Ron Burgundy

I've always thought 25 for Melksham was a good trade. In isolation. That it formed pat of a grand scheme of list improvement plays during the trade period made it even sweeter. That we gamed Essendon all along and then ultimately managed to nail them on pick 3 (which presumably we'll spend on Parish whom they wanted all along) makes it simply unreal. This club is now competent. We gamed all other clubs - except perhaps GWS and GCS, each of whom may very well have been in the tent on what we were doing all along.

Heard from a couple of people that Essendon were/are hoping to land Parish. They're pretty annoyed that we managed to land pick 3.

He looks like Prince Valiant.

Like his attack on the ball. Seems like a bit of a live wire - kind of makes things happen. And I like the fact that he's a country boy. Son of a shearer - they're tough blokes. The club will put meat on that frame.

They all sound like superstars this time of year.

I think this is a really astute trade for us. I'm pleased with it. People here are not placing sufficient regard to the fact that Goodwin and McCartney genuinely know what he's like as a player and a person. They've worked with him. In short, he's not some speccy draft prospect who's been observed by some dude having watched a few hours of TAC Cup football. They also know what this list needs and where the gaps are. And yep, he's not Selwood or Dangerfield, but neither of those players were gettable targets for this club. So that's largely irrelevant. Welcome aboard Jake.

Melksham, Bugg and Kennedy will all be very good additions too.

Suspect some other trades will eventuate too. Not necessarily 'big fish', but players that will improve our overall list. Roos has repeatedly stated that we will be very active this trade period.

Spot on. He will be a good pick up.

Seems relevant to the Melksham thread.

It concerns me slightly that Port are into Toumpas. They identify and nurture midfield talent as well as any club - and they obviously know Toumpas from his playing days in Adelaide. Perhaps he is still going to be the player we hoped he would be when he was drafted - just not with the MFC.

Very happy to recruit Ziebell as well.

Need to be a very good runner these days too. No engine = no future.

As Roos says, don't believe everything you read in the press - there's a lot of noise. I reckon Goodwin and McCartney have a fair idea of what this bloke's worth - and, clearly, they also know what they want in players going forward and they know how to assess a good footballer from a bad one.

If it's for a second round pick, I'm content with this trade. He'll improve our list, slightly. Still praying for a Prestia, O'Meara or Bennell though.

Absolutely agree. Hope we keep Watts. And Garland.

'Sun' of a gun. O'Meara would be fantastic. I've also heard that Howe's manager's been an opportunistic [censored] in his negotiations with the club. Perhaps Howe's only just starting to work this out.

Hope/trust we have more elite midfield targets than Melksham. That said, would happily have him at the Dees for the right deal.

Ironic that we apparently would've picked Melksham with pick 11 in 2009 (which we used on Gysberts) given that Essendon picked Melksham with pick 10. I'll back Simon Goodwin's judgement on this one.

On the basis of those photos, it think he'd be more likely to request a trade to some hick football team in Arkansas ...

Think I'll back Goodwin's judgement on this one. He's always struck me as a very good player.

Have heard the club is currently in negotiations with Gawn and Garland, both of whom are required players. Apparently Howe, or Howe's manager, is being pretty difficult and there's not much dialogue between the club and Howe as a result.

This is the sort of smart trade that I'd expect of Paul Roos. Thanks for the heads up rjay.

I'd absolutely re-sign Garland. He's an important for us. Howe? There seems to be a gap between his view of his worth to the team, and his actual worth to the team. Suspect he has a greedy manager who's giving him bad advice. Would trade him for a first round pick or a really decent midfielder, but nothing less.

You obviously don't recall the Frawley debate very clearly. I think most regulars here know my view on that one - and it's kind of the opposite of what you've attributed to me.