A lot to unpack here - 

THE BIG QUESTIONS – MELBOURNE 2025 SEASON PREVIEW

Knows his stuff. Makes most Demonland pundits look silly by comparison.

10 minutes ago, Cranky Franky said:

Knows his stuff. Makes most Demonland pundits look silly by comparison.

Knows how to regurgitate all the the negativity of a crappy year, Bravo CF.

2 hours ago, rumpole said:

A lot to unpack here - 

THE BIG QUESTIONS – MELBOURNE 2025 SEASON PREVIEW

Obviously you have to subscribe for the other dozen or so questions. Can anyone post or enlighten as to what else was covered??

not sure who this harrison perry fella is, but for the most part this is great coverage

without having access to the final 14 questions posed it's hard to judge where hb meyers positions us in the premiership race in 2025, but for the most part i thought this was a very positive forward-looking article

2 hours ago, Cranky Franky said:

Knows his stuff. Makes most Demonland pundits look silly by comparison.

9 minutes ago, rpfc said:

Pleasingly, the issues that he raises seem mostly to be in the rear-view mirror now.  The [censored] sandwich that was 2024 is history - bring on a fit hungry talented Demon set-up for 2025!

Everyone I talk to constantly say ‘oh dees on the slide now’ or ‘rebuild time’. I’ve just been playing a straight bat saying we will see.

Im happy that everyone no longer rates us… hopefully we prove them wrong.

4 hours ago, DeeZone said:

Knows how to regurgitate all the the negativity of a crappy year, Bravo CF.

Yeah I know - it was all a media beat up. We almost finished 4th & have the best culture I've ever seen.

I have no idea if McAdam is worth holding out hope for. Haven't seen training but seems he is still talented yet uncommitted. Would love to hear opinions.

5 hours ago, whatwhat say what said:

not sure who this harrison perry fella is, but for the most part this is great coverage

without having access to the final 14 questions posed it's hard to judge where hb meyers positions us in the premiership race in 2025, but for the most part i thought this was a very positive forward-looking article

It's a good read, and I highly recommend the Mongrel Punt's content. They're a refreshing change from the news corp / standard AFL industry journalism, so I'm hesitant to share their paid content here, robbing them of revenue.

Here are the final 14 (well actually it's 13) questions:

6 – HAVE THE DEES MADE ENOUGH CHANGES TO A FORWARD LINE THAT HAS NOT WORKED?

7 – IS CALEB WINDSOR THE PERFECT RUNNING-MATE FOR ED LANGDON?

8 – HOW HIGHLY DO WE RATE THE YOUNGER DEMON DEFENDERS?

9 – IS BAYLEY FRITSCH THE MOST UNDERRATED FORWARD IN THE GAME

10 – CAN KOZZIE PICKETT HAVE A ‘CYRIL’ TYPE OF YEAR

11 – WHAT DOES A HEALTHY JAKE LEVER DO FOR THE DEES?

12 – IS SIMON GOODWIN UNDER A HEAP OF PRESSURE IF THE DEES ARE OUTSIDE THE TOP EIGHT AT THE BYE?

13 – WHO IS CHECKING INTO THE LAST CHANCE HOTEL IN 2025?

14 – WHO IS THE NEXT BREAKOUT PLAYER AT THE CLUB?

15 – IF THE DEES WERE ONE MOVIE CHARACTER, WHO WOULD THEY BE?

16 - was just missed completely by the writer

17 – ANYTHING TO ADD ON THE DEES, MRS MONGREL?

To summarise "I’m predicting a wild ride into the final 4 for the Dees. I’ve never been wrong."

18 – IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT THE CLUB, AS A WHOLE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

19 – WRAPPING UP

It's a good read (but, then, I'll read anything about the Dees). Thanks, @rumpole.

Though '...we give value. No same old garbage you’re going to hear from ten others, taking turns in mimicking each other. No played out opinions. Thoughtful and comprehensive – that’s what we aspire to provide...' is a bit of a stretch; I didn't see much new or left field. Its substance, and the padding, are entertainingly written, and you've got to be impressed by someone who can write two novels in a handful of months!

6 hours ago, Cranky Franky said:

Yeah I know - it was all a media beat up. We almost finished 4th & have the best culture I've ever seen.

Cranky, would you give up on the constant constant constant carping?

 

Basically it is a very good analysis, suggesting that if things turn around with Clarry etc we could do very well - possibly top four. He also says - AND I COMPLETELY AGREE- that we should find and get rid of whoever is leaking about all our troubles. I tried to post about that already but it didnt get past the mods.

I will probably join them.

I do know we lost Smith, Gus, and Spargo from our potential best 22.  And with no replacement from drafting, Mr Oliver did not have a fantastic preseason makes it 4, 

Take four best 22 out of any side and you only need one more, read tracca,  and it was no surprise we went downhill rapidly, plus Max, plus Fritta, plus.....

Negative media and poor FD replies to that neg stuff, and we were slip sliding away.

We should have 3 of those back, and have other replacements on the list.

All things being equal, we should do better than 2024, and 

13 hours ago, Damo said:

I have no idea if McAdam is worth holding out hope for. Haven't seen training but seems he is still talented yet uncommitted. Would love to hear opinions.

Finished!

9 hours ago, Ollie fan said:

Cranky, would you give up on the constant constant constant carping?

 

 He also says - AND I COMPLETELY AGREE- that we should find and get rid of whoever is leaking about all our troubles. I tried to post about that already but it didnt get past the mods.

What a great idea - shoot the whistle-blower and ignore the actual problems.

That should work out well.

1 hour ago, Cranky Franky said:

What a great idea - shoot the whistle-blower and ignore the actual problems.

That should work out well.

Whistle blower.

Cranky, you write some funny [censored], but that takes that the case.

Whistle blower. 

You are an alchemist. Merde into pure comedy gold. That's some skill.

Edited January 9Jan 9 by binman

9 hours ago, Ollie fan said:

Basically it is a very good analysis, suggesting that if things turn around with Clarry etc we could do very well - possibly top four. He also says - AND I COMPLETELY AGREE- that we should find and get rid of whoever is leaking about all our troubles. I tried to post about that already but it didnt get past the mods.

bit hard to sack player's managers

6 – HAVE THE DEES MADE ENOUGH CHANGES TO A FORWARD LINE THAT HAS NOT WORKED?
 

Have we changed the way we play? Regardless of who was missing last year and how many games we lost by small margins, the game changes and we must change with it.

3 hours ago, picket fence said:

Finished!

On this we completely agree. Let’s get Roy on the list asap. 

3 hours ago, binman said:

Whistle blower.

Cranky, you write some funny [censored], but that takes that the case.

Whistle blower. 

You are an alchemist. Merde into pure comedy gold. That's some skill.

Ok, maybe leaker would have been preferable to whistle-blower.

The original comment from Ollie was -

"we should find and get rid of whoever is leaking about all our troubles"

 

Hey blokes - thanks for the share and for respecting the restricted section of the article. Greatly appreciated - other sites are a little more free and easy with that. 

I try to have a good overview of all teams, but you guys are like the subject matter experts when it comes to your boys. I know you live and breathe it, so when it comes to the Dees, I am always more than willing to defer to those more knowledgeable and respect those opinions.

That said, sometimes the view of someone removed from the passion can serve a purpose. :)

Anyway, I am a big subscriber to the theory of things never being as good, or as bad, as they're made out, and hope that 2025 provides Melbourne with the stability the club needs to settle things down and play some good footy.

All the best - HB

 

Edited January 10Jan 10 by The Mongrel Punt

Oh, and the Harrison Perry thing was due to fat fingers. Sorry :)

Mongrel Punt opener is an interesting read, maybe the staff writer does have a novel in him. Ticks off the litany of ‘plaints that bedeviled the club’s recent history. Importantly MP perceptively suggests the best way forward to lose  the negative media scrutiny. Is through a return to the winner’s list quote “…it is amazing how quickly success turns a team of ‘apparently’ disgruntled players into a cohesive unit…”.

Despite the overrun of the footy mafia rumour mill. On the visual and observational evidence so far. Both Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca are enjoying the pre-season with their team mates. Plenty of smiles about. Their return to the playing field, after ‘the healing’ bodes well, lifting the entire team performance. According to MP “Even just Oliver re-discovering that 2022 form would elevate them (the team) six places (ladder wise).”

To paraphrase MP the theory that what [censored] happens is neither bad or as good as made out applies. As the new year kicks in and the woes of last season’s Annus horribilis recede exponentially in the rear view mirror. Being a passionate and invested supporter l’m feeling likewise, let the ebullience rise and let the team play some bloody good footy.