Pates

The fact that neither camp has said anything says it’s at least a serious chance but the wording of him being open to trade indicates it’s not like he’ll be unhappy at Melbourne, more than he’s feeling a pull back home and that if it can be done then the time might be right. FWIW regarding Weid as our back up plan, very dangerous game to play. Don’t get me wrong him having a breakout game vs Geelong was very pleasing and at least showed he has the attributes to make it. But there’s still a lot of development to go in him before he’s a consistent AFL forward. The idea of him being a third folly to TMac and Jesse (yes I think we can work with all three of them in the team) is salivating.

At best I’d say late second round pick but I imagine we’ll do it for a 3rd rounder. I like Kent and will be sad to see him go as I would have him in our best squad but he’s not a critical cog in the line up.

Given his limited abilities he had a good run with us and North. Considering we traded Gysberts for him (long gone now) he was a decent pick up and put in some very valuable and memorable performances. He failed under Neeld’s “moneyball” tactic (most players did), but came good under Roosy and Co. Any word on whether he’s going to stick around at Casey? Anyway, thanks Cam!

The interesting part to all this is the wording of “Open to a trade”, it doesn’t suggest a super strong go home factor but of a if a deal that benefits us can be done he’s happy to go. All year we’ve been hearing that he’s happy here and enjoying his footy with us, I would think him missing out on playing finals this year would make him want to stay even more. But then there could well be a lot more going on that we don’t know.

Much as I’d love the Eagles to join the table I don’t see them being desperate for a key forward. Though they can put a bid in just to force Freos hand! ?

Although most of us agree that we caved to Adelaide we still came to the party with 2 first round picks for Lever when it was a forgone conclusion he was gone. We’ve got this trade period and then if things done work he has another year with us to try for a premiership ?.

Whatever happens we are in the box seat as he’s contracted to us. I personally don’t want him to go, while he frustrates at times he’s got incredible upside and will be a star of the competition. The question of whether we can fit him in the team can be addressed by merely watching the Prelim again, we were murdered in the air (like most areas). IF we are to entertain a trade then Adelaide have set the starting bid, minimum two first round picks plus a sweetener (maybe we send back a 4th rounder or a player). But I want Jesse to stay.

Lewis had a mare today, about as bad a first half as he could’ve played. He wasn’t alone. On the other hand Lewis was HUGE in the West Coast rnd 22 game, and the first and second final. Where does that leave him? I think he gets another year but gets told his place is far from certain, he will have to deserve it like everyone else. Leadership group shouldn’t be a certainty either.

Viney on Ablett?

If we do keep her in it’ll have to be a preggers pic of her! ? As for who makes the banner, good luck Demonland on deciding that!

Haha how far has this thread come from the start of the year me asking why I hadn’t heard much about him over pre-season! He’s definitely not the forgotten man now! What a way to have a break out game and announce yourself!

Looking back one of the things I love the most (apart from simply winning) is the unlike the last time we didn’t take our chances against them the players didn’t drop their heads one bit. They backed themselves, they backed each other, they supported one another, and didn’t give Geelong a chance to breathe. We literally suffocated them and gave them nothing. We should’ve won by more but I couldn’t care less!

Watched it in a pub in London with my brother and a small bunch of other Dees fans. I’m still trying to decide if it was all a dream. I didn’t get many chances to sing the song after before I moved here, and I can’t remember the last win I have witnessed live. But singing the song with a group of Dees faithful, and my brother after winning our first final in 12 years.....it actually felt a little surreal. You can’t wipe the smile off my face!

Sweet vengeance!!!!

He was the first trade for a long time to make an immediate and permanent impact on the team. He came to us as a bit of a party guy, but nuckled down and became a leader. One of my favourites, I’m gutted for him that he’s missed out on playing finals with us. Best of luck Bernie, I hope you know you’ll always have a home at the Dees.

He’s still got a long way to go in his development but he’s playing with great confidence, he’s attacking ball with desperation and that set shot today shows he’s got good kicking in him. I think a lot of it is between the ears with Sam but the last two weeks have been brilliant.

I was the one that started this thread at he beginning of the season so I’m naturally curious about his development. I think we always knew he wasn’t going to be like Hogan making an immediate impact but there have been moments where he shows his potential. I actually didn’t realise he took 4 contested marks on the weekend, that’s a very good returnsnd he could’ve had more (there were a few he got a good piece of and just fumbled at the end). As a high draft pick people are always going to be impatient, but fact of the matter is that we’re in a luxurious position where we can allow him to naturally develop without pressure as opposed to how we’ve treated almost every other high draft pick in the past.

Actually quite entertaining reading some of the comments ?. I tried to find one that I made to see what I said, I’m pretty sure I was underwhelmed and annoyed we gave up a second round pick for him. Pretty good value looking at it now!

I remember we all raised our eyebrows when he was placed in the forward line, I was surprised and honestly didn’t think it was going to be successful. I don’t think it’s possible to be more wrong, he is our most important forward in that he rarely wastes it. I think there was one moment where he could’ve gone for goal himself but was on his wrong foot so he chose to centre it and the eagles rebounded. That was one of he few moments where I said, “c’mon Melks! Be selfish, finish the job yourself!” We’ve done some great trades in recent times, he’s up there with the best.

Not a great finisher.....

He did what was asked of him for the most part, still needs work on settling his nerves in front of goal. But attacked the contest well, clunked a couple and probably should've clunked a couple more. But there were good signs.

If he gets his shot, which I feel like he will, he should be instructed to run all day. He can't just be a roaming stay at home forward, he needs to be mobile and try to run his defender into the ground. Hard work and application has seemed to be his biggest fault in the past, we can't afford laziness at this time.

These last two rounds Hogan has to stand up and be counted, right now he's the epitome of a Melbourne player. A rock star vs lower teams, goes to water against the good teams.

I suspect it was something the airport/airline assisted in setting up. If I’m on that plan the last thing I want is a media scrum at the other end. This way the passengers get out at their destination without that madness.

From an article on the club’s website: “Bugg was sent away from the club for 10 days in the immediate aftermath of the incident with Mills, time he used to contact the young Swan to express his remorse for his actions and to reassess what he wanted to stand for as a footballer. Upon returning, Melbourne's fitness staff put the forward through a punishing regime while he was ineligible to play between rounds 16 to 21. Training would finish and the rest of the players would be laughing and carrying on, relaxing on the sidelines. And there would be Bugg, often the only one out on Gosch's Paddock, as the coaching and equipment staff were packing up, looking down at his watch to make sure he was meeting the times that had been set for him during gut-busting running sessions. To his credit, Bugg didn't complain. He didn't drop his bottom lip, didn't blame anyone else other than himself. Bugg just got on with it and, after playing the final two games of the season back in the VFL once his ban had finished, set himself to have "the best pre-season of his career". The 24-year-old beat out usual time trial king Tom McDonald in the club's 2km time trial post-Christmas, and he was often regarded as a standout – based on his work ethic on the training track – over summer.” http://m.melbournefc.com.au/news/2018-04-05/bugg-resets-to-earn-trust-and-respect