whatwhat say what

what a bummer, was hoping he'd be there to help develop the mids for the same tenure as roos.

Sign Jones and Garland, pinch Treloar and Shiel.

He has been talked about as a top 3 pick along with Wright and Petracca for about 12 months. Brayshaw has only come up into that upper bracket in the last 6 or so months, while the likes of Durdin and Goddard have slid big time. If it's not Petracca and Brayshaw, it would make the most sense - in terms of where players are rated over a long period of time - for it to be one of Wright or McCartin. Wright is my personal preference, but either way we should be getting a very highly rated big man.

Unlikely that Maynard will be available. Harrison Wigg would be a fantastic pick up, and he might slide.

Fantastic stuff, thanks.

If Petracca has gone, I expect it'll be Brayshaw and Wright. Cal Twomey on afl site is still of the opinion that Wright could go #1.

Also, Saints had indicated that if we didn't trade they would get Membrey as a delisted free, then use PSD #1 on Frost.

I did like Mahoney's call that getting Stretch for 42 enables us to utilise 23 for Frost, 40 and 53. Otherwise it could have been Stretch for 23, Frost for 42, and no further pick til much later in the draft.

Wright is a lovely kick from what I've seen. McCartin is probably more aggressive by nature, but I think Wright has some plusses too. Either way, it's likely we'll pick up two blokes who are very highly rated. Even down to including picks 40 and 53 it's not who you draft but how they develop.

Laverde could be the surprise at 3. We'll know in about 45 days I guess!

so no offers for picks 2 and 3. wow.

it's actually frost, 40 and 53 for pick 23. that's....nope, still overs.

We shall see whether that's true or not. There's class to be plucked at 2 and 3 - be it two midfielders (of Brayshaw, Petracca or Laverde) or grab a key position player (Wright or McCartin) - we're hopefully setting ourselves up with class. Just gotta develop em into afl players!

There's no guarantee until 2pm today as to how it's going to play out. So far I'd describe it as astute recruiting. So far we've added Lumumba - our immediate most experienced and best attacking defender / wingman - for nothing as Clark was off our books and not part of our total player payments in 2015. Garlett should be best 22, but he's speculative- however, he was added for a fourth round draft pick. Nothing of major value lost and hopefully an immediate best 22 player in. Stretch continues a family lineage for a third rounder - and don't forget he was all Australian and tested very well in the combine. I know Mahoney and Frost's manager says we are working hard to facilitate a trade for him - but I hope not too hard, and he slides to PSD or as a delisted free agency pick up, so again something for nothing and addressing an immediate need of covering the loss of a swingman key position player as a direct replacement for Chip. We've tried for other trades and failed. We must keep working to get better as a club so that this time next year we are a preferred destination and can land a free agent like Dangerfield. Huge challenge to do so, but you gotta try! Methinks Adelaide might regret not trying to trade him out for picks 2 and 3 in 2014.

you'd presume so. otherwise, they have no talls. he's actually their third most experienced! scary. they can add a mid at 21.

ultimately, we got something when we gave up nothing. wish we'd got greenwood.

pies have done okay. brisbane still ahead.

I can't understand Hallahan wanting to go to gc17. He won't be in their first, second or third midfield rotation.

ol' boy chook mclean has been cut adrift by carlton. god football turns quickly. amazing to think that not too long ago - seven seasons? - he was being touted as the next melbourne captain.

players are commodities. i think it was neil balme who called them as such last week on trade radio. football is not only a business, it's a big business, and ideally the clubs are in the business of winning - it's just a matter of actually being able to win that's the tricky bit for teams such as ours.

Kennedy is a super player. Would do 2 and 3 for him, but 2, 3 and 23 seems a bit much unless there's something else included. Would obviously prefer it was 3 and 23! As a matter of interest, where other than Demonland has this rumour come from?

what happens if we win sub-5 games again and apply for ANOTHER priority pick??

Questions to be answered: How much improvement did they make in 2014? How much further can it be in 2015? Will restructure change the fortunes of the club? Where are they at? Brought in midfielders in 2014. Bolstered ability around the ball. Cross and Vince short-term fixes, Vince will last longer. Future of club revolves around Dom Tyson (great pick up), Viney, Salem, and Hogan – but there’s a lot of pressure on that kid as a youngster who has yet to play a game. Either need to trade picks or select young talent (Brayshaw important). Team structure? Frost helps spine for future – McDonald and Frost down back, Tyson in the middle, Hogan forward. Lumumba and Garlett will add depth; latter is the ‘right’ age. Need the young rucks to take control with Jamar 31 years old, Spencer 25, Fitzpatrick and Gawn 23 – but are they the right age to be big competitors. Greatest need? Midfield depth, either pick Brayshaw or trade those early picks. Frost will help, or Lever in the draft in terms of backline depth. Potentially in a reasonable position. Losses / gains Trengove not leaving, Lumumba and Garlett as per above, Frost likely. Frawley deal an absolute bonus – need to now take advantage of having those two early picks. Make / hold / lose ground Haven’t seen enough to back them in. Thinks they’ll hold until he sees their team dynamic change – didn’t see enough development in 2014, particularly going backwards in the second half of the year. Got a few young players who could step up to the next level. Need to see the proof in the pudding. Further comments Weaselface Barrett says that we’re still sniffing around Dangerfield. GWS are improving in comparison with the players they’re bringing (two multiple best and fairest winners) in to improve themselves immediately; we’re not. Wallace says that Roos has had a look at blokes, judged them in 2014, and will need to settle the side down in 2015. Who’re the young blokes coming through? Which seniors will still be around the mark? Neither Barrett or Suntan can see how we can go past GWS as they have the best young talent (I agree) – for every three, four or five young talent Melbourne has, GWS has 15, 18, 20 potentially young stars. Barrett says that Lumumba and Garlett have strings attached. What that means I have no idea, I presume he means that they have question marks over what they bring to the club in terms of character and likely football impact. Wallace thinks Toumpas is a battler as he can’t find the ball, but is still a young player – Barrett intimating that he’s another high draft pick wasted. Suntan said at the underage level he looked a very good young player, but some players step up against men and others are more suited to playing against boys. Suntan says that there’s no way we would’ve selected Toumpas over Wines if Roos had been in charge at the time as he wants bulls who can get the football. “Yet another negative legacy of the previous regime”, says Barrett. Suntan thinks Salem is a very exciting young talent, just needs development. Calls to follow.

Questions to be answered: How much improvement did they make in 2014? How much further can it be in 2015? Will restructure change the fortunes of the club? Where are they at? Brought in midfielders in 2014. Bolstered ability around the ball. Cross and Vince short-term fixes, Vince will last longer. Future of club revolves around Dom Tyson (great pick up), Viney, Salem, and Hogan – but there’s a lot of pressure on that kid as a youngster who has yet to play a game. Either need to trade picks or select young talent (Brayshaw important). Team structure? Frost helps spine for future – McDonald and Frost down back, Tyson in the middle, Hogan forward. Lumumba and Garlett will add depth; latter is the ‘right’ age. Need the young rucks to take control with Jamar 31 years old, Spencer 25, Fitzpatrick and Gawn 23 – but are they the right age to be big competitors. Greatest need? Midfield depth, either pick Brayshaw or trade those early picks. Frost will help, or Lever in the draft in terms of backline depth. Potentially in a reasonable position. Losses / gains Trengove not leaving, Lumumba and Garlett as per above, Frost likely. Frawley deal an absolute bonus – need to now take advantage of having those two early picks. Make / hold / lose ground Haven’t seen enough to back them in. Thinks they’ll hold until he sees their team dynamic change – didn’t see enough development in 2014, particularly going backwards in the second half of the year. Got a few young players who could step up to the next level. Need to see the proof in the pudding. Further comments Weaselface Barrett says that we’re still sniffing around Dangerfield. GWS are improving in comparison with the players they’re bringing (two multiple best and fairest winners) in to improve themselves immediately; we’re not. Wallace says that Roos has had a look at blokes, judged them in 2014, and will need to settle the side down in 2015. Who’re the young blokes coming through? Which seniors will still be around the mark? Neither Barrett or Suntan can see how we can go past GWS as they have the best young talent (I agree) – for every three, four or five young talent Melbourne has, GWS has 15, 18, 20 potentially young stars. Barrett says that Lumumba and Garlett have strings attached. What that means I have no idea, I presume he means that they have question marks over what they bring to the club in terms of character and likely football impact. Wallace thinks Toumpas is a battler as he can’t find the ball, but is still a young player – Barrett intimating that he’s another high draft pick wasted. Suntan said at the underage level he looked a very good young player, but some players step up against men and others are more suited to playing against boys. Suntan says that there’s no way we would’ve selected Toumpas over Wines if Roos had been in charge at the time as he wants bulls who can get the football. “Yet another negative legacy of the previous regime”, says Barrett. Suntan thinks Salem is a very exciting young talent, just needs development. Calls to follow.

well, it's actually only been six months on the sidelines. he had a couple of games in the vfl before it was diagnosed, i seem to remember.