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Just letting you all know that I was told today that the Caulfield facility will be announced very soon, perhaps over the next couple of days. I was told the MCC is a significant contributor and that the Board considers Pert’s work as exceptional. I wouldn’t post this if it wasn’t from a very credible source, so let’s hope we’re all celebrating soon.

Dual premiership player and 1953 Bluey winner Peter Kennedy Melville (Ken) passed away today. He played 71 games for the Demons between 1953 and 1956 - at the start of Melbourne's golden era. He won the Bluey in his first year and eas named vice-captain in 1955. In an era not seen nowadays, Ken played as an amateur and retired in 1956 a the age of 25 to pursue studies in the UK to become a Presbyterian Minister. On returning to Australia he played some amateur football again (but not VFL) and made the team of the century for Old Scotch and possibly University Blues. In 1973 when Norm Smith passed away, Ken was the Minister at the funeral. Around the same time, Ken returned to the club as a selector. He was also my uncle - my mother's brother. And what an awesome experience for a young kid. I remember being handed over the fence to my Uncle Ken at the end of games as he carried me into the Demons room full of sweaty giants who had just been walloped by their opponents (it was the mid-70's) and i met my heroes Greg Wells and Stan Alves and Gary Hardeman. Ken had lived in Perth for most of the last 50 years (excluding a period running a B'n'B in Beachworth in the 1990's) but I only got over there once in 2014 to watch the Demons play West Coast. It was a disaster and i have a photo I'll dig up later of Ken with his hand in his face watching the c**p we used to ditch up then. It was remarkable that he was able to see the 2021 Grand Final win. He was already quite frail and would never have considered travelling to Melbourne (like he had in 1988 and 2000) but had actually decided in 2021 that he would stay home in Perth and watch it on TV!!! That's when Ch7 and the AFL stepped in and picked up in a limo and gave him el primo seats for the game. For all the angst and regret that I have (we all do LOL) about missing out on seeing the Dees in 2021 this one gesture gives me comfort. Proud to have had you as my uncle, Ken (and apologies to any of my cousins who might be on DL if I jumped the gun with this). Go Dees.

I was there and spoke to him. Hand is still swollen but he was in good spirits. I won’t repeat what he said about a certain journalist as it won’t get past the censors. He’s not going anywhere. Great night and I feel much more positive about next season.

They're only involved due to animal cruelty that occurred back in September 25th 2021.

Fox is correct, Tom is my next door neighbour whom I tried to get him to Demonland 5 years ago , after he was sacked by the Dogs.He will be doing a medical this week at the club, but he WILL be at Demonland .He is looking forward to working with Gawn. He will make a great understudy , but he will be an excellent clubman and coach of the younger ones.

I just saw Saty putting bread rolls in his pocket.

The dees are certainly testing the theory that all news is good news.

Without major injuries in both years, especially late in the 2022 season, poor kicking for goal and a thug act, Goody might be a triple Premiership Coach. Who would be the master Coach then, given the benefits provided to the Geelong club by Government funding and its unique location and AFL advantage?

i feel sorry for people who can't enjoy our flag and feel the need to devalue the achievement

Ok... got back home at 2am. Found it slightly weird the Bluey Truscott himself, just got awarded his life membership in 2024. Overall, it was an interesting night. Although Goodwin (whom I rate) spoke a lot about 'process' I felt (projecting) that there were some very pointed comments re: selflessness or at least, not making it about your self, and that won't be 'tolerated' going forward. Whom that was to, you can have your guess. The overall messaging was about unity and fraternity, both in professional speak, and 'mateship' speak ie: 'Perty, Greeny' etc. Glad Roffey got to speak and her endeavors acknowledged. This was my first Bluey, and I have been to a range of other BnF's in a professional capacity over the last decade. Themes spoken about felt fairly generic, and for me the highlights were Ben Brown, Alex Neal-Bullen and Ed Langdon AND Angus Brayshaw, all guys who speak with emotional gravitas, and go beyond cliched sound bites. Richness and depth, about the existentialness of their careers. Effectively, your legacy, is the people you help support along the way, not just those that support you in your own journey.* Everyone at the club (organisation) from FD, to board to bootstuder and physio and high performance team are people with their own careers trying to do their best on any given day at any given moment. *Spoke to a former coach today over coffee this morning, who was quite clear that the general public/punters will never understand or accept, the realities of the scrutiny that the position holds and in effect, when you take the job, there are very few people on the outside who appreciate the isolation and loneliness that the job has with it, as everyone has an opinion on things that you can control, and things that they think you can control. You're on a hiding to nothing...but people would give their left nut... etc etc

I do not mind this at all. And to all the people whinging that they would rather Harry Boyd instead, just tell me exactly how that happens in a draft where it's a complete lottery. You are not even guaranteed that he'll be available at any of our selections and yet people are screaming they much prefer that then a free hit at this option What Tom Campbell brings is another senior mature and experienced body who'll provide some much needed leadership and guidance to our VFL team. He's a fantastic character who's one of the most hard working and dedicated guys going around with a team first attitude. An absolute workhorse. He's also a ripping fella who's done a lot for the AFL community in general. Talk about bringing in people to help shift the culture and standards, well Tommy will certainly help, especially with our younger players. Gawny isn't getting any younger, he'll need a decent chop out next year and part of me doesn't see him getting through the year again without injury. This is whether Campbell will be able to come in if need and play his role. He smashed it in the VFL this year and his numbers were elite so worse case is that he's making Casey a whole heap better.

Hi Daz & Brendan. I can’t say too much except that right now, I think a deal gets done. When I announced this a month ago, I didn’t think it was possible because I couldn’t see Dees getting fair value from Cats. They’ll certainly have their work cut out taking on Bailey, Claz & Stengle. The stories I could tell re Bailey.

If you are not extremely concerned that this club is seemingly being run by a bunch of blind monkeys flinging poo at the wall to see what sticks, then you should be. Leaving the Clarry trade aside, you've had Green take over as caretaker president, and since then he's had his pants pulled down by Gutnick, he's got Pert running a review when he should be reviewed instead, all the while this sinking ship is leaking worse than the Titanic. I am going to give Pert the benefit of the doubt here, and say that he isn't sitting in Noosa and ringing clubs around without the backing of the board. So if the board is letting Pert run the show, because they have lost faith in the FD, be it Goody, Lamb or Richo, then forget trading Clarry and get on with replacing the people in the FD and let their replacements make the list management calls! One thing is certain, a bunch of doctors, lawyers and ex footballers sitting on a board, have 0 credentials to make list management calls. And having the CEO act as a proxy for them, is even worse!

Melbourne strongly targeting Brisbane’s first round pick, currently Pick 15 (1112 points). Sending pick 25 from Adelaide (756 points), Pick 38 received from Sydney (465), and Pick 50 will give the Lions 1,494 points to assist with the acquisition of L. Ashcroft.

Let's have a look at a few things. The vaunted Hawthorn/Collingwood fast movement style? Collingwood missed the finals. Hawthorn got there on a wave, very reminiscent of us in 2018, but got found out by what?: pressure, contest and defence. Goody believes that is what counts, especially in finals. He is absolutely right. Last year we went out in straight sets but lost both by a whisker with an absolutely decimated forward line; against Carlton it was really lost by a couple of dumb decisions right at the end. The list was built to this style and plan and it will continue to be the right plan. A constant theme is the "waste" of our list. In terms of players who ANYONE would rate (not the ones that we all absolutely love eg Viney, but established crème de la creme) we have had Gawn, Oliver, Trac, May, perhaps include Kossie. I flag, multiple top four finishes but a very disappointing year this year, with multiple reasons. Compare: McRae: Pendlebury, Moore, Hill, Sidebottom, J Daicos, N Daicos, arguably de Goey and Elliott: I premiership, 1 fail. Kingsley: talent everywhere but Whitfield, Greene, Green, Hogan, Taylor, Cadman (no 1 pick).... no flags. Scott: (of recent times) - Hawkins, Cameron, Dangerfield, Stewart, lots of others that we all hate, not to mention a HUGE home ground advantage, the suspicion of some very dodgy ways of paying players, and taxpayer-funded facilities off the highest level: 1 flag, fail the next year, jury's out on this year. Fagan: Neale, Andrews, McCluggage, Starcevich, no 1 pick Rayner, Cameron, many others and another HUGE home ground advantage: No flags yet, doubt if he'll get one this year. Etc etc etc We all see our list and love it and many think it is wasted, but really, it isn't. We have generally - even for the vast bulk of this year - been in the top level, competing with a real chance. The criticism is very largely misplaced.

Our 3rd quarter burst was the purest football I've ever seen. 3 goals in 47 seconds to end the quarter. We were away from home for 70 + days. Its the hardest premiership ever won. I will never get tired of the replay.

I just spoke with David Schwarz yesterday at work and he told me that Oliver and Trac are already putting in solid work for a big preseason. Oliver not going anywhere. I said to him to watch out for us in 2025! I feel like Melbourne will make a big statement next year.

The lid’s off at Bomberland in this expose by the Herald Sun chief football writer - AFL Integrity warns Essendon over Nick Hind and Jake Stringer’s associates. The team which hasn’t won a final for two decades had one of the easiest fixtures in the competition but meekly fell out of finals contention after riding high in mid season. Now, Robinson reports that AFL Integrity has warned the Bombers to be vigilant over who they allow into their change rooms after concerns raised about players' associates. “It's believed the Bombers were warned to be aware of a group of associates of recently delisted Bomber Nick Hind, who is known to have a shared friendship group with teammate Jake Stringer. “It's believed the associates regularly attend Essendon matches and were seen in the Bombers' rooms more than once this season.” The implication from the article is that the “associates” are possibly gangland figures as Robinson mentions the situation in 2013 when Richmond's Jake King was advised to not bring bikie underworld figure Toby Mitchell into their rooms after a match. The culture at Bomberland is rotten. We still haven’t forgotten the doping scandal that wracked the club a decade ago or the fiasco when Andrew Thorburn was forced to quit as Essendon CEO just one day after stepping into the role. There must be a review of that club’s operations which indicate clear cultural deficiencies at that club. Heads must roll. 😀

Destination club

We’re still in this. Offering 4 years. His choice and will decide shortly

Thanks Daz. I can’t see Oliver’s like, mine looks like this:

Bloke is 23yo and has 3 kids?! Clearly Can hit a target and can kick a goal

Melbourne’s list manager: Clarry is not getting traded he will 100% be at Melbourne next year Geelong’s list manager: We respect Melbourne’s position we will let it rest Media: MELBOURNE AND GEELONG IN AN ALL OUT WAR OVER CLAYTON OLIVER 🙄

No struggle at all. Three positives about the arrival of Tom Campbell; 1. Post Jackson and Grundy departures we now have genuine back up ruckman/training partner for Max. 2. He won’t cost the earth and whilst resolvedly waiting in the wings will mentor young Verrall etc at VFL level. 3. As Tom’s neighbor @jayceebee31 and his wider reputation affirm. Tom Campbell brings more than just his trade to the club. Ben Brown’s contribution was rightly recognized and applauded last night at the B&F. It goes far beyond his on field exploits during the flag year. People of his ilk should be welcome additions to the MFC.

Caulfield is all systems go. Will be announced next week.

Is there an echo in here? Happy to hear this. Need all the leadership we can get.

We rightfully had a crack at Peatling and missed. Perryman is going to be paid $900k at the Pies. Cummings a 6 year deal at the Crows. Battle enough contract to trigger the highest draft compensation. Houston if we were still in it would be costing us pick 5 Baker and Bolton we are in the wrong state to entice. Noble and Rioli first round picks. Haynes, Darling, Parker passed well passed their best and would require good $$ multi year retirement deals. Some times the best list management is the one that does little.

The B & F puts an end to 2024. Things obviously didn’t go as planned, but it’s a night to recognise those that have given a hell of a lot to the club. Knocking blokes for busting a gut week in week out says more about the person than the player. Not many are happy with how 2024 panned out, 2025 begins now.

Im sure this is public knowledge but I’ll repeat it anyway, Clazz has been a load since his first season. When Brendan McCartney was at the club, he got so sick and tired of Oliver’s antics that he sat him down in his office and showed him a long list of names. He said, “do you recognise these names?” ”yeah some of them” McCartney replied, “these are all the people at the club who think you’re a [censored]!!” McCartney was really good for Oliver in those early days. Oliver was unaware that his behaviour was so impactful to so many people. McCartney was no nonsense and steered Oliver the right direction in terms of professionalism and treatment of others.

I agree, it's been handled extremely poorly. Start off by getting rid of Pert for starters. This wouldn't be handled so poorly under Peter Jacksons and Josh Mahoneys watch. Look at the way we professionally handled the Jack Watts and Jesse Hogan scenario.

Don't panic, this is here to serve as a distraction to all the other bs going on. Great first year by our young winger.

People having a crack at the club but the only thing that has created this are Oliver’s actions.. club has supported him continuously & only so much they can put up with ….

Fair enough Billy, but I won't be leaving my club because some players do, no matter who they are and including Clarry, my favourite player. I also think the club may know more about our players, than we do from the outside.

Looks like you were right. However after a lifetime supporting this club, given what I have invested emotionally, I will never give up on them, even if Clarry, my favourite player leaves and anyone else for that matter. I have made my bed with the Dees and I will lie in it forever.

Exactly why I've given sen and afl360 the flick. Whateley's a pseudo mouthpiece. Lost me when he ran the party line on Maynard

But it's an awful cultural environment! Think of the children.

Whats telling is in the comments section of the Facebook post of the article, one comment in particular from Michelle Oliver, Clarry’s mum.

I love it when Tom Morris adds a, “make no mistake”. You know he means business then.

I loved the idea, the thinking outside of the box. Had it worked everyone would have called our football department geniuses. If it worked, it had the potential to be devasting. It didn't work, sometimes the gambles don't work. It proved Max needs to be the number one guy. We found out that Max's forward exploits can't be turned into a consistent performance. But we did try it. Pretty strange for a coaching staff described as stubborn hey?

18th September 2024 Jack Viney out on Gosch's with Chandler, Turner, Sestan, Kentfield and K.Brown. Small runs and kick to kick. Then headed off to AAMI. Probably to the meeting about the Caulfield announcement

Very good player in his prime

We would've won anywhere in 2021, and in fact proved it. We actually played in front of crowds most of the season. It was in fact as late a round 18 when crowds couldn't attend when we played Hawthorn in the drawn game. We the dropped one against the Dogs in front of nobody in round 19, then the bizarre game against Gold Coast where we flew up, sat on the tarmac and flew back again to play the GC at Marvel the next day (and [censored] them). Then over to Perth in front of a pretty hostile 32k crowd to play one of the longest games in league history with the lightning strike which forced the delay, then back to an empty G again to play Adelaide and then the final game against Geelong at the empty stadium. Then began the finals series firstly at Adelaide, in front of 14k people, then over to Perth for back to back wins in front of full houses both games. I would argue it was perhaps the most hard won premiership of all time. And the fact we did it so comprehensively in all finals shows just how good we were. Anywhere, anytime - that was the 21 Demons.

I am not saying Scott isn’t a very good Coach, but rather he has had advantages that other Coaches haven’t. The Cats are nearly guaranteed 8-9 wins every year because of their unique home ground advantage and who they play there and then only need to win another 3-4 games each season to make finals. That is a huge advantage for starters. Their location has assisted their recruiting as well. The endless stream of Victorian tax dollars given to them hasn’t hurt either.

Way overs. A mature age mid-season draftee who hasn't played a single game at AFL level is in no way worth pick 25 in a trade. Trading second round picks is for established AFL players such as Langdon, Hibberd, Melksham, and Grundy for us in recent years. The average AFL salary is $450k. Why would you give a mature age mid-season draftee $400-$450k? He'd be paid more than talented kids and established players, including some premiership players. It would be poor salary cap management. Realistically, we offer our last pick - pick 61 - and lowest possible salary. He doesn't command anything more. All our other picks are too valuable to waste on him, even the picks in the 40s and 50s hold enough points that they'll likely be part of a package to trade up the board with Brisbane, Gold Coast, and others that needs points for academy and father sons draftees.

Wouldn't matter much to the MCC since there is a 25 year long waiting list of people who will willingly take their place.

Mark Robinson reporting in a Herald Sun article that former MFC President Joseph Gutnick met current President Brad Green, apparently to make the following suggestions:- ● MAKING the disgruntled Christian Petracca the heir apparent to skipper Max Gawn. ● STRONGLY endorsing Green as the permanent president; ● URGING a settlement in the bitter legal dispute between the club and former president Glen Bartlett ● KEEPING under-fire chief executive Gary Pert. According to Joe: "I told Brad that if I was president I would ask the coach to move on," Gutnick said. "I know there would be players who wouldn't agree with me, however, 100 per cent of the supporters I'm friends with, both Jewish and non-Jewish, think he should move on. "Melbourne needs a rejuvenation and injection and that's one of the ways to do it." Pity that Robbo hasn’t taken the trouble to do a fact check on the claim which sounds ludicrous to me. I’m Jewish and have friends who support the club who are both Jewish and non-Jewish and zero per cent of my friends have suggested they hold that belief. The person who I believe should move on is Gutnick himself - I once supported the bloke but that was 20 years ago. Today, he has zero credibility when it comes to football.

I heard his Nona gave him a recipe for Humble Pie - but Tracc doesn’t like the taste.