Gator

Hartlett won't go anywhere, but you'd offer pick 6 in a heartbeat. It would be a steal.

It's truly extraordinary that some think Melbourne are a chance.

Yes and he's "good enough".

There are 4 mids in that lot under 180cm. I agree that height isn't an issue if you're good enough, which is why I'd love Prestia. I'm not convinced Hrovat is good enough.

How do you know McCartney isn't the one suggesting they're moved on ?

He's so good he's been delisted ahead of Butcher.

The title of this thread should have been changed long ago.

COULD Melbourne begin making the coaching switch between Paul Roos and Simon Goodwin as early as next year? Fox Footy analyst David King believes that may be the case, suggesting Goodwin will be handed more responsibility at the Dees during the off-season. While King said Roos will still be expected hold the title of senior coach in 2016, he revealed a potential transition period may be “on the cards” at Melbourne. “Word reaches me that it may be time for a bit of a handover,” King told AFL 360. “It might be this pre-season where Simon Goodwin takes control of the strategy and the pre-season planning. “They’ll change dramatically how they play. They’ll start to change from the one-on-one brand under Paul Roos into a spatial defence, like what we’ve seen at the Western Bulldogs under Luke Beveridge. “You’ll see more scoring, you’ll see better defending ... it’s modern football.” Goodwin, a 275-game player at Adelaide, spent four years as an assistant coach at Essendon before joining Melbourne in September 2014. Under the terms of his five-year contract, he would serve as Roos’ assistant for two years at the Dees before assuming the senior coaching position for a further three seasons in 2017. But King believes the time may be right for the 38-year-old to gain more control. “I think it’s a good time, too,” King continued. “With Roosy, you can look at the numbers and make a case either way. You can say they’ve improved, you can say they haven’t improved. But on the numbers, you would say there is a platform there now. “The time is right and I think you’ll see an improvement like you saw at the Western Bulldogs this year.” King went on to state how he believes next year will unfold at Melbourne from a coaching perspective. “I think Paul will stay as coach and still help them through the day-to-day role, but I think Simon will have much more to do during the pre-season period — that’s the mail I’m getting,” King said.

It's seriously embarrassing. Melksham is the sort of player you recruit on the last day of trade week when you've been jilted at the altar by others. He's not a coup half way through September.

And he's one of Dom Tyson's best mates. It annoyed me that Clark continually referred to Hogan's "third season". I'll cop second, but not third considering he was ineligible to play for the club when he was selected as a 17 year old via the mini draft.

THE next two months are critical in Melbourne’s fight to keep Jesse Hogan. When it comes to Melbourne’s most important re-signing in a decade or more, money is unlikely to be much of a factor for Hogan. Simply, the hulking spearhead will be worth the best part of $1 million a season wherever he plays. And yes, Melbourne can absolutely afford it, in a re-sign-at-all-costs kind of a way. But for the Demons, what will be even more important than the size of Hogan’s next house is finding the ace goal kicker a big-bodied, forward-line friend. Over the next eight weeks, it is Melbourne’s top list management priority. Hogan, 20, was one of the stories of the AFL season, kicking 44 goals after missing a year with injury. He is a leader, an insatiable competitor and the bedrock for Melbourne’s plans to rise from a decade out of the finals. He has a great relationship with Demons’ coach-in-waiting Simon Goodwin. But he desperately needs another marking target to help share the enormous burden he shoulders inside 50m. Think Roughead-Franklin. Carey-McKernan. Lucas-Lloyd. Brereton-Dunstall. Brown and Lynch. According to the talent experts, the 195cm Hogan can join that group. He is that special. But the biggest threat to Hogan’s future at Melbourne, other than the obvious continuation of the Dees’ upward climb up the ladder, will be leaving him one-out in the goal square for the next 12 months. And the potential departure of high-flyer Jeremy Howe in the next few weeks only makes the need for some immediate aerial support more urgent, after missing out on re-signed Adelaide mobile half forward Tom Lynch last month. In his third season, Hogan was the clear No. 1 inside-50m target (27.7 per cent of the forward entries), followed by Cameron Pedersen (20.5), Chris Dawes (17.6), Jeff Garlett (13.5) and Howe (6.6), according to Champion Data. Pedersen could be delisted, Howe sounds like he is out the door and Dawes finished 19th in the best and fairest, kicking 11 goals from 14 games. Jack Watts is more of utility, and not a spearhead. Other than that, Melbourne’s remaining key forward option is Jack Fitzpatrick, who was shifted into defence in the VFL. The Dees’ next generation midfield is rich with quality youngsters and we’ve still hardly seen No. 2 pick Christian Petracca in his comeback from a knee reconstruction. Before hurting his knee, Petracca did things at Melbourne training that made the coaches giddy. If the powerful midfielder is not already favourite for next year’s Rising Star award, he will be close, giving the Dees a genuine chance to go back-to-back in the coveted award. Petracca to Hogan is a reason to keep the faith and from Melbourne fans’ perspective, it will be worth the price of admission to catch a glimpse of these two in action together in 2016. But as much hype as there has been about this year’s Rising Star winner Hogan after his sensational third (but really first) season, Melbourne’s forward line needs a talent injection. Big-time. It will be written all over Todd Viney’s recruiting clipboard. Coach Paul Roos flagged the club would be aggressive next month, with almost every player on the Demons’ list tradeable if it can help Melbourne achieve its stated mission to play finals next year. Yes, that includes Jack Watts, but Melbourne won’t sell him for cheap, especially considering he has probably had his best season. The good thing for Melbourne is, even if the club cannot latch on to another mature-age goal kicker in the exchange period (and the genuine options are limited) this is not a bad draft to be looking for a key forward at the top end. Geelong Falcon Charlie Curnow (brother of Blues’ Ed) will be around the mark, along with 196cm Eastern forward Sam Weideman (grandson of Collingwood great Murray) 191cm South Australian Ryan Burton and 200cm Gippsland goal kicker Harry McKay. All will be talked about as quality forward 50m options in the lead-up to the draft over the next two months. Hogan doesn’t come out of contract until the end of 2017 and all indications are that he loves the environment, telling the Herald Sun in May he believed the club was headed for sustained success. “With the list and resources we have around us, we can develop into a team that’s a juggernaut,” Hogan said. “If we can (do it) from where we are now, then, you can look back at this and say ‘look at that’. “We can be one of those (success) stories that everyone wants to be.” Hogan is central to that plan. And with Fremantle already making a $700,000 a year play for Greater Western Sydney forward Cameron McCarthy, rivals will also swoon for WA-born Hogan. Clubs are on the lookout for trade targets 18 months in advance, these days. For Melbourne, the foundation work for Hogan’s contract extension is already well under way, as the club works to beef-up the marking options around him. As exciting as he is, Hogan can’t be the only forward line hero in red and blue.

Most Board members usually have no more idea than the average supporter.

I suspect Petracca thought twice about its "tone". I agree with him.

Jeez people love to read too much into stuff. Dangerfield says, "Mick Dundee wants his hat back" and Petracca responds with "Adelaide want their player back". Nothing more than friendly banter.

Because we're interested in this spud.

Jack Watts had at least as good/better year than this C-grader. Same possessions, more marks, similar goals and overall rating. http://finalsiren.com/PlayerCompare.asp?SeasonID=2015&PlayerName1=Jack+Watts&ExactMatch1=true&PlayerName2=&PlayerName3=&PlayerName4=&Compare=Compare&SelectedPlayers=1997%2C This tells me that we just can't attract anything decent. It falls into the category: We must do something, this is something, therefore, we must do this.

Not quite. We also gave up pick 20 and shuffled later picks. Still, it's been a very good trade.

Can't get excited by this.

It wouldn't have any bearing. If he requires surgery due to a footy injury it would be done whether he's required or otherwise.

That was nothing more than speculation and the way you've paraphrased his comments is very misleading.

Notwithstanding my thoughts on Watts, was anyone else bemused by Roos' comments on AFL360 ? In my view he handled the question re potentially trading Watts horrendously. Fancy saying everybody is trade bait when we all know that's patent nonsense. Clearly Hogan, Brayshaw, Viney, Petracca, McDonald, Salem and a number of others are off limits. I fully understand the point he was trying to make, but it was unnecessary and one would think that a coach of his experience could have answered that question so much better. I know loyalty is becoming a thing of the past, but at least try and engender a modicum of loyalty within the group and a sense of belonging. Especially when one considers where this club has wallowed. All he had to say was, "Robbo I'm not going to talk about any individual players or their trade potential. Our list needs to improve and we'll be endeavouring to do that over the trade/draft period, but we won't be discussing individuals". So you can't rule out trading Jack Watts ? "Jack is a required and contracted player of the MFC and we won't be drawn into discussing individuals through this period." I also appreciate that Roos and the club would have made it clear that they shouldn't listen to what is said in the media through this period, but in my mind it was very poorly handled.

It would finally be the end for me. It would be confirmation that God hates me.

Unlike some I believe Howe would rather stay, but I suspect the club isn't desperate and will only accommodate him on their terms. I don't think they see him as a "must sign".

What an insanely stupid argument. But completely on point and good for a laugh and for that I say thank you.