DeeSpencer

So far 3 in, 5 out. We're sitting at -2. Lamumba and Frost to fill those spots. The 3 more out for picks 2, 3, 23. Unless we can shift or retire another player or we have someone uncontracted then you are right we won't do a deal that's 1 thing out for 2 things in. But remember the Tyson deal was 2 and 20 for 9 and Tyson. So we could easily do 2 and 23 for a player and a pick. The minimum rookie list spots are 4. The maximum is 6. So we do have flexibility to trade make other various changes, use a minimum of national draft picks and instead pick up more players in the rookie draft (I gather at this stage we will have only 1 rookie pick). For instance we could trade our high picks for a player, then trade out a player for only a pick upgrade, then replace that player with a mature age rookie who can provide us with some depth. A heap of permutations but 2 days left to see what comes of it. 8 main list changes seems reasonable. With a split of 4 or so mature players of different ages and up 3 or 4 draft picks. Something for the future, something for now.

Nasher? WJ? This is a trade all will agree on, make it happen

New DL rule? Start or substantiate a (high value) trade rumour and if it's: Right - Get on the DL banner Wrong - Get banned and force to donate to DL to rejoin

Pete Ryan does most of our reporting for AFL.com.au. He's our go to man whenever we've got a story we want out presented in a fair way. He'd probably be the guy who gets the scoop on Kennedy if it did happen. So I'd suggest if their was truth in it we might lie or avoid the question but not categorically deny it.

I for one think we will be significantly less crap if we do add one of the top 5 or 10 midfielders in the game. The shuffling effect of what happens to Jones without a tag and then Bernie Vince can play wing or half back as he should would be a major benefit for the team. But I'll do my best to stay negative. No expectations, no disappointments.

A deal for Kennedy or just 'a deal'?

He's worth pick 23 sure. Probably more. I'd give up a top 15 pick for him up to about pick 10. But he doesn't really contribute to evening the deal by adding him and pick 23 to 2 and 3. Now if we were giving up 2 and 3 for Kennedy then sure throw in Mitchell and 23 as well. But that's even less likely than getting Kennedy. The swans give up 1 of their best ball winners. It's unlikely but stranger things have happened. The swans give up another, can't see that.

Pick 3 is much more of a known quantity than Frost. Ok not exactly the player but the value of the pick has it's quality itself. Frost could be delisted in a couple of years. Plus we could get him in the PSD for free. At the same time I don't think there's anyway this deal gets done. Sydney are in a premiership window now with Tippett, Franklin, McVeigh, Richards, Grundy, Goodes, Pyke. They have a top 3 midfielder coming in. They have the number 1 rated player in the pool for next year in their academy and another top 20 father son. They are the last club in the league who would want high picks even if the deal is too good to refuse. If this was getting done it would need Kennedy working the media like the Beams and Ryder camps did to even stand a chance.

And 2 years older. 3 and 23 plus is enough. 3 and 12 might have been fairer but if 3 and 23 plus a later pick maybe in a 3 way deal for a fringe player doesn't get it done it isn't worth doing. Giving up 2 and 3 just isn't worth it.

Too old, too expensive. We still have to get draft picks in and develop them otherwise we won't have depth. So far we've only got Stretch. Whatever we do with picks 2, 3 or 23 I think we need at least a pick in the top 30 and another one in the top 50 (either for Frost or for another kid if we take Frost in the PSD) to try and find some more young players as well. It's just impossible to give up assets to sign big name players each year and significantly improve.

I don't think we can delist him if he's contracted and has an injury, that whilst unlikely in your opinion, is still potentially fixable. He'd have to retire if he felt that was his best option and from his post it sounds like he's keen to give it another go. I believe with big John Meesen we dropped him back to the rookie list under a similar scenario but it's mainly frowned upon. I wonder if we'd consider paying his contract and trading him with pick 90 to another club who can use the spot on the list for him and have him completely for free. Just to give him a fresh mental start and some new medical/rehab advice. Of course any team that took him would be taking a gamble using a list spot for nothing but they do that with late pick all the time. Bad luck happens. But the current team looking after Trengove can't seem to fix him or pick up on problems quick enough. Time for Europe or USA and a new approach.

What's this stuff about fitness tests? Richmond put him through a medical, I doubt at all it was a fitness test like lining him up to play next week. Sounds like he was sore from running at Melbourne doing his normal program, not from anything Richmond did. Melbourne, hopefully in conjunction with the surgeon, thought it was just pain from being out of action for 6 months. Richmond had to be sure and therefore got another CT scan which showed the problem. It's the benefits of being very critical and having a good look at something from a new perspective. Pretty much like if you were buying a car and you heard a strange sound which the owner said he had checked with his mechanic. You are potentially going to check that car out at your own reliable mechanic. I'm worried that as soon as their was any soreness we weren't right on to it for more tests and to see the surgeon. But then again if we followed all the advice and it got sore it was probably already re-injured. Time to send Jack oversees for a change of surgeons and change of approach I'd say. Maybe even farm his rehab out to another set of individuals.

1. His foot hurt, but we thought that was normal after not running??? 2. Do we need new doctors, physios, a new foot surgeon or just some better luck for once?

oh [censored]..

FUR AND FEATHERS by A.B. "Banjo" Patersonhttp://www.middlemiss.org/lit/authors/patersonab/animalsnoahforgot/furfeathers.html

I'd be the most loyal bloke ever to Melbourne if they signed me, because I'd know I wouldn't get a game at any other club! It's nice that Watts is loyal but I think we've been just as loyal back to him. He had everything a player could've wanted this year and didn't provide any return.

3rd time you've said it. Got a name? Boak - no. Wingard - never wanted to leave SA. Wines - we wish. Hartlett - unlikely. Gray - we can dream. ?Trengove (PA) - would slot in well at CHB but he was a key signing to start their revival. Ebert? - SA boy. I find it hard to see the a top 4 team or the verge of success actively shopping a player and why would those players leave.

Oh yeah no interest in Denver smashing the Jets, it was Seattle (who are also like the Hawks in more ways than one) who I wanted to see because whilst I'm sick of them as well I thought Dallas might serve up a big game against them. And they did. Anyway Washington Arizona hasn't been too bad but its felt inevitable for a while. Cousins throws too many picks. Bears win, offense found some rhythm and defense despite missing out 4 best LB's and holding the falcons offense so that makes me happy. And I got a point. GB and San Diego both made it hard work but the point is scored!

I answered SS's question which was how on earth do we turn just picks 3 and 23 in to TWO A grade players without touching pick 2. The deals that up the pick are only part to get to the end game. And the only way to do it would be to secure one A grader with pick 3 then continually upgrade pick 23 using a series of valuable commodities to get to another top 5 or top 10 pick that can secure the second A grader. Trading high first round pick players who have underachieved has been part of Sydney's trade workings for a long time - Pat Vespremi, Lewis Johnstone, Jed Lamb etc. As I said in my original post I don't see it happening. I think more likely to get 2 A graders (which I still feel is incredibly unlikely) we trade 2, 3 and even 23 and we then figure out a way maybe using a player like Trengove in all of those swaps to get back to a first round pick.

Pick 3 for an A grader Pick 23 and Trengove for 12 Pick 12 and Watts for 7 (which by now is at the dogs and they are keen for a ready to go player to make sure they don't drop off with Cooney and Griffen) Pick 7 and Toumpas for 3 (which is maybe at the Crows who don't need a key forward and instead want the 2 for 1 to get a midfielder and key defender). I do really find that all very unlikely. Not to mention it's a 4 for 1 deal. Where we'd need to use late draft picks to fill the list. If you're talking A graders better than Nathan Jones you are talking A grade picks, which means putting 2 and 3 in to deal with the possibly of getting other first rounders back along the way

Who picks the 7mate games. NE at Buffalo, good call, should be somewhat close if Buffalo can bring their defense and all that was wrong with the Pats offense isn't fixed in a week, plus it's a divisional contest. But Washington at Arizona is the worst of the 3 games I think. Chicago at Atlanta would be interesting to see who keeps their season alive and Dallas v Seattle is clearly the pick of the 3 later games.

If he continues his current form I hope he wins MVP. We've seen what Peyton does. Russ Wilson is having a solid year and plays well in big moments but he hasn't been exceptional. Rivers has but he's a gifted experienced pocket passer doing his thing. It's nothing knew. And of course we've seen players like Watt before but it's time for him to win the MVP, especially considering how bad Houston are when he's not involved.

Had already thought about Jack Steven. Wow that would be a gutsy trade from the Saints. But black and white but not a little bird - Swans or Cats! Could the cats pull the trigger on Steven Johnson? Would we give up a 2nd round pick for him at 31? Then the swans have a veritable hit list of players who would be the best on our list. I wouldn't be fussy!

If Dangerfield wants to leave what exactly is it we are offering him that isn't worth him sticking out for the Crows for the year before getting to Geelong who now have so much salary cap room to offer him with Christensen leaving and Frawley not going there. Doubt Tex would ever leave. Bernie will be back in Adelaide in 3 years time anyway. GWS sounds more reasonable but Jaksch and JOR No one wants to lose Trengove for just a draft upgrade. But at the same time I'm keen to give Jason Taylor and Roos' development a test. Drafting and developing is still our best shot at getting one of those magically draft periods that sets you up with 3 superstars and in 3 years time makes up a top 8 team without trying. I'm hardly convinced 2, 3 and 12 gets us Franklin, Roughead and Lewis but now the draft is (somewhat) unhampered it might be our best shot.

Yep. And this is all hypothetical and not referring to any alleged incidents, but I'd rather a guy who goes out on his birthday on a Saturday night after having a really rough year and gets in to trouble with other drunken yobbos at 5am than a guy who goes out when drinking and injured on a Monday night, hobbles round on a crutch and ends up in fisty cuffs with a bouncer.