Gator

A few things... I doubt you know that every one of those goals was kicked on May. In fact, I know you don't, because Kennedy kicked 4 on him and Riewoldt 6. And key defenders are only as good as team structures and the quality of their midfield. You think May is slow when speed is one of his biggest strengths. This clearly tells me you have no clue about the player you're criticising. The following is from a recent article: In 2016 he (May) was the third-best defender in the competition behind Alex Rance and ahead of Jeremy McGovern, losing just 14 of 71 one-on-ones for the entire year. This season Gold Coast haemorrhaged inside 50s, giving up five more than the next-worst side. The offensive stuff is what elevates him above the dime-a-dozen stoppers. This year he averaged 17.4 disposals (second-most for key defenders), 334 metres gained (second most for key defenders) as well 7.6 intercept possessions, three intercept marks and 6.8 spoils (all above average). Put him into an good side with quality players around him and you have a weapon at full back. They (Melbourne) get Jake Lever back at some stage and improved their defensive mix late, but still were the fourth-easiest side to score against across the entire season. Slot him in alongside Lever and Max Gawn becomes an offensive threat again instead of being forced to play as a seventh defender at times as well as a ruckman. To sum up, Olisik, you're welcome to your opinion, but it's hopelessly misinformed.

That wasn't a "report". That was just thrown up as a likelihood. And they weren't drilling down, just having a chat. Don't take any notice of lightweight conversations on SEN.

There are plenty of posters that one isn't enamoured with, and I'm sure I fit the bill for some, but this a-clown has almost completely ruined the most highly read thread on Demonland.

This was an AFL.com.au rating of our 2015 draft: Nathan Schmook's verdict: Brilliant. The Demons used the incoming points system to perfection to gain picks No.3 and No.7 in this year's draft. They read the play quicker than other clubs, working well with GWS to secure pick No.7 and Bugg. Rating A+

I was just about to post the same. There was extensive media commentary post the 2015 trading period extolling Mahoney and co. for showing other clubs how to use the new rules to their advantage.

I've never been good remembering the nuances of posters, but is there a bit of E25 about this old new poster ?

Well, yes mate, if it doesn't happen then it probably won't happen. Well done. As for Chook in Perth, Langdon, Nixon, and vague references by Tom Browne, as well as other speculation that has filtered across the airwaves ? Some supporters on a thread about Hogan may be interested to know that off-field issues are being publicly discussed as reasons why the Dockers may have gone tepid on the idea of drafting Hogan. I don't subscribe to that theory. Why offer pick 11 if that was a major issue. But some supporters may be interested in that type of thing being said. But, as stated, there may be smoke and I don't automatically assume that a discredited person is subsequently wrong in everything they ever utter henceforth. Yes, I know it's easy to take that road, but it's unintelligent and requires no thought. Naturally, you can please yourself.

You're now seeming to link things to me that I haven't said. I haven't discussed Freo withdrawing their offer, or the reasons why. My comments about off-field rumours were in isolation. My gut feel is that we will end up with at least pick 5 and that he gets traded. If I'm wrong I'm wrong.

You mean not only shouldn't he be allowed on twitter he should also be terminated ?

For Sue 2.01 minutes in: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/2018-10-12/trade-update-josh-mahoney

There's enough smoke for me, especially from Chook who's known to have contacts within the MFC. You can please yourself.

No, Mahoney said Jesse came to the club and said he'd like to return to Perth if it could be orchestrated.

Tom Browne also inferred there could be off-field issues. But look mate, it doesn't matter what you think of these individuals I don't believe they've simply made things up. They've been told. So, in essence, whether they're flawed individuals or not, it doesn't matter.

Disagree. I should clarify. We're better with both May and Hogan in the team and Weideman at Casey. But as that's not an option I really do think we're structurally far better off with May at FB. I see a flag with May at FB and I can't with Oscar, Frost, and Lever as the key tall defenders. I accept others disagree.

Look, it's not just Nixon questioning Hogan. Karl Langdon has done it and even our own Chook from Perth said he was worried about defamation if he revealed what he knew. Clearly, there are significant off-field issues being discussed about Hogan within the AFL community. Are they true ? Is there substance to them ? I don't know. But it doesn't help our hand at the trade table. But, by all means denigrate anyone who repeats them, as is the want of supporters who don't like such things being said about one of their players. Better to denigrate the person retelling what they hear than think anything like that could possibly be true.

What if Kennedy or Darling get injured ? What if Lynch or Riewoldt get injured ? They happen and you deal with as best you can. When Hogan comes to you and says he wants to explore moving home with one year on his contract only a dope wouldn't try and get the best deal possible. You can't keep players that don't want to be there and you can't make best practice decisions on the basis someone might hypothetically get injured the following year You try and construct a list as best you can to deal with those scenarios..

I can't agree. And I fail to see any profound "objectivity". So Jesse goes to the club and says, "look, my preference is to return to WA if you can get a deal done". We say, "sure, Jesse, but if we can't we're going to play you in defence for the next 5 years". "You'll not only be happy about it you'll also be signing a new long-term deal." "How does that sound ?" "But but I'm a young gun key forward !" "You were, Jesse, you were." I'm not buying what you're selling Old, and I sure as hell don't think Jesse is either. Lever went for picks 10 and 16. Picks 5 and 23 are better than picks 10 and 16, although some of the nuffies might try and argue otherwise. Try and get the deal done. And there's a synergy with pick 23, which a few years back Taylor turned into Frost, Stretch, and Neal-Bullen. I'm very confident Taylor can unearth a 150 game player with pick 23, or potentially even turn it into a lower pick. We'll agree to differ.

Yep. My take is that the club was happy to keep Hogan long-term, but not disappointed when he said he had a preference to return to Perth and specifically to go to the Fremantle Football Club. As you know, the club is bullish about Weideman and Tom has become a revelation as a key forward. Structurally, we're better with May in the 22 than with Hogan. And yes, Hogan could become a quality key back, but I doubt he wants to move to defence. Certainly not long-term. More specifically, I cannot fathom why he'd go to a bottom 4-6 basket-case club, when we're on the precipice of a successful era. It makes me question lots of things about him, including his drive and competitiveness. “I asked him if he wanted to have a chat to Peter Bell and he said, ‘I don’t want to do it’. “He said, ‘I will stay at Geelong or go to West Coast’. But I don’t want to go to a club down the bottom of the ladder because Geelong is a good club. Tim Kelly gets it, as you can see by the quotes above. If Hogan said his preference was to go to Freo, and I don't doubt it to be the case, then my whole view of him has changed. Clearly, he's gone to the Jack Watts school of dedication. And just as clearly, a flag means little to him. I hope he's traded before Wednesday's deadline.

Cool, calm, direct. BS free zone. A first class operator. Ordinary player, gun administrator.

Sometimes ? I see myself as a miserable pr!ck all of the time. I'm grumpy more than a "flogger", but each to their own. I have no idea what will happen, but my preference is for Hogan to go if it will land May. I cannot accept that Hogan wants to leave when we're finally a top 4 club to go to a bottom 4-6 club. He's spent nearly a third of his life in Melbourne and if he was single minded about a flag he wouldn't leave. I reckon I've been one of Hogan's biggest supporters, but when you lose me you lose me. Entering his prime, having done the hard yards, he wants to go to a [censored] club ? Move him on. And posters here want to "get around" him. Please. Gut feel ? Wednesday 8.30pm is a long way away in trade terms. 60/40 purple.

Firstly, I don't understand the question. Secondly, why do you care ?

This "two firsts" is a crock of $%#^. 5 and 23 is better than 16 and 17, which are "two firsts". And it's better than 11 and 16. Thankfully, the smart people at the club will be assessing any offer on its merits and what it can be turned into and they won't be mindlessly humming in their head "two firsts", "two firsts".

So what ?

I don't like to always use the draft pick value system to make a point, but pick 5 is very valuable, especially in this draft. Gibbs was picks 10 and 16, which on a value basis is less than 5 and 23. But yes, I get your point. Things can't always be exactly how you want them and sometimes you make decisions based on net gain and your prospects as a footy club.

I haven't put thought into it. Unlike some, I don't get too hung up on draft picks and who won a trade and who didn't. Hawthorn haven't had a top 10 draft pick for about 13 years. We have our ducks aligned and for me May completes the team. Others don't agree. Great.