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Probably because he's a decidedly average player who wouldn't solve our forward issue.

Ratugolea and Weid would strike fear into any VFL defence

We are very much not in the same position as Geelong.

Honestly, Freo can GAGF. They've been courting Luke for ages, and now just expect us to accept unders. Get stuffed

Wouldn't stress about it DD. Think of it this way - when Oppo teams are coming up against the Dees - the fans are filled with dread at the thought of Petracca, Oliver, Pickett, Fritsch, Langdon Gawn and May. Gawn & May are at/nearing 30 & we will need to find good replacements (Grundy a good start for a few years), but Trac, Oliver, Pickett, Fritsch & Langdon have years ahead of them, hopefully at the Dees. We are filled with dread when we play Geelong too - but its in reference to Hawkins (34), Selwood (Retired), Dangerfield (32), Smith (33), Cameron (29). Stengle is good, but benefited from the fresh voice, new energy & sympathetic coaching of Eddie. Like us with Mark Williams, this will fade & I have doubts on him going on to become a multi-time AA. Pickett has already proven his consistency and quality on and off-field (presuming we can keep him!). If he was picking up the crumbs of Hawkins and Cameron, he too would be AA and then some. Cameron is 29 and is the weapon we don't have. He'll keep them competitive for years, but will be less effective once Hawkins moves on. De Koning is very good - but unproven over the medium/long term - and the guys they're bringing in are all talented but also unproven. They'll have ups & downs before they get to 25-27 not to mention significantly change the mindset/chemistry of the current team presuming they all make the 22. Probably more than any other team in the competition, we have a proven cohort of 24-27 year olds that are top-line and should keep us in the hunt for the next 3-6 years. They've been through their ups and downs already. We're the envy of the comp in this regard. Even on the next tier down - Geelong have very good players yes - Guthrie (30), Stewart (29) - arguably equivalent to Brayshaw (27), Salem (27) when on form. Jack Henry is very good and young (24) - but Petty is arguably his equal (22). Tuohy & Hibberd are analogous too. Swings and roundabouts across the rest of the field - they've got good role players in some spots, we have good role players in others. Most of this Geelong group played their entire careers together and have only saluted at the end after a dream season where everything went right. They had to change their coaching, gameplan and get quite a few fresh voices to get across the last 15% they lacked in previous years. They're always a strong team, and the home ground advantage ensures that, but they're hardly on the cusp of a dynasty. I'm not saying this year was their dead cat bounce, but I think of it a little along those lines. In many respects it was their last chance. Let them enjoy it as its unlikely to last. Our guys went through the [censored] together and came out the other side whilst they're still in their prime. That counts for so much more. Ditto for our supporters - Geelong fans think they've enjoyed this flag. Truthfully they've got no idea what it feels like to see the entire journey start to finish. I've been vocal on our shortcomings this year and I may be wrong - there are no guarantees in either direction - but I know which team I'd rather support from this point on.

"I'm a free speech advocate, but it appears some of you only want to read opinions you like." - Hannibal Inc.

I wouldn't be relying too much on T Mac next year.Reliabilty post another foot injury is a real concern in my view. We need ready made replacements for all our tall forwards.

Short Memories. Played some excellent games for us before his knee popped

Dont get those two mixed up, jontee

But you just did.

On Dunkley. AFL website reports: "The Lions put forward pick 15 and a future first-round pick for Dunkley but were keen to get picks 30, 39 and a future third-round back, which would have seen them essentially splitting for points as well as getting Dunkley". Bulldogs turned it down, pick 15 was traded out and now they are bleating about what Brisbane can offer and threatening the PSD. Bulldogs should have learnt their lesson with the Stringer trade a few years ago. Knocked back the picks offered, Ess traded some out and Bulldogs got a fair bit less than the initial offer. Bulldogs showing lack of understanding of what the other party needs: points for their F/S which clearly the Lions have prioritised.. Lots of grandstanding happening at the kennel over Dunkley. No way will they send thier BnF into the PSD. Also, losing some cred in not being able to smoothly get deals done. They should wisen up. They can't win every trade!!

SWYL - I’ve never heard the term ‘Cloud Fairies’ before. Sounds like a brilliant band. Thanks, you made me laugh. As for religions I can only speak on behalf of my experiences at Catholic school. My parish priest as a child was Gerald Ridsdale, my Year 8 coordinator was Robert Best. That’s number 1 and 2 in the most convicted sexual child abusers in the state. The church continues to pay their legal fees even though they’ve both been in jail for 25 years. I know victims, and as a teenager I was groomed by another Brother I’ve reported multiple times to the taskforce (and never had any reply). Everyone is entitled to their beliefs, but they can’t simply turn away from the truth of the pain that their organisations have created. That’s likes only following your team when they win the flag. I only have 1 religion now. The Demons. Weirdly it doesn’t stop me praying to someone I dont think exists for a key position forward.

Getting a bit overall peed off with all this Dogga say he won’t let Dees get screwed over - how? Freo had months to work out how to make an equitable deal and are now playing games like holding Lobb deal over so they don’t include anything they get in a Jackson deal. WC are just a non starter side issue. Now media saying we should just accept unders which they don’t do for any other deal. How about instead of that they report “Freo should put up a fair deal for a former pick 3 with great credentials. They’ve had plenty of time to work it out”

I'd take a slightly lower offer from Eagles just for the laughs

So Ratugolea has requested a trade to port, how were we not at the front the queue. Another missed opportunity to fix the key fwds.

Favourite thing to see on Demonland Trade and Free Agency Forum... Also the most disappointing ... like deciding on eating my biennial Hungry Jacks Burger...and then regretting the decision.

Might head to the Cats. Crows will probably throw in pick 5 knowing the Cats’ luck

If Harrison Petty wasn’t at the club, Tommo would be a fine tall back to free up Lever.

Yeah, I’m of the view that if we can’t get a pick inside 5 (accounting for Ashcroft bid) you can almost throw a blanket over the next 25. If Freo can’t do a deal that gives us a chance of getting that very high pick, then take 13 & two futures. Losing overall draft value to end up selecting with pick in the 6-10 range isn’t worth it this year in my opinion.

Freo are douchebags. This is eerily similar to what happened with Hogan in 2018. We wanted two early first rounders, Freo wouldn't budge. We ended up accepting "unders" of pick 6 (May) and 23 (Sparrow). May alone helped get us a flag and Sparrow looks like he'll be a 150 gamer. Freo got two dud years out of Hogan then offloaded him to GWS for a fourth rounder - and now he's rediscovering his best form again with the Giants. Hope the karma bus hits them again. Would be great if they tanked it next year and that future first became a top 5 pick.

Heard from someone that would know, but still don’t shoot the messenger

Who is doing the “urging”- Fremantle or the reporters?

Seriously. What a bunch of nuffies.

They'll probably post a 🏠 when they're about to announce Jackson coming home.

Cal Twomey said Tomlinson has 2 years to go on his contract and Deledio didn't correct him so I think that sounds the case - @Lucifers Hero They're actually in the hands of another club wanting Tomlinson, I'm sure we'd do the deal to free the cap.

Gold Coast fans will be salty?

You sure do love cancel culture for someone who bangs on about free speech and being open to different opinions. Anyways, on the actual point - Gawn attended 258 less ruck contests this year than he did in 2021. His hitout stat was the lowest it's been since 2014 and his shots at goal was slightly up as was his marks inside 50. Luke Jackson's ruck contest average went up by 6.4 per game. His shots at goal average came down slightly also as did his marks inside 50. I would say that paints a pretty clear picture that Gawn played more forward this year than last which obviously gives him more opportunity for contested marks.

I wouldn't put it past Freo to suddenly put a good player up for trade that doesn't want to go. I legitimately don't know how you can target a player like LJ and not be able to get the deal done quickly. It shows a complete detachment from reality/naivety.

Gawn's contested marks this year were at a higher average per game than any other year in his career (2.5 - compared to next best 2.3 - which was last year). I'd say he was about on par with 2021. He was the second best contested mark in 2022 behind Tom Lynch, who was easily the best.

I thought we were bringing Grundy in so we could finally beat Collingwood

Or we trade 27 and 54 to Brisbane for 25. Nets them an extra 170pts for Ashcroft, and Collingwood have their pick 25.

Ridiculous clickbait journalism...you posted exactly what I was going to. Absolutely nothing in the article relating to the "urging' in the headline. This deal will get done and freo will improve their offer. I think it will be done tomorrow or early next week

Dave's not here, (bin) man.

On this, believe he's been told Petty's move forward is his potential in, although you'd think Disco is a head of him in the pecking order at this stage.

Heard the whole interview live, was definitely more about having a club interested in taking him - likely with some kind of assurance he'll be considered first 22.

Only 6 days of the trade period to go!! That means only 5 and 1/2 days until something happens!

Thanks, AFL press releases on trades are usually accurate. What I think has happened is that the club and Tomlinson have quietly renegotiated his contract giving him an extra year to the 4 originally and spreading the $ a bit more. We did that last year with Lever, Gawn and a few others. In a way it makes Tomlinson slightly more attractive if the $ are less in the last two years not so much if we back ended it...

Sometimes those bits have the most flavour... but I'm not sure how to turn that into a footy analogy...

What’s the bet the deal is already agreed but the AFL is making Demons & Dockers to string it out to the last couple of days to get more media attention and fans worked up?

North getting excited.

WC will not like that.

It doesn't matter what we get for LJ as long as the return is sufficient to complete other trades that we are targeting.

We wanted 2 picks inside 10 - doesn't mean we thought we would get it! That was just our starting position. If we get a top 10 pick (this year) and freo's first next year, then there's a chance that will be top 10 in that draft. From what I've heard, there is no way they would trade Treacy - he's a developing player in the area of the ground that is their greatest weakness.

He'll get to Freo. Just lots of back and forth about the finer details going on behind the scenes IMO. There can be interconnected deals all going on at once - perhaps something to do with us trading part of what we get for Jackson - so it can be a bit messy and lots of back and forth with multiple clubs. Even more so with a club like us who seem to have a more holistic plan for trade period. Just gotta hold tight I think.

It's a good base line I agree. But how are we suppose to know how that talent can translate to AFL level when our coaching staff refuses to reward their strong form at VFL level? Geelong had 5 debutants this year and we had 1. And it's not even about how many player you debut, just another small example. But you could mount a strong case that at stages during the year the likes of JVR, Chandler, Laurie, Bedford, Dunstan could have all been given a fair go at AFL level. Anyway, trying not to be negative nancy.. will leave it at that.

Pains me to say this but I'm loving the way Geelong have gone about it with their list management. Win a flag but haven't even rested on their laurels. They bring in 3 quality young talent in Bowes, Bruhn and Ollie Henry plus pick 7. They're bringing in freshness and looking at esy to regenerate their list while continuing to contend. Stark difference to how we went about last year when we brought in Luke Dunstan to spend majority of the year in the VFL. Even now, whilst Grundy is an upgrade on Jackson I'm not sure we've made much improvement with our list moving into next year. Talk of Gawn playing majority up forward simply does not fix our forward half issue at all. We've lost depth in Bedford and im not entirely sure of we have a plan in finding a replacement. Still a bit to go during the trade period, but it's a bit deflating watching other top sides like Brisbane and Geelong top up with some quality talent to fit their needs.

Poor bastar*. He’s sent to the other side of the country to earn a buck (or 400,000 of them), and has to feign interest in their vile fan base. We know you’re there under sufferance Jayden. You’ll always be a Dee to me❤️💙❤️

Bobo , I have taught aboriginal (Koorie was the accepted term then)kids in both high schools and KODE schools. I have life examples of every point in that article that both support it and deny it. High horsed support of the oppressed Koorie kid is just as irrelevant as higher horsed support of the notion that Koorie kids fail despite all the help they are given There are no solutions that fit all cases. In my experience, the notion of family or kin is far more important than the notion of being black or Koorie or aboriginal. This of course complicates the matter even further. My point is, avoid generalisations, the matter is far more complex.

Collingwood wanted a pick inside 25 for Grundy. With Brisbane acquiring 21 & 25 today, pick 27 will likely slide up to 25 after Brisbane match bids. No need to do any extra work to give Collingwood a better pick, we’ve effectively met the asking price.