Lord Nev

Ah ok, so only the scenario you want to use is relevant... Go it. (I was talking about what the deal ended up being in the end btw) Guess we'll see how it plays out.

Sure, you could make that comparison if it was the same trade, but it's not. And you're ignoring all the context (from Freo's perspective) around why that deal was done. Also, didn't the deal end up being: Pick 8 -- Pick 10, 28, and a 4th rounder. Which would mean (if you really want to compare to completely contextually different trades) Preuss = 28 and 60ish

Pick 23 and Preuss for pick 9. Future 2nd rounder for Brown. ANB for pick 44. Complicated combination of player and pick trades that mean we turn OMac, TMac, Hunt and some pick swapping into a 2nd round pick. Not sure how you think that's so ridiculous tbh.

No, I'm saying maybe Preuss and pick 23 for the GWS compo pick for Williams, which I think will be pick 9.

Bit of a long one, bear with me here mates... GWS only have picks 40, 46, 68 82 (etc) at this stage this year. With a few players already possibly on the way out and maybe more to come, I think they're expecting a few earlier picks to come in yet (trade and FA compo). Given we're in a similar-ish situation draft pick wise, I wonder if we'd consider shipping off Preuss and a pick to get one (or more) of the earlier picks GWS will have come in? The trade currency required for Brown would still have to be considered, but we could look at giving them a future pick given they're in a world of hurt atm. It's almost always a complicated big picture by the end, but if we could do the following, I'd consider it a win: OUT: Preuss, Pick 23, ANB, Hunt, OMac, TMac, 2021 2nd round pick IN: Pick 9 (GWS compo), Ben Brown, Isaac Smith (FA), Pick 20-25ish (after a mess of trading players and picks for points), Pick 44 (ANB to Crows) Draft wise leaves us with 9, 20-25, and some picks around 40-50 (which obviously may be pushed back a little this year). Pick 9 opens up the option of players like Archie Perkins, Finlay Macrae or Nikolas Cox, all of whom would fill needs (eventually) for us.

Here you go mate:

Right. Let's break it down mate: We need a mature winger. We don't have much to trade. We don't have much cap space. With the soft cap being reduced we also need more experience in vulnerable positions. Isaac Smith is a mature winger, will cost us nothing in trade, will not be on a big contract, can provide onfield leadership. Plus, he'll also be valuable for players Baker, Rivers, Jordon, ANB, vandenBerg, Salem & Hannan, all of whom we've either tried on a wing or could, in showing them what it requires. You can't keep this rolling cycle of going to the draft over and over going and then wonder why you 1) Never really improve because the young players don't have quality mature players to learn from, and 2) Put up inconsistent performances because you're a young list that lacks the leadership and mature bodies to deliver every week. And seriously, your comment "smith is just looking for an extra pay day he doesn't care for premierships" is absolute rubbish. Draftees alone aren't going to change our fortunes. I would honestly question how long you've been a Melbourne supporter if you haven't already learned that the hard way.

Isaac Smith (who I assume you're talking about) is currently 31 and we don't have the money for a "big fish". Also, we're only going after 1x Isaac Smith, so not sure where your 'topping up with veterans' comment comes from.

Pretty ordinary in the past but seems to have a good strike rate this year so far. GWS have been the rumour for a long time tho, so he's not entirely going out on a limb.

Not openly available right now, but the review has just wrapped up and there's been a few rumours about Mahoney departing. I'm not saying he's coming to us or anything, just think the timing is interesting and I know some of the former Melbourne people who stay connected (with one of them helping get us Yze recently) very highly rate Nicholson.

Yep, that was pretty well known at the time yeah? Wasn't it down to Pert, Mahoney and Nicholson? (might not be remembering exactly correctly)

I'm far from an expert on off field kinda positions, but do know Alistair is VERY highly rated as a sports administrator.

Haven't heard anything, but interesting timing... Alistair Nicholson resigns as ACA boss

Not sure why we need a new thread just for this, but you can read the article for free here: Jack Viney on his decision to turn down Geelong and how he feels about the captaincy call

Wouldn't have thought it would be a huge hole. His last contract was for 2 years and his injury history likely would have meant it wasn't a massive one. He's been on incentive based contracts meaning the Blues kept him for below what he could have got elsewhere. His salary from this year would be dwarfed by what the Blues would need to pay Saad, Williams and DeGoey next year.

It's true, they do.

We've used 9 first round picks over the last 9 years.

Fremantle is the rumour. Brayshaw and a pick is what I heard. Can't see it happening, but also not going to say 100% it won't.

The (albeit not very reliable) rumours about Cripps aren't going away, so maybe that's where the cash might come from?

No idea! Can't even guess why tbh.

It's a 3 year deal mate.

Yeah good comments mate. I'm a fan of Nicho too, he would be my top choice to replace Mahoney if he leaves.

Not really what he said mate. Just said we're keeping an eye on the situation. Barrett and Twomey

I just reckon when you look at our board, having a 250 game, former captain (also captained Int. rule FWIW), Bluey winner, Barassi Award winner in there is pretty handy given we're a footy club. https://www.melbournefc.com.au/club/board

We've got a lot of smart analytical minds on the board already though don't we? Nice to have a former player and captain in there for some more footy perspective.