And the winner is … Sam McClure! My grand final heartbreak

For a few glorious minutes on Saturday morning, Scoop thought Scoop in September had delivered its greatest result yet.

As this reporter was arriving at the MCG, the phone started blowing up.

Apparently, the trade period begins somewhere between the final siren of the grand final and the first glass of red being poured.

And Melbourne have wasted little time getting to work.

Scoop can reveal Demons captain Max Gawn has invited Hawthorn youngster Calsher Dear to dinner at Motor, Gawn’s very cool wine bar in Hawthorn, on Monday night.

Phew, that’s season 2026 done. What a finish for the Brisbane Lions and the Norm Smith medal voting panel.

For what it’s worth I had Shai Bolton in my top five players on the ground but not as high as some. Halfway through the last quarter I would have voted for Dayne Zorko, but Will Ashcroft’s last five minutes were really something and I reckon he’s stiff not to have matched Dusty for three Norms.

Anyway, after 15 functions during the finals, Scoop in September is almost ready for a spell.

But not before one last burst, starting with a little taster ahead of trade period ...