Leaderboard

A new skipper for 2020. ✨ Max Gawn will lead the club this season, supported by Jack Viney as vice-captain. ?: mfcde.es/2uocs5U

I'm glad Jack is still vice-captain, and it sounds like the club handled the situation well in that they kept Jack in the loop the whole way and didn't just surprise him with it. I think Max is the right man for the job and he could very well lead us back into the finals this year.

I've stayed away from Demonland and the official website for a bit and just caught up tonight. Watched the first three eps in a row. Not only are the production values excellent, the structure of the episodes are simple, but very well done. I could watch it for hours. Well done, MFC.

OK

This is great and I love the no leadership group part.

By far the best thing the Club's every produced. I'm really loving getting to see this genuine behind the scenes footage we've never been shown before. Really interesting to see Bennell down at the new players induction session when there had been discussion from me and others about him being excluded from it. Great to see he was there given he's on the list now. I really hope this inspires people to leave behind 2019 and get back on board as members. We're about 3300 down on last season. Hope to see them back. Great proactive move by the powers to be to be so proactive at getting supporters engaged.

Wow, a sole Captain and no leadership group. SWYL is most impressed Back to the old days, Leadership groups are always hollow to me. Everyone on the field has a job to do, just do it and support your teammates.

Do we want him on the list next year? If the answer is yes you sign him up as soon as he and the club can come to an agreement. To try and play around by delaying talks from the clubs side would be amateurish in the extreme.

Watching that you can understand how footy players go off the rails when their career ends and they're suddenly not part of a group anymore.

So if we win the whole thing this year, will it be the highest the premiership cup has ever been lifted? Is Max the AFL's tallest ever captain? Congratulations Max. I think you will do a great job.

If you you know Melbourne like we do then.... Only Melbourne can do a Melbourne.

We all see what we want to see. To me last years preseason games set the tone for the poor season ahead. Things didn't look right and that proved to be correct. This year, so far I like what I see. Let's knock over the Hawks and move on to season 2020 with confidence.

I was waiting for Jason Taylor to tell Goody to get his bare feet off his coffee table

I can see no value in delaying these matters. If the involved parties can reach an agreement, do it and move on.

Whilst you all debate our draft order, why don’t you just read the real thing?? They gave it away in the video which I think is an error... Anderson not Top 5 Rowell, Jackson, Green, Young, Robertson

He'll play every game in 2020 if fit.

they were talking about this on the commentary even jono brown said 'well they didn't have 20-odd off-season surgeries; in fact they didn't have one, so that's a good start'

Wait, so the whole team is responsible for on field leadership... making each person as responsible, accountable and empowered and as the next?! Preposterous! (I love this)

I don't think Jones really met that stereotype.

Leadership Groups just dilute the whole structure, so people don’t get offended Like playing kids footy with no scoring allowed Max is the Boss Deal with it

Tell that to Barassi ?

Would have been selective editing, that episode was focused on the players we got (with a bit of context).

What a cracker. When Harley got the call and when Kozzie was helped through the crab walk - goosebumps. Brilliant episode. Well done.

No leadership group means plenty of responsibility. How a ‘disappointed’ Jack Viney responded to losing Melbourne captaincy role Melbourne coach Goodwin said Viney had responded positively to his new role. “My conversations with him have been really simple; he is all in,” Goodwin said. “He wants this club to be the best club it can be, he wants to support Max in the best way that he can. “There will be people out there that will say, ‘Is he all in?’ Well, if you ask that question you don’t know Jack Viney. He’s never been more passionate about this footy club.”

Fitter, faster Petracca closes in on new deal with Melbourne

Steven May just laughs, at what he got, for less last year.

i'm on record as saying that i was sure both would be made captain. And am very surprise that hasn't eventuated. Agree they have handled it well. Adding to your points WB i'd add the decision not to have a leadership group outside a captain and VC is cleaver in so far as it makes both positions more significant in some respects and therefore mitigates a bit the impact on Viney of being demoted.

I think this decision is a slap in the face to both Trengove and Grimes

Some things to like: We did well in the clearances, without a dominant ruckman. Weids and Jackson battled well and it will be a good learning exercise for the two of them to carry the ruck for the day. Jackson’s athleticism and follow up were on display, and although Weids dropped some marks, he stayed involved and executed some really valuable clearance handballs etc. I liked the fact that we seemed to keep a few bodies on the outsides of contests this game, instead of every man piling in. some of the moves past the contest were excellent (most to used, but still there). The high zone to keep the ball inside 50 and the high pressure defence was a treat to watch. We had a couple of brain fades right down back, where the ‘zone’ didnt go as planned. May will make a big difference here. Lockhart was an excellent addition to the back 6. The width held by Tomlinson and Langdon gave us additional options, and they both played valuable wing roles that were sorely missed last year. Petracca. Enough said. Wow. Spargo: lots of negative comments here, but he was involved in many scoring chains, and his efforts to get the ball out the contest to a player were significant contributors to several scores. Pickett: Always moving, always dangerous. Certainly has the x-factor, and if we can bring him into the game more, I dont think we will regret it for a minute. Sparrow - looked completely at home at this level. Burgo: We seemed to play out the match without dropping off in intensity as we did in previous seasons. I would say the day was a big success - got to enforce some new structures and play an updated style, got to get some match kms into many legs, got to give a few new kids a sniff, and walked away without too many injuries. And (for us poor suffering supporters) we got the chocolates.

OMG what a wonderful couple of days we have had. Bring on the season and build the membership.

The ex public school boy and pizza delivery guy leading the MFC. I think this is actually a good thing culturally to be able to shrug some of the blue blood, private school elitism that the clubs stereotypical image is built around.

Don't agree. Hibberd was fine. Made some errors, has no right foot (why ask for it on his right side?) But looked in good nick and showed some his old dash and ability to clear defence. Omac was quiet but did his job. His direct opponent took just one mark on him and only kicked a point. Unlike some of the other defenders didn't give up goals through silly frees and turnovers and again unlike other defenders his few disposals all hit targets.

They lost to the two grand finalists after finishing 2nd after a decade out of finals. Nothing unceremonious about that. We shouldve done a Brisbane by beating the Saints or Swans at the G and getting a top 4 final against Richmond.

He was pretty bloody good for the majority of last year as well though. I think that's when he actually put it all together and what we are seeing now is the fruits of the 100% attitude that he has established last season and then applied to the entire preseason just gone. I've seen enough. You obviously haven't in your mind and that's fine too. Hopefully one way or another he has an outstanding season and signs up to the MFC on a long term deal - happy days.

Not sure if you even watched the video before commenting? Nothing to do with who is locked away, more to do with the club not rating Anderson as highly as Green or Jackson.

Depth ... what an insult. I have him in my top six most important players at our club because he brings a hard (almost nasty) edge to our midfield unit - go back and watch video of our Anzac Eve win against Richmond five years ago and you will see what i mean - the Tigers were jumping out of his way and we are talking the same ferocious team that won a flag two years later. Olly and Trac are both big units that hunt the ball, but they don't hurt guys - that's why VDB makes us an intimidating unit especially against sides like Geelong and Collingwood that like to bully us.

I started to have tears in my eyes when the boys got around Kozzie. Also loved the chant in the water at the end.

That bit with Kozzie at the beach was almost enough to bring a tear to a glass eye. I'm loving the cameraderie.

Geez that session before Christmas was gruelling. I got tired just watching it.

Awesome. Great to see the team spirit and morale!!! They way they got around Kossi. That what wins games. Helping your mates out and sticking together

Nothing short of sensational news. He loves the club and the feeling, from the club and us supporters, is mutual.

fitter-faster-petracca-closes-in-on-new-deal It would be great to have him signed up early in the season, eliminate external speculation and allow him and the team to focus on getting us back up the ladder.

So yesterday was the first win I’ve watched in person for at least 5 years, I think possibly 6 years. So from that point of view it was absolutely worth me going out to Casey and I’m really happy for the boys. A lot from the first half that the coaches can dissect for analysis, and some good positives from the second half they can use for positive reinforcement. For me the major highlight was obviously Petracca, there was a lot of talk and hype about him in the summer and yes it was only the first pre-season game but if he’s able to most of what he did on a regular basis then he will be a super quality asset for us this year. His speckie was right in front of me and he set himself really well. Even better he finished the job, as he lined up I said to my mum that this has been a big issue in the past and he nailed it. TMac had a quiet first half (in fact I was say he looked a little lost) but much better in the second, 3 goals is a very promising return and will surely give him a boost. His partner for the day Brown looked comfortable in his position, he competed well and I think is making a strong claim to be in contention for round one. I was absolutely stoked for Jones that he kicked those 3 goals but for me he looked solid all day. I think no captaincy is going to help him. I’m not saying he’s going to be incredible, I still picture at some stage through the year he will lose his spot but he has to earn it and he knows it. Quick positives were Lever and AvB getting though and looking good. Kozzie showing he’s going to be a forward pressure specialist. LJ leaping high in the ruck (and looking solid in there). General increase in pressure acts lifted the team, Viney was especially good at that. Some little concerns, we still look vulnerable when the ball gets out. I feel like two way running was something we were meant to be focusing on and the first half we still looked exposed. First half we were STILL not looking at where the forward entries were going, on a gusty day we were not giving our forwards their best chance to mark it, we weren’t even putting them in a position that advanced them. Ball use and movement still was messy at times, Adelaide used the ball more efficiently and were controlling. I suspect we are still going with a chaotic style we had in 2018, regardless the ball use still has to be good and some usual offenders were making life difficult. Melksham was one in particular hat butchered the ball, I could name a few more but really it seemed to be common. Overall we came away with a solid win, we did most of the damage in one quarter and pressed on against the wind in the final quarter which is good signs for our fitness. Importantly no serious injuries! Good start to the year.

5 years deal through to 2025 imo

I wouldn’t say he had a great year, but by the very fact he finished 3rd in our B&F you can’t say he had a bad year. He would probably be the first to say he didn’t meet his standards, but to totally dismiss his placing in the B&F suggests that you aren’t seeing things that the coach and match committee rate highly.

Jesus mate, you really do look to deep into these kind of stuff too hard. We selected Jackson and that's it. Support the kid and move on..

How good was the bit with the boys getting around Kozzie down at the beach. That was a great little video. Well done MFC ?