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Couple' things. As of this morning, I'm a changed person. I wish to apologise for playing the antagonist on this forum for too long now and will make a conscious effort to either ignore those whom I disagree with or engage with them in a less emotionally-fuelled way. I'll also refrain from using the term 'happy-go-luckies' as much as I enjoy using it. I have more warning points than 'deeluded' has posts now. Sometimes it's easy to forget that we're all supporters of the MFC but with a range of layers that individualise us from each other. The forum is great, it's an escape, informative, provides comedic relief and triggers my annoyances. Thank you and much appreciation to the creators of demonland. With that out of the way, I'd like to lay bare what is in my view the most important off-season I will have witnessed. I understand that sounds rather dramatic and the 'happy-go lu.....' *jokes*. Yes, it's dramatic. But let's think about the state of the club for a minute or two. Let's think about what we've been through since 2007 right up until last year. (2018). * Failed coaches, failed admin, an inability to develop, nurture and pick the right talent, a complete disconnect to the supporter base and no finals. What was/is the result of those failings that we still see today? * A missed generation of supporters, financial troubles, still no real home base, extremely poor and questionable leadership due to a lack of players who have come through the club together which has contributed to the absence of any club culture and has had an extremely negative effect on the 'psyche' of the club the individuals come through the doors. The last point is particularly interesting. Club psyche or belief. This morning, I was listening to SEN with Whately talking to Buckley about 'belief'. About the fact that when Buckley was playing at Collingwood, the list developed a real appetite and positive winning record when playing interstate over a period of time. That then filtered throughout the AFL world and became something that everyone knew, including young draftees that were picked up by Collingwood. It was already embedded in their psyche. The belief that Collingwood 'travelled well'. In a competition whereby the smallest of margins can give a side an advantage, it got me thinking about the MFC. I started thinking about the very real effect our failings have had on the psyche of every young player that has walked through the doors since 2007. It is clear to me that someone like Petracca, Watts or Hogan would have had vastly different experiences had they walked into a big and successful club like Collingwood from the day they were drafted. Experiences that have a profound effect on the psyche and belief of one's self that can absolutely influence whether or not a player can realise their potential. Is it any wonder why a club like Collingwood have continually churned out genuine stars and match winners over the last decade? I think of Jordan De Goey, (a player who went at number 5 in the same draft as Petracca and Brayshaw). More recently, players like Oliver have been relatively unaffected by the feeling of failure that clouded the club for so long and has been able to forge his own path. Gawn similarly has been able to overcome what I used to label 'MFC conditioning'. Every individual is different and has a different make-up and will therefore be influenced more or less by what the outside world is saying. (Outside world being the club our AFL world). The point I'm trying to make here is that part of the unprecedented drop to 17th on the ladder this year has to be in part attributed to what I'm talking about. A very real feeling and belief of Melbourne doing 'Melbourne things'. The "veil of negativity" as Paul Roos would say. You could feel it on the ground, in the stands as a supporter and clearly some of the players played as if it weighed heavily on them. When Melbourne supporters don't show up to a Friday night game against Sydney because we've 'seen it all before', the players feel that absence on the ground. It all has an effect. Go back to last year's elimination final at the G. I was standing in line at gate two of the MCC at 1pm and watched in disbelief at the number of buzzing Melbourne supporters that rolled in over the course of that afternoon. We got 90,000 and how many were Melbourne? The pressure meter that night was at 211 points or something ridiculous and we had but a finger nail of the finals experience Geelong had. The supporters and feeling that the supporters emit can have a huge impact on the way an individual will feel and therefore play. This is why the club can no longer afford to have seasons like we've just had. For both supporters and players. The disengagement is almost immediate from supporters due to our past and they simply won't turn up which creates an enormous negative effect on the club and players on gameday. And as far as players go, if we end up losing one of our 'core' due to unrest, it will further add to the disengagement of the supporters. We have lived through enough rebuilds, high draft picks and promises that we're building a list that will 'come through together'. Goodwin must use this off-season in the right way when it comes to trading. When I look at our greatest weakness as a list, it is skill level and decision making and it concerns me when I don't hear us linked to genuine match-winners and highly skilled players like Martin, Higgins (regardless of age) and even Betts. Langdon in my eyes doesn't fix our problems of delivery inside forward 50. Overlap and gut running is pointless when a team consistently butcher the ball and hand it back to the opposition. I would much rather follow what Geelong did at last years trade period. Target players who give us the best chance at retaining the ball inside 50 and creating scoring opportunities. Our inside 50 numbers this year were very good, what does that tell us? Bad delivery going forward and an inability to lock the ball inside 50. We can completely change the list profile if we're aggressive and bold enough. This is completely make or break for Goodwin and for the club in my view. Apologies for the selfish post.

I posted this else where but thought it deserved it’s own topic Well boys, we knew this day was coming a long time ago and we've come to terms with it. Truth is Dec was a bit over football anyway, to be putting in all that blood, sweat and tears to not be playing regular senior footy isn't easy. That being said, the family and I will be forever grateful to the Melbourne Football Club for giving Dec the chance to live out his life long dream, and he got that chance on a sunny afternoon at the MCG. Not only that, but they won a close game, and himself having an impact on that result (his centre clearance for those who remember) He and us will never forget it. To everyone at Demonland, since I first started posting here 5 years ago when Dec started playing some decent footy at Casey, thank you for all your kind words. I have had a great time being able to share this experience with super passionate supporters which are sometimes hard to find. I have sincerely enjoyed the conversations and experiences I've had over the years and I'll be sure to pop back in ever now and again as I now and will always bleed Red and Blue. Dec's career wasn't the most glamorous by any stretch but only a very small percentage of people who ever play our beloved game get to say they played in the AFL. Cheers everyone, and have a drink on me!

Collingwood played in the 2002 and 2003 GF only to tank and lose their last 11 games to scoop up Thomas and Pendlbury at pick 2 and 5 in the 2005 draft. Hawthorn tanked in 2004 to get both Roughead and Franklin at pick 2&5. Richmond also tanked in 2004 with Wallace admitting as much to pick up Deledio at 1 and Tambling at 4 Carlton tanked to win both the "Krueser and Gibbs cups" with assistant coach Libratore again admitting as much but warned to keep his mouth shut by the AFL. Eagles tanked in 2008 to get Nic Nat at pick 2 after playing in both the 2005 & '06 Grand Finals. And we were absolutely garbage for multiple years and yet were the only club that got stung for tanking. What a hatchet job.

The fact that Yze is at Hawthon learning the craft under Clarkson excites me more than the fact that he is a Melbourne man.

Frosty has been nominated as the club's 'Most Courageous' player by his team mates. It is part of the MV player awards. MVP Nominees He is quite fearless, how he throws himself around. Quite an honour. Nothing better than respect from teammates.

: You had me at "wretched run of injuries".

Was told a couple of games back that Frosty loves being at the Club but felt that his game had improved and that it should be reflected in his contract offer. I like so many others love his enthusiasm but my heart still stops when he gets the ball waiting momentarily to see what he will bring. Thankfully there have been fewer of the car crashes this year. Glad that it looks like a compromise has been reached or the Club has recognised his improvement this year.

Yze first started at the Hawks as goal kicking coach and worked his way up to his current role which is head of match day strategy and opposition. Regardless of who he played for, Yze is exactly what we need, the Hawks are coached extremely well.

Tried to write Yze but my spell check said YES! That settles it.

I'll make this short and sweet: We won't be a good side until Simon Goodwin begins to respect the wing position's importance in the modern game. I call your attention to this article by forward-cum-midfielder-cum-defender-cum-ruckman-cum-wingman Mitch Robinson, of the Brisbane Lions (y'know, the 2019 version of 2018's Demons, except they actually made the top 4): https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/mitch-robinson-why-allaustralian-panel-made-a-mockery-of-players-by-not-selecting-genuine-wingmen/news-story/9e0d4e49d1770d54788d0a2174461cef I serously doubt there's a single player on the Demons list who could write an article as nuanced and informed on the wing position as Mitch Robinson has. And until we have at least a couple of modern wingers (and a coach who knows how to use them), we'll go nowhere in 2020 or beyond — and that's regardless of how many or how few injuries we get across the rest of the field.

I think most on here couldn’t care less about the romantic notion of him coming home and would be more concerned about getting someone who has worked closely with Clarko. But his ties to Melbourne are what could draw him back. I went on the Daniher Drive last year to raise money for MND and Oooze was there with a host of other past players including Neitz. I can tell you the bond is strong.

Jaysuz no !!!!!! I'd rather have my chronic tinea spread to my nethers !!

The chances of a player being picked at pick 8 or 9 being as good as Gus are slim. 50-50 chance to get a player that will play 100 games even I'm backing Gus in 100%. he is still learning, and will come back hard next year. only 23yo. played 80 games so he is in the sweet spot over the next 5 years. came 4th in the BnF and 3rd in brownlow last year after missing the first few games! he is a beauty who had a poor year

No disrespect to Jonesy but if he were to go i believe there would be an immediate uplift in the team performance He unfortunately has developed a losers mentality not his fault but it is there unquestionably. He forces the team to play his style and is not good for the group. I hope he goes for the sake of the team and I will always be a fan of his time at the Dees. His time is up in my opinion.

Is there anything Max can’t do? From the AFL site. Gawn was again the AFL's best rap ruckman

We weren’t gifted that pick. It was the appropriate compensation according to the existing rules.

I don't care where he's from, so long as he can coach. I haven't noticed a lot of Hawthorn people in their FD and it hasn't hurt them. The idea of needing a Melbourne person is a croc...

GCS entire argument to get pick 2 is so they can draft Anderson at 2 and help to retain both as they're good friends, they're not trading pick 2. I still think Ben King is gettable. but he'd likely cost us pick 3 which personally i'd be willing to pay. i'd say he's better than anyone in the draft pool besides the top 2.

Robbie Flower retired after 278 games in 1987 after kicking 5 goals (including a towering speccy) in the Elimination final and another 4 the following week in the Semi. Let that sink in.

Clay?

There is re-writing of history going on here - people have short memories. It wasn't about winning the trade, it was about the fact we were so appalling as a football team that we needed to get 2 decent players into the team rather than one. Josh Kelly is clearly a gun and Tyson was 3 yrs into his development. And altho it didn't work out - we did get Pruess - if we had Kelly as a fledgling player there is every chance we would have ruined his career as we have done with a number of low picks and every chance our improvement would have been delayed which we couldn't afford

Captain Max.

I would have kept Lewis for one more year and retired Jones. At least Lewis played a decent role as a reinvented forward this year. Jones offered very little.

Just imagine if he hadn’t of done his hammy in 2017? He could have had 4 AA on the trot.

This is one of the stupidest things you’ve ever said, which is something. Every club has to use their cap. Someone has to finish 17th (and 18th). You don’t get to tie payments to ladder position. Remember when I said I enjoy your actual posts about football but forget when they’ve ever existed because all you do these days is post these sorts of snide remarks?

Just has the be the chase-down of the century, or very close to such. His pace for this type of football is unique and really effective. Such a clean despatch of the fast Eagle - almost sad if Frost's workrate was not so exceptionally good - and a very clear example of why Frosty is a very useful, and wanted, player for the Dees. Furlongs ahead, as mentioned by a poster, earlier.

Congrats Max.

Word is starting to get out now about the Dees chasing Yze, I think to replace Jennings' role in strategy though not 100% sure. Sam McClure has mentioned it now on SEN, possibly because Hawthorn's year is done and moves can be made. Very highly rated and has risen through the ranks quite quickly. Would be a fantastic get should it happen.

Beautifully put. I couldn't believe during that whole time how we were the only club being hung out to dry. I actually liked the priority pick and the way the clubs managed to never win more than 4 games, or they would go on and win at least 7 or so. Not one team landed on 5 wins throughout the period of time there was a priority pick on offer. I hate how the priority pick is now at the discretion of the commission. Just corrupt. Why should those gooses get to choose. Play little tin pot gods. ###ck them. Either there is a formula that gives the club a priority pick or scrap it. This competition is getting less equal by the day.

Always amazed me that Richmond never got done. They were far more blatant at Tanking. Wallace admitted it in interviews. Said he did nothing in the coaches box at times, so that they would lose, in order to get Cotchin Wilson never said a word though in the Aged...

Mate you watch the games and see how many times he calls for the pill when he is in a worse position. It does by head in. Then having demanded the ball he gets caught HTB ,panics and shoots off a poor close in hand ball or throws it on the boot for one of those wonderful up and unders that gives us little chance. The team will be much better without him. He has done all he is going to do for this team . Never said he was a general, just not a good player or decision maker.

Adem’s kick off the ground goal in the final quarter of the 2000 Qualifying final win over the Blues one of my favourite moments of all time. #bringademhome

Congrats big boy

Classic D'land. Retiring great hints to his post playing pursuits ie; love of media and pursuing his passion for wine making, then someone starts a thread titled 'Assistant Coach?'.

He ain't no Chunk anymore, he's a Chook. Can always be found at the bottom of the pack laying on the ball.

They have the best kicking skills in the AFL. A big 'Yes' from me. If he is to be Strategy Coach, I hope he can do the goal kicking coach thing on the side. He also had a beautiful kick going i50. In fact, he could teach the likes of Oliver, Harmes, Viney, Hunt, Brayshaw a thing or two about kicking. Yze was blessed with natural balance which can't really be learnt. But I'm a firm believer that poise and composure can be learnt. From that comes better decision making. None of them will kick like Yze but imagine if even half of those guys improved their i50 kicking skills by even 50%.

It's not about that at all. He gets a lot of the ball yes and is high in the contested stakes. But sorry he had no hurt factor this year compared to last, at least then he hit the scoreboard often. If he wants to go to the next level then he needs to really focus in on Patrick Cripps or Bontempelli and look at the way they influences games by the scruff of the neck. This [censored] business of handballing to teammates 5 meters away with an opponent hot on their heel or to a teammates legs has to simply stop next year. The right decision not to include him this year.

He will win it easily.

Make.Him.Captain

To not select the best actual ruckman in the All-Australian ruck position is to completely disrespect the art of ruck-craft, big boy. #MaxForAA1stRuck

A what?

And we're waiting for you to post something that isn't based upon pot shots at others.

Yez.

Ingerson was something very special - his defensive reliability was tremendously valuable, with possessions taken by hook or by crook establishing a 'wall' of intent on the backline.

The promising thing is he's learning. Going back 2 years ago he was a ball watcher and unaccountable at times. He's fixed that. This year, his disposal has been gradually improving. Last half of the year his kicks have been shorter and more direct to a team mate most times. He's lowering his eyes now. He should be a gun by the end of 2020 if we're not rabble. Great news.

This is probably too much to ask, but if we add Langdon to one wing, I'd love to see KK have a great pre-season and slot into the other. I think it has the capacity (nothing is guaranteed of course) to vastly improve our side moving forward. I know there are plenty of questions around Kolo, and that's fair, but the kid has shown he can play, and getting him through a pre-season will be a big positive for the club.

We've been stuffed by the AFL and/or the expansion clubs every time we bottom out

FMD chook! If we followed that rule, we'd have about 3 players remaining!

- Maxy is still a genius - Hore was a great find - Fritta’s last part of the year = elite - Petracca’s finish to the season - Frosty - Petty