old55

Daniel Cross

When we get into big finals it's very useful to have match-winners who can turn the game by their own actions. We've seen it already with Cameron and Bontempelli, and of course there's Franklin and Dangerfield. They are rare beasts but Hogan can be one of them. When I look at our list I see a lot of talent coming through but few game breakers. In the right circumstance big Max could do it, maybe Petracca can grow into this, Jayden Hunt is another slim possibility. That's why it's very desirable to retain Jesse.

Keilty is good but I'd pick McInerney ahead of him if it came to the crunch.

He was good. At first he was all at sea in the ruck but as the game wore on he got into a groove and got first hand on. Took some nice marks and he's a decent kick which is not often the case with 200+. Also showed that nice below the knees action. I'm pretty keen on that showing, late ND pick.

Charlie Cameron

Last 3 times I've seen Hawthorn live they've lost - sweet days! Could not happen to a better bunch of old campaigners. Clarko, Hodge, Mitchell, Smith - the list goes on - total campaigners.

Of course it applies to future draft picks because they have to have sufficient vacancies next year to be able to use them. If they are going to stockpile picks they need to have more value than 40 points. Look at the picks they've stockpiled this year, they're not in the 40s to 60s. Hopefully we make finals next year, at worst that's 11, 29, 47, 65 that's where my approximation of 50 and 70 comes from.

I don't think GWS are going to be interested in picks 50 (273 points) and 70 (39 points) next year. They will still have to have equivalent list vacancies to use them on Academy players and these picks aren't worth enough to be useful. http://www.afl.com.au/staticfile/AFL Tenant/AFL/Files/biddingsystemfeedback.pdf

Marchbank choosing the Blues, Prestia choosing the Tigers (and Hibberd the Demons) is a dagger to the heart of those whinging about O'Meara choosing Hawthorn. I have absolutely no problem with players choosing the club they wish to be TRADED to. A trade has to be agreed and happen and smart clubs don't foul their trading nest. It's a different process from Free Agency and even there the AFL have been generous by including compensation for the club losing the FA based on their finishing position - Franklin 19, Frawley 3. Too much whinging from everyone!

What is the point you are trying to make? The players have been found guilty by the relevant tribunal of breaking the regulations of the sport they signed up for and have been punished accordingly by being banned from participating. This is all entirely appropriate. The "court", the regulations and the punishment.

No-one is suggesting the Essendon 34 are convicted criminals. They are convicted by a tribunal of breaching the regulations of the body concerned i.e. WADA via AFL. It's like players found guilty of striking at the AFL tribunal. Are you saying they're are not really guilty because it's not a court of law?

What does the C stand for?

Jake Melksham is a convicted (subject to appeal to Swiss Court) performance enhancing drug cheat, he has to live with it and no amount of rationalisation can change that. He has also served his significant penalty and deserves every chance to create a new legacy for himself to be remembered by - hopefully as an MFC premiership player.

All 4 do have some trade value. Not in the 20s or earlier I agree but all would net picks.

Vandenberg is clearly highly rated at the club and wouldn't be traded. He was played injured and down on form all year ahead of others starring in the VFL. IMO the only trade options with any value that we have sufficient depth to cover are ANB (well down the inside mid pecking order) and Wagner (if Hibberd arrives). But at best they would probably each deliver a pick in the 30s which would not be worth it on its own. Together they wouldn't get one of GC picks in the 20s let alone one of their top 10 picks. If they could be worked into a pick upgrade or to sweeten a deal for a really good player then maybe.

Vardy is the most talented of all the rucks/fwd-rucks that seem to be available. Geelong do have a lot of rucks and fwd-rucks on their list this year but it would be different next year. From what I can gather Mitch Clark is gone from there and if Vardy went that leaves them with Smith, Stanley, Blicavs and then Read and Lucey who have not played. Stanley has his moments but they are few and far between, surely Vardy fit is a better option than Stanley and they'd keep him if he was fit enough? If we thought he could play then whatever trade value we could generate from Dunn or Garland would be a good deal for us. With Gawn and Spencer we wouldn't have to rush him.

Look I think they would struggle to find the big $s over the next 2 years so that could be a problem with my suggested plan. Apparently they can trade their next 2 1sts because they used 2 last year (one from North for Jed Anderson - incredible isn't it!) and their own 1st. They traded away their 1st in 2014 for O'Rourke but apparently that doesn't count, the 2 in 4 starts from last year when future picks became tradeable - which is probably fair enough. I think they must struggle to get O'Meara AND Mitchell - surely we can get involved in the Mitchell move?

O'Meara has nominated Hawthorn. Their best offer would be something like 2016 1st + 2017 1st. Hawthorn may offer one 1st plus Brad Hill compensation from Freo so they can stay in the Tom Mitchell market (not sure what Freo can offer there - they don't have a 2016 2nd - they'll get picks for Mayne, Ballantyne and Barlow but probably not high enough to get it done) A player - maybe Sicily or Hartung have been mentioned by unreliable sources I think they'll get it done but if they don't then O'Meara would go into the ND with a false price on his head a la Luke Ball (he went in at $900k/2 years and played the 3rd year for $100k on a gentleman's agreement i.e 3 years @ $1M) hoping to get through to Hawthorn. O'Meara could go in at $1.8M/2years and play the 3rd for $300k at Hawthorn i.e $700k/year for 3, but the $900k/year other clubs would need to pay would hurt - he wouldn't offer them the 3rd year discount Depending on where Hawthorn's pick is I think he'd possibly get through. GC themselves will probably have 3 in the top 10 and I doubt they'll waste one on drafting him back. Round one 1 Essendon2 Brisbane Lions3 Fremantle4 Gold Coast5 Carlton6 Richmond Gold Coast for Prestia7 Greater Western Sydney (received from Collingwood)8 Gold Coast (received from Melbourne)9 Port Adelaide10 St Kilda11 North Melbourne12 West Coast

Agreed - let's take it to the O'Meara thread

It's off the Hogan thread, but O'Meara would go into the ND with the aim of getting through to Hawthorn Ball-style and Essendon wouldn't use pick 1 on him.

Yes I do depending on what pick Hawthorn end up with - look at Luke Ball

That's what GC said, but O'Meara has to agree. He's OOC, he holds the whip hand - he's going to Hawthorn.

Yes but it's not very realistic - GC already have a heap of 1st rounders and O'Meara wants to go to Hawthorn.

He dropped an easy chest mark at a critical time - not sure it was a squib though.