9 minutes ago, Watson11 said:

I’m in the minority but I put most of the breakdown on the club and a smaller amount on Tracc. But the club has reset with a new president, ceo, and coach, but the residual player rift created last year hasn’t gone away.

The club had massive leadership issues from September 2021 onwards that created a toxic environment. By internally calling them out Tracc seemed to get thrown under the bus by the club and even teammates. Maybe Tracc was over sensitive to how he was treated. But the resulting rift with teammates is too big and it’s best for everyone to move on.

Probably the low point last year was the private meeting to sort out issues that was leaked to Sam McLure. That’s probably too big a breach of trust to truly get back to normal. Tracc didn’t leak it. I doubt the culprit from the leadership group owned up but wouldn’t know.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/petracca-airs-grievances-in-private-meeting-of-dees-leaders-20240828-p5k60z.html

I’m sure the players also felt like trust had been broken by Tracc. I mean they were reading in the press that Tracc was telling management he had a problem with them. But that was on management who leaked the private conversations Tracc had with them about issues amoung the playing group.

Our window shut this year. It was an unbelievable rebuild by Roos/Goodwin and Jackson. But we are 4-5 years until Langford et al are 24-25 years old and peaking. Kossie will still be 29 and the window maybe reopens then if the club acknowledges where we are at. It’s best the club trade Tracc and get something in return that helps us peak in 4-5 years, not next year. Everything now should be about being a contender in 4-5 years.

The new club management seems to be handling it professionally. Some supporters not so much. What happened at Hawthorn with Rioli not attending grand final reunions is sad, and must make those reunions feel really hollow for that club. It will be a sad, sad outcome if Tracc doesn’t come back to the club for premiership reunions.

Best we thank him for his unbelievable service, acknowledge the breakdown is irretrievable, and move on. If he doesn’t get traded, just remember Papley wanted out of Sydney but was welcomed back by supporters.

Great post @Watson11. Regarding your observation that "It’s best the club trade Tracc and get something in return that helps us peak in 4-5 years, not next year". You are right of course. I just wonder if the market is prepared to provide a player in return for trac who fits this requirement satisfactorily.

10 minutes ago, Watson11 said:

Best we thank him for his unbelievable service, acknowledge the breakdown is irretrievable, and move on. If he doesn’t get traded, just remember Papley wanted out of Sydney but was welcomed back by supporters.

Amen. For all of those burning their no.5 guernseys and completely writing him off, this needs to be taken into perspective. 

I'm frustrated with the situation but if there's not a good deal and Trac walks back in next year, it can all turn very quickly. Not sure all supporters will be welcoming him back (as evident here) but I certainly will, some players might have a gripe with it but most won't care and be grateful to one of their best players back.

Edited Wednesday at 01:284 days by Young Blood

1 hour ago, PaulRB said:

I think we’re too “bull heavy” in the middle with Trac, Clarry and Viney all similar. This has made the transition of lighter fleet of foot players into the middle more difficult. Tracs second string, his forward work has been so-so and his defensive effectiveness to slow opposition rebounds from our forward half questionable.

Clarry has no trade value at the moment and no second string. Viney is club, older and vice captain.

Opening the door for Trac seems logical to solve this issue.

On Trac’s grievances, he’s acted or verbalized these publicly, tried to strong arm the club last year, and this year not acknowledged the work or progress the club may have made in addressing the issues. Unlike pretty much every player on the list. And he does this as one of the clubs highest payed and high profile players.

I acknowledge and am grateful for his contribution in lifting up to a flag in 2021.

Should he leave, I’m on GC for Trac for Flanders and pick 6. Or if Flanders chooses Saints (for pick 7), then it’s Trac for 6 and 7.

And we’ll be a better team for it.

And then pick 6 to Freo for Jackson

1 hour ago, PaulRB said:

I think we’re too “bull heavy” in the middle with Trac, Clarry and Viney all similar. This has made the transition of lighter fleet of foot players into the middle more difficult. Tracs second string, his forward work has been so-so and his defensive effectiveness to slow opposition rebounds from our forward half questionable.

Clarry has no trade value at the moment and no second string. Viney is club, older and vice captain.

Opening the door for Trac seems logical to solve this issue.

On Trac’s grievances, he’s acted or verbalized these publicly, tried to strong arm the club last year, and this year not acknowledged the work or progress the club may have made in addressing the issues. Unlike pretty much every player on the list. And he does this as one of the clubs highest payed and high profile players.

I acknowledge and am grateful for his contribution in lifting up to a flag in 2021.

Should he leave, I’m on GC for Trac for Flanders and pick 6. Or if Flanders chooses Saints (for pick 7), then it’s Trac for 6 and 7.

And we’ll be a better team for it.

Agree with all of this mate. But the one thing I hope list management and King don't do is overcorrect on back half way transition versus the contest.

King's mids on GF day were pounded by a stronger contested ball unit, that could also run and carry and finish their work from the stoppages.

Clarry definitely needs to be in there as our extractor, but if Viney goes anywhere near the midfield, he should be tasked with the Dunkley defensive role, which then frees up Kozzy or Windsor, Langford or Lindsay, that other mid, to great on the move, get creative and damaging and hit the scoreboard.

I saw than a story on the AFL socials talking abiut goals from midfield for the Lions. Kozzy and Langford are both goal kicking mids. We need Clarry contributing there too, and ideally someone like Bowey or Salem, if we're playing them through the middle or higher up the ground.

13 minutes ago, Watson11 said:

I’m in the minority but I put most of the breakdown on the club and a smaller amount on Tracc. But the club has reset with a new president, ceo, and coach, but the residual player rift created last year hasn’t gone away.

The club had massive leadership issues from September 2021 onwards that created a toxic environment. By internally calling them out Tracc seemed to get thrown under the bus by the club and even teammates. Maybe Tracc was over sensitive to how he was treated. But the resulting rift with teammates is too big and it’s best for everyone to move on.

Probably the low point last year was the private meeting to sort out issues that was leaked to Sam McLure. That’s probably too big a breach of trust to truly get back to normal. Tracc didn’t leak it. I doubt the culprit from the leadership group owned up but wouldn’t know.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/petracca-airs-grievances-in-private-meeting-of-dees-leaders-20240828-p5k60z.html

I’m sure the players also felt like trust had been broken by Tracc. I mean they were reading in the press that Tracc was telling management he had a problem with them. But that was on management who leaked the private conversations Tracc had with them about issues amoung the playing group.

Our window shut this year. It was an unbelievable rebuild by Roos/Goodwin and Jackson. But we are 4-5 years until Langford et al are 24-25 years old and peaking. Kossie will still be 29 and the window maybe reopens then if the club acknowledges where we are at. It’s best the club trade Tracc and get something in return that helps us peak in 4-5 years, not next year. Everything now should be about being a contender in 4-5 years.

The new club management seems to be handling it professionally. Some supporters not so much. What happened at Hawthorn with Rioli not attending grand final reunions is sad, and must make those reunions feel really hollow for that club. It will be a sad, sad outcome if Tracc doesn’t come back to the club for premiership reunions.

Best we thank him for his unbelievable service, acknowledge the breakdown is irretrievable, and move on. If he doesn’t get traded, just remember Papley wanted out of Sydney but was welcomed back by supporters.

Ok ill bite.

I don't deny we haven't had our own problems since 2021. There has been a lot of them. But why is it that we only hear noise around Petracca (Clarry was of our own making with Pert shopping him around). We had multiple young kids recommitting to the club? Every club will have its issues and we are no different. But this narrative you suggest is that Trac is actually legitimised in his request for a trade. I mean it cannot be any clearer that he is choosing to goto a club that is in the premiership window. If he wasn't, why isn't he going to the Blues, Richmond or even West Coast? All have the capital and cap space to accommodate his needs and two of them are based in his hometown.

The latest that the club is pushing him out all but confirm that Trac himself is Morris's MFC source. Its all PR and damage control from yesterday. I'll wager a bet that if he goes, ALL club leaks and the Tom Morris MFC mail stops.

21 minutes ago, PaulRB said:

Given our current challenges attracting high-end talent to spend our cap on, getting another Langford and Lindsay while paying out some of Trac's contract seems a path we can deliver on, rather than one we just get to dream about.

1 There is no Langford in this draft in the range we will be picking (or at all).

2 The draft is not efficent. Geelong have had no top 5 picks in 25 years. They are perpetually good because they recruit well with lower picks and manage their salary cap ruthlessly.

Every year we hear about the top draftees and how good they are but there are always busts. It is hard to know how players will transition from U18 to VFL.

Once Petracca goes we need to be patient and build slowly. This means doing what St Kilda have been doing with their salary cap and drafting better like Geelong and Hawthorn.

A top 6 pick in a poor draft is not worth $2m in cap space. (Just because you cannot see the salary cap does not mean it is not important.)

19 minutes ago, GawnOfTheDead said:

We would need the picks to leave the hole of not having him, right?

Or would you argue the salary is more important so we can bring in more picks via higher pay?

We use the dollars to pay off more of the Kossie and Oliver contracts and give us more flexibility in future years. We need to start thinking about strategy into perpetity to win the most flags we can over the long run. We are no longer in the window, so we have to pivot and get our cap under control and turn the list over with short term contracts.

5 minutes ago, GS_1905 said:

Ok ill bite.

I don't deny we haven't had our own problems since 2021. There has been a lot of them. But why is it that we only hear noise around Petracca (Clarry was of our own making with Pert shopping him around). We had multiple young kids recommitting to the club? Every club will have its issues and we are no different. But this narrative you suggest is that Trac is actually legitimised in his request for a trade. I mean it cannot be any clearer that he is choosing to goto a club that is in the premiership window. If he wasn't, why isn't he going to the Blues, Richmond or even West Coast? All have the capital and cap space to accommodate his needs and two of them are based in his hometown.

The latest that the club is pushing him out all but confirm that Trac himself is Morris's MFC source. Its all PR and damage control from yesterday. I'll wager a bet that if he goes, ALL club leaks and the Tom Morris MFC mail stops.

Bottom clubs would have no interest in spending a kings ransom to get Petracca. His worth is that he could be the difference between making up the numbers in finals and winning a flag. He is going to the clubs that have a genuine interest in securing his services.

9 minutes ago, Fat Tony said:

We use the dollars to pay off more of the Kossie and Oliver contracts and give us more flexibility in future years. We need to start thinking about strategy into perpetity to win the most flags we can over the long run. We are no longer in the window, so we have to pivot and get our cap under control and turn the list over with short term contracts.

Beware of forward loading.

Just ask GCS about their experience with GA junior

2 hours ago, titan_uranus said:

Jesus. So it’s the club’s fault. Get the violins out for this bloke. Cry me a river.

Just now, Rab D Nesbitt said:

Jesus. So it’s the club’s fault. Get the violins out for this bloke. Cry me a river.

Yep. Shock horror 24 hours after the club releases a statement putting in on Trac, a friendly Journo runs with a story that the club was mean to poor Trac and he had no choice but to seek a trade to a premiership contender.

43 minutes ago, The Cult of Disco Turner said:

I continue to find the whole “he will choose where he wants to go” the most irritating and absurd aspect of the AFL trade stuff.

We’ve all said it a million times on this forum.

This guy is under contract for 4 more years. He signed a contract. He is making millions of dollars. If he wants to request a trade, fine. But the idea that players under contract get to decide on where they go, which immediately ruins MFC’s ability to create competition amongst clubs in order to get the best possible return, is absolutely insane.

The club have made a rod for their own back with this. If 2025 really was the year of bending over backwards to change everything to keep CP happy, then of course he thinks he can call most if not all of the shots now and choose where he goes. I hope he's in for a rude awakening.

I'm just looking forward for this melodrama to finally end (or be transported to wherever he ends up - no longer our problem).

He seemingly wants out and if that's certain, than most of us probably don't want him around.

He's been a great servant and done wonders for us but to move on now for some reason leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

He has every right to pursue options for his financial future but .....

He is contracted.

That should mean something.

Even a handshake should.

So maybe step back CP and ponder how you would like to remembered.

And yes heaps of players leave clubs but it doesn't mean it's all fine and dandy to disrespect your written word.

Maybe the club did wrong by him re the Darcy Moore incident so maybe he has an excuse

I'll fence sit as per usual .

1 hour ago, Demonsone said:

Load of BS, find it hard to believe this, perhaps Morris should listen to Trac interview in Feb 25 declaring his love of the club… this is player driven

Is it that hard to believe that the club might be giving him a little nudge out the door? With his huge salary, questionable attitude, terrible kicking and adding to our 1 dimensional midfield..I can see how he might have picked up in this vibe from the club

20 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Beware of forward loading.

Just ask GCS about their experience with GA junior

It is the danger with any long term contracts. And we need to spread any front loading across the playing list.

But look at what Hawthorn and St Kilda are doing. The league is cyclical. We need to make room and get some good young talent from the depths of the draft.

1 minute ago, Previously known as LITD. said:

He's been a great servant and done wonders for us but to move on now for some reason leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

I think a lot of the bad taste is heavily influenced by our collective under performance. The What could have been vs what was.

44 minutes ago, GS_1905 said:

The latest that the club is pushing him out all but confirm that Trac himself is Morris's MFC source. Its all PR and damage control from yesterday. I'll wager a bet that if he goes, ALL club leaks and the Tom Morris MFC mail stops.

More likely, the manager.

39 minutes ago, Fat Tony said:

We use the dollars to pay off more of the Kossie and Oliver contracts and give us more flexibility in future years. We need to start thinking about strategy into perpetity to win the most flags we can over the long run. We are no longer in the window, so we have to pivot and get our cap under control and turn the list over with short term contracts.

Gotcha.

That would mean they would have to play the likes of Laurie etc.

Probably pushes us back 5-10 years for another crack.

Richmond suggested it would take 7 years for their rebuild,

1 hour ago, Watson11 said:

I’m in the minority but I put most of the breakdown on the club and a smaller amount on Tracc. But the club has reset with a new president, ceo, and coach, but the residual player rift created last year hasn’t gone away.

The club had massive leadership issues from September 2021 onwards that created a toxic environment. By internally calling them out Tracc seemed to get thrown under the bus by the club and even teammates. Maybe Tracc was over sensitive to how he was treated. But the resulting rift with teammates is too big and it’s best for everyone to move on.

Probably the low point last year was the private meeting to sort out issues that was leaked to Sam McLure. That’s probably too big a breach of trust to truly get back to normal. Tracc didn’t leak it. I doubt the culprit from the leadership group owned up but wouldn’t know.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/petracca-airs-grievances-in-private-meeting-of-dees-leaders-20240828-p5k60z.html

I’m sure the players also felt like trust had been broken by Tracc. I mean they were reading in the press that Tracc was telling management he had a problem with them. But that was on management who leaked the private conversations Tracc had with them about issues amoung the playing group.

Our window shut this year. It was an unbelievable rebuild by Roos/Goodwin and Jackson. But we are 4-5 years until Langford et al are 24-25 years old and peaking. Kossie will still be 29 and the window maybe reopens then if the club acknowledges where we are at. It’s best the club trade Tracc and get something in return that helps us peak in 4-5 years, not next year. Everything now should be about being a contender in 4-5 years.

The new club management seems to be handling it professionally. Some supporters not so much. What happened at Hawthorn with Rioli not attending grand final reunions is sad, and must make those reunions feel really hollow for that club. It will be a sad, sad outcome if Tracc doesn’t come back to the club for premiership reunions.

Best we thank him for his unbelievable service, acknowledge the breakdown is irretrievable, and move on. If he doesn’t get traded, just remember Papley wanted out of Sydney but was welcomed back by supporters.

Really well put. Too many want to make this a simple ‘Trac vs the club’ story, but the reality is the whole thing was mishandled from the top down. The leak was the real betrayal, and it poisoned the trust on both sides. You’re right, we can thank Trac for what he gave us, admit the rift can’t be undone, and start planning for the next window. Doesn’t have to be bitter, just honest.

On 30/09/2025 at 11:49, Oxdee said:

It’s as if people are forgetting that petracca is on $1.5m per year for the next 4 years and currently no club will pay more than $1m. The only way that we are getting any picks/players in a trade is if we eat up $500,000 of his contract for the next 4’years.

Saints are paying their man $2 m for the next 2 years and then........

6 minutes ago, roy11 said:

I think a lot of the bad taste is heavily influenced by our collective under performance. The What could have been vs what was.

He helped us win a gf and not just the NS, so I shouldn't hold any grudges.

He hasn't been awesome of late . But he could do a Dangerfield and thrive in his last eight years.

I have no idea how the contract thing works.

It's interesting that we may lose Oliver, Tracc on top of Anb.

Some collective ball magnet and movers there.

With May moved on and out fwd line still all over the place, King has his work cut out for him.

2026 is going to be tough.

5 minutes ago, john delosa said:

Really well put. Too many want to make this a simple ‘Trac vs the club’ story, but the reality is the whole thing was mishandled from the top down. The leak was the real betrayal, and it poisoned the trust on both sides. You’re right, we can thank Trac for what he gave us, admit the rift can’t be undone, and start planning for the next window. Doesn’t have to be bitter, just honest.

How do we know the leak wasn't self-instigated?

49 minutes ago, GS_1905 said:

Ok ill bite.

I don't deny we haven't had our own problems since 2021. There has been a lot of them. But why is it that we only hear noise around Petracca (Clarry was of our own making with Pert shopping him around). We had multiple young kids recommitting to the club? Every club will have its issues and we are no different. But this narrative you suggest is that Trac is actually legitimised in his request for a trade. I mean it cannot be any clearer that he is choosing to goto a club that is in the premiership window. If he wasn't, why isn't he going to the Blues, Richmond or even West Coast? All have the capital and cap space to accommodate his needs and two of them are based in his hometown.

The latest that the club is pushing him out all but confirm that Trac himself is Morris's MFC source. Its all PR and damage control from yesterday. I'll wager a bet that if he goes, ALL club leaks and the Tom Morris MFC mail stops.

@Dannyz relayed info about a conversation last week had between Steven King and Judd McVee. By your reckoning, Judd relayed the details of the convo to Trac, who in turn passed it onto Dannyz, lol.

Certain Demonland posters have been getting reliable info from within the club for years. Some people have a fixation with Tom Morris, who is just a journalist doing his job. To suggest that Trac is Tom Morris' source is beyond ridiculous.

There is clearly a leak within the football department. Given the mass turnover of staff, it narrows down to a select few.

15 minutes ago, Gator said:

More likely, the manager.

Might be on a good bet there ....

I thank CP (no longer 5) for his contribution (after missing his first year through mishap) to our climb to a Premiership. Then I leap forward to 2025 and I would like to point out that he was infuriating! In most games there were patches where he fumbled his initial ball contact, which led to a cough-up or a poor disposal (by hand and foot). I acknowledge that he continued to have many excellent possessions, clearances and score involvements as well. Overall, I feel his 'runner-up in the Bluey' achievement was a result of some kindness by the coaching panel, which turns out to be opportune when considering his trade worth. He has been an A-grader, and I respect him for that, however, I expect his deficiencies to carry over to his new environment. I look forward to our replacement; he may turn out to be strong in the areas that CP sometimes struggled with.