3 hours ago, Wrecker46 said:

He couldn’t walk on water even baby Jesus, who Ablett jnr was called by his mates at Gold Coast couldn’t but I’m pretty sure is was Moses in the bible who parted the sea.

It’s not hyperbole to say somebody is the best player you have ever seen play for your club.

Gawn and Robbie Flower are up there and better clubmen but Clarrie is the best I have seen

Did you ever watch Tulip ?

On 29/11/2025 at 14:07, BDA said:

I’m looking forward the new season seeing kingy and our next generation take the club forward.

King has done nothing as yet, but got rid of a once in a generation champion of this club. Make no mistake, this was a calculated power play.

Edited November 30, 2025Nov 30 by picket fence

11 minutes ago, picket fence said:

King has done nothing as yet, but got rid of a once in a generation champion of this club and make no mistake this was a calculated power play

You make me laugh. Thanks... I can always do with a laugh.

The thing you persistently avoid is the understanding that the only person responsible for what happens to Oliver.... is Oliver.

1 minute ago, beelzebub said:

You make me laugh. Thanks... I can always do with a laugh.

The thing you persistently avoid is the understanding that the only person responsible for what happens to Oliver.... is Oliver.

Wrong, King did not even give him a chance, not one chance, he had decided that he didn't want him around, that's HIS responsibility

Edited November 30, 2025Nov 30 by picket fence

22 minutes ago, picket fence said:

Wrong, King did not even give him a chance, not one chance, he had decided that he didn't want him around, that's HIS responsibility

Did they not have a meeting?

27 minutes ago, picket fence said:

Wrong, King did not even give him a chance, not one chance, he had decided that he didn't want him around, that's HIS responsibility

Mate... I'm going to explain something for you here.

You know sweet [censored] all about what really transpired. For that matter nor do I.

The difference between you and I is I can see beyond a myopic view.

You dont have to be too clever ( so I qualify ) to look at the big picture and see all the things that lead to Clarry spitting the dummy.

He's a prodigiously talented sportsman but he's not the sharpest tack. Again he's his own worst enemy.

In many respects he's still a teenager stuck in a man's life. For his sake I hope he figures it out but tbh I dont really care. They are his and some other club's issue.

I have absolutely no doubt in my mind he was one of the biggest distractions and cause for much angst for more than a few of the playing group.

What he does here on in is up to him. It matters not to the greater well being of the MFC.

You're very quick to cast blame to others but history always shows the blame ultimately rests with the individual, the one making choices. His weren't too clever.

Go Dees

5 minutes ago, picket fence said:

King has done nothing as yet, but got rid of a once in a generation champion.

Something Goodwin didnt have the balls to do for the past couple of years.

My respect for King went up a thousand knots after the decision was finally made.

1 hour ago, picket fence said:

Wrong, King did not even give him a chance, not one chance, he had decided that he didn't want him around, that's HIS responsibility

This is blatantly wrong Pickett.

King put it Oliver around his expectations and the way he sees him fitting into this side moving forward.

As always, without thinking Oliver cracked the sads and acted like a petulant child. Instead of taking on the feedback and working his [censored] off he took the easy way out.

If you want to know the difference in character, go read the Jack Steele article who pretty much got told the exact same thing by Lyon but was willing to stick it out and work it through.

Once again, good riddance to Oliver

Edited November 30, 2025Nov 30 by dazzledavey36

Tbh.. I'm not so much of the "good riddance" thinking, though i can certainly understand it.

Im more a pragmatic ideologist. It's to me very much a "that was then, this is now" kind of thing.

What worked , and in hindsight.... how on earth... in 21 is not what's needed nor desired now.

Clayton simply isn't a 'fit' for Melbourne going forward. As it transpires he's not alone.

Thats how things evolve and thats all I can be bothered concerning myself with in regards Melbourne is what's going to work, what's going to make us better.

I suggested ages ago we needed harsh pruning to save the rose bush.

And so it has happened.

An often quoted wisdom is " you're either part of the solution or part of the problem"

Evaluations have been made and acted upon.

It's really just this.

Take out all the emotion....

Just see it all with Clarrification 😉

Thread closed. He doesn't GAF about us supporters. I feel the same way about him.

Once he retires I'll again laud him as a champion of the MFC

3 hours ago, beelzebub said:

Did you ever watch Tulip ?

I grew up with Alan Johnsons number on my back but was young then. Tulip was my favourite player but like Nathan Jones he stood out when we were a terrible side. What he did was magic and idolised him as a kid.

Clarrie won a b&f in a premiership year. There is no comparison.

1 minute ago, Wrecker46 said:

There is no comparison.

Couldn’t agree more

2 hours ago, picket fence said:

Wrong, King did not even give him a chance, not one chance, he had decided that he didn't want him around, that's HIS responsibility

Ya reckon he might not perhaps have done something on a consistent basis that caused a new coach to not "want him around"?

2 hours ago, rjay said:

Did they not have a meeting?

From which Clayton decided to end it early because he wasnt happy with what he heard.

3 hours ago, picket fence said:

Wrong, King did not even give him a chance, not one chance, he had decided that he didn't want him around, that's HIS responsibility

King came to the club with a no DH policy, didn't want Oliver, but wanted to keep Petracca.

55 minutes ago, Viscount Cardwell said:

King came to the club with a no DH policy, didn't want Oliver, but wanted to keep Petracca.

Yeaĥ well says it all!

2 hours ago, Wrecker46 said:

Clarrie won a b&f in a premiership year

The mark of a great player.

Side note, only 2 players in the history of VFL/AFL have achieved this 3 times: KB (67,73,74) and Lethal (71, 76, 78)

3 hours ago, beelzebub said:

Mate... I'm going to explain something for you here.

You know sweet [censored] all about what really transpired. For that matter nor do I.

The difference between you and I is I can see beyond a myopic view.

You dont have to be too clever ( so I qualify ) to look at the big picture and see all the things that lead to Clarry spitting the dummy.

He's a prodigiously talented sportsman but he's not the sharpest tack. Again he's his own worst enemy.

In many respects he's still a teenager stuck in a man's life. For his sake I hope he figures it out but tbh I dont really care. They are his and some other club's issue.

I have absolutely no doubt in my mind he was one of the biggest distractions and cause for much angst for more than a few of the playing group.

What he does here on in is up to him. It matters not to the greater well being of the MFC.

You're very quick to cast blame to others but history always shows the blame ultimately rests with the individual, the one making choices. His weren't too clever.

Go Dees

Lots of parallels here with Paul Gascoigne. Incredibly gifted yet incredibly flawed. Gazza had a great sense of humour as well though and was incredibly generous with his time and money. Just a shell of a person these days unfortunately and flat broke.

39 minutes ago, Rab D Nesbitt said:

Gazza had a great sense of humour as well though and was incredibly generous with his time and money.

he had quite a devious sense of humour

Ally McCoist tells funny story about Paul Gascoigne and two trout

Just now, Bobby McKenzie 2 said:

It sure does! A marvellous player who was, and in my humble opinion ,still will be a great. Sad about the circumstances of his dismissal. Thank you new broom! You are under my microscope until you can justify your actions.

3 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Something Goodwin didnt have the balls to do for the past couple of years.

My respect for King went up a thousand knots after the decision was finally made.

This is blatantly wrong Pickett.

King put it Oliver around his expectations and the way he sees him fitting into this side moving forward.

As always, without thinking Oliver cracked the sads and acted like a petulant child. Instead of taking on the feedback and working his [censored] off he took the easy way out.

If you want to know the difference in character, go read the Jack Steele article who pretty much got told the exact same thing by Lyon but was willing to stick it out and work it through.

Once again, good riddance to Oliver

53 minutes ago, BDA said:

he had quite a devious sense of humour

Ally McCoist tells funny story about Paul Gascoigne and two trout

Ah yes, the story about Jukie and the fish. 😂

Lols

9 hours ago, picket fence said:

King has done nothing as yet, but got rid of a once in a generation champion of this club. Make no mistake, this was a calculated power play.

Agree it was a power play.

A play to show that uncontrollable, undisciplined footballers are not welcome in a team sport, that requires everyone to pull in the same direction.

If you think that a fractured locker room is not worth fixing, then so be it.

He was my favourite player, but he was hurting the team, not helping it.

Remind me where we finished the last two seasons with Clarry and Tracc still on the list.

Yep we could have kept them and maybe finished 14th again, or gone the other way and brought in 6 new kids and 4 from other clubs.

I know what I prefer.

Also, King hasn't lost a game yet, so I hope that answers the first 6 words of your post, as silly as they were.

You will enjoy life and sleep better, getting behind your club and not knocking it all the time, though I admit it has left a lot to be desired in the last 4 years in the management area.

3 minutes ago, Redleg said:

Agree it was a power play.

A play to show that uncontrollable, undisciplined footballers are not welcome in a team sport, that requires everyone to pull in the same direction.

If you think that a fractured locker room is not worth fixing, then so be it.

He was my favourite player, but he was hurting the team, not helping it.

Remind me where we finished the last two seasons with Clarry and Tracc still on the list.

Yep we could have kept them and maybe finished 14th again, or gone the other way and brought in 6 new kids and 4 from other clubs.

I know what I prefer.

Also, King hasn't lost a game yet, so I hope that answers the first 6 words of your post, as silly as they were.

You will enjoy life and sleep better, getting behind your club and not knocking it all the time, though I admit it has left a lot to be desired in the last 4 years in the management area.

Fair enough comment!

9 minutes ago, picket fence said:

Fair enough comment!

We need to get one of our favourites in Jeffo up and running and then my boys for next year, Kentfield, Howes and AMW.

6 hours ago, Viscount Cardwell said:

King came to the club with a no DH policy, didn't want Oliver, but wanted to keep Petracca.

Yes, wanted so much to keep him that he didn't even have a meeting with him.

The club, including King, went through the motions - at least in public.