Matsuo Basho

Yet despite that stellar portrait you paint of him here we are none-so-gently nudging him out the door, or at least not discouraging him from ‘pursuing options’. I wonder why ...

Not sure who DrD is but he seems a bit of an extremist. We find ourselves in a sort of agreement on this one bit think of it more as an alliance by default. Like say Rush Limbaugh to John McCain.

He’s a promising young key forward who has yet to hit his straps. The potential is there (see that word ‘potrntual’) but there are no guarantees in life. There are enough flaws to argue that it’s not a sure thing with Hogan. He is no Winx. In my view his real value is around pick 5 and maybe an early second round sweetener. But because Freo are desperate we have a rare opportunity to drive a hard bargain. They need him more than we need to let him go. Therefore, pick 5 and pick 10 or thereabouts seems about right.

No other way to spin that than hugely embarrassing for North. I think Brad Scott has got a log to do with it. One of the last coaches you’d want to play under.

Agree to disagree. Fair enough. I wonder if the answer lies somewhere to the middle of our two views. Probably. 75% towards mine, 25% to yours. ?

Jeez you had to dig that far back to 2017 to come up with two solitary games where he kicked an earth shattering 3 goals? Thanks for underlining my ‘self-serving’ point, ProDee. Amazing that even you with your usually clear critical judgment refuse to acknowledge this player’s flaws. You even agreed earlier in the thread that it appeared the club is pushing him out the door!

If you asked any of the potential draftees privately I would bet 99% would say they prefer not to be drafted by the Suns. Who would? They are a basket case at present. But the Suns can’t afford to make decisions based on that sentiment. If they have any hope of resurrecting themselves as an AFL club they must take the best available talent and back themselves in to retain them. Otherwise they may as well shut up shop today. The AFL have sent their top administrator up there (Evans) and he will be doing just that.

You give me the tip, I’ll give you the facts. - Hogan did not finish top ten in his own club B&F. - Hogan played poorly in virtually every big game he took the field in in 2018. 9 goals in 8 games against the top 10 clubs. Coulda, shoulda, woulda ... didn’t.

Hunt should set himself to take Lewis’ spot on a back flank next year. He’s got the tools to do it. We need his pace back there.

With May coming in to shore up the backline, if Weid can kick 2 goals a game next season we win the flag. He is capable of doing it. You can see the confidence growing. Once he has that “I belong here” feeling ... look out!

I’d pick TMac over Hogan as a key forward everyday of the week and twice on Sundays. Absolute star of the competition. Our second most important player after Gawn.

Posters on here talk about Josh Kelly as though if North don’t get him he’s as good as coming to Melbourne. In reality we’d just be one of about ten suitors throwing cash at him. It’s a long shot.

Trading up for St Kilda’s pick 3 (4 after Suns’ Lynch compo) still won’t get the Adelaide clubs a look in at either Lokusius or Rankine. Nearly all recent phantom drafts have those boys going in the top 3. Which is why I think Port and Adelaide will take their current picks to the draft. That means Freo will have 4 & 5 and that will be the MFC’s starting demand for Hogan. I don’t think that will be where negotiations end though. For me Freo’s 2019 will come into play. It’s the compromise that will break the deadlock on that deal.

All due respect but I would trust Alistair Clarkson as a judge of footballing talent over you Pineapple. Triple premiership wingman, B&F at Freo in his first season. Yeah he’s rubbish.

I’ll simplify it for you. Out: Full forward, late first round pick In: Full back, wingman, early first round pick How is that not coming out ahead for the MFC or at bare minimum a fair trade for both parties? Fair dinkum you’d think Jesse Hogan was Buddy Franklin the way many on here go on about him. He ‘aint that good. Which is why I’ll give you the whisper ... our FD is not bending over backwards to keep him.

Read my post again and see the trade deal I mooted. Hogan & MFC 2019 1st rounder for Pick 5, Hill & Freo 2019 1st rounder Hill is still worth around pick 20-25. Plus we would jump about 10 places in next year’s first round. We would get our fullback (May), classy outside mid (Hill) for 2019 plus a crack at a kid in the top 8 of next year’s draft. Freo get Hogan and stay in the first round of next year’s draft, albeit with a later pick. Win-Win for both clubs with the deal still slanted to favour MFC.

If the deal was pick 5 and Brad Hill I would need some serious thinking music to mull it over. Some poster from Perth reckons Hill is “damaged goods”. Bulltish. The guy is still only 25 with 3 flags and the 2017 Doig Medal in his trophy cabinet. Plays the perfect outside mid game to complement our inside bulls. Classy, quick, lace out delivery of the pill. Bring May and B.Hill in we win the 2019 flag. Doubtful they’d leg him go, though. That said rumours flew during the season he wants out of ‘Ross Lyon footy’. A deal I’d consider would be: Pick 5, Hill and Freo 2019 first round pick for Hogan and our 2019 first round pick

Okay that argument needs to be nipped in the bud. Not all first round picks are of equal value. You do realise the two first rounders Adelaide received off us for Lever ended up being picks 10 & 16. That is a far cry from the 4 & 5 or even 5 & 9 people want for Hogan. Lever is a star, worth every bit of picks 10 & 16 and the FD did the right thing getting that deal done early in trade week regardless of whether or not he was contracted. The Hogan situation is a different kettle of fish requiring a whole different approach.

The post was that good it deserved two appearances.

You are making an Everest out of a molehill over the abject calamity of waiting 12 months for pick 8 in a draft. Get a grip man.

If we finished say 3rd on the ladder (entirely feasible) at the end of h/a 2019 our first round pick would be No.16

No, actually. The priority is a big nasty fullback who can contain the Josh Kennedys and Buddy Franklins of this world. His name is Steven May and the club has met with him twice. But in all your hysterical recent commentary you keep choosing to ignore this fact. A quality pacy mid or two would be nice but if we have to wait until next year to add this element to our list so be it. Not sure if you’re onto it but we do presently have a pretty damned decent midfield. Go to the 2019 draft with two early picks (say 5 & 16) and we have a strong hand to pursue a range of attractive options. Josh Kelly won’t be the only show in town. Your problem is that you can’t see past the end of your nose with your “I want everything and I want it now” attitude. As a rule that’s not how smart deals get done. If you want to stretch success out over a dynasty, you make decisions with the occasional glance toward the future. Pick 5 now and a top 1-8 pick in 2019 is good deal for Hogan. Only the most one-eyed MFC fan would not agree.

That is a possibility worth pursuing. Not sure Suns will go for it though. Suspect they are prepared to play a bit of hardball of their own on May. Like Hogan he is under contract for 2019. They will demand pick 5 this year for him.

You do realise that pick 5 now and their 2019 first = two first round picks? Two high first round picks no less. What’s the diff if we take them both now or split them into this year and next year? None.