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This should keep those circling opposition clubs at bay.

I want to congratulate Spencer on re-signing. He is prepared to stick with the club despite the fact that he is now behind Gawn as the main ruck, and he will most likely only get an opportunity due to any injury Gawn will (hopefully not) sustain. His loyalty is unquestioned and he is great back up insurance. We need to keep players like that and show some faith .

In a typical pre-show meeting to discuss the impending show's agenda Jono Brown says he's going to throw up a potential deal Freo could use to entice Hogan back home to WA. "Good one, Browny. We'll go with it." In the 24 hour news cycle that follows it gets saturated air time. The fact they opined it to be an unlikely scenario escaped attention. Meanwhile, in a pre-scheduled family visit to WA Hogan spends time with family and friends. The club has always been good to him like that. Nek minnit it's reported on a radio news segment Freo has offered "Melbourne's Jesse Hogan $15 mil over 10 years". It's also discussed ad nauseum on social forums and television programs. Less cognitive thinkers start pondering the unthinkable. They convince themselves Hogan will leave the Melbourne Football Club. Some posters exhibit the type of flatulence that would make an old Clydesdale proud.

The writing is on the wall for Derek Hine at Collingwood. Gubby Allen is not back to run women's team and netball for long and Derek must surely be polishing up his CV. When Jason Taylor was at Pies the recruitment was spot on but has failed dramatically the last couple of years (although injury has played a part)..... coincidence.... I think not. This bloke is doing a cracking job - he should be the one we've got locked down on a water-tight long term contract. He gives you hope that although we don't have a first round pick in the draft he'll still find some cracking talent - a lot like Wells has done at Geelong over the years.

Plus 3 I just ordered for family (whether they like it or not).

Love Ben Kennedy's response!

Not on D'land. He clearly hasn't read the Hogan thread.

Next season is Spencer's 10th at Melbourne and he's only played 36 games, no way should he have been given more than a year extension

38038 only 1,962 to go to the big 40K! we're a chance

He copped an awkward tackle in the forward pocket before hogans disallowed left foot over the shoulder goal, and drove his knee into the ground, jolting his back. He lay writhing on the ground for 20 seconds in front of the dees cheer squad after the play and was very sore holding his lower back when he got up. Im not surprised hes not 100%. Maybe watch the game next time before you suggest a player 'learns a lesson' from a genuine injury.

So what. There could be several reasons for that. For example, perhaps he thinks keeping oppositions guessing is more important than satisfying the curiosity of the very few supporters who feel a need to know this information a couple of days earlier.

He jumper punched himself.

Yaawwwn. As a relative newbie to DL, but a fanatic nonetheless, the childish [censored]-for-tat on some threads are getting reeeally boring. I'm looking at you picket and stuie amongst others. I come on here to observe and engage in footy discussion on the 'team we love', not schoolyard dummy spits and d**k waving!! Can't ya'll grow up and play nice? We're all here with the same passion. GO DEES. Take it right up to the Dogs and do us proud this week.

And I'm going to agree with someone who posted here earlier. Hogan is a competitive animal who wants nothing more than to kick a bag on Grand Final day on a winning team. He'll look around him and see Petracca, Brayshaw, Oliver, Weideman, Harmes, Viney, Jones, Kent, Garlett and a whole host of others and see the opportunity. I don't think he'll sign a 10 year deal, but a 4 - 5 year deal where he gives himself the opportunity to go home for the back end of his career is extremely likely. The most likely scenario in my opinion. And for those who say his old man is crook and that trumps all... I've seen no verifiable report of that. I've also heard that his family want him to stay in Melbourne. So, really, people will believe what they want to believe.

Good news. Aside from Spencer, our ruck depth is incredibly thin if Max were to go down. http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-05-12/spencer-secures-new-deal

You'd think with all these bloody teachers I'd learn something from this forum....

This game will be won above the shoulders. I note Roos said on 360 that he is responsible for working on the players mindset more than anything this year. The other assistants have their responsibilities on game plan implementation, training planning etc. If that is the case he failed miserably before Round 2. I agree this is our biggest test to date. Bulldogs planning, work ethic, midfield and structure down back is first class. King rated them very high v Adelaide. And well organised. If our midfield can function to our best I give ourselves a winning chance. Their defence while depleted is very well organised by veterans Boyd and Morris who is in AA form.

Great to see so many Demonlanders in agreement that keeping Spencil is a good move with only the one smarty-pants remark from Clint Bizkit. Some of you with long memories will know how he stubbed his toe on his first shot at goal in his debut at the MCG (2010?) and most of us felt then that he would never, ever make it - too uncordinated. But my view on him changed the game about four years ago when he played against St Kilda at the MCG and was towelling McEvoy up and then decided to make dead certain of his ruck win - sending him off on a stretcher which I think cost him two weeks. His decision to stay is a huge bonus, because it means we don't have to worry about a ruck back-up for Gawny for at least another year and can continue to develop the Kings - although I suspect Max will be under pressure as the year goes on to show that he's developing enough to warrant a fourth year. Spencil is a huge bonus for our VFL side - those of you who saw how bad our ruckmen were against Mason Cox in the VFL earlier this year would know exactly what I mean. I hope he gets a bit more reward down the track - ideally a VFL flag with Casey - assuming we don't do our usual closing up shop for surgery two weeks out from the finals. He's battled injuries - even playing on for a few extra games last year when we needed him despite his foot stress injury. He's been incredibly loyal and who knows he may even get to play a bit more AFL if Gawny goes down (touch wood). And don't forget he was a key part of last year's memorable win down at Geelong and given the Cats size may be needed to work in tandem with Gawny again down there in Round 23.

'Betty'..... thats funny. I like it Probably need to explain it to anyone under 40 though

So if he stays or goes he is a cat?

I see it now. The MFC wants him to go to Freo! That's why Roos is leaving. To take up the reins at Freo. That's why Lyon is deliberately losing those games. So Freo can sack him to clear the path for Roos and Hogan. This is all the work of umpire Pannell. I see it now.

Orrr... this week was penciled in at the beginning of the season as an opportunity to send Jessie home as we were playing a Saturday afternoon game and a late Sunday afternoon the following week. Some of the hand wringing on this forum is a site to behold.

bottom line is that we are 68 points per week a better side than when Neeld finished. That's in 2 seasons plus 7 rounds. That is seriously impressive

fantastic interview. Whilst he spoke I reflected on where we were and where we are now, we have a lot to thank Paul Roos for. We were below a laughing stock, we were irrelevant. Three years on we are exciting and the talk is all about future rather than past. Cheers Roosy

Had a random wednesday off from work so popped down for a bit as well. Couple of other observations - very big technique focus, across the board. - Salem did everything. He seems good to go - agree again re newton - he must be very close. so too ANB. he seemed to be doing a fitness test (he had a glove on, dont know if that is stylistic thing or an injury related thing) style drill along with Brayshaw, but he seemed to be out there longer. ANB looked fine and I would be staggered if he and Newton weren't in the 25 named on thursday and given we are travelling back from interstate, if we make changes for people to be rested i think those two might come in given the way they were training. They both also did did the run through's with a group of players who all played in the seniors last week (incl Viney, Jones, Tyson, Petracca, Garland, Jetta, Pedo). Salem did those too. - Gawn just dominates at training. at any stoppage where two teams were practicing, whichever team had Gawn would win the stoppage. Every time - Hullett is massive. Rawlings was really pushing him and Weed. Good to see - Tommy Mac doing some really good work along with Jetta on coming across as the third man. Oscar Mac did an agility test at the end of the session and seemed to come out of it well. - Watts actually has presence at training now. its amazing the difference from a couple of years ago. - Highlight was petracca being pulled back onto the track by Viney at the end of the session to do some one on one contested ball work. it was amazing to see, and would make any dees supporter as happy as a pig in mud. petracca held his own, but geez viney goes hard and doesn't care about size of his opponent.

It is, to me, no coincidence that the turn around in this football club has come since this man came on board as Pres. He isn't a strong media player and thus hasn't received the plaudits he is due. We are quick to acknowledge PJ's efforts, however, this man shouldn't be forgotten in providing strong leadership and solidarity for the MFC. Long live the Pres.

Perth?

Interesting fact the Dees are the only side out side the 8 to have beaten a team in the 8.

You know what's great? We've got something everyone wants, it's very, very scarce - which means you're going to have to give up something equally remarkable to get it, and we are very, very happy to keep it. This is the 'downside' of great drafting. Well played MFC.

The more Demons sign on during the season the better. it creates a culture of confidence and commitment to a club going places. At the same time, it creates anxiety over players who choose not to sign on. C'est la vie.

I'd suggest the opposite of what the moaning Myrtle's believe. I think Hogan has seen the direction of the MFC these past few months and the need to be fully committed (See J. Viney). As a result he's about to commit for 4-5 years, and is letting his folks know.

The only solution here is to move the whole club to Perth.

imagining winning this smash the lions next week and port in the NT and be comfortably in the 8 at a win/loss of 7-3 just about build a statue of Paul Roos outside the MCC

I have posted before but I can claim to have played with 2 brownlow medalists. Bernie Quinlan and Kelvin Templeton. I was a slow 4'11 useless forward pocket whose glory was a speccie off the shouldres of the tallest kid in the school. Unfortunately the impact of the ball at my peak altitude knocked me arse over and i never did kick that one goal. The sports teacher concerned for my wellbeing told me to go and play the game that had a position designed for me Shortstop and Baseball it was, my glorious footy career halted. I did play basketball with Bernie who played centre and my role was to pass to him cut into the key and he would shoot the goal over my head. a moving screen developed from Lindsay Gaze tigers who were coaching one of our finest teammates. Kelvin was a pretty handy tennis player and I dont think he ever beat me coz I was a few years older and he did go to Footscray to train and didnt get much court time after that. I have an interesting story also told before that as he had no one to play with (Lived at Tyers out of Traralgon) he practised by kicking at his house chimney and taking the mark as it bounced off , if he missed he had to run around and collect the ball himself. Became pretty accurate and a good mrk Loved all sports and still play squash at Milawa where the enjoyment level is great. Also play tennis with Graeme Cordy so the footy talk up here has a knowledgable edge.

I think this is our biggest test so far this year aside from the GWS game. The game against North was after our loss to Essendon and I always consider those type of games 'response' games. We've come off a really solid win to an injury riddled Gold Coast and we play an inform Bulldogs side at OUR home ground. A loss of about 20 points is what I expect given how unpredictable we are. But if all things go to plan for us, I think we're a sneaky chance.

The Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, The Universe, and Everything.

So what you're saying is, you think he's gone.....?

This team is ridiculously hard to make right now. I don't know how we fit Newton, ANB, Vanders in. It's starting to get depressing knowing that we have to turn over a bunch of players at season's end who actually are alright. JKH I had in my 22 at the start of last season. Now he's probably not top30.

I can't believe the hysteria over a simple quote. What is Demonland becoming? Twitter?! Everyone is outraged about everything! Skuit's grammatical correction explains the context of the quote perfectly. Kent was basically saying that, yeah, he's out of contract, but the wonderful coaching group aren't heaping pressure on him or threatening him to perform (as we know they've done to other underperforming players who are OOC). This is likely due to his interrupted pre-season coming off hamstring surgery last year. Essentially, he's saying the club aren't putting the pressure on him in a contract year, probably because they're pretty happy with his progress. However, it's always in the back of his mind that he's OOC and he needs to perform if he wants a good value contract. It's not that difficult.

Not a good day - we've lost Kent, Hogan and Oliver's injured. Thanks Demonland for cheering me up.

Yeah I didn't mind this interview, seemed freer, like a bourden had been lifted. Was asked if he was offended about Goodwin getting the credit for how we're playing. He said paraphrasing "not at all, if anyone should be offended it's the other assistants who have all been fantastic at their jobs, if you knew how a footy club was run you'd know how much they all contribute." Cop that David King. Addressed the veil of negativity around the supporters comment he made last year, says he understands the criticism he copped, doesn't care, he said it and they had to address and deal with it last year. All that sort of stuff (player negativity) is not mentioned now. No need, it's new players now. Not talking finals, they all know where we're at. But he seemed to me a lot more comfortable, proud maybe.

I don't even know why Hogan needs to go and visit his family in Perth, he has all the family he needs here at Demonland.

Please tell me it's called the "STD Podcast"?

Amazing how much people will read in to a simple comment from a player for whom public speaking clearly isn't a strength. Purely a case of a country lad mincing his words.

I suspect it's a transcription issue and Kent is praising the club's approach. Try adding an ellipsis. I’m out of contract so . . . there’s no pressure on me to perform or anything like that, but it’s in the back of my head and you think about your contract"

I am an MCC member and I also take the MFC membership. With the proviso that one is financially able , I see my MCC membership as a payment for easy walk up to games, good seats, good view and access to finals and the Grand Final. I see my MFC membership as giving money to watch the club I love play.