Lord Travis

He’d be a great get obviously, but we have no way of getting him. He’s not a free agent, so we have to trade for him. We don’t have a first rounder this year, and we’re not allowed to trade next years. Unless we trade one of Hogan, Oliver, Petracca or Gawn, then we can’t get Wines. We won’t be trading any of them, so may as well close this thread unless you enjoy torturing yourselves (which you may, being Melbourne supporters and all haha).

Agreed. I thought he was best on ground for us in the first half. He repeatedly beat Roughead in one on ones in quite convincing fashion. Very impressive. He’s improved his body work and spoiling immensely this year IMO. One of the few shining lights for us thus far this season.

How are people proposing we get Wines? We’ve got no first round pick to trade this year, and have to use next years first rounder in the draft, as we haven’t used one since 2015 draft. Unless we’re trading a gun of our own like Petracca or Oliver, then we have no way of getting him across.

Currently playing in the Casey practice match and dominating. Very strange he isn't in the team again this week. Hopefully he is straight in next week. He gets nothing out of playing at Casey, he's been a level above VFL from before he was drafted. It's a waste of his time, and a waste of the clubs time. He needs a consistent run at AFL level to develop and become the player we think he can. He's an obvious talent (pick 3), and is also quite flexible. Can play inside or outside mid, wing, half forward, half back. His skills are decent, he reads the play well, and he lays a good hard tackle. If we don't give him games this year, he'll walk and become a star at another club.

I agree. If Hogan struggles or gets double teamed, Petracca is the other strong body who can clunk a mark up forward. We have enough midfield depth to cover his temporary loss there.

Location would play a part in this. But also it might be related to our poor performances and standing as a club for the past decade. We've no doubt lost a chunk of potential supporters from that generation.

Huge signing. Unlike the past 10 years, our young talent is all extended and sticking fat for the journey. Great to see! Keep working hard Trac and you’ll enjoy success in red and blue with your mates!

The Good: We finish 6th, making finals for the first time since 2006. We finally beat North. Our midfield becomes one of the best in the league, and teams struggle to combat our pressure around the ball. The rebound from our backline becomes a real weapon, with Hunt, Hibberd, Brayshaw, Salem and Jetta causing head-aches. Bugg surprises many as a pesky small forward and becomes best 22. Christian Petracca continues his rise to stardom and makes the AA squad. Kicks 30+ goals for the season and is the match-winner in a few games. Dom Tyson has yet another top 5 finish in our BnF to remind everyone why he is an important part of our future midfield. Clayton Oliver becomes recognised as a bonafide star of the competition, finishing 5th in the Brownlow and making the AA midfield. Gawn stays fit and plays the full season, reclaiming his thrown as AA ruckman. The Bad: Jones, Vince and Lewis all struggle with the pace of the game and lingering injury issues. 2 of the 3 retire at years end. Tom McDonald forward doesn't work out and he returns to the backline. This exposes our lack of quality tall forwards and increased pressure on Hogan. We continue to struggle against big forwards. Frost's form deteriorates, Oscar struggles to develop further, TMac heads down back but his form fluctuates and Lever is left to try and steady the ship in more of a shut down role. We endure another year of media speculation about Hogan returning to WA, after he has a mediocre year form-wise. We lose to Richmond after controlling the majority of the match again. The soft-underbelly lingers. While we finish 6th, we could have finished 1st-2nd if not for losing winnable matches against lesser opponents.

When rumours circulated we were into Baker I was worried we'd use our first pick on him and thought it was the wrong move. Turns out we landed him with our last pick at 47. He's definitely got great pace and agility, question will be how it holds up under AFL level pressure. Though his highlights look excited, there is bugger all defensive pressure in the NEAFL and it almost looked like they were playing touch footy at times He doesn't mind laying a tackle though and looks competitive so he'll give it a red hot crack. Of all our draftees this year I'm hoping Baker makes it. He's got exactly what our midfield needs: pace. Welcome Oskar!

Happy with this pickup. I was hoping either him or Bailey would slip to our first pick and we landed Spargo. He's a talent. Decent pace, great agility, great competitor, can rack up ball and chime in with goals. He'd be perfect to play up forward for the first few years of his careers to partner up with Jeffy. He could be added to the midfield rotation over time or own a small forward role. Though he's small, he's a competitor and take down his share of bigger players over his time. Welcome Charlie!

Haven't seen this kid play other than the usual highlights clips, but surely a 19 year old who couldn't even crack it onto the list of the worst team in the AFL isn't worth blowing our first pick on?! If someone like Bailey or Spargo is still available, I'd hope the club drafts them.

As for Liam Ryan, I'll quote myself from earlier in this thread. He'll go as a late/rookie pick to a WA club. I'd hope the club don't bother with a 21 year old who has serious attitude and application issues. He would not suit the modern AFL game where defensive pressure and hard running both ways are now a requirement. He'll never make it at AFL level IMO.

Correct. http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-11-22/taylor-has-list-of-names-ready-to-go States no rookie picks and will use 4 picks in the draft.

Saw him play mid year, was match against Peel. He would've had maybe 7-8 touches, kicked a run of the mill set shot goal and doubt if he laid a tackle. Wouldn't have even known who he was if it weren't for the chatter surrounding him as he'd booted a ton of goals to that stage of the season. He was seriously unremarkable that day. Based on that match I saw of him, he'll be a rookie pick at best and likely never make it AFL level. He has seriously poor work ethic. He refused to work up the ground when it wasn't working up forward, he didn't chase or put on any pressure at all when his opponents won the ball, he stood around hands on hips and not bothering to lead if a defender went anywhere near him. He makes Jack Watts look like Nick Reiwoldt on steroids in terms of work rate, effort and hunger. Not surprised to read Pennant St Dee's post saying his club Subiaco had to send someone to pick him up or he wouldn't rock up to training etc. I'll be disappointed, shocked and disgusted if the club drafts him after weeding out players with poor attitude and work ethic over the past few years. He's already 21 too, so as a mature age player you'd hope he had developed that work ethic and desire to make it.

He has average speed, offers no defensive pressure and offers bugger all around the ground. He has a great leap on him and is a decent shot at goal, but he lacks far too much in other areas. He’s worse than other similar types currently on our list. There’s a reason he’s been overlooked in the draft before and a reason he’s being spoken about as a late pick or rookie pick. There will likely be a big go home factor with him too so I hope the club doesn’t bother with him to be honest. There are other better, well rounded options for us to target.

He doesn’t put on any defensive pressure or work hard for his team. Hats why he was overlooked. He ca kick a bag if given space, but likely won’t have much impact at AFL level IMO. Will be a late pick air most likely a rookie pick to a WA club.

Hopefully we win a flag by 2918! I’d like to see one in my life time, and preferably not have to find a way to live 900 years for that to happen

Reported today that we are considering giving up our first round pick this year AND first round pick next year. If we cave and do that trade, I'd be disgusted with the club. We hold all the cards! Adelaide have an OUT OF CONTRACT PLAYER REQUESTING A TRADE ONLY TO MELBOURNE FC. If we somehow overpay, despite having them over a barrel... god I'll be ropable. Have some balls Dees!

Come across as?

Close this thread and re-open it in 2 years when he becomes a free agent

With us signing Frost and also rumored to be interested in Jackson Trengove from Port, does that indicate we are out of the race for Lever? If not, then it should just be pick 10 for Lever and move on.

Reckon he is going to Collingwood and we're chasing a mid like Gaff now.

I was one of the few on here defending him earlier this season. He's been a whipping boy for idiots in the past, but the club knew what they were doing when they traded him in. He's got talent and experience. In the past he has played his best footy as a half forwarding rotating in the midfield. He had a top 5 BnF finish in a team that played finals when playing that role all year. The coaches tried him at half back and it didn't work out. As soon as he was moved away from there and has been given roles up forward or in the midfield he has excelled. He's done some good tagging jobs on the likes of Pendlebury and Zorko when needed. He's accumulated a lot of ball in the midfield when given license to roam. He's one of the few who currently goes for kicks more than handballs, which makes him valuable as a link man heading into 50. He's also chimed in with multiple goals repeatedly when playing up forward, including kicking important long goals under immense pressure to give us wins. His long kicking for goal from 50-60 metres is probably the best at the club alongside Bernie and Petracca. I also reckon he's laid the most bumps of anyone in the team this year. Love that he asserts himself physically without giving away bad frees. A few of our players could learn from him there. He's definitely best 22 and his finals experience and maturity will be valuable come September. PS The following statement from the MRP gave me a smile. "Jake Melksham was also charged with misconduct for pushing an opponent into an umpire in Sunday's clash against the Brisbane Lions." Glad someone is trying to do something about the umpires. They are beyond incompetent and bordering on corruption this year!

It's always a worry going by recent history, but the trouble for the Hawks is they have nothing to give up. They gave up anything of worth to get Jaeger last year. They're without first and second round picks this year I believe. They don't have any stars young enough to have currency for trading. It'd be a miracle if they somehow landed him for Bruest and a 3rd rounder. We're in the box seat now for Lever if he is coming back to Victoria. We have the picks to trade, and decent developing young players who we could trade also. No-one like an Oliver or Petracca, but guys like Neal-Bullen, Harmes etc who could be added as a sweetener and play a role for the Crows. Exciting times ahead regarding this situation!

Won't leave the Saints but he's an obvious talent that could fill a need for us. He's got outside class and has proven he can win ball and stand up in big moments. He's had a great year and would offer a lot to our side... but he won't leave the Saints.