Leaderboard

Watts had his only decent finish in the Melbourne B&F in 2016, coming 5th. His speech was embarrassing "I'm usually down there drinking free [censored], I should try harder" to paraphrase. Comes back for the start of 2017 and is promptly dropped from the JLT games due to skin folds/attitude/work rate - take your pick. At season end Goodwin says 'get rid of this bloke'. Finishes his first year at Port in 21st place in their B & F. Lurid text messages are posted late in 2018 and now this stupid video. He has talent but no desire. It's pretty common. Those here that were railing against Watts going (@bobby_mackenzie etc) look pretty stupid now. Watts is a waste of space as a footballer. A ripping bloke from all reports but frankly who cares. I am glad the Dees made the hard call. It was always the right thing to do.

Being on the other side of the ditch I welcome any and all information whether it be a fluff piece from the club or an in depth training report from sites like this. I don't think people should complain about having too much information. I'll take anything I can get. There is no over -saturation when it comes to the Demons for me. If you don't want info don't click. Who doesn't want to read about Salem's Barber Shop? http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2019-02-05/salems-barber-shop

Just damning. Manage a bunch of pre-season goals and 14 votes in your first home & away game at a new club. Poll three votes in your next eight matches. Keep getting picked. I actually have a new-found respect for Watts. Dude has carved out a well-paid career with the minimum of effort to support his true loves of swimming & breasts. Came at the expense of passionate club supporters but that's his prerogative. It's the coaches who he's managed to con along the way - including Roos, 'I just want to be treated like a human being' - who the fans should be annoyed with. Goodwin is a godsend.

We all have opinions, make judgment calls, predict outcomes, sometimes we are close and sometimes way off. Most of us put our faith in the club to become successful again, discussion is encouraged based on decisions along the way, but there’s no need to try and make people look silly for wanting the club to keep Watts. Some that are now applauding Goodwin for trading Watts said he had no clue and couldnt coach only 9 months ago.

Absolute rubbish

Consolation prize for you @Gorgoroth You're the winner of the post season tipping comp! Well played and good tipping. I'll post up the overall tallies sometime in the next day or so. 2nd goes to @Go the Biff & 3rd place goes to @DeeSpencer Well played gentlemen. Bad luck about the big one Gorg but Belichick, Brady & the Pats were just too good in a fairly forgettable game all round. We kept waiting for something to happen but the only real highlight was the Brady throw to Gronk. That play proved to be the most decisive play as well. Anyway, thanks to all for your participation. Final Tally - Post-Season Tipping Comp 12 - Gorgoroth 11 - Go the Biff 10 - DeeSpencer 9 - Dappa Dan 7 - JV7 6 - Clintosaurus, DemonDave 5 - Dee Zephyr, Macca

Agreed. In regard to debate around Watts or any other footy decision, its always seems clearer with hindsight. There are always going to be people who want to massage their egos by saying ""I told you so." However, I suspect that the Watts decision was a long time coming. Internally there would have been those who would have made the call earlier and those that would have waited, but Goodwin and McCartney called time. The bar is closed ! However, 12 months down the track, it is clear that the right decision was made and the supporters including the doubters like me can now see why. I have more time for the people that can say, i got it wrong, than those saying I told you so and who now get some sort of kick by jumping all over those that were opposed to the trade. There is no single person that is always right. People may think they are right based on their own beliefs, reasoning and evaluation. But most of the time we get it wrong even if we deny that we are wrong. Most decisions are a compromise of what we call reason and emotion. Particularly, when we talk sport. The discussions on this site are testament to this fact. However, we think that we are blessed with the wisdom of Solomon or blessed with greater perspicuity than others. Difference of opinion is healthy and to be encouraged. No-one would post on this site if we all blindly followed or agreed with the club or coach on all things. I hope we have a club that can accommodate people with a range of different views. Much better than a bunch of yes men or conformists. Let the mayhem on this site continue but that we deal with difference by accepting we can all be wrong and with a dose of humour and a good chuckle.

I've got no problem with players letting their hair down in the off season. Jack showed poor judgement in letting himself be filmed. I was gutted when he was let go but I feel that the club has been vindicated considering the things that have come to light since.

Not laying all the blame at the feet of Daniher, because it's the responsibility of all the club leadership to create and foster the right kind of culture, but I'm not so sure all was well on his watch, when you look at the problems and behaviours of guys like Ward and Schwarz during his time. These guys are grown men, not boys and there becomes a point where the senior players need to accept responsibility for their own behaviors and the impact that has on team culture and I think that is the worst aspect of Watts behavior. Not saying that breaking serious mental addictions to things like gambling or drugs is easy either BTW. I agree with both sides of this in a way. Viewed in isolation, this event from Watts is pretty harmless, but in things he context of his apparent history of parry boy behavior, it becomes more corrosive to team culture and an off feild distraction I'm sure both Watts himself and Port could have done without. He had a great chance to make a clean break from all things he his kind of stuff with Port, moving to a new club and new city away from his former social group and had a good opertunity to knuckle down, get serious and salvage a few good years at the end of what will otherwise be viewed as a fairly mediocre playing career, but appears to be whittling away the opportunity. A bit sad really.

Yeah, we get its legal and consentual, yadda, yadda, yadda What's "fun" to you might be perceived by others as degrading, irresponsible and lacking maturity. Each to their own Whether he and we like it or not, kids look up to 'stars' like Jack. [censored] loads of no 4 jumpers were sold when he was a Demon, he rode the attention. And to his credit Jack did a lot of hospital visits, clinics, etc, which sits uncomfortably in contrast to this clip. Not forgetting his less defendable SM clips from the past that thankfully haven't made it onto this forum He's a dumb culture killer with the brain of a 14 year old boy. What a waste of ability. Glad he's no longer our problem

Put your money where your mouth is chap and link me those posts you’re so willing to accuse me of. As rjay has mentioned, I too fail to see where or how I’ve been implicated in this diatribe defence you’ve dreamt up for Burgo... I reckon I’ll hear crickets chirping before you get a reply back to me. Ed: And furthermore, I would like to hope the site admin deal with an accusation of making “derogatory comments” appropriately when you come up empty handed.

The biggest problem I have with this incident is the media calling Watts an AFL Star.

Happy with the trade. Jack is an idiot for filming what he did. BUT he has done nothing wrong, during his own holiday time sniffing Menthol, sugar and Glucose is a harmless past time. The media feed on this rubbish today and it is a sad. Nothing wrong with having fun

When I used to live in Queensland, the only way I would get any information about the Demons is either this website, or the club website. Burgs did a tremendous job at putting enough content up for me to get my weekly fix. Demonland is/was a great way to communicate with fellow Demons. Burgs was clearly passionate about the Demons - you could sense his excitement after a win, and his disappointment when we lost. You could tell he was, in some ways, living his dream of being involved in the Melbourne Football Club from an employment perspective. Even though I now live back in Victoria, I still don't have the luxury of attending training sessions, etc during the week, so I'm again relying on the Club website and Demonland. What I can say though is that my 4yo son, who is starting to become obsessed with all things Melbourne, especially one M Gawn, I love showing him footage and/or photos on the MFC app/website of the players. I much prefer him, at that age, to get his own little Gawny fix from the Club website than an internet chat room. Personally, I think the preseason communications from the club has deteriorated. I'm not going to slit my wrists over it, and the Club isn't going to lose my young bloke as a member, but it is definitely an area that I would love to see improved, as I enjoy the bit of quality time I get to spend with my son when we are watching videos or looking at photos of the players.

The Demonland Podcast will make it's long awaited return on Tuesday 12/2 @ 8:30pm Join @Grapeviney, @Supermercado & I as we wrap up the pre-season, reveal who has impressed us the most, preview AFLX & JLT, award the Demonbracket winner and everything else that's happened since the Preliminary Final. Listen & Chat LIVE: http://demonland.com/podcast Call: 03 9016 3666 Skype: Demonland31

I wouldn't be surprised if both pulled out. TMac - Toe May - Hamstring tightness Well, I guess I can live in hope.

If my memory isn't completely stuffed I believe I envisaged a similar result against the same opponent in the first round some seasons back. Virtually the opposite thing happened. Let's not hatchet our Counts before they turn chicken.

B: Jetta O. MacDonald Hore The best lockdown small defender in the leaghue, plus Oscar, who's traditionally played FB on the opposition's best tall. He should be better again after another preseason. Hore is a very good reader of the play and intercept mark. He takes Lever's role. HB: Hunt May Hibberd Having recently read an article on Salem and the measures he's going to to improve and have more midfield minutes means I'll slot him onto a wing and put a rejuvenated Hunt back to half-back. This line is as quick as it gets in the league. May is super fast for Dees supporters who may not be aware. C Salem Viney Brayshaw The silky Salem may just go to another level in 2019. Hopefully Viney can play 20 games in the H&A. And the all-round skills of Brayshaw should keep getting better. R: Gawn Oliver Harmes The best ruckman in the league, the best young midfielder in the league, and the best tagger in the league. HF: Petracca Weideman Neal-Bullen I didn't think Petracca was ready last year to elevate his game, but do this year. Just a hunch. I unashamedly (along with some others) think Weideman will be a star of the MFC. He'll improve again in 2019. Neal-Bullen is in the top 10 pressure forward/mids in the game, plus he hits the scoreboard. F: Melksham T. McDonald Spargo Melksham is the best user inside 50 in the game and great in a one-v-one contest. What can you say about Plugger McDonald ? A revelation, who's kicked 76 goals in his last 31 games. One of the best key forwards now in the game. And young Spargo is smart and tough, but will have to work hard to keep his position. I/C: Jones Fritsch vandenBerg Kolodjashnij This bench is about as good as it gets (so are the emergencies). I look forward to see Fitsch and Kolodjashnij rotate through the wings and half-back with Salem, while it's great that vandenBerg gets a shot at being injury free for a whole season. Jones may have to reinvent himself again. Let's hope he can. E: Lewis Hannan Frost Stretch Lewis may start round one, but the pressure is mounting even if he makes it out against Port. Hannan will play plenty of games. He just needs to get more touches. Frost is great back-up and may take the Hore or even Oscar role, but he doesn't quite make my team. Let's hope Stretch can show his worth. He's definitely handy depth at worst. And there's still Garlett, Preuss, Joel Smith, Sparrow, Baker and plenty of others who'll stake their claim. What I'm most excited about is the names that are starting to rotate through this midfield. Gawn, Oliver, Brayshaw, Viney, Harmes, Salem, Petracca, Fritsch, and Kolodjashnij. Plus Jones and vandenBerg. It's about as exciting as it gets. No wonder Tyson got on his bike. Lever will only make this line-up stronger. And I really hope Hunt can also improve and be a player that can make a real difference. I think the coaching group have him firmly in their plans. Naturally, teams are subject to change post JLT 2.

My God underselling your powers, I am shocked This is Demonland, there are posters on here who know so much more than the coaches we have, the coaches make sure they read Demonland to ensure they don't let their inadequacies fail the team

I fail to see how my post influences the performance of the team.

It makes no sense what so ever to be announcing a major sponsor with no season proper games lined up for another 7 weeks. It will be a similar unveiling of a major sponsor as like last year, the infinity sponsorship was well conducted at the right possible moment to maximize exposure of The MFC and Company.

Yes , I want the Pal Dog Food logo emblazoned across the front of the guernsey. And Mustaffa's Shawarma emporium symbol across the back.

And the irony is that many here are calling for the club to recruit some outside run. Previously we've recruited that way (Morton, Toumpas etc) but it's definitely a case of buyer-beware. Again, we draft them out of high school which therefore means there are no guarantees.

Totally agreed, there is a pick and choose attitude as to who gets news coverage. 24 Hour Sports Radio has certainly ramped up the hysteria. They have to fill a lot of hours. Jack was a fool to check whether his mate was rolling the camera, with President Koche to deal with, but that is his own problem. Garry Lyon riding his high horse was very humorous!!

Ha ha! Oliver attacks the ball with a manic desire yet rarely, if ever, gets crunched. There is a lot more to footy other than an ability to kick the ball well to position. In Watts' defence he does have gteat vision ... A grade vision. But you've got to have many other prerequisites to be a topliner.

If I was a new sponsor, I would be telling the club to wait until prime time before announcing it for maximum media coverage. Not sure when that is but it isn’t December or January, and probably not February.

We draft these blokes at an age where we really don't how they are going to turn as footballers or indeed how they are going to turn out as people. The trouble is that we're fed information such as "He's going to be a star" or "He comes from a good family" etc etc and because we want to believe all that we tend to believe all that. There are others (myself included) who prefer a wait-and-see approach which takes away all unrealistic expectations and the angst that can often go with those unrealistic expectations not being met. I often see people lashing out with their anger over the outcomes of drafting as if somehow the future is written in stone. Therefore, I'm neither disappointed with Watts nor am I pleased with the outcome. But that's just me, others can please themselves.

Bad look for footy Jack, yes I know it was legal but it reminds me of Sam Mitchell and the mock injection. It was a bad look but not illegal. The AFL works hard to protect the code, they are often incompetent buffoons but they consistently claim to be about protecting the game. Jack would be wise to protect his own image / reputation, one day he won't be on an AFL list.

Good stuff. We need to embrace our ex players, and make them the best they can be...

Each to their own yes. But it is a huge media beat up, which ever way you look at it Early posts on here said it was “career threatening” That was a good laugh maybe a few more keyboard warriors should go over to Oktoberfest and actually have some fun i highly recommend it with a few mates

I sort of feel the same way about the WC final last year. It wasn't like we were close. We weren't ever gonna be I don't think. I remember when Brady had it last year just before the Graham strip sack, I felt we were gonna lose. You know when it dawns on you when you're behind in a game and you know it's not possible to get it back. Had things turned out differently last year I'd have been shattered to be so close and watch Brady steal it again. So I think you're right... this wasn't the Ram's year. Actually. Had things turned out differently we'd be reading about a Pats threepeat. Thank god for dem Eagles, and Nicky Franchise.

A small comment on one of our major sponsors. Lexus sold more cars in Jan. 2019 than Infiniti sold for all of 2018. It seems the Dees have the job in front of them getting Infiniti up in 2019.

i don't think many posters are actually offended as such, poita. those being critical are more on the basis of jack being stupid or a dh and getting a rep as a just a party boy who parties harder than he plays football, plus the bad publicity he attracts which potentially affects his family, his club, his club supporters, plus all those kids that idolise him. yes he is (has?) been a role model for kids, and yes jack has always been great with kids and charities giving his time generously and genuinely there is a lot to like about jack as a person but he's only harming that image and people disappointed with his football to date are concerned about his priorities

That Jayden hey. He's a ripper.

Matthew Kreuzer sits comfortably with Watts on level of output achieved in careers thus far (and that's sfa). Kreuzer has an excuse though, he's been injured for a majority of them, but he is not a great warhorse, more like a broken down horse (if he is a great warhorse, then that makes me Phar Lap). But to say that Watt's is so far behind the likes of Kreuzer, Swallow, Patton and even Boyd (he played his best footy on the biggest stage, but he did sfa before or since) is a little far-fetched. And let's not forget Paddy McCartin, who has probably done less at the same stage of his career, nor has Weitering been any decent yet either. Malcolm is just continuing to be Malcolm.............clueless. p.s. i have never been a huge Watts' fan and think Goody was right in trading him out, but the cr@p that Blight has dribbled represents the knowledge of an imbecile

GOT Pick 6 and Pick 23 — GAVE AWAY Jesse Hogan and Pick 65 GOT Steven May and Kade Kolodjashnij — GAVE AWAY Pick 6 27. Melbourne - Thomas Sparrow, midfielder (South Adelaide) which was pick 23 before a downgrade. Therefore May, KK and Sparrow for Jesse and 65. All 3 could be in our best 22 some time this year.

I have heard these statements via media and associates several times: Jeff said: '... Kobe will be a Demon and nothing else...', and '...Melbourne is still my heart and soul...'. We have to find a way to sponsor Kobe right now as a family member of the MFC tribe, his education, his development - all for sentimental reasons related to one of our greatest players.

The day I start judging players on Brownlow votes I'll give the game away. Jetta has none from 141 games. Kreuzer has often been cruelled by injury during his career, which hasn't helped him, however, I prefer to judge players using the good old-fashioned eye test. Kreuzer is a heart and soul type player, who at his best made the AA squad of 40 and earnt the respect of his teammates, while Watts is a pea-heart who jumps for a mark in a pack (only when he couldn't avoid it) with his eyes closed and one arm in the air hoping body contact wouldn't be too severe. In Kreuzer's best year he averaged 105 AFL ranking points. Watts never hit 80 in his best year. For a laugh have a look at his 2018 year. He came 20th in the B&F having played 19 games. In 4 of 5 games, where 20 or 21 out of 22 players received votes, he missed out. More amusing he just pipped Hamish Hartlett, who finished 21st, by 4 votes. Hartlett played the grand total of 5 games. ? The bloke is a total ar$e-clown and you do Kreuzer a disservice to even compare him to a Jack "I get over losing pretty quickly" Watts.

I know we have a 24 hour news cycle and way too many wannabe journalists trying to eke out a living, but this obsession that society has with being offended by every little thing that is said and done by consenting adults in private simply astounds me. Jack is a silly boy for letting himself be filmed but beyond that, who cares? He is enjoying himself, in the off season, out of the country and no laws have been broken. Port are entitled to be disgruntled about the impact on their image, but Koch is the last person who can complain about having private acts splashed across the media - he has made a career out of doing it to others. Yes, Jack is a supremely talented footballer who may look back on his career as a waste, but that is his cross to bear. He has been paid extremely well to do something he enjoys for over a decade, has lived a life that most of us can only dream of, and has plenty of options post-football. Good luck to him.

I'm not a prude but legal substance and willing participant aside it's not a great look. I wouldn't be thrilled if it was one of the wholesome players on our list.

Go for your life, but it doesn't address the issue at hand and I don't see where I've bemoaned Burgo's being gone either. The spin is you are picking and choosing bits & pieces of posters and making up the mythical poster. A lot on here would like to see a bit more from the club. Is there really anything wrong with that?

Port in 2013 to 2014 were in a similar situation to us now. A brilliant season in 2014 getting to the prelim with a very young list and a 5 year premiership window. Then Hinkley decided to be a big softy and let that %$^* Kane Cornes play games at the start of 2015 just to get to 300 and Port has been [censored] ever since, including 2015. So Watts is just a sign of the ongoing cultural problems at Port. Just shows never take stuff for granted, including where we are now. It can unravel easily through bad player management. We seem to have the right people in place not to let that happen though.

Yeah I miss Burgo’s camp diaries, they were a highlight off the offseason. Interestingly Pert was behind the Pies ramping up their media department. I thought he’d be quick to do the same here, but it might show how the focus is still on investing cash elsewhere. Maybe we need to consult with Tommy Bugg on how to up our influence!

I largely agree with this. Boyd is rubbish, Patton has done nothing, and McCartin has done less than 'tip toes'. I disagree re Kreuzer. While he is a battler, he's at least had a top 3 B&F finish and made the AA squad of 40. He's demonstrably been better than Watts. More importantly, he has courage in the air.

Boonie never took the money and ran... He was always a Pro onfield, with extraordinary commitment and determination to the team, the game, and to his country. Boonie simply would never take a short step in his chosen game. He earned every single beer he wanted, and still had credits in his account. the key words are commitment, determination to the cause, and an honesty in his onfield actions few show. jw, would be the equivalent of his boot licker, at best.

And was said to be leading others, astray.... now... who were his besties. back then. ??? I reckon he's making money out of the attention... in some fashion.

Imagine if David Boon had drunk his 37 cans en route to England ??????? in 2019. He would be hounded to the point of death! when Boonie actually did it in the 80’s he was lauded for it. It was fun.....

Not really. Too old. You would think after what emerged about his recent behaviour that he would not put himself in the position to have an image like this come out. He’s a moron.