #36 to now have #23 and #28 and rebalance our team is a terrific result. Overall List: Current list size = 33. Minimum list size = 38. Maximum list size: 40 (plus Rookies) To reach the minimum of 38 we need to add at least 5 players. Hard to see us using picks #91 or #105 so would have to assume that either/both Keilty and T. Smith get promoted to senior list or we recruit a delisted player or two. Also, Mahoney mentioned that while happy with our draft holding it may change before the draft. Watch this space!

I came into this thread expecting a '2019 Free Agent Best 22'.

Brayden Preuss - The Preussmeister General Steven May - Skullcrusher Kade Koladashnij - MGA Austin Bradtke - Tallboy Guy Walker - What a Guy or WAG Looking forward to announcing the official nicknames for our new draftees on draft night.

I thought at the time Hogan was settled and wouldn’t go. I don’t think I was emphatic about it, it’s just what I thought. I did comment about the stupid tone in the “trade Hogan” movement when they popped up every time we lost. I also didn’t think the club would actively seek a trade, based on the picture that seemed apparent to me at the time, however the picture looked pretty different by the end. My bum is fine, thanks for asking.

Need to score twice now do Chelsea ... you never know, they might do it.

Hmmm....some questionable defending by Chelsea.

looks quicker and a better kick than gus

I always thought Angus was a really hard at the body player from the get go and don't recall any moments of hesitation. But I could be wrong.

If we can get Hunt to increase his work rate then I think a forward/winger role is something I’d love to see him in. He had X-factor in 2017 and kicked some great goals, I think he even had one game (from memory against Adelaide) where he played the second half as a forward and really showed something. I just can’t see a role for him down back now, unless Lewis goes down but even then I wouldn’t think he’d be the best choice to replace him. Mahoney stated early in the trade period the Hunt was not someone they were looking to move on so clearly the club still sees a future for him.

I'd like to see Charlie Spargo in the Ruck. Equally pointless, but pizz funny.

Funny that a large portion of Freo supporters are moaning how they paid overs for Hogan yet only a very small portion of Dee's supporters are winging we got unders.

At the very least we should make enquiries and kick up rumours every single year for the rest of his career. At best we get a gun player, at worst we push up Freo's salary cap and give the Brayshaw family a little extra cash.

Thead title is a bit of an oxymoron.

I’ve never been able to get in to those yank sports. I’ve never understood how you can come to barrack for a team without some kind of tie to it, be it geographically or parental indoctrination. It always seems artificial to me, and without a team to support I find it hard to engage at all.

Well errr yes ………….. unless convicted by the media.

If we get two Xaviers’ I’ll celebrate with a double Scotch.

I'm going to do my rnd 1 side which means Lever is out. B: Fritsch, May, Jetta HB: Hibberd, O.McDonald, Salem C : Kolodjashnij, Oliver, Brayshaw HF: Petracca, Weideman, Neal-Bullen F: Melksham, T.McDonald, Gawn FOLL: Pruess, Viney, Harmes IC: Jones, Lewis, Vandenberg, Hannan EMERG: Spargo CASEY B: J.Smith, Frost, Lockhart HB: Hunt, Petty, J.Wagner C : Stretch, Maynard, Baker HF: Kennedy Harris, Keilty, Sturt F: Garlett, T.Smith, Bedford FOLL: Bradtke, C.Wagner, Duursma IC: Hind, McKenzie, Ayton-Delaney, Walker