Lord Neville X Flash

Michael Barlow is desperate to continue playing AFL. He only played 3 games for 2018, avg 26 disposals. His last game he racked up 35, with 9 marks and 5 tackles, playing out of position in the worst team in the league. I'm not suggesting he will be best 22, but he could add some good depth and we could pay him next to nothing. By all accounts he has an elite work ethic, and has crafted a career for himself the hard way. He could provide really strong leadership to the younger players, and the VFL players. Similar to the way Oliver followed Billy stretch and learned how to work hard, Barlow could offer the same leadership. Finally, with Tyson probably on the way out, we are a little thin for back up mids. If a couple of Oliver, Viney, Gus, Harmes, Jones go down, Barlow would be a good back up. Our list is so young, i think we could benefit from bringing in 1 veteran to compliment 3-5 draftees.

I see him as a depth player, so when we have a full team he will probably be in the VFL. But we will inevitably have some injuries, and in those cases he would be a good back-up pressure fwd. However, he may recapture his best form as well, and be a best 22 player again. But i think a good depth player is more realistic.

Garlett hasn't lost his speed, with Bugg, Kent and possibly AVB going out i think we need him for our depth in the forward line. He could have a really strong pre-season, and play 11 good games for us

i feel like everyone has been very specific when talking about picks...

Best case scenario for mine would be, GC hold onto may, we get pick 6 and 10 and get two victorian boys. Then get may for free next year. I trust lever and Omac/Frost to be good enough if the rest of the team show up.

I doubt we would offer 2 first rounders, maybe pick 10 and a second rounder for May and KK

May holds little power in the situation. If GC don't get an offer they respect, they could let him sit out a year and get pick 2,3 or 4 in compo when his contract finishes. Even if he chooses collingwood, its unlikely the pies can appease GC. Furthermore, GC are viewed as a weak organisation, they will be keen to put a line in the sand to save what little reputation they have left, May won't be let go for anything less than a top 10 pick, if not top 7.

I don't think Sydney have a particularly high 1st rounder, so we are more than likely in the box seat for May.

Only issue with that is speed against small line ups, i.e. richmond. Frost adds versatility, and with May and Lever being good kicks, frost would be the only poor kick in the backline. I think we are too slow with Omac, May and Lever

I want May in our team, but i don't want to give up a top 7 pick. If GC play hard ball and demand pick 6, i say we leave it. Hopefully, our pick 10 will be enough to get him over the line. But GC would stand to get a top 5 compo pick next year, so they may not give him up for pick 10.

1. With Kent definitely leaving, and Tyson a good chance of leaving we really need to retain AVB imo, we are losing 2 depth players and hogan already. 2. He balances the age of our list well, and after a full preseason would definitely be a best 22 player, if not best 18. 3. His football also stacks up in finals, which is of utmost importance for us now.

Its delusional to think we will get pick 5, 6 and brayshaw for hogan.

Best Case scenario IMO: We get pick 5/6 and 10 from Freo. pick 10 plus other pick for May and KK. We end up with a "super 7" 18 year old from VIC, either Bailey Smith or Ben King, May and KK.

Unfortunately GC would stand to get a top 5 pick for may if he left next year under free agency... so they may play hard ball. I personally dont want him that badly, but MFC seem very keen

I think Hogan to GC isnt out of the realms of possibility, they could make him the highest paid player in the AFL if they really wanted him. But i cant see any situation were we end up with picks 2 and 3, and may and KK. We would maybe get pick 3, may and kolo for hogan, 2019 1st round plus other picks. I don't think we could convince any of our players to go to GC i.e. tyson

How would we end up with 3 and 5? gold coast will have pick 2 and 3 will they not?

Loyalty is one thing stupidity is another, almost every player in the AFL would move clubs if the choice was 1 year or 3. Not really a good platform for AVB, its the bare minimum possible that gives him no security compared to a guaranteed 3 years...

Completely fair enough for him to take that offer. He has a future and family to take care of. Anyone saying he owes melbourne is delusional, he owes his family to take the sydney offer IMO. If the dees want him they should at least offer him 2 years.

Have Sydney offered more money or a longer contract than we have?

Brad Hill left hawthorn to go home to WA, why would he come back to Melbourne?? we can't just take any player we like, only originally from VIC pose realistic options i.e. brayshaw or cerra

If this happened i would be utterly dismayed. Hogan is Younger, more talented and a forward - more valuable on so many levels. I want pick 5 AND pick 6 or another really good player (cerra, brayshaw). I have a feeling freo may try to offer us pick 5 and 2019 first rounder, im not sure how i feel about that... i would probably want the dees to play hard ball and get pick 6 or a good player as well. Adelaide played hard ball with lever and we payed overs in the end.. Time for the dees to do the same

Viney should not be on that list.

If we do this we could then package it up, and get pick 1 from carlton, Sam Walsh is the best player in a super draft, and is from Vic.

No one wants Hogan out, but if the writings on the wall that he will be gone at the end of 2019 we may as well get a better deal now. AND, With Preuss and Gawn we can play two ruckman if one of TMAC or Weed goes down

With Shiel leaving, GWS wont be squeezed for money. It would be hard to pry whitfeild out before free-agency.