mauriesy

So we give up Howe for an improvement from (currently) #24 to #16?

Would just be revolving Daw(e)s.

I think a problem with free agency is that the clubs taking the free agent effectively pay very little for them. All they do is go down one spot in the draft by virtue of the allocated compensation. If the free agent comes, say, from the bottom club and they get #2 as well as #1, all the other bottom clubs go back one spot in the draft.

Nails with a point on each end save time because you don't have spend a second working out which way they go in.

We were very, very lucky to get #3 for Frawley last year and it has set a bad precedent. We should be thankful #3 was an effective PP. IMHO, the picks of all the teams outside the eight should be 'inviolate', and any priority picks only given after those. Pushing teams like Melbourne, GC or St Kilda back from #6 to #10 or worse doesn't help equalise the competition. Anyway, I just think Carlton's PP application is an ambit claim, crying poor to maximise their chances of getting high compensation for the possible loss of Kreuzer. Sort of like "if you don't think we deserve a priority pick, then the first two picks will do".

Since our aim this year is to rid ourselves of several ball butchers, I cringe at the idea of importing another one.

He's not a rookie. He was ND #53. I'm sure there will be at least a couple of imported players in next year's regular team if Roos' comment that "we will be active in the trade period" is true.

I don't write off players after three seasons. Guess it's one of my failings.

Don't care what his football attributes are. Don't care how cheap he'll come. His personal attributes are lacking. He has no character. Just because we need star footballers doesn't mean we need to pick up trouble.

Wouldn't want him if we only had to give up pick 89. He's a classmate in the Fevola-Angwin School of Stupidity and Team Disruption.

I guess the 30 extra possessions would help too.

Gotta laugh at the suggestion to Bomber fans: "Put your syringes out".

Essendon paid Matthew Knights not to coach in 2011 and 2012 (sacked with 2 years contract left). Paid Hird not to coach in 2014 while suspended. Will pay Hird not to coach in 2016. Probably $2-3 million spent on coaches who didn't coach!

Hope Paul Little follows him out the door.

FWIW: Dunn and Lumumba are contracted to 2017. Trengove, Dawes, Grimes, Watts, Matt Jones, Spencer, Terlich and Newton are contracted to 2016. Jamar, Garland, McKenzie, Howe, Fitzpatrick, Toumpas, Pedersen, Hunt, Cross, Bail, Riley, Michie, Harmes, King and White are out of contract this year.

This year I'd be looking to keep Harmes, King, White and Hunt somehow on the list, either as upgrades, or retained rookies. I think they all show promise, and time will make or break. Howe can go for all I care. All I'll miss is the weekly marking highlight. If Garland gets a good RFA offer, I hope we think twice before matching it. As for the rest, I'd not be upset if any or all of Jamar, McKenzie, Fitzpatrick, Toumpas, Cross, Pedersen, Bail, Riley and Michie retired, got traded or were delisted. Some of them just tease occasionally without ever providing anything substantial. Others are just not AFL level. We need to replace these marginal players who have been getting games recently in the team with Petracca, Trengove, a good UFA if available and new draftees, as well as getting Salem, Frost, Kent etc. back from injury.

Thomas Fuller wrote "It is always darkest just before the Day dawneth" in 1650. It was a proverb even before that.

Can't read it. According to their website it's a 'premium article'.

1. How did you start following the Demons? My grandfather was a Carlton supporter, but my mum barracked for Melbourne. I just took after my mum. She followed Melbourne because George Bickford was a family friend. 2. Who was your very first favourite player and why? Frank 'Bluey' Adams. A red-head redleg who could dash. He was also one of the few to feature in all six Melbourne premierships. 3. Best moment as a fan? All those grand final wins in the years 1955 to 1964. 4. Worst moment as a fan? When Ron Barassi left for Carlton. When Jim Stynes ran across the mark. The turmoil of the merger, Gutnick, Bailey and Neeld years. 5. Anything else you would like to share? I will never follow anyone else.

Personally I think there are far more marginal players to 'dispose of' than Garland.

You don't like Bruce, do you? He drives us crazy, doesn't he? He'd be better off retiring, wouldn't he? Can't stop using 'off a step', can he? Gee he's a gooood commentator, isn't he? Doesn't mind players 'caressing the ball', does he? Make you sick of listening to the footy, couldn't it?

You don't think Anse Bragan was better?

Of course the outcome determines the penalty. It's a common principle in law. If I point a gun at you and miss, I'll get a few years for attempted murder. If I hit you, I'll get up to life for murder. If I drive through a red light I'll get a few hundred dollars fine and lose a few demerit points. If I injure or kill someone in doing so, I'll get jail for at least culpable driving or manslaughter.

Like he can't be both? In my opinion he is a footballer and an elite athlete.

Collingwood have still only beaten teams in the bottom half of the ladder. With the exception of Port (who are 9th on percentage) Melbourne has only lost to teams in the top half.