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In the words of the great Mark Neeld.. "I did not see this coming"

Carlton get compo pick 49, for a 31 year old, who retired, rather than accept an AFL Covid Vaccination ruling, while we get 53, for a 27 year old, who played 40 games in the last two years and has signed a 3 year deal with another club. Surely the compo can't be in the same round for those two situations. This stinks to high heaven.

Bagging the Lever trade is such a weird hill to die on. Sure, we got Lever and Petty (and, as a direct consequence, a [censored] premiership flag), but with the picks we gave up we could have had... *checks notes* Liam Stocker and one half of a 29-year-old Bryce Gibbs... Lever could retire tomorrow and it would still go down as one of our best trades in the AFL era.

'Blake Howes was on the verge of selection before his injury' Telling you. One to watch next year.

Could this be the year that Peter Bellend gets that elusive feather for his cap he has been chasing since 2018?

Sam Edmund just reporting on Harmes. He wasn’t able to get an audience with Scott over the weekend. Our FD has stepped in and said he’s a required player. He ain’t going anywhere. Harmes wants more mid-field minutes. Spoke with the club earlier in the year. Had their ok to explore his options.

Absolutely. To be fair though, probably works in Essendon's favour if potential recruits don't meet Brad Scott...

(a fair hall) 😄

Lamb: “We have been able to do so by bundling three selections, including two that we did not intend to use at the National Draft this year."

It’s interesting 🤔 People love to bandy the whole “Culture” thing about with abandon, without stopping to think what Culture even means. The consensus is Culture is the foundation upon which success is built, among many other things just as important. So then a player who (trust me on this) is hands down THE most popular among his teammates, who for reasons many and varied would be THE MOST missed by his teammates, is rumoured to be leaving, forced or otherwise, people can’t see that this has the potential to erode what is currently an envious and successful Culture. I’m by no means saying if Harmesy left us that’d be the death Knell of our Club but ffs it also wouldn’t leave our Club to any degree unscathed.

So much hard luck for him, he also had a heap of big collisions due to his courage. Like the one in Adelaide that night for that huge win. I don't usually put much into wishing players the best when they leave us but I'd genuinely like to see Hunty play some good footy at WC.

The Jayden love on here is something to behold. I hope that somehow he comes to know about it. Lots of people have 'outed' themselves as a Jayden fan and I love it! I know in my head that he is gone but I can't bring myself to take him off the list in the 'Contracts' thread 😢 Go well, Jayden.

MFC BIO : James Harmes' versatility may be his biggest strength as a footballer. He started his career as a dangerous small forward, starred in the midfield during Melbourne's 2018 finals charge and played a role across half-back during stages of 2020. He cemented his spot in the senior side in 2021, a key player in the forward line and through the midfield helped the team to a Premiership. While his value on the field is evident, Harmes also brings an important energy off the field, being one of the most popular characters behind closed doors. He has a bubbly personality and was recognised for his community work in 2019, receiving the Ian Ridley Memorial Trophy from his biggest fan, Jon. Why is Harmesy talking to the Bombers!! They are a bunch of misfits right now. (And already have a stacked midfield- Merrett, Shiel, Parush, Caldwell, Hobbs, Mcgrath). Surely Something stinks !!! Harnesy showed he’s still very much in our best 22 and can play the tag role better than anyone else in the team here is the Semi Final best players from AFL WEBSITE BEST Melbourne: Harmes, Petracca, Petty, Langdon, Oliver, Neal-Bullen IN A BAD NIGHT, HE AT LEAST TRIED TO LIFT WHEN OTHERS FAILED he averaged 20 disposals and 5 tackles across 2022 (second in tackles to Viney only) in reduced game time Harmes still has 2 years to run on his contract Heart and soul player He and his family are lifetime Demons supporters 143 games and only 27 2021 premiership player… including the special “kick” to Fritsch that saved the 21GF (ok a little melodramatic) You simply couldn’t meet a better player to our supporters at any function. He is a true clubman. WHY WOULD HE BE SPEAKING TO OTHER TEAMS? And even worse Essendon !!! So you’d have to think that he was he told during the exit interview that it’s be you are down the order in the midfield and expected to be pushed back further to allow Sparrow and Jordon more time. (Is he not one of the coach’s favourites like Sparrow, Spargo or ANB!?) Harmesy is a Melbourne man He has flaws but so does every player. . We love him - his footy, his passion, he gives his all. Imv Harmesy should still be viewed strongly as a required player !!!

You should be ecstatic with this trade given how poor Jason Taylor is with later picks. We've taken them out of his hands.

I’m pretty sure the original pick swap which got us Kosi Pickett was a clear loss on points value. That’s why you ignore them.

West Coast will be laughing Freo have nothing to trade unless they are prepared to give up a top five player. WCE will split its second pick into say 7 and 10 and we will end up with one of those and WCE's future first. (Not great) The only comfort I will take is that Freo who fanned the flames will end up burnt

So the issue might be semantics. Harmes might have spoken to Essendon, or his Manager might have spoken to Essendon, or his Manager may have had a meeting with Essendon, but Harmes has not had a Meeting with Essendon. Then again what is a meeting?

The reaction on here is something else… Harmes has a role with little midfield time that the club may see as insurance we don’t need with Sparrow and Jordon and not ideal because he struggles in other aspects to his role on wing and in the forward line. This is ripe for a team hell bent on flags to look to move on to better position ourselves in other areas. Also James believes he is mid but we need outside run to compliment our bulls, and we have to find it and play it somehow and somewhere. If it does happen, it might be best for all parties.

Interesting article https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/grundy-to-take-pay-cut-when-he-signs-with-demons-20221003-p5bmvw.html Collingwood’s All-Australian ruckman Brodie Grundy has signalled that he will take a pay cut when he becomes a Melbourne player in the coming days. Collingwood want a pick inside 25 for the 2018-19 All-Australian. He had signed a seven-year deal (before he became a free agent) in 2020 that would pay him an average between $920,000-$950,000 with the Demons picking up the lion’s share of the five-year deal, which is understood to be lower in the final two years. Also Melbourne have out-of-contract forward Toby Bedford, who has asked to be traded to GWS. Discussions on Monday centred around a deal for a pick in the third round. The Demons could also potentially offer Bedford and their pick 33 to GWS for pick 21, an exchange that would bring in a suitable pick to do the Grundy deal. More information in the article but thought these bits were particularly interesting.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Hunt on SEN out of contract wanted to leave the contract talks until end of the year new opportunity- fresh start hope to really help the Eagles - they are a strong club and can bounce back - best 22 is very good eagles and WA lifestyle is attractive opportunity met Adam Simpson and very impressed Sad to leave Dees after 9 years - made lots of good friends role at eagles is to use speed and run (but Dees used him in lockdown style) and suit to Optus ground Reflect on Dees finals failure as got run over in both finals and need to analyse it NEW HEADBAND IS ESSENTIAL- thinking about the best colour options didnt ask simmo about whether the torp is ok to use South American trip in the off season … good luck Jayden

There is zero chance the Eagles trade their first round pick next year. They will know they are destined for another bottom 4 finish, so it would be crazy for them to do that.

That needs to be adjusted for the games played. The average votes per game has Petty 7th and Harmes 8th. So yes, Harmes (and Petty) is in good company just behind our 6, out and out champion AA players.

It will be Jackson all over again next year if we don’t get a signature early.

Understandable: Collingwood will pay Grundy not to play for Collingwood. Grundy himself will pay not to play for Collingwood.

Can't have been that thorough a reference check. Should have checked Thorburn's preference 'club vs church' before giving him the job. Now looks like deflecting the blame. Ess are still a mess.

I wish the world had more people with your decency and compassion Luci.

Fremantle are really not very good at doing things are they? FMD, just offer a fair trade and let's get this done. But nope. Instead, Bell starts by posturing and playing games. Do they want to do any other deals this trade period or just [censored] around with Jackson? He's sitting around in Perth going, so I'm going to Freo, right? Peter, I'm coming to you right?

Who gives a rats about points. You do the deals to get the players and picks you want. 27 gets us the second best ruck in the game. Fantastic deal coupled with the Pies paying some wages and him taking a pay cut

Grundy for pick 27 would be a steal. Much better then the original discussion of having to give up a 1st rounder which I was highly against. Wonder if we'll package up a future 2nd also?

Very little. He is worth more to keep.

Not going anywhere. Heard it was a new vaccination hub and stumbled in there by accident. Assures goody he feels much bettet after a cheeky shot and is raring to go….

Even that photo scares me.

Reminds me so much of Weideman in terms of their AFL journey. All the natural talent in the world (he's a beautiful kick) but can't put it together in the seniors for multiple weeks. He did play an excellent game as a defender against us in one those COVID lock down games in 2021 so perhaps the club has a long memory.

There's always posturing at the beginning of trade week. Freo offering two firsts is predictable and a reasonable start. It will progress. I really do think Lever's body has let him down and stopped him playing the football he's capable of. At his best he's fantastic in his intercept role. Clubs spend a heap of time trying to combat the Lever/May duo. Lever has many years left and if he can overcome these persistent niggling injuries he'll show his worth again.

If we get 7 and WCE 1st pick next year - that would be great. It also won’t happen.

100%. Also got the feeling I wouldn't like to be on the opposite side of the table to Sergeant Lamb!

You are not the only one. I was thrilled we got him in the draft, as he slipped down the picks. Tall and talented mid.

Great interview! Got the feeling that we'll be asking a bit more then pick 43 for Bedford. Anyone else get that feeling?

Harmes going nowhere according to Tim Lamb.

Gus spent all of 2021 and about 70% of 2022 as a defender. His scoreboard impact means zip if he hasn't played forward of centre for nearly two years.

Why would you care what Kane Cornes says about this? Port have said it was stupid, then Lamb said it was stupid. There's obviously nothing there. The SEN audience is less than 3% in Melbourne and doesn't exist elsewhere. The idea that we have to sign him up before Xmas to shut up Kane Cornes is laughable. Maybe some people just enjoy their beds being wet.

Forget the packet of Twisties. I'd be happy with just one Sheezel.

Ooze should be counting his blessings. Essenscum just can't help themselves. What a ridiculous CEO appointment.

Collingwood supporters are dirty on this lol

Jordon was coming 4th in the best and fairest after Rd 16 and was probably heading for a top 6 finish if injury didn't strike him down. Sure, he's not a line breaking natural winger but he cracks in, defends brilliantly, hits targets and plays team first footy. And he's only 21. Thought he had a fine season.