Its Time for Another

So far they've only lost three players and with two of them Carlisle and Melksham got overs in the trades. They got picks 17 & 37 for Ryder. That's about what we'd have to come up with if we have to trade which for sure will be the first option. I would imagine if it got to the end of trade week and the Bumbers have stopped a trade there would be a real chance he'd go to the AFL Grievances tribunal and they would have to let him go. So I guess that would give us a strong hand in negotiations if he kept this threat hanging over their heads. They've done enough to him to let the poor bugger go and he would be the only player they'd lose for possibly less than his full market value. A mind boggling result considering what they've done to those boys.

Hope you're right. Hope he wants out, wants to come to us, wants to be paid what he's worth and within our salary cap, wants to shafts Bumbers comes to us for no picks or players.

Actually Beez unfortunately it's not that straight forward. I read an article about it last week but can't recall where. It was in one of the main papers. If you recall Carlisle had this option last year and chose not to go down that path as it would mean Essendon would have got no compensation for him leaving. He wasn't prepared to do that to them and I doubt Hurley will do it to them either. If he does chose to try and do it he has to first go to some AFL grievances tribunal and show that the Club's actions were enough to release him from his contract. I think he's then classed as a Delisted Free Agent and the Club get no compo for his departure. Can you imagine the interference there will be from Gill to make sure this doesn't happen. Failing success there, I believe he could go to the Courts to argue the Club's actions voided his contract. Court cases can take years. I'm not sure it would be possible to go through the Courts process and have a pre season little own play next year.

Interestingly he mentioned his knee injury will have to be managed for the rest of his career.

Like your post. Interested in the last 3 words. What's your theory on getting Hurley if we get Prestia. My sense is you are probably right on a to c which would mean a deal would get done early in trade week given our good trading relationship with GC. Probably already discussed it in a broad "what if" in last years trading deal. Assuming that happens and next years first pick is gone how will we get Hurley.

I don't think the issue would be salary cap space. They'd either come for what they"re worth or not come at all. It seems pretty clear from what Roosy said about Jesse that this Club is being run properly now and won't stuff the list management by over paying players. Dawes contract was majorly front ended so if he went the savings wouldn't be as great as some think. I think the problem will be getting the trades done for both. I thought Hurley was feasible because he was a free agent but he's not and dealing with Dodoro is a fricken nightmare.We already don't have this years first pick. It would probably have to cost some very good players as well as next years first rounder and all our half decent picks.

You're probably right although they've now admitted that getting top up players hasn't worked. I would think they'll be going strong in the draft. I'm sure like everyone they'll be after any A graders available. Hurley, O'Meara, Prestia. It's reported today that both Richmond and Melbourne have denied making any offer to Hurley. That $900k was probably the figment of someone's imagination. Probably started like J Brown saying Freo would have to offer Jesse $1.5mill a year for 10yrs. No substance just someone's opinion. Probably a what would it take for Tigers to get Hurley. Oh $900k a year.

That's the rumour. Most of those rumours about money end up being crap.

Bulldogs 35,487 Saints. 37,206 Norf. 42,760

38,102 this Friday, 37,766 last Friday. Increase of 336 for the week. There are 7 weeks left to membership cut off. At the last week's increase that will be another 2,352 so we would crack the 40,000. Obviously the rate of sign up's will drastically slow in the last month so will be touch and go. Bring on another win on the weekend and the chocks might start to shift from under the bandwagons wheels.

No interest until it's confirmed his signed or isn't going to. You could go mad worrying about this otherwise. Scully, Rivers, Frawley, Howe have all taught me not to worry. So far we've ended up better off in the end. Hogan might be irreplaceable but I have confidence PJ and Mahoney won't stuff the Club by paying overs and if he walks it will be for an offer too good to refuse and too overs to match. I shudder to think we apparently offered Scully $700,000 a year to stay all those years ago. He left, we saved the money and got Hogan. I was happy in the end, not at the beginning. If he stays which I expect, fantastic! If he goes I'll look forward to the trade. 2 guns for one.

I wonder how many assistants will move on after Roos leaves. You usually see a bit of a turnover. Might be influenced by what Roos ends up doing next year after his time out o/s. I noticed on the weekend his younger son was playing for Carltons affiliate against Casey.

Here's the future pick trading rule from the official AFL announcement AFL general counsel Andrew Dillon said the following rules would govern trading of future draft picks: - Clubs can trade one year in the future only. - Clubs must make at least two first-round selections in each four-year period. If they don't, they will face restrictions from trading any further first-round draft picks. - If a club trades a future first-round selection, it may not trade any other future selection from that same draft. But if a club keeps its future first-round selection, it can trade any of its future selections from other rounds. Dillon said most clubs had supported this future trading model. Im not sure how the last point works because Pies traded away their first round pick this year for Treloar and their 2nd round pick for Aish. So somehow it didn't apply.

It's round 7. He had a clean up op on his knee late in the pre season. He should be well and truly back on the park in full training and possibly playing by the end of the year. That's a long time away. If he is great, if he isn't move on.

I got $1150 for $345. Family are kitted out. Son's playing on the weekend in his new size 13 bright orange boots. Will help to spot him out there. Am going to use some of the saving to upgrade my membership and offer a junior membership to anyone the Club wants to give it to.

This isn't correct. His contract was massively front ended. I think you would find he is sucking a very modest amount now. He wouldn't be getting a real lot if he's around next year but he'd have to have an amazing season once he gets back in to get another contract

I went to a New Balance shop today to check out sizes and the right gear for the family. I told them about the 70% discount and they said it must be a mistake. They couldn't believe NB was offering that discount. I went home thinking ok here we go. I entered the gear and the promo code and bingo it worked. 70% off. It's amazing. We should be telling everyone under the sun about this. I'm going to put some of my savings towards upgrading my membership and getting a junior membership as well.

I'm guessing quite a few have already

I don't think there's a definite answer at this point. But I would say this :- 1. Dawes best is better than what Pedersen and Frost have shown this season. Can he get back to his best? We won't know that till he's played a few games at Casey. 2. Pedersen has all the capabilities, good contested mark, agility, run but just doesn't seem to be able to play for 4 quarters. He always goes missing. He also tends to get the yips in front of goal. 3. Frost is definitely improving week by week but he is a very raw, young, long term prospect. Probably a backman being forced to play forward for the time being. He can't kick a set shot to save himself and nowadays you can't carry players like that. He also is a long way off getting involved enough in the play. He's still learning how to play the game. We've been lucky we've had the luxury of carrying him so far this season while he learns on the job. I don't see it being a Dawes for Pedersen choice. I think it's more likely to be Dawes for Frost.

Yeh, on reflection you're probably right. It's the whole ensemble, the vibe.

Couldn't agree with you more. But if by the end of the year he's not going to sign and the indications are he's going to leave, the Club has to work out the best way to mitigate the situation.

I wonder if it gets to the end of the year and he's refusing to sign up and someone like Neale announces they want to go home and Freo finish bottom 3 whether we would say ok, mate go now. We'll take pick 3 and Neale. Next year they might improve and Neale might be gone.

Damn you're good looking Ron. It's the jacket.

5 weeks ago I would have perished the thought of him going. But after 5 rounds the team is starting to play so well as a total group and with him not really contributing above and beyond so far, I could see us prospering if he choses to go. Let Freo stuff up their future List Management by paying overs for one player. There's been enough evidence to show it doesn't work either way. The Hawks prospered without Buddy. They just changed their game plan to have more goal kickers. He and Tippett haven't exactly transformed the Swans who lost Mumford to fit Buddy in the cap. They are great players but there are 22 in a team. Judd didn't do much for Carlton. Ablett is the exception but on the other hand the Suns dependence on one player has probably held back the development of the team as a whole. I trust in Mahoney, Viney & PJ to manage this for the best long term outcome for the club. If worst came to worst the way Freo are going we could end up with pretty healthy compensation. Picks and players. Maybe a Lachie Neale deal. Who knows. I would still be really upset if he goes but the Sun will rise. Scully taught me that. Would be ironic if the Scully pick just kept on keeping on. First Scully, then he turns into Hogan, then Hogan turns into X. Let it not be so. He's part of the group now.

If he'd played against Essendon on Daniher we'd be 4-1 instead of 3-2.