Gator

Didn't McGovern just extend his Contract with Adelaide ?

I agree re Petty. He has very good upside. I don't care whether Frost stays or goes (as long as he's covered).

There's no-one fairer than the Dees when it comes to trading. I'm well aware of that. And you're probably right. But Cerra would be the type of outcome I'd like. I know it's not likely.

Do you think Keilty has the pace or athleticism to make it at AFL level ?

Mentally I'll asume Hogan is gone until I hear otherwise. Once I would have been gutted, but not so now. I'm probably more bullish than some with Weideman, but he's going to be a star. He's different to Hogan, but I think he'll become (in time) no less impressive. He and McDonald represent a great platform for the next 5 years at least. If Freo want Hogan I want Cerra. I know he just extended his contract, but he's a Victorian boy who may like the idea of coming home. Cerra is going to be a phenomenal midfielder and he's just the class we need. Even next year, his second, he'd be a staple in our best team. Freo will say he's off limits, but this is where it's good to have the whip hand.

Kent isn't worth more than their pick 57.

I've never been open to trading Hogan before, but I didn't know Weideman would be BOG in a final (and he'll become an exceptional key forward) and who knew McDonald would become a 60 goal capable key forward ? I'd still prefer he stays, but if the deal is right it could potentially even improve us. I'll back the club to make the right decision.

It's just rubbish to say Hogan is below average in the pace stakes. I've always thought him above average for a bollocking key forward. This from when he was drafted: At 195 cm and 97.4 kg, Hogan ran a 20 metre sprint at the recent NAB AFL Draft Combine in 3.02 seconds - regarded as midfield standard. He also ran the three km time trial in 10 minutes 20 seconds.

As Tony says, on the off chance Hogan does leave he's worth more than pick 6. He's worth more than a basic swap for May. I love Hogan and always have. It's my preference for him to stay, however, I'll be less gutted than I would have been a year or two ago.

I'll let the coaches worry how to best structure up, but logically it makes no sense to me that a young key forward, who is about to come in to his peak playing years, doesn't make us better. Zero sense at all.

Pay the peaheart out.

A quality coaching group can construct a plan to include a quality young key position player who's only going to get better. The concept that he makes us worse is a nonsense.

That would make sense.

I've been told that a Melbourne player who lined up in the prelim will be at the Saints next year, but I don't know the name. I can only guess Tyson, even though I doubt he's what they need.

We need to keep turning the list over. Delist: Garlett, Bugg, McKenna, Keilty, Vince, Balic, Johnstone, King I'd offer Pedersen one more year as cover. I'd potentially re-rookie Johnstone. I'm not a fan of Tim Smith, but suspects he gets another year. I'm not fussed about Filipovic, so stay or go. I believe Garlett has one more year, but I'd pay him out.

You're eligible if your senior side is still playing.

Connors

I posted in the Gaff thread that I had mail from a prominent player manager... Said manager also said (and he doesn't manage Hogan so it's just an educated opinion), that if Hogan wanted to go home, and he has no clue if he does and would be surprised if he wanted to leave the Dees, he didn't think he'd want to go to Freo. He says the constant referencing of Freo was misleading. In his opinion he'd want to go to West Coast. Freo might want Hogan, but he said he'd be very surprised if Hogan wanted freo.

I don't care, mate. You're welcome to believe what you want. So, no other posters need to bother telling me that they think he's taking coin. It's great you think that way. I don't care.

We were into him, but he doesn't like the proposed role. With Viney, Oliver, Brayshaw, and Harmes playing inside roles there would be little opportunity for him to get his hands dirty in the centre square. But he may stay at West Coast. It's West Coast or North. Fullstop. As for Shiel, etc. how do we satisfy GWS when we have no decent picks to offer ? We'll only get a decent player if we can land a free agent.

My info is from the mouth of his manager. He won't be coming to Melbourne.

Speculate away.

This info was a week ago from a very well connected source. He won't be coming.

Mail from high profile player manager: Gaff will either stay or go to North. He's getting a lot of pressure from his parents to come home, but is happy to stay. He won't be going to Melbourne for one reason. Melbourne wanted to play him as a predominantly outside hard running wingmen and he wants to play as an inside mid. He won't be coming to Melbourne.

Don't ever think your bottom six determines finals. And don't ever think your "stars" cancel each other out. Dustin Martin was the reason Richmond won last night. Stars win finals, not your most mediocre players.