KingDingAling

No, we can offer them 43, or tell them to wait. We might be able to get another pick to satisfy. All we have done here is bend over to Essendon. They are in no position to play hardball, because they have WADA hanging over their head. Let's watch a professional club like St KIlda deal with Essendon over the next few days.

Yeah, we are a bit of a laughing stock when it comes to negotiation at the trade table.

You would think so, Melksham is a very ordinary football player. I would ask for Essendons second rounder.

Trade radio suggests this deal will be done for a second round pick tomorrow.

With gems like those, he could be one of many posters on Demonland.

That was more due to Adelaide needing to inject young talent into their side - as they had been banned from the draft due to the Tippett saga. Also, they expected Brad Crouch to take Vince's position, that hasn't happened, its not looking like a good trade for Adelaide. Bernie Vince won a B&F in 2009, teams don't just give them out.

He is slow by pace, foot and by brain. He simply isn't a very good footballer. Its laughable that MFC are trading for him.

Not a chance. Vince was sublime at Adelaide. He is a footballer's footballer. Melksham is just a limited footballer.

Yeah, it isn't a good idea. Poor trading IMO.

Yeah I tend to agree. The consensus is that outside of the top 25, there really isn't much at all. Melksham isn't much of a player, it is a bad deal. It is a bad deal even before taking WADA repercussions into account. I highly doubt that trade gets confirmed early in trade week.

Given WADA repercussions are hanging over this trade a second round pick shouldn't be mentioned. There is some quality kids around that mark.

24 pages dedicated to a VFL level player. I think the pages are only going up now because there is speculation MFC are going to part with a second round pick for this spud.

I'm not against up taking Melsham, just not for a second rounder. I have no idea what the club is prepared to give for him, but I think Essendon will ask for our second round pick. I wouldn't do that, there are some good kids in this draft around that point. If we could get Melksham for a 3rd round pick, sure, no harm in that. He is a big bodied kid, and he does have some upside.

So long as we don't give away our second rounder for him, then no harm. I would hate to give away our second rounder only to miss out on Lovell. I think Essendon will ask for our second rounder, I just hope we aren't going to give it up for Melksham.

On the AFL site it says we've put a 4 year deal in front of Melksham.

Yeah I'd trade for him. I'd go as far as our second round selection. But I think Essendon would want more than that. Melksham can play, there is no doubt about that. But he is bland, that is why I wouldn't offer too much. I think a second rounder is nearly even overs. * But that isn't taking into account the WADA case coming up. So we'd need some guarantees off the AFL of compensation if this went pear shaped.

I wouldn't sell the house to retain Hogan (as some suggest we do). Instead, I would sell the house to get in Dangerfield, or a player of similar ilk - although there aren't many. The emphasis shouldn't be on Hogan as a savior, but instead, we should concentrate on building a side he wants to be a part of. Hogan isn't going to save the MFC, but a quality midfield supply, and Jesse Hogan, will go along way to improving this football club. If the club is considering locking Hogan in on a massive contract, then my advice would be not to. Instead, we should focus on scouting quality, elite midfielders. If we can do that, Jesse's decision to stay at this club won't be a hard one.

Salem will be better than Wines. I wouldn't entertain trading Salem for anyone.

It's not just culture. We overlooked too many footballers - and drafted too many athletes. West Coast taken a lot of the kids we SHOULD have, they are sitting near the top, we are sitting near the bottom. Their culture was arguably worse than ours. They just drafted competitive footballers, as they always have. Culture is just something this club sells it's supporters to get them off of their backs. It is an easy justification for mediocrity. They are hardly going to come and say that we drafted sub par football players with quality picks, and that is why we are an ordinary football club.

Bird would be worth a look.Underrated player, only 26 (27 at the start of next year). He won't consolidate a position in Sydney's midfield next year.

We do have a little bit of time to get it right. I think after yesterday Hogan is entitled to be annoyed at the midfield delivery. Our midfield was selfish yesterday, and they really let the side down. The stats might look good, but the midfield was ineffective. Thankfully, we have Salem and Brayshaw coming through, two guys who will lower their eyes and hit Jesse lace out.

They just don't lower their eyes, Jones never really has. Vince certainly doesn't. I understand it was a slippery day, but too often when they had space they just bombed it in. The midfield might've had reasonably good stats, but it is a day they'd rather forget IMO.

Criticism should be directed at the blokes who just bombed the ball in, hacked it on their boot and hoped for the best. Poor Jesse Hogan. I'd direct anger towards the midfield, and to a lesser extent the coaches box for letting it happen for 4 quarters.

Had a good year. Few down weeks, but should bounce back.

I agree with you that Petracca would be a great mentor. He has previous experience in more professional environments than AFL. But, In the case of Harley Bennell, I don't see a whole lot Christian Petracca can do for him. Lumumba on the other hand, he could offer quite a lot - same with Roos.