Thehardtackler

Have a read of Melksham's profile and stats on the Essendon website in the player profiles. You will find that he is a pretty solid performer. Go back and watch him play in matches like Essendon's victory over Hawthorn a year or two back and you will find that the kid can play!

I look forward to Melksham make a few people on here eat humble pie. I am sure that Goodwin can spot talent better than any of us Demonlanders!

He is a PEGS boy, who was coached by Ken Fletcher. From what I saw in his first few years, he is a very talented player. Put players like Brayshaw, Petracca and Viney around him and I Am sure that he can perform. People under rate how much the recent culture at the Bombers has set guys like Melksham back.

We should keep Toumpas. He may well turn into a really good player. He has the right attitude and that may well transform him into a top player in time.

What about Brandon Jack at the Swans. He might be a Roosy favourite!

See, I told you we were into Prestia. My source is one of my ex-pupils who is a family friend of the Prestia's. His exact words were 'we have put an offer to him and he is considering it'.

Not really! There are plenty of people who know Prestia well because they went to school with him at Assumption or played against him at TAC or AGSV level!

Heard from a friend of the Prestia's today that Melbourne have put an offer in front of Prestia and he is giving it serious consideration.

How do you get a decent player to come to us at the moment. We need to show a bit more on field or we won't get a Prestia, a Coniglio or a Dangerfield. We would be better picking up another Brayshaw out of the draft, that is probably more likely.

Would not be surprised to see us take Clem Smith at 40, his defensive game would appeal to Paul Roos. His weaknesses could be ironed out by McCartney and co.

As a smokey I thought i would suggest Sam Peet from the Northern Knights. He plays at Assumption College, Kilmore and helped them win the AGSV title this year. He has plenty of mongrel and is a tall and solid unit. Essendon and a couple of other VIC clubs have spoken to him. Mick Egan suggests he has the ability to make it at AFL level. He is a ruckman and is very mobile.

I am not too bothered about picking up Caddy and think that taking someone like Oliver Wines with Viney would be a good move. Josh Toy is a guy that I actually taught and I really rate his character and skill. He is quite versatile and can play in the middle as well as down back. He has not gone well at Gold Coast mostly because he is homesick and because he has been dealing with the aftermath of coming to terms with the loss of his father. I think that he is a solid player, with a great 60 metre pinpoint kick who is much tougher than he has so far let on. He is also very mature and would not rock the boat in terms of the club culture.