28 minutes ago, BDA said:

not necessarily. We need to get a satisfactory return.

If he wants to leave fair enough. I've moved jobs. he's entitled to do so as well (although i don;t like the way he went about it last year at all)

Even if a trade can't be organised, I think Trac will be able to re-integrate with the group again (like he did this year) and give us good service next year and beyond. And he should be looking forward to working with a new coach with a fresh outlook.

10 minutes ago, Adam The God said:

We hold the power with any Trac trade. He can try ajd force a trade, but unless we're happy with the remuneration and happy for him to go, he'll be at the MFC next year.

Yeah fair points, I’m in favour of the trade only if it’s good for the club and I’m happy if he decides ti stay and see what a new coach, game style and hopefully goal kicking coach can do next season

However we saw the lengths he was willing to go last year when there was no club willing to put an offer on the table for him, if he can agree terms with another club and get them to put any sort of middling offer on the table then I think a trade is inevitable.

With two years future picks now on the table most clubs should be able to make it work.

Enough of the personal attacks guys.

1 hour ago, Colm said:

Interesting that the stories came out the day after King met with our list management.

Just to clarify that. Tom sent his tweet on Monday at 12.05pm which was before or during King's meeting with list management.

I'd be shocked if King formed a view before meeeting with Trac. In fact I'd be worried if King formed a view before meeting him.

If Trac is hearing via the media that the club is happy to let him go it would be discouraging. Lets wait till King and Trac meet.

Edited yesterday at 01:531 day by Lucifers Hero

3 minutes ago, Lucifers Hero said:

Just to clarify that. Tom sent his tweet on Monday was before or during his meeting with list management.

I note the timing so people don't somehow assume the list management team AND King have decided to let him go. Otherwise it will be another #TracMyth and before we know it it is quoted as fact..

I'd be shocked if King formed a view before meeting with Trac.

A fact is objective information.
An opinion is a personal belief.
Ignorance is a lack of facts.
And stupidity is a rejection of facts in favor of opinions.

22 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

In conclusion, how valuable is Trac to our side next year in terms of tallying wins?

Interesting question. Doesn't the fact that we have 18 on the field and 22 in a game dilute a single player's ability to change an entire game?

Baseball, where a single moment can drastically affect a game, seems like a sport where correlation may be closer to causation when it comes to players affecting outcomes. Not sure that would be true for Australian rules.

But maths isn't my strong suit.

7 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

In the MLB there is a stat called "Wins Above Replacement".

If you're in the positive, you're helping your team. If you're in the negative you're actively harming your team due to the mistakes and low production. The best MLB players are worth 5 or more wins per season. So in essence if they didn't play all season, their team would be 5 losses worse off.

In the AFL, I'd suspect the likes of N Daicos and Bont would be a worth a few wins to their side. For example, the Dogs W/L ratio improved when Bont returned from injury.

Onto Trac:

I wonder how many wins Trac was worth to the side this year? Or to reframe the question, how many wins would have we had if Trac played 0 games this year. If the answer is 6 instead of 7 wins, then you'd contemplate moving him on. If the answer was 3 wins, then you'd have to consider keeping him.

Post the Trac injury in 2024, we lost 3 close games to GWS, Brisbane and Port. I thought Trac would have been the difference in those close losses. However we continued to lose close games in 2025 with his presence this time.

In conclusion, how valuable is Trac to our side next year in terms of tallying wins?

I think the answer to that is dependent on whether Tracc can get back to his very best.

He's never been a great kick, but his radar was miles off this year - particularly his goal kicking (set shot and on the run). That significantly reduced his impact on games this season.

And i think he, understandably, was still carrying the mental scars of his horrific injury last season.

I actually think the two things (his kicking and the injury) are interrelated as he is an emotional bloke who plays his best footy when feeling powerful.

Hopefully he's in a better place next season mentally in terms of his injury and if so there's every reason to believe he will gte back to his impactful best.

5 minutes ago, The Taciturn Demon said:

Interesting question. Doesn't the fact that we have 18 on the field and 22 in a game dilute a single player's ability to change an entire game?

Baseball, where a single moment can drastically affect a game, seems like a sport where correlation may be closer to causation when it comes to players affecting outcomes. Not sure that would be true for Australian rules.

But maths isn't my strong suit.

I was having a look at some of CPs stats, it's hard to gauge some of them, he obviously dominates inside 50 kicks, and accuracy aside, he's been 1st or 2nd in goal assists every season since 2017. Can that easily be replaced?

Random Tidbit - What I also found is Dean Kent was the leading goal assister in 2016.

9 minutes ago, binman said:

I think the answer to that is dependent on whether Tracc can get back to his very best.

He's never been a great kick, but his radar was miles off this year - particularly his goal kicking (set shot and on the run). That significantly reduced his impact on games this season.

And i think he, understandably, was still carrying the mental scars of his horrific injury last season.

I actually think the two things (his kicking and the injury) are interrelated as he is an emotional bloke who plays his best footy when feeling powerful.

Hopefully he's in a better place next season mentally in terms of his injury and if so there's every reason to believe he will gte back to his impactful best.

Somewhat agree, somewhat disagree.

You even suggest his kicking hasnt always been marvellous.... then... his kicking and injury are interrelated... simply asking ...which?

Id put it his kicking has always been somewhat iffy and yet manages to pull rabbits out of hats at times... ( these mainly in past...as recent dependability is distinctly inconsistent... before folk shout and scream... it is... just is )

I think the MLB analogy is quite pertinent.

But as you ponder Mr Bin.. all comes down to a big IF !!

I have my reservations about that.... just my own thoughts of course.

Edited yesterday at 01:461 day by beelzebub

4 hours ago, GawnOfTheDead said:

Demonland, might be worth looking into Oliver. On 3AW rumour file, he’s been seen meeting with Carlton personnel and might be on the move..

Cannot understand why Carlton would be speaking with him… he is the opposite of what they need.

The good old days of being a Melbourne supporter when the upcoming trade week provides more excitement than the season did. I remember how excited I was listing to the radio when when we drafted Petracca and Brayshaw at 2 & 3.

i swear to allmighty god. If Trac or Oliver (or both) goes and the media turn around in 1-2 years time and ask "should Melbourne have let these guys go?" or "we gave them away too cheaply" or whatever, in the famous words of one Terry Wallce, "I'll spew up".

If i were Steven King, i'd want Christian Petracca in my team.

He just needs to sit him down, look him in the eye and ask if he's fully prepared to commit again to the Melbourne footy club, if he's not you say "We'll do our best to find a suitable trade if someone offers us something that appeals"

27 minutes ago, The Jackson FIX said:

Cannot understand why Carlton would be speaking with him… he is the opposite of what they need.

They’re probably happy with anyone, let’s be real. Their supporters will probably be happy if they get a “big scalp”

26 minutes ago, Ted Lasso said:

If i were Steven King, i'd want Christian Petracca in my team.

He just needs to sit him down, look him in the eye and ask if he's fully prepared to commit again to the Melbourne footy club, if he's not you say "We'll do our best to find a suitable trade if someone offers us something that appeals"

I too would want Petracca.. a committed, fit, bought-in variety Tracc.

I really dont know if we will see that at Melbourne ( again )

Im not really going to gauge him on 25 as there's too much thats contradictory ( imho )

If King wants him... thats all we really need to understand.

If he isn't able to feel at home in Red and Blue any more... thats fine... We all move on.

34 minutes ago, roy11 said:

I was having a look at some of CPs stats, it's hard to gauge some of them, he obviously dominates inside 50 kicks, and accuracy aside, he's been 1st or 2nd in goal assists every season since 2017. Can that easily be replaced?

Thanks I was going to bring this up. While I can concede the obvious that kicking is one of Trac's (very few) flaws. I think we can get shortsighted by this. If we lose Trac we lose a heck of a lot of scoring opportunities based off those stats you mentioned above. At his best he is simply elite for creating scoring opportunities.

This guy has dominated the league for years and prior to the injury last year I thought he was well on his way to a brownlow (or at least top 3 finish) as evident in his form and the votes he received prior to the injury.

There's many players who are average kicks that can change a game (Danger/DeGoey come to mind) based purely on power/ability to break lines and create for others. We have one of those and whatever we get back in a trade isn't going to replace that.

Edited yesterday at 02:561 day by Young Blood

54 minutes ago, Ted Lasso said:

If i were Steven King, i'd want Christian Petracca in my team.

He just needs to sit him down, look him in the eye and ask if he's fully prepared to commit again to the Melbourne footy club, if he's not you say "We'll do our best to find a suitable trade if someone offers us something that appeals"

Agreed.

King has signalled he wants to play even numbers and back our players into winning 1v1s, well, we'll need Clarry, Trac and probably even Viney for that.

Just now, Adam The God said:

Agreed.

King has signalled he wants to play even numbers and back our players into winning 1v1s, well, we'll need Clarry, Trac and probably even Viney for that.

imagine Trac getting consistent 1v1s in the forward half of the ground, he could legitimately win the brownlow next year.

Even Kozzie and Fritsch, if they're given the ball with better service i think we can really become quite damaging quite quickly

1 hour ago, The Jackson FIX said:

Cannot understand why Carlton would be speaking with him… he is the opposite of what they need.

You must be kidding? He is exactly the missing piece they need!

50 minutes ago, Adam The God said:

Agreed.

King has signalled he wants to play even numbers and back our players into winning 1v1s, well, we'll need Clarry, Trac and probably even Viney for that.

Agree. If thats what he wants (and id be okay with it sure why not) then its a lot about X and Os.

Accordingly, if we line up with jvr and petty in the fwd line round 1, we really shouldnt expect 2026 to be much different.

Edited yesterday at 04:061 day by Jjrogan

2 hours ago, The Taciturn Demon said:

Interesting question. Doesn't the fact that we have 18 on the field and 22 in a game dilute a single player's ability to change an entire game?

Baseball, where a single moment can drastically affect a game, seems like a sport where correlation may be closer to causation when it comes to players affecting outcomes. Not sure that would be true for Australian rules.

But maths isn't my strong suit.

Dusty Martin - discussion over 🤣.

4 hours ago, Demonland said:

Melbourne legend Garry Lyon has ruled out any possibility of Christian Petracca leaving the Demons for the Adelaide Crows.

Recent reports revealed that both Petracca and the Melbourne Demons were open to shifting the 29-year-old, communicating peacefully following a tumultuous off-season in 2024.

And as recently as Tuesday morning, it was further reported that the Adelaide Crows were preparing to make a play for the superstar midfielder, who would be open to a move interstate.

With Petracca opting against a demand against the club, Lyon believes that the superstar won’t be going anywhere and is certain that the Crows’ potential trade package wouldn’t satisfy the Dees’ asking price.

“My answer to that is the same as for Carlton with Charlie (Curnow), and even Zach (Merrett) with Essendon,” Lyon told SEN Breakfast.

“No, he isn’t going to Adelaide, unless you turn around and say here’s Riley Thilthorpe and a draft pick, or here is two first rounders…

“It’s all good and well to say it, but the next thing is to get it done. Last year I was a thousand percent no, keep Christian and I think they can turn it around.

“If he still has issues after 12 months, and I don’t know if he has, let him sit down with Steven King first. Let those two have time together first and then maybe issues will be resolved.

“If Adelaide wants Christian Petracca, then tell me how it’s going to get done? Because Pick 14 isn’t anywhere close to getting it done.”

Referencing the nature of high-profile trades, Lyon believes that it is up to the clubs seeking top-end talent to put a commanding case forward to invite a deal, rather than the other way around.

“I was only just throwing out Riley Thilthorpe - of course I know they’re not going to trade Riley Thilthorpe,” Lyon admitted.

“But this is what I’m saying – you can’t just say, ‘I want Zak Butters to come and play at Melbourne’. Well, so does everyone. How are you going to get him? What have you got?

“We’ve got two draft picks and this player – now it’s a serious conversation. I think any team that comes after Petracca or Curnow or anyone like that – you have got to command!

“This is the interesting thing with Merrett and Hawthorn – I think it’s incumbent upon Hawthorn now, having exposed the gap between Hawthorn and Essendon, picked at the seam and now it’s unravelled, it’s incumbent for them to get the deal done.

“Not to play hardball, because then if I’m Essendon, I get my back up even more and go, ‘guess what, we are going to trade Zach, you’ve been part of unravelling it and that’s okay, but he isn’t going to you.”

Thanks Gary 'Captain Obvious' Lyon. Apart of the 90 percent who provide zero insight.

3 minutes ago, Queanbeyan Demon said:

Thanks Gary 'Captain Obvious' Lyon. Apart of the 90 percent who provide zero insight.

Well it’s a fair point the media always fail to answer when talking about such trades and why contracted players who have value rarely are able to be traded unless the club is actively pushing them to go ie Grundy

Edited yesterday at 04:231 day by Garbo

Steven King last seen googling Red Bull Fitness Base in Austria to get hold of Trac for a chat

5 hours ago, Demonland said:

Recent reports revealed ........

And as recently as Tuesday morning, it was further reported ...

Must have been on the Tom "AtomicKitten" Morris sex-line. OHH yeah, that's how I like it.

Carlton are a key player in the sense that Curnow wants to go to the Suns who in turn have the draft picks to satisfy us. With Curnow gone Carlton have the salary cap but I expect we would have to pay something to maximise the deal (Say $250k a year)

The interesting hypothetical is what would we do with those draft picks. I'd use them and simply get $1.25M off our books