Diamond_Jim

Interesting trivia... he's never played a full season (all 22 games). Maximum 19 in 2014... most other years 17/18

Interesting to see if things change with FA. To date it has been used by the power clubs to attract players from the lesser clubs at much the same salary. The lesser clubs don't scream that much as they get a good draft pick in return. I sense that the wheel is now slowly turning with the lesser clubs offering big money to the players from the power clubs. And moreover the power club gets comparatively little by way of compensation. It is yet another subtle manipulation of the system a la the way Sydney used the so called "interstate supplement" to pay its top players that much more. Imagine the fun of the trading season if they move the FA requirement down to five or six years. Richmond and Lynch are an interesting exception on the money side of things

Interesting topic and I am not sure of the answer. As a related question do clubs have different characters or are they merely one homogeneous group such as the world's shopping malls. If I was a player at the top end I would be motivated by the crowds (they are entertainers after all) and the team environment whatever that means. Certainly winning but perhaps more importantly not constantly losing would be relevant. Whatever makes a destination club I am sure that the MFC is not one at present.

the wonders of the Excel spread sheet my friend.... they'll have the numbers with every variation loaded. It's the curve balls that cause the problems.. like T Mac and Brayshaw... both players performed way outside their immediately expected salary curve for different reasons. The interesting dynamic is what you build into the model for the next round of TV rights and therefore increases to the salary cap. I'd be thinking they are aggressive assumptions in the main. Internet streaming may deliver another golden egg.

Agree and of course every club looks at every player at every other club.. it is their job The simple way for it to happen is for WCE to contract Gaff and then trade him to us in return for Hogan. Would make Gaff a hero in the west and it doesn't really adversely impact him Stranger things have happened. Is it a fair trade... not sure and of course there is the salary issue for Gaff

Wonderful history . Of course the banners were only made for finals. Not sure when they became common place during the home and away season. Wonderful memories of the old stands. Mind you other than the two members stand they were concrete monoliths or as it has become trendy to call them... brutal architecture.

.. perhaps there was something in O Mac delaying his signing after all

so assuming we get May what does the backline look like next year? I thought our shortcomings were Vince and Lewis whereas May is a tall. Does this mean one of Frost or Omac are back to Casey?

well said... had come to the same conclusion Freo won't be bottom next year nor will they rocket up the ladder so a very fair chance pick 4/5 next year is still there. bTW on your Kelly trade... the problem I see is that pick 5/6 plus our first for next year (say 15 plus) sounds light for Kelly etc. Like the thinking though

out of curiosity who are we looking to use the second pick ( pick 5/6) on assuming May is available for pick 10 or thereabouts. Thanks

Apparently Moore is likely to stay at Collingwood according to his manager so getting a a draft pick that they can trade for May just became more difficult. Who else is interested in him? Thanks

and has been told by the struggling GCS to look elsewhere

What was a bit worrying was that for a player in 2017 who was regarded as too good for VFL, his VFL form dropped off as 2018 continued. Would need to be a Lazarus like turn around to get beyond 2019.

and that is why we are in the market. He has apparently said he does not want to re sign this year. Same position with May. GCS have asked him to re sign a year in advance. He has said ... maybe ... but I want to look around first. Imagine having him on the list next year without him being re contracted... whatever you might say it isn't ideal. We need the MFC story for 2019 to be about success not about Hogan moving West.

doubt it .. especially if the dollar differences are of the magnitude that Sheils and Gaff have been offered. Each had an approximately $2 million differential Scully made the right choice. If there is complaint it is only about how he handled it. Personally I give an 18-19 year old some leeway. The real question with the teams that are paying the $1.2M a year for non specialised positions is what it does to salary levels across that team. There's a lot more to play out on that stage especially for clubs with star midfields.

$1.3M a year.... very very serious money One wonders if some clubs are offering big money so the player becomes their advocate. No way will Hawthorn match that salary wise so the question of draft picks they can offer becomes moot.

Perhaps ruckmen need an academy system that looks after them until 21. Allows high quality coaching while also allowing time for study etc. Could be one academy for Victoria (saves money) but with say 4 sponsored ruckmen per club. They could be spread through appropriate leagues for match practice. Might even be a case for extending it to KPP's.

Lobb wanting to go west has the potential to impact the Hogan trade. He's worth one first plus something else I would have thought.

In reality it's about being there on the big day and there is no doubt that the interstate teams have a better chance of being there (ask Richmond). 11 home games plus one against the cross town rival. That's a decent start in anyone's book. Plus if you can finish first or second a high chance of getting to the GF. Personally I agree with the GF being moved but on a rotational basis as distinct from home ground advantage. Perhaps Victoria every second year to reflect the Victorian following. Remember 60% of the crowd are predetermined. Not going to happen as the AFL sold it for the next 40 odd years.

What do people think Collingwood will get if they trade Moore? The level of that pick could be a key determinant for what we have to offer GCS given the Pies are after May.

yeah but admit it... secretly we all enjoyed it

And an even bigger thanks to Demonland

A trivia point: colliwobbles or more correctly collywobbles is a very old word and reportedly is a reference to the shakes suffered by a cholera victim. It then went on to be a general reference to an intestinal cramp or disturbance.

no different to the Thursday nights which are part of the mainstream these days

I'd sign him up for 2 years now ie his existing one plus one more. I doubt he would sign for three at the money we would offer now. At the end of 2019 assuming Cox does not star Collingwood will come very hard with some big dollars. If we can lock him down until end of 2020 Collingwood may go elsewhere. If Weideman scores 50 goals plus in 2019 watch his contract value rocket. This frankly is the only part of the Hogan trade that worries me.