Goodvibes

I see him more as a Jack Redden, Jimmy Bartel type and think he'll sit somewhere between the two in terms of talent and production by the time his career is up.

Most on here needed the overnight online equivalent of a Harvard degree when they heard we were giving up pick 25 for Melksham. It was meltdown central.

Yep, add me to the fan club too. Most people seem to lump him into the meat and potatoes, solid foot soldier category. I think he's a bit better than that. I think if he hadn't arrived in the same draft as Brayshaw, Petracca, Stretch and vandenBerg and debuted in the same year as Hogan, he's be receiving far more positive attention. He adjusted to the speed of senior footy amazingly well, seems to be of tremendous character and does all the basic things really well. Screams 200 game player to me. If it was 2010 we'd be talking him up as our next captain.

The more I read the more confident I'm becoming that Parish will make it. Call it the 'reverse mozz'.

That's why I said the club was learning. Things aren't always black and white. Past administrations were poor but still capable of making solid decisions such as the pursuit of Hogan. The current administration has taken great strides but isn't perfect.

It made me giggle. Hogan was targeted and we got him. It appears the same could be said for Brayshaw, Salem and our 2015 pick 3. As a club we're learning.

Aerobic capacity?

Some of us have left it a bit late this year but I'm confident we can make up for lost time and become draft experts within a month.

Don't encourage me Binman. I might get a taste for it. I was actually just commenting on the quality of the AFL's Live Trade Page. If I see another wedding photo I'm going to spew.

You're not interested in the contents of Josh Kennedy's suitcase?

They're not 50/50s when Hogan is involved.

And I thought they were simply cattle to you H. You're getting a little sentimental in your old age. I like it. Seriously though, that was one impressive interview. His conviction regarding our future is genuine. We've dined on the scraps and false promises of our presidents, coaches and players for a long, long time but this does feel different. The young core that Garland speaks of has that enticing combination of talent, character and hardness.

I wouldn't call Redden a big fish but he's certainly legal size and then some. All talk surrounding him has gone a little quiet over the past week. Redden, Melksham and Bugg would be a considerable improvement to our midfield stocks in a "quiet trade year".

Just spent my grand final day with two Collingwood supporters (I know!) and both of them rated Kennedy and would be disappointed to see him go. I'm not entirely convinced but he seems worthy of a genuine crack at AFL footy.

Important to note that we're using 2014 data. Salary cap in 2019 when Melksham's reported contract runs out will be much higher. Be interesting to try and identify 7 members of Hawthorn's grand final team that are on less than 300 grand.

It will be our version of the Trent Croad move. That makes Bernie Vince our Luke Hodge.

Smacks of Veale deal.

Just to be clear I used Watts and Johnstone as examples of players who were good kicks (like Melksham) who often turned the ball over because they attempted to executive more difficult kicks. I've watched a fair bit of Melksham and think he's a good kick who makes some bad decisions and attempts to thread the eye of the needle too often. Matt Jones, Riley, Bail and McKenzie are simply bad kicks. Melksham will hit easy targets but needs to stick to his limitations. I don't think he's as quick as some here are making out but he does have burst speed in a Jack Viney kind of way. He will run hard all day. When he was playing at his best (2013) he publicly acknowledge the positive influence of Goodwin. We'll probably give up our second rounder but like everyone, would hope we use our third.

I seem to remember most Geelong fans were a little over Clint Bizzell and his inconsistency by the end of his time there. Let's hope Melksham can resurrect his career in a similar fashion. Looks like it's happening now Clint. Time to get on board!

And then I'd point to disposal efficiency. They're within a percent of each other. Good thing I'm not a stats man. My first instinct when I heard of the possible trade was like most here. The whelm factor was low. It's a big statement Goodwin is making. If nothing else, it shows he's prepared to back himself even in the face of supporter backlash and it also shows that the club is backing his opinion 12 months out from taking over the senior coaching gig.

I think I broke that rule hence my self-imposed sanction. Is 12 months a sufficient suspension or am I a lifer?

There's definitely a question mark over his decision making. Like Jack Watts and Travis Johnstone before him, he backs his kicking skills and often bites off more than he can chew. I'm always a little suspicious of disposal efficiency and clanger stats. Our club champion noted for his foot skills averages almost as many clangers as Melksham with 3.0 a game.

We rate Goodwin. Goodwin rates Melksham. Melksham wants to be here. Let's hope the form of 2013 prior to the investigation is a more appropriate gauge of his abilities. Like Bugg, he's competitive, hard running and can hit targets.

So, I haven't ventured onto this thread in 12 months, 1 week and 6 days. What are the rules again?

I'm open to Seedsman too but if we do take him I refuse to refer to him (like most Pies fans) as Seeds or The Seed.