46 minutes ago, Abyssal said:

Yes unfortunately.

Was thinking he was a Star in the making before this year, now he plays like his heart isn’t in it.

As if he believes there’s greener pastures elsewhere.

Hope I’m wrong.

12 clubs greener to be exact

23 minutes ago, Superunknown said:

despite those saying he has regressed and happy to let him go, let us not lose sight of the bigger picture here - a player we offered 4 years to earlier this year who by all accounts got what he wanted (h/t @Dannyz ) is now reportedly waiting to see how the last few rounds and FD changes go?

That is not good for the club is is bad optics for other players who we are chasing

The poor optics are nothing that's appeared overnight. They've been there for all to see for some time. Granted it might vary according to colour of lenses 😉

1 hour ago, 48 Year Now said:

Ruthless Simon

Sign or play out season at Casey.

Yep,I would want to see who is the next lock down player is.Salam,Bowie or imagine if Rivers got demoted to play that role

17 hours ago, deespicable me said:

He needs to grow up and take responsibility. Has really good talent but is poorly coached. Takes the easy option far too often. Isn't ruthless for a back pocket like pig was. Kicks backwards to a safe out all the time. Passes on the responsibility of finding an option upfield, which he would probably be good at. Needs to be challenged. I've been waiting for the last 10 weeks for some indication that someone in the coaching department is guiding him but nada.

If this wasn't a Judd McVee thread I would have sworn you were talking about Christian Salem. That sums up his contribution over the past three years perfectly.

No wonder the younger players are in two minds about how to play.

18 minutes ago, poita said:

If this wasn't a Judd McVee thread I would have sworn you were talking about Christian Salem. That sums up his contribution over the past three years perfectly.

No wonder the younger players are in two minds about how to play.

I agree. It's as if he's reading from Salo's playbook. Stay under notice, give out minimums and bank the cheque each week. Bit harsh I know but I also think it's a valid criticism of many players, not just from Melbourne. You don't see it at the good clubs though who are well coached.

At Collingwood they consistently play as if it's the last game they'll play. Hunger is such an under-rated team trait. I don't think Collingwood are necessarily that good on paper. But boy they bring it on game day. That's one of the big criticisms of Melbourne. In 2021 we were hungry. Now it's like we Just Don't Care.

2 hours ago, Cranky Franky said:

Spot on post. He has regressed this year.

All but 2 or 3 players have regressed this year.

2 hours ago, adonski said:

Judd deniers are a lower class species

What's a Judd denier ???

We're simply stating the obvious - that he is a talented young player who is having a poor year. He was cut to pieces by Rankine & mostly clueless & hesitant last Sunday.

1 hour ago, Cranky Franky said:

What's a Judd denier ???

We're simply stating the obvious - that he is a talented young player who is having a poor year. He was cut to pieces by Rankine & mostly clueless & hesitant last Sunday.

1 hour ago, Cranky Franky said:

What's a Judd denier ???

We're simply stating the obvious - that he is a talented young player who is having a poor year. He was cut to pieces by Rankine & mostly clueless & hesitant last Sunday.

McVee was right up there with McDonald,Bowie,Disco and Salem.All let down by a tired looking midfield

2 hours ago, deespicable me said:

Now it's like we Just Don't Care.

We are the Anti Nike: Just Don’t It.

Sure, McVee has had a big dip in form this year.

But he has already shown the potential to become a top-class defender, so the real question is what has caused this fall from grace?

From outside, we can all speculate but we just don't know the answer.

I hope he stays, because I believe he can give the Dees years of excellent service.

But given the state of the club right now, if I were his manager I would probably advise him differently.

Didn't miss a game in his first two years after debuting off the rookie list. 25 games in 2023 when we were flying as a team, so he wasn't being gifted games.

This time last year we were all begging for him to be put into the midfield, that's how highly he was rated.

Gets injured on the eve of 2025 and has struggled to find form since coming, now people are off him?

He's 21 and barely played 50 games. It's the ideal type of player for us to rebuild around.

Bowey was in the firing line of many supporters last year. This year he'll finish top 5 in our B&F.

Give Judd a chance.

13 minutes ago, Dee-tonator said:

Sure, McVee has had a big dip in form this year.

But he has already shown the potential to become a top-class defender, so the real question is what has caused this fall from grace?

From outside, we can all speculate but we just don't know the answer.

I hope he stays, because I believe he can give the Dees years of excellent service.

But given the state of the club right now, if I were his manager I would probably advise him differently.

I'm not sure it is a full explanation, but he had that bad hammy in the preseason in early Feb, and only returned via Casey in mid April. I can't imagine that'd do great things for his fitness or confidence.

9 minutes ago, seventyfour said:

Didn't miss a game in his first two years after debuting off the rookie list. 25 games in 2023 when we were flying as a team, so he wasn't being gifted games.

This time last year we were all begging for him to be put into the midfield, that's how highly he was rated.

Gets injured on the eve of 2025 and has struggled to find form since coming, now people are off him?

He's 21 and barely played 50 games. It's the ideal type of player for us to rebuild around.

Bowey was in the firing line of many supporters last year. This year he'll finish top 5 in our B&F.

Give Judd a chance.

I personally think it’s less about wanting to kick him out and now - given that he may have actual value for us in the meat market, if he does indeed want to return home to Perth - may be the time when he wants to leave

Personally I don’t see much in him moving into the midfield; lock down small defender who can rebound is a very important position and - prior to this injury hit season - he was tracking to be up there with Starcevich as one of the best in the competition

Edited 11 hours ago11 hr by whatwhat say what

47 minutes ago, gs77 said:

I'm not sure it is a full explanation, but he had that bad hammy in the preseason in early Feb, and only returned via Casey in mid April. I can't imagine that'd do great things for his fitness or confidence.

This is the Goodwin playlist. It's in the Goodwin DNA & has been doing all his career but turbocharged it from 2022. It's become his trademark.

You rush back unfit or out of form players straight into the firsts then watch them struggle - he's stuffed up Petty, Tholstrup, Spargo, Lever, Windsor & others.

45 minutes ago, Cranky Franky said:

This is the Goodwin playlist. It's in the Goodwin DNA & has been doing all his career but turbocharged it from 2022. It's become his trademark.

You rush back unfit or out of form players straight into the firsts then watch them struggle - he's stuffed up Petty, Tholstrup, Spargo, Lever, Windsor & others.

there's not many clubs that plays those thought of as their 'best players' repeatedly in the 2s

de goey and bobby hill got a half to get a run of competitive footy under their belts in the vfl, coleman got a game and broke down again straight away, doedee the same...

if yr 'best players' are fit you play them where they may actually help you

i look at mihocek coming back from 4 weeks out; straight back into the seniors as an example

23 minutes ago, whatwhat say what said:

there's not many clubs that plays those thought of as their 'best players' repeatedly in the 2s

de goey and bobby hill got a half to get a run of competitive footy under their belts in the vfl, coleman got a game and broke down again straight away, doedee the same...

if yr 'best players' are fit you play them where they may actually help you

i look at mihocek coming back from 4 weeks out; straight back into the seniors as an example

It's quiet different for new players compared to experienced players. Collingwood clearly get it right while Melbourne get it wrong.

Tholstrup, Windsor, McVee & Lindsay have all been managed very poorly this year.

2 hours ago, gs77 said:

I'm not sure it is a full explanation, but he had that bad hammy in the preseason in early Feb, and only returned via Casey in mid April. I can't imagine that'd do great things for his fitness or confidence.

it's a full explanation. He missed too much of that critical late pre-season/early season period and has been playing catchup ever since.

(also see Kolstrup and to a lesser extent Windsor and Lindsay).

We got him in the rookie draft. He has done ok, so would want to keep if possible. If we get a good pick for him, then it’s actually a win/upgrade.

Either way we should do ok…

Judd's form is temporary, this I have no doubt on and if we lose him we are losing a genuine gem. Remember how Bowey was after his shoulder injury last season? Now look at him.

Never ever underestimate the impact of a pre-season affected by a serious soft tissue injury, and then add to that the fact this is his first major injury so confidence in his body is low. It also doesn't help that our club is an utter shambles right now.

I will be seriously annoyed if we lose Judd, and even more annoyed if we don't get decent value for him.

8 hours ago, doomsday dee said:

12 clubs greener to be exact

Preach 🤲