Oppo Camp Non-Eagles Discussion 2025

[Boohemian]

Stephen King the new coach at Melbourne.

When was the last time we had two ex ruckmen as head coaches? Barely ever have one.

Justin Longmuir played a bit of ruck, did he not?

I presume you're thinking of Cox and now King.

 

[Ochre]

Not 100% sure why the Bombers are completely taking Merrett off the table. He's going to be 30 next year and while there's a reasonable chance that they'll be better with some better health and more games into the younger players, they're probably at least 3 years off contending for a flag. If he's not going to be part of a premiership chance then I would think it better to just trade him now while his value is high. He's an inside who's played 250 games and is almost certainly at the start of his decline phase (most of his stats were down slightly across the board in 2025, albeit certainly not falling off a cliff).

Maybe they're just sick of the Hawks being a-holes.

Surely it's just posturing at this stage, trade value plummets if you come out and say he's not welcome back. Trade week's still a few weeks away from starting.

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

Stephen King the new coach at Melbourne.

When was the last time we had two ex ruckmen as head coaches? Barely ever have one.

John Nicholls and Polly Farmer ... Maybe?

 

[ioppolo]

250 games across 12 seasons is some damn good durability. Durability that we'll never see here in the West.

 

[WCErevival]

250 games across 12 seasons is some damn good durability. Durability that we'll never see here in the West.

Gaff did it.

 

[TY24]

Not 100% sure why the Bombers are completely taking Merrett off the table.

Can you imagine the response of Eagles fans if Harley were to demand a trade to Fremantle and we actually sanctioned it?

It wouldn't just be MRP that gets burnt down. Perth would cease to exist.

It's a desperate act of defiance from Essendon to try and keep the fanbase onside after another disastrous year. Trading their captain to their arch rivals would be the final straw for a lot of the Bombers faithful.

 

[FatPizza]

Gaff did it.

And Darling. 2010 Draft was pretty good eh?

 

[Mop]

Can you imagine the response of Eagles fans if Harley were to demand a trade to Fremantle and we actually sanctioned it?

It wouldn't just be MRP that gets burnt down. Perth would cease to exist.

It's a desperate act of defiance from Essendon to try and keep the fanbase onside after another disastrous year. Trading their captain to their arch rivals would be the final straw for a lot of the Bombers faithful.

This. For us in a two team state we know a cross town trade is acrimonious, the fact Melbourne does have its arch rivalries does get overlooked a bit.

 

[Ilkka Sinisalo]

Can you imagine the response of Eagles fans if Harley were to demand a trade to Fremantle and we actually sanctioned it?

It wouldn't just be MRP that gets burnt down. Perth would cease to exist.

It's a desperate act of defiance from Essendon to try and keep the fanbase onside after another disastrous year. Trading their captain to their arch rivals would be the final straw for a lot of the Bombers faithful.

Well, Harley is 20 years old. You're trading a guy who you might have to watch be elite for the next decade, not a guy who probably has 3-4 years left as a professional footballer, all while in his decline phase.

A better comparison is probably if the Eagles had been looking at trading Shuey to Freo following the 2019 or 2020 seasons. The best thing to do given how much footy he had left in him and what kind of return they might get? Probably. A massive kick in the balls seeing him line up for the enemy? For sure. Guess it depends how willing you are to make your supporters angry and how important it is for one of the best players of the generation to retire as a one-club player.

 

[oak79]

Maybe they're just sick of the Hawks being a-holes.

Aren't we all

 

[Tugga27]

Surely it's just posturing at this stage, trade value plummets if you come out and say he's not welcome back. Trade week's still a few weeks away from starting.

They seem pretty adamant they're not trading him and Ridley.

They would look really silly if they folded now.

Bombers rule out trading star captain, defender

In a letter to Essendon members, president Dave Barham said Zach Merrett and Jordan Ridley wouldn't be traded

www.afl.com.au

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

Aren't we all

Perfectly legit trade strategy really

 

[KBLT]

Not 100% sure why the Bombers are completely taking Merrett off the table. He's going to be 30 next year and while there's a reasonable chance that they'll be better with some better health and more games into the younger players, they're probably at least 3 years off contending for a flag. If he's not going to be part of a premiership chance then I would think it better to just trade him now while his value is high. He's an inside who's played 250 games and is almost certainly at the start of his decline phase (most of his stats were down slightly across the board in 2025, albeit certainly not falling off a cliff).

Maybe they're just sick of the Hawks being a-holes.

Would love to see them get.smashed tonight, but I just have a feeling they're getting up over the Crom.

 

[Keys]

Watching the start of the Fox footy coverage for tonight’s game and first up they discussed the appointment of King as coach with Buckley sitting on the panel

Long story short, Melbourne asked Buckley if he was offered the job today would he accept it - he said not until Wednesday because he had an appointment with Tasmania on Tuesday

Rather than wait they gave the job to King

Don’t know why the rush and they might have passed on the better option because they wouldn’t wait a week. Will come back to bite them if King doesn’t work out, albeit I think he’ll be pretty good

 

[ziad]

They seem pretty adamant they're not trading him and Ridley.

They would look really silly if they folded now.

Bombers rule out trading star captain, defender

In a letter to Essendon members, president Dave Barham said Zach Merrett and Jordan Ridley wouldn't be traded

www.afl.com.au

Yep, very strong statements. Could be entertaining!

 

[ziad]

Watching the start of the Fox footy coverage for tonight’s game and first up they discussed the appointment of King as coach with Buckley sitting on the panel

Long story short, Melbourne asked Buckley if he was offered the job today would he accept it - he said not until Wednesday because he had an appointment with Tasmania on Tuesday

Rather than wait they gave the job to King

Don’t know why the rush and they might have passed on the better option because they wouldn’t wait a week. Will come back to bite them if King doesn’t work out, albeit I think he’ll be pretty good

Rather odd.

 

[ziad]

Would love to see them get.smashed tonight, but I just have a feeling they're getting up over the Crom.

Yep, crows are doomed I suspect

 

[Happy Mastenator]

Justin Longmuir played a bit of ruck, did he not?

I presume you're thinking of Cox and now King.

Not counting longmuir as a ruck. Was a part timer at best

 

[Monocle]

I'm imagining a Geelong v Hawthorn grand final now...

 

[Byron_Clanger]

I'm happy to be wrong but I reckon Hawthorn's gonna smack em

 

[Barrybran]

Nick Watson looks like a hobbit next to Chol

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Sam Berry isn't a starting midfielder for an actual premiership threat. Liability early.

 

[EvilBeagles]

Oh boy

 

[RookiePick]

Anytime you'd like to show up Adelaide...

 

[squashface]

Adelaide are ****ing ass