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OMG!? Mark Stevens @Stevo7AFL Believe Melbourne a long way ahead in Bennell chase. Looking every bit a man who wants to be there, and saying the same. Very positive visit to Dees HQ. Dees have nothing to lose ... @7NewsMelbourne

I disagree

The best use of his speed this season was when he chased down Petruccelle and ripped his jumper to shreds. He was awarded the free, took the kick and booted it out on the full. The ball re-entered the Eagles 50. This is Frost. You whine about mediocrity, playing it safe hasn’t gotten us anywhere in 60 years. I think it’s time we don’t play it safe and take a gamble on someone like Bennell.

and how many flags can we attribute to this policy?

Love the James Harmes story. Started as a rookie for the team he loved and grew up barracking for. In his early days he said he knew he was on the fringe of 'best 22'. Well young man, you have come a very long way since. Play any role your team asks: tagger, midfielder, inside/outside, defender. Love the way he plays and absolutely rapt he has re-signed. Not many players get 5 year contracts at the dees - shows how highly the club thinks of him (and that a few clubs came calling at trade time!).

Summary of the interview (paraphrasing): Pick swap with North – looked at next year’s draft which is compromised: 30% of top 30 tied to someone else. Look at the DVI but deal needs to advantage both clubs. We had a bit of interest in pick 3 during the trade period as it effectively becomes the first live pick. Pick 97 is expected to come in significantly. Lots of chats with other list managers re how draft/pick swap scenarios might play out. Had two days with list management and day one they went thru top 20 to 30 players. On second day they looked at the next 25. We are looking to use 3 to 4 picks in the draft (LH note: we only have 3 right now so maybe a split is on the cards). Re picks3: Have 3 players in line for pick 3. Luke Jackson is in that mix. We’ve done a lot of work on him. Don’t see him only as a ruckman and could start his career as a forward. Hayden Young in the mix. Had a bit to improve and has done that. Excellent decision maker and execution. At pick 3, you choose best available. Don’t outsmart yourself! Pick 3 won’t necessarily influence what happens at 8. Tom Green in the mix for pick 3 (LH note: sounds like we rate him highly and would bid for him) Pick 8 -lots of good players around that pick: Taylor mentioned Kemp, Robertson. Interviewer mentioned Ash, Serong. (LH note: my impression was Weightman not in the mix at that stage). Harley Bennell: Shown resilience. Long process to go. (LH note: Taylor didn’t sound excited but then he is quite laid back) On 2018: Some things didn’t go our way. Some mistakes were made. Players are smarting from last year. Proof will be in the pudding. SSP and mid-year draft dilutes the mature age draft pool. Petty is going to be a very good long term AFL player. Taylor excited about what Spargo and Fritsch can do. Players are in the club a fair bit and on their toes, as they should be.Feels eligibility for NGA and other academies could be scrutinised more. E&OE

Yes, this is why we’re talking about picking him out of the dumpster. Obviously if he was in the nick he was in when he was flying, we’d be talking about multiple first round draft picks. The risks are implicit in the price we’re paying, which is sweet FA in terms of opportunity cost (alternative is the 70th best 18 year old). His salary is a sunk cost - we have to pay someone.

I would say anytime Frost had ball in hand it was a gamble. Gamble out, calculated risk in...

“Yeah Boy” Love Harmes and better than a C Grader.

Tough questions? Here's your answer. Yes, you would suggest we're out of the Martin race and we were probably never in it, such was his desire to get to Carlton. End story. Not that tough.

Langdon, Tomlinson, pick 3, pick 8 and a fit Bennell for nix. If you’re not happy with that trade period you are just plain miserable

Sen just said Bennell to melb WILL happen. lets hope so.

Old mate K-Dog was on this back in August. Has a 4 post, 1 issue contribution to Demonland. Reckon I'll watch any future contributions with interest

Now for Petracca.

Sam Edmund reporting that he want's to play his footy in Melbourne. Think's he'll be training with the Dees. Real chance.

That was a disgraceful assessment for a player that's a duel top 5 B&F place getter and was near BOG in a final. That Buckenara rated him below one of the Wagner's tells me all I need to know about his footy knowledge.

I haven't been this excited about a potential acquisition in a long time. It could be a complete bust. He might pull his calf in the summer, or his first game. Who knows. But I want us to be the club that takes the gamble.

i hope he's not into photography

I'd be happy to just use him as the small forward/X-factor option in the F50 rather than expect him to pump out 14kms of gut running in the midfield, worth a shot, will cost us SFA really.

"Disliked the Jordan Lewis trade" will be read at TGR's eulogy

There's something odd about this thread. But I'm sure it will correct itself soon enough . . .

Thanks very much for the great summary LH. I don't think it's correct that we only have 3 picks. I think we have as many as we need to fill list vacancies up to 40 if we want to but they're at the end of the draft ie currently after 97.

Exellent re-signing. Putting together an excellent career given he was picked up in the rookie draft.

Nope. Right now he is a Delisted Free Agent. This means that during the FA signing period he can sign with any club at any agreed contract. If he chooses to train with multiple clubs during the lead-up to the draft, he will then lose his FA status and have to go into the PSD and see if anyone picks him, that is where he would nominate pay and contract length. . If he waits until after the draft and trains with one club, that club is able to take him as a supplemental rookie before the season begins in March. He has already decided against that PSD route. Melbourne has offered to have him train with them from December onwards. This would allow him to play in our pre-season games and we could then take him as a rookie in the same way we took Lackhart this year. It doesn't look like anyone is willing to pony up an upfront contract to grab him as a Free Agent without seeing if he can train first.

Great insight. Have a listen to the podcast. https://m.afl.com.au/news/2019-10-30/listen-who-is-in-melbournes-sights-with-pick-no3-at-the-draft

Surely the Jackson talk is more about getting Freo to take him at pick 7 instead of someone we want because no way are we taking him at 3.

Perhaps I misheard, but I reckon he said Jackson is right in the mix at pick 3. I think Twomey must have heard a few rumours, because he was very quick to ask the Jackson question.

Yes James is living our dream; passionate supporter becomes much loved and integral member of the team. Love it! PS Also love that he has got better with each year. He has surprised me how good he has become

Well done, Jimmy. One of my favourites nowadays. Is only going to get better. Can't wait to see him attack 2020.

Given where my trade desk is set up, relieved actually.

I know this is a risk, but if he can get back to anywhere near what he was then he's exactly what we have been missing. ...please let this be so.

Tim Gossage just said that Bennell to Melbourne is a sure thing.

If the AFL was in charge of the Melbourne Cup, they'd put the most weight on the slowest horses.

'Just bring it on we will do well l am sure of that . We have picked up 2 quality interstaters that wanted to be at our club and that is a good sign. We have a chance for a great preseason certainly due. Tmac, Jetta, and a fitter May and Lever also a refreshed Hannan, Vanders and the list goes on Hopefully we are on our way to a great 2020 season. I am not wishing l am expecting it, the list is there.

Darren Burgess, Ed Langdon, Harley Bennell, picks 3 and 8 on the way... and most exciting of all, the Data analyst we poached from Port Just when I thought id finally lost interest in footy after that horrible season , this damn club sucks me back in again!

Melbourne - Prelim 2018 B Neville Jetta, Oscar McDonald, Jordan Lewis HB Christian Salem, Sam Frost, Michael Hibberd C Mitch Hannan, Nathan Jones, Angus Brayshaw HF Jake Melksham, Tom McDonald, James Harmes F Aaron vandenBerg, Sam Weideman, Alex Neal-Bullen FOL Max Gawn, Clayton Oliver, Jack Viney I/C Christian Petracca, Charlie Spargo, Dom Tyson, Joel Smith If we happen to bring in Bennell, the following changes to the 2018 prelim team could potentially be come round 1 (best 22): IN: May, Lever, Tomlinson, Langdon, Bennell, Fritsch, Hore OUT: Frost, oMac, Lewis, Spargo, Tyson, Joel Smith, Hannan Great set of ins!

Bennell just been spotted having dinner in Hawthorn with May.

For me it's a no brainer. He'll be relatively cheap and with lists of approx. 44 what's the downside if he doesn't pan out ? His talent is undeniable. 37 disposals and 4 goals against us at the G was evidence of a very special player. He's a better talent than Geelong's recently departed Tim Kelly. If you can't take a risk when you haven't won a flag in over 50 years when can you ? I'll live very comfortably if he came to the Dees and never played a game. Btw, I can share that Goodwin and co. are very bullish about 2020. They're aiming for top 4 and think they can win it - (courtesy of a lunch between Goodwin and well-heeled Demons supporters). Naturally, the usual rebarbative posters will bloviate their inanities at such a suggestion.

A few of Bennell's performances: 2012 V's Melbourne - 38 possessions/4 goals 2012 V Freo - 37 possessions/3 goals 2013 V Brisbane - 27 possessions/3 goals 2013 V Port - 28 possessions/3 goals 2014 V Geelong - 27 possessions/6 goals 2015 V Adelaide - 39 possessions Good stats....I guess....

If this is what will keep you up at night, then I'd suggest we should delist AVB, Smith and KK and replace them all with Bennell. The bloke is a freak. If we can't afford to take the risk with him because we have enough others on the LTI, then quite simply, [censored] the other blokes off to make more room.

If he ends up continuing to show those off field issues, or his calves go ping again, then we haven't lost a thing. He'll get the flick and we've lost nothing. However, if he settles and his body holds up then we've almost got the steal of the entire trade period.

Mark Stevens @Stevo7AFL Harley Bennell has toured the Demons, a lengthy visit this morning, as other clubs weigh up their options. I’ll have the latest and the pics @7NewsMelbourne

This is the time when I think of my very close and longtime friend, @Chook in Perth

Hopefully he is telling May how to come back fit for for day 1 of pre-season.

I’ve crunched some numbers and I believe Geelong only have a rookie slot left to fill.

huge opportunity round 1 is always a mystery and there's usually some surprise results

Well that’s us out then.