Grandson of a gun

It isn't. Simply a retort to what the previous poster mentioned about Petterd being in the forward line for the next 4 years. Can't see your problem- the rest of the post was about the exciting other prospects. Sauce- Tomato Source.....Visual confirmation of him up there watching them play. Coupled with other bits of info i believe it is pretty likely and anyone who thinks that he isn't getting harrassed by, giving serious consideration too or already has signed with them is kidding themselves. But as the bloke above said, let's not give it any more discussion. hopefully LJ can find a bit of fitness and touch and we see him in the red and blue for the last 4-6 rounds.

Unfortunately i don't believe Petterd will be there next year. He is one GC17 have on the books (or under the table) already. All we'll end up getting is some crap 3rd or 4th round pick which is absurd but to be expected from the AFL. Jurrah, Watts, Bate, Green, Bennell, Jetta, Fitzpatrick, Tapscott plus rotating midfielders through there- that will be the finals force in a few years.

The problem with everyone nowadays is that everyone wants everything to happen right now......... Patience is a lost virtue. Not so long ago everyone was slamming the backline. Now look at it. Then the midfield. Now look at it. Give the forward line time to develop and get fit. Remember too that their long term plan will involve not only Watts, Bate, Wona, Bennell, LJ but blokes like Fitzpatrick, perhaps Tapscott and whoever else they draft this year. (And forget Petterd, he is going to Qld). Have faith in the system and people that have built this team to where it is now that they have the ability and people in place to continue to build it.

If ever there is a perfect example of follow my lead and never stop fighting then it is you Big Jimmy. When a player feels tired he need only think of you to find the drive to keep pushing. You will be responsible for returning this club to a powerhouse and we all know that because of your heart and fighting spirit you will be there to see what you transformed. You are a superstar and a true hero to everyone in red and blue...........

Jamar, Gawn, Fitzpatrick. That is where their focus will be. I guarantee you that the first draft pick will not be traded and therefore Melbourne will be doing very little at the trade table. Remember we are building for serious flag tilts from 2013 onwards- that's when you trade for where you have deficiencies, not while you are building.

If you have a look at the Melbourne team- every player who was named on Melbourne's interchange from is named in Casey's team. Only concern is Watts actually being named on the ground instead of the bench which if it is the same as the AFL, usually means they are guaranteed starters in that team. i hope they don't drop him, they just need to keep persisting week in week out and take the good with the bad.

Fool. Morton ain't going nowhere. He is all class and will be perfect as a running defender / wing in the years to come with silky skills, a good mark and great decision making. Gray is injury prone and exactly what we already have plenty of- medium sized mid/fwd. No doubt he is talented but wait till you see Melbourne's version next year- Luke Tapscott. Boak is a good midfielder but have a look at our list- we don't need him. Bottom line, give up nothing. Petterd is going but that won't matter so much in the long term- we'll probably get a second or thrid round pick as compensation. What's our biggest problem. A lack of big blokes. Use the first two trades on the best available big KPP and add that to Watts, Fitzpatrick, Gawn, Jamar, Martin, frawley, Warnock and others and we will have a complete team.

You cannot be serious in this topic. Giving up what is likely to be our last high first round pick (even taking into account GC17 picks) for hopefully many years is ludicrous. Short of Ablett it will not be traded. Consider this. Recent Herald Sun article indicated GC17 would have 17 first round picks by the start of next year. Melbourne will have: 2009 Scully 1 Trengove 2 Gysberts 11 2008 Watts 1 Blease 17 2007 Morton 4 Grimes 14 2006 Frawley 2005 Jones 12 2004 Bate 13 Dunn 15 2003 Sylvia 3 (Haven’t included McLean obviously) 12 first round picks. Add to that list the likelihood that finishing somewhere around 12-14th will add another pick around about 8-12 in this years draft. That’s 13 first round picks. Wouldn’t be too many other teams with that many....... Then you look at pre-season / rookie and some second rounders that may be ok too... Second Round Picks 2009 Tapscott 18 2008 Strauss 19 2007 Maric 21 2006 Petterd 30 Pre Season / Rookie 2009 Macdonald 1 2008 Jurrah 1 2008 McKenzie 1 2007 Martin 3 2007 Wonaeamirri 19 2003 Davey 3 Melbourne has a fair stockpile of high picks in this list and it doesn’t include blokes like Bennell, Rivers, Warnock, Jetta, Jamar, Garland, Bruce, Green, Mcdonald, Moloney, Miller, Bail. The philosphy for the 2010 draft is simple. Pick the best available big KPP with each of the first two picks. We have a glut of midfielders and medium sized players. Add a couple of stnadout big men and we will be a force.