Lord Neville X Flash

I think we need class up front, of any size. As we have seen in previous years collingwood, richmond (2017) and west coast have been contending with different mixes of forward sizes. I think Harmes could be moved to play a large percentage up forward. Hes got good size, and would give us great ground level presence, plus loves a goal. This would free up a spot in the middle for Gus, whose form dipped when moved to a wing. I think we also need to pray that Fritsch, Trac and Weid take the next step. Only time will tell.

If he can get 23-27 touches a game, he is a great chance for AA ($51 on SB). One of only 3 AFL players rated as 'elite' in disposal efficiency in 2018. Potential emulate Laird, Simpson, a better Brent Guerra even? I've huge hopes for the kid

I would have liked melbourne to have negotiated harder, and then accept 5 & 23 in the last minute if that was the best offer. Anyway, it's hard to know what the circumstance were behind closed doors. Like i said, we did okay, a par. But we didn't dominate the trade period like essedon last year, or freo and hawthorn this year.

If we had publicly stated that we were trying to get May without selling hogan, or at least made no comment the narrative around the situation would have been very different. Would freo have bought it? Who knows. But surely worth a try imo. Winning a flag is that hard, we need to maximise every area of the club, including dealing hard at the trade table.

It is actually is exactly like poker. A list manger from another team refused to answer question saying "I can't answer that as it will give away our hand" on traderadio. I think we did just okay, and to go around saying we had an amazing trade period is wrong. Jesse hogan was a "straight flush" and we got 5 & 23 for him. Like it or not hogan is worth more than that

They were categorically two seperate trades. MFC did okay, Hawthorne and Fremantle did the best of all the clubs.

Mate, your acting like i'm up in arms. Like, i said it's not the end of the world, and i don't know why Melbourne played their hand like they did.. maybe there was mitigating circumstances. If your so affronted by opposing opinions i recommend leaving Demonland.

I can see the big picture, jesus. Just because we did well to get in May and KK doesn't mean we didn't let Hogan go cheap. In my opinion we showed our hand by admitting that we needed Hogan out to get May. Hogan was worth pick 5 & 14, and fremantle had those picks. We accepted pick 5 & 23, it's not the end of the world but it is unders.

Hogan was not a trade for May and KK. Hogan was worth more than pick 6 and 23, that part of the trade freo got the better deal. However, pick 6 for May and KK was a steal, and GC got unders.

Everyone saying our team is better is underselling how special Hogan might turn out to be. But he wanted to go, and considering trauma he has been through, we had to let him go

We definetly lost the Hogan deal, but 6 for May and Kolo is a win. Once again GC are the ones who got truely shafted

I doubt we will get cerra, but I have connections to him and word is he would want to come home to Victoria

Hopefully another team sweeps in and offers overs for May. Then we would not be so desperate to get Hogan out, and Freo would have to pay 5 and a future first rounder... Oh the look on Bell's face would be priceless

Actually I called you that for Insinuating racism to win an argument. Please reframe from quoting me

Yeah for sure, but maybe they think cumulative cost for Hogan Picks/Price/Years is too much. Maybe if Hogan's management agreed to 5 x 5 they would be happy to give 5, 23 and 30. But who knows

He didn't say we should buckle, he just thinks that is the only way it will happen.

I read it as though Freo were not prepared to cough up that much money, that many years and those high picks. And therefore Freo called the negotiations off. And that they would offer Hogan the 8x8, but not give up the draft picks. I could very well be wrong, the article was ambiguous. Having thought about it more, it is a poorly written article, but that doesn't mean there is not a lot of truth in it.

Yeah, it's kinda looking like a positive for us. Maybe we will be able to extend his contract..

I don't really follow why the article was bad. Freo wanted Hogan. Freo gave Bell a job. Bell felt hogan wasn't worth 5 & 23 if they also had to sign him for 8 x 8mill? That seems logical to me. 8mill over 8 years is a risky deal to give anyone.

But crappy journalism exists in all area's of news, but it doesn't mean its due to manipulation or secret relationships, or even favouritism. It's just an opinion that may be way off. EDIT: having read the article i see nothing wrong with it.... where's the problem?

Seriously though, what is more likiley: A) Us, die hard melbourne supporters, over rate Hogan's value and/or Melbourne's power in this situation. B) A neutral Journo who studies all clubs, players and trades, AND whose livelihood depends on them being good at their job, being untruthful on purpose. BTW, i think Hogan was worth pick 6 & 7, or 6 and brayshaw/cerra.

But when has that happened with the Jesse Hogan situation? If Pavlic weighed in on the situation, sure i'd take it with a massive grain of salt. But no journo, Mclure or Morris included, are out to get Melbourne, neither is montagna.

Can we stop calling any journalist that has an opinion we disagree with a "Secret agent for XYZ club" or a "Melbourne hater". its just not true. These guys may be wrong, but there's no hidden agenda, take off the tin foil hats.

I say we keep Hogan, and hopefully next year Kennedy retires and we can have a bidding war between WC and Freo.

Most people think they will renege on that if the Neale trade happens Edit: thats also not the words Freo used, they were much more cryptic