At the time it was a hasty call, and for the most part cost us dearly. I agree with that. However now that he's finally started to show justification for why we put that investment into him, wouldn't trading him now for a second round compo pick make the initial decision even stupider? We still gave up pick 11, Adelaide still have Talia (Gysberts doesn't count ), and all we'd have to show for it then would be a pick in the 20s/30s while one of our top 5 players for 2012 walks out. I think we lose by much more then.

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WADA medical director Dr Alan Vernec describes Essendon* FC drug case as biggest scandal in team sport the world of sport has seen. #WC2WB

#GUILTY

A pick 20/30 in a Draft that bats deep for talented mid-fielders I would take it - there is actually an argument that we would actually get a First Round Draft Pick as compensation from the AFL if he went to GWS as an uncontracted player, if that were the case we would be crazy not to take it.

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"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

..is it purely length based?, i think if the cash is 'fair' then 2 years is reasonable.. ..you know what he can give, with his body able to deliver on it.. ..which it now is.. ..will his body hold up?, who knows but there's no promises with kids either, hammy Hartlett comes to mind.. ..he's a good footballer, as he's shown.. ..did we pay overs, yes.. ..although if his body allowed him [and was conditioned better perhaps], his recent form if delivered for more than half a season would have gone a long way towards appeasing the initial angst at offering up pick 11 so far before the trade period even began..

..that said, talk of Talia doesn't hold as much weight cos we could have picked him with 12, our opportunity was there.. ..ultimately Brock can't be held accountable if there's still so much residual bitterness it needs to be directed to those making the trade, and not the player involved.. ..looking at what we possibly missed isn't fair either.. ..we got back a 1st round pick with Hendo for fevastinko, we picked Lucas.. ..which i'm actually happy with, just needs what we can now give him.. ..better coaching and development.. ..ditto Watto, along with McInnes showed good signs this year..

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..if you can't be good, be good at it..

McLean deserves 2 years for Christ sake he was our best player in the second half of the year

Do GWS have a say?
Or are they forced to take him as an uncontracted because it suits us?

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T E A M

Of course they have a say - they can choose to take him as an uncontracted player or pass on the opportunity.

All I am saying is that if GWS take him as an uncontracted player at a minimum we will get a second round draft pick from the AFL as compensation and that there is an argument that we may even get a first round draft pick as compensation.

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"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

Worth 2 years I would think

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Have I run too far to get home?

The AFL have always looked after us. I'm confident we'll get a first rounder

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One year with one year option will be the go, and they'll talk good renewal terms if he keeps up the form.

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29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

..that works too..

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..if you can't be good, be good at it..

Just on GWS, why is it we're hearing nothing at all about potential GWS uncontracted player targets? Last year (GWS) and the year before (GC), speculation was front page news all year. But not this year.

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Mens sana in corpore sano.

Bring back the laurel wreath logo!!!

Not sure how many they have left? Maybe two?

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29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

I only count 10 players on their list that have played at other clubs, and some of those (O'hAilpin, MacDonald etc) had been delisted. So I think they have plenty left if they want to.

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Mens sana in corpore sano.

Bring back the laurel wreath logo!!!

No I mean they only have rights two nab two uncontracted yet unreleased players from clubs, they used 5 last year I believe.

Just checked, it was 5, and they have 3 more slots available. The idea of this is that they can sign anyone who is coming out of contract, regardless of what the other club wants. There are no free agency restrictions with this, and the old club gets a compensation pick.

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29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

They can sign up to 16 according to the AFL website...

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/ ... fault.aspx

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Mens sana in corpore sano.

Bring back the laurel wreath logo!!!

You are right, I was stupidly going off the GC's signings. But check the wording, it's up to 16; one from each club.

Pickings are probably a tad slim.

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29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

You would offer him a contract first I think, and then if an agreement cannot be made, you roll the dice and look into what compo we will get.
Are you willing to take that chance?

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Essendon-Only team to have ever been found guilty of salary cap breaches in a premiership year!

Nah we should @#$%&! him around hoping for maybe a 1st round compensation pick from GWS while the tigers organise for him to walk via the psd

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Not worth a two year deal. Had a great second half of the year but how well has he done in the years prior to that? He isn't young and he admitted himself earlier in the year it would probably be his last.

He has issues with his body. If it breaks down again he is worthless. I am sick of this club giving un deserving players longer deals than necessary. Warnock and AJ cases in point.

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015