Matsuo Basho

Like it Olisik. Personally I wouldn't trade Gus though. Petracca's the one. I never have an issue with the criticism. It's the lack of creativity coming back the other way that grinds. Anyone can be an art or a food critic. Getting behind the easel or serving up one of your own recipes - that commands respect!

If you suggested any of those trades to supporters of rival clubs they would probably be just as vehemently against them as you are, only for reasons based on favourable opinions of their players. Its all subjective. At the end of the day you have to approach something resembling a middle ground.

I don’t disagree that he could probably play on for one more season but he has stated that he wants to go on for 2+ more years. You have to have the sensitive conversation with him at some point. He is not a good enough player that he can simply write his own ticket. He should be told what Lewis was told this year. One final season with an understanding that senior footy is no longer guaranteed. MFC priority though must be to win games, not assuage egos and give carte blanch to sentiment. I’m sure it will also dawn on Jones if it hasn’t already just how fortunate he has been to do something he loves and make a tidy fortune in the process. They all have used by dates. Even captains.

What has Jnr McDonald got to do with Jones other than fact they both captained Melbourne? Different people. Different players. Different circumstances. It’s rarely one size fits all.

The scary thing is Nate thinks he’s good for another 2+ seasons after this one. Who’d want to give up $600+k to play footy with your mates on the G? Few I’d suggest. Jones is an inside midfielder or Casey captain in 2020. No other position in the senior 22 is suitable.

He was brilliant. Although I felt against the very top sides his lack of pace cost us at times. He’s not on his own there, though. He will need to push out Hore from the starting back six, who I think has that touch more zip and agility.

Pains me to say it as I rate Nev but I think he's nearly done.

Pick 2 and 20 to GWS for pick 9, 17 and Jon Patton (pending medical) Petracca to Port Adelaide for pick 13 Weideman to Sydney for pick 25 Pick 17 to Freo for Brad Hill Pick 25 to Freo for Ed Langdon Pick 13 to GCSuns for Jack Martin Pick 9 best available 18yo at draft (maybe small forward Caleb Serong) Out: Pick 2, 20, Petracca, Weideman In: Patton, B.Hill, J.Martin, Langdon, Serong ___________________________________________________________________________ B: Hibberd May Salem HB: Hunt Lever Langdon Cr: Fritsch Oliver B.Hill HF: Serong T.McDonald J.Martin F: Melksham Patton Lockhart R: Gawn Brayshaw Viney I: Jones Harmes Baker Hore Pass the crack pipe.

Insiders too at some clubs.

Who are we going to get? Let's keep this discussion going. We don't have a choice from where I sit. All options, trades and picks on the table. Cheque book out $$$. Cannot go into 2020 with the current forward set up. Must not.

I'm not saying he's a terrible player. I still think we'll get a decent pick for him. 10 - 20. But I firmly believe he won't be the player many want him to be. Too enigmatic. Too many flaws with his kicking. Hard calls need to be made.

Pleading for Weideman to be dropped in a 'changes' thread is on topic. I'm glad you agree. But JKH? Please. Please.

Too conservative. This club needs to get aggressive and make some tough calls. Petracca is first on the block for mine. Get a 10 - 20 pick for him while we still can.

Right, it's time to ratchet up the rhetoric. How does the witches hat with legs known as Weideman keep getting a game? What kind of show are we running here? Are we for real? I've not seen a player contribute less over 10 AFL games in 35 years of watching the sport. Not hyperbole. That's the truth. Do something FD. Now!

... would complete the humiliation. Preliminary finalists to bottom 2 just 15 games later. If you can find a worse capitulation by any club in the AFL era of the past 30 years please let us know. I can’t recall one. Heads must roll if we lose this and begin competing for the wooden spoon with the Bad News Suns. If not Goodwin then a slew of names within the footy department responsible for the debacle. This situation is a disgrace to the Melbourne Football Club. To its history, to those who once toiled to make it great and to the loyal members and supporters who help fill its coffers. The people responsible for this disgrace are not fit to represent the jumper. They should hand in their resignation papers tomorrow. This is as bad as it gets people. Wake up.

We could debate this back and forth forever. The key point is that we did not have to pay Adelaide’s ambit asking price for Lever because we had the whip hand in negotiations. He was out of contract! To cave in on day two of trade week the way we did was an absolute disgrace. Weak, overly generous, amateur hour trading. Played for the suckers we are.

Top shelf elite midfielders - worth two first round picks. Intercept marking defender - worth one. Hawks traded in Wingard for pick 15 and Ryan Burton (second rounder). Not even in this discussion. MB fades back. Swish. And that's the game!!

Hope so! Why shouldn't this club be held accountable? Bring it on.

Equally, peremptory change can be both necessary and courageous. Would you want the wrong doctor performing open heart surgery on your child? Or would you prefer others not to wet their pants and get knickers in a twist if strong doubts arose? This club is bleeding heavily at the moment. Prelim to bottom 3. Some of you are in shock about it.

Wholeheartedly agree. Josh Mahoney fingerprints on that one. Weak and pathetic to throw away an extra first round pick like that without a fight. It doesn't happen at Collingwood, Essendon, Hawthorn etc. It's amateur hour at Melbourne. That's probably an insult to well run VAFA A grade clubs.

Yes. Even worse is his strike rate beyond the first round. It's just terrible. Charlie Spargo? FMD. In what universe does a recruiter believe he'll become an AFL player. Weideman over Curnow was the last straw for me. I mean an effing disgrace. They guy should be cleaning out his desk tomorrow morning. Had a gutful of the incompetence.

I fully concur with you Praha. We are going to have to take some calculated risks. I expect at least one bigger name on the list to be traded out while they still have some cachet. Petracca for me is right in the gun, as is potentially Brayshaw, Weideman and Hunt. They have to fix the forward line, stat. It is diabolical. Close to the worst we've seen in 30 years at Melbourne. We will have a caretaker coach by this time next year if Goodwin can't right the ship. There is massive pressure on everyone now, from top down. The recruiting has not been good enough and is the primary reason the list lacks the depth and star quality necessary to genuinely challenge. I'm now happy Pert is there. An outsider. He gets it and has shown he is more than willing to rattle cages and fire up the blowtorch. Going to be some sweeping changes in the off season. Few are safe.

But people keep telling me Jason Taylor has recruited superbly over the past five years. How is it possible we need a mini rebuild?

Looking forward to Goody telling us about Weid's stellar 8-touch game. I mean it is three more than last week and he does fill out jumper very smartly. Really got a player on our hands there. And if it's good enough to start a Trade Brayshaw thread then one should be started immediately on Petracca who's NEVER going to be the player most think he'll become. Col Sylvia Mk2. Wasting everybody's time. Trade now or watch his stock plummet further in 2020. Goodwin is out of his depth. The list has been overrated and we're looking at another mini rebuild. Good times.

Today's news, tomorrow's fish 'n chip wrapper. C'mon WYL you're in that biz you know this.