bing181

Perhaps wait for actual trades to go through?

Putting players up for trade isn't all that tough and ruthless if no-one takes them or we have to give them away.

Agreed - though could be a very good get. But he's also rated highly at the Bulldogs, so some work to do. Have read mutterings about salary cap pressure, so perhaps that'll help if the deal is right. If it's possible, this is one that could depend on other trades, especially Stef Martin. If he gets to Footscray, which is what's being discussed, they may have to make some space in their cap. But as always at this time of the year ... who knows what's really going on. Perhaps we'll do next to nothing all trade period and land O'Meara on the last day.

McCartney and Goodwin both coached him at Essendon.

Melbourne coach Paul Roos categorically ruled out the Demons as a candidate for recruiting Bennell. Roos said Bennell did not fit with "where we are at the moment as a club," adding, "we just wouldn't pursue him through list management." http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/tigers-to-weigh-up-harley-bennell-dees-and-roos-wont-20150916-gjocyi.html (excuse if old news, finding it hard to keep track of, there's so much cross/re-posting in the press and social media ...)

And some peak later. Perhaps.

I hope I'm wrong! When you watch those finals matches and look at what the likes of a Dangerfield or Kennedy can do, the chances of us landing ourselves someone like that ... can't see it. On the other hand, 5+ years down the track, Brayshaw, Viney, perhaps Petracca, Salem ... who knows. We have good coaches and a good culture in place with lots of upside - but AAA players in the last slab of their career want what Frawley and Rivers wanted.

We won't be getting any AA midfielders until we're consistently up near the top end of the ladder. Unless we get stupid with $$$, which isn't going to happen. Reality.

Anyone have any news of his contract status?

Not just football players OD.

There is no provision in the rules for that. Guilty = banned. The only question would be how long.

That's what has been reported, but whether that's the case or not, we don't know. And never will. I'd be worried about the WADA situation more than anything else. Not going to end well I suspect, and then what?

You would think so.

Given the way ex-Carlton players are currently performing, perhaps we should forget Bennell and just go for Yarran.

Drums beating fairly loudly on this one. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-trade-period-2015-jake-melksham-to-be-either-at-essendon-or-melbourne-in-2016-20150912-gjl0ka.html

Perhaps. But we could also do a lot worse, and given where we are ...

For someone who finished 18th in the Bluey? Would be a miracle.

Any "established" player there who scored less than 100 and wasn't injured ... shaky ground. No hiding from the coaches/match committee.

Worked out well for Hawthorn and Dayle Garlett. With Bennell, from everything that's been said, including from sympathetic scribes like Emma Quayle, the issues (problems) go a bit deeper than "a few off-field activities". As others have posted, happy to trust the club on this. But once again, for all his football prowess, the Suns have decided they'd be better off without him. That's a big call.

Amazing player. Yet the Suns are moving him on. You'd want to be very sure of what you were doing.

You have to establish the first part of your sentence before you get to the second part. Which you've failed to do.

Well, he had won a couple of premierships with Hawthorn. New challenges, etc. etc., similar to Ablett. (Also, given recent news, getting away from the pressure cooker that is Melbourne for someone with Franklin's profile.)

Wondering how long we can keep this thread going ... till next March?

It's a question for the players, not Roos. As I posted previously here (sigh ...), do you seriously think that players like Hodge, Riewoldt or Selwood need their coach to get them "up" each week?

Agree - but plenty of anaerobic intensity in the Tour de France. Just not continuously. (Also plenty of anaerobic in the flat stages ... watch the last 10 or 20 k of any flat stage, they're on the limit the whole time. Though you also have to take into account wind, and having been over a few of those flat stages, they ain't flat!)