Lucifers Hero

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).

Gaff will be one of the few players to take the big $$ over staying or going to a club in a premiership window. Others I can think of to move on big $$ and end badly were: Ablett (the years at GCS do not reflect well on him, despite his Brownlow there), HW$NBN - forever to be the quintessential AFL Judas! But may still get his Premiership. Others who took the big $$ but at a Premiership contending club were Buddy and Tom Boyd. Gaff seems a really decent bloke who seemed emotionally invested in the Eagles. I hope for his sake he does not regret the extra $$ over what might have been at the Eagles or other Vic clubs because I doubt North can come close to winning a Premiership with Scott as coach.

The Trade Hogan thread has been moved to the new 'The Draft, Trade and Cheese Board Forum' http://demonland.com/forums/forum/38-the-draft-trade-and-cheese-board/

Rule: Clubs must make at least two first-round selections in each four-year period. If they don't, they will face restrictions from trading any further first-round draft picks. Geelong may need to play catch up http://www.geelongcats.com.au/news/2018-07-19/cats-first-round-requirements With no first round picks in 2016, 2017, 2018 (might change) used, technically we need to trade in a first round pick this year or an extra one next year otherwise we won't have the required two picks (unless we get exemption) but like Geelong it eventually catches up with you. I can't find any reference to an mfc request to trade our 2019 pick. I would suggest if we had it would be public knowledge by now as the trade starts in a few days. As an aside, something that is untested with the AFL is the number of 1st round picks taken over a period ie would we get an allowance for traded in an extra pick in 2015? Edit: Just re-read the AFL article in the above link and found this line: "... the rest of the competition has already met its quota and is free to place 2018 and 2019 first-round picks on the table." So we don't need permission.

Do they? Port could chase the Saints pick 3 so they can trump Adelaide for SA players. Saints have no 2nd or 3rd round pick and need a decent pick for Hannebury, a less decent pick for Kent and picks for other targets. Saints might happily relieve Port of picks 9 and 10. Saints may then cash #10 for 2 low/middle second round picks. So far all we have heard is that Freo are trying to get Port's 9 and 10 (if they get it). Port may have other ideas...

Max seems keen to get Preuss to the Dees. Sounds like we would play two ruckmen. https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/max-gawn-keen-for-braydon-preuss-support-20181002-p507bq.html Mahoney hinted at that in radio interview when he said there were others beside Preuss we are looking at for the role we had in mind (or words to that affect).

Is Gary Pert there?

Some interesting scenarios there. One wonders whether Adelaide (or Port) will try and entice the Saints to give up pick 3 eg for Adelaide's 15 and 19 and next year's 1st round or something else (Port have 21 and 27 to play with as well as 9 and ?10). Saints need to find a decent pick for Hannebury, a less decent pick for Kent and picks for their other targets. I wonder if there is a 'spycam' set up in the respective SA club meeting rooms!!

Peter Jackson will finish with mfc at the end of the month ? ? He has done so much for us and deserves so much praise and appreciation. Hope Bartlett and the Board have a special send off for him tonight with fans, staff and sponsors in attendance who I am sure would want to share in the thanks.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-09-30/afl-legend-matthews-slams-umpires-over-late-choke

Yep a flag will be huge. In the meantime, the 90,000 crowd at each MCG finals shows we probably have 70,000 but about 25,000 of them are MCC members so don't count in our numbers. That the MCC had about 5,000 empty seats for the Pies/Tigers game shows how strong our support is within the MCC Those crowds also showed the latent support out there for the dees that as yet haven't joined as members. They may never do so but they are out there. Nonetheless, that turnout will prompt broadcasters and future sponsors to stand up and take notice. It will be huge for our exposure and the chance to capture the hearts of a younger generation and newcomers to aussie rules.

Folks, just remember we have Live Pick Trading at the draft. The picks we have at the end of the Trade period will just be the draft order starting position. Clubs can trade up or down the draft as it progresses. Any phantom drafts will be, well just more phantom than usual! ? It will be interesting to see if we keep a high pick (4/5/6 or 9/10) from the Hogan trade whether we use it or cash in the chips on draft night! LPT presents a nice challenge for recruiting staff - much more second guessing other clubs than usual.

We can also do some fancy trading at the draft table! There will be Live Pick Trading, so the picks we have at the end of the Trade period are just the starting point as clubs can trade picks to go up or down the order during the draft. Will be interesting to see if we keep a high pick (4/5/6 or 9/10) from the Hogan trade whether we use it or cash in the chips on draft night! LPT presents a nice challenge for recruiting staff - much more second guessing other clubs than usual.

I thought his partner is a teacher at Corpus Christi College...

Presumably he would give a speech only if he featured in the awards. A very very outside chance of 5th in the Bluey so unlikely to hear from him.