RalphiusMaximus

So the outgoing intern played a joke...

They'd look even more ridiculous than they do already. They've been chasing him since before he played his first AFL game. Every year they start a media blitz trying to convince the world that he's coming home in an attempt to create dissent at Melbourne and shake him loose. If, after all of their efforts they reached a point where he was actually available and then turned around and said they wouldn't pony up for the trade, they would look like an absolute basket case.

So to my mind (assuming this is accurate) we have: 1 - Jesse was asked to make up his mind and did so, deciding he would prefer to play for Melbourne 2 - The clubs were too far apart on the price and the deal was scrapped. 3 - Fremantle pulled out for a reason we do not know. I list these in what I would consider to be order of probability. I look forward to seeing the dissection in the media and any comments from the club for clarification.

But we had such grand plans for those picks!

Two different angles on the same news item.

Lets be clear here. He has exactly the skill-set we need. He's a silky, skillful, pacey outside mid/flanker who could prowl the wing and deliver to our forwards. If we can keep him off the drugs and booze, get him eating properly, training properly, sleeping at night and generally acting like a professional sportsman. No way in hell do we take him.

I do find the media chatter to be interesting. GC will get pick three in compensation for Lynch is apparently fair and what he's worth. Shiel will probably cost the Bombers this year's and next year's first round picks, which they think is a bargain for the Bombers. Melbourne are asking two first round picks for Hogan, we're dreaming, no way he's worth that, dodgy foot, attitude issues etc etc. For the record Hogan is two years younger than Lynch and has him covered in almost every statistic, so if Lynch is worth pick three then we're in no way out of line asking more than that.

Actually, it's a question.

I want to know how far May is off a lifetime ban. He's been rubbed out a few times. Got five weeks not that long ago. Do you give a first round pick for a 28 year old who's one stray elbow away from a lifetime ban?

I have to wonder. How many weeks has May been suspended in his career? I know he's gone a few times. It's been one of the big knocks on him. Anyone know how to find out?

So who do Freo have that we might want? Brayshaw?

So some AFL writer, possibly McClure, said today that he thought pick five from Freo should be enough to get them Hogan. Seriously? Does the Dude even watch the game? We have one of the best young KPFs in the game, he's contracted for next year and he's always said he's happy playing with us. In what world would we accept unders for him?

Could not agree more. We start with asking for two top five picks. He's worth every bit of it and we hold all the cards. MAYBE let them get away with five and nine if they sweeten the deal.

Don't want him. Go for Martin instead.

I'll be sad to see him go. He has pace and a great penetrating kick. Sadly his injury issues aren't going to get any better at the Saints. Still, he's doing the right thing for his family, taking a better pay packet and a longer contract. Good luck to him.

I think this is very simple for us. Hogan is contracted. If Freo want him, they have to pay. He cost us more than a first round pick when we traded for his rights. He's one of the best young KPFs going around. If they want to trade for him, they can give us their first pick and the first round pick they get for Neale. That would be picks four and five to us for Hogan. Maybe an exchange of later picks in their favour, but I don't see the need to be honest. They've been trying to pry him loose from us for years. If they want to do it this year they need to pay.

The one worry I have with Jesse is the feeling that he's going to be the super talented guy who breaks down every year and never lives up to his potential because of the never-ending rehab. I would love to know what our medical staff think about him. It's just possible that two top ten picks could turn into a bargain for him.

He contributed multiple uncontested marks to the Geelong stat sheet.

Home now. Bloody Hell that was awesome. The noise when Jones kicked that goal in the last... Incredible. Loved the Weed's game. Not just that he had 24 disposals and three goals, but he also racked up four tackles. For a young KPF, that's awesome. I've done my share of bagging Lewis during the season, but he was immense tonight. If there's one knock n his game it's that he didn't get a tackle to his name, but he did everything else, including putting himself in Harm's way taking intercept marks. He was everything we needed from a veteran tonight. I don't think I can go through everyone who was amazing tonight, but I've NEVER seen the team attack the ball and their opponents like that before. If they do that a few more times this year we'll have a pretty silver cup. I should also point out that we have 18 players in that side with a 100% winning record in finals. ? I would have Salem in that sentence. He had some shockers. He was the only player out there for us who looked like he was overwhelmed by the occasion.

I have never seen the Dees tackle like that. It was Richmond-like. Absolutely epic effort.

Hogan is playing injured. He needs a week or two off, but we can't afford to drop him this close to finals. I'd say drop him this week since we're no chance of winning but he would probably like to go to Perth.

I'm happy with this call. He has experience with a genuine powerhouse in Collingwood. With luck he'll have a good idea of hw to help Melbourne expand.

His problem isn't lack of opportunity. When he's fit he plays. The problem is that he's constantly injured. That's not going to change with another club and I doubt that other teams are going to want to take the chance given his history. Best he can hope for is Fremantle I would think.

Quick note here on Bert. He felt that he didn't have time to work up a relationship with the existing set of assistant coaches and support staff in the Australian camp, so he's paying the wages of his own team of assistants, analysts and scouts out of his own pocket. I'm really hoping that the support team in the Football Australia had in place are still hanging around and learning from these guys. That experience will be priceless when Arnold takes over after the World Cup. Article.

Seventeen years old and half a head shorter than his Father. Can we expect a late growth spurt from him? Not that he really needs it, but it would be an added bonus if he wound up his Dad's size and build.