Leaderboard

Well said. I find it really sad when people can't see the human aspect to footy. It was a touching gesture by his teammates. Ability to get back on the footy field has nothing to do with what this thread is about.

I did ask whether Todd and the recruiting team were comfortable what wed seen enough of injured prospects such as Weideman, Curnow and Burton to make an informed call on these kids (in light of Jake Lever missing all of his age 18 year). Todd answered yes, although youd like to be able to see more of them and it can make it a little bit difficult. Mentioned that he would have seen Weideman at least 8 times last year and this, and seen a fair bit of him in school footy too. Raised Stringer as an example of one picked high and performing despite being affected by injury in his draft year. Talked about Curnow a little bit in response to a question Theo (I think) raised, and referred to him as more of a contested midfielder (as opposed to his ability to play key position), and felt Francis had done enough last year that stuck in the memory to still be drafted this year. Midfield is still the priority in the trade/draft period, and that if we got in a free agent or traded for a mid, we wouldnt go for an older type given where the list is at. The age profile would have to fit in with the bulk of where our developing talent sits (the 22-25 yo bracket), as they really want this group to come through and peak together. No need to recruit older players to set the example now. Todd was also asked to describe Petracca, and he described him as an explosive type, and compared him to Dangerfield. John Trotter spoke before the Vineys, and what stuck in my head was his happiness with the current financial state of the club. He said something along the lines of despite a couple of big financial losses, if you take the entirety of our last seven financial results, we are better than breakeven and it looks like well post another modest profit this year Compared us to Brisbane and Port (maybe even Geelong, but cant remember) who despite having successful onfield performances over the years are in significantly weaker financial positions. Robbo mentioned something I found interesting about how well regarded our social media strategy had been, saying we were leading the way and even Hawthorn had made contact to get some tips on how Melbournes comms department used social media.

No you don't. You don't have to say anything. Why people feel the need to share their concerns on a thread dedicated to such a joyous moment for the bloke is beyond me.

Thanks mate. Todd spoke about a range of midfielders in response to Theo's question on which midfielders impressed at the Championships. A few names and attributes were rattled off, and Parish was amongst those, along with Curnow and from recollection Balic. I missed part of this as some of the folks on my table started talking about how good a job Jason Taylor had done since starting at the club. That Curnow was mentioned here shows that we are one of the clubs that (if we drafted him) would be drafting him as a midfielder, not a key position player I'd imagine Mathieson was also talked about, but I wouldn't say any indication was given on any particular mid we were honing in on, just that there were a range who had impressed. I did have a quick word with Todd before he and Jack left and asked for his thoughts on the depth (of the draft pool). He said there'd been a fair bit of talk about it being a shallow draft, but didn't think it was as bad as reported, and was confident that good players could be found with later picks.

People can think what they like about where i get my info from, but for those who do choose to listen, don't give up totally on this, i can guarentee the dees havent.

During the week I was a guest at the annual Carlton v Collingwood Peter McCallum Clinic breakfast and sat on Nathan Buckley's table. I was going to wear my red and blue MFC tie but thought better of it, not wanting to offend my host, a very passionate Magpie fan who stumped up big bucks for the table with Bucks. The coach himself was very friendly (even when he discovered who I support) and generously gave a couple of fantastic autographs for two members of my grandson's junior footy team celebrating their 50th games (they're mad Pies fans). The whispers I got unofficially were that Collingwood is heavily into GWS's Adam Treloar (a story that's been doing the rounds for a couple of months) and Brisbane's James Aish. However, the big news from some well connected Carlton fans was that irrespective of who coaches them next year, you can expect a clean out with Henderson and Yarran off elsewhere and a large number of players to be dumped from the list. The big story from a number of different sources is that the Blues are assured of securing Jake Carlisle who definitely wants out of Essendon and is virtually committed to Carlton. While I remain wary of recruiting anyone from Essendon who might be tainted by the WADA proceedings, I think Carlisle would otherwise be a good pick up for them although he would come at a cost - possibly draft picks obtained from trading Henderson and/or Yarran.

Winners are grinners, and losers can please themselves. I'm grinning. I really don't care what Ed and co are doing.

Whats his manager supposed to say? "Yeah mate, dions off to the dees" the bloke is contracted and a jet, the suns were never going to be thrilled. Only a couple of weeks ago lachie henderson and jake carlisle said they didnt want to change clubs..

Always said that Essendon was very lucky to have so many spin doctors in and around the media who could be relied upon to come out and muddy the waters on this issue. The best one from this week is the story about how TB4 exists in the body naturally so finding unnaturally high levels of TB4 in the urine samples of a couple of their players means nothing.

Viney to Cripps will be the showdown of the century. And by showdown, I mean Viney burying Cripps' head into the turf for 120 minutes.

This worked last week. get on board Demonlanders. Perhaps if we all say the Board's prayer: Our Nathan, who art in the middle, Hallowed be thy game. Thy clearing run. Thy kick to Viney is direct, As in the game plan. Give us this day our Bernie Vince. And forgive us our turnovers, As we destroy them that wear black blue and white. And lead us not into hesitation, But deliver the ball quickly. For Hogan is the target, The Demons, take the glory, For ever and ever. Amen

You can't criticise someone's wit then post that!

So what’s the story with no clash strip in the Collingwood v Carlton game? Oh, I think I know.

Perfect ladder: Melbourne 1st, Richmond 9th, North Melbourne 17th, Essendon 18th. Fill in the blanks.

Ive played school footy against petracca (not trying to talk myself up by the way) and a lot of my mates played footy and went to school with him and hes in another league to Brayshaw when assessed by anyone who played with both of them. Jake Stringer is a good comparison for his foward line style of play and the way he barges through would be tacklers. He'll be similar to dustin martin but with better skills at the start of his career i think. Maybe a josh kennedy with better pace and goal kicking nous would be a good comparison as well All this depends on how he recovers from his knee injury i guess

Of course, but I think that most posters here today just want to enjoy the positives.

Adopt a pet Elephant named Taboo and keep it the dining room but forbid people to talk about.

I’d rather Geelong make the Finals than Sydney make the Top Four.

Thoroughly Melbournised, is my medical opinion. Incurable.

The morning of a game I have my coffee in my Demons mug and sing "It's a Grand Old Flag" with my 2 year old son after eating breakfast. He pretty much knows the words now and his favourite colours are of course red and blue.

I'd say Mach5 is Maschy, which means he has very good sources at Geelong...

I mute my TV and buy some booze. Other than that, no rituals for me.

From what I saw of him in the televised NAB Championships games from last year I would put him more in the Sylvia category as a player than a Darling. The word on him was that he had put in a lot of work to shed weight and build up his endurance in order to make it possible for him to eventually play in the midfield and based on his carnival and TAC Cup form (I didn't see him in the latter so I'm going on reports), he succeeded in that although he'll probably start as a half forward and work his way into the midfield over time. Of course, we all hope that he brings a different attitude to the game than Col who let himself down in that regard although the culture of all football clubs is much different nowadays. But a Jack Darling, he's not.

I like that you didn't wear your scarf, I like that Carlton have hit rock bottom, and I like that everyone is going to abandon the druggies. I think we should make a play for Daniher or Zaha. Both should be clean, taking Daniher will rip out their hearts. Time to pounce and kick a dying dog

Seriously? What possible downside is there? He's contracted outside any regular list, his pay doesn't count towards the salary cap, we don't give up a draft pick to get him and he was one of the best key forward prospects in the country when GC pre-listed him. Why on earth would you not want to give him a try?

Salem will be better than Wines. I wouldn't entertain trading Salem for anyone.

David Myers

Pickett Fence's Jizz Booth?

Lever looks a player.

He's actually missed one but that is neither here nor there. He does bring a willingness to take the game on but to what effect? He had a golden opportunity to pass to Hogan in the third but kicked to Garlett who was two against one. He was under no pressure and he regularly makes poor decisions. He failed to go when Daniher kicked the last goal against us. He was largely on Sidebottom in the first when he racked up 14. At the risk of the venom of Demonland coming down upon me I'd have Grimes ahead of Lumumba every day. But I accept that's moot and I'd have Salem very comfortably ahead of both. Jetta, Dunn, Garland, McDonald, Salem, Howe and Cross are all better down back than Lumumba with Grimes shading him IMO. And Lumumba just doesn't get involved enough from a wing to justify his position. I think Lumumba is an athlete and not a footballer. I haven't checked but how many DL or Coaches Award votes has he got this year? I don't reckon it would be many. For a bloke that finished 4th in Collingwood's b&f last year he's been particularly disappointing. I'm not criticizing the person, he may add a lot around the club and he may set a terrific example to the younger players. But on field he's added very little.

Exactly. If there was a thread dedicated to the likelihood of him taking the ground again or becoming an effective player for the MFC I'd have no issue. But that's not what this thread is about or should evolve to.

Absolutely! It was a very special moment in Jack's rehab, and for the entire club to celebrate it in that way was special. I'm proud of them all!

Jesse simply has to win the rising star. Going to finish with 40 goals and number 1 in the comp in contested marks! Cripps should not even be in the conversation

C'mon Ethan, you know full well that to read about Wines is to read about Toumpas. There's no other way.

Salem

You posted the below in the Christian Petracca thread less than two hours before asking this question:

I reckon the key barometer that recruiters need to start identifying in potential draftees is players that: a) aren't intimidated by pressure b) apply immense pressure to opponents It's the way of modern footy and it's why we've gotten our drafting so, so wrong for so, so long.

Chris Yarran

Agree regarding Toumpas. Toumpas has shown the same if not more than someone like JKH, yet because one a is a pick 4 and the other is a pick 40 we're already calling for the head of one and labelling the next as the 2nd coming of Jeff Farmer.

Which game, or quarter, was that?

Where did you see him play HH?

$600,000 for Howe?

After Jack ran through the banner and training resumed to normal,another nice thing happened.The demon army members who were there gave him a clap as he ran past them which made him smile from ear to ear.

Gees there are some party poopers amongst you lot So happy for Jack. Deserves to make it back!

I spoke to Miller about him over the pre season. He had him in the forwards group. He said he reminded him most of Dustin Martin. Very strong, strong overhead mark, good goal kicker, pack buster. He thought he might be a bit inconsistent like Martin. The biggest knock on him is his lack of a tank. He's already been running for about a month and is already building into speed and agility running and its August. How much running will he have done before the pre season even starts. The amount of running his going to have done before the pre season even starts might end up being a blessing in disguise for an extra dose of tank building.

Strong in the contest and an absolute bull in traffic; Brushes off/bursts through tacklers extremely easily and is very explosive off the mark. Can take a mark and just accumulates goals. Kicking's pretty solid/penetrating but like most young players can tend to just bomb the ball long He'll start off as a HFF with short bursts on ball as his endurance isnt elite but as he ages he'll spend more time in the middle. If youre impressed with brayshaw you havent seen anything yet!

I still think there needs to be a legitimate way to spend less than 95% of the cap so that clubs with crap lists aren't forced to pay their players the same as the premiers. I understand it is part of the players CBA but there is no reason why clubs can't spend as little as they want and then pay the remaining "cap space" into a central fund that is divided and shared by all 720 players equally at the end of the season. The players then get the exact amount of their CBA (no underpaying). No clubs are forced to pay overs to a crap list. Poor on field clubs have more salary room to chase other players. No club can "save money" by skimping on player payments. As all clubs are forced to pay 100% each year, it will create a bigger driving force to spend on players to improve on field. Surely this is really obvious?

I was there at training this morning,actually made it into the background of that video for about two seconds.it was worth the trip just to see Jack running through the banner.It was also the most upbeat training I've seen all year.

I love: that Jack has taken his first running steps on the comeback trail; the outstanding team spirit that is developing around our Club; and that our great club cared enough to give Jack a contract extension, so he has every opportunity resurrect his career. All things which bode well for the future, I reckon.