old55

I think they've taken a big risk with a potentially unhappy player with an unhappy wife. But then again they do think they are still in the window with Ablett in his last year and other stars around 30 now so they really have no choice but to go for it next year - they are still topping up in this trade period. I think they are deluded. I hope they are too.

This is an excellent point. Kelly is a unique position - at Geelong in his 2nd year after being drafted he's locked into the mandatory AFL draftee pay scale and he's not going to sign an extension at Geelong because he wants to leave. At WC next year he'd still be locked into the same 2nd year amount but in the future years of the extended contract they are going to give him they could pay overs each year to make up for his mandated low wage next year. I can see why he wanted to move now and would be [censored] off stuck at Geelong on low wages vs his output..

I'm not disputing that Hogan is a great player. His last game for us this year was the loss vs Sydney, after that with TMac and Weed as key forwards we went on a four game winning streak against top 8 sides - WC in Perth scoring 108, GWS 102, Geelong 75 in a low scoring match and Hawthorn 104. I don't think Hogan would have made any difference in the PF. I think there's a fair body of evidence there that the forward line is not a glaring weakness.

Thanks for that WJ. It would be good to see a version with the "outs" against each club too so the true result can be understood. Might do it if I get the opportunity.

We tried Joel Smith forward a couple of times this year including in the 2nd half of the PF. He has that incredible genetic leap and is fast and a good tackler so his defensive capabilities are sound. It will be interesting to see if he's training with the forwards next year.

There's a difference between being sad to see Hogan go and canning Mahoney.

Let the melts begin Paging @EnterTheDragon

They don't have 30

Neale + 30 for 6 + 19 + 55 values Neale at 6 + 35

Neale + 30 for 6 + 19 + 55 values Neale at 6 + 35

Port keeping ahead of Adelaide in the race to draft SA prospects. Now only Carlton, GC x2, Saints ahead of them. Port now 5 and 10, Adelaide stuck on 8 and 13. I wonder if Port will try to do 5 and 10 to get one of GC's 2 or 3 to make sure they get one of Lukosius or Rankine. 5 still seems late for them. I see Adelaide's 8 + 13 is enough points for 2.

True but I'm not confident Bell will be able to get his head around that. It's quite possible it will complicate his negotiations with Brisbane for Neale because "now you're offering me 6 instead of 5 - I want more steak-knives"

Port has Brisbane's 5 now and Brisbane have 6 - Bell will not be pleased

I said earlier that as long as this trade hasn't happened the Hogan - May trade is alive. It's interesting to consider the details though. Clearly 5 is involved for May but if the KK deal is bundled in, that probably means both for 5. Otherwise if GC want straight 5 for May, we may as well do the KK deal now separately.

Wish Dom all the best. But not Norf - just so annoying.

A wise man said let's look at what he can do and not what he can't. He has got some special athletic attributes and he's super brave. We can work on his problem areas.

Hawthorn have to take these kind of risks though. They got a very good buy with Mitchell, but paid a lot for O'Meara and now probably believe they are in the zone again. Scully on the cheap trade-wise because they are throwing all their chips and Burton at Wingard. That one is more risky although Wingard is younger than I thought. If it comes off with these 4 they've got a lot of years together. The alternative was to bottom out and go to the draft but they chose a different path last year and need to follow it through - their results this year will have encouraged them. I hope it turns to custard.

Scully has a big 4 year contract that GWS have to honour or they have to trade him somewhere that will give him a suitably competitive contract. There is no incentive for him to tear up that contract, it's his parachute.

Well GWS probably got the essential salary cap relief they need with the Scully trade which does enable them to stand firm on the Shiel trade where they stand to gain a lot more.

Why do they need to be "seen" to do anything? Who is doing the "seeing"? They need to get a reasonable trade this year because it's highly likely they'll get less next year when he's out of contract.

2019 will be a bleak old year for Freo fans with Neale gone, no Hogan in and just some blue sky 18yos struggling to make their way in AFL with little protection in a bottom 4 team. Add West Coast flag euphoria and stir. Rosich and Bell would be brave.

Far too much reference to "bending over" and "shafting" on this board. Really have a think about it and grow up!

Craig Cameron is a straight shooter and a very smart operator - no doubt he and Mahoney have a range of in principle deals ready to execute as soon as Freo get their shiit together.

I think you need to wait and see it play out before assuming it's a direct swap.

You seem to be persistently leaving May out of your posts - quite clearly he is our #1 target. Look I think if we don't get the Hogan-May deal done you will have a valid point. That's why I'm expecting it will happen.