Matsuo Basho

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.

I’d push for a sweetener, say a swap of later picks and/or Kolodjashnij thrown in there somehow but yes I’m down with paying pick 5 for May. 27yo elite fullback in his prime strengthening our defence as we enter premiership window? Yes please. What would you do with pick 5? Take a King brother and wait to see if he’ll be any good? You do realise that’s going to be a minimum four year process whatever happens. The Dees have entered “The Window”. Whole new ballgame.

Jeepers Leoncelli, have a Xanax and a lie down old boy. Freo could just as well finish bottom three next year and we’d be absolutely laughing. As it is they will not make the finals in 2018 which means we would at minimum get pick 8. Pick 5 now and pick 1-8 next year is a good deal for Jesse Hogan. Forget the strong draft/weak draft hoopla. Taylor will pick us a gem next year in the top 8 of the draft if we do this deal. Maybe grab another key forward even better than what Jesse Hogan is. Two cases to underline ... Tom Lynch was taken at pick 11 by the Suns in 2013 and the Blues nabbed Charlie Curnow at pick 10 a couple years back. We can and will come out ahead on this thing. This is not Melbourne recruiting circa 2011.

Almost no chance Frost’s skills improve by his age. What you see now is what you get. He’s NQR in my view. Handy back up only. Re Oscar’s purported lack of mongrel, stick May back there with Nev, Hibbo, Lewis and Salem and you’ve got more than enough hard man slots covered. Skill errors in the back six cost you big time and potentially mean the difference between premiership and runner-up. Can’t have it. Think you’re going to find the FD see it the same way.

I reckon it’s an even 50/50 split. Freo took the car out of the garage then we took over the wheel halfway to Perth.

Forget the strong draft/weak draft groupthink, Pick 5 this year & Pick 8 next year is a fair deal for Hogan. If that’s the compromise we should take it. Watch Jason Taylor add two absolute rippers to our list next season with picks 8 & 18.

Relax everyone. Freo list manager Rosich just posturing and peacocking before trade week kicks off. Gotta look tough for the fans. Truth is it’s the club that doesn’t come out with empty bluster and bravado that usually has the whip hand. Freo will end up accepting pick 4 for Neale plus a sweetener, and Melbourne will get its two firsts for Hogan. Likely to be pick 5 and Freo’s 2019 first rounder. We add May to the back six for next season and then let Taylor work some magic with two choice first round picks at the 2019 draft. Have a crack at the flag next year by all means but keep adding young talent to the squad as we go. That’s the key to remaining a powerhouse for the next decade.

Oscar might not be as dashing and agile as Frost but he has the better skills and is more composed with ball in hand. Much more composed. He may not be the finished article yet but Oscar played some very good footy this season, especially when Lever was up and about and he could play second fiddle back there. Add May to the back six, get Lever back from injury and watch Oscar thrive with main glare of a key defensive spotlight off him. That’s the added blessing of having tough-ass gorilla-minder like May come into the side. Takes some of the heat off Lever and OMac. Frost will be the one pushed to the back of the pecking order if May is brought in. Skill level is not at the level for a side with premiership aspirations. Couple of those fumbly turnovers and wonky 30m passes against an Eagles or Tigers and wooshka ... it’s game over.

Didn’t Karl Langdon say not five days ago that he was “100% adamant Hogan would be staying st Melbourne” coz he bumped into Hogan’s Mum and got the inside goss? Same thing here I reckon. Empty goss from numpty Gossage. These journos generally have as little idea as anyone else. Gotta sell papers and clicks to stay relevant. What we do know as fact is West Coast have publicity declared their interest. That’s on the record.

What makes you think Rankine would be risky and not be tough? Could be the complete package. In which case he may well go No.1. Even if the Dees went to the draft with pick 4 (effectively pick 5) chances are both Walsh and Rankine are both gone. In which case give me an elite prime-of-career fullback in May over a five year project to see if a King brother is any good every day of the week.

Would love Rankine but can’t see Gold Coast passing up on him at pick 2 or 3. They’ll be taking a tall (Lukosius or a King brother) and the standout x-factor player in the draft. That’s Rankine.

Many won’t like reading that, Blue. But an element of truth in what you’re saying. Don’t reckon we’re fighting that hard to keep him to be honest. Club has seen an opportunity to sell stock at inflated value. And is duly taking it. Good on us.

Computer says “Yes”.

Exactly. Or pick 1! Personally I still can’t see them being much chop even with Hogan.

Yes. May is a lock for us if Hogan deal gets done.