MadAsHell

Melksham had played 114 games in 6 years at Essendon averaging approx 16.35 disposals in a middling club playing mid/hbf. Sam Mayes has played 101 games in 6 years at Brisbane (95 in 5 before this year) averaging approx 17.45 disposals in a middling to poor club playing hff/hbf. Very few were keen on Melksham when he came to the club. It's about identifying a specific type of player to address specific needs if they have the correct tools and our environment is able to let them get the best out of themselves. Just think he could be an old diamond in the rough.

Wrote this in the 'Who do we realistically target' thread, but thought I'd give him his on thread. With our need for an outside runner with good ball use, how about Sam Mayes from Brisbane? Was mentioned on The Wash Up as being out of favor. Was a highly rated junior (Viney's year), so maybe a change of locations would help plus playing in a better team? Given we don't have much to trade with this year, maybe we could get him for a future 3rd rounder? http://www.lions.com.au/player-profile/sam-mayes Cal Twomeys write up on him in his draft year: http://www.afc.com.au/news/2012-11-20/aflcomaus-phantom-draft

The holy trinity (Oliver, Lever, Cross) Draft, Trade & Free Agency Board.

Giving the title of this thread is who do we REALISTICALLY target. With our need for an outside runner with good ball use, how about Sam Mayes from Brisbane? Was mentioned on The Wash Up as being out of favor. Was a highly rated junior (Viney's year), so maybe a change of locations would help plus playing in a better team? Given we don't have much to trade with this year, maybe we could get him for a future 3rd rounder?

In theory I liks it, but I just don't see why he would want to come to us. I was expecting our target to be someone along the lines of Darcy Cameron, Billy Longer, Zac Smith etc. Someone who would know they're there as the number 2 guy for when Gawn's unavailable. Not someone who wants the number 1 gig now.

I'm going to go with what I expect to be an unpopular call here. I'd entertain him in the case if we are unable to lure any of Gaff, Dahlhaus, Shiel, Wingard, Beams which is looking more likely then unlikely. Get him on a one year deal as a delisted free agent. Get him to trim down similar to what Gawn did last off season (he was looking pretty jacked this year at St Kilda). Lets see if he can become that running outside type that we need. From all reports, he was on Taylor & co's radar 5 years ago when we got Salem. Would be a low risk, high reward signing. Worst case it doesn't work out, we can delist him and try and land Kelly next year! Post draft Freeman:

You know where it's being played?

Like an elephant Saty!

Disapointing los today, but in all honesty, not that surprising given we only had 9 listed Melbourne players available. So here are my observations of said 9 players today. Cameron Pedersen: Started like a house on fire and was the most dangerous player on the ground in the first term. Faded out of the game for the next 2 quarters before getting involved again in the final term. Kicked 3, and was alright without being great. Mitch King: Battled, but that's all I can say. Beaten comprehensively by Messes with little impact. Harrison Petty: Could give an identical summary to the one I gave of him last vftime I saw him. Solid, but not having the impact he did before his AFL debut. Seems down on confidence. Jeff Garlett: Although his stats wouldn't have been high, he couldn't have done much more then he did, given he bagged 4. It's an oppotunist type role, and that's what he did. Pass. Dion Johnstone: Thought he was one of the better Melbourne listed players. Defended well and used it nicely. Something to work with. Tim Smith: Played a great 1st term, but then faded out of the game pretty drastically after that. Big few weeks required from the Bull. Pat McKenna: Arguably his best game for Casey so far, spending a bit more time in the midfield then previously. However still not convinced. Want to see a bit more. Josh Wagner: Very solid game, and was the general off half back. Seems to have established himself as a very good VFL player. Declan Keilty: One of Casey's best today IMO. Marked & defended well and played his tight game with a sense of calmness. Really hope they keep him on the list. On a side note I thought the three best players for Casey today were Jay Lockhart, Corey Wagner & James Munro. Lockhart I believe is a monty to be drafted this year, and hope we use our first pick on him. Further, after speaking with people associated with the club, it appears the AFL are very keen for a Saturday Night Final week 1 of the VFL finals for the broadcaster (Channel 7). Now although we've earnt the right to host Geelong, don't be suprised if there's pressure put on us from both the league & broadcaster to host Geelong in Geelong! You ask me, if Channel 7 want a Saturday Night VFL Game, the lights at Casey are good enough!

No sign of Bugg or JKH. Gulp!

Given this occured before 12pm and the game doesn't start till 2, I remain optimistic that they were just doing a light training run before heading down for the match?.

This makes me nervous, especially with the talk of Carlton & Gold Coast getting priority access to mature age players before the draft. We may not get a shot at either Lockhart or Corey Wagner. I've seen a lot of Lockhart this year, and would be willing to use our 2nd round pick on him. They're worth the price of admission!

Will be heading along today to hopefully see Casey secure top spot. I suspect and hope Josh Wagner is the carry over player. Pedersen & JKH will both play today as they got no footy last week, and Casey could do with Bugg rotating through the midfield. With Petty, Keilty, Hutchins, Johnstone & Mitch White, Casey have plenty of options in defence to cover Wagner. Not as much depth in the midfield. Casey by 10 points.

For KC and some of the others here that recall our 2009 VFL season. http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-08-21/silvagni-calls-it-quits-at-carlton Silvagni showed then that he had the goods to be an AFL player, and he was able to go on to forge a 60 game career. Even back then, Casey showed an ability to blood quality players. Silvagni, Kyle Matthews, Tim Mohr, James Wall, Stockdale. I enjoyed watching Silvagni play for Casey back then and was glad to see him make an AFL career. Wish him all the best for the future.

He's an interesting one McKenna. Want to see him retained for another year to have a proper shot at a pre-season and see what he can do. Having said that, he'll need to show a bit more over the next month, otherwise I doubt he'll be given the opportunity.

IN: Bugg, Hibberd, Melksham OUT: Hunt (potential inj), Pedersen, Spargo

6 disposals for Flip in his last two games....

Good post. Re Pedersen, I see Keilty as our Pedersen replacement who's ready to go/be given his opportunity. Whether the club see him in the same light is another question I guess. Tyson is playing good footy, and I think everyone knows how good he can be. And since he's come back he's been playing mainly on a wing (his own words). Fact is with Viney to come back in, the potential recruitment of Gaff, Harmes playing as our tagger, Oliver, Brayshaw & Jones ahead of him plus the likes of Petracca & Salem being capable of playing more minutes in there, Tyson is far from a lock in our 22. Happy for Tyson to stay, but he's not the guy you pick your 22 around.

After winning their 3 premiership Hawthorn made the following amount of list changes: 2013: 9 2014: 9 2015: 8 Although there's only a minimum of 3 list changes required, the common thing is to make anywhere from half a dozen to 10 to ensure your list is consistently rejuvenated.

Couldbe a number of reasons. Cap space, maximize trade value, good offer. Just have a gut feel he'll be traded. I don't know anything anyone doesn't however.

Following on from my opening post, I believe we'll trade out Tyson & Kent, delist/retire Balic, Vince, Pedersen, King, Filipovic & Bugg. Would allow us to secure Gaff as a FA, a mature ruck backup through trade, a DFA, 4 picks in the draft and one in the rookie draft. Good turn over number.

I hope that Vince & the club consider having him sign on at Casey next year. His presence there would be great for our young guys.

Wouldn't work. Sometimes Easter & Round 1 fall on the same weekend. Nice try though drug cheats...

Agree with this part. Which means you need to look for a state league ruckman or someone who's currently 3rd in line at their club, and coming to Melbourne would essentially be a promotion for them. Someone like Darcy Cameron or Tom Campbell would be ideal IMO.

Agreed. That's why I suspect he'll get a 1 year deal. What we did with Hunt when he missed most of his first 2 years with back issues.