Gator

Of course. If Hogan goes we draft another potential key forward. We may do that if he stays. Most clubs don't have McDonald/Weideman let alone Hogan/McDonald/Weideman. West Coast don't win the flag if Kennedy or Darling go down. You need a little luck to win a flag. If one of your key forwards gets injured at the wrong time you in all likelihood don't win the flag. It is what it is.

Unlike @DeeSpencer I don't think it's a tactically smart offer. Unless, of course, Melbourne are fools and I don't think they are. It's never smart in a negotiation to make an offer that the vendor doesn't even need to consider. Never make an offer that is so easily dismissed it doesn't warrant thought. You may think it's clever, but it's not and it invariably weakens your position.

The view that the club should wait one more year for May and get him for free doesn't wash with me. Firstly, there's no guarantee he'll still want the Dees in a year's time. Things change. Secondly, I want to win the flag in 2019. We're right in the window to win and May improves our chances. Improve the list. Improve the balance of the best 22. And do it now.

If we get 5 and 11 I'd personally offer pick 11 and Frost. Frost will become somewhat superfluous with May and Lever back in 2019 along with a developing Petty. Some supporters love Frost, but I'd do the deal if it kept pick 5. And how many picks to the Suns need ? They need mature players, not pick after pick of kids that may leave in 3 years. But I doubt my scenario will happen.

How many 21 year old key forwards have been best on ground in a final ? I don't know why so many doubt Weideman. He's going to be a star. He's certainly a few years away from his peak, but he'll be very good in 2019.

Melbourne will trade pick 5 for May. I'm looking forward to the meltdowns.

I'd argue that a dogmatic ruthless approach is the club's decision to basically push Hogan out the door to better balance the list in its quest for a premiership in 2019. I'll wait to see the end trade and then form a conclusion as to how well we negotiated.

Aware of all that. Doesn't answer my question.

Fair enough. Some players are on record as saying differently to you.

I don't often subscribe to the view that a player "owes" a club, and I'm not even sure I do in this instance, but vandenBerg was plucked from the NEAFL and there's no guarantee he'd even be in the AFL system if not for the Dees (rookie draft pick). I could be wrong and @rpfc may be able to clarify. I doubt he was on any other club's radar. Anyway, it's great that he's staying.

Jayden Hunt was lucky May backed off before the finish line. Where does this BS groupthink come from ?

There's a propensity on here (and elsewhere) to denigrate every journo who utters something that supporters don't like. It's very childish. And even the most clueless journo knows more than just about every individual who posts here.

Yes, his information is that Gawn took an injury into the prelim. It has been widely reported that Gawn doesn't wear a shin guard and that it does get extremely sore. Most ruckmen wear them, but he doesn't like them. I don't know if that's the injury, but it's a possibility. And, if so, perhaps he should get used to wearing them. I doubt it would have been his calf, which also was a niggle late in the year.

The bloke you're quoting spends his life making these sort of declarations, but they are based on nothing more than his fanciful imagination. It's very disingenuous, but he's rarely challenged.

May turns 28 in 2020. You mean we're already there ?

Is Gaff still coming ?

Yes, some can read the tea leaves.

Firstly, it's "they're". Secondly, I have no clue why you directed this silly post at me.

You're not reading the tea leaves here very well.

Forget the points. They can't be used to value every trade.

Lobb isn't going to get a top 10 draft pick.

We spent the weekend trying to convince the uncontracted vandenBerg to stay. We haven't been trying to talk the contracted Hogan into staying. The difference is palpable. We want May and are happy to say goodbye to Hogan.

You're either confused or unhinged. What lies ? And what leader at our club had no idea about what ? Everything I reported was true. Even down to it being a 50/50 decision between Gaff staying or going to North. The Dees were ruled out weeks ago.

There was zero reason for him not to be honest in the forum he was in. But look mate, believe what you want.

Clearly I rate Hogan more than you. We can agree to differ.