pantaloons

I started going to the footy in 1987, and was at Robbie's final game. I didn't know him personally, but I remember Jim Stynes as president talking about the importance of togetherness in football clubs, and it rings true here. There is a level of connection for all of us to Robbie because of what he did for our club. Sincere condolences to his family. May he rest in peace.

The Doggies having an interest in pick 3 can only be a good thing for us. We can meet them with an open mind and see what they put on the table. Unless they've lost the plot, they'll realise it will take a good midfielder, like the aforementioned Dahlhaus, to get the conversation rolling. Whether later picks need to be exchanged or not, the player coming back needs to be of sufficient quality and youth to warrant moving down from 3 to 6.

Monfries.

I can see how this would be a discussion if he was a delisted free agent and we were wondering if we should pick him up for nothing. Actually giving something for him would be plain sad.

Thus endeth the thread.

I agree with the sentiment - that their keenness to be rid of him works in our favour - but if he's contracted then the PSD is not an option is all I'm saying.

Isn't he contracted?

Geelong seem to have a few kids whose dudness has flown under the radar because they can be carried by some supremely talented mature players. If Clark is Geelong bound I'd sooner look at picks. Picks 36 (once compo picks are handed out for Frawley, Waite and Higgins) and 54 for Clark and 60? I'd rather see us better our draft picks mainly for the purposes of on-trading.

Connors is a proven liar after the Judd farce. I just don't listen to what he says.

Mitch Robinson?

Curse these All-Australians just nominating where they want to go! Oh... Seriously - I'm very happy with this. A durable, experienced, quick defender who takes the game on. Clark for Lumumba, and a swap of third or fourth round picks (Stretch pending) if that's needed to get it over the line.

At least Toumpas was supposed to go at 2 in that draft. GWS just Prendergasted their picks.

I'll try and keep this based on the names linked with Melbourne at the moment and not complete nonsense of a Blease/Strauss for Ablett variety. Here goes: Free agency commences with Frawley quickly signing for large dollars elsewhere. Melbourne enters Monday week's trading period with pick 3 as compensation. Father-son bidding sees Melbourne take Billy Stretch with the bargain price of a third round pick. After the Frawley compensation pick, and Waite and Higgins netting their clubs second round picks, this pick becomes 42. Melbourne pulls off its biggest coup in goodness knows how long by adding Patrick Dangerfield and pick 49 to Adelaide for Jimmy Toumpas, and picks 2, 23 and 60. Roos waves his magic wand again and Melbourne lands Dylan Shiel from GWS along with Sam Frost for picks 3 and 49. After Collingwood demands the universe for Heretier Lumumba for much of trade week, the clubs eventually agree upon the trade expected for weeks, with the Demons sending Mitch Clark to the Pies in a straight swap for Lumumba. Melbourne takes James Gwilt as a delisted free agent Melbourne enters the national draft with three picks - 42 (Stretch), 78 and 96 (Jetta upgrade) Melbourne's list changes for 2015: OUT - Clark, Frawley, Toumpas, Blease, Tapscott, Strauss, Byrnes, Clisby, Nicholson. IN: Dangerfield, Shiel, Jetta (upgraded), Lumumba, Frost, Gwilt, Stretch, pick 78. It's obviously pie in the sky getting Dangerfield AND Shiel, but this is Santa's wishlist we're talking about. How exciting would the lead-up to 2015 be if we were able to snare those two? The midfield all of a sudden starts to look ok, with some serious upside, the backline gets a bit of run, and there's still Hogan to return to the forwardline. Time to add the Grand Final guarantee to the membership package!

I don't hold anything at all against Chip for leaving. We played our last final two months before he was drafted, and he's spent 8 years (more than half of his career) at a club that has been disastrous on-field. Meanwhile, our midfield has been routinely slaughtered and he has manfully beaten his opponent while under siege week after week. By leaving to the highest bidder, he'll be doing us a solid favour with pick 3 coming our way. Hopefully he signs somewhere on Friday and we commence the trade period on the Monday with pick 3 in our pocket.

Yep, we'd just pick him up for nothing as a delisted free agent.

I read a sad story once on former NBA #1 pick Yao Ming which explained that basically he was born after the Chinese government coerced two behemoths with sporting ability to mate and produce a specimen worthy of basketball domination. Your suggestion however, is a great idea.

While you technological titans are fiddling with the space time continuum, can you tell me where Dangerfield ends up?

I think the 'players only' request Jack mentioned will have to be softened on by Essendon. If Port are willing to part with pick 16 and steak knives, I'd take it and make sure it was a good steak knife. Neade? I haven't watched much footy outside of Melbourne games for eight years, but during the finals he looked a bit out of his depth but had potential.Part of Port's strength is their midfield and the way their players run and find space. I wouldn't be giving up anyone who was going to be a relatively significant part of their premiership push. In the end, I think pick 16 and someone on the fringe gets it done late in trade week as Ryder pushes harder and talk of court starts appearing in the paper.

Classic folk at Essendon. From the supporters right up to the top, just the most delusional characters around.

Tom Mitchell wants to stay in Sydney, turning down a lucrative advance from Carlton Another one to cross off the list. Tom Mitchell has opted to stay in Sydney and dominate the NEAFL after turning down Carlton's offer. Next.

I think it was yesterday on the AFL site they said as of now they'll inform clubs of their compensation within 24 hours of losing a free agent, which is much better.

New England (boo) New Orleans Atlanta

You're referring to "basketball reasons", one of the biggest disgraces in US sports history, and an absolute stain on Stern's legacy. All New Orleans were able to achieve with the trade with the Clippers was helping them become the worst team in the league and earn the #1 pick as mediocrity is death in the NBA. It was less about getting New Orleans good players (the Lakers were sending them all-stars Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom as part of the deal), but pandering to whining owners lamenting that the Lakers had been able to pull off another major deal just after the lockout ended. If that slop ever happened here I'd be filthy. Importantly, NBA teams are privately owned. New Orleans at the time couldn't attract an owner, so the league was looking after them. Lakers coach Phil Jackson expressed concern over their conflict of interest 12 months before the nixed trade, to no avail. So it's a murky situation that is unlikely to be repeated.

Clark retires with two years left on his contract with a struggling club, comes back at the first available opportunity to play for a finals club. There's probably a lot we don't know about this story, but feel free to suggest it because it sure seems like it.

The sooner the pick is scrapped, the better. It's a humiliating system that encourages dependence. Choosing to go cap in hand for assistance only to be judged unworthy by the league and other clubs is just demeaning. I admire the intention behind the priority pick, and AFL tried a concrete system (easily rorted) and the airy fairy system at the moment where nobody knows what it takes to grant a priority pick. Just shelve it.