Deeoldfart

Not for me thanks, but I'll donate some extra $s to the Footy Club. How much does this artwork cost anyway?

I was feeling fine anyway, but thanks for asking........ and I do see your point.

Not if that bargaining position meant missing out on Hogan, it wouldn't! ......... and whose to say we didn't rate Barry much higher than "most notable phantom drafts"? .......... also, have a listen to what Shifter Sheahan has to say about Barry at 1.45 of the clip in post #1 on the Barry vs Jetta thread. Edit: Added last sentence.

Agree, NM will eventually settle for #49 if we play hard ball.

I think you might be confusing posts jnr. ..... and I reckon we did get compensation when we lost Troy. See post #154

I've had far too many prenderdasts to list them all here, but the greatest of all was believing in Prendergast!

Being from interstate I haven't seen Jai play, so all I can go on is written reports (mostly on here) which are mostly positive. However, if what you say above is a genuine concern, then I can see why he wouldn't figure strongly in Mark Neeld's plans

Junior McDonald, but I'm a bit biased.

Absolutely!!

If I recall correctly, we got a late (post draft) pick when Broady passed away in 2004. We used it to recruit Shannon Motlop.

Very true FYD, he confirmed it in his book.

RDB started it all. At the time I remember thinking it was the end of the world, and in a way it pretty much was (in terms of football success anyway).

I expected a bit more but the AFL did warn clubs not to expect like for like compensation. I reckon Pedersen will now be ours.

I'll wager that Terry Wallace doesn't!

My guess is that we probably offered Riv a one year deal (which would be appropriate imo) and the Cats offered two. Hence his decision to walk. I'm not so sure we will "essentially" be swapping Rivers for Pedersen. There's a bit of water to go under the bridge in the trade period yet. I'm hopeful that we will get a second rounder as the wash-up from free agency, and I doubt we would pay that for Pedersen. There's still the potential Martin trade, and whatever else might come out of the woodwork next week.

Martin is contracted for 2013, so a trade assumes that he is prepared to move to the Sunshine State. May be reluctant given his studies? I'd love to get pick 23 for him, but I doubt that even Brisbane would be silly enough to play that game.

We're just reminiscing about the 'good times' Nasher, and hoping to be around to see the next edition.

Pretty certain you are correct about his first year at North, Juice. I'm not sure what happened in 2012, but he did have a fair bit of competition to break into their senior line-up. If we recruit him I think it will be primarily to play Brown type forward / ruck role but his versatility will also be seen as an asset.

I guess you're not referring to Brian 'Wrecker' Leahy, a very solid HB flanker for us in the first half of the 1960s.

Hopefully in the top 8 for the first time in a while!

Nah. I don't begrudge Riv one last shot at success and perhaps the few more $s that Geelong were offering. We are clearly on a longer journey, and he wouldn't be around to enjoy the success that Neeld is building.

Good luck Riv. Loved your reading of the play and your unflinching courage across half back. A great pity that you won't be a one club player, but I'm sure you will always be welcome back at Melbourne. Time to move on for both Melbourne and you. Now for the compensation picks.

I live interstate so unfortunately I won't be at the game, but I can think of a few senior players who are pretty good spectators (LOL)

You're talking my language and era Sdemons, but I'm not sure Trevor Rollinson would make my list. I would probably replace him with Johnny Beckwith. Very hard to go past Gary Hardeman for number one billing imo: 200 odd games, a regular in the Big V, and consistently polled well in Brownlows. Small and lightly framed for a KPP but rarely beaten. CHB in Melbourne Team of the Century.

Surely it all depends on what value we can get for them, and given that all three have live contracts (I think), whether they are prepared to be traded. Personally I'm not fussed either way, but perhaps Gysberts may warrant another year more than the other two, in the hope that he can have a bit more luck injury-wise, and get the other parts of his act together.