Nasher

We still doing this?

I thought the comment "I thought I'd come back in good nick, but that didn't really work out" was interesting. I wonder what the blocker was? It's probably unrealistic to expect a 19 year old to have the full discipline and thorough understanding of their own body to know how to return in peak shape. It's easy to get caught up in setting the bar unreasonably high when it comes to young talent like him, when we're all itching to see him at full flight.

I've never really had it 'looked at' per se, but I have for a while suspected I'm on the spectrum. General traits: I impulsively avoid eye contact when talking to people, especially in forced situations (passing each other in a hallway etc) I can't small talk, at all. I consider it lucky if I can sustain any sort of conversation, often. I am usually the first one to cross the line in to inappropriate conversations, unintentionally. I can't read between the lines. If you're not explicit, I probably won't understand what you're saying to me. I can't read body language. I have no idea if the person I am talking to likes me or is at all interested in what I have to say. It takes me a very long time to make friends. It would be unusual for me to consider someone an established friend within the first year of meeting them, though there have been exceptions. I can remember the number plate of every car I've ever owned, and can remember the number plate of every car any member of my family ever owned up until the age of about 15, and a few of my friends early car number plates. I know the current sequence of number plates (letter number number letter letter) in Tasmania and roughly where they're up to (I've seen 'F' number plates, 'G' ones are reserved for Government vehicles, 'H' ones should start appearing on the streets soon...). With the older style number plates (letter letter number number number number) I used to be able to roughly guess when a car was registered based on its number plate. There used to be a car that parked near my house with the number plate next in sequence to mine. I was disappointed the time we parked next to each other in a car park and I didn't have my phone on me to take a photo. Did I mention I notice number plates? I have an elephant-like memory in general, especially when it comes to numbers I am obsessive about doing things right, to the point where I will abandon anything I can't do near enough to perfect for my own satisfaction on early attempts. I scored 36 on the Baron-Cohen test. The questions that reduced my score were nearly all around imagination - I have a very vivid imagination, I *love* reading fiction, I have even dabbled in writing some. I guess that's the whole thing about it being a 'spectrum'.

He'd have been accused of making it all about him in the throws of the season if he'd done that. If not that, someone would have found some other way to pan him over it. There's no pleasing people with the timing of things like this. I read his statement and to me it was as good as I'd hope for in the context of being a player who received a ban for drugs. It doesn't mean it was absolutely good, or that he's a hero, or that I admire him, it's just that I thought it was appropriate under the circumstances. I don't think it would kill people just to give him that nod.

I started very young if you're my son, Clint.

No, there's several father sons on here. The site is run by a father son combo for a start!

You can't look at it like that. What if pick 30 had a better strike rate? Would you then conclude that you'd prefer to have pick 30 than pick 29?

If they feel like going through the rigmarole of court proceedings. Far too late in the day for that now.

Not a free agent.

Because that would be a massive, massive pain in the arse?

I love people's enthusiasm, but I find things like this cringeworthy. I know, such a Grinch.

I don't think Redleg is referring to it being leaked to the media.

Yes, it means no compensation. Wouldn't have got any anyway most likely as I doubt Grimes will be on a very big contract if he gets picked up - very long shot anyway IMO. Unless you were worried about compo for Terls :-)

Surprised to see Jones go in the first pass. I thought he had a case for one more season, and probably would have played games next season, but I guess that's (rightly) not where the bar is set. No surprises with Grimes, but it still gives me a stab of grief now that it's official. A player who gave his all the MFC during the toughest of times. I hope the note he leaves on is not too sour and he can continue to be a Melbourne man after footy. Thanks to all three for their contributions.

I get the logic and the love, but was just amused by "shocked". I wouldn't be at all shocked, players like this, especially at his age, are overlooked *all the time*. Personally I'll be surprised if he is drafted - as a general pattern, clubs won't use a place on their list on undersized, most goal output forwards.

Some people are easily shocked.

Yep - no dispute there. It's only the degree of "more confidence" that I'm arguing. I love arguing grey positions :-) I would love to see Wiz Jr running around in MFC colours (assuming his son is the same sort of player!) Probably my favourite player through my teenage years.

Fair enough. I wouldn't base a life decision such as moving thousands of kilometres away to somewhere where I didn't know anyone, when I could do the same job without moving 100 metres, based on the footy team my father barracked for. But I accept others might. I shall agree to disagree.

It's why I went for "barely relevent" instead of "totally irrelevant". The kid has grown up in WA, I think his desire to stay home (or otherwise) will vastly outweigh any other factor, including pressing from his father. I'm just not sure that most 18 year olds, given the option, would move to the other side of the country when given they don't have to. Don't get me wrong - I'm happy for the Wiz to push him in our direction, but I think people are overvaluing the weight of that pushing. He's his own person who will make his own decision.

Whichever club his son chooses (on the assumption he is up to the grade), it won't be up to the Wiz, so his opinion is barely relevant.

If Essendon want to prove they're not tools at the trading table, this is a golden opportunity to prove it. Fair price (our second rounder) seems to already be close to agreed upon, and the trade period is still a month away. There shouldn't be too much left to argue about when the time comes. Get it done on day 1, Melbourne and Essendon, so both clubs can turn their focus to other business.

Nah mate, doesn't count until a Brownlow medalist comes to us as a FA.

He's not in our system. The amount of MFC resources spent on his development has been minimal; we won't be compensated if he goes elsewhere and nor should we be.

Yes, indirectly. Gave up pick 3 (Scully compo) and 14, and received MD pick #2 (Hogan), ND pick #20 (on-traded as part of Dawes deal) and Dom Barry.

He'd be feeling relieved and excited and nervous I'd think. Moving on from this sorry saga starts today. Good luck to him. People have their views on him as a player, but for me, I've erased all past views and biases, go in with an open mind and am looking forward to seeing what he can add.