I'm delighted about the signings but it is only one additional year to their existing two year contract. 

Even so, it is good for the club to have the continuity and to further assess them without being locked into longer term contracts and without worrying about poachers for a year or two. 

Draftees are usually paid the minimum amounts for the first two years.  A new contract is a good way to give them a financial incentive in their third year. 

And, good for the players to give them time to develop without the pressure of worrying about when their next contract will be.  In 2019/2020 they have the chance to earn themselves the following contract.

Win/win by all.

 

Doesn’t the salary cap increase by a fair bit over coming years also? Think we have room for at least one maybe two stars to be recruited 

11 minutes ago, Colin B. Flaubert said:

Hehehe.

I knew there was a reason I got rid of my social media.

Witness protection program?

3 hours ago, Blinkybill said:

I have it from reasonably good authority within the club that all senior players have made a pledge between themselves to see things through. After a premiership (okay, I can dream) all bets are off. I will be shocked if any senior, off contract player leaves.

I recall reading that Lewis gave the team a pep talk early last year that if they want to stay together and have sustained success it won't happen if they push for top $. 

I think the pep talk worked because I heard late last year that players were taking less in their contracts than offered elsewhere.   All OOC players of the last 12 months have signed up without hesitation and like you I would be surprised if any OOC player leaves.

I like it that our Club has already seen enough to back-in the draft calls they made only 6 months ago, and that the boys are clearly happy at Melbourne.  Importantly in Petty's case, the 'go home' factor was not a barrier to his re-signing.

1 hour ago, Demonland said:

In this day and age LIKES are everything. 

Join the digital revolution. ?

Here was me thinking "eye-balls" pay the bills - "likes" are only a metric to smash you with more of the same adverting content . 

Join the new age income  streams

9 minutes ago, DaveyDee said:

Here was me thinking "eye-balls" pay the bills - "likes" are only a metric to smash you with more of the same adverting content . 

Join the new age income  streams

I think the Dees have aboout 135,000 people liking their Facebook page. Imagine if you could turn all of them into members. Obviously this is not possible and there might be a chunk of those that don't follow the Dees or are Russian bots but at least the Dees have the opportunity to reach that number of people with messages.

I am aware that not every post on social media reaches all of your followers due to changes in the Facebook algorithm and other factors but social media allows the club to reach a larger audience that has already opted in to follow them for a fraction of the cost of advertising on TV or radio to an audience that is made up largely of people who don't care about the Demons.

Social media and advertising on the web allows you to target your audience more directly.

LIKES can pay the bills and winning is the best way to achieve more LIKES.

3 hours ago, Colin B. Flaubert said:

I'm still neither here not there with first year players extending their initial contracts.

Don't get me wrong. Of course it's better than them walking out on us but realistically, their options are limited as they haven't established a body of work that they could potentially sell to a rival suitor.

 

 

I wouldnt underestimate these signings..   these are fresh draftess and all three are showing great signs that they will be very good players. No doubt there will have been clubs already looking at all three of them and trying to get them after their 2 year contract ended.

Its a ruthless industry, the more young talent we lock away early the better.

55 minutes ago, Mazer Rackham said:

Witness protection program?

Jehovah's Witnesses have long memories Mazer.

48 minutes ago, Demonland said:

I think the Dees have aboout 135,000 people liking their Facebook page. Imagine if you could turn all of them into members. Obviously this is not possible and there might be a chunk of those that don't follow the Dees or are Russian bots but at least the Dees have the opportunity to reach that number of people with messages.

I am aware that not every post on social media reaches all of your followers due to changes in the Facebook algorithm and other factors but social media allows the club to reach a larger audience that has already opted in to follow them for a fraction of the cost of advertising on TV or radio to an audience that is made up largely of people who don't care about the Demons.

Social media and advertising on the web allows you to target your audience more directly.

LIKES can pay the bills and winning is the best way to achieve more LIKES.

Yes, I really like what you have said in regards to the demographic nature of Facebook ads, but ultimately you don’t control your own real estate on Facebook. 

IMHO the Facebook community is evolving and fine to broadcast information, but less powerful to generate an income or more market specific for the end user to leave Facebook and take the desired action. 

Google for me is still the big, big money spinner - and again in my opinion where AFL clubs have somewhat missed the boat to derive large amounts of income. Think Essendon was the only club to go it alone but I don’t think their SEO & SEM people really understood what they were doing - and neither would you expect them too - football is their core business. 

Nothing wrong with getting a few young potential guns to sign on the dotted line. Anyone who doesn't think that Spargo and Fritsch haven't been important cogs in this wheel needs their heads checked. Both play their roles well. Not saying we'd lose without them but think of how much more they're going to give in the future. Add to that the wraps people have for Petty and the luxury we have of letting him develop in the 2s. Great job MFC.

8 hours ago, Colin B. Flaubert said:

I know the signings aren't. I think that these boys are being signed for logical reasons that have yet to play out.

It's what you said about how it's plastered across our social media channels as you said that gets to me a bit. I'm not everyone but I would prefer if the messaging about the significance of the signings was put in perspective.

I take your point but look at it from another angle. How will it appear to the players if fireworks are being let off over the re-signing of T Mac and Gus and the contract extensions of Fritsch and Spargo are a lot more ho hum? The players may not care but they’d be entitled to feel as though they are less worthy.

I kinda like that they are given equal weighting by the club, at least outwardly. Leave it to the media outlets to make a bigger song and dance accordingly.

Hats go off to Jason Taylor the MFC Recruiting Manager for finding these talented youngsters.

He has done a great job so far and will hopefully find a few more gems in the draft this year too!