Just a note to everyone at Demonland to say thanks for all the support and banter over the past few years.

I wish all of you, even those that think I’m a disloyal dud, all the best for the future. I really do hope the Demons enjoy the ultimate success in the near future. I've loved my time as a Demon and I've even enjoyed sparring with some of you on the boards.

11 Years is a long time in one organisation. A new coaching and football management team will bring new energies and ideas to a football club that has had a pretty stable Football Department for 10 years. I felt that my energy levels for the position with MFC had waned in the past year and that it would be unfair to both Dean Bailey and Chris Connolly to continue if I couldn’t give them 100%. Coaches can change from Assistant to Development to Senior to backline to forward line to midfield and back again to remain fresh and energised. A recruiting manager really needs to change clubs to feel the same rejuvenation.

There is no animosity at all toward Melbourne, in fact quite the opposite it is very difficult to leave. But the time is right for me to accept a new challenge. In making the decision I took into account a number of factors. While as an employee of the club I am passionate about the club’s success, I had to consider that this is my profession and what pays my mortgage and kid’s school fees. I hasten to add that money was not a factor; it is not a matter of a bigger club out bidding a less wealthy club. In discussions with Melbourne regarding the move money was never discussed.

The other factor is my family connection to Richmond. I grew up barracking for the Tigers. My great grand father played for them as did my father, he is also a life member. My grandfather’s ashes were sprinkled on Punt Road oval. The connection is very strong. It is unlikely that I would have moved to any other club at this time.

Anyway, good luck. I believe that Dean Bailey will be an excellent coach for this football club. He is innovative and has a great ability to teach players. Chris Connolly has an unbridled enthusiasm and will to build the club and reconnect many of the disaffected external parties. The list of 24 year old and under players should come through and provide a solid base for the club to build on for the future. It’s time for someone else to have a ‘crack’ at building on the list and hopefully find the star that we couldn’t quite unearth in the last 10 years. (Maybe there is one there already lying latent. Let’s hope so).

Thanks and good bye

Thanks CAC for not only your contribution to MFC, but your insightful contributions to Demonland. A job well done!

PS; what were you thinking with Luke Molan? Ha, ha, just kidding!!!!!

Thankyou so much Craig for all your endeavours and what you have done for the club.

I wish you nothing but the best of luck and best wishes for all your future endeavours!

Cheers.

Craig,

Thanks very much for your work and for taking the time to come on board.

I hope you have good luck.

But I cant wish the same for the Tigers

cheers

thank mate you have done a great job with us and i think your one of the best recruits going around. like i said in one of my threads i think on big footy is that il miss ya. its now up to the coaching staff to get us going now. thanks for the new recruits aswell!!! we are all proud of you for you on what u have done for us.

cheers big fella !!

Thanks for that Craig. Its never an easy thing saying goodbye to something that has been a part of your life for over a decade. I would like convey my thanks to you for your work over the years, everyone within the club realises what a tremendous asset you were and I think I speak for many when I say that it is sad to see you go.

I understand your need for a change, and wish you all the luck as your career continues.

Thanks very much for sharing that, Craig. You didn't have to, but I for one greatly appreciate it. As someone who sits in the outer with Demon fans during winter and discusses football with fellow supporters ad nauseum, I've found it terrific to be able to hear from someone involved within the club on a semi-regular basis. Well done on your time with the Dees. I'd be lying if I wished you every success at Richmond, but I hope you find the experience of returning to the club that you clearly still hold a real fondness for a rewarding one.

Thanks very much for your fantastic service, and accessibility to the fans here on Demonland.

Thanks for coming on here and saying that CAC. I still think you are making the wrong choice and i dont support the people who think u are the best recrutier in the afl but i do appreciate you having the guts to come on here and write something and i say thanks for your controbution

While disappointed, i understand 11 years is a long time and wish you all the best.

Word of warning also, stay away from the tiger forums as they are a nasty bunch.

Cheers.

CAC would you be able to give us an insight on which draftee looks ready for round 1. or any that has really impressed you in the last couple of weeks

Could you tell us a bit about the players that have just been recruited?

Thanks for your efforts for the MFC and for coming on Demonland.

Godd luck for your future endeavours and hopefully our players success in the future will give you much satisfaction.

Cheers CAC. Lots of people would have just left. You came and said goodbye. Thanks for your insights over the years. Thanks for putting in your best efforts for our club. All the best.

Craig,

Thank you for your fantastic efforts for the MFC over the past 11 years. As a member of the Demonland/Demonology Player sponsorship over the past two years I have really been able to appreciate how much work you put in throughout the year in order to really understand the players available at the draft, and the effort that goes into chosing the right people for the club.

I can only hope now that you are able to properly appreciate what you have done for the MFC from afar as the most recent players you have helped us as a club aquire develope and turn into fantastic AFL players.

Good luck in your future endevours, and thank you for your insights over the years.

Thanks again CAC, thanks for your courage and good will to say goodbye to people, most of whom you have never met and will never meet, but are very fond of the work you have done over the last 11 years. Without doubt, you will forever be remembered as a major part of our success over the last 11 years and lets hope your most recent work turns into Melbourne premiership success....good luck at richmond also

PS..watch out for Terry Wallace, he is more into solariums than winning matches, ala 2007...thanks mate!!

Thanks Craig, I'm going to miss you.

May you always have a pick before us.

Thanks for posting CAC, it shows exactly what a class act the MFC will be losing.

I understand all too well the need to uproot and seek new challenges to keep yourself fresh.

All the best for your future endeavours.

Cheers,

Shaft

CAC,

Thank you very much for your contribution and hard work over the last 11 years. It means a lot that you've taken the time to connect with the very passionate Dee's fans here on Demonland, and most of the posts here show how much that's been appreciated.

All the best in life for you and your family Craig, you'll be missed.

Thanks CAC,

You didn't have to post on here but i knew you would. Thanks for the insight over the past few years, while there wasnt quantity, they were quality.

Always thought you were one of the best recruiters around, that said, i hope you recruit some luke molans for the tiges

Just kidding mate, Good luck.

Thanks craig for all you have done at the MFC in the last 11 years.

Best of luck and i hope everything goes well for you and your family

You will be missed by all

Thanks for you efforts over the years and your sentiments, out of everyone who has left us this year, i'd say in a heartbeat that yours is the biggest loss.

Good luck in you new role.

Craig,

Thankyou for your time at MFC. Thankyou for your insightful and at times lateral approach to the requirements of our list. Your work and efforts will be running around in Melbourne jumpers for some time and I hope you can look upon this with pride. You should.

I would be lying if I wished you too much success at the Toiges ..lol , but I have no doubt they will be far the better for your input. There are not many that would have so freely shared their views as you have on these boards and in person. The very occurrence of you here has bettered our experience and I would like to thank you for that too. Nice of you to farewell us

Come the 15th of June may you smile a little whistfully at the triumphant Demons and know of your part in that game

A merry and safe Christmas to you and the Cameron family.

all the best

cheers

>:~))

Belzebub59

Class act CAC.

Thanks for leaving us with what appears to be a very good crop of youngsters to build with and around. That's all we can ask for.

Thanks for 11 years of dedication to our club and goodluck for the future.

P.S. My Dad is a toothless Tigers supporter. I hope all your match days are as miserable as his usually are

Thanks for the insights over the years CAC1963.

I too would love to know who on our list you think might be able to take the leap to become top level AFL players of the future.

Who do you think have the potential to become All-Australian players?

I have my money on Newton, Jones, McLean, Davey and Rivers.

solid work cac, thanks