5 minutes ago, pitmaster said:

Interesting to me is that Phil Davis on SEN yesterday, and Nathan Burke on ABC this morning both said the same thing: 'stick it out Trac and fix the things you think aren't working'. People who have played the game - also Ryan O'Keefe this week - say stick around and work through the issues, whereas the journalists just try to hype the yarn with different tweaks daily.

This is such a good point. 

I heard Bob Murphy say a similar thing a day or two ago. 

So much of modern media is financially invested in and ideologically predisposed to player movement absolutism (player movement is good in and of itself). One thing you very rarely hear about in the media is the many, many, many times a trade move clearly doesn't work for the player who's decided to leave. 

1 minute ago, layzie said:

He's the only person at the club I trust right now.

I literally don’t want to hear anyone else speak except him. But equally this poor man can’t run this club alone. 

On 28/08/2024 at 13:31, loges said:

Why do people automatically fall in line with the thought that our club culture is worse than anybody else's. Is it just because the media says so? Because Ox saw a few players drinking at the local pub? Plenty of players seem to have been happy to extend contracts during the year, surely if culture was that bad they'd all be wanting out.

 

2 hours ago, DeeZone said:

It’s an all out pile on the MFC now no holds barred, kick them whilst their down, show no mercy, this fiasco is going to put us back years, possibly back into the wilderness again. Unless……???????

 

1 hour ago, Superunknown said:

I find it puzzling the media piles onto Melbourne so much. I mean, I get it - papers to sell, clicks to collect. Maybe it’s just a reflection of actual issues in the club. But I also wonder - why aren’t Collingwood under scrutiny for missing the finals? Why isn’t alleged wantaway Josh Daicos part of the cycle.  It’s just weird.

 

1 hour ago, von said:

Why is it that we are so hated? I’ve only recently come to realise how much other teams supporters genuinely dislike us. I always thought we were too irrelevant to hate. I guess it has to do with our history and our supporter profile skewing wealthy, whether or not that is accurate or a cliche I’m not even sure…

 

1 hour ago, Norm Smith's Curse said:

It's either because we are genuinely hated or because we are seen as an easy target

As posted recently, we won a flag and moved into the middle tier with Hawthorn and Geelong. Big mistake. Pies, Blues etc don't want anyone getting near them in terms of media clout, supporter numbers, crowds etc.

We also don't have anywhere near the many media friends they have so any faux pas not immediately shut down by their mates after a phone call from the President.

55 minutes ago, layzie said:

Well said and not something I'd considered as much on the first listen to it.

Heart in the right place but probably found herself needing to re-clarify her stance more than she could have.

 

Roffey said on Radio yesterday that she had not spoken to Christian or the Family for months. 
I consider that very poor Form…

regardless of any contact whilst in ICU

17 minutes ago, Tracca said:

my concern with him waiting is he will wait until Carlton is out of finals and then nominate them  just so there is no distraction to them next week :( I hope not

and bugger the distraction to the club who actually pays him more than handsomely

12 minutes ago, demoncat said:

They’ll come hard for him when they’re out of finals (which won’t be long)

But no way they can get him without offering McKay or TDK up at a minimum, so depends how big of a swing they’re willing to take 

I think you're onto it Deecat. 

If the blues get bundled out they will come sniffing. McKay could be considered surplus with them having Curnow & TDK. TDK would be seen as the younger, faster coverall, don't think they'll let him go.

It will be a gamble for them but it could be a great outcome for us. 

McKay and their first rounder for Tracc...

or even better. 

McKay, Walsh and their first rounder for Trac and our 2025 first. Off we go! 

27 minutes ago, Demonland said:

 

That's the way to handle it.

3 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Roffey said on Radio yesterday that she had not spoken to Christian or the Family for months. 
I consider that very poor Form…

regardless of any contact whilst in ICU

The word used was a 'while'. 

If the perception by many is that this could mean months, then fair enough, the performance wasn't up to the standard required.

23 minutes ago, demoncat said:

 when they’re ( Carlton ) out of finals (which won’t be long)

 

PLEASE!

2 hours ago, Demon Dynasty said:

Some in the media (surprise surprise) are getting their wires crossed or misrepresenting (deliberately or otherwise) what the message actually was in the response.

Correct ... but it's worse because it's not only some in the media, it's also some Melbourne supporters who continue to repeat misinformation which in turn, helps the media narrative and is causing further damage to the club which could well translate into such things as a weakening of our hand at the trade table. Pathetic.

6 minutes ago, Whispering_Jack said:

Correct ... but it's worse because it's not only some in the media, it's also some Melbourne supporters who continue to repeat misinformation which in turn, helps the media narrative and is causing further damage to the club which could well translate into such things as a weakening of our hand at the trade table. Pathetic.

There are some on here that would like us to permanently move in a 2008-2013 loop.

3 hours ago, Queanbeyan Demon said:

 

 

Melbourne Football Club: A Critical Reflection on Recent Turmoil

It’s astonishing to see the level of confusion and misplaced blame being directed externally when the reality is much closer to home. The narrative that the Melbourne Football Club (MFC) is a victim of media scrutiny or some external vendetta fails to acknowledge the undeniable truth: we’ve been feeding this beast for at least the last 12 months. Now, as one of the biggest stories in the history of the game unfolds, once again, the Dees find themselves at the centre of it.

Self-Inflicted Wounds

There’s no escaping the fact that much of the chaos surrounding the club is of our own making. The dysfunction within the club, which has been an open secret for some time, has led us to this point. While the premiership win in 2021 and subsequent top-four finishes in 2022 and 2023 gave us a temporary reprieve, they also allowed underlying issues to fester unnoticed. Unfortunately, the goodwill generated by these achievements has now evaporated, leaving us exposed.

The Media’s Role vs. Our Responsibility

It’s easy to point fingers at the media, claiming they’re complicit or exacerbating the situation. However, this deflection only serves to distract from the internal issues that are the real culprits. The truth is, we’ve been getting away with far too much for far too long. The media is merely amplifying the chaos we’ve sown, and we must accept responsibility for our part in this mess.

A Star Fading into Darkness

The star that once shone so brightly in 2021 has faded into the vast reaches of the cosmos. The optimism and hope that followed our premiership win have been replaced with disappointment and frustration. Instead of building on our success, we’ve allowed dysfunction to creep in and undermine everything we’ve achieved. It’s a bitter pill to swallow, but we deserve much of the criticism coming our way.

The Final Straw: Leadership and Accountability

And then there’s Kate. Her actions yesterday, whatever they may have been, seem to have poured another gallon of petrol on an already raging fire. The situation has escalated from a mere “dumpster fire” to a full-blown catastrophe. Leadership is about more than just guiding a team on the field; it’s about steering the entire club in the right direction, especially in times of crisis. Unfortunately, it seems we’ve lost our way.

Moving Forward: What Needs to Change

The MFC needs to take a long, hard look in the mirror. Blaming external forces won’t fix what’s broken within. We must address the dysfunction, enforce accountability at all levels, and rebuild the trust and unity that once defined us. It won’t be easy, but it’s the only path forward if we hope to restore the pride and integrity of this club.

In conclusion, while the flames of controversy burn bright around us, we must remember that we are the ones who set the fire. It’s time to stop playing the victim and start taking responsibility for our actions. Only then can we hope to extinguish the flames and rise from the ashes stronger than before.

The truth will set you free.

But first it will really [censored] you off

6 minutes ago, Whispering_Jack said:

Correct ... but it's worse because it's not only some in the media, it's also some Melbourne supporters who continue to repeat misinformation which in turn, helps the media narrative and is causing further damage to the club which could well translate into such things as a weakening of our hand at the trade table. Pathetic.

Totally agree WJ. People have let their emotions over control their ability to comprehend what was said, it's also rife on here and doesn't help the club at this current time. Also, why would anyone expect a president to contact a player anyway. And even more bizarre is why would a player expect the president to contact them.... there is more to this whole story, it will come out, until then, we are all guessing.

48 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

I’m honestly furious at everyone involved, that this man who just got his 7th AA jacket has to once again talk about the drama that follows this club and the selfish people making it worse. 
This night should have been all about the greatness of Gawn. Instead it’s about someone else, their brand and their issues. 
 

We shouldn’t let the media make us furious. It means you’ve let them win. We should rise above their target audience which is lower mid and below type intellects and I should hope we are all a bit better than that

Edited August 30, 20241 yr by von

26 minutes ago, layzie said:

The word used was a 'while'. 

If the perception by many is that this could mean months, then fair enough, the performance wasn't up to the standard required.

I will listen to it again…

Plenty of talk of MFC, players and others not contacting Team Petracca during his convalescence. There seems to have been communication early on but it doesn’t appear Team Petracca has bothered talking much to the club in return. I could imagine the Roffey conversation would have ended with something like “Christian, if you need support or have any issues please don’t hesitate to contact me personally at any time”. 

Edited August 30, 20241 yr by John Crow Batty

42 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Roffey said on Radio yesterday that she had not spoken to Christian or the Family for months. 
I consider that very poor Form…

regardless of any contact whilst in ICU

So we have established that she did reach out whilst he was in ICU. Trac confirmed that himself. Now we dont know what was said, but one would presume to offer her best wishes and support and that to let her or the club know what support would be needed. 

So if we can accept that, the legitimate question i have is, why would she phone him or family up again? She has already done what needed and should have been done. My opinion is from that point, it becomes a FD matter with Pert keeping an eye on the situation. We know this happened, because they suggested or at least agreed to him heading up to Noosa instead of attending games in his recovery. 

We also know by overhearing Trac apologize to club staff and players in one of WCW training video's that he wasn't responding to sms while he was away. And by extension that club and players were in regular touch. 

So frankly im not buying anything that the Trac camp is selling in this space, because frankly its smells like [censored]. 

Like many in the industry (not media) are saying is to do, man-up, help the club rebuild the image that you have damaged, work on the things that need to be fixed, help your friend and leadership peer and captain in Max take the steps required to put this club back in contention.

The reality is, none of that is the issue IMV. His main reasons to want to leave are selfish reasons - bigger club - more publicity. And that is something we cannot change or fix right now. 

 

19 minutes ago, von said:

We shouldn’t let the media make us furious. It means you’ve let them win. We should rise above their target audience which is lower mid and below type intellects and I should hope we are all a bit better than that

Seems like only yesterday Dan Houston was leaving port but the media seem to have got that very wrong - does happen regularly 

10 minutes ago, Gawndy the Great said:

The reality is, none of that is the issue IMV. His main reasons to want to leave are selfish reasons - bigger club - more publicity. And that is something we cannot change or fix right now. 

Yet, given how exposed all players are to the total AFL fanbase, the increase in publicity and folowers is probably marginal.  

12 minutes ago, John Crow Batty said:

Plenty of talk of MFC, players and others not contacting Team Petracca during his convalescence. There seems to have been communication early on but it doesn’t appear Team Petracca has bothered talking much to the club in return. I could imagine the Roffey conversation would have ended with something like “Christian, if you need support or have any issues please don’t hesitate to contact me personally at any time”. 

Once he was recovering l wonder if team Petracca showed any leadership or interest & spoke to any of the players on how they were going on field during a really tough second half of the season.

Surely he was well enough to pick up the phone from Noosa

1 hour ago, Jibroni said:

I think there still interested:

 

I honestly think there’s no point speculating a trade to Carlton. We would get massive unders as I can’t see McKay or De Koning agreeing to the trade given the turmoil surrounding the club. The only trade I can see happening is draft picks at a Gold Coast or Adelaide.

Despite Morris and McClure relishing in the negativity around Melbourne, I think it’s closer to 80% he’s staying and 20% going. I sensed some real authenticity with Gawn’s interview and if he’s accepting him back in, then the whole playing group will (such is the influence of Gawn on the players).

3 hours ago, Fat Tony said:

He should put out a statement if it is all media beat up.

That Goodwin, Pert and Roffey are all struggling to answer the question of "Does Petracca want to play elsewhere?" is a pretty good indication that there is truth to the media stories. 

I disagree, he doesn't answer to the media and neither does our club. Why answer a question just because the media asks it. I prefer we do things on our own timeline and let our actions speak.

I may be alone in my thinking here but one reason I feel that the club seems to also have continual media pile on and never ending speculation is that we fall into the 'sweet spot' for the media in terms of who we are. 

- As Trac has seemingly put it. We are not a big club. Therefore, as much as we get sick of all this going on, we do not have a big enough following to just complain enough to stop the talk and materially impact viewership/ratings etc. 

- We are small enough that if we did all boycott the Herald Sun/SEN etc, it wouldn't have anywhere near the impact of the pies of blues turning their back on them

- We are relevant enough that all the news about us is interesting to other club supporters. If this was happening at the Roos or the Suns, there wouldn't be anywhere near the same level of interest, not enough would 'care' about it to keep it going

- Lastly, the joy that people get in that the 'toffy dees' are copping it gives enough others delight to have them keep reading, this probably merges a bit with the above point

Just my thoughts...

18 minutes ago, Gawndy the Great said:

So we have established that she did reach out whilst he was in ICU. Trac confirmed that himself. Now we dont know what was said, but one would presume to offer her best wishes and support and that to let her or the club know what support would be needed. 

So if we can accept that, the legitimate question i have is, why would she phone him or family up again? She has already done what needed and should have been done. My opinion is from that point, it becomes a FD matter with Pert keeping an eye on the situation. We know this happened, because they suggested or at least agreed to him heading up to Noosa instead of attending games in his recovery. 

We also know by overhearing Trac apologize to club staff and players in one of WCW training video's that he wasn't responding to sms while he was away. And by extension that club and players were in regular touch. 

So frankly im not buying anything that the Trac camp is selling in this space, because frankly its smells like [censored]. 

Like many in the industry (not media) are saying is to do, man-up, help the club rebuild the image that you have damaged, work on the things that need to be fixed, help your friend and leadership peer and captain in Max take the steps required to put this club back in contention.

The reality is, none of that is the issue IMV. His main reasons to want to leave are selfish reasons - bigger club - more publicity. And that is something we cannot change or fix right now. 

 

All i can say to that is, if i was President of the MFC I would be contacting Tracc once a week just to touch base and see how his recovery is going. Family is harder to say.
Every Family is different 

I think there are some media people who are over Christian  & some like Tom morris who just revels in this stuff & wants to keep it going