Wiseblood

Sun is reporting that Peter Bell is flying into Melbourne tomorrow to resume talks on a deal that will potentially include pick 5 and other picks, thus allowing us to secure May and KK. So, nothing new really, other than what we all knew - Bell was bluffing.

Thank Christ there is only two days left

Has ETD gone to bed in the last 4 days? I feel like there hasn't been an hour gone by where he hasn't posted something, and even in that time he's said absolutely nothing of note. Extraordinary.

If you're sure that we're announcing the deal Monday, why post later that we 'need to get it done', as if it won't get done on Monday and there's a chance the deal may not go through at all? Classic

Not to mention Richmond just gave Tom Lynch a 7 year contract on good money as well. Jesse isn't going home for peanuts.

I wouldn't trust Ricky Nixon to sit the right way on a toilet seat.

He probably knows a bit of what's going on, but there is no chance he is privy to what the players and clubs, are truly thinking. He is probably just talking about his own experiences.

Does Pickering manage any of those players?

Anyone seriously think he would go to Gold Coast? I thought it was family or bust for him, and GC is not only worse than Freo but further away from his family. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but I guess that's been the theme throughout this entire saga.

We did. Austin Bradtke.

Plus, Peter Bell said that they 'cannot meet our trade demands'. He's making out as if we are asking for four first rounders, three seconds, two thirds and a partridge in a pear tree. It's rubbish. What we've said we will take, which is the pick they get for Neale and #23, is more then reasonable and easily doable from their end. I don't know what Bell has been drinking but the bloke needs to get off it, and quickly.

Their logic is rubbish, though. Lachie Neale is worth 2 first rounders, but Hogan, a 23 year old key forward with 150 goals under his belt, isn't? Fair suck of the sav, Belly.

We will agree to disagree. Before the injury Lever was on fire and our defence was superb. His skills and leadership was excellent. He has a decade left as a player and he will slot back in very nicely next year. He could also be a future captain of the club. I think we paid a very fair price, but happy to agree to disagree on this one, King.

Lever is more important, and better, than May. He was worth every penny we spent on him.

Freo, having recruited some good young mids to play alongside Fyfe, now have the chance to set up their spine for years to come with Hogan and Lobb both keen to play there next year. They proceed to treat both players, and their respective clubs, with total disrespect. It sends a bad signal to any player who wants to go there in the future, and will turn off clubs when dealing with them in the future. Horrible stuff from a poorly run club.

I see what you're saying now mate, and you may well be right. Let's hope it's not the case though and Jesse decides to stay long term!

I reckon we are fine in terms of how we handled it. I can only go by what is out in the public eye, but it sounds like Hogan instigated it, we supported it but said we are happy to keep him if the right offer doesn't come in, which it didn't. I think the club, from what I can tell, has handled it superbly so far.

When I find out what makes it change then I'll let you know!

If he signs a long term deal over the summer then I'll be happy. However, if we can only hold on to him for another year and he bolts for West Coast, and we have missed out on May, then I'll be slightly disappointed. I'd love this to fire up Jesse for a big season in 2019. I think our club has handled this very professionally and I reckon Jesse will see that too.

That's the sensible deal. Unfortunately, Freo have zero sensibility at the moment.

I'd have him as a rookie. Nothing more.

With the pick we've got for Kent, can we package those together for Carlton's first pick? Or will Carlton need to hand over their second rounder as well?

Peter Bell isn't exactly covering himself in glory right now. Watch Josh Mahoney run rings around him before Wednesday is over. Bell isn't even in the same league.

Would North fans be that happy about trading Preuss, though? Outside of Goldstein their ruck stocks are pretty darn thin at the moment. Happy with this deal. I don't see Tyson as a best 22 player, and with the impending addition of KK, the hopeful return to form of Hunt and Stretch coming back from injury, they will get a run on the wings in 2019. Tyson wasn't getting into a midfield of Viney, Oliver, Brayshaw and Harmes anyway. Basically, we need Preuss more than we need Tyson.

It's a fair deal. We couldn't expect much more than that when they could have held off and gotten him for nothing in the pre-season draft. It's a shame to see him go but he wasn't crucial to our rise up the ladder. Good luck to him at St. Kilda.