Tom McDonald? (Retire??)

Jake Melksham?? (Retire??)

Judd McVee??? (To at this time now any one )

Tom Sparrow ???? (To Tigers)

5 hours ago, Jaded No More said:

Tonight is definitely the end of an era. I am not sure who goes and who stays, but 2026 will feel like a completely different side with a new coach and multiple changes to the playing list.

So long brief period of premiership glory. I will never forget you.

Well said Jaded. I, in my 80s , really appreciate those 3 glory years. Yes, not just 2021 but 2022 and 23 as well.

Injuries cost us more flags, but in my mind we were the best team in the competition for that period of time. I still proudly display my Melbourne Premiers Pennant which I look at every day with much appreciation and love. Go Demons 2026!

We must run Melk and Tom McDonald next year

If May was off you’d have thought we’d announce it unless it was a walking of the plank

How long is a piece of string? We may as well be non-astronomers pointing at stars in the night sky guessing their specific details. We get to see two hours a week of what our players do/can do. There's so much we'll never know, such as team dynamics/ "office" politics and individuals' private lives.

I just hope the 'new' Melbourne factor in everything in their decisions and the fallen players that can bounce back are not recklessly discarded etc etc

Edited August 22, 2025Aug 22 by Go Ds

May looks like he's had enough but he might stick around for the pay packet.

What an amazingly depressing thread.

I’ll go Oliver (straight swap for Curnow).

May lol

10 hours ago, reynolds46 said:

Could depend on who that feral Maynard has in his sights this time

10 hours ago, reynolds46 said:

Could depend on who that feral Maynard has in his sights this time

But in all seriousness it's hard to say because quite a few on our list have underperformed this year and suggest their value may be lower.

I doubt it will be wholesale cuts in the first year but who knows.

You would hope that every player not let go by the Club would have the very human reaction of wanting to stay and make amends for 2025 - indeed, to prove 2025 was not who they are - not scamper off to (uncertain!) sanctuary elsewhere.

Do it, boys.

Chook Fowler

Sparrow has one good moment every 4-5 games. For a big body he's way too soft in the contests. So what does he offer? I'd absolutely be looking to move him on for a pick.

May, McVee, Trac, Oliver, Lever, McDonald, and probably more. Who knows. Will be interesting.

3 minutes ago, CRomey said:

Sparrow has one good moment every 4-5 games. For a big body he's way too soft in the contests. So what does he offer? I'd absolutely be looking to move him on for a pick.

I’ve said for a year or two now, what does he do and what’s his role? He seemingly has nothing to offer. He’s listed as a forward but rarely kicks goals. Move him on. Get in someone with some pressure factor.

Petracca may and sparrow

2 minutes ago, CRomey said:

Sparrow has one good moment every 4-5 games. For a big body he's way too soft in the contests. So what does he offer? I'd absolutely be looking to move him on for a pick.

Looked good in a side of great players at the peak of their game in 2021. Regularly has minimal impact 2025. Doubt we would get much at present.

1 minute ago, GawnOfTheDead said:

I’ve said for a year or two now, what does he do and what’s his role? He seemingly has nothing to offer. He’s listed as a forward but rarely kicks goals. Move him on. Get in someone with some pressure factor.

Surely it will depend on what a new coach thinks of him (and many others) and if he / they can be found a new role ?

Now no-one shoot me, but I did get a whisper that Petracca has no plans to leave but May could be headed out.

Just now, Return to Glory said:

Now no-one shoot me, but I did get a whisper that Petracca has no plans to leave but May could be headed out.

As a polite Yankee might say to you, RtG, 'Shoot!'

17 minutes ago, monoccular said:

Surely it will depend on what a new coach thinks of him (and many others) and if he / they can be found a new role ?

Oh, absolutely. That’s my view. Which means nothing. I just can’t understand how he gets game time, do we have no one else?

The main thing we need is a willing mentality. I feel like we have a loser mentality and as soon as the tough gets going, we go to water. Buckley would surely be the one to fix that.

1 minute ago, GawnOfTheDead said:

Oh, absolutely. That’s my view. Which means nothing. I just can’t understand how he gets game time, do we have no one else?

The main thing we need is a willing mentality. I feel like we have a loser mentality and as soon as the tough gets going, we go to water. Buckley would surely be the one to fix that.

Winning mentality is a key job for whomever coaches 2026.

Maybe a new sports psychologist too - do we have one?

16 minutes ago, Return to Glory said:

Now no-one shoot me, but I did get a whisper that Petracca has no plans to leave but May could be headed out.

Happy with that.

16 minutes ago, Return to Glory said:

Now no-one shoot me, but I did get a whisper that Petracca has no plans to leave but May could be headed out.

I'd be happy with that.

Tonight showed.

2 minutes ago, monoccular said:

Winning mentality is a key job for whomever coaches 2026.

Maybe a new sports psychologist too - do we have one?

Agreed with you, and unsure.

Would be a huge investment with huge gain I think.

I hope Judd stays, but he needs to play back.

There was a passage of play tonight that reinforced my view that he's no midfielder and doesn't execute quickly enough with genuine frontal pressure. Our mids did a brilliant job of flicking the ball around and keeping it in motion, and away from Collingwood's frontal pressure, probably 5 or 6 Demons involved and it finally got to Judd and he choked it up, Collingwood slung shot off it for a score.