16 minutes ago, titan_uranus said:

IMO, the three most telling pieces of information to come out of tonight's reporting are:

1. Sam Edmund saying he wants to play somewhere with "leadership from the top office". As clear an indication as we've had that there are issues between Trac and the board, and/or Pert, and/or Richardson.
2. Caro saying that there was a board meeting going on as Footy Classified went to air. It sounded like that was a snap meeting. If so, that's not the sign of a club who is wholly resolute in the whole "we're not trading him" piece (although that may remain the position following the meeting).
3. Lloyd saying that he's spoken with other players at the club who now think it's best that Trac leaves. That's almost the biggest piece of news to come out of it all. 

This is nice deflective PR from Trac's camp

Just now, Wells 11 said:

If I eat these words I promise you they’ll be the sweetest words I’ve ever eaten and there will be no happier person than me doing so. 
It does feel like an era has closed…in a terrible way… but  if we can genuinely open a new one i’d be stoked. 

It does and I still say the club need to stop the PR spin and be brave. I cant see a midfield of 29 year olds winning another flag. Its possible but its not probable.

4 hours ago, At the break of Gawn said:

Sam Edmund on SEN confirmed McClure’s story is true.

Cornes is urging Melbourne not to trade him as we have all the power.

Cornes also said 2 minutes before that if it’s a choice between keeping Goodwin or Petracca, they’d have to chose Petracca, how does that show strength as a club

Cornes never thinks before he opens his mouth 

7 minutes ago, dees189227 said:

I think trac has been listening to his mate Ben simmons a bit to much

It’s funny, I was just thinking about Trac’s fondness for the NBA. I like the b-ball some, but one toxic quality of that league is how much disregard is shown for contracts, and how much the “I” is prevails in what’s supposed to be a team sport. 
 

There’s a lot of gross americanisation creeping into the game, but this is one of the more destructive elements of it. 

Just now, Dr. Gonzo said:

Did we though? Didn't we start leaking to the media about his personal issues once it became apparent other clubs were in his ear?

No, we absolutely didn’t do that. 
We made it publicly known that we would trade him in an effort to get him realize the seriousness of the situation he has put himself in. It was done with his management’s support. Clarry never wanted to leave Melbourne and the club believed that if he thought it might happen, it would force him to make changes. And it worked. 
Clarry’s issues were well known to all clubs at that point. Hell most of them were public knowledge too thanks to gutter journalists who saw it fit to wait outside hospitals for him!

58 minutes ago, Dee-tonator said:

Like other posters here, I have no inside information about conversations that have been going on within the club or the inner dynamics of Petracca's relationship with the administration or his teammates.

But some of the wild speculation about Trac has been simply absurd.

This is a guy who has given 100 per cent effort in every game he has ever played for Melbourne and was a key member of our drought-breaking premiership side.

Those who are criticising him can have no idea of the mental and physical toll that potentially life-threatening injuries can have on a person.

Alex Neal-Bullen is quitting the Demons for personal reasons and quite rightly there has not been a word of criticism about his decision.

Yet Trac is being hounded for preferring to keep personal matters confidential. If he decides he need a fresh start elsewhere (and I hope fervently that he does not), that can only happen on Melbourne's terms.

Surely it is time to let this play out without aiming personal barbs at a player who by now must have a pretty low opinion of both the media and some Melbourne supporters.

He, or someone close to him, is leaking to the press. It's messed up.

1 minute ago, Wells 11 said:

It does feel like an era has closed…in a terrible way… 

Thing is, we’re responsible for closing said era. All through being naive, ignorant and complacent.

Seriously Trac. The answer is No.  You cannot play for Carlton or Collingwood  

It’s a contract.  You cannot just walk away when you don’t like the lukewarm showers or that you get to listen to a full 90 minute podcast on the way to Casey !!! 
 

If the Dees fold in this, then they are weak !! 

10 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Sure but the club has also been saying for years, trust us we will have the new facilities bedded down soon, just can't say anything specific, have to dot the i's and cross the t's - maybe he took them at their word and now sees it ain't happening before he retires. Not saying this is THE reason but another straw added to the pile.

This was June 2021.

We are now August 2024 and we are no where near any different to where we were back in 21..

Embarrassing to say at least.

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/960049/pert-excited-by-home-base-progress

Edited August 26, 2024Aug 26 by dazzledavey36

1 hour ago, bing181 said:

Some disturbing revelations on this thread. If even half of it is true, with so many younger players at the club you would think that the FD would be looking to move Trac on in the same way they did golden boy Jack Watts.

Watts was a no hoper who went missing when the whips were cracking. Complete opposite to Petracca.

Understandably, many supporters are annoyed with the bloke.  It's almost as though the more the MFC is being blown up the better the chance he has to force a trade against what was overwhelming odds only a week, or so, ago.  He must really want out, because he's damaging his precious brand also.

Unlike some, I don't think things are irretrievable.  Ten years and copious memories don't quickly disappear, even during a time where parties have fallen out of love.

If I'm the club I'm holding firm unless there was an offer to good to be true, which is a remote possibility.

I get why some supporters are now certain he's gone, or even want him gone, but that's emotive.

A strong club will remain cool, calm and collected and make decisions that suit the club and its stakeholders.  And if that means he stays, which I suspect it will, he stays.  I hope we're what I've just described.

15 minutes ago, Canplay said:

I believe Gary Pert came under a lot of pressure and scrutiny at the MFC board meeting tonight and didn’t present well.   Could he be the Boards sacrificial lamb in order to repair Trac bridge?   Personally I hope Pert, Rofey and Trac all pack their bags…

Source?

21 minutes ago, Wells 11 said:

I remember the off season when schwarz did his knee and soon after we lost charles and jakovich permenantly .  lyon hurt his back and Tingay cut his leg so badly on a glass door he was never the same. It felt utterly calamitous and the dream was over. This has got the same sour , bitter, sad feeling re Brayshaw, Oliver and Trac . I’m starting to brace myself. 

 

5 years later we were in a grand final. 

13 minutes ago, DeeZee said:

Traccs going to be under immense pressure to say something pretty soon , I’d say.

I'm not sure he is under pressure to speak. Currently the club is being smashed in the media and all the reasons he should leave are in the papers. This serves his narrative of needing to leave. 

Otherwise he would just look like a glory/fame hunting [censored]

Just now, Demon Disciple said:

Thing is, we’re responsible for closing said era. All through being naive, ignorant and complacent.

Im not sure. cant agree with that re Brayshaw. Then 2022 was messed up by going too hard for too long and not easing into the season rather than complacency. Oliver is another thing … although I thought we do ok this year w him. maybe we left it too long. If trac hadn’t nearly died would this trade even be being talked about? I’m sure some of this is on the club but not all. 

15 minutes ago, Queanbeyan Demon said:

I've only got one word . . . Gary Buckenara.

I will never forget that day. Was completely and utterly gutted. 

15 minutes ago, Queanbeyan Demon said:

I've only got one word . . . Gary Buckenara.

I can't believe that got through the [censored] filter

At this point I just hope we don't take a raw deal like Harry Mc for Trac

Would be a shame for such a loved player to torch his legacy at a club like this. I really hope we speaks sooner rather than later 

Any chance of getting an EGM?

because like many on here, I feel as a 30+ year member I am entitled to some answers. We need transparency now more than ever.

I’m turning on Trac for turning on our club. Hiding in the shadows is a gutless move. His management are a disgrace and he’s responsible for wounding our club every day he says nothing.

Trac is too gutless to say he wants a trade because of the chance it fails. So he wants to run our club into the ground so we have no other option. Pathetic.

3 minutes ago, Gator said:

Understandably, many supporters are annoyed with the bloke.  It's almost as though the more the MFC is being blown up the better the chance he has to force a trade against what was overwhelming odds only a week, or so, ago.  He must really want out, because he's damaging his precious brand also.

Unlike some, I don't think things are irretrievable.  Ten years and copious memories don't quickly disappear, even during a time where parties have fallen out of love.

If I'm the club I'm holding firm unless there was an offer to good to be true, which is a remote possibility.

I get why some supporters are now certain he's gone, or even want him gone, but that's emotive.

A strong club will remain cool, calm and collected and make decisions that suit the club and its stakeholders.  And if that means he stays, which I suspect it will, he stays.  I hope we're what I've just described.

This x 1000.

14 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Sure but the club has also been saying for years, trust us we will have the new facilities bedded down soon, just can't say anything specific, have to dot the i's and cross the t's - maybe he took them at their word and now sees it ain't happening before he retires. Not saying this is THE reason but another straw added to the pile.

That was never going to happen in his playing career, his manager needs to be sacked if he thought so

11 minutes ago, Norm Smith's Curse said:

If the game against Freo showed us twice its that we are too slow in the midfield anyway. 

That is the silver lining. We were heading towards a slow death with the style of play which was largely forced by the types of players on our list.

We were always inside midfielder heavy. Now Trac wouldn’t have been my first choice given his attacking profile, but we needed a big trade to bring in some picks and speed up the regeneration of the playing group and move to a more modern style of play. 

It means we won’t be competing for some time, but that’s ok. It happens. Our next chance will be sooner if we get this trade through. 

Maybe not a popular opinion, but we need change. 

For some reason I can see him at the Bombers. They would move heaven and earth to get him. Pick 8 plus F1 and a player. If what they are saying about Trac is true, the bombers would be a good fit

Or Freo holding 9, 10, 17. 

Pies and the Blues have zero chance

1 hour ago, bing181 said:

Sure. But you make those kinds of decisions with a clear head and some open water between you and injury/trauma, not while you're still in the throes of it.

Ideally yes, and any good psych will give that advice to their patients but it's not always how it plays out in reality.