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Came to us when we were a rabble and nobody wanted us. Thanks for your services Bernie, wise decision also. Got the most out of himself.

I don't warm to imports like I do "our own" but Bernie for some reason is so different. He came to us when we were on our knees in Roos first year and he gave his all. He won a B&F and was skilled and competitive on the field. He also has a wonderful generosity of spirit I think and a genuine love of life and fun. In the end he seems to have a wonderful sense of perspective in his life. It's time I know but I'll be very sad to see him go and wish him well in whatever he does from here on in. Many thanks Bernie, I think your football skill may have been underestimated but not your character. Cheers and good luck.

Will never forget the game against Adelaide at Adelaide Oval when he smashed Dangerfield into submission. Was a monumental win for the club, a turning point almost. Also his shirt front on Dale Thomas against Carlton this season was beautiful. All the best Bernie, you will be missed.

Before Hogan was injured he took 24 contested marks and McDonald took 28. Since Hogan has been out of the team, McDonald hasn’t taken any, while Weideman has taken 6. It’s funny what happens when you have to play on the number 1 key defender each week.

Together we can rule the galaxy! @Demonland

On ya Bernie! Good to hear the club will offer him a potential off field role next year as they're keen on having him stick around the club.

I think it’s great Demonlanders are assisting other Demonlanders with gaining tickets to the final.

Wasn’t here at our lowest ebb and won’t be here when we peak, but was here to help us build the bridge in between, every step of the way. Roos goes out of his way to give credit to Vince for his role in turning the ship around. I’ve loved his time here, particularly his tough brand, long kicking and high standards. I’m sad he has to go without playing any finals for the MFC, but the time is clearly right. I’m thrilled he could limp over the 100 game mark - life membership is a fitting capstone to his time here. All the best Bernie.

Bless your cotton socks Bernie, you absolute legend! Thank you for picking us, when picking us was a hard choice. Thank you for giving it your all, for your leadership and guidance, for your dedication and hard work, and for being selfless in your pursuit to make us a better club. Also thank you for all the times you destroyed Dangerfield.

Thanks Bernie. I hope you get to play one more game. Forever welcome at the MFC. You helped repair pride and respect into a club that was very badly battered and bruised Thanks ?

100 games, club best and fairest and one of those guys who are invaluable around the club when things aren’t going your way. Good on you Bernie.

I was having this discussion yesterday. I really rate what Weideman can become, but also like what McDonald offers as the second banana. And unlike some I'm a Jesse fan and he's 3 years from his peak years. I can't see the three of them working well in the same forward half. But I could be wrong. I'll be fascinated to see what Goodwin comes up with in 2019.

Brilliant. Gawn won’t be able to carry this huge work load every year and stay on the park. This would be a good get, and Max has been a fan of his.

What a legend, it's a massive shame that he didn't get to play finals for us. Some of his performances were as good as any Melbourne player in the last 30 years. I'll always remember his goal from 50, on his left against Geelong in 2015.

Looking at the stats of McDonald when Hogan is playing vs not playing: McDonald’s scoring shots have gone down, his disposals have gone down, his contested disposals have fallen dramatically (7 down to 2.5), has not taken any contested marks, taken less marks inside 50, kicked the ball inside 50 less, etc. His stats have fallen off dramatically since he’s had to play on the opposition’s best defender. Conversely, Weideman’s stats have improved. In fact, they are better than McDonald’s. Weid, the last 2 games, has averaged more disposals than Tom in 2018, more contested marks than Tom in 2018, and more contested possessions than Tom in 2018. Perhaps the question shouldn’t be “Hogan + McDonald vs McDonald + Weideman” but rather “Hogan + McDonald vs Hogan + Weideman”. ?‍♂️

This would be a very smart move by MFC and needed. I believe both Preuss and Gawn can play in the same side most definitely! I think having both throws a spanner ? in the works for oppositions too match up on. We can’t drive big Max into the ground... Preuss is a big man who can throw his weight around and soften the opposition with making an impact. He can ruck and play forward. A Massive YES from me...

Harmesy very stiff.

Why would Freo offer him 7 x $1.5mill when you think he's worth less than half that at Melbourne? You can't pretend he's a superstar at one club and an average player at the other. There's 31 pages of drivel in this thread, and only a handful of posters who really understand the substantive issue, which is how - and if - we can accommodate the 3 KPFs. Trading Hogan to resolve that issue, if it is one, is a fair way down the track right now. At this stage, I'm with @binman and think it can work, especially on the bigger grounds.

One of my favourite ever Demons. I love Bernie. My 5 year old son will be devastated. He loves Bernie too. Not quite sure how I'm going to break this news to him.

I think he was shattered at first when he got wind of the deal to offload him by the Crows five seasons ago, but he quickly got over his disappointment at moving states (hanging out with a social livewire in Wattsy helped) and turned the move into a positive that has extended to his new real estate career. He also has been humble enough to still cop demotion to the backline and then demotion from the team and kept smiling through it all. Rapt that he got to play 100 games for us and also won a best-and-fairest. Let's hope we make it to the prelim so that he can go out with a flag for Casey. Good with media, good with fans and a good bloke.

Especially if you’re the most junior, and coincidentally out of contract player and you’re well aware of your current place in the pecking order. I’ve seen both Weideman and Frost give interviews where they’ve said, to paraphrase, it’s a real shame x senior player went down, but thank f he did because otherwise I’d have to settle for a VFL flag tilt. I doubt either player would be that interested in the prospect of doing that next year when they’ve now demonstrated they can do it at the top.

I think Gawn referred to him as his favoured opposition player during the preseason... after he dumped TMac in AFLX: “My favourite opposition player against my least favourite teammate...”

This is possibly the biggest load of rubbish I have read on Demonland. Not so much the message (which is near on indecipherable) but the actual collection of words in the screen. I assume you are attempting to say that because Jesse hasn't been traded to WA yet it means that he can still get traded WA, and the way to fix that is to trade him to WA. It's like the People's Front of Judea, if they were all high.

Bernie filled a gaping leadership and experience hole in our team at a critical time. He gave his everything to our Club, and played an important part in 'turning the ship around'. Hats off to him. He could easily have taken his pay and just cruised through a few seasons on talent and reputation alone, but he chose not to do that. He should be very proud of his contribution.

A true demon. Bucked the trend when other clubs senior players wouldn't come and play for us. Bernie got his marching orders from radelaide and became a very important player for us. He will he missed! Now send him out to stud and sign his kids up in 18 years.

If I'm Sam Weideman and I'm being told we want to keep you as insurance for injuries then of course I'd be seeking opportunities elsewhere. I'd be wanting to know how the club sees me fitting in to the best 22 in my 4th year. I'd want assurances. Obviously there are no guarantees and selection is subject to form, but I'd want the vision to be clear.

I’m also hopeful that Billy Stretch will have a Harmes-like renaissance. The signs were promising prior to his injury.

Actually the original post declared that we should trade him for 2 first rounders. But the thread shouldn’t be closed just because it’s a stupid thread. It should be left open as a shrine to the dim wittery of many football supporters. Trading the best young key forward in the game for draft picks when we are about to push towards a flag ..... that is just stupid. Free speech allows you to say many things. But once your view is out there then it can be derided by anyone. Trading Hogan for draft picks is an opinion worthy of derision.

I thought I knew what this thread was about but just be certain I went back to the start. The person who started the thread asked should we trade Hogan. it was not Hogan wants to go to Freo. or the FD don't want him as well as numerous other side distractions of people bagging each other. The thread is legitimate it asks a question to which most people have given their view. To say that the thread should be shut because you don't agree or that Hogan has said he loves the place and wants to be at the Dees when we lift the cup is IMO ridiculous . There are numerous threads on Demonland, some of which I have no interest in or I think are silly. I don't go onto them demanding they be shut. There is a simple solution if you don't like a thread don't go on.

Shane Edwards LOL Franklin in the team cos of his name.... and they gave him the captaincy. Geez. And Tom Hawkins didnt make it.... I bet hes crying. But not as much as he will be crying after Frost destroys him in the Elimination final.

I don’t think we should underestimate the value to an AFL side going through a finals series to have your State League team playing in September as well. The last three AFL premiers have had their VFL counterparts play off in Grand Finals:- • 2015 Hawthorn – Box Hill (runners up); • 2016 Western Bulldogs – Footscray (premiers); and • 2017 Richmond – Richmond VFL (runners up). The Casey Demons have had a superb season making it to a home qualifying final but they have been struggling with the loss of players to injury/retirement/holding players over. Last week against Williamstown they had 9 AFL listed players which left them badly exposed for lack of depth and this was reflected in the way their they lost their composure and were overrun by the Seagulls. Casey are fortunate to have some very good VFL-listed players but the last three or four players selected for the team have been playing suburban or country football for most of the year and it’s tough for them to come up against a combination that’s been playing together all year. This week they get Tom Bugg back plus Jayden Hunt and Joel Smith returning from injury. Mitch Hannan is an outside chance to play this week but the club has ruled out Jack Viney. That would give them 12 MFC players which is the bare minimum. Players like the skipper Jack Hutchins, Jay Lockhart, Corey Wagner, Mitch Gent, Jimmy Munro, Angus Scott and some up and comers like Cory Machaya and Cory Stockdale should see them through this week. If they can win this week, they go to a preliminary final and hopefully, by that time they might have a few more players back from injury.

One of my favourite ever recruits. Came here, embraced the club and played his best year winning the B&F. Just what we needed at the right time. And one of the few characters left in the game.

Adelaide 65 Port 58 Richmond 56 GWS 55 Syd and Geel 54 And so on... edit: oh and we won 49 last year (8th)

and the only team to average 100 points or more for the season (104) what a turnaround from last year when % kept us out of finals

2 down 1 to go

Then don't discuss it! Next people will be saying close demonland because we don't like what is said on it. If we want to talk about a subject and we do so respectfully and within the sites rules who are you to rain on the parade?

Heres a couple of questions to the outraged on here: Who thinks that Taylor, Mahoney and Todd Viney haven't weighed up Hogan's market value and looked at scenarios should he want to move clubs, or for that matter if other clubs make big offers? If you think they have, why can't it also be discussed respectfully here?

Yep, that’s what I wanted to do. I wanted to ‘deprive’ a fellow member just to be selfish. Word of advice. Sometimes it’s better not to say anything when you don’t know the full story. It makes you look a little silly.

Will always love Bernie. Someone uploaded this years back but I've always loved it and, to me, sums up how quickly he fell in love with the club.

Think you are under by at least $300k a year.

I was a little critical when he came to the club. Loved him as a player at Crows, but didn't think he would be there when we play finals. Very shortsighted on my part, as he's been one of the big difference makers. Him, Lewis, Cross and other mature agers have had a huge impact on what we all see as a great list build. Well done Bernie, enjoy a well-earned rest, and well done MFC for a great recruitment.

I can absolutely see the dees playing Weed, T Mac and Hogan together in the forward line and fully expect, if all 3 are fit, to see them line up in the forward line round 1 next year. I think they have shown their hand this year. I understand why some might query the wisdom of 3 bigs up forward, particularly with small forward lines being all the rage atm, as i don't think there are many examples of it working but TMac and Hogan are such aerobic beasts that they can get around the ground, offering down the line options, and Weed can play as the classic full forward leading from the square. With Weed and Tmac also providing great chop out duties for Max there would be big chunks of the game where only two of them would actually be in the forward line at the same time. Hogan for me is the CHF, Weed full forward and Tmac the third tall. Huge nightmare for defensive units and opposition coaches as not only do you need height and strength you need players with motors to match Tmac and Hogan. Throw in a team that gets huge inside 50 numbers and hopefully improved delivery of the ball into the forward line and you have a huge offensive weapon. Bring. It. On.

One thing we know is that players get injuries. I think all of Tom, Jesse and Sam missed games this year. I would rather have 3 good key forwards than 2. One can always play in another position if need be.

A little part of me wanted Oliver to miss out on the final 22 just so I could watch picket blow a phoofa valve.

I wish we drafted Parish.

The seeds are there because people decide they are there. Clearly the bloke loves being at the club and loves living in Melbourne. The seeds are planted by those who need something to write about. Outside of signing another deal, what else does he need to do? This 'anything is possible' stuff to justify you continuing to waffle on about it is rubbish. If anything is possible, then why not start a thread on every player leaving because, you know, anything is possible. It's tripe.

I was at the Dee's last finals game, back in 2006 at Subiaco Oval. That day we only had around 2,000 supporter at the game. The Shockers had around 40,000 of their supporters there. My father was a member of the Shockers up until his passing around 10 years ago. I still has fond memories of singing our theme song to him over the phone every time the Dees beat the Shockers. That is until the time when he would no longer speak to me after our games. 2006 was my first and only AFL finals game that I have see live and the last time my wife went with me to a football match. I also think it was the first finals match the Shockers had won. My best memery of the games was singing our theme song when the Dees ran on to the ground. The lady in front of me had to put her fingers in her ears, so I just had too sing louder. I love our theme song, and its even better when it annoys the opposition. I assume most of you guys and gals (not a 100% sure what Old Bitter is because of his avatar) will be attending our next finals game? Well give them a rowdy version of The Grand Old Flag for me if you are there at the game. GO THE DEES!

No more skateboarding to the ground on game day?

Lewis may not be tossing the coin over the next week(s) but he will be leading from the front. We know he sent player emaisl after WCE win to say: 'we play to win finals, not just to make the finals'. Then it was reported that players asked coaches and staff to leave the meeting room after the GWS win. Unsurprisingly it was Lewis who drove that. Michael Hibberd today said: '...(Lewis)... is a good guy to ask about the situation we’re in. He spoke to us in the rooms about the week coming up, [telling us] to prepare well.” I've also heard Viney, Oliver and Gawn say something like he is the one they are turn to and are listening to. When he says something seriously, players know to take it seriously. Lewis is fast-tracking their finals experience and development that may otherwise have taken several years to learn/experience. It would be more trial and error than a clear road map on what to do. We might just get to the big dance earlier than many expect!!. What a great right-hand man for Goodwin particularly in September. And role model for players.