On 19/10/2025 at 13:51, pitmaster said:

This is how journalism was ruined. People stealing stuff.

Now we complain about lack of competition, lack of depth and anything else you can think of, like 'The Age is now the Harvey Norman Tribune'.

Be careful what you wish for.

It's not stealing if you are accessing it through a library that is subscribed to a legitimate service. Everyone's council rates are paying for it.

28 minutes ago, Go Ds said:

Umm, big decisions like who are in the 45 players quota are rarely based on just one or two things.

My point is the public line we gave to the media was a convenient narrative that allowed everyone involved to save a bit of face.

A week later we said that we brought Jack Steele in to play Oliver's role. So not sure how anyone squares that circle.

7 minutes ago, KozzyCan said:

My point is the public line we gave to the media was a convenient narrative that allowed everyone involved to save a bit of face.

A week later we said that we brought Jack Steele in to play Oliver's role. So not sure how anyone squares that circle.

Jack Steele has a defensive game and Clarrie doesnt.

On 20/10/2025 at 15:27, KozzyCan said:

Do people actually believe that we moved Oliver on because he didn't want to learn a new role?

I don't. I think the club just got sick of his behaviour. GWS' problem now.

On 20/10/2025 at 15:47, Tim said:

That’s one way of looking at it. On the other hand other clubs weren’t interested in taking Mr May. I’m just hoping that he’s spending his off season getting himself into as ripped physical condition as he can before presenting on day 1 of preseason.

The article stated he would look elsewhere but also asked if he couldn't find anywhere to trade to was he still welcome at the club, the answer was yes. I have no doubt he would have looked, but he would have done so knowing he still had security for a year at Melbourne.

1 hour ago, Katrina Dee Fan said:

The article stated he would look elsewhere but also asked if he couldn't find anywhere to trade to was he still welcome at the club, the answer was yes. I have no doubt he would have looked, but he would have done so knowing he still had security for a year at Melbourne.

think he was told to?

Zero Hanger have us in the bottom 2 next season because of the loss of Clarry and Trac, and even McVee.

I can't imagine we'll be bottom 2...

Zero Hanger

Collingwood gun in AA contention after absence, Melbourne...

An early look at some of the big tales that could unfold next year.

Edited Wednesday at 06:452 days by Adam The God

22 hours ago, Adam The God said:

Zero Hanger have us in the bottom 2 next season because of the loss of Clarry and Trac, and even McVee.

I can't imagine we'll be bottom 2...

Zero Hanger

Collingwood gun in AA contention after absence, Melbourne...

An early look at some of the big tales that could unfold next year.

I mean... I think we will be bottom 6 and easily could end up bottom 2.

22 hours ago, Adam The God said:

Zero Hanger have us in the bottom 2 next season because of the loss of Clarry and Trac, and even McVee.

I can't imagine we'll be bottom 2...

Zero Hanger

Collingwood gun in AA contention after absence, Melbourne...

An early look at some of the big tales that could unfold next year.

It's very possible 'Adam'...our position is not as important as seeing a positive direction.

2026 is going to be a fascinating year for us.

I think we'll be mid table.

Kingy will implement quite a different game style. There’ll be teething issues. Not beyond the bounds of possibility we finish bottom 2

12 minutes ago, Adam The God said:

I think we'll be mid table.

Mid table would be a very good result given the current state of the list (we lack matchwinners)

A mid table finish with an upwards trend would be even better (here's hoping)

Right now, a fair bit of mystery surrounds the ability of our best 23. We will know so much more in 12 months time

The fact that we might only supply one player to the WA vs Vic Origin match is the big tell

Reality bites

Edited yesterday at 05:241 day by Macca

I think we will all be pleasantly surprised by how we go next season.

We have all called for change in the whole team, me included.

Tracc and Olivers contributions over last season can be covered. And will be.

Only need some improvement from a few and it will be onwards and upwards.

32 minutes ago, BDA said:

Kingy will implement quite a different game style. There’ll be teething issues. Not beyond the bounds of possibility we finish bottom 2

Its interesting because Tracc and Oliver won so much ball but turned it over so much we could win half the amount of ball but maintain possession and perhaps be ahead.

The majority of scoring in the AFL is off turnover so minimising that changes that dial for us in a lot of ways.

And winning clearance is not the panacea it once was ... the post clearance possession is perhaps more important

I can see the optimistic side of getting buy in to a new way of playing and having a forward line that now looks balanced if not super talented.

But there will be 16 teams who will play us and underline as a game they should win.

So I can also see us needing to keep our first round pick…

On 20/10/2025 at 16:28, KozzyCan said:

So not sure how anyone squares that circle.

This got me thinking. Would it be easier to put a square plug in a round hole or visa versa

23 minutes ago, Demon Disciple said:

This got me thinking. Would it be easier to put a square plug in a round hole or visa versa

vv

1 hour ago, rpfc said:

So I can also see us needing to keep our first round pick…

I think that's a definite...

49 minutes ago, Demonology said:

vv

correct

We lost 6 games under 10 points

22 minutes ago, Demonsone said:

We lost 6 games under 10 points

There’s room to grow

We can always lose those games by more

1 hour ago, rpfc said:

There’s room to grow

We can always lose those games by more

Especially considering Tracc averaged over 25 disposals in this games.

20 minutes ago, Watson11 said:

Especially considering Tracc averaged over 25 disposals in this games.

I don’t think Trac & Oliver were the difference, the flip flop of game plans by Goodwin which started in 24 & switched back to the 21-23 version ( by his own admission) then to a 25 reinforced he had no answers!

On 18/10/2025 at 13:00, GS_1905 said:

For me and all those that critise the club re: Oliver and Trac trades, this was the key quote i found most relevant.

“And we could have stuck with Clayton and Christian, no problems. But we finished 14th in 2024, 14th in 2025. And if nothing changes, then nothing changes. And we’ve made the decision that we don’t want to finish 14th again.

Both of these players are over the hill and were not contributing to the team given we finished 14th consecutive. We were not getting better with them in the side, so getting 3 first rounders to help turn over the list is a better outcome.

Petracca 16 Brownlow votes - Oliver none.

On 19/10/2025 at 01:50, Macca said:

The winds of change has certainly been the new way

Smith, Guerra, King and Co have been in the place for a very short period of time but they are not mucking around

Reminds me of when politicians get into power at government level ... the first 100 days and all that

For 10 years our team would often revolve around the influence of Oliver & Petracca but no more

The team is going to have to reinvent itself but to contend, we are going to need a number of gun players

That might take a while

I don't think it's the three guys you have identified that have driven the change (not that they haven't signed off on it) - I reckon it was Green, Gawn, Viney, Richardson and Lamb who decided we can't have another locker room like 2025, and that started with Goodwin departing.