Wiseblood

I respectfully disagree, Graeme. Let's say, hypothetically, we get just Pick 5. We on trade that to GC for May and, say, a second rounder. What if adding May, KK in a separate deal, and say Preuss, allows us to win a flag over the next few seasons? Is it seen as a failure then, or a success? In the end, we can look at the point system all we like, but it's how we do out on the field that counts the most. There are too many 'what ifs' in play to call it a failure or success the moment the trade happens. Any trade needs time.

Trust the FD. It's rare these days that they make a mistake, and while one first rounder (if that's all we got, no player, no other first rounder) would feel like a low return, we won't know the outcome/impact for at least a few years. I know some will go off their nut if it happens, but it's not the end of the world. Having said that, I can't see it (just one first round pick) being all we get for Hogan.

You're following me around this board like a bad smell, Fan. I can't make a comment without you rolling up, beating your fists on your chest, looking for attention. Seems out of character for you.

There's a fair chance the Hogan trade, if it comes to fruition, won't happen until the very end. This thread will hit 300 pages before it does.

The bolded part is what I don't understand. You're getting annoyed about something that hasn't happened yet, and you're going off talk in the media to make up your mind. Who says we'll take unders? Sam McClure? What the hell would he know at this stage when both Freo and us have said we haven't had any dialogue over a deal yet? Let's wait and see how things progress before we get upset about it. And, outside of Hogan and potentially VDB, we aren't losing anyone else from our best 22 either. There's nothing wrong with that.

Just... calm down. Wait until things get rolling before you throw yourself off the Westgate Bridge.

Any news yet you chatty bastards???? P.S I love you all...

Yep, he did. A few others mentioned it earlier as well. Definitely one I missed. But there aren't too many more examples outside of Lin Jong and Dusty who have gone through with the tour and then stayed at their respective clubs. Doesn't mean it won't happen, but going by that you would assume Jesse is 95% out the door.

Depends how desperate they are to get one of the SA boys, plus they are likely to get Pick 6 from the Dogs IF Wingard decides to leave. If they went 9 and 10 for Pick 2 and a second rounder, for example, they might pull the trigger. That's an example based on nothing, but the lure of the SA players might sway them to bite the bullet.

Now that he's actually touring Freo's facilities? Yes, I am. Let it go, my friend. Let it go.

Not at all. This is much, much different to that.

As an aside, will Port put two of those together to get a higher pick? Say they trade 6 and 9 for Pick 1, then Carlton sends Pick 6 to GWS for Shiel (if he goes there) while keeping Pick 9 as well. There's probably no chance that happens, but it's common knowledge that both SA clubs are looking to get up the draft to nab the home grown talent there, so they may be willing to do some deals.

How would I know? He's only been in the system a year.

The kid will be a gun. Adding him to our midfield mix for the next 10-12 years would be terrific. Then we add May as well to shore up the backline and we make out like bandits.

Me either. Pick 4/5 and Brayshaw to Hogan strikes me as the most likely deal to come out of this.

Both of you are correct, and I'm certain that other players do tour facilities without it hitting the mainstream media. It just feels as though Jesse has now crossed a 'boundary' so to speak, and there may not be any coming back from this.

Touring the facilities is generally a sign that you're going to ask for a trade. Outside of Dusty a few years back, have many other players gotten down the path of touring another club before re-signing? I'm sure it has happened, but it wouldn't be a regular occurrence. Sad to see him there, though.

I heard he was there to tell them he was knocking back their offer because he's, you know, a good bloke.... #deluded

So would I, Dub, but the point I'm trying to make is that it's not the end of the world in terms of our depth if he chooses to leave. I'd much, much, MUCH, rather he stay, but we're covered in case a McDonald or Weideman goes down with our ability to swing someone forward (Frost), potentially play a resting ruck there more (Preuss/Gawn) or go through some of our mid sized forwards (Melksham, Petracca, Fritsch, Hannan).

Maynard is the perfect depth player. Good size, fit, can play through the midfield... but won't seem too fazed by spending his time at Casey. He is capable of coming in and playing a role when needed, but he isn't best 22. We still need his type on our list, though. More than happy for him to stay on.

That's all well and good, but it also proves the point that even the best sides don't have a gun replacement hanging around in the twos in case of an injury. So if Hogan goes, we're still lucky enough to have T Mac and Weideman to play as our tall forwards. We will be just like any other side.

We've thought that in the past when Hogan went down and we handled it fine. You can't cover everything. What happens if Jack Riewoldt goes down? Tom Hawkins? Buddy? I'd wager those clubs don't have a suitable back up either, but then these are gun forwards we're talking about. They don't grow on trees. You can't have more of them just waiting in the wings when an injury comes along.

Well, I'm glad that's sorted.

I wonder if he harbors any ill feeling towards the club after all these years and will be an absolute pain in the backside during negotiations for KK and May.

I see what you're saying Nash, but two things stand out about Kent: One is that, every time he got himself fit, he got himself in the side. The club clearly rates him and looked to get him in the side when they could. His injury history meant that offering him a 1 year deal, from our end, made sense, but it also makes sense for him to look for more security. The second thing is that the Saints clearly rate him as well, otherwise they wouldn't offer him a 3 year deal on much better money than what we were offering (which is what Chook in Perth alluded to). A deal like that is worth more than Pick 75. I know we have our hands tied with this so it's a moot point I guess, but going by some of those factors I think a third round pick would have been fair. We won't get that now, not with the threat of the pre-season draft hanging over us, and we might end up using that pick to upgrade someone or draft a local league player, but I think he's worth more to us than what we'll get when he leaves.