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Jesse going nowhere, boys and girls.

Can comfirm the rumours Taberner is an AFL standard footballer are false

My info is the club is very confident the crows will accept our current offer. Our current offer is NOT pick # 10 & 27 it is pick #10 and a 2018 second round pick. The club is very much hoping to sell the crows on that deal, and use the potential watts deal combine with #27 to gain another first round pick.

Hogan isn’t going anywhere, he didn’t enjoy his coffee and thinks Fyfe is a weirdo. #ETthetradebreaker.

If Hogan walks because of Watts being told he would be better served elsewhere, then he is a fool and a sook. His job is not list management. He can be unhappy for his friend, but still be a professional. maybe we are landing Fyfe?

He was stalking 'Land, waiting for a Chookinperth update, before posting his pre prepared statement.

Thanks Sandra.

This whole drama is not really about Watts Yes, Watts is in the cross hairs right now. But look for the bigger picture. Most coaches only get one shot at it. For all the feelgood chat about Michael Voss being a better coach if he gets another senior gig, which club is going to put their collective nads on the line to try that experiment? None. Because they'll look bloody stupid, and waste years finding out that Voss may have improved, but not to where he lands a flag. They get one shot. The only coaches who get two shots are flag winning coaches, or ones that go very close (Ross Lyon). Everyone else is bundled out after a short number of years, having stamped their papers, and end up in footy oblivion, or, for the ones who win hell's tattslotto, assistant coach at Essendon. Clearly, Goodwin already sees this. Will he be another Justin Leppitsch? Another Brett Ratten? Another Brendon McCartney? Another Matthew Primus? Another Peter Schwab? (You get the idea.) Like f**k he will. If you can recall the cricket career of Ian Chappell, when he became test captain, he tried to be all things to all people. Got middling results. Pretty soon (wise words were whispered in his ear) he realised that it has to be his way, or die wondering. And damn the torpedoes. (You may also recall that Ian Chappell was no choirboy.) Goodwin has got this message. Probably already had it. Can anyone cast their minds back to the dim past, in a year when an aspiring finals team met some cellar dwellers in the second last round of the home/away games. The underdogs fancied themselves and put up a game fight, but against superior skill, talent, gameplan, everything, found themselves being blown off the park in the last quarter. The aspiring finals team, on paper, had made it to the finals. Then inexplicably, they took their foot off the pedal and let the cellar dwellers back into the game, and had it gone another 10 minutes, might have snatched defeat. In the twinkling of an eye, the team had gone from finals near-certainties to everything on the line. The coach must have been livid. You may recall in the last round of that same season, our heroes had to overcome another set of cellar dwellers, whom they had beaten earlier in the year. Surely with everything on the line, their superior lineup would do the job? Think again. They flubbed it, badly. Weren't in the game at any stage. And the oppo had 6 of their best out. What a debacle. The coach must have been livid. "I must do something about this, or I will be the next Justin Leppitsch, the next Matthew Primus ... and f**k that!" He cast about, looking for ways to improve his list. Trade Van den berg? Trade Stretch? JKH? For some third round picks? Then he woke up in a cold sweat. Was that it? Trade some fringe players for some more fringe players? He looked in the mirror and saw Justin Leppitsch staring back at him. He saw that his side has got great talent, huge promise, and, collectively, a heart the size of a pea. Leppitsch started laughing and before he knew it, Goodwin was looking at the face of Mark Neeld staring back at him. This is Goodwin's one shot at it. He sees what we all saw through the season. And the season before that. When the club's nuts are on the line, the team flubs it. He sees a future where he's a member of the sacked coaches club, lamenting that he coulda been a contender, but his team had a heart the size of a pea. It's really too bad. Hard luck, eh? What's a coach to do? Goodwin's response? LIKE F**K. We should celebrate a coach who upon seeing the great riches at his disposal, has the nads to make the calls he sees as necessary to harness the greatness. He sees a player who after 9 years in the system, is still on cruise control. I have no doubt other players have been sent a message too, but because they are not media magnets like Watts, their stories are unremarked. I am no Jack hater. The happiest end to this story is he stays with us, and, burning and stinging from the message given to him, turns it on and becomes the player we all hoped for over 9 seasons. I would love it. But 9! Long time. Colin Sylvia had 9 seasons I think. Just one good preseason .... maybe the penny will drop ... sorry. Doesn’t work like that. After 9 seasons, we're all being sent a message. What you see is what you get. The writing is on the wall but all some of us can do is criticise the choice of font. Do I think Goodwin is some wonder coach working to a cunning and devious master plan? No. He's a rookie coach learning as he goes, making mistakes along the way. But he's the guy in the hot seat and has to do it his way come hell or high water. He simply cannot do it any other way. I applaud our coach for seeing the writing on the wall, for himself, for the club, and for Jack, and taking action to correct it. Rather than hoping, hoping, hoping for it to click. Grab it by the balls, Goody. This is your one shot. Right or wrong, masterstroke or cockup, only the future will tell. But don't hold back for fear of the cockup. I am reminded of a quote by general George Patton. "I never take counsel of my fears." Go Goody. Go Demons.

Lefty in the pro-trade Watts camp here. Also a moderator who is going to shut down further political discussion. (Aware you have already attempted to disengage, faultydet)

This is actually an indication that Watts is staying. Goodwin made it clear to all that if Watts was to stay he'd need to 'get a pair'. Viney was just doing his captain thing and went out to buy some to help Jack.

Lol wasn't he the one who broke the revealing news only a few hours ago?

Jay Clark is a cracking bloke, actually

I posted something a while back in reference to a Max Gawn trade about Brian 'the whale' Roberts... He was a very well liked player at the tiges when they moved him on to "better their list". KB says it's one of the worst moves made in his time at the club... You've got to be careful to not destabilise things when moving on a player who is part of the fabric of the club. Watts is a very well liked player and seems to get on with everyone, players and supporters alike. He mightn't be everyones cup of tea as a player but he is part of the fabric of the club, a player who appears to bond the playing group off the field. If I was a player at Melbourne I would be looking at this now and forgetting about all the carp Lewis and others have been taking about building a culture and taking unders, I would be looking after myself. I'm sure Connors will be reinforcing this with Petracca when the time comes. So, Hogan has every right to look at his future if he doesn't like the way a mate is being treated. We can talk professionalism in modern sport as much as we like but we are still dealing with people. It's still very much a people business. Is it really worth rocking the boat for a 2nd round pick at best? Goodwin is a gambler and I'm not sure this is a good punt. Will he end up Blight (a true visionary) or Neeld (another failed Melbourne coach)? It's not only his coaching on the line here it's our club, our future and I know a lot of us have a lot on the line as supporters. Time will tell but this is an uneasy time for me.

Have you confused Oscar McDonald with the Sultanate of Oman?

Adelaide are so pist off because they know how good he's going to be. He plays the modern zoning game to perfection. He reads the play better than anyone else, he knows exactly the right time to leave his own man, and he either takes a brilliant intercept mark, or kills the contest with his fist of fury. He's not fast, but he is agile, he usually hits his targets by foot, and he's renowned in Adelaide for his sidestep. He also has courage. We're talking about a guy who is 13 days older than Oscar McDonald. How much improvement has Oscar still got ? Lever's the same, only far more talented. Oscar can play with Lever for the next 8 years and he'll learn from him. Lever spent 3 years with Talia, which will only help. And let's not forget that Lever was made captain of Vic Metro as a bottom age player, i.e. too young to be drafted that year. Let that sink in. How many bottom age players are chosen to captain their state ? He captained Petracca and would also know Brayshaw well. This is a terrific coup for the MFC.

I believe it was Darcy Lang who toured Dees. Cats allowing him to look elsewhere as they will not be offering him a new contract. We could effectively get him for next to nothing but will he add anything to Dees? Hogan meeting with Lyon this week - spoken with a Board member that said we’ve no intention to trade.

I picked up "The Coach" the other day about North's 1977 season. Plenty of great quotes from Barassi and I've only just finished the section on preseason. A lot to do with people getting the best out of themselves and naturally gifted players who coast because they've never had to try to succeed but the ones that push themselves are those who become champions. This quote I've uploaded seemed quite apt. Also notable, Barassi kicked a very popular player in Kekovich out of the club to the Magpies during the 77 season for similar issues, lack of effort, lack of professionalism, thinking he could coast on talent. Obviously North went on to win the flag.

I usually like jay Clark he has good mail, but that amateurish crap he pulled today was just beyond a joke, anyone could be a journalist these days

BREAKING: Jack Viney seen buying an unusually large amount of pears at a fruit shop. Media reporting all signs point for him to request a trade to Port

Just got an sms from the waitress who served Jesse and Nat their coffee. She tells me that Jesse said to Nat that he was only having the coffee with him to stir up DL. She then heard Nat say to Jesse, that if he grew his hair, he would show him how to tie up a man bun.

Boy this is divisive - and I find myself divided. I can understand the Clubs point of view. Jack has not made the most of his talent and his passion for the dees has not translated into action on and off the field - and I haven't heard anything from Jack to indicate he gets it and will make the required changes. However I have the feeling if he goes it will end up hurting us. Looks like a case of damned if you do, damned if you don't. Horrible situation

I took a pot at posters this year who were increasingly relying on the argument that the footy dept. knows best. However, it seems now that Goodwin is covering for his insecurities concerning a failed year. Jones is a horrible leader on and off the field. Macca, who has been at the forefront of our development in young players including Oliver, is a divisive character who destroyed another club. Mahoney is a big-mouth who needs media-training, and PJ, who has almost single-handedly turned our club around through astute management, must of course be oblivious or then negligent in not stepping in. And together they know squat about Jack Watts. Because there's no way the Golden Boy could possibly be to blame for the situation he finds himself in.

Well I'm officially over this thread. What more can be said? Commos under the bed! FMD!!! I'm outta here until we get a definite deal/answer.

Find it hard to believe that Watts is Hogan's only mate at the club.

These modern Twitter Journalists are an absolute disgrace to the art of News Gathering. Kerry Packer and John Sorrell would sack half of these hacks within an hour if they were still alive. Research before opening mouth ?

This is BS. Jack Watts is yet to believe or commit Jack Watts to undertaking the required essential to be part of a successful team, and indeed for that to to indeed be successful. If Jack Watts had Jack Viney's professionalism, intensity and commitment to making himself a better player and winning, he'd be a dead set champion. But he doesn't, and he's weirdly surprised that the MFC think he should...

There is a tweet that Hogan met Fyfe on Tuesday and there is no detail in the tweet or article about the content of their discussion, length of ‘meeting’ or even the location. The article states that Hogan is happy at Melbourne and has not given any indication that he wants to leave, it also states that he wants to play out his career at Melbourne. The article states his manager has said he’s staying and Mahoney has said he’s not up for trade. How is this a ‘huge development’??? Why are we even talking about this???

Seriously mate, show some respect, Jesse didn't miss games this year through sooking.

The emotion for and against is largely because the career of Jack Watts has been so closely associated (you could almost say intertwined) with what has undoubtedly been been the darkest period in the long history of the MFC. One the oldest sporting clubs in the world let alone Australia. And that's why it would be such a shame to shut him, and the club, out from the opportunity of some sort of redemption, just when that redemption seems so close. Do people not see that?

Since JW was drafted and the next big thing. The only news around Melbourne was JW. Apart from an 18 month interlude of MN antics. Since then JW talk has overpowered everything at the club. What has the club achieved since the Great JW arrived? Every other player has bust a gut to get a game, he has been gifted games when anyone else would have been dropped. Nine years is enough. I thought 2016 was a turning point. 2017 set him back 5 years. Good Bye Jack. You are a very polite man. But you are not the 6'5" KPF we were expecting.

Thanks everyone

Was he allowed in to Freo's b & f last night?

Crows knew lever was going about 6 weeks ago and they knew he was definitely coming to Melbourne about 12 days ago so the best and fairest situation looks even worse on their part. Melbourne and the crows have been chatting about this deal for a while. It will probably take most of the trade period but it’ll get done

We're supporters. The club, its coaches and heirarchy hopefully have a better handle on their emotions than some on here. Its blindingly obvious that the club has run out of patience with Jack. A 150 game player getting dropped doesn't tell you something? He is unreliable and can't be trusted to perform consistently. It is almost unanimous that he has elite talent but that talent is next to useless unless it can be honed into consistent, dedicated footballer. Sylvia had talent to burn. So what. Wasted 10 years with him. Viney, Hibberd, Jones, Oliver are a few that perform consistently. You know that they will give week in week out. No-one can say that of Jack Watts sadly.

Could your source be Hogan’s Instagram..?

My favourite part is when people post things after the fact and report that they heard it from a source and then add something to it that may or may not happen to make it sound legit.

For starters Balic and Taberner are not regulars so they are in effect steak knives. IF you were thinking of it 5 and next years first pick are the non negotiables. Maybe there is another player you would have eyes on and then add the steak knives. We are talking about a contracted player who we hope to be our future key forward for many years. HOWEVER, if we know that he will leave in 2 years that does present a difficult and different scenario that we would have to deal with. See my earlier post on whether we have someone in our sights who is a local who could possibly replace Jesse and then we have all the extras. Lastly I would be worried IF this is happening that Lever is done first or Crows would want all of it. PS. There is starting to have a smell here but think it is possibly just media. We will see. PPS . I I love trade week for all the rubbish, gossip, rumours that are a good distraction from the mundane working week.

Well ..... alright .........

Bolded part is just plain wrong. It goes on for weeks before the official start of trade period. If not, what do you call the meeting between AFC and MFC where the Crows plodder walked out?

So many on this site are governed by their "feelings". Thankfully, those making decisions aren't.

Mate you need to let it go. Jones has every right to comment on players... He's the captain, he's meant to set standards and enforce them.

Fritsch: "What role am I playing today coach?" Goodwin: "Well today we are playing [insert team name here] so I want you to be booed and sworn out by all their supporters and a vocal and vociferous minority of your own supporters too. If you do well you can expect the same treatment next week and the week after that. Expect to be pilloried in the media and your own Club will admit your mere presence puts them under pressure. You will run the game out to the end but I will infer to the press that your preparation was lacking. All your teammates will make fundamental school boy errors; failing to kick to targets 20 metres away, handball to players feet and missing goals from 35m out but we are setting new standards now and elite finishing skills are so very 2016 which was, coincidentally, when we signed you to that 3 year (non binding) contract. Fritsch: "Oh, I’m playing the Watts role"

We hold the cards in the Watts trade - because he is contracted We hold the cards in the potential Hogan trade - because he is contracted We hold the cards in the Lever trade - because he is un-contracted & can go to the draft. What a beautiful position to be in for once....

Because lying is the first language of The AFL

If Hogan goes it should start with 2017 1st round and Neale. Balic and Tavener are steak knives in this deal.

I think our CEO and Board would have been briefed about the decision to trade Jack, the reasons behind that decision, and the messaging around that decision.

https://twitter.com/brey9186/status/914339530928295936

This has been the most interesting (riveting almost) debate I have read on Demonland. Strong and reasoned arguments from both camps. During Jack's career with us, I have both defended him and abused him. Currently, and having read a large proportion of the above posts, I'm just plain [censored] confused.

We should invite Jake Lever since the crows banned him from theirs..