deeboy

Yes, I was there too. Gawn, Brayshaw, Melksham, Dunstan and Mitch Brown all doing a private training session. Was awesome to see how seriously they were taking it and how they have taken Dunstan under their wings. They seem to be intent on going back to back. Brought my son down and they were all very obliging, signing posters and jumpers and taking photos, even though they seemed pretty exhausted.

Lachy Reid‏Verified account @Lachy_Reid 1h1 hour ago Chatted with Jesse Hogan at dinner last night - didn’t have an answer as where he’ll be after today but nervous, hopeful and worn out from all the talk. May have taken the last photo as a Melbourne player with my demon loving kids.

As an aside, unbelievable trade period for Fremantle. Aside from some minor swaps in the late pick they have done: Out: Pick 6 and Neale In: Hogan, Lobb, Picks 14 and 30 They also picked up Conca as a free agent.

I know... but we should

Once the Neale deal goes through, Freo will have picks 6, 11, 19, 23 and 30 and still have to get Hogan and Lobb. Now is precisely the time to call Freo's bluff and demand picks 6 and 11 and a swap of our pick 36 with their pick 23 or keep Hogan. There is no way Fremantle will want to lose Neale and miss out on Hogan. If we hold firm, they will buckle.

Losing Hogan about to enter his prime is getting reamed but seemingly unavoidable. Obviously, we want to maximise the compensation, but unless we were getting an equivalent player in return it will hurt. May is serviceable and fills a need, but is not in the same class as Hogan and draft picks are speculative and are unlikely to have an immediate impact.

Port just got picks 15, 35 and Burton for wingard with a pick swap at the back in Hawthorn's favour. Given Burton would have been worth a first rounder alone, it seems they are going to get a significantly better deal for Wingard than we get for Hogan.

The fact he won't renew is irrelevant. He won't be a free agent next year, so Freo would still have to trade for him or risk us pushing him to the draft or negotiating with West Coast. Bell has played hard ball with Neale even though Neal has said he will walk next year. It can still be done.

Port have 15, so won't be part of Neale deal. Hogan will be 6 and 23.

For all Mahoney's talk of being happy to keep Jesse unless we get a deal up there with the best ever, we are about to capitulate and trade out the best young key forward in the game for significant unders, while in the premiership window. So frustrating and disappointing. For all the rubbish Bell has copped, he has actually done a bloody good job for his football club. Mahoney could actually learn a few things from him with regards to playing hardball.

Tyson won't be part of the May deal Hogan going for 5 and 11. Giving pick 5 to GC for May plus a late pick. If that is how it plays out, a terrible job by us.

It's posts like these that expose the soft underbelly of some supporters. I'm happy to put my hand up and say I am thrilled with the progress we have made, but that doesn't mean we all need to blindly agree with the club on everything and believe that the club doesn't now make mistakes. Perhaps you are easily pleased but I want to win a premiership and believe that a dogmatic, ruthless approach is what is required from here with the dealings with Fremantle.

"He's got to make up his mind whether he wants to leave," Mahoney said. "We have to speak to Fremantle and see if there's a deal that we'd look at. At this stage, we haven't heard anything, so we'd expect Jesse to play with us. "That could change during this week, but that's what trade period is all about. We'll have those discussions early this week." That is not saying he is a required player and we aren't looking to trade him unless we get a ridiculous offer. That's clearly indicating we are prepared to talk and initiate conversation about it. The two first round picks may simply be journalist reports, but it is coming from a reliable source within Melbourne. I deal with the media and assure you that our club like all others speak to media to get out what they want. This is one of those occasions.

Except that Mahoney hasn't done that. He has openly stated we are happy for Jesse to explore going home and will accept two first round picks in return. That is not an absurd deal (perhaps read the rest of my post as to what I say an absurd deal is). It is also not saying he is a required player. Mmkay?

Tyson for Preuss as a direct swap reminds me of the Gysberts for Pedo swap a few years ago. We traded a slow inside midfielder who was a high pick for a mature age tall and everyone here was up in arms saying we got a bad deal. Turns out the club got it right. Let's have a little faith.