Jump to content

Featured Replies

Is it just me or this trade season is going to be more crazy than usual. Everyone from every team seems to be shopping themselves around. 

 
9 minutes ago, GCDee said:

A big overhaul like that could cause a lack of team chemistry. 

You gotta admit it's not ideal losing 25% of your list. 

Unless you're carlton

As an observation a ll players that I’ve been in contact with, know the commercial reality - they rarely speak of it as a brotherhood or all my mates - even the 18yo speak in terms of working in the organisation they are currently employed at. 

There is a generational shift in how they perceive the afl football landscape and understand that everyone and  anyone can be gone and change clubs in this time for trades. To them it is merely a job...  it’s hard to be passionate about your own job day in day out right? It’s no different for them. 

Its us supporters that still hold on to notions of tearing the fabric apart (yes not your words), when players leave.

Edited by Danelska

 

Would be a shame to see him go. He was one of the comeback fairytales of the season. But, like with Jesse, you can understand his thinking. It's obviously been a very tough year for him, and given the family and business ties to NSW, Sydney may be the best place for him

17 minutes ago, GCDee said:

A big overhaul like that could cause a lack of team chemistry. 

You gotta admit it's not ideal losing 25% of your list. 

Unless you're carlton

I think chemistry is created after the pre season starts and the players commit to the cause together and find the guys they like to hang out with.

What we appear to be doing is changing our bottom 10- 20 and except for JH, losing no one from the top 22.

If we bring in 4-5 players by trades who are serious top 22 contenders that has to be an improvement. If the next 4-5 brought in via the draft, have the chance to develop into top 22 contenders, that is a brilliant result.

I don't think it is the number being replaced per se that is vital, but rather the abilities of the replacements.

If I said we will lose Pedo and get Preuss, would anyone complain? If I said we get KK and lose Kent? Get Toby Bedford for McKenna. Gaff for Bugg. May and a top 5 kid for Hogan or better. While these are possible examples, they show what we are trying to do, make the list better.

If the list looks better after draft night than it does today, we have succeeded in improving the list, which is a main aim of every club every year.

If we lose JH and keep the rest of our best 22 and change 15 other spots, I would not lose any sleep.

Edited by Redleg


14 minutes ago, ProDee said:

It makes sense that he may want to move.

He has great attributes, but disposal can let him down.

He's a bottom 6 player, so it's no big deal if he goes.

I would certainly rate him higher than 'bottom 6'. One of our biggest improvements of late has been the consistent pressure we have been able to apply. I would rate AVB up there with our best tacklers - that is Viney & Harmes.

The loss of his hardness at the ball would be very noticeable and most regrettable.

I'd be working at keeping him as a top priority.

1 minute ago, Redleg said:

If we bring in 4-5 players by trades who are serious top 22 contenders that has to be an improvement. If the next 4-5 brought in via the draft, have the chance to develop into top 22 contenders, that is a brilliant result.

I don't think it is the number being replaced per se that is vital, but rather the abilities of the replacements.

I think 4 to 5 may be too many 'Red', there is some good analysis on this.

Longer term it might be ok but could push us back a bit in 2019.

Port went through big changes this year and struggled, admittedly the quality wasn't what it could be. Collingwood a couple of years back were in the same boat, they stabilised this year and are getting a result. WC have been very stable for a while with minimal player movement.

The Tigers have stabilised after a period of instability.

 

We better go on a camp this year! Just so players can learn each other's names!

 


19 minutes ago, Demon Jim said:

You could try reading the article

Since most of the Aged Journalists have been retrenched or sacked, there is little point in opening anything they do. 

But that is a personal choice

28 minutes ago, Jones said:

Do people bother to read the article before commenting?

Clearly not mate. People just read a "headline" and lose their minds!

33 minutes ago, chook fowler said:

I hope this exodus leads to a genesis and not a poor old Job.

could it be the precursor to the Apocalypse... Did I hear those horses being saddled up ?

Im thinking an early to mid 2nd rounder. Still pretty good.


I can understand his reasoning. It sounds like, after the death of his father, he may need to be closer to home for a variety of reasons. Clearly he loves the club and hasn't asked to be traded, but sometimes things in life change. 

If the Swans, like Kent with the Saints, offer Vanders a longer term deal that is closer to home then of course he would seriously consider it. Who could blame him? 

I think he is a handy player and I'd rather him stay, but if he needs to be closer to his family then I hardly think we can stop him or kick up a fuss. 

Edited by Wiseblood

I've got a lot of sympathy for AVB's situation.  He carries a massive family responsibility with the business and he has been running it by remote.  Sure we looked after him when injured, but he got injured playing for us!  He always gives 100%, but as others have already pointed out, he isn't critical for us going forward.  If he goes then I wish him all the best and sincerely thank him for what he has done for our footy club.

1 hour ago, Jones said:

Do people bother to read the article before commenting?

Welcome to Knee-Jerk Central.

24 minutes ago, Demons11 said:

[censored] weak if he leaves.  Looked after him for 2 years whilst on the sidelines 

[censored] weak thing to say in light of what has been going on in his personal life.  


Like most AFL players why doesn’t he prioritise his AFL career over a side business? Seems he has his priorities mixed up if he wants to move state to run the family business instead of focusing on his AFL career?

Respect is the new loyalty and I'm ok with that.

Clearly VandenBerg has fair off-field reasons to consider a move to Sydney and clearly there would be a comfortable place for him in their player mix. And no, it is not a 'side business', it is 'the family business', and I would imagine that like a great many small businesses you can't just toss it in and wash your hands unless you're happy with a great big wad of unresolved debts to deal with.

Him leaving wont leave any gaping holes for us, but he is also a player we'd be happy to keep. I honestly can't bring myself to think anything more controversial than 'if he says that is good, if going is what he needs to do, then all the best to him and I'm sure we will get a reasonable trade'.

Straight Swap for Lloyd, they might want to throw in Zak Jones.

 
1 hour ago, corowa said:

I would certainly rate him higher than 'bottom 6'. One of our biggest improvements of late has been the consistent pressure we have been able to apply. I would rate AVB up there with our best tacklers - that is Viney & Harmes.

The loss of his hardness at the ball would be very noticeable and most regrettable.

I'd be working at keeping him as a top priority.

List your best 20 in order.

He would be a great fit for the Swans, playing style and on that puddle of a ground. 

Massive loss from a father figure role, he is the head of the share house with Oliver, Brayshaw and Dion. 


Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

Featured Content

  • GAMEDAY: Brisbane

    It’s Game Day, and the Demons are back on the road with a massive challenge ahead — facing the reigning premiers, the Brisbane Lions, at their Gabba fortress. The Lions are licking their wounds after a shock draw in Tasmania last week, while Melbourne’s season hangs in the balance. Can the Dees defy the odds and pull off a miracle to keep their razor thin finals hopes alive?

      • Haha
    • 8 replies
    Demonland
  • NON-MFC: Round 10

    The Sir Doug Nicholls Round kicks off in Darwin with a Top 4 clash between the Suns and the Hawks. On Friday night the Swans will be seeking to rebound from a challenging start to the season, while the Blues have the Top 8 in their sights after their sluggish start. Saturdays matches kick off with a blockbuster between the Collingwood and Kuwarna with the Magpies looking to maintain their strong form and the Crows aiming to make a statement on the road. The Power face a difficult task to revive their season against a resilient Cats side looking to make amends for their narrow loss last week. The Giants aim to reinforce their top-eight status, while the Dockers will be looking to break the travel hoodoo. The sole Saturday game is a critical matchup for both teams, as the Bulldogs strive to cemet their spot in the top six and the Bombers desperately want break into the 8. Sundays start with a bottom 3 clash between the Tigers and Kangaroos with both teams wanting to avoid the being in wooden spoon contention. The Round concludes with the Eagles still searching for their first win of the season, while the Saints look to keep their finals hopes alive with a crucial away victory. Who are you tipping and what are the best results for the Demons?

    • 165 replies
    Demonland
  • PREVIEW: Brisbane

    And just like that, we’re Narrm again. Even though the annual AFL Sir Doug Nicholls Round which commemorates the contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture to our game has been a welcome addition to our calendar for ten years, more lately it has been a portent of tough times ahead for we beleaguered Narrm supporters. Ever since the club broke through for its historic 2021 premiership, this has become a troubling time of the year for the club. For example, it all began when Melbourne rebranded itself as Narrm across the two rounds of the Sir Doug Nicholls Round to become the first club to adopt an Indigenous club name especially for the occasion. It won its first outing under the brand against lowly North Melbourne to go to 10 wins and no losses but not without a struggle or a major injury to  star winger Ed Langdon who broke his ribs and missed several weeks. In the following week, still as Narrm, the team’s 17 game winning streak came to an end at the hands of the Dockers. That came along with more injuries, a plague that remained with them for the remainder of the season until, beset by injuries, the Dees were eliminated from the finals in straight sets. It was even worse last year, when Narrm inexplicably lowered its colours in Perth to the Waalit Marawar Eagles. Oh, the shame of it all! At least this year, if there is a corner to turn around, it has to be in the direction of something better. To that end, I produced a special pre-game chant in the local Narrm language - “nam mi:wi winnamun katjil prolin ambi ngamar thamelin amb” which roughly translated is “every heart beats true for the red and the blue.” >y belief is that if all of the Narrm faithful recite it long enough, then it might prove to be the only way to beat the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba on Sunday. The Lions are coming off a disappointing draw at Marvel Stadium against a North Melbourne team that lacks the ability and know how to win games (except when playing Melbourne). Brisbane are, however, a different kettle of fish at home and have very few positional weaknesses. They are a midfield powerhouse, strong in defence and have plenty of forward options, particularly their small and medium sized players, to kick a winning score this week after the sting of last week’s below par performance.

      • Thumb Down
      • Haha
      • Like
    • 11 replies
    Demonland
  • REPORT: Hawthorn

    There was a time during the current Melbourne cycle that goes back to before the premiership when the club was the toughest to beat in the fourth quarter. The Demons were not only hard to beat at any time but it was virtually impossible to get the better them when scores were close at three quarter time. It was only three or four years ago but they were fit, strong and resilient in body and mind. Sadly, those days are over. This has been the case since the club fell off its pedestal about 12 months ago after it beat Geelong and then lost to Carlton. In both instances, Melbourne put together strong, stirring final quarters, one that resulted in victory, the other, in defeat. Since then, the drop off has been dramatic to the point where it can neither pull off victory in close matches, nor can it even go down in defeat  gallantly.

    • 1 reply
    Demonland
  • CASEY: Footscray

    At twenty-four minutes into the third term of the game between the Casey Demons and Footscray VFL at Whitten Oval, the visitors were coasting. They were winning all over the ground, had the ascendancy in the ruck battles and held a 26 point lead on a day perfect for football. What could go wrong? Everything. The Bulldogs moved into overdrive in the last five minutes of the term and booted three straight goals to reduce the margin to a highly retrievable eight points at the last break. Bouyed by that effort, their confidence was on a high level during the interval and they ran all over the despondent Demons and kicked another five goals to lead by a comfortable margin of four goals deep into the final term before Paddy Cross kicked a couple of too late goals for a despondent Casey. A testament to their lack of pressure in the latter stages of the game was the fact that Footscray’s last ten scoring shots were nine goals and one rushed behind. Things might have been different for the Demons who went into the game after last week’s bye with 12 AFL listed players. Blake Howes was held over for the AFL game but two others, Jack Billings and Taj Woewodin (not officially listed as injured) were also missing and they could have been handy at the end. Another mystery of the current VFL system.

    • 0 replies
    Demonland
  • PREGAME: Brisbane

    The Demons head back out on the road in Round 10 when they travel to Queensland to take on the reigning Premiers and the top of the table Lions who look very formidable. Can the Dees cause a massive upset? Who comes in and who goes out?

      • Like
    • 284 replies
    Demonland