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Reasonable points. I agree petty has every right to play where he wants to play - and for whatever reason he likes. It's a business and clubs will cut players - or not play them - when it suits them. Just look at the Billings situation. Forced out because the saints weren't gonna play him. Or ask Deakyn Smith about loyalty. But personally I dislike he chose to use the media to make his case and put undue pressure on the club. And choosing to play a round of golf with players from a club you are agitating to get to, regardless if they are old mates or not, BEFORE the trade period ended was very poor form. I mean c'mon if he was gagging for a game of golf with fogerty et al he could have waited 'till this morning. And making sure the SA media know ahead of time and are there to report on it and do a door stop interview? Please. If anyone thinks he and his manager didn't orchestrate that circus they are kidding themselves. It was particularly galling given petty does stuff all media or promotional work for the dees. Again, his call and he can do what he wants. As i said Its a business for players, clubs and managers. But it's not a business for fans, its a passion. And when a player jerks around the club they should understand it will upset and hurt fans. I would understand if he had an axe to grind and felt he was being treated unfairly. But by his own admission he doesn't and hasn't been. Have your conversations about wanting to be traded internally and show some respect to your current employer who has given you your shot at AFL footy - not to mention strongly supported you through the zorko drama and helped you be a premiership player. And show some respect to dees fans who at the end of the day are the reason he is able to be paid handsomely to live out his dream. I'd be more forgiving if he was a kid. For that reason I cut Horne Francis plenty of slack. But petty is a grown [censored] adult for petts sake.

Welcome aboard Jack Billings. Let's focus on what he can do, rather than what he can not. Im backing him in 100%.

Well, within 60 seconds this genius gave you Brian Wilson. Couldn't make it at the dogs, who were woeful at the time. The roos were better, but didn't set the world on fire and they were happy to ship him off to the lowly dees. The very definition of an unfulfilled talent. Small body too. And my oh my did the mighty dees make him better: - won the Brownlow in 1982, his first season at the dees - the only player to have won a Brownlow Medal at his third club - At 20 years of age, he was the youngest brownlow winner since Bob Skilton in 1959 - Melbourne leading Goalkicker in 1985 - Victorian State Representative in 1982, 1983 and 1988 Meet your definition? Or did you write 'recent' in invisible ink?

Haha really? Drugs in society is far worse then the two examples you've just brought, by an absolute mile. Not only has drugs completely torn apart families and children in society but its also taken the lives of many good people. I work in the child and abuse unit services in the region country areas and I'm seeing kids as young as 10 addicted and overdosing on the streets. Why? Because this is an intergenerational cycle that's been past down from their abusive parents or through the OOHC (out of home care system.) and its easy to get their hands on for a quick couple of bucks. It's cheap then ever on the streets. There are simply no comparisons. Two completely different set of complex issues.

Binman, I normally have a great deal of time for your posts but you are in the chorus of critics here, and i think it is all wrong. As you say yourself, he does no promotional stuff - in other words, he is NOT media-savvy. He was caught on a golf course in an unguarded moment and after all, what he said was, he is happy to play for the Dees! He is a young man from the absolute back blocks of South Australia, not used to picking his words or to having his words picked over. One thing is for sure: if he is foolish enough to read the vitriol being poured on him here, he will be out the door ASAP. I say: support him, make him feel valued and welcomed, and he may well end up a great ten-year player for us.

Its like been graded at the halfway mark of a marathon, given part of the period is about draft picks... Would our "ranking" go up or down if our picks convert to Reid in a months time? Footy media has become such lightweight high churn drool its hardly worth the effort to contemplate it.

We will keep 42 because it is the answer to the ultimate question of life, the Universe and Everything! As @Slartibartfast can attest.

Ok but expect to be unfairly maligned before you even pull on a guernsey. I mean, that’s how you roll, right?

Fair enough. But leaving aside my belief the media interview was orchestrated or the fact that because he is from a small country town doesn’t mean he is a clueless country bumpkin (who by the way left said back blocks when he was 14 and went to boarding school in Adelaide- not to mention having lived in Australia's second biggest city for the last 4 years) I'd ask a simple question. If, as you suggest, he is not media savy (which I didn't suggest by the way - I said he is not interested - Harry is a smart bloke who has, in my opinion, just used the media for his own ends ie media savy) why did he stop for not one, but two media interviews? He could have chosen to do what he had no doubt done a million times - walked on by the gaggle, wavede his hands, and simply said not today fellas. I don't recall koz, who definitely isn't media savvy, getting sucked into doing a door stop interview when he was considering his future Again, Harry can do what he wants. And in the scheme of things it isn't a big deal. He'll play for us next year and perhaps beyond. And I'm not meaning to tar and feather Harry. But by the same token it is completely reasonable for fans who are passionate and for whom their support isnt a business decision to be upset. Or annoyed. Or frustrated. And by the by I reckon vitriol is a bit strong. I haven't read any posts going super hard at petty. As my dear departed mum said to me more than once - I'm not angry, I'm disappointed.

The top end trade I could foresee is: WC give 1 get 2 + 11 North give 2 + 3 get 1 + 6 MFC give 6 + 11 get 3 But I'd prefer to keep 6 + 11

My views are, I feel so surprised that supporters get upset, when someone (only ever of value) wants to change their lifestyle for reasons they chose not to publicise. At least he has had the decency to let the club know in advance so they can plan for it. Of course, in the end he may stay - and that benefits us. But I'd argue he is one leg/foot injury away from having a career severely compromised by injury, conversely he is one non injury away from having a very very good career. This is the dice to be rolled.

This thread is so hard on him for some unguarded comments in an unplanned interview. In which he said he was staying at Melbourne. He was on the golf course!! He is a young bloke and not someone who is regularly interviewed. He said he is staying and I believe he meant it. Give him a break. Let's just hope he comes out fit and firing and adds the final piece to our forward line!

MELBOURNE Who left: James Jordon (free agent, Sydney), James Harmes (trade, Western Bulldogs), Brodie Grundy (trade, Sydney) Who arrived: Tom Fullarton (trade, Brisbane Lions), Shane McAdam (trade, Adelaide), Jack Billings (trade, St Kilda) Draft picks owned: 6, 11, 42 Jon Ralph: “The Dees’ Grundy experiment goes kaput. So it’s Grundy to Tom Fullarton, who didn’t play a lot of ruck last year for Brisbane. Harmes and James Jordon go, which strips depth. Harry Pretty, it’s probably 12 months and then he moves on, even though he couldn’t get a deal done to Adelaide. But Billings lands – Lachie Hunter 2.0, unwanted at his previous club, high talent. So they’d feel like they maybe rescued this trade period, but it does mean Max Gawn is going to have to play a heck of a lot of ruck time in those first 24 weeks until finals.” Leigh Montagna says: “I like what they’ve done. I think McAdam can seriously play and add a point of difference. Jack Billings is an interesting one, but I do think he’s got some good footy – he had some really high rating years from 2017 to 2019 – and has got that point of difference and composure and nice kick that can help them in the front third, which has been a big issue for them. I wasn’t necessarily a buyer they needed a key forward who’s going to be the difference. They’re not far away. They’ve just got to tidy up a few issues. I think they’re in a pretty good space.” Foxfooty.com.au trade grade: C+

Anyone catch Gettable today? Cal was saying Dees, GC & Roos were in talks early in the FA period to swap picks. GC’s pick 5 would have gone out, Dees would have given up 6, 14 & F1, Roos throw in pick 3 & a ‘24 end of 1st rd pick (compo). Dees would have taken pick 3 & Roos future end of 1st rd, Roos would take picks 5 & 6 & GC take home the rest for further pick swaps and bid matching. Obviously the deal didn’t get done, but interesting that we explored trading our hand to get to pick 3 (not 1). This is all prior to Dogs locking in pick 4, so were we expressly trying land in front of Hawks (at that point heavily linked to Duursma, also like Watson)? If the Roos remain keen, a variation of that deal could be possible if the Eagles decide to draft Reid.

Drafting for position is a very bad strategy; especially considering they are kids. Our flag was won with 3 traded in Key Position players; only TMac being a recruit from long ago. Also Petty has a contract.

Source of the following is Neds on the platform formerly known as Twitter:

Source ?

I've taken the time to rate Ralph. D-

I’d say we freed up some money in the salary cap which is a huge bonus for us - especially now that we have a preview of what clubs will be throwing at Harry Petty.

These posts are always interesting looking back, Last year FoxSports had the following for example Melbourne (A-) IN: Grundy, Schache and Hunter OUT: Hunt Jackson Bedford Weideman Geelong (A+) IN: Bowes, Tahun and Ollie Henry. OUT: Cooper Stephens Collingwood (B) IN: Mitchell, McStay, Hill, Frampton OUT: Grundy, Ollie Henry

a bit hard on Hunter.

Mackie would be holding out for picks 99, 117 and 135 to seal the deal.

Missed out on a chance to have his pay (probably) doubled and move to his home state. Remember, he’s a young fella and was probably excited by having those two opportunities present themselves. I’m sure he’ll be absolutely fine once he’s back into full training and season 2024.

I think Tim Lamb would have played the bad cop

Welcome to the Melbourne Football Club Jack. Get ready to be totally panned by people here on a weekly basis if you aren't hitting 100% of your kicks.

The main target for us should be to move his partner to Melbourne. I don’t know what she studies or does for work, but surely someone on D’land can get this girl a job in Melbourne.

After todays news, perhaps an IQ test would be more appropriate.

It's like there's a contest to see who can be the most miserable git on here. Thanks for your entry Clint

Unless he's a culture killer and St Kilda couldn't wait to get him out the back door, then I can't see one ounce of downside in getting a player who once had a 30 possession/5 goal game and recorded 12 Brownlow votes in one particular year, for a future 3rd rounder. At worst he's simply replacing JJ or Harmes in the depth department at maybe 250K a year?? Sounds like a good bit of business at this stage.

Surely given all the kerfuffle that is going on in recent days, we need an in depth period of self reflection, and recommitment. Who amongst you is genuinely serious about getting the best out of yourself and from the team as a whole? Not who would like to, but who really wants to? Who is prepared to make sacrifices - personal, recreational, physical - for team success? There seems to be far too much self indulgence at least in some - I probably sound like a cranky old bugger (which I am) but if you are not prepared to go all in full time maybe you should look elsewhere or get another job?

Was wondering how they test 'Managed'...

Just left an AFLW function at the ‘G where Mick gave us an injury update. Paxy, Madi and Loz are all good to go. Tayla is being given another week off since there’s some tendon issue tied in with the hammy thing. Nothing serious but they want to make sure she’s 100%. Gabi is “50/50” and another omission is Lampy. An x-ray revealed she has a small fracture in her wrist that will see her miss 3-4 weeks.

Tim Lamb next season for sure

Case-in-point: We selected Petty as a player whose type we didn’t require in terms of list balance, but he was too good to pass up when he was still there at our selection. Seems to have paid dividends.

He can't kick, he's slow, he's really soft, I hear his mum is a drug dealer, there are rumours going around that he slept with his teammate's wife. Can't believe we wasted a 6th round draft pick on this hack. We could have recruited the next Bontempelli instead.

I thought that Hunter looked good in 2023 because I don't think Langdon had a great year. .... then I had the thought that Langdon didn't have as good a year as 2021 and 2022 as we we played a large portion of our attack through him and Jordon and Brayshaw played more as a defensive wing. Phew! Two thoughts before 10am there. I'm out till lunch soz

Had much worse seasons at the Dogs too like 2022.

of course his head was turned by the crom offer - he could buy the majority of wudinna for the contract $$s he was offered unfortunately, he, his manager, and the crom has ZERO bargaining power as he's under contract for another TWO seasons note that neither he, his manager, or the respective clubs ever confirmed that he was actively seeking a trade... until such a time as the player - or, more realistically, their manager - requests the trade it's all just fugazi

Your count of 34 is the same as my count of 35 as I have included Melksham because right now he is on the senior list. My list spot numbers assumes the 2023 mix of 36 senior players and 6 A rookies to total the max allowed of 42. The club can change this mix. I believe the calc of 4 list spots is incorrect as it assumes Melksham is not on any list. Right now he is on the senior list and if not he has to be counted on the A rookie list. Either way we have three list spots available. Re these 4-list spot scenarios: ND6, 11, 42 and Brown with Melksham to RL. ND6, 11, and Brown with Melksham retained. ND1, 42, and Brown with Melksham retained. ND1, 42, extra late pick from Eagles, and Brown with Melksham to RL. These will all result in an increase in the number of senior list spots from 36 to 37 or 38, which I have noted as possibilities in posts above. If those are the scenarios proposed by the media they should read this thread. I think they are wrong! There are 3 list spots right now! As an aside, we will only have 4 if K Turner is delisted but that will only generate an additional A rookie spot. But that decision has not been taken and I think our current list should be the starting point for list spots.

If the player you get is a Bont, Selwood, Dusty type, who stays fit most of the time, it is understandable. My fear is that with all the eggs in one basket, if he is injury prone, or not as good as hoped, you have sacrificed so much. Anyway, as we say on here, in JT we trust.

RUOK?

You must be thinking of a different Russell Robertson!

Homesickness my [censored].. Crows threw some serious dollars at him and he went sniffing up their leg like a Jack Russell.

Good get. Our Jack quota has been too low the last few seasons.

He makes a lot of cash from the Dees. He manages some of our best players. Also nice of him to acknowledge that SOS woke up in time to chat to Melbourne 😂

They are experiencing money sickness 🤑

Is he actually an ex cop? Explains a lot if true! Wish coaches spoke like this more often and just don't feed media [censored]. The Petty stuff still worries me, hope we can get him to settle in Melb. I Travel weekly to SA so happy to transport his mum's cooking every week.

As a side note, does Billings have a rather worse-for-wear painting of Dorian Gray in his attic? The guy rivals Bernie Vince in the perpetually youthful appearance department.

Indeed. We used a 2nd and two 3rds to bring in Fullerton, Billings and McAdam. Lost Jordan, Harmes and Grundy: depth or surplus to needs. Hibberd, Dunstan retired. And we have 6 and 11 to use in the draft I think that's a good outcome

Easily the most underrated player to go around for the Dees in the last 50 years.