Jump to content

  • IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING

    The Demonland Terms of Service, which you have all recently agreed to, strictly prohibit discussions of ongoing legal matters, whether criminal or civil. Please ensure that all discussions on this forum remain focused solely on on-field & football related topics.


Recommended Posts

Posted

BBB was on a podcast recently called Four Burners. He's had eight knee surgeries (prior to the latest one) starting with a torn ACL in his teens. 

 

  • Thanks 7
  • Shocked 1

Posted
3 hours ago, Stiff Arm said:

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?

🤔

It’s been pretty well covered in the media, by the club, by Ben and his partner as well. His knees are cooked, that you can be very very confident of.

  • Like 1
  • Sad 1
Posted

Deserves to go out on his terms, totally instrumental in our 21 triumph

  • Like 6
Posted
1 hour ago, Roost it far said:

It’s been pretty well covered in the media, by the club, by Ben and his partner as well. His knees are cooked, that you can be very very confident of.

Thanks Doc, I'll make an appointment to see you next week for my hemorrhoids 

  • Haha 2
Posted

Might be an opportunity to place Ben on the long term injury list and pick up the best ruck/fwd running around in the VFL/ SANFL/WAFL.

Posted (edited)

I just posted on the BBB thread but this is probably more relevant, Benny Brown should go on the long term injury list and bring in the best ruck/fwd available. Would ease the pressure and use BB as a fwd coach.

Edited by DeeZone
Added BB
Posted
50 minutes ago, Stiff Arm said:

Thanks Doc, I'll make an appointment to see you next week for my hemorrhoids 

Just eat more fibre and drink plenty of fresh water. Call me in 3 weeks if you’re still suffering from the inability to see what’s right in front of all of us. 

  • Haha 5
  • Clap 1
Posted
11 hours ago, DeeZone said:

I just posted on the BBB thread but this is probably more relevant, Benny Brown should go on the long term injury list and bring in the best ruck/fwd available. Would ease the pressure and use BB as a fwd coach.

BBB is probably ready to play again in about 8 weeks, probably at Casey, but Fullarton might be months.

  • Like 3
  • Sad 1
Posted

Fullarton, whilst disappointing for him to get injured doesn't change much. He's on par with Schache atm but likely/hopefully with more upside. If Gawn goes down in the next few months we have to either play Verrall or Schache. You can't play TMac as a ruckman and Brown is out. I'm guessing the club would go with Schache as Verrall likely needs another year or 2. Why wouldn't we push Brown to the long term injured list and pick up a big body from somewhere? We need more insurance than Schache. 

  • Thanks 1
Posted (edited)

Interesting to note that in our run to the finals and indeed, our finals campaign in 1987, 3 listed veteran players were no longer part of the team

But in real terms, all 3 were contracted and getting paid but were deemed surplus to needs.  Injuries played a part as well

And that was 37 years ago 

The players in question were Stephen Icke, Peter Giles & Peter Moore. All good players too

And there were a few others that were coming to the end at the time as well

As previously stated, these types of curcumstances are just a part of sport

So Brown, T-Mac and 1 or 2 others fall into the same category.  That's just the way it goes

Edited by Macca
  • Like 2
Posted
On 26/01/2024 at 12:45, Macca said:

Having contracted players who are past their prime is part of professional sports.  Numerous examples are now being seen where a player (or players) are given an extra year or 2 in order to keep those players 

Or if a club wants to secure players in trades where offering an extra year or 2 is needed in order to acquire those players

We're seeing more and more top players signing long term deals and even average players getting longer contracts

And that type of list management is going to continue especially if we see more player movement between clubs

So what that means is that in any given year, a club might have 3+ players who end up being depth only.  Getting the timing perfect is wishful thinking

The AFL is catching up with the rest of the world with regards to list management

But if it's right across the board, across all the clubs, then no club is at a real disadvantage

So gone are the days where every single list position is a productive one.  It stands to reason that type of position just can't happen

And players are not going to walk away from large amounts of money.  You're a long time retired

A way to alleviate the issue is to front end contracts but that's not always possible due to salary cap constraints (in any given year)

In a nutshell, having players such as Brown & T-Mac as depth players was always a possible likelyhood.  The upside is that we have a couple of experienced wise-heads around to help the young blokes coming through

Well said, Macca. 

I just want to add one extra point. How the club treats its players at the end of their careers will be noticed by other players (and their managers) when contemplating changing clubs. It would be much harder to attract quality players to join us if we didn't show we cared about them in their declining years.

  • Like 5
  • Thanks 1
Posted
7 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Well said, Macca. 

I just want to add one extra point. How the club treats its players at the end of their careers will be noticed by other players (and their managers) when contemplating changing clubs. It would be much harder to attract quality players to join us if we didn't show we cared about them in their declining years.

Spot on LD

And with these sorts of things becoming more prevalent, the AFL should be looking at add-ons to the salary caps (in a separate form) to cover the veterans

Or a slightly increased list size so clubs aren't left short? 

Going back 40+ years ago the clubs had players on their supplementary list to call upon

The Eagles & previously the Gold Coast have had massive injury lists in recent times yet couldn't even add State league players to help out (?) Stand corrected on that though

 

  • Like 1
Posted
On 28/01/2024 at 12:14, Macca said:

Interesting to note that in our run to the finals and indeed, our finals campaign in 1987, 3 listed veteran players were no longer part of the team

But in real terms, all 3 were contracted and getting paid but were deemed surplus to needs.  Injuries played a part as well

And that was 37 years ago 

The players in question were Stephen Icke, Peter Giles & Peter Moore. All good players too

And there were a few others that were coming to the end at the time as well

As previously stated, these types of curcumstances are just a part of sport

So Brown, T-Mac and 1 or 2 others fall into the same category.  That's just the way it goes

You forgot Kelvin Templeton!

  • Like 1
Posted
12 minutes ago, picket fence said:

You forgot Kelvin Templeton!

Haha!

Kelvin* retired at the end of 1985, PF, but the point remains that by the end of any given season, the writing is on the wall for a number of players

These days, a player like Templeton would probably command a 5+ year deal.  Even average players can get 3 year contracts in the modern era

So the times they are a changin' but after a while, we'll start getting used to it.  To counter that, we probably need bigger lists

*Ventured to Catland in 1983 when Templeton won the game for us kicking 8 goals (we were 6 goals down at quarter time) At the time, we thought we'd acquired ourselves a superstar after that match

  • Like 2
Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, redandbluemakepurple said:

When were Brown and TMac give an extension?  At the end of 2022, they had just turned thirty.

Fairly sure we gave Brown a 4 year deal to acquire the player which included his first year (2021) and T-Mac might have has his contract extended after the 2021 season

But it should be remembered that T-Mac played 23 of 25 games in 2021 and there was no outcry when we did extend his contract.  None that I recall anyway

So you make decisions and you live with the decisions.  There's no shouda, couda, wouda aided by hindsight

Edited by Macca
  • Like 6
Posted
1 hour ago, Macca said:

Fairly sure we gave Brown a 4 year deal to acquire the player which included his first year (2021) and T-Mac might have has his contract extended after the 2021 season

But it should be remembered that T-Mac played 23 of 25 games in 2021 and there was no outcry when we did extend his contract.  None that I recall anyway

So you make decisions and you live with the decisions.  There's no shouda, couda, wouda aided by hindsight

Hi Macca. I seem to remember that T-Mac's existing contract, rumoured to be around $750k per year was one of the stumbling blocks in him being able to find another suitor prior to the 2021 season. At the end of what turned out to be a successful year for both him and the club it was agreed to extend his time with us by spreading out that money over a longer period, possibly with triggers and incentives added. Happy to be corrected on that of course. 

  • Like 5
Posted
1 minute ago, Rab D Nesbitt said:

Hi Macca. I seem to remember that T-Mac's existing contract, rumoured to be around $750k per year was one of the stumbling blocks in him being able to find another suitor prior to the 2021 season. At the end of what turned out to be a successful year for both him and the club it was agreed to extend his time with us by spreading out that money over a longer period, possibly with triggers and incentives added. Happy to be corrected on that of course. 

I believe you're right, Rab

 

  • Like 1
Posted
11 minutes ago, Macca said:

I believe you're right, Rab

 

And you're right too about BBB. It took a 4 year deal to get his signature. I've got my fingers crossed that he'll still be able to make a meaningful contribution this year as he's such a quality person. I just hope it's not to the detriment of his long term mobility. 

  • Like 4
  • Love 1
Posted
9 minutes ago, Rab D Nesbitt said:

And you're right too about BBB. It took a 4 year deal to get his signature. I've got my fingers crossed that he'll still be able to make a meaningful contribution this year as he's such a quality person. I just hope it's not to the detriment of his long term mobility. 

Kinda reminds me of Michael Owen at the end of his career at Man Utd and later Stoke.  A great player (and contracted) but his last few years were dogged by injuries

But in soccer, those sorts of stories are quite common and there is a lot of money in the sport to cover those types of instances

Much smaller scale in the AFL but some of the same principles apply (or will apply as the salary cap increases with more money coming into the sport) The salary cap could be $16Million+ soon enough with the new broadcast rights money kicking in 

Another example is Luke Jackson.  Freo reportably offered him many $Millions over a long contract and I believe we just didn't want to match the offer (or couldn't do) even though we didn't want to lose him

With Brown, North were only offering 2 or 3 years IIRC so we got him with the 4 year offer.  Otherwise, we don't get him

  • Like 2
Posted
7 minutes ago, Macca said:

Kinda reminds me of Michael Owen at the end of his career at Man Utd and later Stoke.  A great player (and contracted) but his last few years were dogged by injuries

But in soccer, those sorts of stories are quite common and there is a lot of money in the sport to cover those types of instances

Much smaller scale in the AFL but some of the same principles apply (or will apply as the salary cap increases with more money coming into the sport) The salary cap could be $16Million+ soon enough with the new broadcast rights money kicking in 

Another example is Luke Jackson.  Freo reportably offered him many $Millions over a long contract and I believe we just didn't want to match the offer (or couldn't do) even though we didn't want to lose him

With Brown, North were only offering 2 or 3 years IIRC so we got him with the 4 year offer.  Otherwise, we don't get him

I just read an article about Michael Owen over the weekend. Apparently his 16 year old son has gone blind due to a rare disease. 

https://www.bbc.com/news/disability-68076555

As for BBB I think he actually knocked back a long term offer by the Roos then got crocked in the Queensland hub shortly after. North then lowballed him perhaps half hoping they could move him on. 

  • Like 1
  • Sad 1
Posted
5 minutes ago, Rab D Nesbitt said:

I just read an article about Michael Owen over the weekend. Apparently his 16 year old son has gone blind due to a rare disease. 

https://www.bbc.com/news/disability-68076555

As for BBB I think he actually knocked back a long term offer by the Roos then got crocked in the Queensland hub shortly after. North then lowballed him perhaps half hoping they could move him on. 

That worked extremely well for Norf, giving us a premiership winning forward 3 goals in a dominant GF performance🤣

  • Like 5
Posted
5 minutes ago, picket fence said:

That worked extremely well for Norf, giving us a premiership winning forward 3 goals in a dominant GF performance🤣

Very much so PF. There were also rumours that they found his wife Hester to be hard work but she seems to be as altruistic as Ben so you'd have to wonder at their accuracy. That said, that hub brought out the best and worst of people.  

  • Like 5

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: Friday 14th February 2025

    A couple of Demonland Trackwatchers made their way out to Casey Field's for the Melbourne Football Club's Family Series day to bring you their observations on the Match Simulation. HARVEY WALLBANGER'S MATCH SIMULATION OBSERVATIONS Absent: May, Pickett (All Stars), McVee, Windor, Kentfield, Mentha Present but not playing: Petracca, Viney, Spargo, Tholstrup, Melksham Starting Blue 18 (+ just 2 interchange): B: Petty, TMac, Lever, Howes, Bowey Salem M: Gawn, Oliver, La

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports

    TRAINING: Wednesday 12th February 2025

    Demonland Trackwatchers braved the scorching morning heat to bring you the following observations of Wednesday's preseason training session from Gosch's Paddock. HARVEY WALLBANGER'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Absent: Salem, Windsor (word is a foot rash going around), Viney, Bowey and Kentfield Train ons: Roy George, no Culley today. Firstly the bad news - McVee went down late, which does look like a bad hammy - towards the end of match sim, as he kicked the ball. Had to

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports

    MATCH SIM: Friday 7th February 2025

    Demonland Trackwatcher Gator ventured down the freeway to bring you his observations from Friday morning's Match Simulation out at Casey Fields. Rehab: Jake Lever and Charlie Spargo running laps.  Lever was running short distances at a fast click as well as having kick to kick with a trainer. He seems unimpeded. Christian Petracca, Kade Chandler, Shane McAdam and Tom Fullarton doing non-contact kicking and handball drills on the adjacent oval.  All moving freely at pace.  I didn’

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports 2

    TRAINING: Wednesday 5th February 2025

    Demonland Trackwatchers were out in force as the Demons returned to Gosch's Paddock for preseason training on Wednesday morning. GHOSTWRITER'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Kozzie a no show. Tommy Sparrow was here last week in civvies and wearing sunnies. He didn’t train. Today he’s training but he’s wearing goggles so he’s likely got an eye injury. There’s a drill where Selwyn literally lies on top of Tracc, a trainer dribbles the ball towards them and Tracc has to g

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports

    THAT WAS THE YEAR THAT WAS: 2024

    Whichever way you look at it, the Melbourne Football Club’s 2024 season can only be characterized as the year of its fall from grace. Whispering Jack looks back at the season from hell that was. After its 2021 benchmark premiership triumph, the men’s team still managed top four finishes in the next two seasons but straight sets finals losses consigned them to sixth place in both years. The big fall came in 2024 with a collapse into the bottom six and a 14th placing. At Casey, the 2022 VFL p

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Special Features

    MATCH SIM: Friday 31st January 2025

    Veteran Demonland Trackwatcher Picket Fence ventured down to Casey Fields to bring you his observations from Friday's Match Simulation. Greetings Demonlanders, beautiful Day at training and the boys were hard at it, here is my report. NO SHOWS: Luker Kentfield (recovering from pneumonia in WA), also not sure I noticed Melky (Hamstring) or Will Verrall?? MODIFIED DUTIES (No Contact): Sparrow, McVee (foot), Tracc (ribs), Chandler, (AC Joint), Fullarton Noticeable events (I’ll s

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports 2

    TRAINING: Wednesday 29th January 2025

    A number of Demonland Trackwatchers swooped on Gosch's Paddock to bring you their observations from this morning's Preseason Training Session. DEMON JACK'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Beautiful morning at Gosch's Paddock. Very healthy crowd so far.  REHAB: Fullerton, Spargo, Tholstrup, McVee Viney running laps. EDIT: JV looks to be back with the main group. Trac, Sparrow, Chandler and Verrell also training away from the main group. Currently kicking to each other ins

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports 1

    TRAINING: Wednesday 22nd January 2025

    Demonland Trackwatchers were out in force for training at Gosch's Paddock on Wednesday morning for the MFC's School Holidays Open Training Session. DEMONLAND'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS REHAB: TMac, Chandler, McVee, Tholstrup, Brown, Spargo Brown might have passed his fitness test as he’s back out with the main group.  Sparrow not present. Kozzy not present either.  Mini Rehab group has broken off from the match sim (contact) group: Max, Trac, Lever, Fullarton

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports

    TRAINING: Monday 20th January 2025

    Demonland Trackwatcher Gator attended training out at Casey Fields to bring you the following observations from Preseason Training. GATOR'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS There were 5 in the main rehab group, namely Gawn, Petracca, Fullarton, Woewodin and Lever.  Laurie was running laps by himself, as was Jefferson.  Chandler, as has been reported, had his arm in a sling.  Lindsay did a bit of lap running later on. Some of the ''rehab 5'' participated in non contact drills and b

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports
  • Tell a friend

    Love Demonland? Tell a friend!

×
×
  • Create New...