Ted Lasso

Hibberd will be a great get for two reasons, 1. he's exactly what we need off half back, elite skills, elite decision making, great one on one and experienced. 2. he'll enable Salem and Hunt to spend more time on the wing where they can really do some damage.

I take comfort from the fact Grimes knew it was coming and wasn't blindsided like i think some of the North guys were to an extent, but even though i think it's the right call, i doubt many Dees supporters weren't hoping he could find something and hang around, just because of the loyalty he's shown through such a hard time

That's true, but given we have no first round pick, and we're likely trading our second round pick and have to use 3 picks in the draft a second 4th round pick would be an upgrade on a fifth round pick, depending on what our intentions are with that pick

Given Grimes status as a free agent, i assume we don't delist him just incase we somehow get a compo pick for him?

CHF in the vic team of the year, in a VFL side that made the GF and has shown some very clear AFL level attributes, if it were my call i'd absolutely be taking him, would love to see the rationale of a person who didn't want him on their list, even as a rookie

I'd be shocked if he isn't drafted, i'd absolutely be looking at him, especially with at least one of Dawes and Pedo leaving. we've had a very close look so we're in a very good position to make a call.

I suspect in a lot of cases the decisions have been made and the players possibly already know, or have a strong indication of which way it'll go.

He does seem like the sort of bloke who as "Mach5" would say, has a pretty good relationship with himself, so maybe he is keen on the Melbourne footy bubble and being in the papers every 5 seconds

I don't buy the they didn't really try and retain him stuff, they definitely wanted to keep him but they had to pay massive overs for Hurley and Hooker to keep them (both are on Hogan level money ) and someone was always likely to be squeezed out, our offer to Hibberd made that an easy choice for them

Surely pick 26 is more than enough to get this over the line? given his age, he's had a year out of the AFL system and all the other factors around this that's more than fair

Would Tim Smith be on our radar as well?

And those are two massive errors that have cost the players a year and smashed their reputations as players and people within the footy world.

I've said it before the players are 100% responsible for what they put in their bodies, and responsible for keeping records which they have failed to do, if 1 player could produce records suggesting they didn't cheat, the balance of probabilities would shift drastically and i suspect they wouldn't have missed a year, your opinions of the agencies involved is irrelevant, the players are 100% culpable because they failed to do something very simple, and or didn't ask questions around what they were taking to be able to keep these sorts of records.

at the end of the day Jake has been labeled a drug cheat because he is a professional athlete who took some substances and he cannot prove what they were, he is 100% responsible for what goes into his body, he didn't ask questions of the right people or make enough noise and he's bought this on himself. there are people who give talks about this stuff before players even get drafted, there is no excuse, regardless of political agendas or how badly run people think ASADA might be, you're responsible for what you take, if you can't prove it you wear whatever comes your way. having said that Jakes ban is over and i look forward to seeing him in the red and blue in 2017

I had a chat with Jack Trengove in about Febuary this year and he definitely described it as a very tough time, you just want to be part of it especially with how exciting it is at our club right now, but i still think that is much much better than being out of the club and AFL system totally for 12 months, it might take Melksham a little bit longer to get back into it, again not saying it 100% will but i would understand if it did.

The big difference being that a year out within an AFL club means a rehab program within the four walls of the club with day to day coaching by some of the best fitness staff around, he's missed that for the better part of 12 months, while i'm sure Mission has given him his program ect it's definitely not going to be the same as actually working with him every day. Time will tell, i was against the recruitment of Melksham at the time and still very unsure it was the right move, especially given what we gave up but time will tell.

It's a whole different challenge but we clearly recruited Jake with the idea in mind that he'd play off half back and essentially play the role Jayden Hunt is playing, now with Hibberd likely coming on board, Salem mostly playing that role and Hunt playing great footy we have to re-think where he's going to play. I personally think he has the attributes to be a pressure forward, he's quick, creative and a good tackler and i really think that high half forward role is one he could really do well, but obviously it'll be interesting. I personally have my concerns about all these Essendon guys, not only have they had a year off, they've had a year off the AFL system totally and it's not something that they will move forward from overnight, very difficult to replicate the AFL enviornment and everything training wise, so the transition back into the side may take a little longer than some are expecting

I still think he's the best forward/ruck we have

It's a prediction, they will ask for our 2017 first rounder, we will offer our second rounder, it on it's own won't get the deal done because it's Essendon and we'll cough up a little more coz Goodwin absolutely loves Hibberd It may not happen, and it's not what i'd do but it's what i think will happen.

Predicting the trade to be #27, #45 for Michael Hibberd, #55 an early second rounder and a 10 pick upgrade should get it over the line.

not disputing the idea that we are more attractive with more wins, simply stating that it's not a clear rule for every side,

Essendon won 3 @60% and Richmond won 8 @80% and i reckon most would much rather go to the Bombers

Last thing they'll want is a very public reminder about what they did given all the positive press they have somehow been given recently, i reckon they should take pick 27 and run to be honest.

27 & 45 for Hibberd and 55? solid second round pick and a good upgrade for their third rounder

The bombers need to realise he's been out of the AFL system for 12 months, there is no way of knowing how long it will take these players to re-adjust to that lifestyle, and training and if they'll be able to deliver right away, i have no doubt these players will be a long way below their best. personally think pick 27 is a little generous if anything.