Lucifers Hero

Agree Dom, Kennedy is an A grader but next year he turns 28. There aren't many A graders of that age who continue A grade performance if not surrounded by equivalent players. Our players aren't at that level (yet) and by the time they are the JK's of the world will be well past their prime. Not sure using a high 1st rnd pick for a player who gives us 2-3 good years is very good value.

So their 'A' players are off limits but they want to off load an 'older' B' player who at 27+yo is probably past his prime, for a high 1st rnd pick? No thanks!!

Some significant names still OOC: Garland 26 (RFA), Hunt19, Michie 23, Howe 24, Toumpas21, Harmes® 19 The longer they are OOC the less likely they will be at the Dees. However, Harmes is a 'must re-sign'...we need to keep Jesse's buddies at the Club!! Jokes aside, he had some terrific games this year and he has bucket loads of what Jesse calls 'competitive edge! So he has earnt a contract and promotion to the senior list. Probably waiting to see how the list and # of places pan out before finalizing it. Fully expect him to be in the Red and Blue next year! While its always sad to see Dees players go I am slowly accepting departures are necessary to significantly improve.

'I'va Worn Smith' has foreshadowed this in another thread. He rated his source a 7/10. So it is worth getting a little excited! He tells us we will know more after the GF but then this could mean at the end of Trade Week Hoping it is sooner rather than later. It could be that Barrett has been reading i'va's posts here on DL...it pleases me a great deal that the likes of Purple cannot find out what is going on at the Dees... The thing that is also good about the 'silence' is that the relevant player manager is also keeping 'mum'...it is often these guys that leak rather than the clubs or players.

Thanks iv'a...does that mean he is be playing this weekend ...rhetorical question! Whoever it is we are doing a damn good job of keeping it quiet! BTW I did hesitate posing that rhetorical question for fear it will set all the DL's player wishes off the scale. Then I thought 'what the heck' it gives people a new line of speculation for the next few weeks!

i'va, you mentioned earlier the 'big fish' player responsible for Roos' 'cheshire cat' type smile will be revealed when the time is right. Can you tell us roughly when that will be...the anticipation is killing me!

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2015-09-24/im-rapt-the-supporters-want-me-hogan Extracts: The Western Australian-born Hogan, who is contracted until at least the end of 2017, says he is rapt that the Melbourne faithful have taken to him and want to see him in red and blue colours for the rest of his playing days. ...Looking ahead to 2016, Hogan said he was excited about gaining some teammates back from injury to create a revamped forward line, including Sam Frost and Dean Kent...“I can’t wait to develop myself to another level and not get complacent and just really strive to be part of the collective.” Yep, a forward line of Frost, Kent, Hogan and Garlett sounds pretty good. He doesn't give anything away re a contract but he sounds very happy with life over here, his footy and his teammates. Have to love his honesty in saying how hard it has been to settle on the other side of the country. I hope his enthusiasm infects some of his more laid back teammates that have been around a while if they survive the trade season.

I read the trade rumour threads and that player 'x' is a 'ball getter' or 'hard at it' or 'a clearance machine' or 'is competitive' etc. But I am not reading about any players that are fast, skillful or blessed with footy IQ I hope that if we trade away Watts and Toumpas and Howe we find some players that give us some skill, IQ and outside run in their place..

The CB minimum senior player payments for 2016 are: - base pay $83,240 and match payments $3,605 per match - for 22 games = $162,550 pa. This will be a lot higher under the 2017 CB. How much more each player gets depends on experience, performance and perhaps incentives. Melksham is 24 with 6 years experience, played 114 games and has a good B & F record. Mahoney and Viney will make sure a WADA suspension is covered in the contract. In fact, I would expect the AFL has specific clauses included in all Ess player contracts who have changed clubs. I am happy Goodwin and Macca will make a good selection decision based on list requirements. I am happy that Taylor and Viney will make a fair trade with EFC. I am happy that Mahoney and Viney will negotiate a fair contract that is in sync with other MFC/AFL players of similar age/experience. Nothing to worry about folks!

http://demonland.com/forums/index.php?/topic/38451-delistingstrades-at-end-of-the-season/page-101?hl=delistings Melbourne delists: Fitzy McKenzie Riley Bail No surprises I guess but always sad a demon player go. They did their best in tough circumstances. Wish them well. That makes at least 6 list changes.

Ess offer the guy only 2 years and less $$ and they want A grade trade in return. If they truly valued him that highly surely they would better our offer! They start with such a ridiculously high ambit demand for trades that they get far too much in return. Given the reports on how we are handling Jeremy Howe's contract, I am confident TV and JT will not be conned!

This is a coaching movement rather than player but nowhere else to really put it. It seems that Little, Jobe Watson and others flew to Adelaide in Little's private jet to get Worsfold to coach Essendon! They broke their verbal and 'handshake' undertaking to not approach other club staff! Dubious ethics and gobsmacking arrogance! That club has learnt nothing from the drugs saga and ethical boundaries! Adelaide (rightly) not very happy as they are playing a final this weekend. Ess have apologised...too little too late...(no pun intended)

I saw this in an AFL article: 'Eade said the club would focus on picking up the best available talent in the upcoming draft, while it would use the trade period to boost its playing stocks in the 22 to 27-year-old age bracket.' Suns appear to be losing Dixon so will need a 'tall'...could it be that Watts and Howe are heading towards the sun. Maybe in return for a player eg Prestia, O'Meera, Bennell? In an ideal world we get to keep our 1st round pick.

I went back and listened to the SEN recording and to some extent 'Members Wing' is correct but it needs to be put in full context of the discussion:- The Ox asked Petroro: whether they are negotiating with Melbourne to get a long extension or a multi year contract...for Jesse? Petroro's (not quite verbatim) response was: ...we will sit down over the summer and start a discussion...Jesse is really happy in Melbourne...when the time is right both parties will sit down and start to look towards Jesse's future...but he is obviously a huge part of Melbourne's future. So in the context of the question, the response to me meant the next contract will keep Jesse with us 'for a long time to come' but to be fair Petroro didn't use those words. You can form your own view at the 12 min mark: http://www.sen.com.au/programs/the-run-home There seemed little doubt that there will be a contract extension negotiated over the summer. Jesse is contracted till 2017 so even a 'short' extension eg 3 years will keep Jesse a Demon till 2020. That's a long time to me and I would be very happy with that sort of contract extension.

Tom Pretoro from Jesse's management company was just interviewed on SEN and said they will sit down with the Dees during the summer to discuss his contract. He went on to say that 'Jesse will be part of Melbourne's future for a long time to come.' Almost form the horse's mouth!

...and shed the 'veil of negativity'!?

Lachie Plowman played a pretty good game today, having started on the bench: 20 poss (3 kicks, 17 HB) of which 6 uncont. at 85% efficiency and 3 tackles. Not bad for 1st game this year at AFL level. We get to have a closer look at him when he plays against us next week.

From Greg Denham: '...Carlton who, with Melbourne, are also chasing out-of-contract Giant...Lachie Plowman' From the GWS website: 'A tall defender, Lachie Plowman was selected…with pick three in the 2012 NAB AFL Draft. With a terrific ability to win the contested ball in the air and at ground level, Plowman is a poised player with good decision-making skills.' As a defender, our interest could be a replacement for Dunn and Lumumba in a few years (earlier if their form doesn't improve). Plowman has played forward so could be a 'swingman' type or a replacement for Howe. My doubt around Plowman would be why a #3 pick cannot get a game in 2015, a year riddled with injuries for GWS. But then we can certainly use a lot of 'poise' and 'good decision-making skills'!!!! While doubt remains about Roos' ability to convert player attitudes there is little doubt about his nous picking 'the right' players. Right now I am very happy to take anyone who gives 100% effort and get rid of anyone who has a poor attitude and won't/can't change. So, I would take him as he would come cheaply.

It seems that among Essendon's 20 uncontracted players there are 5 Free Agents:- Tom Bellchambers, RFA Courtenay Dempsey, UFA James Gwilt, UFA Tayte Pears, UFA Brent Stanton, UFA Jason Winderlich, UFA Watch the AFL deal EFC back into the early rounds of the draft if some of those guys go and it gives a few 2nd round picks. What is suppoosedly a shallow draft becomes a lot weaker, especially when you add all the FA's floating around that are likely to attract 1st round, end of first round, 2nd round picks ie Suckling, Dangerfield, Selwood, Leuenberger. Plus all the Academy players (4/5 in the first round), so on the current ladder our 2nd rnd pick will be about pick 28-30 ie the 28th-30th best player!! Yes, the Academy clubs need to pay the 'draft points' but they are getting the best players. Can't see a strong case for keeping any but our 1st pick.

Here is an interesting line from Emma Quayle when discussing OOC Essendon players: Jake Melksham has been loyal but is the sort of player another club might see unfulfilled potential in. He will have other options put to him, a reunion with Simon Goodwin at Melbourne not out of the question. He is 23, was their pick 10 in the 2009 draft, plays midfield and played just over 100 games. IMO he doesn't fit the A-grade midfielder category but he is in our 'target' age/experience group. Emma may be guessing but her intel is usually pretty good!

ash could you put in a comma or fullstop...not being pedantic just trying to work out the deal. Is that a straight swap of Tomlinson for Howe or Tomlinson for our 2nd round pick...I would do this in a heartbeat, especially as it looks like Howe is staying!

Just listening to sen and they said Melbourne really into Tom Lynch (24 yo)from the Crows. He wants 3 years, they want 2. Of course its idle talk at this stage but I wouldn't mind him as our 2nd tall forward. He kicked 33 in 2013 then Viney broke his jaw in 2014, and he had a neck fracture later in the year. Great replacement for Dawes! He would have played with Goodwin (and Vince) so they may be working their connections.

Do these count on the 'break embarrassing records' list: - First win over Pies since 2007! - Collingwood records its lowest score against Melbourne since 1988! - Contrasting crowds: "Saturday’s crowd of 37,894 at the MCG was the lowest between the two sides since round 17, 1997...It was a far cry from round 10 when a crowd of 66,120 watched the Dees and Pies play at the MCG". Very nice to get a few up on the Pies!! http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2015-08-03/the-demon-within-round-18

Would definitely say yes to Motlop but think that is unlikely. Also, I wonder whether we need another speedy small forward when we have Garlett. He has great after-burners and when he gets the ball out the back (usually from a very smart kick from Gus) he gains meters on the opp and kicks a goal. I recall some talk from Roos to play him in the midfield occasionally so our picks/trades/money may be spent better elsewhere.

Interesting article or eos player moves: http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-07-30/staying-or-going-this-years-afl-exchange-period-previewed?utm_medium=RSS Regarding Howe: "The high-flying utility has put off contract talks with the Demons...and his future remains clouded...a number of other clubs are believed to be monitoring him carefully. Industry sources suggest Howe could attract rival offers of up to $600,000 a season, which Melbourne is unlikely to match." Another indication that he is Gone! As an aside, notice the ridiculously low figures for Motlop $500+k and Suckling $400k. Would take either in a heartbeat.