Paul Roos says time up for James Frawley to let Demons know whether he’s staying or going

MELBOURNE coach Paul Roos says the time has come for James Frawley to decide on his future so the Demons can plan for the 2015 season.

Round 15: Western Bulldogs v Melbourne AFLR1514 James Frawley Picture: Wayne Ludbey

MELBOURNE coach Paul Roos says the time has come for James Frawley to decide on his future so the Demons can plan for the 2015 season.

The Demons have given up all hope he will stay despite the free agent’s stance that he will need until late September to decide.

Melbourne boss Peter Jackson said yesterday Frawley would have signed by now if he was staying and says the club needs to know his future as soon as possible.

Roos said everyone was effectively on the trade table after Saturday night’s final loss of the year.

Frawley will tell the club this week he still needs several weeks to consider his position despite being linked with clubs including Geelong and Hawthorn.

Yesterday Roos told the Herald Sun the Demons needed to know as soon as this week whether Frawley was gone.

SNAKES AND LADDERS: YOUR CLUB AT THE TRADE TABLE

“When we have spoken to him and his manager he is undecided but the next stage is when do you think you will make the decision,” he said.

“That’s what we need to know because as you get into trading and drafting it’s a pretty significant in or out. It would be nice to know sooner rather than later once the dust settles.

“We have had no problem with the way he’s bought in, it’s just as the time frame narrows, you get to the point where he needs to make a decision.”

Paul Roos says the Dees need to know James Frawley’s movements so they can start planning for their off-season. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Roos says the decision to put everyone up for trade mirrors his stance at Sydney, with players like Jack Watts, Mark Jamar, Dean Terlich, Jimmy Toumpas and Jack Trengove some of the few players with trade currency.

The Demons will be compensated with a top-three pick for Frawley but Jackson says the departure of several free agents and retirement of Mitch Clark should be factored into the AFL decision on a priority pick.

“He would have made a decision to stay by now if he was going to,’’ Jackson said.

“He’s had an offer on the table for quite some time, quite a few weeks, so if that was acceptable to him he would have accepted it by now.

“A few people have asked him and he says he hasn’t made up his mind. I hope it is genuine.”

ROOS: EVERY DEE UP FOR TRADE

“I take the point about the past, but the issue is the competition itself. Free agency is starting to attract players to stronger clubs.

“If the AFL wants to fix up the competition they have to look at the things we are talking about (like a priority pick).”

“Our record over the last three years has not been good — ten wins over three years. The AFL want to see an even competition and we are fair way off at the moment.”

The Demons hope Max Gawn has only hurt his meniscus, with the ruckman awaiting the result of scans that they believe will clear him of damage to his anterior cruciate ligament.

Jackson’s comments as Roos encouraged rivals to be more aggressive in trading for Demons players.

The issue is the Demons have little trade bait, which means names like Watts and Trengove will be thrown up again.

Jackson said on Channel Nine he expected Watts to stay, but “ but who knows what will happen, anything is possible in trading periods”.

Originally published as Paul Roos says time up for James Frawley to let Demons know whether he’s staying or going