The Watch with Ben Gibson | Tom Morris

[Redlegged 81]

The real issue is what exactly is the nature of Petracca's beef with Melbourne? I have no real idea other than its somehow bound up with (or was exacerbated by) his K's B injury. Whatever it is, the challenge is on to resolve it. I'm ignoring Jordan Lewis's [censored] about players with 'agendas'.

[Adam The God 29,940]

1 minute ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Petracca has not disputed the quotes made at all. 
I think you can assume from that, that Morris was not lying. 
What the MFC must do is actively work to fix the problems they can

We risk derailing this thread, but anyone that thinks playing this out through the media via his management was the right play and won't be corrosive with the playing group, has rocks in their head.

There are problems, but if you're a leader, you have the conversations internally and demand change internally.

If Trac were a team mate of mine and I was in the leadership group, I'd be having some pretty strong conversations with him.

[adonski 11,544]

2 minutes ago, Binmans PA said:

We risk derailing this thread, but anyone that thinks playing this out through the media via his management was the right play and won't be corrosive with the playing group, has rocks in their head.

There are problems, but if you're a leader, you have the conversations internally and demand change internally.

If Trac were a team mate of mine and I was in the leadership group, I'd be having some pretty strong conversations with him.

Chases away trade targets too! Genuinely a crazy move from Trac and or his team imo

[adonski 11,544]

16 minutes ago, Redlegged said:

The real issue is what exactly is the nature of Petracca's beef with Melbourne? I have no real idea other than its somehow bound up with (or was exacerbated by) his K's B injury. Whatever it is, the challenge is on to resolve it. I'm ignoring Jordan Lewis's [censored] about players with 'agendas'.

I have a very simplistic view on it. I reckon he just cracks the sads anytime we have a down year.

Edited August 16 by adonski

[DistrACTION Jackson 8,393]

1 minute ago, adonski said:

Chases away trade targets too! Genuinely a crazy move from Trac and or his team imo

I don’t think it was specifically him or his management. Think it may have likely been people around him

[Sir Why You Little 36,858]

4 minutes ago, DistrACTION Jackson said:

Again I’m not saying he’s lying, I’m saying putting out hypotheticals isn’t really journalism. Petracca doesn’t have to say anything, the majority of players don’t say anything unless they are interviewed and even then it’s just media speak. The club has put out a statement and no doubt would’ve talked with petracca before they put this out.

But Morris is not putting out a hyperthetical, he has put out “quotes” that have not been refuted, at all. 
That means they do carry weight 

[Adam The God 29,940]

1 minute ago, adonski said:

Chases away trade targets too! Genuinely a crazy move from Trac and or his team imo

Houston and Trac are repped by Connors Sports, so I think it's more likely we said to them and Port that we won't be offering up a first or future first anymore, so we won't be able to get the deal done.

I don't blame Trac for Houston allegedly cooling, because as if a story that Tom Morris reports would have a baring on whether Houston wants to come or not.

Not to mention that they would have been well aware of the issues at Melbourne prior to the last week. Houston was supposedly on board with us in July.

It's much more likely Connors are pushing all this.

[DistrACTION Jackson 8,393]

Just now, Sir Why You Little said:

But Morris is not putting out a hyperthetical, he has put out “quotes” that have not been refuted, at all. 
That means they do carry weight 

Yes he did. He said specifically ‘if Petracca was out of contract he would walk tomorrow’. That is what we call a hypothetical.

[dazzledavey36 54,002]

7 minutes ago, DistrACTION Jackson said:

You have no idea if he would request a trade, just like I don’t… so it’s a bit hypocritical to say that. I’ve heard one of the key reasons for ‘his’ concern from people in the know so I understand what the issue is. 
 

Btw I’m not defending the club as I’m sure there are elements they can improve. Just pointing out that Morris could have reported that Petracca was unhappy, but instead goes into discussions about hypotheticals as do most media people these days. Reporting used to be based on fact, now it’s fact mixed in with opinion and innuendo.

He's reported as facts just like the rest of his information is now seen to be correct.

He's clearly talking to his player manager which has provided him with the information that had he not be contracted he'd ask for a trade which I absolutely believe given how disgruntled he is.

[Sir Why You Little 36,858]

8 minutes ago, Binmans PA said:

We risk derailing this thread, but anyone that thinks playing this out through the media via his management was the right play and won't be corrosive with the playing group, has rocks in their head.

There are problems, but if you're a leader, you have the conversations internally and demand change internally.

If Trac were a team mate of mine and I was in the leadership group, I'd be having some pretty strong conversations with him.

I have no doubt those conversations are being held right now. They will not be public 

The Players need to look each other in the eye and talk it all through. It may get quite heated, so be it. 
Have it out 

[DistrACTION Jackson 8,393]

3 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

He's reported as facts just like the rest of his information is now seen to be correct.

He's clearly talking to his player manager which has provided him with the information that had he not be contracted he'd ask for a trade which I absolutely believe given how disgruntled he is.

From my understanding it isn’t his manager, it’s someone else

Edited August 16 by DistrACTION Jackson

[Sir Why You Little 36,858]

2 minutes ago, DistrACTION Jackson said:

Yes he did. He said specifically ‘if Petracca was out of contract he would walk tomorrow’. That is what we call a hypothetical.

He said that, because that’s what was Quoted to him… If that was wrong, we would have heard about it 

[Sir Why You Little 36,858]

2 minutes ago, DistrACTION Jackson said:

From my understanding it isn’t his manager, it’s someone else and it’s emotionally charged

Having worked in a Newsroom for over 10 years, i can assure you that Morris has 100’s of contacts. 90% of his day job is spent on the phone. 
He has been given direct quotes from someone, and there has been silence from Tracc

That says it all. 

[Ollie fan 3,340]

Hate to say it, but I thought Morris sounded reasonable in the interview. The question then is, can we calm Trac down and keep him, or do we trade him? 
 

If it stopped us wasting two first-rounders on a half back that we don't need, I think that is a bit of good news among all this!

[3183 Dee 2,840]

41 minutes ago, waynewussell said:

Here's some truth for you! Smugness is a quality best left to those who have delusions of superiority. 

I wasn’t being smug - I was firmly in the bulltish camp, but it’s clearly got some substance to it, as he’s doubled down here.

[DistrACTION Jackson 8,393]

Just now, Sir Why You Little said:

Having worked in a Newsroom for over 10 years, i can assure you that Morris has 100’s of contacts. 90% of his day job is spent on the phone. 
He has been given direct quotes from someone, and there has been silence from Tracc

That says it all. 

I’m sure he does. Let’s just leave it I really cbf talking about it anymore 

[Longsufferingnomore 1,628]

Only listened up to 20 minute mark but found it very interesting. What I don't understand is his comment that Melbourne got rid of Hogan when he didn't want to go. From my understanding and what was I thought, a well known reason for him going to back to WA was that he wanted to go home. He was unhappy in Victoria despite being very close to some of the players at Melbourne. We facilitated that move. 

Does anyone have any background to Morris comment.

[Young Blood 2,550]

Just now, DistrACTION Jackson said:

I’m sure he does. Let’s just leave it I really cbf talking about it anymore 

Good move DJ. I will stay well out of Trac talk until we know facts beyond sweeping statements and hypotheticals.

[Sir Why You Little 36,858]

2 minutes ago, DistrACTION Jackson said:

I’m sure he does. Let’s just leave it I really cbf talking about it anymore 

It really doesn’t matter where the quotes have come from, what matters is that they haven’t been refuted, at all. 
The Club has a lot of work to do

Bring it on

[FreedFromDesire 898]

19 minutes ago, Binmans PA said:

We risk derailing this thread, but anyone that thinks playing this out through the media via his management was the right play and won't be corrosive with the playing group, has rocks in their head.

There are problems, but if you're a leader, you have the conversations internally and demand change internally.

If Trac were a team mate of mine and I was in the leadership group, I'd be having some pretty strong conversations with him.

It potentially could be complicated though. I absolutely agree with your sentiment and think it's generally painted Petracca in a very poor light, however, what if his frustrations weren't being addressed? What if they're not new and things bubbled to the surface? What if the issues are with the same people who make the decisions and they've not acted? If he hasn't felt heard you could see a situation where that lead to him lashing out and speaking to his management.

Absolutely things should always be handled internally, but when you're on a long contract, things are poor at the club, and you're not being listened to, what do you do? For all we know Christian has been pushing for us to make changes and be better since 2022. 

I'm not saying it's a good situation, but just trying to raise that it's likely more complex than many are thinking it is. There does seem to be some very black and white takes on this when it's most likely very contextual.

[H_T 3,043]

47 minutes ago, JJJ said:

I don’t think people would be so anti Morris if he didn’t have a long list of priors.

He lost me at....liquor licence.

[Adam The God 29,940]

17 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

I have no doubt those conversations are being held right now. They will not be public 

The Players need to look each other in the eye and talk it all through. It may get quite heated, so be it. 
Have it out 

I'm fine with the internal discussions. That's what will make us better. It's the playing it out in media that potentially undermines the goal of getting better.

[Gator 17,261]

19 minutes ago, DistrACTION Jackson said:

He said specifically ‘if Petracca was out of contract he would walk tomorrow’. That is what we call a hypothetical.

If I'm Petracca, a leader at the club, and that was erroneously said about me, I'd be correcting the assertion the next day.

If I'm Tom Morris, a senior journalist who values his reputation, especially in light of recent events, I'm not running with an inflammatory comment like that unless I know it's true.

Now, you can believe what you want, but I have zero doubt it's true and I also believe Morris' responsibity to his employer was to report what he knew.  It's a good story if you're in his game.

But I also get that emotional supporters who aren't capable of thinking clearly may get upset.

[Monbon 1,840]

3 hours ago, waynewussell said:

This year I have stopped listening to SEN and stopped watching 360 and On The Couch due to the continued 'pile on' directed at MFC. Prior to this, I listened to SEN religiously each morning and on my way to and from work. I was also a nightly viewer of Foxtel footy offerings. I think, over time, these productions will lose rusted on supporters as they tire of the current 'club in crisis' approach to gaining an audience. As ratings fall, so will the shows. We can only hope! 

Yes: it seems the only team with any ISSUES is THE MELBOURNE FOOTY CLUB. I've yet to hear about how the E Coli Wobblers might not make the Finals, this year, why Geelong failed the year after it won a flag, and all we hear about is STRIFE  AND MAYHEM AT THE DEMONS, THE HOUSE OF DISCONTENT. At least Melbourne played Finals in '22 and '23, and had they kicked straight last year, had Maynard not knocked out Brayshaw, they might have stood a chance to win the '23 Flag as well.

Yes, this year has been a downer, but  - yes, I know, all the other teams had Injury Issues as well - Melbourne has been hit hard in '24, being 2 players down from before the first ball of '24 was bounced. 

 

[ElDiablo14 4,990]

25 minutes ago, DistrACTION Jackson said:

I don’t think it was specifically him or his management. Think it may have likely been people around him

To be completely honest people around him should learn to just shut up.

I would be livid if my siblings, friends, parents or someone close to me crated this unwarranted noise in the media by being indiscrete.

Unless he has given them the green light to talk to people about his personal sentiments on the club.