ChaserJ

Most noteworthy are Dylan Shiel, Stephen Coniglio, Nick Haynes, Steven May, Lachie Neale & Robbie Gray who are all RFA's. Jack Martin also comes out of contract, but would be a year short of free agency under current rules. Would love the club to have a crack at bringing him to Melbourne.

True, and he wasn't pleased with us over the Watts trade last year, but Connors is a pro and speaks highly of our list and direction. We are almost a completely different club to the one Juddy visited in '07.

We loved Jake in his draft year, and clearly we didn't lose his number after the Crows drafted him. I like how our recruiting team maintain contact with these guys even if they end up elsewhere. Shows the importance in building and maintaining relationships.

Had hoped we might grab him in his draft year, but Oscar ended up still being on the board at pick 53 (Oscar was potentially a 2nd rounder, thought that the Bulldogs might grab him earlier). Can't really fault our selections in 2014, but sounds like Taylor really liked Langdon as well. A small forward who was projected to move into midfield, looks like he's developing into the player we hoped JKH might become http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-11-12/meet-ed-langdon

Also think there was a real blend of experience and youth in that particular team. With Matthew Boyd retiring and Morris having numerous injury issues nearing the end and a couple of other important departures (Hamling, Stringer) , they largely have the youth, but nowhere near the experience of the 2016 list. They seem to have fallen pretty hard and their list moves since 2016 haven't worked tremendously well. Cloke was a swing and miss and I'm not sure Tom Boyd and Schache will work well in the same team. There's still a long way to go before we can judge whether either will even make it, and both cost valuable assets to acquire (although Boyd has his place in Bulldog lore secure regardless). Wonder just how much the Jason McCartney/Dalrymple schism hurt the Dogs list management post premiership.

And his kicking (both field and shooting for goal) has been exceptional. Becoming a wonderful player.

When you consider we gave up pick 25 (which became pick 30 after Academy bid matching), we've done well out of this trade. BTW pick 30 ended up being Mason Redman. Harley Balic was still on the board and may have been our selection if we didn;t trade pick 25. All worked out in the end:

Melksham’s an interesting one. Looked like such a talent for Calder in 2009. He had a ripper GF, showing a bit of toe and a long, accurate kick. Not sure exactly what happened after he got drafted, but didn’t really see a lot of his best traits for almost his entire run at Essendon, and his under 18 form started to look like an outlier rather than the norm. Not sure if it’s the change of environment, change of role or just maturity, but Melksham’s looking more and more like the player that was drafted at pick 10 in 2009. Where he wasn’t able to find a place as a midfielder, or back flanker (which is what we brought him into be), he’s really clicked as a medium forward. Bit of credit due to the coaching team to trying him there to see how he would perform in that role, and plenty of credit to him for embracing all aspects. His decision making has been on point, defensive accountability very impressive and his delivery into the fwd 50 has just been elite.

It's been well documented that Spargo missed most of this year after dislocating his shoulder twice. He did have a very good bottom age year (when it was still expected that he would get to GWS as part of their academy), and if anyone's interested in seeing Charlie in action, the 2016 TAC Cup GF is on Youtube here: He was one of Murray's best in the loss to Sandy (featuring at least 4 2016 first round picks + Andrew Brayshaw), from recollection he had 20 touches to half time. Edit: Match also features our rookie ruckman Lachie Filipovic.

Have seen him play a couple of times and his marking and judgement of the ball in flight stood out. Was highly competitive too. Caught the eye as a key back, even while I was watching out for mids & fwds (I figured we were more or less stocked in that area). Perhaps we're also covering the spread with both McDonalds OOC at the end of next season.

Even in this draft, Hamish still feels like one for the rookie draft. Probably doesn't have the tricks to compensate for his lack of pace at the highest level. Has a big body, is competitive and can win his own ball (was an over ager this year), is handy overhead, but haven't seen the standout trait that puts him ahead of others I think would be available at 47.

Toumpas now re-signed: http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-11-10/former-demon-toumpas-among-six-power-resignings

For the time being. Out of contract, but guessing he stays at it looks like Port have made their cuts. Three former Dee top5 picks at Port next year. Super happy for Trenners.

Would be pretty happy if one of Ling, Walker, Ed Richards or Garner fell to our picks. Your boy Petrucelle might be a chance. What were your thoughts on Domic and Kane Farrell?

Wonder how much of a role Justin Plapp played in trying to get Harley into the club.

Still room to admire a player who isn't playing for a club we don't like yet. Yep, Jack's a gun. A little bit of Nick Riewoldt about his style of play. The early tip for pick one, with the King twins right on his hammer.

There's was a suggestion somewhere that Melbourne might involve one of the northern clubs in the Lever trade, particularly if they had academy players making a bundle of picks attractive than a single higher pick. Brisbane have Ballenden coming through, and even though he's not tipped to go as high, he's probably the most valuable northern academy player coming through. They also have been linked with Charlie Cameron. With GWS being excluded from the first round, Brisbane's 2nd round pick has moved up to pick 18, which I can see being used in any potential deal. There does appear to be some form of clear path if the clubs are willing to work with each other.

No worries, just hearing a lot about Aiden Bonar playing well after coming back from injury. Might be a value pick at our second round selection, was hoping you'd had the chance to see him first hand.

Heya STMJ, have you seen much of the Stingrays lately?

Surely nothing wrong with having the discussion regardless of what triggered it. Melbourne, like every other club in Victoria, would have at least asked the question. Kelly would make every team better for his inclusion, and if a player like that becomes remotely available, you ask. My feeling is we wouldn’t be best served entering into any bidding war this year, teams like North, Saint Kilda and Carlton do have a fair amount of leverage in terms of money and tradeable assets, and each have a future to sell. Our best chance to get Kelly may well be if he re-signs with GWS and we spend the next couple of years working out what assets we need whilst clearing the decks sufficiently for a run at a player like him. We would have our own story to sell to him, particularly with one of his best mates in Salem at the club and the brand of football that is being built. It might come down to timing.

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2017/08/08/mcclure-stands-by-lever-meeting-report/

Good stuff WJ. Fair to say he's already on plenty of radars with his APS form. Only recently gave indications that he may go with footy over cricket.

You've heard correctly GT. Depth this year is non existent. Still some quality around where our first round pick would land, but most clubs wouldn't place a whole lot of value on our 2nd rounder, so could see our 2018 first being demanded in any deal for Lever. If we couldn't get away with this year's first rounder and a player, then I'd try to bundle this year's first and next year's second rounder. Absolute fall back position '17 & '18 first round picks, but with Adelaide's 2018 2nd rounder to come back in return.

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Sam McClure saying we are front runners along with the Bulldogs on SEN Breakfast. Lyon was asked whether he knew anything about it and he said 'no' while smiling and nodding.