Jump to content


Recommended Posts

Posted (edited)
42 minutes ago, Kent said:

All very reasonable Macca

But these two are now hanging around for year 3

Surely there is a limit 

Yes, but injuries intervened and none of us could have foretold that.  No one

And it can work the other way too

What if Dunstan & Melksham were contracted this year on reasonable money?  

Edited by Macca
  • Like 1

Posted (edited)

In a sport like soccer especially, the issue of players being contracted but not being very productive is an old, old story

On a much bigger scale to the AFL, soccer has learned to live with contracted players that are past their prime.  All the USA sports as well.  There are countless individual stories, not just a few

It's just a part of pro sports that we're not used to in Australia.  Once the money became much bigger and the contracts water-tight, the timing of the contracts became more difficult

In terms of value, both Brown & T-Mac have been productive from an overall perspective

Both were integral in 2021 when we won the flag.  And without that flag, it would be 60 years and counting instead of 57 years

So if someone had have said (before the flag) that Brown & T-Mac would become unproductive post 2021 but you'll win the flag in 2021, who amongst us wouldn't have taken that?  

Edited by Macca
  • Like 7

Posted
5 hours ago, jayceebee31 said:

I think Disco up forward is a long straw…

Agree Jay and that is why I named 6 others before him.

That said, Disco was trialled late last year in a scratch match and did well, so who can say definitively he can’t play forward.

  • Like 2
Posted
3 minutes ago, Redleg said:

Agree Jay and that is why I named 6 others before him.

That said, Disco was trialled late last year in a scratch match and did well, so who can say definitively he can’t play forward.

We need Petty available & firing.  We also need JVR to improve on last year.  If that happens along with Fritsch as the 3rd target forward, we'll be fine

With Brown out for the time being, T-Mac could come back into calculations as the back-up key forward.  Schache, Fullarton & maybe Jefferson as possibles

The rest of the forward line to be made up of Petracca (part time) Kozzie (most of the time) ANB,  Chandler,  McAdam,  Billings and maybe Tholstrup

There's some depth there with the bolstering of numbers in the off-season

  • Like 1
Posted

We need a specialist crystal ball gazer to offer their skills to the football department when negotiating contracts. Make sure we offer just the right length of contract to every player.

A real bonus would be if they could foresee when injuries are going to happen.

We took a risk with BB. HIs knees were a potential issue, but he cost us little trade wise and was a big part of delivering a flag. I'll take that. His contract was worth it imv. Would prefer if his knees were in better shape but life isn't perfect unfortunately. 

To those whining [censored], would we have won a flag without him? If we had insisted on a 3-year contract and he went elsewhere, would you have been happy with that? Yes, footy is a business. We took a calculated business risk and guess what we have a flag. 

  • Like 6
  • Thanks 1

Posted
7 hours ago, picket fence said:

Um, his training form has been excellent! He still will feature IMO. T Mac though is cooked

Ben Brown’s onto his 10th knee operation whilst Tmac’s body has held up all summer and has played in every match sim but he’s the cooked one? Yeh ok!  Not sure where your bias stems from or your inability to admit wrong but the last two years you’ve proclaimed Ben Brown has been training the house down each summer and it has amounted to absolutely nothing when it counts. 

  • Like 1
  • Sad 1
  • Vomit 1
Posted
22 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

From an on field perspective, I wish he retired on his own terms last year and I know that there was certainly talk between the club and his management. I get that he is contracted for another year, but I'm sure the club and Brown would have come up with an agreement on a settlement deal for a payout on his last contract (very common in today's AFL caper).

Maybe they had an agreement that if he can’t make it to June without surgery, rehab and constant management, then both parties will part ways and we can get a pick in the mid season draft.

  • Like 4

Posted

At the start of pre season, our potential KPFs were TMac, Brown, Petty, JVR, and Fullarton. Now it seems clear TMac is being set for defence - no doubt as a backup if May should get an injury; Brown and Fullarton are injured, and it is hard to know where Petty is in terms of likelihood to play. It is a bit worrying.

  • Sad 1

Posted

Any suitably qualified 'Landers out there able to offer an objective view of Ben's 2024 availability on the basis of the 'facts', as far as we can get them?

1. Richo, on Club's X: "...a loose piece of cartilage in the knee joint, and this will need to be treated with a small surgical procedure...”.

2. IIRC, his partner's social media post last year that he has "bone on bone".

3. Our training reporters' observations of his participation (though there seems to be a range here, from 'always in rehab' to 'featuring in match sims'!)

 

  • Like 2
Posted

So Verrall, Schache and Farris-White are now Max’s backup and support, hopefully Fullarton will be ready in a couple of months??

Posted
On 25/01/2024 at 22:04, Gawndy the Great said:

Likely a full knee replacement in the next  few years. That knee is bone on bone.

And has been for two years.

Why has he kept playing?

  • Like 2
  • Sad 1
Posted
59 minutes ago, IRW said:

And has been for two years.

Why has he kept playing?

Yes. Sadly it seems like a Futile exercise now. Love Benny, he was a huge part of ’21, but that is in the history books now 

  • Like 1
Posted
6 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Yes. Sadly it seems like a Futile exercise now. Love Benny, he was a huge part of ’21, but that is in the history books now 

Perhaps he will be cherry ripe for the last 4-6 weeks of 2024!

  • Like 2

Posted
1 hour ago, defuture15 said:

Perhaps he will be cherry ripe for the last 4-6 weeks of 2024!

I wouldn’t hold my breath, but we live in hope 

  • Like 2
Posted

I'm eternally grateful that we have so many medical professionals here on Demonland that have reviewed the file of Ben Brown and are able to give us such confident prognosis on his future at Melbourne FC.

Because otherwise we'd look like a bunch of amateur, blowhard quacks. Right?

🤔

  • Like 4
  • Love 1
  • Haha 6
  • Clap 1

Posted
4 hours ago, DeeZone said:

So Verrall, Schache and Farris-White are now Max’s backup and support, hopefully Fullarton will be ready in a couple of months??

Fullarton will probably go onto the long term injury list if his injury is serious, allowing us to add a player.

if that happens a mature ruckman could be the target.

  • Thanks 1

Posted
1 hour ago, Redleg said:

Fullarton will probably go onto the long term injury list if his injury is serious, allowing us to add a player.

if that happens a mature ruckman could be the target.

Yeah maybe we should have thought of that before

  • Like 1
Posted
On 25/01/2024 at 23:05, Kent said:

Agreed what possible upside is there carrying to crocks when we could be developing for the future

Upside? Having experienced, senior players around is a key part of developing for the future.

We should be thankful that we still have players like Melksham and BBB around. And no doubt the club is.

  • Like 12
  • Love 1
Posted
20 minutes ago, Kent said:

Yeah maybe we should have thought of that before

Yes, because mature rucks never get injuries.

  • Haha 1
Posted
2 hours ago, Redleg said:

Fullarton will probably go onto the long term injury list if his injury is serious, allowing us to add a player.

if that happens a mature ruckman could be the target.

Get on the phone to Cam Pedersen.

  • Like 1
  • Love 1
  • Haha 1

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...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Demonland Forums  

  • Match Previews, Reports & Articles  

    TRAINING: Wednesday 18th December 2024

    It was the final session of 2024 before the Christmas/New Years break and the Demonland Trackwatchers were out in force to bring you the following preseason training observations from Wednesday's session at Gosch's Paddock. DEMONLAND'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS TRAINING: Petracca, Oliver, Melksham, Woewodin, Langdon, Rivers, Billings, Sestan, Viney, Fullarton, Adams, Langford, Lever, Petty, Spargo, Fritsch, Bowey, Laurie, Kozzy, Mentha, George, May, Gawn, Turner Tholstrup, Kentfi

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports

    TRAINING: Monday 16th December 2024

    Demonland Trackwatchers braved the sweltering heat to bring you their Preseason Training observations from Gosch's Paddock on Monday morning. SCOOP JUNIOR'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS I went down today in what were pretty ordinary conditions - hot and windy. When I got there, they were doing repeat simulations of a stoppage on the wing and then moving the ball inside 50. There seemed to be an emphasis on handballing out of the stoppage, usually there were 3 or 4 handballs to

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports 1

    TRAINING: Friday 13th December 2024

    With only a few sessions left before the Christmas break a number of Demonlander Trackwatchers headed down to Gosch's Paddock to bring you their observations from this morning's preseason training session. DEMONLAND'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS PLAYERS IN ATTENDANCE: JVR, Salem, McVee, Petracca, Windsor, Viney, Lever, Spargo, Turner, Gawn, Tholstrup, Oliver, Billings, Langdon, Laurie, Bowey, Melksham, Langford, Lindsay, Jefferson, Howes, McAdam, Rivers, TMac, Adams, Hore, Verrall,

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports

    TRAINING: Wednesday 11th December 2024

    A few new faces joined our veteran Demonland Trackwatchers on a beautiful morning out at Gosch's Paddock for another Preseason Training Session. BLWNBA'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS I arrived at around 1015 and the squad was already out on the track. The rehab group consisted of XL, McAdam, Melksham, Spargo and Sestan. Lever was also on restricted duties and appeared to be in runners.  The main group was doing end-to-end transition work in a simulated match situation. Ball mov

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports

    TRAINING: Monday 9th December 2024

    Once again Demonland Trackwatchers were in attendance at the first preseason training session for the week at Gosch's Paddock to bring you their observations. WAYNE WUSSELL'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Looks like very close to 100% attendance. Kelani is back. Same group in rehab. REHAB: Spargo, Lever, Lindsay, Brown & McAdam. Haven’t laid eyes on Fritsch or AMW yet. Fritsch sighted. One unknown mature standing with Goody. Noticing Nathan Bassett much m

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports

    TRAINING: Friday 6th December 2024

    Some veteran Demonland Trackwatchers ventured down to Gosch's Paddock to bring you the following observations from another Preseason Training Session. WAYNE WUSSELL'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Rehab: Lever, Spargo, McAdam, Lindsay, Brown Sinnema is excellent by foot and has a decent vertical leap. Windsor is training with the Defenders. Windsor's run won't be lost playing off half back. In 19 games in 2024 he kicked 8 goals as a winger. I see him getting shots at g

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports

    TRAINING: Wednesday 4th December 2024

    A couple of intrepid Demonland Trackwatchers headed down to Gosch's Paddock for the midweek Preseason Training Session to bring you the following observations. Demonland's own Whispering Jack was not in attendance but he kicked off proceedings with the following summary of all the Preseason Training action to date. We’re already a month into the MFC preseason (if you started counting when the younger players in the group began the campaign along with some of the more keen older heads)

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports 2

    BEST OF THE REST by Meggs

    Meggs' Review of Melbourne's AFLW Season 9 ... Congratulations first off to the North Melbourne Kangaroos on winning the 2024 AFLW Premiership. Roos Coach Darren Crocker has assembled a team chock-full of competitive and highly skilful players who outclassed the Brisbane Lions in the Grand Final to remain undefeated throughout Season 9. A huge achievement in what was a dominant season by North. For Melbourne fans, the season was unfortunately one of frustration and disappointment

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    AFLW Melbourne Demons 3

    TRAINING: Monday 2nd December 2024

    There were many Demonland Trackwatchers braving the morning heat at Gosch's Paddock today to witness the players go through the annual 2km time trials. DEMONLAND'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Max, TMac & Melksham the first ones out on the track.  Runners are on. Guess they will be doing a lot of running.  TRAINING: Max, TMac, Melksham, Woey, Rivers, AMW, May, Sharp, Kolt, Adams, Sparrow, Jefferson, Billings, Petty, chandler, Howes, Lever, Kozzy, Mentha, Fullarton, Sal

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports 1
  • Tell a friend

    Love Demonland? Tell a friend!

×
×
  • Create New...