Nasher

Without meaning to be too cynical, this sounds exactly like Paul Johnson’s bio when we picked him up from West Coast. Not saying the result will be the same, just pointing out that annointing him the solution to both our ruck problem *and* third tall forward problem (as belzebub did in reply) is setting the bar very high. If he was that good he’d be in the Norf ones and not getting traded. There is risk involved and the trade, and our expectations, should be weighted accordingly. I’d still be looking at rucks in the draft, even if we get Preuss. (Edit: forgot about Bradtke on the rookie list, so maybe that’s enough project rucks on the list.)

I can’t see how or why we would take a poor deal, on the assumption that he has a preference to go but isn’t hell bent on it, which is how it’s being described.

Possibly outcomes, in descending order of likelihood: 1) We get the deal done for fair trade 2) we can’t get the deal done, Hogan plays for us next year and we all have another crack at the end of next season 3) we can’t get the deal done, Hogan plays for us next year and walks at the end of the year I honestly can’t see 3) happening. He’s had multiple opportunities to shaft the club in his time here and he never has. I believe the club will get the job done, but I equally believe Hogan won’t screw us over if we negotiate in good faith. Going to the draft is not a threat we should concern ourselves with, and hopefully that’s a message Jesse’s manager gives to Freo.

Depth smepth. The only player we lose that has any bearing on anything is Hogan, and I’m very optimistic we’ll come out in front on that one. Our 2019 list will look better than our 2018 list.

Surely most supporters don't give a rat's arse what the players are paid. I honestly do not know why anyone gets hung up on that. It's almost like people are more interested in the accounting than they are the footy. Get the player. Let the bean counters worry about how to line the dollars up.

Nah. We have to start giving young players some benefit of the doubt. My starting position is always that players want to stay until proven otherwise, because most players do. He’s a good kid, with a competitive heart and smart head. He will want to make his own history, despite his family being Collingwood royalty.

This reads exactly how I think I should feel - disappointed but circumspect. Jesse has been our symbol of hope and has blossomed in to a fantastic player. For some reason though I’m just feeling excited by the opportunity. As @ProDeeand others have said, there’s an opportunity for us to use this to actually improve the list further. It also feels like a weight off - the constant speculation over his future has been pretty wearing. I hope flog supporters don’t boo or abuse him when he lines up for Freo for the first time. He stuck fat through those tough times despite his incredibly tough personal circumstances, and goes when it hurts us far less. For those who like to wail about loyalty, he’s shown it in spades. He goes now because the club has changed its message from “we can’t live without you” to “you can explore opportunities”. He has waited until the expectations of saving the day have been lifted. He’s still a favourite in my eyes.

If he leaves this year it will be with be by mutual agreement. It’s possible for players to exit the club, or stay, without them “doing a Scully” or “doing a Jones”. If a deal is struck that suits both parties, you could argue he’s demonstrated loyalty by facilitating the trade.

They always pronounced Illja Grgic “Griggitch” but Brent “Gergitch” - I could never work out if they were actually meant to be pronounced differently or if dumb commentators were dumb.

The old “our team sucks so let’s fix it by filling up our list with every other club’s rejects” strategy. I’ve seen a few clubs attempt this (Pagan era Carlton, Voss era Brisbane, Neeld era Melbourne) and I’ve never seen any result other than complete disaster. Garlett’s more likely to go to a club that can afford a punt I reckon. I think it’s more likely that his career is over.

I think the sticking point would be the three years. If I’m Josh Mahoney and I’ve got Dean Kent in the room saying he’s got St Kilda offering three, I’m saying “no worries, thanks for everything, we’ll get the trade done for you”.

Yep. In addition, with the prospect of being involved in complex trades such as a Hogan one, Mahoney and Viney will want to spend precisely zero minutes on guff trades. They’ll turn up to the trade table with St Kilda with a pen ready to sign whatever is put in front of them, say “hey look everyone, we look after our players, even when they’re fringe players wanting to leave”, and get on with actual business.

You’re kidding. I’d take any reasonable offer. He’s not quite at “free to good home” level but not far off it for mine. A third rounder is probably around the mark. Given we’re moving on quite a few this year, I’d also consider any moderate risk mids they had on their list (ie classy but injured, or hasn’t quite come on), and whatever exchange of later picks; I don’t know what they have in stock though. I like him when he’s going: he’s tough and quick, but he’s so unreliable. He’s in the infirmary as often as he’s out of it and he is capable of being a total passenger when in the side. If the shoe was on the other foot, would you want to give away a second rounder?

I find myself far more ambivalent about this than I would have been three years ago. That said, we don’t need to delude ourselves in to thinking we don’t need him or he won’t be a loss; he will most definitely be a loss. But if it has to be, it has to be. Early in the rebuild, this would have been an enormous setback. Right now, we’ve got two other lesser but competent key forwards in TMac and Weid to mean we can still kick goals without him. We’ve got shrewd list managers who know how to get the job done in the trading department. There is an opportunity to use this situation to fast track development in other areas of the ground we are lacking, such as Tyson and Jones playing wing or going in to the VFL grand final without a ruckman. I still hope he doesn’t go, but if he must, we’re in as good a position to deal with it, and possibly even use it to our advantage, than we ever have been.

He’s been a good servant of the club over the years, and developed himself in to a handy player after an ordinary start under Neeld. He’s probably the type of player that perpetually needed a fire under him to keep him performing, but that’s okay, we’re all different. He was the ultimate spare parts player and would jokingly make reference to it whenever interviewed. His best effort was no doubt in 2017 when he single-handly had to carry us in the ruck when Max was injured through the middle of the season. This was a Herculean effort that shouldn’t be understated. He comes across as a team man - always seemed happy to share in others achievements that didn’t involve him, like grinning from ear to ear in the rooms after a win he didn’t play in, or his embrace of Harrison Petty in the video the club put after the Petty was told of his debut. In the latter case, Petty’s selection was ahead of Pedersen himself. Thanks for your services Cam and all the best.

Brayshaw spent a lot of time on the pine in the first half. Only had 71% TOG for the game; only Tyson and Viney had less.

He's had the season from hell with his injuries and form, but I hope he backs himself in to stay and work his way back in to the side. He's got the attribute set to get back there. As Frost and Weideman have both alluded to in recent interviews, sometimes you just have to put head down, bum up, work hard in the VFL and wait for your time to come. As we've seen, injuries and stuff to senior players happen - if Hunt does that, he'll make it back. I'd be disappointed if he cracked the sads and asked for a trade, but I don't think he will.

Looks like Viney was the one who actually kicked it in the Ablett one. I’d say it should have been a free kick for HTB but I accept that it would have been impossible to tell whose foot the ball hit in real time.

@david_neitz_is_my_dad

Vanders played like that all night. Just an absolute bulldozer that plays a game style perfect for his build. So happy that he’s back playing and looking better than ever.

Yes, because each one was super critical. 5 contested, of which I can recall 3 were on Danger when forward: the one handed mark that would have been a free, and the two actual frees that came about from being in the prime position.

I thought the censor would pick it up to be honest, didn’t realise I was immune. Oh well!

24 disposals, 7 marks, 3 goals and 1 best on ground. Take an effing bow, Sam. You were super.

Meh, forget about them and turn your focus to the red and blue mate.

Fuck yes. How good is football?