Whispering_Jack

Herald Sun journalist Jon Ralph:- “For all those people saying Tom Lynch has ruined free agency, we saw (Brandon) Ellis and (Adam) Tomlinson go from two teams in Grand Finals to effectively basket-case teams,” he said on Fox Footy’s Trading Day. The AFL free agents still on the market and available for cheap I know what he’s trying to say but if that doesn’t give the Melbourne Football Club the ammunition to attack the coming season then nothing will.

One of the tests facing Melbourne’s coaching panel is how it will bring on the development of the club’s as yet untried youngsters such as Bedford, Bradtke, Jordan and Nietschke as well as those like Chandler and Sparrow who has a brief taste at the highest level. If we can get a couple of top level footballers out of this group, it will be a major achievement on their part because none of them came together the club with the big reputations of the high draft picks.

INDICATIVE DRAFT ORDER (at end of first week of trades) ROUND ONE 1. Gold Coast 2. Gold Coast 3. Melbourne 4. Adelaide (received from Carlton) 5. Sydney 6. Greater Western Sydney (received from St Kilda) 7. Fremantle 8. North Melbourne 9. Carlton (received from Adelaide) 10. Port Adelaide 11. Hawthorn 12. St Kilda (received from Greater Western Sydney) (received from Essendon) 13. Western Bulldogs 14. Geelong (received from West Coast) 15. Gold Coast (received from Brisbane) 16. Brisbane (received from Collingwood) 17. Geelong 18. St Kilda (received from Greater Western Sydney) 19. Richmond ROUND TWO 20. Gold Coast 21. Brisbane (received from Gold Coast) 22. Fremantle (received from Melbourne) 23. Adelaide (received from Carlton) 24. Geelong (received from West Coast) (received from Sydney) 25. Sydney (received from St Kilda) 26. Melbourne (received from Fremantle) 27. North Melbourne 28. Adelaide 29. Port Adelaide 30. Hawthorn 31. Essendon 32. Western Bulldogs 33. Essendon (received from West Coast) 34. Brisbane 35. Collingwood 36. Geelong 37. Geelong (received from Essendon) (received from Greater Western Sydney) 38. Richmond 39. Richmond (Brandon Ellis concession) Greater Western Sydney (Adam Tomlinson concession) ROUND THREE 41. Richmond (received from Gold Coast) 42. Hawthorn (received from Melbourne) 43. Carlton 44. Sydney 45. Western Bulldogs (received from St Kilda) 46. West Coast (received from Brisbane) (received from Fremantle) 47. North Melbourne 48. Adelaide (Cameron Ellis-Yolmen concession) 49. Carlton (received from Adelaide) 50. Melbourne (received from Hawthorn) (received from Port Adelaide) 51. Western Bulldogs (received from Hawthorn) 52. Brisbane (received from West Coast)(received from Essendon) 53. Western Bulldogs 54. Sydney (received from West Coast) 55. Brisbane Brisbane (received from Collingwood) 57. Essendon (received from West Coast) (received from Geelong) 58. Gold Coast (received from Richmond) ROUND FOUR Greater Western Sydney (received from St Kilda) (received from Gold Coast) 60. Greater Western Sydney Hawthorn (received from Melbourne) 62. Sydney (received from Carlton) 63. Sydney 64. Brisbane (received from West Coast) (received from St Kilda) 65. Essendon (received from Fremantle) 66. Port Adelaide (received from North Melbourne) 67. Port Adelaide (received from Adelaide) 68. Port Adelaide 69. Collingwood (received from Hawthorn) 70. Essendon 71. Port Adelaide (received from Western Bulldogs) 72. West Coast 73. North Melbourne (received from Brisbane) 74. Collingwood 75. Richmond (received from Geelong) 76. Carlton (received from Greater Western Sydney) 77. Richmond ROUND FIVE 78. Gold Coast 79. Fremantle (received from Melbourne) 80. Greater Western Sydney (received from Carlton) 81. Sydney 82. St Kilda 83. Fremantle 84. North Melbourne 85. Carlton (received from Adelaide) 86. Port Adelaide 87. Hawthorn 88. Essendon 89. Western Bulldogs 90. Gold Coast (received from West Coast) 91. West Coast (received from Brisbane) 92. Hawthorn (received from Collingwood) 93. Geelong 94. Greater Western Sydney 95. Richmond

PART FIVE - THE ART OF THE DEAL The last person one would expect to enter onto the trade stage would have to be The Trumpster but that is exactly what transpired today when St Kilda traded its lynchpin draft selection number 6, expected to be crucial in helping it secure the Dockers’ wantaway winger Bradley Hill. Fremantle was apparently asking for the pick and a lot more but, in a maneuver right out of the Donald ‘Art of the Deal’ Trump rulebook, the Saints countered by ‘splitting’ that selection, throwing in pick 59 and, in return, they gained picks 12 and 18 from Greater Western Sydney. Now, if the Dockers want to continue with a trade for Hill, they will have to be content with 12 and some more for him - it’s unlikely that they will finish with a top-10 selection as part of the deal. Whatever happens, this trade has all the hallmarks of one day being recognised as a mark of trading genius or a classic blunder. Time will tell. Another strange occurrence centred around Orazio Fantasia, who was set to return home amid interest from Port Adelaide. The Bomber forward reportedly engaged a South Australian agent yesterday to help him sort out the move, but by the end of the day, it was announced that he will remain a Bomber. Meanwhile, the Demons are getting closer to securing Freo’s Ed Langdon. Reports suggest, the club’s second round pick will be involved in the exchange. That said, the day ended without a player trade to add to yesterday’s epic Tim Kelly move across the Nullarbor to the West Coast Eagles. The end of the day also saw the shutting of the free agency window with one final deal - the move of Hawthorn’s unrestricted free agent multiple premiership player, Grant Birchall, to the Brisbane Lions. This one won’t involve any reward for his old club because is there’s no compensation available under the AFL scale. This left St Kilda's Jack Newnes as the highest-profile free agent on the shelf, along with Hawthorn premiership pair Ryan Schoenmakers and Paul Puopolo and a handful of others. With the weekend approaching, there’s a lot of work left to do and recruiters and player managers were seen scurrying into second hand bookshops seeking out the contents of the remainder bins and looking for copies of Trump’s classic tome about the art of dealing. DONE DEALS SATURDAY OCTOBER 5 • Brandon Ellis joins the Gold Coast Suns as a restricted free agent. Richmond receives a second-round draft pick as compensation (at the time, #39). • Cam Ellis-Yolmen joins Brisbane as an unrestricted free agent. Adelaide receives a third-round draft pick as compensation (at the time, #47). MONDAY OCTOBER 7 • Adam Tomlinson joins Melbourne as an unrestricted free agent. GWS Giants receive a second-round draft pick as compensation (at the time, #40). WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 9 • Tim Kelly joins the West Coast Eagles for picks 14, 24 and 37 in this year’s draft as well as the Eagles’ first-round pick in the 2020 AFL draft. The Eagles receive pick 57 and Geelong’s third round pick in 2020. THURSDAY OCTOBER 10 • St Kilda trade picks 6 and 59 to Greater Western Sydney and receive picks 12 and18. • Hawthorn’s Grant Birchall leaves for the Brisbane Lions as an unrestricted free agent. Hawthorn will not receive any compensation.

PART FIVE - THE ART OF THE DEAL The last person one would expect to enter onto the trade stage would have to be The Trumpster but that is exactly what transpired today when St Kilda traded its lynchpin draft selection number 6, expected to be crucial in helping it secure the Dockers’ wantaway winger Bradley Hill. Fremantle was apparently asking for the pick and a lot more but, in a maneuver right out of the Donald ‘Art of the Deal’ Trump rulebook, the Saints countered by ‘splitting’ that selection, throwing in pick 59 and, in return, they gained picks 12 and 18 from Greater Western Sydney. Now, if the Dockers want to continue with a trade for Hill, they will have to be content with 12 and some more for him - it’s unlikely that they will finish with a top-10 selection as part of the deal. Whatever happens, this trade has all the hallmarks of one day being recognised as a mark of trading genius or a classic blunder. Time will tell. Another strange occurrence centred around Orazio Fantasia, who was set to return home amid interest from Port Adelaide. The Bomber forward reportedly engaged a South Australian agent yesterday to help him sort out the move, but by the end of the day, it was announced that he will remain a Bomber. Meanwhile, the Demons are getting closer to securing Freo’s Ed Langdon. Reports suggest, the club’s second round pick will be involved in the exchange. That said, the day ended without a player trade to add to yesterday’s epic Tim Kelly move across the Nullarbor to the West Coast Eagles. The end of the day also saw the shutting of the free agency window with one final deal - the move of Hawthorn’s unrestricted free agent multiple premiership player, Grant Birchall, to the Brisbane Lions. This one won’t involve any reward for his old club because is there’s no compensation available under the AFL scale. This left St Kilda's Jack Newnes as the highest-profile free agent on the shelf, along with Hawthorn premiership pair Ryan Schoenmakers and Paul Puopolo and a handful of others. With the weekend approaching, there’s a lot of work left to do and recruiters and player managers were seen scurrying into second hand bookshops seeking out the contents of the remainder bins and looking for copies of Trump’s classic tome about the art of dealing. DONE DEALS SATURDAY OCTOBER 5 • Brandon Ellis joins the Gold Coast Suns as a restricted free agent. Richmond receives a second-round draft pick as compensation (at the time, #39). • Cam Ellis-Yolmen joins Brisbane as an unrestricted free agent. Adelaide receives a third-round draft pick as compensation (at the time, #47). MONDAY OCTOBER 7 • Adam Tomlinson joins Melbourne as an unrestricted free agent. GWS Giants receive a second-round draft pick as compensation (at the time, #40). WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 9 • Tim Kelly joins the West Coast Eagles for picks 14, 24 and 37 in this year’s draft as well as the Eagles’ first-round pick in the 2020 AFL draft. The Eagles receive pick 57 and Geelong’s third round pick in 2020. THURSDAY OCTOBER 10 • St Kilda trade picks 6 and 59 to Greater Western Sydney and receive picks 12 and18. • Hawthorn’s Grant Birchall leaves for the Brisbane Lions as an unrestricted free agent. Hawthorn will not receive any compensation.

True, but it means that GWS are likely to deal with us for the pick at some stage, probably late in the trade period when it’s clear as to aces they’re holding to do a swap of picks/players.

Strange as it may seem, I was just reading this profile about him from respected draft watcher Knightmare and I like what I’m reading. He’s the grandson of Michael Green, former Tiger premiership ruckman who studied law with me at Melbourne Uni. AFL Draft Wrap: Shades of Patrick Cripps in GWS academy prospect Thomas Green “Green possesses an imposing physical profile at 190cm, 88kg and provides a similar impact around the ball to Patrick Cripps.” Just wondering if there’s any vision around because it would be tempting to have a crack at this bloke?

Bruce has pretty much committed himself to the Dogs. It would be a tough gig trying to extract him out of that commitment (and please don't raise J. Elliott because not everyone in the world is J Elliott).

If we can leave Bonar out of this and get someone of the type we need instead (or a suitable pick) it would be so much better.

Hasn’t Bruce nominated the Bulldogs as his preferred team? What happens next? A tour of our facilities with cameras from every media outlet coincidentally at our doorstep?

It would be risky for GWS to take pick 4 if they wanted to stave off the necessity for giving too much away for Tom Green. We could nominate him with pick 3 and then they would have to use 4 if they want him. If they deal with us for pick 3 then they can use it for someone else and then take Green with later picks. That way they get two top 10s. However, 14 plus a second rounder and next year’s first rounder wouldn’t be all that attractive to us, I imagine.

Fake news.

Wonder if a deal’s been done whereby the club will pick him up in early November as a delisted free agent?

Some snippets to add to the situation at Gold Coast. The stories about the Suns considering trading one or both of their top two draft selections are bad enough but now more information is emerging about the possibility that two of last year’s early draft picks will be flying the coop at the end of 2020. St Kilda is supremely confident that it will secure Ben King after he serves out the second year of his contract. Apparently, the King family are staunch supporters of the Saints and they want Ben and Max at the club. Now this - SEVERAL VICTORIAN CLUBS FEEL PRIZED SUN IS OBTAINABLE: TWOMEY This highlights the folly of the AFL’s comprehensive draft concessions which fly in the face of previous policy and which are unlikely to help the club retain their prize recruits. I think the days of an AFL club on the Gold Coast are numbered.

PART FOUR - MAKING LIKE BUSHRANGERS Tim Kelly will join a stellar West Coast Eagles midfield in 2020 leaving pundits debating as to the extent of the cost to the club. The first done trade deal delivered picks 14, 24 and 37 in this year’s draft as well as their first pick in the 2020 AFL draft in return for Kelly, pick 57 and the Cats’ third round pick in 2020. The Bombers got themselves involved in the deal using picks 37 and 52 to get picks 33 and 57 back because they wanted to “sharpen up their position in the 30s.” The Cats drafted Kelly in the 2017 Draft with pick 24 so they’ve done pretty well out of him. In fact, it looks like they’re making like the bushrangers of old in an earlier era involving another gentlemen named “Kelly”. Oh, and by the way, the pick 24 that got Kelly to the Cats was a compensation pick for a restricted free agent Steve Motlop who left them to join Port Adelaide. Motlop anyone? Meanwhile, the Bombers are not only battling to retain two important forwards in Joe Daniher and Orazio Fantasia but also their credibility. They deny pursuing a surprise trade deal for Magpie ruckman Mason Cox but the Age’s Sam McClure, one of the reporters who broke the story, has declared the the conversation “1000 per cent” happened. The question is why they’re denying it and why they’re taking it personally? Those who have been following the trades and drafts over the years would be wondering why indeed? Has Dodoro or someone else at Bomberland overstepped the mark in pushing up the big Magpie’s name? Apart from the Kelly deal, no other deals were made on the third day of trades and very little new information came to light other than that fringe GWS midfielder Aiden Bonar has a name to keep an eye on as the trade period unfolds. Multiple clubs are reported to have shown an interest in Bonar who has played just six games in two years at the Giants. I’m going outside to watch the grass grow. It’s more exciting! DONE DEALS SATURDAY OCTOBER 5 • Brandon Ellis joins the Gold Coast Suns as a restricted free agent. Richmond receives a second-round draft pick as compensation (at the time, #39). • Cam Ellis-Yolmen joins Brisbane as an unrestricted free agent. Adelaide receives a third-round draft pick as compensation (at the time, #47). MONDAY OCTOBER 7 • Adam Tomlinson joins Melbourne as an unrestricted free agent. GWS Giants receive a second-round draft pick as compensation (at the time, #40). WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 9 • Tim Kelly joins the West Coast Eagles for picks 14, 24 and 37 in this year’s draft as well as the Eagles’ first-round pick in the 2020 AFL draft. The Eagles receive pick 57 and Geelong’ third round pick in 2020.

PART FOUR - MAKING LIKE BUSHRANGERS Tim Kelly will join a stellar West Coast Eagles midfield in 2020 leaving pundits debating as to the extent of the cost to the club. The first done trade deal delivered picks 14, 24 and 37 in this year’s draft as well as their first pick in the 2020 AFL draft in return for Kelly, pick 57 and the Cats’ third round pick in 2020. The Bombers got themselves involved in the deal using picks 37 and 52 to get picks 33 and 57 back because they wanted to “sharpen up their position in the 30s.” The Cats drafted Kelly in the 2017 Draft with pick 24 so they’ve done pretty well out of him. In fact, it looks like they’re making like the bushrangers of old in an earlier era involving another gentlemen named “Kelly”. Oh, and by the way, the pick 24 that got Kelly to the Cats was a compensation pick for a restricted free agent Steve Motlop who left them to join Port Adelaide. Motlop anyone? Meanwhile, the Bombers are not only battling to retain two important forwards in Joe Daniher and Orazio Fantasia but also their credibility. They deny pursuing a surprise trade deal for Magpie ruckman Mason Cox but the Age’s Sam McClure, one of the reporters who broke the story, has declared the the conversation “1000 per cent” happened. The question is why they’re denying it and why they’re taking it personally? Those who have been following the trades and drafts over the years would be wondering why indeed? Has Dodoro or someone else at Bomberland overstepped the mark in pushing up the big Magpie’s name? Apart from the Kelly deal, no other deals were made on the third day of trades and very little new information came to light other than that fringe GWS midfielder Aiden Bonar has a name to keep an eye on as the trade period unfolds. Multiple clubs are reported to have shown an interest in Bonar who has played just six games in two years at the Giants. I’m going outside to watch the grass grow. It’s more exciting! DONE DEALS SATURDAY OCTOBER 5 • Brandon Ellis joins the Gold Coast Suns as a restricted free agent. Richmond receives a second-round draft pick as compensation (at the time, #39). • Cam Ellis-Yolmen joins Brisbane as an unrestricted free agent. Adelaide receives a third-round draft pick as compensation (at the time, #47). MONDAY OCTOBER 7 • Adam Tomlinson joins Melbourne as an unrestricted free agent. GWS Giants receive a second-round draft pick as compensation (at the time, #40). WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 9 • Tim Kelly joins the West Coast Eagles for picks 14, 24 and 37 in this year’s draft as well as the Eagles’ first-round pick in the 2020 AFL draft. The Eagles receive pick 57 and Geelong’ third round pick in 2020.

If the next best candidate is a GWS Academy member who plays like Patrick Cripps then why wouldn’t Melbourne make a play for him?

You would have to be asking the question why he has played so few games at AFL level when the Giants had a poor run with injuries during the season?

With the the Suns virtually certain to select Rowell and Anderson with picks 1 & 2, Melbourne has the effective #1 selection remaining after them. Who will the club pick? Knightmare’s latest draft power rankings could have the answer to that question. AFL Draft Power Rankings: Rowell back on top as AFL Draft nears

Problem is that if you follow the machinations of the trade period it should become fairly obvious that in the language of the AFL, a binding contract isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on to many players and their managers. In the case of Angus Brayshaw, we’re taking him as a person of higher quality and better standards than the pack and therefore moving this thread out of the trading and drafting board. And given that he’s next cab off the rank for our 2019 player reviews, it will shortly be closed altogether.

There you go ... Pies star Elliott snubs Demons and Lions, opts to stay at Collingwood

AFL Phantom Draft: Who goes where in the first round?

From AFL Draft Central - Power Rankings: October 2019 #8 Dylan Stephens Norwood/South Australia | Balanced Midfielder 08/01/2001 | 182cm | 70kg Stephens is another lightly built midfielder who despite being just 70kg has forced his way into the SANFL League side for Norwood already in season 2019. Given the Redlegs’ tendancy to restrict kids from being exposed at the top level – see Luke Valente last year – it is a credit to Stephens – and teammate Taheny, to already earn their stripes. He has held his own too, admitedly playing a very outside game, but with many bigger bodies at the Redlegs, Stephens has terrific skills and moves well in transition, able to win the ball in midfield, take off and kick perfectly inside 50. He still has to add bulk to his frame, but he showed when taking on his peers he is capable of playing an inside role as well. Expect him to be the prime mover for South Australia at the Under 18 Championships and raise his stocks with a big couple of months. Last month: After his League side was eliminated from the SANFL premiership race, Stephens was brought into the Redlegs’ Reserves Grand Final side where he had 26 disposals, three marks, five clearances, five tackles, two inside 50s and three rebounds on his way to a premiership medal. He also tested strongly across the board at the National Draft Combine.

Draft Central Power Rankings: October 2019

PART TWO - THE LANGUAGE OF THE AFL Speaking today on Telstra AFL Trade Radio, Essendon General Manager of list and recruiting Adrian Dodoro said: “Our intention is for Joe Daniher to play for the Essendon Football Club not only in 2020 but for a long time after that”. Those words translate into plain English as: “Two first round draft picks will do the trick”. I look forward to nine days of argy bargy before the Joey dons the red and white of the Sydney Swans at 7.28pm on Wednesday week. The machinations involved in reaching that outcome will be well worth following, not to mention the cost of the popcorn. The key to this could well be the Sydney Swans’ small forward Tom Papley who has requested a trade back to his home state of Victoria. According to Swans CEO Tom Harley: "Now, there’s been the link to Carlton, we understand that, we know that, but what we don’t know and what will probably evolve over the next little while is Tom’s keenness to get to Melbourne, but from where the club sits, he’s a contracted player and we will do what is best for the footy club." Those words translate into plain English as: “Carlton needs to hand over pick #9 and then we’ll talk”. Dodoro also had his hands full with speculation that Orazio Fantasia has requested a trade to leave the Bombers: “Orazio has not expressed any interest in leaving the club,” Dodoro said on Telstra AFL Trade Radio this morning. Those words translate into plain English as: “He’s halfway out the door and a late first rounder should see him return to SA”. Now that you get my drift, it’s easy to work out the language Jamie Elliott’s management was speaking when it prized out a three year offer from Melbourne when the Pies were only prepared to offer their injury-prone player two years. Demons football boss Josh Mahoney told reporters that Jamie Elliott has informed the club that he won't be seeking a move there. The race is down to Brisbane and current club Collingwood, with the Magpies confident he will stay. Which could translate into anything. Other highlights of the day were - • No trades as such but that’s not unusual because in 2017, it took until the Thursday morning for the first deal (Jake Lever) to go down. Last year, it happened at mid-morning on day one (Lincoln McCarthy) and in 2016, it was late on Tuesday (Cam McCarthy). With Dodoro heavily involved this year, don’t hold your breath. • Not much happening on the Tim Kelly front. • No offers yet premiership-winning Hawk Grant Birchall as several clubs – not just Brisbane – circle the the unrestricted free agent. • St Kilda football chief Simon Lethlean revealed his club has spoken to the management of Gold Coast youngster Ben King about reuniting him with his twin brother Max at the end of next year. • ... and in late news, a done deal as the paperwork has been officially lodged for Melbourne to receive unrestricted free agent Adam Tomlinson. The GWS Giants will be compensated with an end of second round pick, currently #40. The Demons are said to be intent on playing Tomlinson on a wing next year. Translated into plain English, that means we should expect him to line up in a forward pocket as a relief ruckman for Max Gawn.