23 minutes ago, joeboy said:

Just saw Bailey Smith in Coles Malvern which is only 10 minutes away from our future training facility at Caulfield race course😳

3 hours ago, The Taciturn Demon said:

1998 is the most exciting Melbourne time I've seen up until 2018. I do remember going to the North prelim, though, and thinking we played well but they were genuinely too good.

Agree that the system then was bizarre. We trounced Adelaide.

No regrets about 1998. Wooden spooners to a prelim is more than you can hope for.

I thought we put in an honest effort in the prelim v North but they were the best home and away side that year and genuinely chocked in the 98 GF. They also touched us up in round 17 that year so it was hard to see us turning the tables.

We can lament many a finals series but 1998 was not one of them.

1 hour ago, joeboy said:

Just saw Bailey Smith in Coles Malvern which is only 10 minutes away from our future training facility at Caulfield race course😳

He's an East Malvern boy...

1 hour ago, Ted Lasso said:

Cerra would have been a Melbourne player if we had the assets to trade for him, he was reportedly really keen on us but just had nothing to trade, and thank god because he’s stagnated or gone backwards as a player

I do wonder how much of this is Carlton's inability to develop players.

Edited Thursday at 04:442 days by Adam The God

4 hours ago, The Taciturn Demon said:

1998 is the most exciting Melbourne time I've seen up until 2018. I do remember going to the North prelim, though, and thinking we played well but they were genuinely too good.

Agree that the system then was bizarre. We trounced Adelaide.

I remember North being 1 goal better than us every quarter. Writing was on the wall at 3 quarter time.

(The Dees random sitting next to me had come off his dirt bike that morning and was told to go to Emergency to confirm broken leg. Went to the footy instead and lasted till 3 quarter time. Should have seen the colour of his face)

36 minutes ago, Adam The God said:

He's an East Malvern boy...

I do wonder how much of this is Carlton's inability to develop players.

90% I'd say. Add him to our 2022 midfield and we have at least 1 more flag by now.

7 hours ago, Ted Lasso said:

Feels like there is next to no chance we don't throw the kitchen sink at Zak Butters is there?

surely we put up mega dollars and try and lure one of Butters, Bailey, Humphrey or Reid in the next 12-24 months?

There's going to be a few great options, including maybe Merrett trying again.

I think clubs need to focus on one big target player, they can't take a scattergun approach at the top level. They can't promise the world to more than one star player because otherwise at least one will be left disappointed. Players and player managers wouldn't like that.

I don't think Hawthorn can afford too many more trade failures like Merrett without them getting a bad reputation. Likewise the Saints with Aleer.

Multiple clubs can focus on one player though and no doubt that will be the case with Butters.

We might be able to single Humphrey out from the herd while other clubs chase other targets.

16 hours ago, Fritta and Turner said:

(The Dees random sitting next to me had come off his dirt bike that morning and was told to go to Emergency to confirm broken leg. Went to the footy instead and lasted till 3 quarter time. Should have seen the colour of his face)

Amazing. This seems weirdly apt to me. I remember there being something almost surreal about 1998. Rarified and bordering on magical. (Didn't get that in 2000.) A Demons fan watching the prelim live with a snapped leg just makes sense.

Weddle had a stress bone fracture in his back & missed a lot of footy coming into finals underdone . Hawthorn also lost out on Allen who went to Brisbane so effectively have been very ineffective in the trade period. For all that a lot of posters say Hawks are an exciting proposition…players certainly haven’t knocked the door down to get there

10 hours ago, Deestar9 said:

Weddle had a stress bone fracture in his back & missed a lot of footy coming into finals underdone . Hawthorn also lost out on Allen who went to Brisbane so effectively have been very ineffective in the trade period. For all that a lot of posters say Hawks are an exciting proposition…players certainly haven’t knocked the door down to get there

Sam Mitchell says he won't apologise for trying to make Hawthorn better but will he aplogise for not making them better?

Edited Friday at 07:301 day by old55

There’s definitely a world where Sam Mitchell is the reason they don’t get better

1 hour ago, old55 said:

Sam Mitchell says he won't apologise for trying to make Hawthorn better but will he aplogise for not making them better?

Yes, I’m all for destabilising Essendon (although they rarely need assistance) but you might want to get the player you are tapping up

On 20/10/2025 at 16:15, Random Task said:

We would have to pass on one of White or Sinnema to take him. Not sure it's been confirmed but I remember reading an article that suggested we will likely commit to both.

On 20/10/2025 at 20:49, Ted Lasso said:

Tommy sparrow is much more lean than I remember. It looks like he’s been putting in a lot of work to improve his running. Great to see

I’m guessing he likely had a conversation with king that was much in the same vein as Oliver’s. ‘Here is what we expect of you going forward if you want to play afl for us’. Very different characters and very different responses.

Pure speculation from afar of course.

Cmon down Tommy, there’s a good role open for you in 2026 🥳

Last year at the start of PS training Tommy looked ripped and all trackwatchers agreed he’d trimmed down a lot. I’m not buying the “he’s slimmer” observation from one photo, I’ll wait until I see him on 11th November.

That, of course, is not detracting at all from his pre PS training efforts or the hope he develops his game significantly under King. He has disappointed me since 2021 but I don’t know or understand the role he was being asked to play. It’s always struck me that he has had much more potential than he’s shown and the loss of Trac and Clarrie will hopefully give him and others the chance to shine.

Sparrow trimmed down for preparation of his bricklaying career in 12 months time post footy

13 minutes ago, adonski said:

Sparrow trimmed down for preparation of his bricklaying career in 12 months time post footy

26 minutes ago, adonski said:

Sparrow trimmed down for preparation of his bricklaying career in 12 months time post footy

Pretty ordinary post.

53 minutes ago, adonski said:

Sparrow trimmed down for preparation of his bricklaying career in 12 months time post footy

I would have thought comments like this were beneath you. Disappointing.

On 20/10/2025 at 12:52, Mouseymoo said:

I'd rather us trade back with 8 and see us with the pics to nab Dovaston and Sumner - Pickett than trade our future first & 8 to move up.

Got to keep the gun loaded Humphrey..

We missed our chance on Humphrey, no chance he's coming our way.

1 hour ago, The end is nigh said:

I’m guessing he likely had a conversation with king that was much in the same vein as Oliver’s. ‘Here is what we expect of you going forward if you want to play afl for us’. Very different characters and very different responses.

Pure speculation from afar of course.

Cmon down Tommy, there’s a good role open for you in 2026 🥳

He needs to step up in 26.

The opportunities are now there to seize Tommy boy.

1 minute ago, YesitwasaWin4theAges said:

We missed our chance on Humphrey, no chance he's coming our way.

I wouldn't be so sure. He has coaching connections, Casey is closer to Moe than anywhere else, and we'll have the currency. He also doesn't seem to be disgusted by us.

Big watch.

1 minute ago, Mouseymoo said:

I wouldn't be so sure. He has coaching connections, Casey is closer to Moe than anywhere else, and we'll have the currency. He also doesn't seem to be disgusted by us.

Big watch.

I hope your right @Mouseymoo i just don't like our chances with the bigger clubs having 12 months to prepare a package to get him into their facilities.

I would like to make the following apology

16 minutes ago, Mouseymoo said:

I wouldn't be so sure. He has coaching connections, Casey is closer to Moe than anywhere else, and we'll have the currency. He also doesn't seem to be disgusted by us.

Big watch.

The only hope of us getting BH requires a few aligned factors from the following group being present.

We have a good season.

We have no major PR cultural disasters.

Significant progress on Caulfield Training Base.

GC have a less successful season than this year.

A possible stronger pull to get home.

A poor season personally.

Issues with Dimma.

An ability by us to get a trade done if it becomes possible.

Another club not turning his head.

Edited yesterday at 00:141 day by Redleg

18 minutes ago, YesitwasaWin4theAges said:

I hope your right @Mouseymoo i just don't like our chances with the bigger clubs having 12 months to prepare a package to get him into their facilities.

I also think we'll be a chance due to the similarity to St Kilda getting to the front of the queue by courting players a long way out. The relationships built could play a big role. Hanging out with Greeny etc and we've showed plenty of interest in him over the years. We'll also have some cash to splash and Caulfield should be in the works by then. I'm hoping the negative narrative around the club not being a destination club will also turn next year with the clean out.

Edited yesterday at 00:131 day by shakeandbake