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I've read a couple of pages and from the jist of things it appears no one knows for certain for Barrett is on about, only making educated guesses. Financial loss is a certain, losing QB the same year we don't have ANAZAC even puts a massive dent in our bottom line coupled with significantly lower crowds. I really wish the AFL had stepped in with Collingwood's request for the gates to be shared to make it interchange with ANZAC eve. Makes it very difficult for this year when two of our blockbusters go begging. Players unhappy is not a massive surprise as well, there doesn't appear to be harmony among the playing group. You only need to look at the way they've been bickering to know that our poor form has created fractures, but "big names" requesting trades will be an interesting one to see if there's any substance. That meeting Petracca's manager had with the footy club, pretty much all the reports on it highlighted that he doesn't want out he would just like more time in the middle. Of the players I could perhaps picture "wanting out" MAYBE Brayshaw by his down year, could be playing him as a winger and naturally resulting in a poorer year might've frustrated him. As others have mentioned ties west are appearing, but he is also Vic born and bred, we also stood by him during his concussion issues and I'd like to think that would earn us a bit of loyalty back. We had so many injuries this year I can't imagine any player being frustrated at lack of being picked, except perhaps Pruess. There were rumblings that Jones wasn't happy with the offer we made him but frankly he should be happy that we are asking him to go around again. I agree with a few others that sometimes there are issues that can be coming out of a club that are not good but all it needs to be turned into a "crisis" is a journo like Barrett labeling exactly that and pouring gasoline on the fire. Having said all that this off-season is absolutely critical. To back up such a pathetic 2019 with another poor 2020 will send us back into the cycle that we're all familiar with, we can't afford to be terrible next year.

Anyone who says the boys don't deserve a mad Monday are a-holes of the highest order. Yes, we didn't get many results this year - but these blokes work incredibly hard all year, and to say they don't deserve to blow off some steam at the end of the year and have a laugh is reserved only for those who think the worlds revolves around them. You've never had a bad year in your career? Maybe you should exclude yourself from the end of year party when the boss puts his corporate credit card on the bar when you do. Let it out boys, have fun, big summer ahead.

TBH, Tim is a nice guy, but if we can't find a better option than a not best 22, 29 year old, perennially injured player, the Recruiting Department is useless.

Unless a godfather deal comes our way, we should be keeping our core together at all costs until at least 2021. They're not in their prime and under Paul Roos, we drafted these players to be the future of the club. I would be absolutely livid if we let one go given the fact that they're supposed to 'come through together'.

Some classic commentary. The “sit down Daics”, “ I can’t, I’ve got cramp” still makes me laugh.

Gus grew up and went to school in Melbourne. His parents live in Melbourne. He has a brother in the Army, Andy plays for Freo and Hamish is on Eagles list but hasn't played an AFL game and could easily be delisted this year. Gus may go to WA but doubt it will be for family reasons. He has 3 years to run on his contract and our highest Brownlow polling player in ever so long. Has proven courage and resilience. Surely, a club just doesn't trade out a player like that unless he asks to go.

I coached against this young fellow when he played juniors at Somerville. Also know him from representative cricket. He's a cracking young man and a real winner. Skills are outstanding, pace is good and he's a hard worker. His brother is at the Bulldogs. I'd be pretty happy if he became a Demon. I'd liken more to Whitfield than Salem to be honest. He's quicker and a better mark than Salem.

No way would I do that. A pick around the 10 mark and the opportunity to sign Tomlinson, who is an average, nothing sort of player imo, and we lose Brayshaw who is still early 20s and is more than capable of bouncing back to his best. As pointed out earlier by STMJ, we drafted a very capable core who are just about to come into their prime years. Obviously we need to make some tweaks, but I’ll be filthy if we start deviating from that plan of having these guys come through together. We’ve already lost Hogan, can’t afford to lose Brayshaw or Petracca this trade period imo.

I'll assume GC get pick 2 and we are serious about splitting pick 3 (2234). The talk is that GWS will trade 12 (1268) and 14 (1161) = (2429) which looks like equitable value. This is so they can take pick 3 before they have to match a bid on Tom Green who may be bid on as early as pick 4 (2034 with a 20% discount = 1627). The problem with this theory is that GWS doesn't have 2nd or 4th rounders and its next picks are 49 (287), 75 (0) and 85 (0). That leaves them a long way short of 1627 and would put them in a big deficit of 1340 in 2020 - equivalent to pick 11 (1329) - likely to be around their 1st pick next year. GWS will be desperate to trade in some mid range picks this year to make up the shortfall on Green. We could be in a strong position to bundle in some later picks for a good GWS player that we fancy.

As it is surrounded by suburbia, you would think it would be easier to have the land rezoned residential than the other way around.

Round one coin toss The Bye Round 23 final siren....

O Mac’s first AFL goal should make the Top 10. Lovely sidestep and left foot snap. Probably the most watched clip of the year, for me anyway, up there with the last 30-40 seconds of the victory against Suns.

Don't forget what it sits on, which we own.

I think this game was the most exciting, and ultimately the most depressing, game I have ever watched. I watched it with my now deceased Uncle, and we were both in tears after it. Sad aside - when I said goodbye to him in hospital many years later, his last ever words to me were ... ‘Go the Dees’.

I'm not as convinced as some that the club will post a big loss. Our income streams have taken a hit but the NT & Pokies revenue is/was still flowing through. At a guess we might post a loss of 500k - $800k which can be corrected going forward. But there again, we might not post a loss at all. I'm more concerned with our on-field fortunes (which effects the bottom line) The list needs a make-over/do-over ... specifically outside run, general pace, kicking skills, goal-kicking forwards and experience. And we almost certainly will need to give up something to get what we need. If a player or 2 wants out, we need to use that to our own advantage (rather than viewing that as an automatic loss) Turn a negative into a positive can always be the mantra when it comes to trading. There's always a lot of needless speculation when a team goes 5 & 17 but it's my belief that we were only one decent forward short of winning 10 games. Or if our forward line was functional, same story. Our list isn't top 4 material but more so in that area of 9 - 10 wins. But that 9 - 10 win season is dependant on a forward line that isn't dysfuntional. If we want to be better than a 9 - 10 win club, we're going to have to make a number of personnel changes. Which includes the Football Dept. Footnote: It should always be remembered that despite the club being largely unsuccessful on the field from 2007 onwards, the club continued to post profits every year bar one season (2013) For confirmation go and read our annual reports (which are readily available)

IF... It's Damian Barrett writing an article THEN... I don't give a stuff.

Go nuts for free agents imo

If he honestly wants out, and is not willing to accept his own responsibility for his performance, then is it not prudent? Also, you’d be ignoring the fact that he received the majority of those as a result of Oliver’s hard work yet the umpires are not fit to recognise this.

Without question it was SWYL & Drysdale's biff a few days ago! Always hard to top Goodwin's pressors but there was more anger, passion and a gnashing of teeth than i saw on the field or off it! Well done boys. Keep up the good work ?

Big yes from me. We’ve had a crack at him before, so clearly rate him. We never pick up free agents, only lose them. Instead we trade and harm our picks. Time to start loading up on free agents. Tomlinson is durable, has good running power, is tall and versatile. I’d offer him 600k and play him as a lead up tall forward.

For those fretting about lost pokies revenue: https://thenewdaily.com.au/sport/afl/2018/04/04/melbourne-demons-afl-poker-machines/amp/ We still have 88 machines in operation until 2022; it’s a staggered phase out. Of course revenue will be down this year, but the notion that this particular revenue stream is completely gone is incorrect. FWIW, I fully support the move away from these insidious financial misery traps. To digress, Barrett must be having a jolly good laugh reading this thread. His vaguely worded ‘scathing assessment’ in his naff little weekly ‘column’ has stirred things up a treat! ???

Mates horse is running tomorrow in Geelong. Race 8, number 10 Gigantic Effort. Paying $15 Without them saying as much, I think they are confident of at least a place.

We’ll want more than just 12 & 14 for 3 though. They’re about equal value, but to GWS the earlier pick is worth so much more because it allows them to get another top echelon player before they have to use their points on Green. Bonar, O’Halloran, Caldwell, Hately, etc. - there will be someone we’re keen on that GWS will seem expendable.

And still better if KK can get himself right.

As I said, he's not really like Salem at all. He's a better mark, a bit taller, covers the ground better and kicks well over 40 metres rather than Salem's 20 metre chip kicks. He'll pull the trigger and kick in board with great accuracy. Whitfield like, maybe how Grant Birchall played a few years back when the Hawks had all those blokes who never missed with a kick. We'd be better with him for sure.

No way he is leaving North for the Kangas.

The first quarter against Port in round 1.

If we split the pick, one or both of these two should be on our radar: https://t.co/3BnQaERC42?amp=1

Best Bets: Saturday Caulfield Race 8 No.11 Alizee (Win) $3.60 Saturday Eagle Farm Race 6 Number 1 Jagged Edge $2.80 Win Saturday Caulfield Race 6 No. 4 Vega Magic (W) @ 2.15 This weeks best together approx 21/1 Good luck team !

Yes, all you need it pick 1.

Spargo is in his 2nd year. He was brilliant last year and had an average year this year, he definitely gets more time. its not uncommon for players to have a downer in their second year. Its ridiculous to think you get rid of 18 or 19 yr old kids. They are not going to come in and dominate.

Barret is a [censored] that much is for sure. But I’d really love some transparency from the club regarding the visit to the commission.

Hate to say it but the Hobart Demons May be happening during my lifetime

This 1 sticks with me at 14:10 from the boundary during a rampaging comeback during the 2002 semi final. Had me redlining bigtime.

Pick 13 for Petruccelle?? Are you mad?

Barrett is just salty because of the time Bernie Vince took his glasses at the urinal while at the Brownlow.

So we are the only club with some people married, some unmarried and some young? Spare me

Thanks for taking me back to that Geelong final - club and supporters out in force - Geelong players and fans barely noticeable. Preferred the Dawks game for personal reasons but yep - all relates back to the building of a club cultural change (avoiding 'brand') we were starved of and begging for - for a lifetime now. Had Roos & Jackson stayed on another year each I think that just may have done it. Thanks again for the warm 'n fuzzies. Now back to the worry beads.

Not a selfish post at all, in fact a very good one IMO. I agree. This off season could very well determine our long term future, as we either hit back hard and become relevant again, or slide into oblivion. As for the providing of comic relief, as the main contributor, I thank you for your appreciation of my efforts.

The idea of dressing up was a deliberate plan to divert players from using Mad Monday purely as an exercise in getting heavily inebriated with all the risks to the club that such behaviour entails. And, largely, it's worked. If I were a footballer, I'd hate the very idea of a Mad Monday. But I'm not a footballer; I haven't had to watch what I eat and drink for the best part of 10 months and I don't have a perenially sore body to go with it. And I see Kane Cornes doesn't like it...so I'm very happy for our players to have a Mad Monday or Wacky Wednesday if that's what they want. Irrespective of the result of the season they've earned the right.

And overpaying...

Carlton and Hawks miss out on Coniglio. Just re-signed for 7 years.

I have come to the conclusion now that we will miss out on Anderson. For me now you cannot lose out with either Ash or Young. Absolute gem of a footballers and will make an impact straight away next year. Young kicking is an absolute delight to watch.

10 Outs. Lewis Maynard Walker retired. Delist- Jkh Spargo TSmith Keilty Garlett Wagner-j Vandenburg(medical) 10 ins Schoenmakers (free agent) Langdon (swap 1st round 2020 pick) Cutler ((swap 4th round pick) draft. #2 Noah Anderson (if pick #3, Lachlan Ash) # 21 Elijah Taylor #39 Miles Bergman #57 Brodie Newman rookies added - Lockhart Dunkley Wagner-c

Firstly we need to stop using numbers instead of letters to spell words and then can have an adult conversation.