P-man

Getting a bit sidetracked here. No-one is arguing that clubs weren't silly to overlook Darling for the reasons they did.

With him filling his shorts on grand final day? That's not true, either. Darling has always had an excellent tank for a start. He also broke a data points record in the u16s with an all round performance. What scared the clubs away was his off field issues. That Weideman write up is an eyebrow raiser. But the FD will make the right call.

Might be one person's opinion on Weideman but I can't recall a less inspiring write up for a potential top 10er - http://www.boundforglorynews.com.au/2015-draft-profile-sam-weideman/ Can mark but......can't kick, can't run, no endurance, horrible set shot, lacks consistency, fades out of games, injury history and very high risk all round. But he can mark. With a TAC Cup average of 1.3 contested per game... I know these guys are long term prospects but wowee. I'd say Parish is almost a certainty at 3 given the Bombers interest in him.

Would be nice to see some extended highlights of Curnow but geeze he looks a good size. Could either buddy up with Hoges or given bursts through the middle. Lovely kicking action to boot.

Clearly the FD has its eye on a player in particular and are taking no chances so have snared Pick 3. Who that player will be remains to be seen. 3-8 is pretty gloomy. Our first rounder next year should be 5-9, so for argument's sake let's say pick 7. Trading 6&7 for 3&10 isn't bad. Downgrading 29 in a shallow draft also isn't much of a sacrifice to make. It's a bold move and I like it.

I get it's a joke. It's just tiresome having to constantly see those who aren't 100% supportive of everything the club does get labelled as hysterical teeth gnashers who aren't thinking rationally. Club decisions can be scrutinised. It's why we have this place I would've thought. Apologies if my response was over the top.

Don't joke about it. That was being seriously suggested on here this time last year. I think those posters have since been convinced that he might make it.

Yes, because anyone who show any hesitation or displeasure over any decision the cluib makes is an emotional wreck. This sort of crap is beneath you, Red.

How do you know we weren't interested in those players? Alot of assumptions in that post my friend. Personally I'd be glad if we weren't itnerested in Suckling. Can easily see him turning to water in a developing side.

Looks pleased as punch in his Collingwood interviews and press conference. Meh, good riddance. What is it about departing players that they feel the need to give subtle parting shots, like emphasising they are moving to a club that "demands high standards", as though they are moving from a club that doesn't. So classless. As a side note, they get daily trade wraps on Collingwoodtv. That'd be nice.

I'm ready to ride the Melky Way in 2016 #ridethemelkyway

He is capable of doing it. I have no qualms in moving him on though. He wanted to leave for starters, but more than that, he's a selfish player. A selfish player who doesn't want to be here we are clearly better off without. But he does have talent that we didn't see the best of under Roos.

Shipping out a Pick 4 after three injury interrupted seasons in exchange for pick 50 has the potential to be an outrageously poor decision. It's a massive gamble to be showing him the door this quickly for peanuts. In fact if there was any way to make the Toumpas over Wines decision worse, it is giving Toumpas the flick only to then watch him blossom at another club. Port fans can not believe their luck at the moment. Pick 50 for a half unwrapped top 10 talent. We'll wait and see how that one pans out, though the thought of Wines and Toumpas running around together for another side in September is almost too funny to actually be disturbing. The whole Toumpas fiasco has been so ridiculous and yet so, so Melbourne. If we look back in a couple of years on this period as coming out winners then I'll tip my hat to Mahoney cause he should rightly be lauded a master. At the moment, it takes some ingenuity to be looking at this as all sunshine and lollipops. Fortunately we didn't recruit Bastinac otherwise I may have had to switch off entirely and just follow the rugby. That said, as much as we may have been bent over the trade table, the squad can certainly withstand the losses of Howe and Toumpas whilst continuing to move forward at an accelerated rate. The Howe move especially had to get done for all parties. The gains of Melksham, Kennedy and Bugg all have the potential to become mainstays. Melksham and Kennedy nominated the MFC as their destination. If they are buying in to what the club is trying to do and where it wants to get to, they get my unqualified support.

Genuinely can't wait for this trade period to be over.

Again, I would question how much people have actually SEEN of Bugg to be so dismissive of him or his ability. Watching the one fixture a year against Melbourne isn't much of a qualification when discussing a player's merits.

"The wolves are at ol' Josh's door..."

Keep those updates coming fog. Cheers.

There is nothing groundbreaking about concluding that Melbourne need more line breakers and outside class, as well as one or two more quality key position players. Therefore the individual player assessments hold more interest. Some of them are pretty dubious. It's great that he's positive about the future though.

Bumping this post because it wasn't just the usual "I'll back in the FD's decision" type of platitudes. It makes a reasonable case.

Most Bummers fans would've been just as happy if he was delisted. We part with Pick 25. Oh well, deal is done and we welcome aboard the Milkshake. Prove em all wrong, Jake.

Some of that critique is valid, but 2016 isn't a make or break season for him, mainly because you get impression he is rated very highly internally. Roos often referred to him as a noteable absence this season, moreso than other players on the injury list.

Places Kent in the same basket as Jones, Terlich and Spencer, labels Toumpas a good runner, and Stretch a poor user of the footy. Thanks Gary. Fabulous insight.

Very true. When you've been down for close to a decade, there becomes a perception of what is the natural order, i.e. Melbourne are a bottom club and that's just the way it is. It is generated by fans and filters throughout members of the media, most of whom have a vested interest in a club or clubs. While Melbourne is down the bottom, their club is one spot higher on the ladder. From there it has the potential to reach players, sponsors etc. Kernahan copped a lot of flack for his proclamation of "We are Carlton, f*** the rest", but there was a lot of merit in the guts of what he was saying. Be calculated in your decisions and treat other clubs for what they are: the enemy. I'm not worried about competing with the "top" clubs for A grade talent at this stage. If we are in this same position in another couple of years, perhaps. I will certainly remember those who chose to come to the club before success was on the immediate horizon. Bernie Vince, I'm looking in your direction.

Cam Pedersen is the most arrogant person at the club? I find that very hard to believe.

You're right. Not a ringing endorsement considering how utterly hapless they were on the field this year so really not noteworthy. He was bloody awful in every Essendon game I watched. Turned it over habitually and looked a lost cause. Those who watched more of him than I did have said that was a common theme throughout. By all means we can defend this trade based on past output, although that in itself is hardly awe inspiring, but surely not on recent output. He's a punt. The punt being that hopefully his poor form is temporary.