Lucifers Hero

We are ok for picks and vacancies - 6 of each excluding Kent trade. Assuming we get a pick for him and then have 7 picks for 7 vacancies (or if we get a player (unlikely) it will still be 6 for 6). But the last two picks are 84 and 106, picks that aren't generally taken tp the draft. But we can use them to upgrade two of our Rookies (eg Keilty, Maynard or T Smith). If we do those upgrades we have a reasonable draft hand with 5 picks (32, 43, 46, 56 + Kent pick), and 5 vacancies. So no problems at this stage.

Yes, of course it has value. But I was suggesting the value of a given pick is assessed differently by clubs than by fans. Clubs focus on the value of what it can buy. Fans focus on some mythical value intrinsic to the number. I'll leave it at that - I was just amused about the pre-occupation fans have with a specific pick.

Oops! My meaning wasn't very clear. I may have chosen the wrong thread to make the point. I was trying to say that mfc (and reasonable clubs) don't focus on 'We must receive pick x' type of negotiations. It is more like a 'mid-first round' discussion etc. Hypothetically, if GCS said pick 5-10 was acceptable for May the specific pick isn't so critical just that it satisfy's GCS. Clubs often don't have the exact pick required and they negotiate around the fringes to get the deal done. So the specific pick #, per se isn't so critical as getting a deal done. So the hand wringing over pick # on fan forums is somewhat futile but amusing.

People are forgetting how mfc does business these days. The pick # per se, isn't as critical as whether it will satisfy another club for or draft a player we want. Sometimes we will go all out to get the picks we need eg Oliver/Weideman. Sometimes we let the cards fall where they do eg Hibberd, Melksham, Watts ie 'that is the best we can offer/receive' type of deal. It is only fans that get hung up on the actual pick # and impute a trade value to it. mfc is much more pragmatic.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-09-27/may-wants-longterm-deal-with-suns-or-elsewhere GCS want a long term contract. May wants a long term contract, wherever he ends up: "I want a long-term deal, so I just want to do the due diligence and speak to the necessary parties and then sit down with the club and make a decision." May is also singing the praises of GCS youth and Dew. It may all be blah, blah, blah by May but it does sound like he is leaning towards staying and the 'assessing all options' is a ploy to eke out the max from GCS. After all, GCS have buckets of Lynch money to spend and no-one to spend it on. May is most unlikely to get a better deal ($ or terms) anywhere else. He isn't out the GCS door yet. Watch this space.

WOW. That is a bit of a surprise. My bad for saying 2021 earlier in this thread that may have misled other posters. So Jesse is an FA at the end of 2020. That puts him in a tricky spot for contract renewal. He can't extend for just one year to 2020 - too obviously his FA year and shows lack of commitment. Can only imagine the club would (or has) asked for a long(er) term given our performance has clearly dispelled his prior doubts. He is a proud and private young man and genuinely appreciate of all MFC have done to support him. He will be very wealthy whatever he does. Can't imagine just $$ will take him to Freo. So it will be very Interesting watching this play out and see what Jessie really wants from football.

Weird that Saints delist Freeman who had finally got his body right but was given only two games to show his wares and they trade in Kent whose body is no more reliable! Even if they do get Kent on the cheap it still seems not much improvement. Saints have done almost as bad a job as we did and Carlton are doing with their top 10 picks and their development. They will be in a world of pain for some time to come, especially as they have little trade currency this year. Not the best place for Kent to go to but he probably had little choice and little interest from others. Wish him all the best at Moorrabbin.

Here is an intricatre trade between Port, Freo and Brisbane. (https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-trade-news-threeway-trade-discussions-begin-to-send-lachie-neale-to-brisbane-picks-to-port-adelaide-and-fremantle/news-story/50aa9995716b2deb3cc588af146fcce2 Not shown but Port gets pick #10 from North for Polec. Later pick trades also involved. In this Freo keeps their current pick #5. Pretty good deal for Freo to have picks 5, 9 and 10. Question is what do they do with them? Morris hints at Freo usng #9 and #10 for a Hogan trade (or to stock pile young talent). Nothing definitive but should start tongues wagging and excite quite a few on here. If Jesse can't/won't commit now, then it best he is traded as MFC have answered his past doubts on where we are going. Also, I'm sure he would want to avoid the personal toll of the media harassing him about a new contract throughout 2019. Its a big burden if he stays for 2019 without a contract renewal. We would also want to avoid the distraction that media attention would cause. If that Freo deal was offered and Jesse wanted to go we couldn't turn it down. We lose a great asset but at the end of the day all parties are better off and we can concentrate of football.

Because he won't sign a contract extension which expires next year. If he isn't going to extend why keep him hanging around. And, our club doesn't need the media distraction of a 'will he, won't he' commentary throughout 2019.

I find it a bit surprising that May is coming to us as he was slated as a shoe in for the Pies. Hawks also chasing him hard. But if he does come to us it will be nice to get one over Coll and Hawks. MFC = Dee-stination Club!

Please read or quote the paragraph that followed that line you selectively extracted from a very well reasoned post and realistic option for a trade!!

Those who think we will play 'hard ball' need to think again. We started off doing that with Lever (1st rnd + 2nd rnd picks) and then gave in. And last week Jason Taylor said: "If we target a player we think can help our list improve and it's an area of need; we believe in dealing fairly with the other clubs involved,". So don't expect us to go all tough guy now. Having said that I can't imagine we will give Jesse up for just May. GCS have pick #17 so I could foresee Freo's pick #5 to GCS for May and pick #18, a pick we can make very good use of - gets us back into the first round and could get us the outside run we need or package it up for an even better first round pick. Edit: that is better than the Lever trade which was pick 2017 #10 and 2018 #15.

Has he retired? PR says he won't be offered another contract. I draw the distinction only to say that another club may pick up as a Delisted FA and if so good on him. Whatever the future holds I wish him and his family well. He has been a terrific, flexible and willing asset for us and a very loyal team member. Will always be a red and blue fave!

The rejection of the pp is a good sign. It is the second time this year the AFL Commission have turned down an AFL Admin proposal. The first was when Gill had set up a fanfare press conf to announce the GF would be a twilight game only to have the Commission knock it on the head. The reason for knocking back the pp's is: "...Carlton have got 18 first-round picks and they'll get the No.1 pick again this year. "Gold Coast have got 15 first-round picks on their list and they're going to get picks two and 15 this year if Tom Lynch goes to another club...they'll get pick three..." Well hello, as if blind freddy couldn't see that in advance When combined with the Commission's stance on pokies this is good progress with some accountability for Gill and Co. When Fitzpatrick was head of the Commission it just rubber stamped what Gil and Co wanted (especially if it helped Carlton).

I don't really know. For the last 18 years my Redleg seats have been in Level 2 N8. Now that I have upgraded my niece to Redleg they are in Level 2 N6 (same row, wait listed to be together). So, I assume Redlegs are level 2. When the MFC memberships open there is often an MCG map showing the Reserved, Redlegs and Trident areas. Or I am sure the membership dep't would be happy to answer,

BUMP. Just to acknowledge Bernie has played his last game in red and blue. Its all been said on previous pages - thanks for coming to us when we crap. And thanks for giving us your all and helping build the team we have today. Roos' praise of the experience and strength you brought to our team is much deserved. My most memorable Bernie moment - running best mate Danger into the Adelaide turf!

That is quite an advantage. We have recruited Vandenberg, Hannan, Fritsch and ? from State leagues paid for with draft picks. All now multiple finals players - GCS and Carlton get the like for free. TBH I don't mind GCS getting a helping hand but not Carlton - They tanked, have had a plethora of top draft picks, deliberately trade out their experienced talent, had mega favourable fixures (Home games at the G vs big crowds), FTA favourtism, are poorly managed and are now asking for more handouts!! Oh, I forgot - the AFL and Eddie want to make them 'great' again!

I was really hoping criticism of the policies didn't happen here and we could keep the conversation to the membership options available for people to work out what suits them best. The club tries to cater for all types of members: near and far; well off and not so well off. If you aren't happy with the membership/ticket rules write to the club and or the AFL.

I think the ballot is to allocate the seating (but not sure) and the cost varies according to the seat. It may be worth checking the cost diff between the Armchair and 3-game. The former doesn't have member priority finals ticket access which could be important for smaller grounds or i/state grounds.

And Dan is chipping in to upgrade Punt Road: "A $60 million redevelopment of the Punt Road Oval... looks set to be unveiled before the forthcoming state and federal elections". https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/jack-dyer-stand-may-go-in-60m-punt-road-oval-redevelopment-20180907-p502dv.html Our comparatively miniscule plan seems to have taken a back seat. Sigh... Re any news - I noted a poster last week was told by the club that we no longer owned nor had anything to do with the Bentleigh club which was quite a surprise. The last comment by the club was The Bentleigh gaming will cease in August 2022, although Melbourne will continue to operate the club, without the pokies. Wouldn't mind a Club update for both our standing re the Yarra Park development and our ownership status of Bentleigh Club ownership - it was/is an exceptionally valuable piece of prime real estate

In a way, it is a little early to start this thread but 2019 memberships will open soon. I thought while our finals success and ticketing experience is fresh in our minds it is a good time for folks to think about their membership. Certainly, for me it was quite enlightening to learn what different membership categories mean for access to Finals tickets. (And amusing to watch us all staggering around in the dark not knowing what to do to negotiate the process or Ticketek. It was fun sharing it with everyone on here). The main things I learnt: Three game or better membership had the same priority eligibility to Finals weeks 1 - 3. For the Grand Final it all changes. Broadly the categories were: Ballot: Priority 1 - Memberships with the Grand Final Guarantee (GFG) included or added on (plus some other categories) Ballot: Priority 2 - 11 Home Game or better memberships without GFG (plus some other categories) Ballot: Priority 3 - All other memberships The odds of Priority 3 being allocated GF tickets seemed quite low. I think, the AFL sets the broad eligibility rules so the above may change for 2019. For 2019, I assume the memberships with the GFG will sell out fast as the number sold is capped and people that already have it get first choice to keep it. At the risk of the membership team being inundated with early calls, I was able to upgrade my niece's 3 game membership to a Redlegs membership late last week (same row but not to sit together; wait listed for that). I will post the link to Memberships when I see it on the club website. A couple of other thoughts: This isn't the thread for posters to criticise supporters asking for barcodes etc - 2018 caught us all by surprise so cut them some slack, especially the country and interstate folk This isn't the thread to complain about Ticketek or the AFL ticketing policies. Maybe the mods could pin this for a while so that new info can easily be found. One final thing: What an outstanding job the Membership Team did. It all went without a hitch which is no easy task the first time a new project is undertaken by a team in any organisation. Kudos to Tracey and her team for the work, time and energy they put in to making our lives as straight forward as possible.

Lever. Lewis is still the best we have for footy IQ and analysing the play during quarters. So for me he plays on and limit his games to the eastern seaboard to conserve his energy. He was mentoring Lever who is a fast learner. When Lever went out we missed his leadership down back. He has learnt plenty in the coaches box this year. He will learn more playing alongside Lewis next year. We don't have enough good leaders. Jack Viney brings his own brand of leadership. No offence to Jack but he doesn't have the subtlety and footy IQ Lever has. Tbh I would like to see Lever as co-captain (with Viney) next year to learn more from Lewis.

ET, I love #thetradeshwhisper but I usually assume you are entertaining us. So, can you please give us a sign eg ? when you are humouring us or a sign when you are being serious eg ?...

It sounds like May might have approached us: "Tom Morris said May was clearly canvassing all his options...to do your due diligence, you’ve got to meet with as many clubs as you can and clearly Melbourne is a successful club...but clearly Melbourne don‘t need him either..." https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/live-afl-trade-video-chat-with-tom-morris-steven-may-reportedly-meets-melbourne/news-story/d700a266e6022e2be5f668ccd7b72fe0 If May's manager came knocking on our door, my question, is when? If after we made/succeeded in finals, its a bit too opportunistic for me. Someone looking for easy street, perhaps? It seems to me we plan our deals a long way ahead, rather than join in a trade bidding war. Yes, we can be as opportunistic as the next but that hasn't been our style of late. So it seems more plausible the approach came from May. Imv, he doesn't give us much more than we have so I say 'thanks but no thanks, Steven.

With a backline succeeding in finals, Lever to return and Petty developing nicely, I also don't see where he fits. But it seems the club does. GCS is looking for a high draft pick as next year they will get pick 2-5 when he leaves as a Free Agent. It will require our 2019 1st pick plus player/pick. We are a latecomer to the party as he seemed headed to Collingwood.