8 notes from 6 press conferences
Zane Duursma is already running with his new Melbourne teammates after his trade from North Melbourne. "Doesn't have to be a star, he just has to... work really hard, get himself super fit," Tim Lamb said, adding Duursma has shown real commitment to driving his own career.
Will McLaughlin's move from Brisbane to Melbourne ended "reasonably close to what we'd originally offered," Tim Lamb said, and he expects McLaughlin to add a fair bit to the front half. Lamb admitted he spent much of deadline day thinking the deals might fall over.
Trent Rivers and Jack Viney went to West Coast as one package. Melbourne was open to splitting them, Tim Lamb said, but "we were happy to keep them together." Bodie Ryan's deadline-day move from Hawthorn hinged on the Rivers deal: "He was nice and tough... he's a good kick."
Two first-round picks in hand at the end of the trade period. "To think we finished where we did on the ladder... is an outstanding result for the club," Melbourne's Tim Lamb said. The emphasis has been on players who fit coach Steven King's game.
Melbourne told Jack Viney straight how it saw his playing future. "We wanted to be really honest with Jack and give him that information," Tim Lamb said. Viney then made inquiries with other clubs and chose West Coast, where he felt he could add extra value.
Zane Duursma rang Melbourne himself. "He rang us saying, I want to come to your footy club," Tim Lamb said; it hadn't quite worked out at North. Brisbane's Will McLaughlin, stuck behind others, joins too, rated "the most talented player... not playing regular AFL footy."
Jack Viney, still contracted, is weighing West Coast and Essendon after Steven King told him Melbourne's young midfielders left "limited opportunity" for him there next year. Tim Lamb said Viney thanked the club for its honesty and will decide within days.
Jack Viney is weighing Melbourne against West Coast and Essendon after coach Steven King laid out next year's midfield mix and how it could affect his role. "We felt we needed to be 100% honest with Jack," list boss Tim Lamb said. Lamb's best guess: a decision within days.