Leaderboard

The irony is that in fact we are far from a basket case. Our board is as stable and solid as it has been in decades. An internal review has seen significant change carried out in a professional, measured fashion, tge exec is solid as is fd. No players wanted out. And one again mahoney has been a total pro at trade time and achieved most of its stated aims wirh a minimum of fuss. You want a basket case look at the crows atm. Despite their wealth and resources they are a mess, with players wanting out, coach quitting before being pushed and key personnel being sacked during the trade period when they are trying to retain and attract players. On a related note where do the posters who so vociferously pushed the mfc in crisis line a couple of months back stand atm?. You know the ones who warned of player dissatisfaction, players wanting out, (gleefully) supported false rumours about goody being sacked, jumped on Barrera silly comments about sliding doors and meetings wirh tge afl, pointed out the coaching and fd changes as evidence of crisis (whilst also arguing changes had to be made) and warned no players would want to come to us.

I have to interject with this tripe. I was at that game in 2005 against Essendon and no side was ever going to beat the boys that day. They played like a side possessed to honour their teammate and his memory. We were on fire for the first half of 2005 but as was the case for 04-06 we fell into mid season slumps and in 05 we regrouped late to make the finals, I recall the late Jeff White goal against the Dogs to put the finals destiny in our hands. So if you want to pot the club by all means go ahead, but don't make [censored] up and certainly don't taint a legacy and the way the club won a game in his honour

Unfortunately, he'd be always off the ground under the blood rule.

Its poorly expressed camouflage by Ralph. He is really justifying why a recent premier should get a match winning forward, Lynch for nothing. And of course Ralph and his family are long standing and staunch Richmond supporters. If Lynch had gone to Collingwood (a recent GFinalist) and they won the 2019 premiership he would be singing a very different tune. Sadly, his 'basket-case' words reflects what a lot of the industry thinks. tbh, I'm not sure his comments will be ammunition. There have been so many such opportunities. 'Bruise -free' footballers which is a bit ancient but with the current personnel we have the last game of 2016, 2018, our obvious fall from grace by mid 2019 as examples where 'it burnt and cut' deep and we didn't respond. The players need to want and work hard for success. It needs to come from within.

I'd do it just for the headline, "Dees Receive Giant Bonar". I'll see myself out.

I am happy to believe all Dees gossip at this time of year, as it makes it interesting and enjoyable to log on to DL each time, hoping for some good news on a new player. If it doesn't come off, no biggie. As long as posters aren't lying and I believe you aren't, then it is great to get bits of news on our club. Keep up the posting and when you can, throw out another hint. Not sure if this has been posted, but Mahoney virtually ruled out any small forward trades and suggested that could be a draft scenario. So I think if he is correct, we won't be drafting a big boy with our first pick.

Is it too late for our basket-case of a club to make application for a couple of priority picks in next month’s draft based on Mr Ralph’s expert opinions?

There’s a reason why every year we target our players and we get the deals done. While idiots like Essendon sit around and wonder what happened at the deadline. Chest beating doesn’t get you the players you want. And being notoriously good to deal with makes us an attractive proposition for both opposition clubs and players seeking trades. Also lol at Bell asking about Angus in the Langdon deal. He probably wanted Angus and pick 3 for Langdon, so to virtually trade a future 2nd round pick and steak knives is a big win.

With due respect Ellis and Tomlinson are hardly in the same calibre as Tom Lynch. The argument doesn't hold up, anyone with half a brain knew that FA would work in favour of the stronger clubs. A few morsels going to the smaller clubs does not change this...

FMD, Essendon want Heaney or Blakey as part of the Daniher trade. For a guy whos spent most of the past 2 years injured with chronic conditions. Dodobird is an [censored] hole. Swans should give him the bird and let the Bombers deal with Joe's disgruntled, huge salary.

Wow. I make a point about negativity, and I get back negativity on steroids.

Why do people take this [censored] personally? He's entitled to an opinion. And, like, he's not wrong. We finished 17th. Some people around here bang on like we're assured success.

And let us train on the G ya mugs! It's all gone downhill since January the 2rd 1965! Take it away, SWYL!

he was pick 6 in a stronger draft, is a KPP and has only enhanced his reputation. Pick 3 would be a minimum

There was some mention in the early stages that we might make a play for Jack Gunston as a possible swap for Sam Frost. The door was closed on that rather swiftly. Perhaps we might turn our attention to his cousin Norman?

Just like to back up Yokozuna, I was told a couple of things late yesterday. One I have a friend who has a mate who works at the club and two we are definitely trying to bring in a forward. No mention of names but we are definitely trying for one.

Personally and i know some would disagree strongly with this, but i would offer pick 3 and our 2020 first rounder if it would get us Ben King on a long term deal. I see him as being one of the better forwards around for 10 years, will make an impact right away and take a lot of pressure off Tommy and Sam.

I like this thread. Even if we're all completely wrong about Langdon, at least for the first time in 6 months there's some positivity back around us. I'm really looking forward to seeing him line up for us. Why should they be viewed independently? Just so you can isolate the Frost trade and whinge about it? It is completely feasible, even probable, that we did the Frost deal knowing what we were going to do with the Langdon deal. People get too caught up on draft picks sometimes. Ultimately we will look at this trade/draft period at the end and look at who went off the list and who came onto it, and we'll see in time whether the added players have improved us. Your list of other options to trade out is classic Demonland silly season thinking. Frost had value this year. We have the ability to cover for him (whether you like May/Lever or not). None of the players you've listed have anywhere near the value that Frost has. And none of the players you've mentioned were out of contract and asking for a big pay/year rise. Frost was entitled to want more money/years in his next contract, but I completely understand (and agree with) the club's decision to hold back on giving him that rise and to instead "cash in" on his 2019. IMO, even to those who think we've lost value in Frost, I think the gain we get from Langdon should outweigh the loss to Frost. We need more run/carry on the wing than we do Frost's daring runs out of the backline. We will be a better side long-term with May and Lever playing FB/CHB reliably and Langdon on the wing.

Yokozuna has posted good info before. Patience required.

Herald Sun journalist Jon Ralph:- “For all those people saying Tom Lynch has ruined free agency, we saw (Brandon) Ellis and (Adam) Tomlinson go from two teams in Grand Finals to effectively basket-case teams,” he said on Fox Footy’s Trading Day. The AFL free agents still on the market and available for cheap I know what he’s trying to say but if that doesn’t give the Melbourne Football Club the ammunition to attack the coming season then nothing will.

The whole thing was trite, and a blow off. A couple of hundred words to satisfy the editor. Sure. We do have problems. I'm 80% convinced that last year was a combination of injuries, no pre seasons and a bit of bathwater drinking. The other 20%... dunno. but the off field moves may tell us a bit about that. But I really don't know. We have talent. We have a pretty good team looking after us. We have a game that can scare the best on our day. What we don't have is belief. I expect us to [censored] it up. As do you. And that permeates into the club. Richmond had it for years, got it right, and now they don't believe that they can get it wrong. I don't know the answer but I do know basket case is not it

Posters are assuming that this comment refers to the two clubs negotiating over Melbourne’s draft pick #3. That may or may not be the case - they could have been negotiating around a possible swap of picks later in the draft which might have fallen over once the Frost/Langdon trades were finalised. I’m still convinced that at some point, the Demons and GWS will sit down and discuss a mutually beneficial trade for our pick 3.

They have their similarities, they both sometimes deal with pieces of turds.

Recommended Bonar as a great player after 11 matches whilee omitting he's had two knee recos. Tomlinson is the equivalent to a Lynch?

With GWS chasing pick 3 and Geelong also wanting a pick in the top ten, maybe we could try something like this? Trade 3 and future second(hawks) to GWS for 6 and Caldwell (or another decent player) Then on trade 6 and 50 to Geelong for 14 and 17 and hope to get Weightman at 14. I also think we should give Sam murray a chance as he will cost us nothing. IN: Tomlinson, Langdon, Caldwell, Murray, Picks 14 (Weightman), 17, 26 Out: Frost, Pick 3, 22, 41, Future second

Not that I will post a best every week but here's one for today: Randwick Race 6 no.1 Noire ($3.50) win

One of the tests facing Melbourne’s coaching panel is how it will bring on the development of the club’s as yet untried youngsters such as Bedford, Bradtke, Jordan and Nietschke as well as those like Chandler and Sparrow who has a brief taste at the highest level. If we can get a couple of top level footballers out of this group, it will be a major achievement on their part because none of them came together the club with the big reputations of the high draft picks.

Good summation mate, it takes time. Core group of 80-130 games + and 25-29 yrs average over a sustained period. Harmes and Clarrie are our 2 best mids and Gus needs to get back into that echelon. Viney will always be a competitive beast. Tmac when fit will be good at creating space for Weod once he starts to believe. ANB is an interesting one, several times I'd have traded and delisted him, he has frustrated the hell out of me for the last couple of years but you never now 3 to 4 solid seasons of a good number of games under his belt and a good pre season it becomes in grained, I belong, composure, strong tank and ability to gut run continuously. You get less fatigued and the basics become that consistently with disposal and decision making

From my brother a Dockers member and another mate also a member both virtually said the same thing Kicking is not great, but has improved the last couple of years with him getting fitter and less fatigued His gut running is going to be hard to replace(especially with Hill also going) he just brings others into the game with the options and space he creates. A steal for a player they both see as still on the up

Nah he'll stay at Carlton for life, country boy who didn't spend much time in Perth and from what I've heard, absolutely loves living in Melbourne but why wouldn't you. Great City especially on his wage

Great post. Spot on mate. I'm not a big fan of Langdon's disposal, but his outside gut running to position will fit in perfectly to our 2018 game style. Here's hoping for a positive and uninterrupted pre season for our whole list.

Do you reckon that injuries to TMac, Weid, Melksham, Hannan and AVB and having to play Fritsch back to cover injuries down there had anything to do with it? More talent there would be better but we clearly made a very solid play for Elliott and Yokozuna is reporting we're in the mix for another forward. Staggering you don't acknowledge this.

Super happy about this one. Trading our second rounder always delivers top value. I can’t wait to see him with ball in hand running down the wing at the G sussing out forward options (with a fit and in form T Mac, Weid, Melksham, Petracca, Hannan and [insert forward gut busting running mid] demanding the ball). We could turn this ship around faster than everyone thinks.

Is there a calculator to see where on the spectrum one sits? Asking for a friend.

Based on his 6 AFL games and his NEAFL reports and stats. He’s averaging 19 disposals and 0.6 goals in NEAFL playing midfield and half forward. He’s rarely in the best either at NEAFL level. He handballs more than he kicks, and from watching him it’s because he’s not able to make space and just transfers the pressure to his teammates. At underage level his size meant he could push off opponents and run off stoppages. At NEAFL and AFL level his size isn’t a weapon and he’s got no other tricks. His other first round team mates such as Hately, Langdon and Caldwell are all performing much better at both NEAFL level and AFL level when playing. He’s a whipping boy on GWS forums. He’s basically the worst of their midfield depth and the worst of their first rounders. Both the eye test and numbers verify this.

Will be nice to see someone running the MCG Wings again. Stephen Stretch style....

The guy he actually reminds me of on our list already is Harmes. At least from a career trajectory up to the end of 2018, albeit he's been more consistent for longer than James. Harmes used to be an absolute butcher because he'd run all day and by the time he got it, he'd be so fatigued that he'd turn it over. It's a great point in that with more pre seasons under the belt, gut runners like that can improve their skill by foot. If the likes of Harmes, Tom McDonald, ANB, Tomlinson and Langdon all get a decent pre season in, we'll have quite a few gut runners there, which will certainly help us win a few more games on the G and counter the spread of teams like Collingwood and Richmond, who have consistently murdered us on the outside for 3+ years now.

Can't remember who mentioned McKay but I'd give Carlton 3 and 26 for 9 and Mckay

I'd take that dreadful Paddy Cripps bloke off their hands too if they want.

How do you know we haven’t tried to get a small forward in?? Or a forward at all?? and for people jumping up and down for a small forward, do you just want to bring in someone for the sake of it?? Even if they aren’t that good?? Heaps of people keep being picky about so many players and finding their faults as to why we shouldn’t bring them in and then people just want to bring in someone cos we have a need, even if they aren’t good enough. I agree we need a better small forward, but they actually need to be an improvement on what we have. I don’t think butler is an improvement on his recent form, gray possibly is, but I don’t think they are someone we need to chase hard.

Have a healthy, solid pre season and get our systems right and we absolutely can.

Because to get to half a metre out to kick the gimme goal he has to run bloody hard, and outrun his opponent. And it makes his opponent a little more wary and defensive.

So we let go a player who can, but kept a coach that can't Pathetic

Welcome to the club Ed! He's EXACTLY what we need. I've been a fan for a few years, and he is one of the best wingmen in the AFL. Statistically, he is virtually identical to Brad Hill, actually edges him slightly, and we got him for a sliver of the cost AND he's only 23. He could be one of our best trade ins we've had in a long long time.

Melbourne says it would take an extraordinary deal to trade away its No. 3 pick after locking in both of its wingmen for the long-term future. ..................followed up by a load of waffle................ But while rival clubs will come to the Demons with offers for their No. 3 pick, with players like young Victorian midfielder Hayden Young around that mark, it would have to be an amazing offer. “Right now we are very happy to keep pick three. There are very good players at the top end of the draft and it would need to be something really attractive from a club. Right now our preference is to keep the pick,” he said. Having missed out on Collingwood free agent Jamie Elliott, the Demons are more likely to look internally or in the national draft to try to find another small forward.

So this deal turns out to be Frost and small downgrades to our 2nd and 3rd for Langdon. Shut up and take my money!

If you’re one of the plebs that are upset Frost is gone, you’re not allowed to be happy we landed Langdon.

Shish...we all see what we want to see. I see Frost for Langdon. With some minor drops in minor picks which with smart selections won't matter. How is that not a massive win. We lose a player in a position we have 5 players on the list for and pick up a player who has something we are desperate for. Pick 22 downgrade to 26 this year in a dud draft where we might have our eyes on a player at 22 who would still be there at 26 so no loss. Pick 42 to pick 50 in a dud draft. A pick is only worth what player you get with it. These picks will be a lottery anyway. We might end up with a better player at 50 than 42. I'm not concerned with this one. Next years second rounders. We give up ours for Langdon and get back Hawks which should be a higher pick than ours next year. Win, win and win. That's what I see

Today's wrap: Upgrading a NQR defender who is borderline best 22 when everyone is fit, and who constantly breaks team rules and structures but is exciting, for a top 5-10 player who is only 23 and fills a specific need, for the equivalent cost of ~pick 52. Today was a win.