Wiseblood

Short update on Elliott from the Herald Sun: Melbourne offered small forward Jamie Elliott a multi-year deal earlier in the year as he battled injury issues. But it is less optimistic it will secure him given his excellent start to the year and Collingwood’s determination to keep him after 11 goals in the last four games, including two finals.

Short Tomlinson update from the Herald Sun: MELBOURNE are likely to secure GWS free agent Adam Tomlinson on Saturday after the Giants best-and-fairest award. He will join the club on a four-year deal worth around $500,000 a season

Thanks mate. Sounds like he can bring something different to the side. I like the fact he is a genuine goal kicker, and he strikes me as the sort of kid who could play down there from Round 1. Also thanks to @Murph1524 for the heads up about the video. I watched another one before and liked the fact that he can also use his left quite well.

Haven't seen any of the above play, but as Serong was in this Phantom Draft as our pick, can you tell me a bit about what he would bring to the side that is a little different from what we have? Genuinely curious.

I think we were all taken in a little at his game in the pre-season where he kicked a few goals. I must admit I was, and I was also excited to see how much he could improve in 2019. Obviously we never got to see that. But I agree with your first sentence - he is handy depth who can fill gaps where required, or come in for someone out of form. He isn't a great user of the footy, much like Frost, but he is big enough and quick enough to run with a third tall or give us a different option inside 50.

I wouldn't be comfortable trading a Brayshaw away for a top two pick. We've put so much work into these guys that trading one away for someone who is, while highly rated, still no guarantee at making it at the top level, would be silliness on our part. We need to worry about our pick and how we can turn into something positive - if we take it to the draft then that's fine, but we're in a great position to turn it into something more. That should be our focus.

I wasn't suggesting we play Lever in a one on one role. Not all the time anyway. I think May takes their gun forward and we play the rest around him. Even if Lever takes their second forward one week, we've got so much flexibility with the other blokes that we can zone off and support where necessary. I agree that we can find cheap depth elsewhere, and I also believe that Petty has the capability to step up after more AFL exposure this year, while Joel Smith can also play as a third tall as well (if he can get fit).

He is good depth on not much money. He can play both forward and back and, if he gets fit again, can easily slot in where we need him and do a job. Just the player we need.

Fair enough. I'm of the belief that the club will want to go a little smaller down back (May to take their best forward, then spread Lever, Jetta, Hibberd and Hore across the others as the matchups call for) and all five of those are more composed and better users of the footy than Frost is, which is something we need more than anything coming out of the back half.

With a fit list, he doesn't get a game in our side. We brought in May to play his role. You only need to look at the games May played to understand how much better he is than Frosty. He is far more composed, a far better user of the footy and makes better decisions all round with ball in hand and without it. That's not a knock on Frost, just facts. Some will argue that it's better to have him in the magoos than to trade him in case of injury, but the world doesn't work like that. He clearly wants a good pay day, which he is well within his rights to ask, but we won't pay him that to sit at Casey. So, he looks elsewhere for the money and the job security he wants, which it looks like he'll get at Hawthorn. I know he had a good year, but let's not allow it to blind that bigger picture. He isn't best 22, and he wants best 22 money. It isn't happening, so we both move on. That's footy and that's life.

Is BigMacJnr any relation? Big brother perhaps?

Reckon Dal Santo sums up my feelings on Frosty: Nick Dal Santo: Sam Frost is fantastic defender but questionable with ball in hand. In the modern game you have to be able to make split-second decisions off the half back line. I think that might be the reason that the Demons haven't re-signed him.

No there hasn't. All of those listed have shown vast amounts of improvement over the years. One down year doesn't wipe that away.

I know it's not easy, but we need to wait and see what the next few months hold for the club before we pot this decision. These cannot be taken in isolation. Who knows what we have up our sleeve. We may have nothing, or we may have something that we can now do with the money we might have paid Frosty. I'm 50/50 about this, but will wait and see further outcomes before getting annoyed or excited by it.

As faulty says above, we can't, but I would suggest you could discuss some sort of agreement around who clubs might select and so forth.

We could look at him, but I doubt he would look at us.

Frost to Hawthorn Langdon to Melbourne Hawks second rounder to the Dockers. Done.

It's classic dazzle, and I mean that in a good way!

@dazzledavey36 I think you spoke too soon re: Frosty...

He came as Nev Jetta's date.

I won't believe it until #ETthetradebreaker arrives with the news.

The role may not have suited him perfectly, but he was by far the best of a sorry bunch when he was given the role. However, he gave everything he had to it and to the club, and I can never fault him for that. Good on him for also recognising that it is time for him to step aside as captain. Thanks for everything, Jonesy. Hopefully this move will also ensure you have a good season for us in 2020 without having to worry as much about that aspect of your game.

Brand new account confirming a deal with no sources. #legit

I don't think that's been officially confirmed, but it looks as though this will be the likely outcome when all is said and done.

While I understand everyone's feeling around our need to add more 'speed' to the side, and I'm included in that, we can't ignore the fact that we still need to improve our list in general. Tomlinson is no world beater. He is a good, solid foot soldier who can plug some gaps in the side. To me, we need a player like that. No, he isn't going to speed up and down the ground, but what he does is well is get to the right positions. Even in the GF, it was good to see him deep in defence, then up on the wing etc, which shows that he is capable of running the ground well and getting to the right spots when needed. He doesn't win a heap of the footy, he doesn't really have any special attributes and he isn't going to win us games off his own boot, but then he doesn't need to. Not every player you have in the side can do this. I'm happy to get him as he can play in defence, be a link up player on the wing and even pinch hit forward or in the ruck. His foot skills are generally solid, his height means that we can find mismatches around the ground and his stamina and professionalism mean he gets on the park each week and is highly respected by his peers. There is always room at a football club for players like him. While what he is paid will be up for debate, the fact we can sign him without giving up picks is a big tick and I think he'll be a positive player to bring into the club.