Melbourne's momentum has halted but it can change by keeping pick No.2 in the draft
THE momentum which enveloped Melbourne has come to a screaming halt.
THE momentum which enveloped Melbourne has come to a screaming halt.
Robbo wrote this piece before news this morning Melbourne has traded pick 2 in exchange for GWS midfielder Dom Tyson, with a swap of draft picks that results in the Demons getting the Giants' pick 9. Did they make the right call? Leave a comment below
The appointment of a chief executive, a president and ultimately Paul Roos as coach put the embattled club on the pathway to glorious redemption.
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Since those three spoke individually and collectively about the hard work and cultural changes required, the Demons have treaded water.
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True, the triumvirate of Peter Jackson, Glen Bartlett and Roos is a significant addition, but unlike North Melbourne, which also struck off-field gold this off-season, the Demons desperately need on-field oomph.
They have lost Colin Sylvia to Fremantle via free agency, which is no great shakes, but also lost who they believed to be their coach-in-waiting, Stuart Dew, who signed a three-year deal to stay in Sydney.
Arguably, Dew was a bigger loss than Sylvia.
They are in an awkward spot, the Demons.
They have pick No. 2 dangling but so far no takers. One wonders what they initially expected in return.
Waiting game on Vince deal
For No. 2, you’d be looking at top 10 player.
In another context, Greater Western Sydney coach Leon Cameron was asked if he proposed to give Fremantle its No.1 pick in exchange for Nathan Fyfe.
His response: "Would you trade Fyfe for No.1?" Point taken.
Reports yesterday said the Demons and GWS were exploring a package of Matthew Buntine and Tom Bugg plus pick No. 9 for pick No.2.
Buntine has been disappointing after a stellar junior career, while Bugg is hard at it and plays small defender and midfielder.
Both have promise. But not as much promise as Josh Kelly, the player tipped to be the second player picked behind GWS-bound Tom Boyd.
Why trade Kelly, a Ryan Griffen-type with the Ryan Griffen hype, for Buntine and Bugg who are good players, but might not be very good players?
It’s as though they have $100 bill and want to exchange it for three $50 notes.
Frankly, adding Kelly to Jesse Hogan is the most excited we’ve been about Melbourne since Jack Viney went father-son. Now, that would be momentum.
But, no, Roos has said he wanted to immediately improve his midfield so No. 2 was for the taking.
It’s crazy thinking because either 1) they won’t get what they want or 2) they will give it away too cheaply.
Thus far the Demons have recruited Viv Michie from Fremantle for pick No.54 — who knows if that’s a winner? — and are close to signing Adelaide’s Bernie Vince.
Vince certainly ain’t Fyfe, but it would appear the Demons are set to part with pick No.20 for the 28-year-old who’s had one super season (2009), not bad seasons (2012-13), and a couple of seasons where you didn’t know whether he was coming or going (2008, 2010-11).
Vince is a terrific bloke. He’s funny, always smiling, the life of a party, and that has its attractions for a club who could be excused for forgetting its theme song.
But Vince is a risk at 28 and the Demons are said to be keen enough to offer a three-year deal.
Three years for Vince? Gee whiz.
Anyhow, to this point, it’s Out: Sylvia. In: Michie and Vince.
For goodness sake, don’t give up the future for now — and keep No.2.