Nasher

I'm all for downgrading one of our earlier picks ala the Tyson deal, but 3 to 15 seems a large jump for mine.

That's what I thought, too. I had to force myself to read beyond his first line, and spent the rest of the time just wondering why this guy still bothers. Munga, if it's all over, walk away now and spare yourself the heartache.

I'm another too young and distant to have seen him play. Condolences to all of Robbie's family, the MFC family and my friends on Demonland.

I agree, and in the past I've been supportive of the 'slow burn rebuilds' as initiated by Dean Bailey that we've been stuck in ever since. This time though I'm at risk of dying of boredom waiting for the team to come good.

As far as the five stages of grief go, I skipped the middle ones and went straight from denial to acceptance. *shrug*

Not in my place dc. I've had three of them go through the system and another on his way. They are learning their lesson - albeit slowly!

Let's hope that's what happens, Redleg.

I don't think it's how strong clubs do it. It's how clubs who don't want to be traded with do it. I've posted it before that I knew a guy who spent time with a club and sat at their table during trade week. His story went that clubs like Roos's Swans would target the player they want, put their best offer on the table immediately, the trade would be done within the hour, and both clubs can move on with other things. Other clubs, like Essendon, would make completely unreasonable demands and waste everybody's time (which is not limitless). We saw this ourselves with the Darren Jolly trade - fair price (late first rounder) offered straight away, deal is done, we move on. My mind also goes back to the Brock McLean deal - the trade was executed within the first couple of hours on the Monday of trade week and we were well compensated (that we blew the pick on Gysberts later is beside the point). On the extreme end of the scale, Essendon missed out on Josh Caddy altogether a couple of years ago because of their unreasonable trade demands. I'm not suggesting we roll over and take any shafting Geelong will offer us. I just don't want to see a long, protracted negotiation that saps all our time away from getting the deals *we* want to get done. And I definitely don't want to see him walk - someone hasn't done their job if that happens.

I really struggle with the concept that letting him walk is better than *any* trade. It's the kind of logic 4 year old children use when they're not aware that chucking a tantrum gets them absolutely nothing when a bit of negotiation might get them something slightly less than what they wanted. I hope the MFC have moved well past that logic, because we're NOT the ones holding the aces here. We all think Collingwood would be stupid to play "hardball" on Lumumba - well we're in exactly the same boat as they are with Clark.

Our last attempt at getting experienced players got us Vince, Cross and Tyson; 3 of our best 5 players currently, while still having a pick low enough to draft a talent such as Salem. Who says that isn't what's going to happen again this time?

Think a few need to recalibrate their sarcasm detectors.

Agreed, though that won't necessarily translate to Collingwood not being silly at the trade table.

It's what I'd push for too if I wanted us to become Essendon or Collingwood, i.e. clubs other clubs won't deal with unless they absolutely must. Don't be dicks about it, MFC. Come up with a fair and reasonable trade and get it done very early, please.

Yep - it's the sort of borderline retarded logic we all have to put up from pissy Hawthorn supporters. Don't like your Franklin compensation? Try finishing last all the time. Early draft picks are nice but they are very little compensation for the pain of watching your team stink year after year. It must have really sucked, winning the flag that year that diluted your effing compensation.

I'm going to assume you're very young and leave it at that.

I don't know about that Ron - did you see his more recent performances in the political threads? Some of his social views are the most narrow minded bollocks I've ever read. What he is, is very strong minded, and articulate. He can give you the impression that he knows what he's on about, even if he doesn't. If nothing else, his posts are always worth reading. On balance I was/am most definitely a fan, but I don't think he deserves the hero praise he gets from a few around here.

Hahaha, no way. Call Benny Hur a lot things, but he's definitely not... that thing that h_h is. I actually thought that h_h was Range Rover for a while, as he turned up during one of RR's bans. But no, RR isn't that thing that h_h is either. I'm pretty sure h_h is not an alias for a former member.

This trade just has to happen, so I hope the club doesn't waste a bunch of time 'negotiating' our deal with Geelong at the expense of the deals we actually want to get through. As CIP has said will happen: get the deal done, no BS. It's been the way Roos teams have approached the trade tables before and will be again. Geelong are the same.

He posts here as much as you do these days.

Take a deep breath and relax. It's not personal, Clark is not defecating on Jim's memory. He's just a not very bright guy, doing what's best for himself without consideration for much else.

Perfect, just what I thought/hoped.

Yay, the "I told you so" brigade. Predict the worst every time, and you'll be sure to get one right. Give it a rest.

I know it's not the point, but that would be Geelong anyway. I'm relieved it's not Collingwood. The deal might actually get done in a reasonable time frame now. It's bad enough that we're going to have to deal with the Pies for Lumumba.

You only have to look at page one of this thread. Post #2 would be a starting point - a threat to walk away from the game if we get him, with 16 likes, which presumably means those posters agree.

Wouldn't doubt your info for a second, that's why I ask you for it. When faced with uncertainty of information, generally I choose to believe whatever paints the most optimistic picture. I've got enough of a handle on my emotions these days to be able to do that and not be too disappointed if it doesn't pan out.