Gibbo

Sydney are apparently concerned with their salary cap and Jude is either going to the draft if another team doesnt offer something for him - according to the news Melbourne is very interested.

I heard about four rumours - and three of the four involved a family member or people who had had contact with Judd's family members telling them he was as good as signed with Melbourne. The only leak I heard that was supposed to have come from the Dees was on this board by a guy who said he knew a guy who worked on and off for them. The rest was all just trade speculation on the radio. If he didnt like the rumours and speculation he could have been a man and simply been honest about his intentions or named his destination earlier. Does he think that the only emotions involved in his whole thing were his own? What a guy... FIGJAM mark II if that is the case. After all this is said and done, why would Harris lie? To save face? I really dont think there was any need to. Id heard already from Caroline that he had said that the facilities were a problem. Its all a joke and at the end of the day who ever gets him now is gonna look stupid after all this - its a new level of shizen

Imagine his a mental guy deep down and he just said that to test us before announcing. Sportsbet were mad for stopping betting now - could have made a killing on all the punters backing us... To think - to choose to believe just for a moment - that he would choose the side of his destination because of his heart not his wallet... Could it still be true? What a head F%^T&

Above our club or any club? Id say his almost acting like his beyond the AFL. When Scott Thompson did it it was nasty enough, but at least he didnt flirt with port or conduct interviews. I reckon in all honesty we are better off without him. My Collingwood supporter mates don't want him and frankly fear what they will give up for him.

Simple - by saying that our facilities arent up to his standard he is suggesting two things: 1. that while our facilities are ok for melbourne players, he deserves better - arrogance in the extreme 2. that his childhood allegence stood for nothing because he didnt want to travel somewhere else to do weights. He strung the Dees along when its now pretty clear he never intended on coming to melbourne.

I assume we would have been looking at a new ruck option (Meeson), and some new forwards before Judd distracted us...

I thought it was interesting that he was so quick to say we were out when Essendon got the call if not shortly after possibly even before us and didnt acknowledge it until late this afternoon. I got SMSs telling me that we came fourth in the hunt which I resent I bet we'll find out Carlton found out today as well (facilities and Telstra Dome) or could it be that he hasnt ruled them out because of drafts that WC want.

But we have two bald heros - Bailey and Jonesy

ESSENDON and Melbourne are out of the running for AFL star Chris Judd, leaving the AFL's oldest foes to compete for the superstar midfield player. That leaves just Carlton and Collingwood, amid ongoing speculation that the Magpies are the favourites to secure Judd who is looking to switch from West Coast to a club in his home state Victoria. The Demons issued a statement on their website and sources at Essendon also confirmed the contact today from Judd's management ruling them out. "Chris' management advised us this morning that Chris had been somewhat surprised by the quality of our club presentation and strategies, and it was a difficult decision," Melbourne chief executive Steve Harris said. "However the club's training facilities at Junction Oval and the need to train at a variety of grounds over summer was an issue. "It's well known that new state of the art facilities are due for completion at Olympic Park within two years, but we do have this comparative disadvantage." Judd will make his final choice this week, ahead of the trade period next week. The 2004 Brownlow medal winner preferred club must broker a deal with his former club, West Coast. Judd announced last month he would leave the Eagles to return to his home state of Victoria. Huddo and BT your full of shizen...

I know three people and my mates know others who just want to be inspired by something - a genuine superstar or a new an exciting coach - they said they'd sign up if Sheedy was our coach - its very fickle - and probably pretty weak, but after so much heart break people move away just to give themselves a break. Im signing up tomorrow - I reckon Bailey is gonna blow them away.

If the facilities meant so much to him he could have played for us for nothing for a year and we could have used the 1.6 mill to speed up their development

Keep it open until the end of trade week - things can still happen to shape this one...

What if this is all a ploy to outrage supporters into buying membership for the club before he turns around and signs with the Dees after trade week?? Either way - if we had more members we would have more clout - I say sign up everyone you know who goes for the Dees! Hopefully we'll pickup a quality forward this year instead.

Im dissappointed - but primarily because I just think its about time the Dees picked up someone instead of the usual teams - just to even the playing field... But at the end of the day I think our forward and backlines are where we need to improve - Im sure Judd would have been great, but not long ago I was raving about Acker being a good thing for our club. Thank christ that didnt pan out...

If your childhood team meant something to you you wouldnt worry if you had to train in a sewer to get the chance to play for them. So it was obviously never an issue.

I heard that he has knocked back Carlton as well - they just havent announced it yet.

Couldnt agree more: 'Sorry my dad speculated that Id come to the Dees - its a nice idea, but Im not going to travel to more than one training location in the off season. Im better than that.' Nah, I hope that there is more to this than we know - but if its true then I cant wait for this to unite us. I hope we stick it right up them queens Bday

For me it was more the fact that just for once we - rather than the monsters like Collingwood - would attract a superstar. If it was ever about his kid team he would have come to us even if we were training in the dirt - obviously it was never about loyalty or anything like that. And I hope when they say that he was 'impressed' with our strategies that doesnt mean he'll pass them all on to Collingwood when Eddie drives him in the Limo to the Lexus... Sad, sad day, but Judd might yet turn out to be another Acker - and thank god we didnt get him in hindsight. But the big teams win again. Eddie gets what he wants... Still strange things can happen in trade week. The question is where now? I heard (should I bother listening to anyone after all this hype?) that he was no impressed with Essendon. Carlton has poor facilities - its the pies for mine. And I saw him in their uniform in my mind from the start to be honest. WHy bother stringing us along?

No mate - only my dream still includes Bruce and the grand return of Moloney

Brent Moloney was pick 4 2003 to Geelong Travis Johnstone was pick 1 1997 Brock McClean pick 5 2003 Colin Sylvia pick 3 2003 Nathan Jones pick 12 1st round 2005 Cam Bruce 1999 National AFL 5th round selection (Melbourne) No. 64 overall. Jared Rivers 2002 National AFL Draft 2nd round selection (Melbourne) No.26 overall Brad Green 1999 pick 19 Matthew Bate pcik 13 2004 A lot of pretty high draft picks. Moloney has been injured, but could you say that Travo, Sylvia have performed when compared to Brucey, Rivers and Bater.

Collingwood Finished well in 2002 (4th) and 2003( 2nd), finished 13th in 2004, 7th in 2005 and 5th in 2006. Top for every second year in your dreams mate. And the team of 2002/03 was quite different to the one we have today. If we compare that record to Melbourne: 2000: 2nd, 2002: 6th, 2004: 5th, 2005: 7th 2006: 7th. Id say that the record is pretty similar - but have a look at the games and teams we've played in the finals compared to them mate. Tell me they would have beaten the Saints in 2006 the night we did. They made the top four this year primarily because teams with better lists - Adelaide, Fremantle, Doggies and possibly Saints didnt perform - left it open for teams with fairly poor lists like North, etc to do well - think its a great thing, but lets be realistic about it. Melbourne needs Judd more than Collingwood? Another blanket statement, but I wouldnt agree at all. When we actually have a midfield that's playing and not injured its beaten Collingwood more times than not in the last few years - If Moloney gets over his pubis and threatens to play as well as Scotty Thompson would be now for us, combined with McClean, Junior and travo (assuming he isnt traded) and Brucey in there as well - I know where my money would be. Having been a member and watched the Dees play at least 11 times in the last four years every season, and having a wife who loves the pies - I know which team I rate and I certainly wouldnt get carried away with Collngwood being far ahead of the Demons because we had one bad season. Now Clements out, if could only get a forward line that worked as well as Didak Medhurst we'd be laughing.

It means that heaps of people out there believe that they know the demons are in with a firm chance despite the fact that the HUN and other papers have been saying we arent even in the race. To my mind that suggests there is something to the rumours. You suspend betting when its no longer viable to continue - too many bets on one horse means that its too likely that horse is gonna win. Mark my words - we will still be speculating Friday ;(

Herald Sun today: BETTING on which club Chris Judd will play for next season has been suspended after an avalanche of money for Melbourne with Darwin Sportsbet. "The Demons were backed from $9 into $3.50 then into $2 by Saturday so we've shut it down. The money suggests it's a done deal," Hannah said.

A few thoughts. The talent available on this year's draft apparently doesnt compare to the last few with a few obvious exceptions. Travis Johnstone was a high draft pick who hasnt - for my mind performed. His played some great games, but anyone who says that he is more vital to our team than James MacDonald or Cameron Bruce are on some pretty hefty drugs. When the gong gets tough =- quite often in this last season Trav has tended to go the soft option. No One can suggest that Junior on the other hand has ever gone teh soft option - Trav could have been a star - perhaps under a new coach he will still be one. For mine I would say that the later two are about the only safe players other than Neitz purely because of his age.

WC said they wanted two first round draft picks: BETTING on which club Chris Judd will play for next season has been suspended after an avalanche of money for Melbourne with Darwin Sportsbet. "The Demons were backed from $9 into $3.50 then into $2 by Saturday so we've shut it down. The money suggests it's a done deal," Hannah said.