On 26/03/2025 at 13:32, GS_1905 said:

I think some of the damage done by Trac was irrevocable - enough to tarnish his reputation permanently as a candidate for captaincy. The only trait i like about him, is that he is a solid trainer and professional athlete - he will set good examples for the young team members if he stays, but that is not enough to be a captain of the club - just what i expect from every senior player. He doesn't have the humility or perspective to be a captain of the club, even if after everything that happened in the off season, he remains committed and loyal to the club, his actions at the time, spoke to a level of immaturity and self-interest. Can he overcome this? Certainly, anything is possible, but he is no spring-chicken and at 29 i doubt he has the capacity to change his ways. its a harsh take I know. But he chose to pile on the club, when it was on its knees. That to me is forever unforgivable. I'm mindful that I've been bashing on Trac recently, so this will be the last I mention it.

I'm mindful that I've been bashing on Trac recently, so this will be the last I mention it.
excellent Idea!!!

1 hour ago, GS_1905 said:

Funny how Hawks are into Reid, Butters and Allen… who were we into after 2021? Billing’s? Schache ? Hawks haven’t even won anything yet.

Just because you didnt read it in the H-S doesn't mean things didnt happen. The one move that came out was Cerra. Who wanted to come us but we didnt have the draft capital to satisfy Freo.

On 27/03/2025 at 17:56, Roger Mellie said:

The article is a) from Zerohanger and b) quotes Sam McClure as the source.

I think we can therefore safely ignore it, particularly as the bit about his future being thrown up in the air looks to be pure McClure clickbait (Eg. Demons had issues last year therefore Fritsch will want to leave).

Lloyd said he would have him at Bombers in a heartbeat.

It would be like buying an undervalued stock cheap

5 hours ago, whatwhat say what said:

we don't have the assets to trade for him; neither do the filth i would think

the first three clubs mentioned there all have multiple first round picks in 2025, plus their own 2026 picks too

That can change very quickly over an off-season so I wouldn't worry that we have no picks right now.

I mean, there's a reality out there that Pickett leaves end of year as well as one of a handful of our big name players.

A hell of a lot to play out.

Are there any aging forward similiar to Tex Walker, Darling we could grab for a couple of years while JVR, Turner and Jefferson mature?

When we got Lever, Hibberd and Langdon it was well reported during the season that they were likely to come to us. However I feel the journos are less reliable or more trash to sort through now.

3 hours ago, GS_1905 said:

Funny how Hawks are into Reid, Butters and Allen… who were we into after 2021? Billing’s? Schache ? Hawks haven’t even won anything yet.

We were into Lever, May and Langdon before winning the flag. With a flag comes TPP constraints.

4 hours ago, 48 Year Now said:

Lloyd said he would have him at Bombers in a heartbeat.

It would be like buying an undervalued stock cheap

I wouldn't be surprised at all if a lot of clubs come calling. I hope he isn't tempted though.

Once again it seems no noise around our club targeting big names, we need to be brave and target Reid, include Oliver as part of the deal

Clubs that off load high picks have recently done so when they have Academyplayers where they don't want to have to spend a high pick on one of them. This season we have Ka White and another academy lad. Could this be the strategyfor seasons end. In the last 2 seasons we have loaded up high end with Windsor, Tholstrup, Lindsay & Langford. That has been a pretty good return.

On this basis I honestly don't think we have plans for recruitin any big fish this season.

New additions for 2026

Really we don’t offer much as a destination club right now. We’d like to be in conversation for Reid, Butters and Allen but I cannot see us being on any of their radars. Disappointing as Butters is the type of players that MFC desperately needs

So targets… realistically probably only perhaps Wade Derksen and Seamus Mitchell. Each are very strong VFL players who would fit into our team.

Add Kalani White & Toby Sinnema in the draft through father son and NGA respectively. White is a future ruck or tall back & Sinnema is a running left foot midfielder.

Edited April 3Apr 3 by spirit of norm smith
Cxot

Bit left field and no world beater, but Tom Cole from West Coast is one I'd be interested in as an UFA.

He is 27 and a good size and has good speed. Could be our lock down small defender to release McVee, Windsor, Bowey more.

He was a part of the 2018 premiership side, so has played roles in good sides before.

On 03/04/2025 at 22:20, spirit of norm smith said:

New additions for 2026

Really we don’t offer much as a destination club right now. We’d like to be in conversation for Reid, Butters and Allen but I cannot see us being on any of their radars. Disappointing as Butters is the type of players that MFC desperately needs

So targets… realistically probably only perhaps Wade Derksen and Seamus Mitchell. Each are very strong VFL players who would fit into our team.

Add Kalani White & Toby Sinnema in the draft through father son and NGA respectively. White is a future ruck or tall back & Sinnema is a running left foot midfielder.

Butters makes lots of sense, but it will involve a move where Oliver and/or Trac is shipped off.

A midfield of Langford, Butters, Windsor, Rivers, Lindsay, Kolt and then obviously some of Trac / Viney / Langdon / Sparrow. I think bodes pretty well for the future.

On 01/04/2025 at 15:28, 48 Year Now said:

Are there any aging forward similiar to Tex Walker, Darling we could grab for a couple of years while JVR, Turner and Jefferson mature?

Plugger Mac 🤪?

Edited April 9Apr 9 by Queanbeyan Demon

15 minutes ago, Queanbeyan Demon said:

Plugger Mac 🤪?

his inability to really launch at the ball probably precludes him from playing forward anymore, as he himself has stated

we have never been the same since he hurt his foot mid-2022

1 hour ago, whatwhat say what said:

his inability to really launch at the ball probably precludes him from playing forward anymore, as he himself has stated

we have never been the same since he hurt his foot mid-2022

Petty is the same unfortunately.

Butters would be a good fit; and compliment both present a d future midfield.

I'd also sound out Touk Miller, as the amount of Talent coming through GCS now and future Academy intakes will push out good players quicker.

Callum Brown fro. GWS could compliment our forward line.

I'd also look at North's midfielders as they wont all fit and you should be able to squeeze one out. Powell would be my target but LDU is more possible.

Expect Tim Kelly is also gettable, but is he still interested in footy?

Whay aren't we throwing the world at Brayshaw!!! Bring him home.

Edited April 9Apr 9 by Ungarieboy

6 minutes ago, Ungarieboy said:

Butters would be a good fit; and compliment both present a d future midfield.

I'd also sound out Touk Miller, as the amount of Talent coming through GCS now and future Academy intakes will push out good players quicker.

Callum Brown fro. GWS could compliment our forward line.

I'd also look at North's midfielders as they wont all fit and you should be able to squeeze one out. Powell would be my target but LDU is more possible.

Expect Tim Kelly is also gettable, but is he still interested in footy?

Whay aren't we throwing the world at Brayshaw!!! Bring him home.

Didnt think about Touk.. great leader IMO. He played well against us but not sure how his performance stacks up against us. But given Suns are about to turn a corner, he would be hard to extract out of the place.

Brayshaw signed an extension already with Freo. LDU wont go from one basket case to another.

Unfortunately i see a club like ours as the perfect source for other clubs to pluck mature players out of. Fortunately for us, most players are all signed up so at least we will get compensated.

Oh and most recent premiership sides trade in kept players (particularlykey position) to compliment their existing talent.

For example

Brisbane - Daniher, Dunkley

Collingwood - Howes, Hill

Geelong - Cameron, Tuohy

Melbourne - May, Lever

Richmond - Lynch, Prestia

Very few teams produce all tbeir own talls.

Delve a little deeper and if they produced their own talls then they've brought in Midfielders.

Oh and theses are example of chasing required players, not bargains or "be assembled they are available"!

Seems to be a bit of a pattern.

Edited April 9Apr 9 by Ungarieboy

Time for a free agency party to end all free agency parties.

LDU and Worpel and Hewett and Bontempelli all in one go. Class, grunt, depth and away we go.

I'd suggest Sam Draper as a backup ruck/forward option but he's just... so... annoying.

On the other hand, if he switched to us and did well, the irritation for Essendon supporters would be exquisite.

Leek Aleer worth a shout? Out of contract at the end of the year

Edited April 9Apr 9 by In Gawn we Trust

59 minutes ago, Little Goffy said:

Time for a free agency party to end all free agency parties.

LDU and Worpel and Hewett and Bontempelli all in one go. Class, grunt, depth and away we go.

I'd suggest Sam Draper as a backup ruck/forward option but he's just... so... annoying.

On the other hand, if he switched to us and did well, the irritation for Essendon supporters would be exquisite.

Why would Sam Draper, who like Grundy only wants to be the number 1 ruckman, come to a club to then play as a back up..

Our club is nothing but a negative stain on future ruck prospects who want to either play as back up or establish themselves at the club. The club have shown zero capacity in making two rucks work in the same team.

We've just signed Gawn to another 3 year deal and whilst he's the top dog, forget about any opposition ruckman coming to the club as back.

Draper would laugh at us.

I think if we go with a new coach mid-late season, they're going to immediately look to bring in 3 or 4 players from other clubs with better disposal by foot/higher footy iq & competitiveness, like Hardwick has done. Moneyball a few of those at cheap contracts. Maybe even their old club. Longmire? Sydney players ? Leppitsch? A few Collingwood players? Simpson? (wce ick) - Whether we rebuild or keep all our senior stars, the addition of 3-4 more senior players and a new coach will either help squeeze one last bit of juice out of them or help shepherd in a newer generation at the draft with the picks we get from trades.

Are there a bunch of players we might target that will immediately lift up our bottom 6? I don't follow many of other clubs that closely.

Edited April 9Apr 9 by John Demonic

We couldn’t get a decent free agent to address our fwd line issues finishing top 4, who was our last power fwd Hogan in 2018 & Nietz 2008 … unbelievable

12 hours ago, Little Goffy said:

Time for a free agency party to end all free agency parties.

LDU and Worpel and Hewett and Bontempelli all in one go. Class, grunt, depth and away we go.

I'd suggest Sam Draper as a backup ruck/forward option but he's just... so... annoying.

On the other hand, if he switched to us and did well, the irritation for Essendon supporters would be exquisite.

So was Ben Brown's run up when he was at Norf.... but then you loved it 😉