TeamPlayedFine39

Demonland did howl down the decision to extend Hunt's contact last year; the more generous appraisals insisting he was a Rookie downgrade at best. The major difference between the two being that Trengove has shown he has the talent to be an excellent AFL player, Hunt spent parts of 2015 in the VFL Development League. The club has given him a year... the way people are talking on this thread, you'd think he'd been reappointed captain.

Excellent fist year for two young key forwards. Have seen very little of Hullett this year, but haven't been blown away by his speed or agility for a big bloke. Would be interested to hear what other more seasoned observers have seen from him in this regard..?

Do you really need to ask the same question every week (or every time your sitting bored at home)?? He's signed. That's won't change. The football department see something. You don't. Bump this thread when you have something new to contribute to the discussion; this is just the same old diatribe all over again.

I'm not sure that objecting to a grossly unequal system is 'envy'.

Football club defeats franchise.

GFC: One game in a month.

Barrett is scum... but maybe he rates Weideman, Watts and Hullett.

Lynch was Plan A. Cook Plan B. Sad.

He's been so brave.

But this is solely looking at the issue from the club's point of view, so yes, it is completely in the clubs interests to sign up Hogan now. It does not however mean that it is in the player's interests to be pressured and coerced when he has an entire year to run on his contract. While MFC doesn't seem to be doing this, it's what many supporters here want them to do; force his hand a year early or seek to trade him out. Many are ignoring the fact that he is a contracted player who has every right to take his time to make a decision. I don't like it, but it's unfair to Hogan to expect otherwise. Every year between April and July there is usually a quick succession of signings announced by all clubs, but we are not allowing the same time-frame for Jesse Hogan. Where's the pressure for other young players to sign on and extend? Truth be told, I couldn't name for you a single other player whose contract is up at the end of next year without googling it... so where's their thread? Should we be questioning the loyalty of Dom Tyson? Why hasn't he kicked down Mahoney's door? The club definitely wants to keep him, so where the pressure?

I believe that the AFL got it wrong when they didn't award Melbourne an end of first round pp. With that said however, the talent of the Brisbane list is light years away from where Melbourne's was 2012-2013. A team that has Rockliff, Zorko, Beams, Martin, Hanley, Rich, Taylor, Mayes, Schache, Gardiner, McStay, Mathieson and Hipwood doesn't have a 'talent' problem; they have a coaching, development and retention problem. They need a lot of assistance, but not a pp.

Sounds like a salon treatment...

I too would love for Hogan to sign an extension, but when you step back and think for a moment... Why should he. He negotiated an extension to his contract, he's signed until the end of 2017, it's unfair that we are putting so much heat on this player and none of the others on our list whose contract expires next year.

People are too focused on his age. If age was a factor then he should have been retired six years ago like every other player. Look at his football- he was playing very, very well this year.

He has a mountain of potential, but he wouldn't attract the mid first round pick they'd be wanting. He's had some good games but hasn't demonstrated that he'll take the next step. The fact that Collingwood think that a player with his potential is tradeable should be setting off alarm bells.

Look... I think we can now all agree that Mahoney, Roos, Viney and Goodwin have been trying to destroy our list for years. How else can we explain bizarre decisions like retaining Jayden Hunt, redrafting Neville Jetta, trading out pick 2 for an injury plagued gws midfielders and offering Trengove a contract extension.

Legend has it, I believe, they were in Scully's ear pre-draft.

Yes it can. But it requires the kind of explosive stress that he was being held back from last preseason as he was being eased into it. He'll never be Jayden Hunt, but anyone can improve their pace through training (provided their body can hold up).

Gary Rohan

11 seconds before halftime and he does his knee. Just terrible luck for a fella who's had his fair share already.

Still seems like the journos have nothing but are now scrambling as they don't wanna seem to be scooped on the story. Prestia has been sorted; O'Meara sorted; Cloke sorted... gotta speculate about someone. With that said, I'm not naive enough to suggest there's no story here, just that no one has the story, but they're still trying to print one.

Maybe I started this as something to take my mind off the Jesse Hogan thread, but mainly because, in many respects, 2016 was a great season that had many moments that should be celebrated. 2016 saw some huge leaps by our club and whilst it didn't finish the way we would have liked, there is still many great moments and matches that we were treated to through the year. Thought I'd have a look at our wins this year and rank them in order of: 1) How well we played to achieve the win. 2) How enjoyable that particular win was. These two criteria don't necessarily go hand in hand, but hey, there's no such thing as a perfect formula. THE 2016 WINS WERE: Round 1: MELBOURNE 12.8.80 def GWS 10.18.78 Round 4: MELBOURNE 16.6.102 def COLLINGWOOD 9.13.67 Round 5: MELBOURNE 20.9.129 def RICHMOND 14.12.96 Round 7: MELBOURNE 24.16.160 def GOLD COAST 14.3.87 Round 9: MELBOURNE 19.17.8131 def BRISBANE 9.14.68 Round 12: MELBOURNE 16.8.104 def COLLINGWOOD 8.10.58 Round 16: MELBOURNE 12.15.87 def FREMANTLE 8.7.55 Round 19: MELBOURNE 9.12.66 def GOLD COAST 9.10.64 Round 20: MELBOURNE 17.8.110 def HAWTHORN 11.15.81 Round 21: MELBOURNE 13.16.94 def PORT ADELAIDE 8.6.54 1) Round 20: MELBOURNE 17.8.110 def HAWTHORN 11.15.81 Hard, skillful, fast, competitive football over the top of the table reigning triple premiers... nuff said. 2) Round 5: MELBOURNE 20.9.129 def RICHMOND 14.12.96 Our first complete game for the season. Gave a glimpse of our new fast attacking style and showcased some serious new talent. Always love beating the Tiges too. 3) Round 4: MELBOURNE 16.6.102 def COLLINGWOOD 9.13.67 Things were looking a little grim at the start of the season, with a lot of people asking what's new?' A first quarter blitz, coupled with seeing off some determined challenges answered that question. 4) Round 12: MELBOURNE 16.8.104 def COLLINGWOOD 8.10.58 Feel Collingwood set themselves for this match. They'd shown improvement by this stage of the year and wanted to make amends on the big stage. We met the challenge and saw them off emphatically. 5) Round 21: MELBOURNE 13.16.94 def PORT ADELAIDE 8.6.54 Port was capable of some very good footy this year and their midfield had routinely brutalised us over the years, including in our previous class in the NT. There was a sense of destiny about the way were playing by this stage and whilst not a faultless match, we beat PA on their home turf to keep our winning run going. 6) Round 7: MELBOURNE 24.16.160 def GOLD COAST 14.3.87 Were were challenged by the Gold Coast in the first half but turned on an incredible display in the second half. Saw our first glimpses of what Petracca was capable of in a steamrolling win. 7) Round 1: MELBOURNE 12.8.80 def GWS 10.18.78 Very much an underrated win at the time and still today. We were up against it at the start of the last quarter but Watts and Hogan would have nothing of it. Showed we weren't going to roll over as easily as we had in the past and we saw an incredibly first half from Clayton Oliver. Knocked over a team that is, at worst, a preliminary finalist. 8) Round 16: MELBOURNE 12.15.87 def FREMANTLE 8.7.55 Tough win that we were expected to have. Wasn't pretty, and anyone who's followed Melbourne for more than 20 minutes knows that the games you're expected to win should never be pencilled in. 9) Round 9: MELBOURNE 19.17.8131 def BRISBANE 9.14.68 Was a big win on the scoreboard, but remember feeling less than enthused by the standard. Brisbane took it right up to us but lacked any polish; we ran away in the second half. 10) Round 19: MELBOURNE 9.12.66 def GOLD COAST 9.10.64 Gold Coast were playing some decent footy by the end of the season, especially with Lynch up forward. Error riddled and unconvincing, but at least we can now say 'Jack Watts... match-winner.'

There's nowhere near enough media 'noise' to suggest that Jessie's gone. The article as a whole doesn't paint that darker picture and, if anything, the writer stresses Jesse's love for the MFC. Frawley, Scully, Howe- the articles were regular and definite in their conclusions. For hogan though, the journos seem to have no idea what's happening. If they smelt blood in the water they'd do what they always do and go in for the kill.

What a hero Crameri is! Kinda gives you a scary insight into how the Essendon players will be welcomed back by Channel 7 next year.

Forgive me, poor choice of words... 'What is bloody fantastic is Carlton and Silvagni's obsession with bringing in fringe GWS talent.'