buck_nekkid

Watts at 31... where do I sign up? With 20/20 hindsight, this deal (even paying 15% of his salary) was a big win. Frittata is almost ‘Watts 2.0’ in that he adds class, capability and skill, but in the version of the 2017 demons, not the 2012 ones. So you trade on what you know, and get what you can. I think the Watts trade shows us that we are actually in good hands. I think Freo may have damaged their relationship with Jesse with this stunt, which may be more telling than if The Dockers come crawling back to the table. Jesse has not yet ‘asked for a trade’ - only exploring options. As a PS, personally I hope Watts can find his feet and play well at Port, but so far all I have seen is a seagull that runs around the outside of packs looking to steal a chip.

Hopefully the one with the navicular fracture....

We have 4 options: the Hogan deal kicks back in (unlikely) May requests a trade to us and they move him on at a lower rate to start their rebuild. He goes FA next year and we get him then. He ends up requesting a trade elsewhere low probabilities for this year, moderate for next if he stays at GCS.

Agree. It will send a signal to Freo that we are ‘out’ of the bs deal and that there is no trade for May.

I thought we had a no dich heads policy?

I’m reading they have withdrawn from chasing Hogan now? So that really makes this 289 pages of cheese.

Thanks, Dom. Think this is a big win/win. We fill an urgent need, clear some cap space and gain a later pick that might help us either bundle up or sweeten a deal. Norf gets a midfielder to play inside that improves them. A good example of how trading should go, rather than the Bell End method.

He wanted out for more opportunities. Fair enough. Thanks for the service, Dean. Good luck and watch those shoulders!

So, JM said: Jesse wanted to explore options He is happy to stay if a deal can’t get done Freo know the price May deal doesn’t happen if the Jesse deal doesn’t go through Freo are not offering anything that would help Melb, so no deal.

Freo cannot offer 5 as they do not hav it yet. They have put an offer on the table relating to their best current pick. We say no, do better, and see what emerges if the Neale deal drops.

Not official yet. Just reported by Fairfax. Lets see if it is premature speculation or the deal.

The Age reporting the Freo board has met to discuss Hogan deal! Bigger than Ben Hur!

Just 39....

I think it was just a case of Basil’s teleprompter. Was changed back on the website pretty quick. The dumping of salary cap sounds a valuable add on, but I wonder how the AFL see such things re trading fair value?

Corrected back to Pittard

Here is another way to look at this (no sources, just supposition): club checked in with Jesse at the end of year - what were his plans? Jesse (and manager) wanted to ‘explore options’ (Ask Freo if they were serious about all of the honey they have been dripping in Jesse’s ears. This was supported and encouraged by the club. Better to maximise value now, if need be. Club asked Jesse “If you want to go, please tell us by Tuesday” Josh Had a preliminary chat to Freo, and told them what it would cost if it went ahead - ‘hypothetically’. Jesse did the tour, and saw how far from anything they were. Decided not to ask for trade. Freo now posturing about his lack of interest, to save face. Jesse in the box seat - still under contract, on holiday. Can discuss contract extension when he gets back. Club can put any offer it like to Jesse, he can choose to look at it any time before next year is concluded. Suggest we can put the cue in the rack until next year, when he will have to make the call either way - stay and sign a longer term arrangement, or go.

Hardly any changes cut into best 25 (so far). We can make these changes and get significantly better where we have gaps or nqr options. Casey will be better for it!

AFL site now reporting it is Hartlett, not Pittard????

Roos very active with Pittard and Polec, now Tyson. With Picks going to Alberton, direct swap looks the most likely, or perhaps add a late pick exchange. Be interesting to see what sort of cap space we save or add by this trade, with Don on 500K

Direct swap and cap saving to get May? Interesting....

So he is free agent next year, and GC get say pick 3 compo. Trade him out this year for what? Only if they value this draft massively over next year would they blink, unless its cultural. In that case, why would we want him?

Our game relies on defensive squeeze across the park and more time in forward half. Being able to maintain defensive structures and how we cut off the big forwards leading patterns (especially if 666, the number of the Gill) comes into effect is going to be critical. Halving one on one contests is the job of the key back, but if they have to do it a dozen times a game, any FB will be made to look a dill. They must be thinking May adds strength to outbody the big forwards- but we saw what Riewoldt did with great supply against him.

Quite a few of the Richmond team say the same thing in the post match shower sesh....

Getting the new nickname established early...

Page 195. 5 more pages before we know anything....