Gator

Because May is a reliable key defender and Frost isn't. Pretty simple.

I've always loved Hogan. But I'm only interested in the footballing side of things. I CGAF about personalities.

I'd like nothing more than if we could chat again with Gaff and convince him to come. He's exactly what we need. As I've mentioned, Connors stated he won't be going to Melbourne, but that was 3 weeks ago. Things can change. I hope we go all in for one final crack.

I often speak of Chinese whispers. It was Kent. I said to my informant that "you said they played in the prelim", to wit they replied that they didn't say that. They did.

And I'll keep saying that Gaff's manager (Paul Connors) has said that he'll either stay at West Coast or go to North. Gaff wants more time playing an inside role and he knows he won't get that at Melbourne.

May plays all of next year as a 27 year old. Edit: I see you're referring to the following year. Some supporters have their red and blue goggles on. Firstly, they underestimate May as a player, and secondly they overrate our defence. With May in our side we're as capable as any other team to win the 2019 premiership. Without May I can't see us winning. Oscar, Frost and Lever are not a good enough grouping to win the flag. Your tall defenders are crucial. May is about as big a no brainer as it gets.

When I said key defender I wasn't including Lever, who I see as the intercept king. Lever is our no.1 defender and May would be no.2. As good as Lever is I don't see a flag if we have to rely on McDonald, Frost or Petty. But I do with May. It changes everything. Oscar isn't quick and has always played the FB role. May is quick, so I named him at CHB. But I'm not fussed, as they all rotate their opponents.

Elite, very good - they're just words. He's far better than what we have. He'd immediately be our best key defender. Nothing to sneeze at. Jetta McDonald Lever Salem May Hibberd Looks pretty good to me.

Well, if you're right then the MFC won't chase May. But of course, you're not right, are you ? Are you ever ?

He's very good. How many McGoverns do you think there are ? Also, how do you think McGovern would have fared playing for years in Gold Coasts defence ? But, as usual, players at other clubs are crap, and players at Melbourne are great. Is that how it works ?

One team had an elite key defender today and one team didn't. May will be super important - along with Lever.

Just a point of correction. It didn't look genius at the time. It was obvious at the time and many here, including me, advocated for it.

The usual hack posters are up in arms. Two top 10 picks won't be enough for Hogan and one is too much for May. They never change.

Incorrect.

Yes, this is also about May and the club working towards improving the list. It's one thing to say that we can play Hogan as a defender and another for the proud forward to actually want to play as a defender. McDonald, Hogan and Weideman in the same forward half simply doesn't work, whereas May coming into our defence is significant to our fortunes. Weideman's progression is key in all of this. The club has always rated him highly and his ability to take contested marks and be BOG in a final would give the club confidence that we can make the best of an unwanted situation. I don't think we win the flag in 2019 with a defence that includes Frost and McDonald. A defence that includes May and McDonald is much better equipped to take that next level. And with Lever back Gawn will be able to push forward more next year rather than drift back to intercept mark. The club will be doing everything to ensure Hogan leaving actually makes us better. May is worth one first rounder and Hogan should yield two. Does the club take the other pick to the draft or use it for more immediate gains. I'm a Hogan fan, but it is possible we improve from his leaving.

I don't know whether we're in "agreement" or not. You don't think much of him as a player and I reckon he has rare talent.

I genuinely don't care much about isolated costs in relation to players. We've previously seen Mahoney and crew look like they're overpaying only to have something else up their sleeve. That said, right now I suspect Kolodjashnij is worth in the 40-50 range. Concussions and lack of recent progress determine this. But the upside is significant. Salem and Fritsch have genuine football talent. Kolodjashnij has no less and I suspect a higher ceiling than those two boys.

I couldn't be more serious. Kolodjashnij has always been a sublime talent, so I have to question someone who doesn't rate his ability. It really doesn't make sense. As for what he's worth ? I don't know nor do I care. That's minutia for me. Some fans worry about that sort of stuff, but I tend not to. Post the trade period I'll look at net gains and net losses and have an opinion as to the success of our trade period.

Then either your assessment of football talent is always poor, often poor, or it's poor in this isolated moment. I doubt it's the latter.

I don't think many need a history lesson. I prefer to live in the here and now. In the last quarter for Casey in the GF he squibbed a marking attempt. It was pea-hearted. He had 5 disposals for the game. It was Casey's biggest game of the year. He's finished.

I like vandenBerg and prefer he stays, but if he goes it's not the end of the world. He's not more important than key position players in Weideman or Oscar and Fritsch has him covered for upside as we move into 2019. Neal-Bullen is in the top few pressure forwards in the league and has kicked 27 goals, but they're probably on about a par. Some would argue that Jones (who you named twice) is also ahead in the pecking order. He's in that 16-22 bracket, which is important, but he's also replaceable. But if you have him 14 it matters little.

Because it would have been so easy as a young player in that team and system. He's 23, played 70 games and about to enter his prime. I like him, because I've seen him play. Put him in a quality side and he could be one of the pick ups of the trade period.

You clearly have no idea on his speed, which is very good.

People keep saying "he's not fast". His pace is one of his assets.

Kade was pick 5 and Jake pick 41. Kade has the most upside and already has a second finish in a B&F. A quick 190cm silky long-kicking left footer. He'd be a great get.