Lord Travis

Re: Gaff, we might be a chance here just quietly...

Weird to see that footage and make all this stuff sprouted become a reality. I knew it was happening, but seeing that and having that moment was strange! We'll get something good in return for him. If we get 2 first rounder, we trade one for May and take the other to the draft. If we get Brayshaw and first rounder, do we still trade the first rounder for May and opt out of the first round for the 4th year running?

Do us a favour and choose JKH next ?

Gaff's manager said on Trade Radio today it's between West Coast and North. When asked if it was only those clubs, he said "yes.". We've asked, we've been told no, and now his manager says West Coast or North. There's no way we come close to matching Norths offer of 1.2 million a year for 5-6 years. Probably time to shut this thread down. The club has clearly sent their focus elsewhere since, hopefully on Shiel?

How is that talent? He laid a front on bump and got suspended for 5 weeks. Nothing talented about laying a bump to an unprotected player going for the ball. That's cowardly. He let his team down by sitting in the stands for 5 weeks instead of being out there when they needed him. Don't get me wrong, I like when players are tough, but crossing the line and getting yourself suspended for long periods of time means you're nothing but a burden to your teammates and your club. Hopefully he's learnt from that mistake and his bad tribunal record... On Hogan, he's gone. 100%. Mahoney could've played a straight bat and said required player etc. instead he starting listing reasons why it it's happening/might be happening. If he was sticking around, he'd have shot that down instead of starting to soften the blow. He's 100% gone. A shame to lose a young star heading into his prime, but we'll get good compensation and may become a better team for it.

Bartlett is under-appreciated by the Melbourne faithful I feel. PJ gets all the kudos, and it's more than well deserved, but don't underestimate Bartletts input and stability in turning the ship around.

The trade seems to be 2 first rounders, with one then ontraded for May.

30 disposal 5 goal game no good? He’s clearly got talent, but he hasn’t been able to put it together consistently yet. Wouldn’t be a bad get IMO

The club will be prepared either way. While it would suck if a budding superstar wanted to leave, it’s not going to be the end of the world. We’ve proven we can be competitive without him, and we would be able to extract a lot of value from trading him. Obviously I’d prefer him to stay as he’s a young star with some seriously good footy ahead of him, but it won’t be the end of the world if he leaves.

Less. He won’t be a free agent, and we then lose the leverage of him being a contracted player. If we believe he will leave when his contract ends, we’re better off trading him now while he holds more value.

Well Nicholls proved yet again he is a horrible umpire. Standing right in front of them during that incident and didn’t even reverse the free kick for a punch to the throat. He’s a despicable cheater. How the [censored] is he still employed?! It has to be some sort of conspiracy!

Completely disagree with this. This loss is solely on the players. We laid 34 tackles for the entire match. 34. That is the lowest tackle count by any team in 2018. West Coast laid 59 despite having the ball for the majority of the match too. 34 tackles is an indictment on the players. It shows a complete lack of effort, work rate and intensity. You don’t have to be skilled to tackle, all you have to do is try. They did not try. Anyway the season is over and we made big steps forward this year. Our core of young talented kids now have finals experience under their belt and I expect a period of sustained success for the years to come. We should be contenders for a flag over the next few years and it’s exciting to finally get close again!

Vanders has been good this second half. Thank god someone has the balls to take on the opposition instead of firing off a panicked handball.

He’s not alone, but Joel Smith has had a shocker today. Not sure it was a great move bringing him in for a prelim so early in his career. He still hasn’t shown he’s even afl standard, let alone ready to play finals.

Worst half by a team in a final since 1927. That’s how bad we’ve been. The midfield today has been Neeld era bad. 18 tackles in a half in a final. Less than half be opposition who have had the ball the whole time. Pathetic effort. So disappointing to completely sh*t the bed after all the good work to this point.

This is a horrendous performance. It’s pretty much undone all the good work of this finals campaign. How disappointing.

I'm ecstatic with that win. Made a $100 bet with a mate at work about two months back that Richmond wouldn't win the flag. The team that finishes top of the ladder is rarely the premier. Only happened 2-3 times this millennium so far. It's a mindset thing. The team coming for them have nothing to lose and throw everything they have at them and take risks. The team on top have everything to lose, everyone against them, and don't take risks. Happens nearly every year. The Pies were brilliant in the first half. It just goes to show if you work hard, keep up the pressure and intensity around the ball, it doesn't matter who you're playing, you are a chance. Credit to them for making the grand final despite massive injury list. It's a fantastic achievement and they've learnt a lot of respect for their efforts. If we win tomorrow it's a Melbourne vs Collingwood grand final. Nobody would've picked that, and it would be an epic. Let's hope it happens! Fire up Dees!!!

Spot on. Rance is a decent footballer when he's allowed to roam around loose without a man, but as soon as he has to go one on one he is poor. A legitimate liability, and every time this year that coaches have gone through his man he's been exposed big time. Got smashed by Josh Jenkins, Kennedy, Melksham, Cox and then De Grey tonight. He was directly responsible for 6 goals tonight. He was atrocious, and yet the commentators barely mentioned his horrible performance. Tigers would've been better of with Tom Gillies at full back tonight! Rance is one of the most overrated players of the modern era. It's laughable to hear him discussed as an all time great defender alongside Scarlett, Jakovich etc. He's not a pinch of sh*t on them. Seeing him get thrown around like a sack of sh*t tonight was the highlight of the year for me outside of Melbourne's performances.

So Collingwood vs Melbourne grand final next week!

I think it’s something you get when you’ve been near a Collingwood supporter...

He was at it again the other night doing his best to turn the game in the Hawks favor. I got a warning from security when I unloaded a barrage of expletives after one of the incorrect free kicks he paid against us. The guys either a deadest cheat or blind and incapable of performing his job. I still haven’t found out where he lives... ?

I'm praying for anyone but Nicholls. The game will be worse off with him umpiring, not to mention how much he favours the Hawks. He is a horrible umpire and it still mystifies me how he is employed in a role he is unable to perform adequately.

Hunt had back issues over pre-season, meaning he struggled to build fitness and confidence in his body. He had back issues in his first few season on the list, so it's an ongoing thing unfortunately. Once fit enough to play, he struggled with confidence and then multiple other injuries. When fit and in form, he's in the top 10 players IMO. He's got a really high ceiling, as his running is used as hard to defend as it is to attack. He's got unmatched speed, a great leap, and plays with flair. He's one of the few players I feel could be really effective on a wing for us long term. Last season he was bordering on AA half back flank form, nearly as damaging as Hibberd. He's still young, and with less than 50 games to his name I wouldn't trade him unless he was part of landing us a bonafide superstar.

He stood up big time the past few weeks and especially last night. That was a break out game. He’s always showed he could become a threat in the air and was already one of the most aggressive tacklers on the list. Last night he put it all together. Always knew he’d make it, and now it’s onwards and upwards! Weiiiidddddd!!!

Correct, that was a key reason for it's creation. It was also intended to aid lower clubs to lure players without costing picks etc. All reasons aside, Free Agency has been the worst thing to happen to the game in my lifetime, and changes need to be made to stop players being able to go to top clubs. The reigning premiers (who are favourites to go back to back) have just had a club captain and All Australian standard key forward nominate them. They get stronger. The competition, and therefore the game, is worse off. It needs to change.