Leaderboard

We have the following who are under 24 - Trac, Brayshaw, Lever, Harmes, ANB, Lockhart, JSmith, Hore, OMac and KK, plus Salem and Hunt have only just turned 25. So we have a pretty strong core who have all played under 100 games. At some point you need to put experience around a young core, which is what we've done after going heavy in the draft for year (up until 2016 anyway. None of those guys listed above have played over 100 games yet, but a lot are in the 70s or 80s. Clearly they've loaded up trying to win, and got us to a prelim with that strategy last year (that seems to be completely forgotten around here). While this year had been bad, getting younger players in isn't going to fix that or complement what we've had.

Are we really panicking about an opinion piece like this? Are we really back to thinking of the draft and rising star nominations as our success markers? Drop the 'young and inexperienced' mantra. We've been trying to have a crack at a flag. For too long we've always looked to the future and finally we've started to try and focus on getting actual success and getting a peak age group together rather than just being the perennial 'young talent' club. Honestly have absolutely no problem with not being the highest rated for under 23 talent by "AFL Staff Writers". It's the least of our problems at the moment.

But seriously, the club need to identify who is talking to Tom Browne and escort them off the premises immediately. Personally I think it's Oscar McDonald.

I'm not interested at the price. He's 26, is he really going to be the type of player to play consistently well after 30? Elite outside runner, best in the business. Above average but not amazing skills. Below average at the contest. 68% disposal efficiency, 5.2 contested possessions a game, 2.3 tackles. If you draft Xavier Duursma you've got 3/4's of the player already in year 1 and you've got him for 3 or 4 years at a far cheaper contract and for 10+ years if you develop him properly. Karl Amon probably gets you 80% or more of the output for the next 4 years at half the price and half the trade cost. Tom Cutler at the Lions is available for a big body and booming kick. There's got to be other options rather than paying absolute top price for a player that won't give a long term return. Either we bounce back to a good side next year or we don't with or without Hill. And yeah if we do then he might get us closer to a flag next year but if we don't make a strong bounce back then we'll be left thinking wtf did we do that for.

We definitely need more intercept defenders, and how about some more inside mids who can’t kick while we’re at it?! I certainly hope we don’t target any outside run, small forwards or key forwards that would be madness!

Pick 10 (O'Brien)and following year what ended up being pick 19 (Stocker) for Lever will be a steal for us in the years to come.

Who the F would name their kid Dinny?

These are the kind of apologist compassions I hate and are plain wrong. Viney is now in his 7th season and still hacks the ball by boot. Can’t kick for goal and is a momentum killer at clearances. Barassi already had 4 premierships at the end of his 7th season. Bravery does equate to competence and leadership.

No point having the best back 6, when the rest of the team refuse to defend...

A very enjoyable listen. Do yourself a favour and spend 15 minutes listening to this rather than trawling through all the other doom, gloom and idiocy that seems to be apparent in nearly every new topic listed.

I'm surprised by all this negativity towards NJ Is this the same Jones who sets exemplary training standards, year in, year out? Is this the same Jones who was wooed by several clubs with big coin, but stayed true to the club he loves? Is this the same Jones who was the only quality midfielder we had in the dark, dim times? I think he's earned enough social capital to be transitioned out respectfully and judiciously

Jones should hand it over and just focus on playing good footy in his twilight years. Viney should give it up, be VC instead and just work on his ability to string a coherent sentence together. Max should be captain next year.

I'm sure i'm in the minority here but i'd be considering him on an absolute basement contract one year. just because if he does get himself fit he's super talented.

Good move. If we can keep other teams to less than 5 goals, we are a good chance to win 10 -11 games. Enough to sneak into the 8 some years!

https://www.afl.com.au/news/2019-07-31/who-has-the-best-crop-of-u23s-we-rank-them-from-worst-to-best This is what happens when you basically ignore the draft for three consecutive years. The Lever debacle in particular has set us back a long way. We have no option but to hit the draft hard this year and restock the list.

Cross contaminated with something that made us fat and slow hopefully.

The coach oversees the list management and recruitment of players to 'fit' a game-plan. Goodwin's game-plan. Most obviously, the game-plan implemented and therefore the coach must take some of the blame for developing a list that either cannot execute said game-plan on a consistent basis or be flexible and creative enough to find any other way of navigating a win during a match. Now you may bring up injuries again like the rest of the peanuts that continue to only talk about the severity of our injuries, but tell me about the sort of depth we have at VFL level then and whose shoulders does that responsibility fall on if it's not up to scratch? Tell me about the trends that have developed over the last few years regarding the way we lose games and the way opposition sides so easily exploit our clear and obvious weakness areas? "so easy to score against". "don't run hard enough defensively" "too many get sucked into the contest to often" "exposed on the outside" "their fundamentals let them down" "their skill level is poor across the board" M8. Media experts and the footballing world have been talking about those issues since well before last year's prelim. Wakey wakey.

As i mentioned in the thread above, between rounds 6-11 of 2018, we were averaging a measly 62 points against per game and had a W/L record of 6-0 and Lever was playing good footy. Then in the next 3 weeks (after his ACL) we conceded 134 points against Collingwood and 117 points against St Kilda. The other game against Port was a defensive slog in which our forward line let us down. I would argue we had a cracking defence during that period just before he went down with his ACL. Having an underwhelming return to AFL I agree, but he still took 9 marks and some of them contested against the Saints.

Lever has had a very ordinary return to senior footy after an ACL layover. He wouldn't be Robinson Cruso there in terms of players coming back from an ACL. However, he was playing very good footy prior to doing his ACL last year, particularly between rounds 6-10, and I can specifically remember DL going into meltdown when news of his ACL was confirmed. Our defence went from averaging 62 points during Lever's spike in form, to a 20/20 cricket score of 134 against the Pies, the week after he went down. He was also nominated in the All Australian squad of 40 in 2017. That's a very good sign right there. I'm not fussed how he finishes the year, however we are entitled to expect a very very good 2020 from Lever considering the investment we put into him.

3 x knee recos. Pass.

It is a no brainer that if we are set with pick 2 then we head to the draft and pick up Anderson/Rowell. Absolute no brainer! While it's good to get in experience players like May and Lever, we also need to balance our list and continue to generate with elite young talent. Don't [censored] this up Mahoney/Viney!

For the best part of the year we've had Jetta, May, Hibberd, Lever out while Lewis has done other roles. Only way I understand going after Keath (hopefully not big $$$) is they will utilise May forward with TMAC. Just a thought.

This writing off Viney, as though he is a liability holding the team back, is ludicrous! He puts his body on the line in every game... part of the reason he has been struggling in recent times. Jack shows what it means to give one's all for the team, and has done so since his first game. He has played through pain, battered and bruised at times, to try and lift his teammates and this club! What short memories his detractors have! If bravery and competitive instinct are part of the good Captain's DNA, then Jack has them covered, and then some. Remember, Ronald Dale was struggling to find his place, early days under Norm Smith. It was said at the time that he simply banged the ball on his boot in careless fashion and was a danger to his teammates with his manic attack on the ball... does that sound familiar?

There was another article about 2 days ago that listed the dogs, Saints and Hawks as interested and said that Melbourne had no interest at all. There's a whole heap of guess work and made up BS from jurnos at the moment

Give him another year, we have next to no depth.

Oh Ffs, if you believe the footy department didn't review the Prelim then don't be late sending your letter to Santa.

We were cooked in the Prelim and after 15 mins were emotionally shot it happens, we weren't the first side it happened to and won't be the last and if you recall we tweaked our press mid season last year after the sides like the Hawks exposed it and whilst I understand you're trying to be a smart [censored], even the slow tempo game requires burst running and endurance for repeat efforts We don't have it

If we're offering big money to Keath we might as well just pack up shop and be done with it

Goody is too safe? The coach who: - experimented with a 4 man "diamond defense" and an 8 man back line with 4 runners into the square; - went after the best intercept defender in the comp as part of an attacking zone game plan; - was willing to trade out a troubled but star key forward for a gun lock down defender in response to 666 changes; - was willing to back in a young KPF and a rookie instead of sticking wih the safe journeyman; and - was willing to reinvent players in different positions such as Frost to the back line, TMac forward and Lewis forward; is too safe?

Yeah, nice post. Jones is a club legend. He deserves a new contract, and I hope and expect he will sign a new one.

Saw on Instagram that Maxy is a player sponsor for Corey Wagner. So he’s basically using his personal finances to sponsor a fellow player ?

And while we’re at it, can we go back to a Captain and Vice-Captain setup? Or just a Captain and no Vice or Co. Co-Captains has never made sense to me.

Martin Flanagan is a superb writer and demon tragic. I wold never mss his regular articles in the Age. Met him at Robbie Flowers service and thanked him for the brilliant story he wrote about Tulip. His writing reflects his connection with footy especially at local levels and grass roots footy all of which came through in this interview. Rob Murphy was a perfect foil for him. He finished off when they asked about the culture atMFC and he started by stating that they are the world longest established club at senior level. He likened them to a tragedy & a comedy. He thought that Barassi moving to Carlton, modernised both them and the modern game, turning it into the running game we know now. Sadly MFC has been slow to adapt. He then said the best thing MFC could do now moving forward was make Max captain and detailed why. Well worth listening to. I agree! Note Martin said Max should be club captain and that captaining the club is different to just captaining the team on match day. It is his off field presence and personality as well as his fierce desire to perform on field and ability to lift players around him. He certainly has the current co-captains covered with his media savvy and appeal to club supporters IMO

Tasmanian author and respected Sports Journalist retired a couple of years ago, used to write great articles in The Age. Embedded into the Melbourne Football club during their recent rebuild. Caught Andy Maher and Bob Murphy discussing this on SEN as I was on my way home, would love to hear the audio

Injuries aside, because all teams have injuries. It’s culture, it’s soft culture that has not been fixed. It’s a leadership issue on and off field. I firmly believe Gawn is the most visible leader we have got on a list of 42. He is working his guts out every week and not getting support from the coaches in their pig headed approach to game style. Jones and Viney not cutting the mustard with in game leadership. In a seriously underperforming team, Goodwin gives them cuddles and changes nothing. Our culture is putrid and until this is forced upon Goodwin to change the culture and leadership, the club will still be laughing stock. Get the leadership group right. We need a Hodge or Selwood type. Our mob just don’t get leadership right. That is the MFC problem.

Says Gawn should be Captain! Agree 100%

We need a strong forward and a pacy midfielder. Recruiting Keath would be stupidity of the highest order. Then again it is Melbourne.

'Pennant', whether they did or didn't is really of no consequence. What Goody said at the press conference to my mind is a metaphor for this year. That he took until half way through this season to start to address the issues shown up from that game is really the problem.

Embarrassing declaring yourself a Melbourne supporter these days. And if I was honest it has been for most of my life.

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin is so determined to see his club move on from last year’s preliminary final humiliation at the hands of eventual premiers West Coast that he hasn’t even watched the full replay. The 42-year-old former Adelaide champion has only briefly touched on the experience with his players, instead opting to focus on 2019 and the Demons’ next tilt at a drought-breaking flag. “It’s been a pretty simple one for me,” Goodwin told SEN on Tuesday. “You look at your year in total and you try to keep perspective about where you’ve come from as a footy club and where you’re going. “I certainly haven’t looked back. I’ve been more inclined to look forward. “I haven’t dealt with it with the players. I actually haven’t really watched it again.”

He isn’t in his prime anymore and he isn’t our best and only midfielder anymore. That doesn’t mean we discard him like yesterday’s trash. There is a lot to be said for showing loyalty to those who have shown it to you. It’s not just about his position in the team, it’s about team unity and loyalty and harmony. Disrespecting Jones says to the entire team “sure, be loyal and stick by us in bad times, but when the time comes we will throw you to the curb”.

Eddie will be 33 at the start of next year and have at least 312 games under his belt. Great player, great career, but time's up.

I reckon behind those two Steven May is the third best leader at the club. Jordan Lewis 4th. and then the current co captains 5 & 6 arguably. bit of a sad state really isn't it when your best leaders aren't in formal positions.

I just wish Ronald Dale could be heard before it is too late. He'd know what to say, do and expect - and could put it appropriately to those ears that have consistently failed the Members and supporters.

He'd offer more to us running around with half a calf than most of our list at the minute. He hits targets and kicks goals. I'd absolutely throw him a 1 year contract.

Isn't there some kind of secret code about ruckmen? Same as 'never hand-ball to a ruckman running past' - 'never let a ruckman be captain'. I'm just being silly of course, but it doesn't happen often. It would be interesting to see how Gawn responds, because at the moment he's got all the fun and the candour that you want from a champion, and I wonder if having the role as a formal representative of the club might actually limit that a bit? What are the key things you'd look for from a captain these days? - Consistent good form and effort on field, and in training. - Visible and memorable media presence and positive relationship with fans. - Makes teammates feel more confident about themselves and their place in the club. - Helps teammates understand their role and responsibilites as professional footballers. - Communicates effectively as a representative of the players to coaches and club. I'd generally say Gawn meets all of these, though some are insider details we can only guess at. Viney and McDonald might have met all these criteria except they've had such poor individual years, for various reasons.

Hey guys, can pretty much confirm there's not much substance to this. The club would look at it for the right price (contract and trade wise), but at this stage this all at the doings of his manager who is trying to ramp up negotiations for his client. Not surprising Tom Morris is involved given the tone of his articles about the club since being basically shunned. Obviously I'm a random on the internet so take it as you will, but that info was passed on to me by someone who has got much right in the past. Cheers!

He will be 28 at the beginning of next year. Ha, ha - the club must think we are in premiership mode!!. We would only chase another tall defender if they were concerned about Lever long term which I doubt. The article talks about May going forward so maybe they are concerned about TMac's foot. If we want a fwd I we should go after a genuine forward rather than turn a key defender into a forward. Adelaide will want our first round pick and they know we will cave in. Walk away.