Dr. Gonzo

IF all this is true it doesn't seem like Melbourne is too worried about keeping him. Where are the comments about Melbourne meeting Hogan/his manager desperately trying to convince him to stay? Haven't seen much of that mentioned.

Lynch was a free agent.

Yes but free agency is different to uncontacted. He can't just walk for a good deal, the other club still has to figure out a suitable trade.

Hogan is NOT a free agent next year. If he leaves next year it will be exactly the same circumstances as this year except he could potentially threaten to walk to the draft.

And Stuart Spencer...

How would Collingwood have the currency to trade in May? They won't have a top 10 pick.

This is a terrible post in my opinion. Lost his dad to cancer last year after a long battle, went on to suffer cancer himself, dealing with all this while away from home and only 23yo - and then came out to play the best footy of his career in the first half of the season before injury halted his year. Some may question his onfield demeanour or workrate but to question his "grit" - geez, I'd love to see how others might handle the situation if they walked a mile in his shoes.

4 & 22

Against Freo in Darwin this year

Another option would be they trade us pick 4 or 5 plus their first pick next year. We could then use that as currency for a player or trade it to another club this year for their first (as a lot of people will be banking on Freo having another high pick next year).

If all they offer us this year is a one first round pick then we hold on to him. They'll offer the same next year and will have a top 5 pick again so we won't be any worse off.

The restriction is only on trading FUTURE first round picks. There's nothing to say you can't yrade your first round pick every year but if you haven't used 2 in a 4 year period you won't be allowed to trade any FUTURE first round picks. Of course this all comes with a massive asterisk that states the AFL will consider this on a case by case basis (or if you ask nicely we'll let you do it anyway).

FFS Hogan is NOT a Free Agent next year, Restricted or otherwise.

Why would he publicly state anything?

How would he leave for pick 18 next year? He's not a FA.

Same as trading a contracted non-FA except he can walk to the draft if no trade gets done and he doesn't want to stay with Melbourne. Risks getting picked up by someone else though. Rarely happens, I think the last was Luke Ball in 2009.

No. He was drafted in 2012 and was with us at Casey in 2013. His first year on the senior list was 2014.

It would be May

Eh whatever. Both Macca's picked in the 50s, so was Hunt. Still plenty of quality for scouts with the right eyes.

Gets caught too often and turns it over regularly. No big loss especially if it gets us a 2nd round draft pick.

Who cares? You don't like someone's posts just block them. I do. Better than having 20 pages of dick measuring.

They have no currency to trade with

Agreed, gold coast did say no to Ablett when he tried to get out a year early.

I doubt they'd get a pick higher than 15, probably more likely in the 20s

People are acting like it's a foregone conclusion we'll nab May once Hogan walks but it seems the general consensus is Collingwood is still in the box seat. Not sure what currency they've got to deal though.