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The biggest surprise in this story is that AFL Trade radio is apprently up and running already. Must be organised by the same people who bring you hot cross buns in January.

I love how people assume that Elliott is the only player we're going after to solve our small forward crisis. The club simply can't win. If they show their hand in a trade, some Demonlanders lambast them. If they keep their cards close to their chest, some Demonlanders question why we're not going after more players.

oh thank god.

Great young player destroyed by injury. His career died slowly and many forget (or choose to forget) how good he was in his first two years. One of my favourites.

What's pathetic is your obsession with turning every little thing into an excuse to stick the boots into Melbourne.

Good luck mate All the best Jack Always be a Demon for mine. Stuck at it when many would have withered. A top bloke by al accounts. Enjoy your life son.

Good luck to him if he chooses to go there. They would find his training standards and professionalism very desirable.

Richmond's team: 2 ruckmen - Nank and Soldo 2 key forwards - Lynch and Riewoldt 3 lock down defenders - Grimes, Astbury, Broad 1 intercept defender - Vlastuin 3 rebounding defenders - Houli, Short, Baker 2 wings - Caddy, Ellis 3 inside mids: Prestia, Cotchin, Graham (Ross) 3 forward/mids: Edwards, Lambert, Martin 1 pacey defensive forward - Castagna 2 small forwards - Rioli, Bolton Is one part of the puzzle bigger than the other? Our shopping list should be: - Outside run - Midfield pace - Half back skill - Tall depth - Small pressure forwards - Extra goal kicking option It's highly unlikely we get all of those fully fixed in one off season, most premiership teams aren't perfect yet alone teams rebounding from 17th. But starting from the midfield deficiencies with trades and then using draft picks to fill the other needs probably isn't a bad idea. Remember Richmond kicked off their bounce back with Nankervis, Caddy and Prestia traded in.

Great to know that Bucks himself was the loyal, one club family-type himself who wouldn't leave for more cash.... oh wait...

Wow! They must think that their premiership cat-flap is still open.

Yes, indeed

Where I think he will be most valuable is his ability to mark and compete in the air from the wing position. We have a fairly small midfield and certainly no one that can consistently compete in marking contests. it's a luxury many clubs have with midfielders like Danger, Fyfe, Yeo etc. Our options down the line this year were pretty much Max or bringing a key forward up to the wing leaving us with one less marking option in the forward line. Tomlinson doesn't take a lot of contested marks but I've seen a lot of his games and he will generally half the contest and bring the ball to ground. Like I've mentioned before he might not have burst speed but his ability to run and spread in a system that thrives on this has been evident. His engine allows him to work his man and present well on the wings hence his consistent uncontested marking numbers. Finished 30th last year and 14th this year for marks across the league.

Ripping bloke and I wish him all the best.

Always thought this bloke would make a great coach. His best footy moments might still be ahead of him.

Braysahw isn't moving. has a relationship in Melbourne which more than ever is very important that he doesn't leave..

I guess it's not unreasonable to think that all of them have been re-contracted on small coin so overall not a big outlay in the scheme of things. All are still quite young and one or two may still surprise and become a valued commodity over that time. In the absence of any more information it looks like a relatively small gamble on the face of it.

Everyone carry on about the players signing on, need to understand that every team needs depth. The majority of those signed are also in the right age bracket to keep on improving. As much as everyone would like it, you can’t have 40 superstars on your list.

The Tigers after 2016 were criticised for not making a heap of list changes, they got in Nank, Prestia and Caddy, but at that stage they weren't seen as a massive boost (Prestia had the biggest wraps but little to no other suitors). Of course 2017 rolls around, they have a blessed run with injuries and because the group had been together they took it out. Not saying I'm convinced but glad the club doesn't overreact like all on here. Bringing in Langdon, Tomlinson and maybe Elliot or someone else might be all we need.

State of the list: We have 4 senior list spots atm. Frost, Stretch and JKH still uncontracted. That is a potential max of 7 spots available. We are obliged to take at least 3 from the draft. It looks like Langdon and Tomlinson are over the line. That leaves a max of 2 spots. Elliot might be one. Leaving 1 spot. Someone from GWS pick 2 split, perhaps? I still wouldn't be surprised if we trade out a contracted player...

Casey supporters should be thrilled with these signings.

Agree. Of course we won't get Betts, Elliott or Papley because we are just a shocking, woeful hopeless club that does nothing but rain misery down on its pitiful yes man supporters when it's not bending over at trade time! Wait what's happening to me? I'm infected!!!!

Lets rip the heart out of the club.

No issues but i do think billy's development was hampered by our obsession with playing too many inside mids. We saw jones and tyson battling on the wings at times when a fit billy was in the twos. Like max said, our contested dominance in 2018 covered over the many cracks that were appearing elsewhere. We ignored the role of the wing and it has backfired massively. Hindsight yes, but astute people realised that 6-6-6 would elevate the role of the wing. Astute we were not. Now a wingman that had all the potential in the world (stretch was an under 18 all Australian) makes way so we can pursue another wingman who has been developed.

I wondered if 'X factor'was some banned poster. Even checked the profile. I mean what poster starts their DL career with a new thread that includes this line in the OP: 'It is obvious that this club is not serious about winning and has no clue how to assemble a list.' I also wonder what sort of person goes to the effort of creating multiple user names with the sole aim of creating angst and silly discussions. If there isn't some medical condition that explains such a desire it i have no doubt there soon will be - Trollopothy perhaps?

No. You never want to wish upon anyone missing a grand final. If anything I hope he gets to experience grand final day so he can pass on his experience to our playing group on how incredibly hard it is to actually get there.

Fyfe is all about Fyfe. Dangerfield, whom finished second, was ranked 392nd for disposal efficiency this season and accumulated the second most amount of clangers 112. In the last four years he’s had 24 shots at goal from between 30-40 metres out and kicked two of them. Umpires just look at who’s getting the disposals and nothing else.

I pushed Jeremy Finlayson heavily throughout the trade period last year, when rumours surfaced that he was unhappy at the Giants. I was very disappointed at the time that we didn't get him and more so this season as he blossomed. This year I like Kamdyn McIntosh of the Tigers, who may leave, especially if not selected for the GF, which is looking likely. He has height, pace, experience and especially finals experience, good disposal, can mark and kick a goal. He could be handy off a HBF, HFF or wing and wouldn't be expensive. I think Jetta and Hibberd are nearing the end of their careers and he could be a handy player for us.

I think an ‘NQR hopeful’ is a bit harsh BB. He’s played 24 games this season for GWS and is a good chance to play on the weekend in a Granny. Perhaps the argument will be that GWS can afford to carry him whereas we can’t, regardless I still think at AFL level you wouldn’t play 24 games in a season if you were NQR.

Sorry to here that they gave you the chop Trenners. Loved you at Melbourne and always hoped that you would come good with that foot of yours. You are a great person in my eyes and you are certainly a credit to your family. To me and many others I am sure you will always be a Demon for life.

Stretch played 9 games this year. both Wagners played more games than he did. plus its common knowledge we are chasing a couple of winger types this trade period, and we just signed Baker for 2 more years. so with that in mind i'm a bit surprised people think Stretch should be kept around. he had plenty of opportunity to make the wing his own, but he wasn't up to it.

We're not getting "reamed". We're being bumped down one spot in the draft. Every other club, in particular clubs like Saints and North, could be as easily aggrieved as us. Quit with the persecution complex, it's unbecoming. How much of a difference do you really think it will make if we have pick 2 or 3? Have you guys learnt nothing from the past 15 years of praying for salvation through draft picks?

He seems like a great kid, can run all day and has a terrific work ethic from all reports. Unfortunately he has bigger problems than inconsistency. He generally looks like a deer in the headlights at afl level and takes far too long to make decisions about what to do with the ball. He's not terrible or anything, just a bit too far off the pace. Here's hoping a fresh start with a different gameplan works out for him

I agree, we need to prioritis ethis, but maybe they feel like Chandler, Spargo Bedford are worth persevering, time will tell, but i for teh life of me cant see why we wouldn't have inquired about Sam Gray. it also really baffles me that we have spent the last however many year splaying in the NT and we cant identify a indigenous talent to add to our list.

Yep. In a relationshipwith Spuds daughter and I highly doubt they will uproot all of a sudden to the other side of the country. Especially now with everything that's gone on and Mum being by herself.

It's the tampering of the test which earns the 4 years. For years that clib trotted out the Ben Cousins never tested positive defence. Rioli with foot issues was struggling to get up week to week. We'll never know why he tampered with the test, they will maintain the line of it was only ever Cannabis. If that's the case take the test, get a strike and maintain anonymity

Langdon on 6pr tonight playing the party line, pushing the recreational drug thing, stating Rioli should get no more than 12 months FFS whatever way you look at it he's a drug cheat a) Tampered with a test, trying to cheat the system b) on a separate occasion tested positive to a band substance on game day Throw the book at him, unfortunately an example needs to be made, the loopholes are closed the 3 strikes and soft on drugs policy has created this situation

Frost was a rookie pick due to his glaringly obvious weaknesses as a footballer. Not because he was injured in his draft year or some other excuse. We made a prelim last year and had the same foot speed as this year. Tell me how that works? Also, the bloke who won a brownlow last night was a second round pick in a draft that wasn't considered a super draft. You take talent upgrades where possible and back your club to develop. We haven't had a crack at top end talent for a couple of years now and if someone were to offer a second round pick for Frost, I'd jump at it. Also gives us the ammunition to on- trade for something else or bundle up to move higher up the draft. Frost is so overrated by certain posters, it's unbelievable.

He's coming, will be done and circumstances in which he's leaving won't see them holding us to ransom. There may be semantics but pick 21 or whatever it ends up being

As if Elliot was not aware Goody is super eager to get him, or that other clubs are also keen. These discussions would have been going on for at least 12 months - or more. Every club in the league would know who other clubs are looking at. Well before it leaks into the media or football forums Elliot and his manager would know exactly how keen or other wise we are. Dollars would have already been put out there. For Pete's sake the club officially announced our interest in drafting him a couple of weeks back. You don't so that unless you are super keen. I reiterate Goody's comments would have absolutely zero influence on his Elliot's manager's ability to wrangle a higher contract. Zero.

Melbourne midfielder Billy Stretch could be Gold Coast bound. A report in the Herald Sun suggests the 23-year-old doesn’t have a secure spot on the Demons’ list, with the club telling him they will be waiting until after the trade period to organise a new contract.

Is a premiership window similar to a premiership clock?

Richmond would be spewing they chose him over Fyfe.

Nail on head ET. I have it on very good authority that more than one umpire checks the stat count on the AFL website before voting. I know he was ineligible but Dylan Grimes 3 votes? Best defender in the competition IMHO. Stats are a false indicator of effectiveness. The mark of a defender is not how many times they get the footy but how many times their opponent doesn't get it.

There’s simply been far too many cases like Fyfe, Cripps, Curnow, Oliver, Rozee, Stephenson, Bontempelli, etc. ad nauseum, where the best players from a draft come from outside the consensus-top-few at the time of the draft. You just have to look at the players who were duking it out for the Brownlow: Fyfe (20), Dangerfield (10), Neale (30s?), Cripps (13), Kelly (20s), Grundy (20), Coniglio (2), Zorko (rookie?), Martin (3).

I couldn't give a stuff if the Sun's get a priority pick (which they have/will). Who cares, we got knocked back one spot, big deal. The draft is a complete lottery. The Suns must succeed for the sake of the game and if giving them a priority pick helps them get there then that's good. I'm not sure how much it will help, particularly in the short term but the AFL cant afford to have uncompetitive teams anchored to the foot of the ladder for years at a time. It's bad for the competition.

I think that will suit us, given how slow we generally move the ball, a bloke with real acceleration would be out of kicking distance by the time the ball holder decides what to do with it.

These two things don't really go together. We need more spread and pace through the midfield and we need to get speedy little forwards, plus a zippy back flanker and we'll need that whether we have Frost or don't have Frost. I'd gladly trade Hunt and Frost - our fastest 2 players - for a couple of speedy flanker/mid types that bring the speed to the positions that matter. Yes closing speed is important for defenders and yes Frost's big runs can occasionally pay off nicely but more often than not he's not bringing the speed that we really need. Our midfield were terribly unfit this year and ANB is our fittest player but almost no one on here is pumping up ANB for his elite fitness making him a vital player. Everyone rightfully thinks our midfield should get fitter!

Whatever i say is only one opinion from an amateur observer WB. Weighted average stats vs all defender peers, which include a significant negative factor for turnovers for all, show he was our best defender for the season. Also well inside our best 22 ranked 11th, up a massive 19 places on his finish last season. Statistically our biggest improver for the year by a country mile..up 26% on 2018. And that, in a year where most where absolutely shizen in comparison. Imagine IF he was playing in a team that was going just "Ok" this season, let alone 2018 levels. Whilst that result was in a year of horribilis performance by many, we would need to see a miraculous turnaround by a stack of players, and a number of ordinary ones, to see him pushed outside or on the cusp of 22 if he maintains this year's output into 2020. And what if he maintains this year's output and reduces the amount of turnovers significantly in 2020? He takes another leap yet again. Of course anythings possible, especially if his performance drops off next season (if he's still with us of course). Just needs to be one KF that is pretty quick on the lead WB. I can only refer back to one of the greatest lead up forwards of recent times in Rooey who stated that out of all defenders he had seen of late, Frosty was the last one he would want to play on due to his closing speed (ie., effective defense on a quick player such as Nick relies very much on athleticism and speed.

yes, we wanted to keep howe he walked out on us and we had to then facilitate a trade to the team that he wanted to take unders to go to, following a drinking session in bali with his childhood hero and future coach, in which he intended to play forward from my memory it was a relatively complex deal that helped us move up to take oliver hibberd got howe's role both have been named (in the) all australian (squad, but only our player has made the 22)