Melbourne Discussion

[Purple 77]

It's very satisfying to hear Hulk say next year is more important for him than 2015.

Gah, he's just so awesome  :-*

[Big Mac]

Sam Frost to play forward next year?

[Barra13]

As reported by Channel 7, apparently Jimmy Toumpas has requested a trade and Chris Dawes is on the trade table.

[Purple 77]

As reported by Channel 7, apparently Jimmy Toumpas has requested a trade and Chris Dawes is on the trade table.

:D

[Barra13]

Melbourne has begun preliminary contract discussions with gun forward Jesse Hogan and is set to chase Sydney ace Luke Parker, says Sam 'Scoop' McClure.

Hogan, winner of this year's rising star award, is contracted until the end of 2017 but would attract a mountain of interest from rival clubs on the open market.

Scoop said Hogan sat down with a group of Melbourne heavy hitters recently - including coach Paul Roos - in which they detailed the club's long-term plan.

"No contract was mentioned, no dollar-figure was mentioned, but it was essentially put to Jesse that if he wants to stay â€" money will not be an issue," Scoop explained on Sports Today.

He said preliminary discussions about extending Hogan's contract had since begun in the wake of that meeting.

Scoop also revealed the Demons had their eye on landing "big fish" during future trade periods to help keep Hogan on board.

"One of those big fish being pursued is Luke Parker of the Sydney Swans," he said.

[Purple 77]

^^ read that a few days ago.

The excitement in the gut is non-existent though  :-\

[Barra13]

Reading a bit more into it and SEN reporting an offer has been made of 850k over 5 years to Luke Parker.

[Purple 77]

Reading a bit more into it and SEN reporting an offer has been made of 850k over 5 years to Luke Parker.

I just think it is too much of a long shot :(

Would love to be proved wrong, though.

[Purple 77]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-10-06/hogan-in-talks-with-melbourne-on-extending-contract

I've linked this before... I have a feeling this will be a common link when I see something amazing from Jesse

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLnWf1sQkjY

[Barra13]

DANIEL Cross has confirmed he will remain with the club in an off-field capacity, after accepting a position as development and rehabilitation coach.

Manager of football operations Josh Mahoney said the club was delighted Cross had decided to take up the new role, after playing with Melbourne from 2014-15, following a fine career with the Western Bulldogs.

“Daniel has a sports science degree and was keen to work in this area post playing,” he told melbournefc.com.au. 

“He will work across the high performance and development teams during the week and will be our match day runner on game day.

“Daniel has ambitions in this area and we believe it will help him continually develop his skills.”

Cross said he’d made a lot of great relationships at the club in his two seasons with Melbourne and that made his decision a lot easier.

“I wanted to make the right decision and a real considered call on what was going to be the best opportunity for me to succeed and I really want to help the team get success,” he told melbournefc.com.au.

“It was made clear in the end that I kept coming back to Melbourne as the best opportunity in the short term and long term.

“What clinched it for me was the emotional attachment I have for the playing group. I feel like I’ve been part of the rebuild since Roosy [Paul Roos] came to the club.

“To continue in the fitness group and to help the boys grow and succeed as a team â€" that really excited me. That was what drew me in the end.”

Cross said he had several opportunities presented to him, but in the end the lure of remaining at Melbourne â€" albeit in a different capacity â€" was too strong.

He added that he was keen to head down the conditioning pathway, but also help mentor players along the way.

Cross said he was unlikely to follow Shannon Byrnes, who retired in 2014 and moved into an off-field role and played with Casey in the VFL this year.

“Not at this stage. It’s going to be super tough for me to walk away from something that you absolutely love and treasure, but I’m sure I’ll be out on the track a bit with the boys,” he said.

“I’m sure the feet will become itchy and I might want to, but I really want to focus on helping the Melbourne playing group achieve what they want to now.

“The greatest thing I can do now is help the players be the best that they can be and that’s teaching, instructing and helping in any way that I can. I want to make Melbourne a better team, so I don’t think I’ll be pulling on a Scorpions jumper next year.”

[Barra13]

MELBOURNE has expressed interest in Greater Western Sydney's Tomas Bugg and Collingwood's Ben Kennedy as it targets "competitive players" in the 21-24 age bracket.

Demons football manager Josh Mahoney confirmed the club was looking to add Bugg, 22, and Kennedy, 21, to its squad in this year's trade period.

The Demons' list-management team has met with Kennedy, who has played 25 games in three seasons on the Magpies' list, about making a move down Swan St to Melbourne headquarters.

"We've sat down and spoken to Ben," Mahoney told NAB AFL Trade Radio on Tuesday.

"He'd be someone who we certainly think could help us as a club."

Bugg has played 65 games in four seasons for the Giants but wants to move home to Victoria.

"Through this trade period we want to add in guys who are in that 21-24-year-olds [age group] who have played a bit of footy," Mahoney said.

"He's another player we've got some interest in and again it depends on his involvement with GWS but he's someone we think can help us."

Bugg's manager, Tom Petroro, of Stride Sports, told SEN that Melbourne was right in the mix to win his client's services.

"I think they're a chance, definitely," Petroro said.

"I would think that Melbourne are right in the frame to try and get Tom and Tom has declared that he wants to come back to Victoria."

Mahoney said the Demons were well advanced in discussions with Essendon's Jake Melksham, who has also requested to move on from the Bombers, and would look to sort a trade out once the official player exchange period begins next Monday.

"We've done a lot of work on Jake and you can't have a better due diligence than having coaches who have worked with him previously in Simon Goodwin and Brendan McCartney (at Essendon)," Mahoney said.

"We want to add a bit of run and carry and a player who can play a half-back type of role.

"Jake has indicated that he wants to join Melbourne and during the trade period and we'll work on what that looks like."

In a wide-ranging interview, Mahoney also said:

Jeremy Howe was a chance to remain at Melbourne, with the club wanting a decision about whether he is staying or going in the coming days.
Unrestricted free agent Colin Garland will stay at the club, with the Demons to announce his re-signing in the next few days.
Jack Watts is unlikely to be traded by the Demons.
Former No.4 draft pick Jimmy Toumpas is looking at other playing opportunities but there is no guarantee he will leave Melbourne.
Speculation that Melbourne had offered free-agent Patrick Dangerfield a six-year, $10 million contract was off the mark, with the Demons not even tabling an offer to the midfield star.
Melbourne is looking to sign NAB Rising Star winner Jesse Hogan to a long-term deal.
The Demons have ruled out recruiting Gold Coast's Harley Bennell.
Melbourne's interest in Dion Prestia is not likely to progress further, with the midfielder to see out his existing contract, until the end of 2016, at Gold Coast.

[Barra13]

DEFENDER Colin Garland has signed a three-year deal and will remain a Demon until at least the end of 2018.

Manager of football operations Josh Mahoney said Garland had become an integral member of the club’s backline.

“Col has become a stable member of our defence over the past few years,” he told melbournefc.com.au. 

“His performance on the field and the mentoring role he plays with our young defenders has become very important.

“We look forward to him continuing to improve as a player and also helping our young defenders even further.”

Garland, who was a restricted free agent, said he never considered leaving Melbourne.

“My main consideration was that I had one more year to get life membership and I see a great future for the club,” he told melbournefc.com.au.

“Whether the ultimate success comes while I’m here at the club or whether I just miss out and I’m part of building something â€" I’m happy being a part of it.”

Garland said he always wanted to wait until the end of the season to finalise his contract.

“I just wanted to concentrate on my footy, after an injury-interrupted year [in 2014],” he said.

“The club’s been fantastic to me and my partner Jessie, who has been with me the whole time as well.

“I just didn’t want to play anywhere else. I knew at 27 [years old] and with a three-year deal, I’m all in now. I’ll do everything I can over the next three or four years to help bring the young guys on under Roosy (Paul Roos) and then Simon Goodwin.”

Garland said he was adamant he didn’t want to field any other offers.

“I told my manager I didn’t want to speak to any other club, but it’s funny after seeing one of my great mates [James Frawley] win a premiership on the weekend, because you have to be envious of success,” he said.

“I was watching the game and people said ‘wouldn’t you love success?’ and I said ‘it wouldn’t mean anything to me unless it was with Melbourne’.

“I’m so happy for guys who go on and win a premiership, but I truly believe that we can go on and make finals next year. So in the end, I just wanted to be a Melbourne player.”

Garland, who was drafted at No.46 in the 2006 NAB AFL Draft, has played 135 matches for Melbourne since making his AFL debut in round five, 2007 against the Sydney Swans at the SCG.

A NAB AFL Rising Star nominee in 2008, Garland also finished runner-up to Nathan Jones in the 2013 club best and fairest award.

[Big Mac]

Not really fussed either way about Garland

[Purple 77]

As a player

Not really fussed either way about Garland

As a person, I'm delighted he has stayed on with us. I have a high opinion of him, and think he is part of a rare handful that has genuine passion for the club he plays for.


Also delighted to see Cross stay with us  :D I also have huge wraps on that guy.

Reckon Trengove, Viney & Nate Jones are the other guys I truly respect as passionate Melbourne players.

[Rusty00]

Hey guys, seeing that Chris Dawes has been rumoured to have been placed on the trade table do you think that means Pedo is seen as the Best 22 key forward partner to Hogan? Or is there someone else I'm forgetting?