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Superb season. Unlucky to miss out on AA selection. Never beaten by direct opponent. Defensive lynchpin. Genuine heartfelt B&F speech. A leader. I love this bloke.

Cal had a chat on the draft today on afl.com In relation to the Dees I like what the Dees have done. They're paying for their picks in credit. They should get a nice player at that spot of the draft - would Tom Powell or Brayden Cook get through? Finlay Macrae is probably off the board but is a sneaky chance. Question about Perkins sliding to our first pick Don't think he'll be there then, Perkins. Would be absolutely staggered. Looking more and more like a top-12 pick as we get closer to it. On Cook to Adelaides 2nd round Cook will be a chance if he gets to the Crows. St Kilda also in the mix for him at their pick just before Adelaide gets in at the start of the second round. On O'Driscoll Nathan O'Driscoll has plenty of fans among club land and could be picked inside the first 15 of so as a tall midfielder. he has tested well athletically as well and played some senior footy. For me he probably fits a bit after that but he will play some AFL footy next year and has a body that's ready to go. On Carroll I think Jack Carroll fits in somewhere between 17-25. Midfielder who works through traffic well and also can play across half-back. On Winder in relation to Lions pick 25 Winder would be a bit early for me at that spot, but he did have a good season and put himself on the map in the WA colts competition. His composure has been compared to that of Shaun Burgoyne. Mids around the tigers pick/early 2nd round The midfielders potentially in that mix for the Tigers would be Powell, O'Driscoll, Carroll, Macrae, Trew. Also Zavier Maher and Sam Berry have their fans in the 20s part of the draft and are different players but both with some power. On Cox Nik Cox may struggle to get to the Pies' first pick at 14 although I think he'd be a very good chance to be snapped up then. A few other clubs before that will take a good look at him, including Essendon. And my smokey draftee Conor Stone Stone is definitely one to keep an eye on late in the first round and early in the second. Has some interest at that part of the draft and I dare say he would have played some really good footy this year in the NAB League. Has shown he can be a goalkicker. Link to full discussion here https://www.afl.com.au/news/524882/live-from-1pm-aedt-cal-twomey-answering-your-draft-questions

They could release the full fixture for each round showing: who players who, the Home team and the venue and leave dates and times open. They can still control the specific time slots of each round's dates and times, to keep sponsors happy. A week or two of 'Frenzy footy' can also be scheduled in to the overall fixture. At least fans will have some chance of scheduling interstate travel or other special events. I don't see the point of leaving the whole thing open ended.

I reckon the AFL's got this very, very wrong. I suspect most people will want to do anything but sit at home and watch football on a Sunday-Wednesday night next year. If we can get out and about, we'll want to. The success of footy on weeknights in 2020 was wholly abnormal and I don't think will be repeated. And the rolling fixture thing is ridiculous. Start with clubs. How are we supposed to manage training loads or plan for our season if we don't know when/where/who we'll be playing? Fans get shafted too, not being able to plan any more in advance than a month. A floating final month, maybe (with defined match ups and grounds already locked in, just timeslots to sort.out). Not this.

One of the most entertaining things this off season so far is to see you take the bait and carry on like a pork chop. Thanks for the rumours and the entertainment

No, not ridiculous, just unfortunate coaching and opportunity. This is an opinion that attracts some support; I am one of those supporters. Do you deny me that perspective or is this a forum of ideas and thoughts? By the way, OMac received the games by good fortune alone - yet there was no improvement.

Players get fatigued playing AFL. They always have, they do today. In the past players had to play 100 minutes, with no rotations. The game is not a sprint it is a marathon. Players coped by pacing themselves. Just like all sports. Robert Harvey is quoted as saying he could always run his opponent into the ground in the last quarter, because of his endurance. Less rotations will see the better players excel in the latter stages of the game. So for Danger to suggest players will get injured because they are fatigued, doesn't face up to the reality of competitive sport.

As good a season as I have seen from a Melbourne midfielder since Woewodin's Brownlow year. B&F win, All Australian, top 3 in all of Brownlow Medal, Players Award & Coaches Award. Congratulations Christian, you worked your backside off and got the rewards. Now the challenge is to back it up next year.

A best 22 of [censored] sauces needed

That was the shortest rant ever

May missing the All Australian top 40 is the voting irregularity that should be investigated.

I strongly agree with all of the above, what a fantastic effort by Steven May, it is so reassuring to have our N0.1 holding the Fort at full back, our back six can get better and better with SM leading the way. He is a "Gun".!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope that Jones does earn his spot as you suggest. It is important that he reaches the 300 game milestone a significant record, and an indication to upcoming players that there are long term rewards for players who give their all every game. I would not be opposed to him being named and suffering a late injury and being replaced athe last minute by an emergency which I believe still counts as a game. That said there is no doubt Jones should be able to be included for 6 games against appropriate opposition. I am sure his teammates would welcome playing with the legend and adding more wins to his record. It would be unfortunate if Jones who has certainly put his body on the line when our team was uncompetitive was unable to enjoy the success that the current group are capable of. While he has had limited abilities compared to other giants of the game Jones has towered above many for his endurance and loyalty. His endeavour could never be questioned and he has a legacy of individual highlights that many will never match. Jones has been a very worthy member of the Melbourne football club.Lets celebrate with him

A warrior and great servant to the club. Not sure about the extra year but if anyone deserves a contract for sentimental reasons then its Jonesy. He’ll have to earn the right to play next season though. 6 games is too much to gift anyone. If he does reach the 300 game milestone i'll be delighted for him.

I generally agree with @DeeSpencer it seems a waste of a list spot keeping Mitch Brown on. We've brought on Ben Brown, exited OMac, retained TMac and hopefully Petty is fit. Mitch Brown seems superfluous and if we're relying on him we'll already be in hard place. Unless they plan on trying to use him as ruck back-up which would be a big ask as @Hannibal Inc. has pointed out - he's a long way off being competitive. I'd prefer we rookie listed some genuine State league ruck back-up. The other factor that we don't have insight into is the player dynamics off-field - as a mature head he may be a steady, calming, advisory influence who pays his way off-field at a cheap price a la Jetts and Jones. In that light for me it's not that big of a deal and definitely not evidence of a cultural deficit at the club. Look TMac's and OMac's response to being open for trade and delisted - they both commented that the club was very supportive and professional - that's 100x more culturally important than ruthlessly cutting player number 35 on the list.

This is an internet forum. So, yes, there always has to be a conspiracy theory.

Not revealing the full fixture is just ridiculous. Forget club planning, fans want to know and plan their time around games. I understand the Covid argument, but we need to go into the season with a full fixture and a contingency plan.

Agree. A friend who is a huge WCE fan says he checked out after the ‘18 flag. Hasn’t been able to climb the mountain again and any club who picked him up would be just feathering his retirement

8-3 in 2018 never happen?

Lockhart, because I can't pronounce the other blokes name.

A sad announcement. I have been following the dees passionately for forty odd years (defined by regular attendance at games) and in all sincerity Omac is one of my all time favorite MFC players. My favorite demon players over my time of watching them are not necessarily among the best players in their respective team, indeed of my favorites probably only Robbie was the best in the teams he played with. My favorite players are generally those whose effort and work ethic are perhaps greater attributes than their talent. Talent is overrated. Perhaps some might describe them as journeymen, a phrase I've never understood being used as a pejorative. Some of my favorites include: Ray Biffen (thanks Ray for signing my dees club song fable single) Russel 'Rhino' Richardson (thanks Rhino for that game you won us at Princess Park after Leigh Matthews assaulted Steve Smith) Peter Giles (thanks Pete for taking on bigger opponents week i week our - and your hair, of course) Garry baker (what more needs to be said), Spud Dullard (best name in footy and thanks for rucking against the monsters of the 70s) Sugar Healy (thanks for being captain at tight time and unlike your brother remaining true) Jack Watts (thanks for your class - oh and you brilliant 2017 season which ensured PD had to use you avatar for a time) All made terrific contributions to the club I have long loved, a club i could only dream of representing. And most important of all everyone them seem to be really great people. Respect. And much respect Omac. Thanks for your contribution and joy you brought me. I really hope you continue your AFL journey. If not, no biggie, someone so smart and hard working will do great things. And how many people get to play near on 100 games of football or play consecutive finals at a packed MCG heaving with delirious dees fans. Well played sir. One thing though. As i posted some time ago I tricked my family of naming our dog Oscar. But as my wife is German, unbeknownst to me, she registered his name as Oskar, which is the name on his dog tag. Apologies for that oversight Oscar. But I do wonder if its is fated and Oskar Baker will become one my favorites too.

wheird nhame

Yes, on another indigenous small forward, who becomes better than Cyril Rioli and plays 300 games for us, winning the Norm Smith 3 times and getting 5 flags with the Dees.

Word on the street is Chip Frawley is going to join the Saints

I assume that his nickname is "Coca".

Do you know that we didn't make a play for Phillips? Maybe Tom didn't want to come to us. Maybe we looked at his salary and thought that we could find better value through the draft this year. Maybe we are happy to use 2021 to see how the likes of Baker, Rivers, Sparrow, Jordan, Hore and Neita come on. I find it baffling when people get baffled by list management decisions that they have no idea about.

Everything Danger says has to be viewed through the lens of his desperation for a flag, and 16 minute quarters with 90 rotations is Geelong's (and his) best chance.

THE TASMANIAN TIGER by Whispering Jack I first saw Ben Brown on a cold Tuesday night in May, 2013 playing for the Werribee Tigers against Queanbeyan in a televised Foxtel Cup game before a sparse crowd at Etihad Stadium. His teammate and former Demon Jordan Gysberts was the star of the side’s 85-point belting of the hapless ACT club but the then 20 year old, 200cm Brown was also a stand out. Earlier that year, the athletic big man had left his native Tasmania in an effort to make the grade after being overlooked in three drafts. The man with the mop of unruly hair, the bearing of a high jumper and the number 50 on his back, read the play well out of defence that night and went forward to kick three goals. When his team was knocked out in a low scoring semi final by East Fremantle a month or so later, Brown was named the side’s best player. The Tasmanian Tiger was destined for bigger things — North Melbourne picked him with its third selection in the AFL Draft later in the year and he was soon impressing the football world with his high marking and distinctive run up for goal. After breaking into the side in mid 2014, Brown made the full forward position his home and he won the goal kicking at North Melbourne four times (2016-9), booting more than 60 goals and featuring in Coleman Medal calculations in each of the last three of those seasons. The journalism student was also an impressive performer in the media and starred in an edition of Foxtel’s Open Mike turning the tables on compere Mike Sheahan. A knee injury curtailed his output this year and, after 130 games and 287 goals with North, he was traded to Melbourne earlier this month. Brown has great football bloodlines. His grandfather Jim Manson was a top line player who won the best and fairest at Glenorchy and is Tasmanian Hall of Famer. Brown’s uncle James Manson played in Collingwood’s 1990 premiership team. The young Ben Brown represented his state in the Tassie Mariners Under 18 team and then played with Glenorchy before moving across Bass Strait to play with Werribee. The Demons are hoping that Brown will have an immediate impact by straightening up its forward line which has lacked potency since the departure of Jesse Hogan at the end of 2018. Melbourne GM of Football Josh Mahoney said of him last week, “What we’re excited about with Ben Brown is not only what he can bring, but what he can do to help the development of Sam Weideman and Luke Jackson.” The Tasmanian has worn the number 50 guernsey throughout his years in Melbourne and he’s put his hand up for the number again at his new club. Demon fans will be hoping that it won’t be too long before they can put the pandemic behind them and return to watch the bearer of the distinctive number 50 rise above a pack in the forward line, pluck the Sherrin out of the air with his vice-like grip and welcome the return of football to the MCG.

It was absolutely brilliant to be honest.

We tried to trade TMac out. No takers...so how do you move him on then? The list management dilemma is: is M.Brown probably better than pick 69 in a compromised draft? Because that is what becomes the option if we were to delist him. We have certainty about Brown, not about such a low pick, and if that pick fails, we have to keep him on the list for 2 years.

Seriously we need to back off on Harrison Petty, he’s played 11 games since being drafted in 2017 & just missed the 2020 season with injury Hope you’re right but he’s coming from a long way back

Personally, I loved having games on every night of the week. I've never seen more footy than i did last season. The pandemic has another 12-18 months to go yet (until vaccine production can be scaled up and rolled out) and as we’ve seen in Adelaide sudden lockdowns are a distinct possibility. I think it should be kept as an option but would not be a preference if it could be avoided. Creates too many advantages and imbalances.

Former Magpies director David Galbally, AM QC calls for a major “clean out” at the top citing the salary cap blow out drama, the recruitment of Dayne Beams, the Heritier Lumumba racism inquiry and a string of player misconduct issues and also points to a longstanding culture and governance problem. Top lawyer David Galbally calls for Eddie McGuire to end two-decade reign as Collingwood president

Reckon Danger will be placated with 18minute quarters.

Without Trac we wouldn't have come within coo-ee of the top 8. He needs proper help though, and I'm hoping our midfield brigade can come along with him and get to that next level, not only individually but as a group.

I hope they're not basing their thinking on what happened this year. If they think they will get big tv ratings with another footy frenzy I hope they account for the fact they had a captive audience in Melbourne over the 2020 season. Surely that's not like to be the case next season (I hope).

4 week rolling fixture, draw not released until Feb, another 20 day footy frenzy - The AFL are losing the plot here.

He was for me our best player this year. I know others have said Max, others have said Clarry, and that's absolutely fine but to me he was our match winner and game breaker. He is using his talent and making the competition take notice, it was striking that in some of his poor matches he reverted back to some of his bad habits of overhead handballs to no one, and over possessing with his teammates. He is at his best when he takes on the mantle as "the man" and just does his thing. I hope the coaches are giving him license to do that and saying the same to Clarry, give them direction on the style of footy but when you have guys that can do what they can do just let them play to instincts. That match winning goal vs St Kilda was insane. He could be our next Brownlow medalist.

I reckon the AFL have to be a bit careful here. If they keep stuffing around with the game and then the competition loses a team or two in the coming years, they might find discontent across the board. All of the new rule changes sound ridiculous.

Danger complaining about the reduction in rotations https://www.sen.com.au/news/2020/11/18/patrick-dangerfield-not-particularly-a-fan-of-afl-rule-change/ ....we know why....the older players will struggle to keep up....which team has the oldest players as a group? How did players cope when there was only a 19 and 20th man?

Some people simply cannot let the bloke leave the Club gracefully, because he didn't bucket the Club in his interview. However some simply have to have a cheap shot at the bloke as he leaves the building. So what,if he has limited ability. He was draft pick 51 so knew he had to work his bum off to at least play a few games. Credit to his attitude and efforts !!!!!!

why are we still waiting for this 4 years later. Super excited about Yze. Less so about Goodwin.

oh c'mon. the current game as it stands now has plenty of examples of fatigue kicking, chasing etc. and the reason is the ridiculous 2-way running the game plan places on all players whether it suits them or not. force the coaches to change the game plan by making it harder to play the 2-way constant running and there will be less fatigue . It must be made too hard to play the current style in order to change the coaches' mindset. They won't do it voluntarily because they are obsessed with control and defense p.s. with greatly reduced rotations there will only be more player fatigue if the coaches persist with current defensive game plans which would become counter productive

When I look through the delisted players , if I had to choose one player to pickup it would be Ryley Stoddart. He has just turned 21 and had 3 years in the Swans system. I remember him in the 2017 championships for Vic Metro. He plays wing/half back , is a left footer and had real pace. Good skills. I think he got a few injury setbacks at the Swans and couldn’t quite crack it. Played the 6 games in 2018-19. Given his style is what we need (I’d like to add 3-4 quick skilled players to our list) , he’s worth a DFA or likely a rookie pick.

What is a big minority?

Good move. Mitch is a good average player, is under no illusion where he sits, will have a crack when he gets his chance, and is cheap depth. I won't be slitting my wrists if he plays a handful of games this year as back up. If he's our main target at times, then that's a different story.

Handy to have as a depth player. As we saw with those last two games, he still has the capability to hold a spot if required and hit the scoreboard as well. We could do far worse than him.

Dare I say it...we may have benefited from Yze Magic!

Another really good article WJ, but shouldn't the title "Tasmanian Tiger" in a Melbourne Football Club context be reserved for Brent Crosswell? Still, if Ben Brown can be as good for his second club as Crosswell was for his - and with the same team success - I'll be happy. For the younger among us, I still rate the Carlton/North Melbourne version of Crosswell as one of the best players I've ever seen.