FarNorthernD

I know little about Bugg and Buntine. On pure stats alone they played only 17 games between them this year and were low possession winners. They may have had injury concerns for all I know but the deal for pick 2, even with a pick 9 kick back, is like us palming off Tapscott and Strauss. There are many better judges on this board than me but this deal, as reported, sounds ridiculous

I agree with the clear out of players should help build the culture of the club. No matter what some here think of them as players but Grimes, Trengove and Garland as well as Dawes and Clark all are culture building, team first players. My only concern is that I thought there would also be a culture change after the Yze, White, Robbo, Bruce era. However I'm starting to believe that the place is permanently infected by the ghost of culture crap

Those 8 out, Hogan in. I'd say we are up already

I tend to agree with thisBlease may have some trade value but Tapscott probably none. Better off seeing what they can achieve under the new Roos regime rather than putting them out for scavengers on hard rubbish night Edit Blease not auto correct Blasé

Honestly I'm stunned that any club would contemplate taking over Mark's two year contract. The game has passed him by. He is too short at 198cm and can't jump. He has never offered much around the ground aside from one match against Carlton where he kicked 5 (and I think that was around the time they were not trying as hard as they could have). He is still a reasonable tap ruck but not part of our future He will be 32 by the end of 2015 and won't get any quicker over the journey. I, like many here, had him playing third fiddle/ruck mentor to Gawn and Spencer next year. If Roos can get someone/anyone to take on Jamar's contract then he is the messiah. Perhaps he can package him with Pederson too.

Thanks Ignition Being valued by Freo after all his injury concerns is high recommendation. Hopefully Viv may feel in need of a change of scenery and the draw probable spot in an AFL team

I totally agree. If he can do that for Ted Richards and make LRT look more than competent then Jack Fitzpatrick is a near certainty for all Australian selection

Don't forget that 2003 draft was the antithesis to the 2001 Superdraft. It was typical of Melbourne's luck that we had two picks inside the top 5. A year later the same 2 picks would have netted R Griffen and L Franklin although we probably would have stuffed that up 2003 Draft from pick 3 onwards was Sylvia Ray McLean Bradley Tenace Raf Clark Trotter R Dunn Waters Ryan Murphy Stanton Fergus Watts etc There was some cream later on but the high picks were very average. Arguably our picks were as good as could have been

This makes no sense to me. Carlton also have a strong midfield and he won't be much better off than at Hawks, particularly as they have just picked up Daisy If Shane was a KPP then the Blues would be a good destination for him. It is also difficult to see them taking the next step to GF participation He could end up at a middle of the road club getting limited game time.

I had never heard of Viv until the start of this thread but now badly want him to come to the club for mainly completely irrational reasons Sylvia has gone to Freo and i desperately want Michie to be better midfielder than him Like the romance of a kid cruelled by injury, only playing one senior game in 3 years, returning home and bursting onto the scene and ripping it up for his new club from day one Love the name. Viv Michie. Calypso Cricketer meets Pooh Bear, but most of all I want him to come because He wants to come to us. One of my favourite players already

Yep and after 2 preseasons development with us he would weigh 77kgs and run Brock McLean fast

If that is Fitz over say Sandilands then it is a definite hands in the back. Going to be at least two movements as well. If however that is Gawn with his face in the turf (and it is difficult to tell from that angle) then I just don't know if it is a free, a mark or play on?

Thankyou for that explanation, I think I finally have my head around it. The FA reward system will encourage clubs that lose a player not to select another FA in return. I assume Hawthorn won't be getting a FA on their lists this trading period Or if you are Freo getting Sylvia make sure none of your other players want out or then you will both pay for Sylvia and lose a player.

True we have already effectively got pick 1 and he has had a year of AFL training and will get a full pre-season unlike his contemporaries. I wonder what his rising star odds are? GWS have pick 2 and we have 3.

The posts above provide a good summary of Jake Pro's - Best tap ruckman at the club - Loves the physical stuff, aggressive and shows some mongrel. Not slow for a 203cm - Shown definite improvement and at 24 entering good ruckman years - His average of 10 disposals (2 kicks, 8 handball) from 8 games this year compares favourably to Jamars 8 touches a game Con's - Doesn't do enough around the ground - There is a reason why he handballs 80% of the time - Marking needs to improve I can understand the argument to test the trade market with Jake but I think he can only get better and, perhaps, in a couple of years time form a fairly fearsome combination with Gawn

What a brilliant debut season. 22 matches averaging almost 20 disposals a game (19.3). Matt's best games were also against the best sides; Freo at Freo, Geelong at Geelong and Vs Carlton at the beginning of the year when they were good (27 disps, 4 marks, 4 tackles and a goal) Fourth in the Bluey behind Nathan Jones, Garland and fellow debutant Terlich. Matt, like many first year players faded slightly towards the end of the year but was still consistent. Beginning next season at 26 years of age and with a second AFL per-season under his belt the 188cm midfielder should be playing the best footy of his life I would argue that last years pick 52 will be just as important to us next year as what Sylvia would have been if he had stayed. And I was a Colin fan.

Good hypothetical and would do the stats between the 3 of them if had more time. I like Sloane but would give up pick 2 for the others as well..

Perfect summary. There are so many things to dislike about the Neeld era but the 2012 draft period is not one of them

Telstra and mobile. Is very slow. I blamed the kids for downloading something big. They denied it, I didn't believe them. Should I apologise?

If she has had experience at 'not-for-profits' she should fit right in at Melbourne

I don't think anyone would argue that Frawley is not critical to the success of the club over the next few years. After years of being under continued in the back line, imagine how good he will be if a little we can provide some pressure up field and the ball isn't gifted to opposition forwards lace out, on a silver platter with cream. You also have to feel for him when he was asked to rate just how poor this year was compared to other recent poor years, "Overall, Frawley thought 2013 was equally as poor as 2011-12, although fewer wins came this year".

Every wavering Melbourne supporter should be made to watch that video. Love it, Chris speaks honestly and without sugar coating the problems but with considerable confidence in the future. Not everything about the Neeld era was a complete disaster.

Now there is on less serious suitor for Taylor Adams. Dusty staying with the Tiges may prove beneficial for us

A very good summary At this stage he is also not a particularly good tap ruckman. Spencer has it over him in this regard. And for a bloke who is 107kg he needs to be able to stand his ground better. But he is an exciting prospect who could become quite a force. He is also a character something in short supply in AFL ranks these days. Crackers Keenan anyone?

I do like Jack as a player and he is probably the best leader of men at the club My anxiety levels do elevate however whenever he is kicking within 20 metres of the boundary