Lucifers Hero

The media is pushing the line that "GCS will get a top 3 pick for May as an FA next year so a trade should be a top 5 pick". GCS are making noises for a high pick but are they really committed to that? They know that if they push that line too hard they are admitting there will be no improvement at GCS next year. ie No Hope! That makes for a tough sell to the AFL, sponsors, members, draftees and potential trades. When it gets down to the wire they might just accept a lower pick or a combo of picks and players as they must set up to improve in 2019 and a top 5 pick, 18 yo kid is not going to do that. .

Sounds like he is gone ? . Tom Harley: “We have been open to exploring that and had a conversation with Aaron. We have been liaising with Melbourne around that so if we could facilitate something that would be great".

Dedicated Demon Annual – full amount deducted from your credit card on 25th October each year. Dedicated Demon Monthly – your annual membership fee is divided into ten monthly instalments (November to August) and deducted monthly from your credit card on the first business day of each month. Payments commence upon receipt of your application, or on 1 November for rolling payment plans. https://membership.melbournefc.com.au/dedicated-demon Not related to your query - we should see a big flip in membership numbers after Oct 25, then again after Nov 1 when the rollovers happen!

I get all that. Being chased by Freo for a long time is certainly a consideration but does he want football success or not? He has spent 6 years at a struggling club and is facing something similar at Freo. It will be difficult to play his best football at a club that is rebuilding. I think we are about to find out where football success really sits in Jesse's life. Maybe he just wants to play with his mates at Freo. Whatever makes him happy, I guess. As an aside, I keep reading he was a Crows supporter but Wikipedia, which is not always right, says he was born and raised in Perth.

If true it is odd that Hogan would exclude WCE entirely. One wonders why he would be so fixated on Freo (barracking for them in is youth seems a flimsy reason). Given he wants to return to WA one would think he looks at the potential for football success and considers all options. From afar, it seems WCE have it over Freo on and off the field. A strange cat, is Jesse.

I was just trying to avoid it being derailed by folks complaining about AFL/Ticketek/Ballots/Barcodes etc. Your post is very positive - exactly what we need in this thread. Yes, it is a great time to get behind the club and as you say Goodwin et al are doing a great job of rallying the fans. A 90,000+ finals crowd is testament to that. From various posts above it seems our premium memberships (and maybe the GFG) are sold out which is a good sign. It all points to being 'relevant' again and can only help attract players to the club. A great time to be a Dees supporter!

There are many permutations for Port and Adelaide and I would imagine they are both talking earnestly to the clubs with picks 1-5. Their need to deal to trump each other is what will make it fascinating. They may end up so focused on 'winning the race' that they lose track of the real value they hold.

Bulldogs seem interested in Wingard again and "The Dogs are likely to dangle their first-round pick, currently selection six, as part of the deal to get the Power to trade them the two-time All Australian". http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-10-04/no-doubt-the-bulldogs-are-keen-on-chad This would dash Freo's hopes of getting Port's pick 9 and 10 for their pick 4 or 5. So Freo will only have 4 and 5 and they certainly won't give both up and our chances of getting two top 10 picks go down the gurgler. Depending on their expectations for 2019 they might give up their 2019 1st pick and get something back. Or it may be pick 5 and a player for Jessie. Simply, Freo can't trade what they don't have/can't get. Port will go to the draft with 6, 9 and 10 if they trade Wingard and Polec. As an aside, the sideshow to see which of Adel and Port position themselves highest to get the SA talent will be fascinating.

He won't be part of the May deal -The May deal being dependent on a Jesse deal and it won't be done early next week!

I noticed the club has removed the player calendar from the Redlegs and Trident packages, which is disappointing as I really enjoy using it. Oddly, it is free for Redlegs and Trident, if you set up automatic renewal with annual or monthly payments to a credit card. I get the club wants members to renew without having to think too much about it. The problem is that if you pay in advance via a credit card on-line or over the phone, you don't get the calendar which is weird as the early cash flow is better for the club than the monthly auto payments. I have written to the club to see how else to obtain the calendar. Shall report back when I hear.

I'm guessing that Kade K nominating us and the prospect or recruiting Toby Bedford (our Next Gen Academy player) are considered upgrades on Dion. Re the list numbers: Out: 8 (including Kent, excluding Hogan and delisted rookies). ? Ins: (excluding May): 3 draft picks (minimum requirement), Kade K, probably Toby Bedford, Preuss, Senior offers to upgrade Keilty and T smith That is a possible 8 in, altho it is unlikely all will eventuate. That leaves 3 or 4 'A' rookie spots to fill in the preseason/rookie draft (if we choose to fill all rookie spots). What becomes interesting now is who else we let go: AVB, Tyson, Garlett??? More water to go under the bridge.

Too many factors at play for me to get into the pick # discussion. But I guess it comes down to whether we have a target high in the draft. Given our mo, if we get enough trade currency in for the May deal and for our other targets the actual draft pick #'s aren't such a big deal. The pick #s for Hogan might outrage some fans but if we get the list we want so be it.

WOW! To hear this from you gives it some real cred. If I recall correctly, you nailed the progress of the Jesse negotiations during the pre trade period in 2016. And you nailed the progress of the Lever negotiations last year. It came to pass just as you had described. Your don't post often but you have been right on the money! Thanks for your input. The fun and games are just starting!

Nice hypothetical! It would really snooker North: choose between Polec or Gaff!! Your underlying point is valid. If WCE want Jesse they will find the trade currency to make it happen. They can package up their 2018/2019 picks (to other clubs) to find a deal that we can agree with. Any WCE players we would be interested in, for a Jesse deal? Having said that I reckon WCE are posturing! Their fans would be asking the big question: Why aren't we chasing Jesse? WCE can't be seen to be doing nothing. Their fans would love the theater of giving Freo a fright and watching them squirm, even if they don't get Jesse.

The heat on Freo just went up on Freo: "WEST Coast coach Adam Simpson hasn't ruled out pursuing Jesse Hogan, declaring the Eagles are "all ears" if the star Melbourne forward...want to come home". http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-10-04/eagles-all-ears-if-hogan-kelly-want-wa-return Eagles don't have the sal cap or the trade currency to better a Freo deal but it certainly puts the pressure on Freo to get a deal done. Very clever by WCE it forces Freo to pay the max which weakens their position on other list management decisions and in a two horse town it by default strengthens WCE's position. Its a mini version of Packer forcing Ch7 to pay max price for AFL TV rights! Thank you, Eagles ?

As an aside we went thru this little dance with Jesse with his last contract extension. It was announced on Oct 4 2016, a few days before the trade period started. I recall learned chat here on DL that he had been given an ultimatum: extend the contract now or we will trade you. The timing of that contract supports that chat. I suspect the same thing is happening now, except maybe a tougher stance on extension terms. Can't imagine the club wanting this little dance to happen every two years. For the club, for the team, for Jesse he needs to commit for the long haul or he goes. I really don't think there is a satisfactory middle road here.

That might suit Hogan but I can't imagine the club buying it. He gets the mega deal and we get pick 16-18 as AFL comp when he goes as an FA. He won't get a one year extension! Leaving mfc as an FA won't happen. The real heat is on Hogan - does he want a another year of media 'go home' speculation. With this mooted move to go home now the speculation will become stratospheric in 2019. He is a private guy, I reckon he will choose to go now and get on with his life.

Can't wait for ET's response! ?

The jumper must be some sort of prank - he barracks for Carlton (yes I know, not much better than Collingwood...)

This link shows info on the broad options for 2019 https://membership.melbournefc.com.au/packages There are a lot of options/packages so it is best to browse through them to see which suits you best. I think upgrades to reserved seat packages and the GFG option will sell out quickly.

Not sure of the final 2018 figure - we may need to wait til George brings up the Tally thread (he holds the key to the lock ? ).

Sorry, I don't know the answers ? I'm not even sure answers are available as the rules were written in 2015 and the AFL 'clarify' the rules as they go along eg Geelong . The guiding principle, as I understand it, is to ensure clubs don't trade away their future. As an aside, that didn't help Freo, Saints and GC as they made a right mess of their 2018 future pick trading at a time they have poor lists.

2019 Memberships renewals, changes and purchases now availalbe. Option details: https://membership.melbournefc.com.au/packages Current membership tally: 19,068. @george_on_the_outer Is it too early to pin the tally sheet?

Wingard (with tail between legs) has decided to stay at Port. No-one willing to pay the $1m pa he was asking. Re picks Hawthorn always seem to find a way of doing the deals they want done ala O'Meara and Mitchell (both of whom didn't go for big $$). From a salary cap point of view they have Rioli off their books and Roughy and 'Silk' off their books in a year. If Shiel chooses Hawks they will make it happen.

Examples of other players taking the big $$ to the two I mentioned are...? (Shiel has not yet accepted the big $$ being thrown at him by Carlton and StK. In fact he is said to be favouring the Hawks for $900k per season).