Winter Dan

That's a relief!

He's got tricks and footy nous.

Had a feeling this was a possibility when the Frost issue arose. As stated, Pies have a lot of stars and depth to cover in their salary cap. They barely signed on Langdon (a really good Backman) last year which showed the cap strain they are under. Be good if there was some incentive based payments to hedge against injury. Think he is a top class player with footy nous.

Well it's not like the FD forgot that he was out of contract. If it's true they low balled an offer, than its a calculated move. Every player is an opportunity and an opportunity cost. Could be we think the compansation/salary cap affords us something else we have in mind - another player (there is a few possibly available ) while Joel Smith Hore or Petty step into the back 6/7. How about we trade for hawks/nth first pick in exchange for frost and one of the split picks?

I think our 2nd round pick is fair, but if Freo are difficult (which wouldn't suprise me), is the PSD a practical option? Scenario: Ed asks for a one year deal worth 2 years of $, which is then renegotiated but wards off GCS? Ifs this is realistic, then its also excellent leverage over Freo. I still have hopes for KK on the other wing.

I think we strategically leaked interest in Hill to have all parties think about Melb as an option, without us putting fwd a hard commitment, b/c we're only interested if it's the right price all round, including Hill wanting to come, salary and trade price.

Umpiring - I note there is a general email address on the AFL's website. Perhaps we should all express our objections through that channel? I'm serious. Game v Hawks was awfully one sided too. Game plan - I'm liking it! Defence first, open forward line when we can use the corridor. Forward line - players still mostly out of form bar Hunt, but improving.

So over Oscar. Please put him to pasture.

Don't mind the options of: - Frost on Rohan, or - May playing sweeper in def.

First time l've genuinely felt sympathy for an opposition player. He's more Melbourne than Collingwood to me.

Think Trumps been doing Freo's negotiating.

Same, same. Now I'm just anxious for trade period to end, so the door is well and truely shut. Don't want the industry convincing them rightfully so, that they just fleeced themselves, and then offering pick 5 on Wed afternoon when they finally realise Neale can't be convinced to stay of his own free will. 5/6 & 11 would have been my minimum - Hogan's a gun. Think the current outcome is great - Hogan had an itch, we behaved generously, now that option has gone - time to refocus at the Dee's and continue enjoying being at Melb and riding the wave towards success - great club, great team mates, great coach and great success. Managing the Tmac/Weid/Hogan dilemma was my only concern, with the prospect of loosing Weid for opportunity and then Hogan to WA, but I'm starting to warm to the Hogan CHB idea, where potentially they all fit nicely. Makes me think of Neitz back there.

Maybe so. Particularlly as it will influence the Weid situation.

I'd imaging Hogan wouldn't want to come out and say - "I want to go to Fremantle", only for the Dees to knock back the dockers final offer of pick 4/5 and change (which they should). Would it be wise for the Dees to let Hogan's manager understand the situation and effectively act as an intermedary to ensure the right trade deal is on the table?

A top 5 pick I'd give a 1 in 4 chance of being a star, 4 in 5 chance of being a quality player. There are a hell of a lot of top 10 picks who are just good players, nothing too special. Hogan is a star - for a 23 year old. Will be unstoppable when he's 25-28. Unstoppable! Hogan in 3 years time... stop and consider this for a moment. He is a generational player, a young guy who's had a heap of off field stuff to deal with - and yet - what a contribution. Think I would prefer to keep him. Feel pretty confident the FD know his value.

Thats what I think as well. I think its been confused with salary cap - I dont think he articulated it clearly.

I regard the KK recruitment as a wingman for the MFC, with HBF a secondary position and option into the future.

Think we are going to try and turn next years 1st round pick into a handful of later picks this draft. Bit hard to explain how we will fill all the vacancies otherwise.

Love it, love it. Bit of money ball about it and once again a strategic/targeted list maneuvour . Ive been thinking that the likes of Shiel and Kelly are just too costly, in trade and it $. Pay too much for one player and it gets the rest of the players asking for more too. Haven't seen too much of Kade - but he's got toe. His brother Jake is a very good player.

I wonder if the pies have some salary cap pressure and restricts what they can offer May. Read that Langdon's contract neg had stalled due to $. I mean they have been paying overs for the recruits they've brought in from other clubs and their depth would come at a cost - Varcoe, Wells, Elliot etc. Hawks already have keys backs, but they're also a seriously ageing list, the cliff is approaching, I'd stay away if choosing a destination.

Melbourne supporters were all over it at the ground - made me proud!

Weid looks like he's taller than his listed 195cm - wonder if he's grown a bit?

Applause to the coaches. Goody said in the presser, they just thought it was best for Brayshaw to go back into the middle and play his natural game, its where he was drafted - an inside mid. ... Hopefully that also frees up Salem to play outside.

As I remember it took Hawkins many years to become an effective player for Geelong. They were very patient. As Weid is pretty average for agility, the power fwd role is the best long term position for him.