GS_1905

It is. However no matter if Trac stayed or not, we are not contending for at least 3-4 years. So i dont actually see the benefit of keeping Trac especially given his negative influence on club culture. The real win would have been to snare BH as part of the deal with another pick. But we just dont have the negotiating ability to make that happen. Still two top 10 picks will get us some solid depth.

But he can just request a trade back home without specifying a club. I think BH has not come out publically out of respect for his club and team mates. Sucks for us, but he is not throwing his club under the bus despite how significant the draw back home is.

They really need to hire a consultant who can assist during trade week. We had all leverage at the start of the week and then ol champ Trac had to go ahead and nominate. We should have been clear right from the start was that if he chooses to nominate and we lose our position, we will not be trading him. But the whole situation with Trac has been untennable for over 12 months and everyone in the industry knew this no thanks to Trac himself. I hope everyone can truly see him for what he really is. Whilst he maybe the consummate pro, he is toxic around our club and he has really tarnished his legacy at Melbourne. I'm less forgiving than most and would be more than happy to tear up his life membership.

I don tthink Tim Lamb is cut out for the brutality of trade negotiations. He is Mr Nice Guy and appears to be taken advantage of year after year. GWS is basically waiting for us to blink. The whole nonsense around not having cap space basically is designed to make us sweat. If the reports on DeGoey to GWS are true, id pick up the phone to Collingwood and say well take DeGoey pick (15) and give you Oliver and take a 40-50% of his salary. Id say Oliver is probably in better physical condition and is younger than JDG so theyd effectively get a more fit player at about 60% of the price. If Oliver doesn't want to go there, he better be in tip top shape for pre-season. If not, then id reach out to the AFL and start the convo around terminating/suspending contract as the Doggies did with JUH. There has to be a clause in contract around players professionalism and ability to play.

EXACTLY. In fact i think its harming our midfield more because they are unable to execute their roles. A well-balanced midfield with each player, playing their role is a more effective unit. I think Rivers, Viney and Spaz will provide the mature bodies with Kozzy also on the outside. We'll then have Langford, Lindsay, Windsor all rotating through over the next 2-3 seasons before our midfield reaches its peak potential and the window at that time, will potentially re-open. We will also have other players join no doubt through trade and draft that will add depth. Humprey would have been a good acquisition, because we dont know exactly what 7 and 8 will hold.

literally just beat me to it.

So it’s back on?

I agree his disposal is questionable but we are not playing him off HB. I think he is a stronger and faster version of Judd with probably less effectiveness in disposal and game awareness. Some kids have silk to get out of tight spots and others have strength and speed.

I have a distinctly different recollection about Petracca's 'handling' of the situation last year. Whilst he didn't officially request a trade - most likely on the advice of his player manager. What he did do was: He threatened legal action against the MFC around his treatment during Queen's birthday. Basically, initiated an AFLPA investigation of the incident - which was curiously'dropped' / disbanded once a level of reconciliation / agreement had been reached. Separated from his management. Didn't attend the Best & Fairest, instead opting to travel to the Red Bull Fitness camp. Was Leak City Central with all the information that was coming out on the club during trade period about himself and others. What have we heard about Merrett in the last few weeks? Or even Curnow? Yes there have been mumblings, but i think people forget the amount of scrutiny the entire club was under last trade period. It wasnt just about Trac, but it seemed that every hour something was getting leaked. it was an all out media ambush - that just doesn't happen on its own.

Its everything short of coming out an requesting a trade. Which tells me a lot about his character. He still respects the GCS and doesnt want to [censored] on that relationship. He is everything the opposite of Trac. And whilst we failed to acquire BH, there is a positive that the 'The Brand' is highly unlikely to be at the club next year. We all need to move on and pray that picks 7 and 8 land us solid players. They are unlikely to be superstars, but hopefully we can get some serviceable players of the 200 game variety.

What the...... Pulled this from SEN: A regular on SEN, Buckley turned down the opportunity to take on the Melbourne Demons head coaching role, and steps into Geelong despite strong links to the Tasmania Devils head coach position.

Anyone think that the issues from last year were resolved are kidding themselves. We would have told Trac recover and give us 12 months to get our club sorted and convince you to stay and that he’d have the clubs blessing to leave if he wasn't. He never really gave it a shot - his mind was made up and I wonder whether this was even so prior to his injury. The playing groups silence or distance during his NDE spoke volumes IMO and showed in hindsight that we were already quite a fractured club at the time.

Unless the anti Melbourne Media conspiracy (AMMC) is real and nobody wants to be seen spreading any positive news about MFC.

The other way to look at it : we have established a relationship with Bailey. Let him mature some more while GCS is playing finals. He’ll still want to come home when his contract is up in 2-3 years time. Hopefully by then we’d have turned the corner and we pick him up out of contract for a F2.

Im sure it has been said but I get GCS holding out. They have a huge amount of contracted talent. You let one go and it sets a precedent. We on the other hand are dictated to by players and their managers.

100% agreed. The clubs need more power here. Also the way the contracts are structured need some type of AFL intervention. How players are rewarded and paid needs to be overhauled as the players are taking the absolute mickey out of the clubs. Id also look at overhauling the existing provision for early termination by club. So if a player seeks a trade, the salary portion of their contract is null and void and that player MUST negotiate a salary with their desired club should an exchange of picks be agreed. The idea of salary dumps and all that nonsense is unnecessary theatre. You change that one rule, and we will then see how many players with existing contracts seek to move on.

Have we fired up the BBQ yet?

im also interested in what on the menu at this BBQ. Are we going all out or just sticking to snags and steaks? I make a mea n potato salad… just saying I might also be able to source some truth serum from an ex KGB mate of mine… if the convo with your source hits a dead end.

Prove nothing? I think after what he has done in the past 2 seasons. He has a lot to prove. A LOT.

It infuriates me how they just neglect the Trac angle and MFC's dealings with GCS. The ONLY difference is that Trac has nominated. Curnow, Merrett and Humphrey have all told their clubs they want to leave. Another reason why Trac is a *****. He blinked and has somewhat weakend our position. Because apparently the fact that he has nominated has given the public opinion [censored] (media) the impression that we are open to a deal. And the fact that TL has said he is coming back and we need a head turner to be convinced to let him go means jack. I just cant wait until he has left our club. He is seriously a moron of epic proportions.

I will say upfront that i hardly watch Suns games and hardly notice him that much - other than brief few weeks he was in my SuperCoach side (before i traded him out). There is just something about him that reminds me of Dean Kent.

Unfortunately, the proposed changes to the F/S rule will make it extremely difficult for us to get these blokes if they end up being 1st round picks. Tassie will likely scoop them up. Still its not impossible and it would be awesome to have all 3 brothers playing for the one club.

Oliver No. Trac 100% absolutely deserves it. I held myself back booing him this year when he still played for us.

You are right, i think he absolutely tries, but his body is broke and i think no matter what he does, he will struggle to get back to the absolute ripping form he was in 2-3 years ago. I hope he can prove us wrong (sort of), but im pretty sure with Oliver, what you see on the field is what GWS can expect to get for the remainder of his contract.

If somehow this was how it played out, id be bidding on both GCS academy players at 2nd spot and get the GCS to cough up way overs their kids as a big "Frank Underwood" back at them.