Lil_red_fire_engine

My preference is play to the death for BH unless he states he does not want to come. But if not you need to look at it as pick 7 and 8 and $1million+ of annual salary cap space for 4 years. Whilst not preferred, we would only do it if JT is confident of what he would get and/or Lamb was confident of what further he could spin it into as an on trade. It also might step us back 2026 but would better reset and galvanise the group and leave a war chest for 2026 trade period that we could plan for.

I was thinking Tippett .

Another consideration here is if Suns see themselves contending in 2026 do they want to strengthen us, Hawthorn or Pies with Humphrey.

Just like when the young star loaded Giants broke through for their first flag.........,

So West Coast have 16. Brisbane 19 and West Coast 22 & 23.

The questions for GC is do they love Humphrey more than they want Petracca. We need to stand firm in my view which also reflect our messaging to this point. Pick 6 and 7 (which likely become 10 and 11) in an allegedly middling draft is not worth it even with the $$ saved for future war chest. Below is the last 10 years of pick 10 and 11 and whilst in JT we trust shows how hit and miss it can be. Year Pick 10 Club Pick 11 Club 2024 Alix Tauru St Kilda Xavier Lindsay Melbourne. 2023 Nate Caddy Essendon Connor O’Sullivan Geelong. 2022 Mattaes Phillipou St Kilda Oliver Hollands Carlton. 2021 Neil Erasmus Fremantle Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera St Kilda. footywire.com 2020 Zach Reid Essendon Luke Pedlar Adelaide. footywire.com 2019 Tom Green GWS Sam Flanders Gold Coast. footywire.com 2018 Nick Blakey Sydney Jye Caldwell GWS. footywire.com 2017 Lochie O’Brien Carlton Aiden Bonar GWS. footywire.com 2016 Jack Bowes Gold Coast Oliver Florent Sydney. footywire.com 2015 Harry McKay Carlton Wayne Milera Adelaide. footywire.com

If I am Humphrey a young but maturing dynamic forward/mid who wants to grow his time in the middle AND impact forward. I would be wondering how does Petracca coming to my club impact my want for increased midfield time and impact forward.

Reminder that Paul Guerra stated the below 30 September. That is not pick 7 in a weak draft. Christian is contracted for a further four years and is a once in a generation player. With this in mind, any decision regarding Christian’s future will be made in the best interest of the Melbourne Football Club. In terms of our overarching strategy for this period, our focus is simple; we will explore every opportunity to strengthen our list. Our job is to ensure our list is the best it can be and that ultimately Melbourne Football Club is competing in September.

Surely he must know he has a path to get there. Will be interesting to see what it looks like. Flanders+Humphrey would be the dream. Flanders + 6 or Humphrey+7(assuming Flanders goes to Saints) would be my hope. Happy to throw back 23 if required. Need to consider the $$$$ also saved as part of this (assuming GC take all his salary).

I don't think he'll nominate until he knows there is a path to get there that we are willing to unlock. I suggest part of that will be dependent on Flanders intent and/or convincing Humphrey and Suns openness to it. I also wonder how quickly Merrett declares Hawks (or not) and whether that throws a late spanner in the works.

Assuming we have a thorough understanding of his toe injury agree with this. I can't see how you play him and Melksham in the same forward line though.

A good listen from Tim Lamb. If I was to guess listening to Lamb and filling in the blanks Heath (developing ruck) and Mihocek (experienced key) a given to us as expected. May interest sounded luke warm at best. Trac will only go if he can meet what we want. We are in control here. We are p!ssed over McVee and sounds like will push very hard including West Coast (no mention of Freo just WA). Doubt we will try and get into this years first round. Maybe more so next (which fits being allegedly better and we do like to bring through in batches).

So three picks likely between 10-18? No thanks.

According to Chat GPT over the last 10 years out of contract players traded of similar age who had played 50-75 games and requested a home state trade. Tom Mitchell + pick 57 - received pick 14 and 52 Ed Langdon + pick 26 + future 4th - received pick 22, 79 and future 2nd Jake Lever + pick 35 + future 3rd - received Pick 10 + future 1st+ future 4th Jordon Dawson - received Pick 17 Based on this precedent 29 certainly feels like unders in a weak draft. 11 on it's own even pushing out slight overs but with some later swaps likely reasonable. I suggest Freo will push for 29 but wonder how hard we work to bring WC into play and threaten a PSD path rather than a pick we likely don't use/need.

McVee. Disappointing but not the end of the world. For a player we picked when everyone else passed (WA clubs chose 10 players before we took him in 2021) and developed into a quality role player. To repay the club by demanding the role you want to play and by the looks of it taking them for a ride all year with little intent but to return home is poor. His small runs in a higher productive half back and midfield role did not show me he is a given to be better than the quality stopper with good skills he had shown. Lets do our best to maximise the return and move on. Thanks to those who shared information throughout the year on how this was progressing. Always appreciated even though its never fact and over until the contract is signed or the trade period closed.

Murphy Reid is a worthy winner but I would have had Langford ahead of Curtin and Ashcroft. I think his consistency and impact covers both and that's before you take into account the data. I sometimes think too much credibility is given to those who hold their spot in a finals side.

I agree here. Flanders and 6 (which will likely slide to 9) is fair trade. Has Flanders reached the heights of Petracca or will he, no. But he will play A grade football for 6-8 years with attributes we need and give opportunity for JT to jag another elite youth. Then don't discount the value of cap $$$ saved in future years and moving on a player who appears to not be fully invested in a group Kings needs to galvanise for the road ahead. Will Trac play topline footy there for 2-3 years sure but this could be a win win. I find the ability for Adelaide to craft a trade of similar value in player and picks much more difficult. As mentioned maybe there 2025 or 2026 F1 unlocks Flanders? It will be interesting to hear rumours of what is proposed either way if interest progresses. What people need to understand is when it was nuclear last year we held our ground. If we deal this year WE (not he) have decided that what we receive nets the value we require to be better off moving forward.

He re-signed less than a month ago and extended til the end of 2028. Mitchell is wining and dining players who are wanting to leave not those who have just re-signed. Shanahan looks like a key you can build a team around in the future. I suggest that is why the Eagles have locked him in asap. That for a good quality half back and a small mid we refuse to play in season is not going to get you close even if he was interested.

To be fair I have only seen the highlights packages. I just dont see that something special that a smaller players requires to make it at the next lebvel. Particularly with an inside 30 selection. in saying that finding the ball is half the battle.

West Coast would laugh at you. They know what they have with Jobe and he recently re-signed a contract extension.

He looks like he lacks any major AFL attribute which is necessary for a 177cm player and particularly one expected to cost a top 30 investment. A no from me.

Ot at worst if Trac wants to leave Sam Mitchell realises he needs a Trac more than a Merrett when September 2026 comes around.

I suggest after watching Danger bulldoze the hawks they need a Trac more than they need a Merrett.

2024 VFL Henderson has 17 games with 20+ possessions and 10 games with 5+ tackles. 2025 He has 1 and 2 and lacked any of the zip and agility he showed in spades the year before. I suggest the groin problem that finished his season were present for a lot longer. If the case and if confident his groin issues are passed him I can get why they might retain him.