Leaderboard

I know we've been in dire straits, but I didn't expect to lose Mahoney for nothing and get Chocs for free.

Hoky feck this is huge news. I rate him extremely highly and have a mate who plays at Werribee. Reckons he's one of the best coaches he's ever played under.

You'd have to say Mahoney's been a great servant of the club. Getting 13 years from any employee is fantastic. But it's also a long time. I don't know how anyone could be annoyed with the MFC or Mahoney. It's been a good union.

I have a bit to do with Werribee FC and back what @goodoil and @dazzledavey36 have said above. Great bloke and football mind - I LOVE this hire.

Really good appointment, with such a wealth of young talent, he will be a great fit, he has a great footy mind and great footy person. Great appointment.

Take note those who continue to bemoan our club sitting on their hands, based solely on the presumption that it hasn't been reported in the media.

I had a regular Senior player over for dinner 2 weeks ago and he nominated Mahoney as the first bloke he'd move on from the Football Dept. Been there for far too long for my liking and I am delighted he's going.

Experience has just walked in the building...Yze now Williams to go with Richardson. A wealth of footy knowledge and finally some real experience. It's been our weakness in the FD. edit: did I say I was excited??? you bet I am.

AFL premiership coach at Port and key in developing Richmond into a premiership dynasty. Helped develop Dusty into a star and Cotchin from worst captain in the league to 3 time premiership captain? Nah his CV is rubbish ;)

Been a while since there has been a topic with unanimous joy on here.

13 years is a long time, regardless whether you liked him or not i think teh timing is right. Think Josh had a good run, did some really good things at the club. Good luck to him.

Not an assistant. Involved in player development. As in, developing the players.. who went on to win Three Premierships. Let the pessimism rest for a moment.

I really liked Mahoney. Represented the club with aplomb, when he spoke, you listened because he'd only speak when there was something worth saying. I won't pretend to know what he was like internally, but externally he did us really, really proud IMO

First 3 lines of the article are like porn for a Demon supporter TURNING around Melbourne's problematic kicking will be the first priority for new Demons head of development Mark 'Choco' Williams. The Port Adelaide premiership coach has vowed to bring back an "old-school" mentality at the Demons next year in what shapes as a crucial year after two failed seasons under Simon Goodwin. And he wants to help emerging gun Christian Petracca emulate the feats of his former pupil Dustin Martin. Guess who’s back? Dees land flag coach to fast track youngsters

Jeez, even in a great news thread like this, some people can't resist turning it into a dig at Goodwin. Classy.

Just what we need: some Barassi-style emotion.

Bringing in Choco William and Adem Yze is just massive. Top 4 or else!

This is my final phantom draft for the year including a few live trades. I have us at the moment trading pick 19 + 28 for Collingwood's pick 14 because if Macrae keeps sliding I can't see us not trading up to get him knowing the Tigers will take him. The trade also makes sense for Collingwood because they have a big interest in Poulter who they can grab at 19 and they are looking to take 5-6 picks in the draft due to their list exodus in the trade period, and we solve our problem of only wanting to use 3 picks. Macrae and Carroll is a terrific result, both are extremely versatile, extremely good ball users and could fit straight in at a wing/half back/half forward round 1 next year, if your looking for any extended write ups of them they shouldn't be too hard to find in this thread. Winder at our third round pick is a great result too, has enormous amount of skill and talent and has the potential to be a real hidden gem, I liken him to Sydney Stack. R1 1. Western Bulldogs (NGA) – Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (VIC) – key forward 2. Adelaide – Riley Thilthorpe (SA) – key forward/ruck 3. Hawthorn (traded from North for 5+30) – Logan Mcdonald (WA) – key forward 4. Sydney – Denver Grainger-Barrass (SA) – key defender 5. North Melbourne (trade from Hawthorn with 30 for 3) – Elijah Hollands (VIC) – balanced midfielder/general forward 6. Gold Coast – Will Phillips (VIC) – inside midfielder 7. Essendon – Tanner Bruhn (VIC) – inside midfielder 8. Essendon – Zach Reid (VIC) – key defender 9. Sydney – Braeden Campbell (NSW) – balanced midfielder/small forward 10. Essendon – Oliver Henry (VIC) – medium utility 11. Adelaide – Reef McInnes (VIC, Collingwood bid not matched) – inside midfielder/medium utility 12. GWS – Nik Cox (VIC) – tall utility 13. North Melbourne – Archie Perkins (VIC) – balanced midfielder/medium forward 14. Fremantle – Brayden Cook (SA) – outside midfielder/general forward 15. Port Adelaide (NGA) – Lachie Jones (SA) – general defender 16. GWS – Heath Chapman (WA) – general defender 17. Melbourne (traded from Collingwood for 24+34) – Finlay Macrae (VIC) – balanced midfielder 18. GWS – Bailey Laurie (VIC) – small forward/balanced midfielder 19. Brisbane (NGA) – Blake Coleman (QL) – small forward 20. Collingwood – Connor Stone (VIC) – medium utility 21. Collingwood (traded from Richmond for future 1st) – Tom Powell (SA) – inside midfielder 22. Sydney (NGA) – Errol Gulden (NSW) – outside midfielder/small forward 23. Melbourne – Jack Carroll (WA) – balanced midfielder/general defender 24. Collingwood (traded from Melbourne with 34 for 17) – Caleb Poulter (SA) – balanced midfielder/general forward 25. Hawthorn (NGA) – Connor Downie (VIC) – outside midfielder/general defender 26. GWS – Luke Pedlar (SA) – inside midfielder 27. St Kilda – Nathan O’Driscoll (WA) – balanced midfielder/general defender R2 28. Adelaide – Zane Trew (WA) – inside midfielder 29. Adelaide – Liam Kolar (VIC) – key forward/outside midfielder 30. North Melbourne (traded from Hawthorn with 5 for 3)– Sam Berry (VIC) – inside midfielder 31. GWS – Shannon Neale (WA) - ruck 32. Geelong – Kaine Baldwin (SA) – key forward 33. Fremantle (NGA) – Brandon Walker (WA) – general defender 34. Collingwood (traded from Melbourne with 24 for 17) – Matt Allison (VIC) – key forward/outside midfielder 35. North Melbourne – Jake Bowey (VIC) – small utility 36. Fremantle – Joel Western (WA) – small utility 37. Carlton – Corey Durdin (SA) – small forward 38. Essendon (NGA) – Josh Eyre (VIC) – tall utility 39. Richmond – Max Holmes (VIC) – outside midfielder 40. Carlton – Eddie Ford (VIC) – general forward/inside midfielder 41. Essendon (NGA) – Cody Brand (VIC) – key defender 42. North Melbourne – Ryan Angwin (VIC) – outside midfielder/general defender 43. Adelaide – Zavier Maher (VIC) – inside midfielder R3 44. Hawthorn – Max Heath (VIC) – ruck 45. Richmond (NGA) – Maurice Rioli Jnr (NT) – small forward 46. Melbourne – Isiah winder (WA) – small utility 47. Geelong – Henry Walsh (VIC) – ruck 48. Port Adelaide – Fraser Rosman (VIC) – outside midfielder

But but but I thought Pert and (turn coat) Mahns were no good?! I’ve just seen that Mahns has left, stuff him ?

YES! a great appointment fantastic. Big name with experience and a Premiership coach the players will be excited like we all should be. Well done Dees.

Oliver's strong bond and relationship with Brendan McCartney is underestimate. It makes sense why he probably felt a bit disgruntled this year. Can see Williams working wonders for him.

Sad to see Mahoney go but it seemed like it was coming. He'll be a good fit for Essendon provided he is given the authority to do his work. Good luck to him.

This is a huge mistake by MFC.

This off season it feels like the club has been tracking demonland and tried to tick off everyone’s ideas ? Think Chocco is exactly what Max/Clarry/Gus/Trac/Viney/Harmes all need. Someone to give them a few home truths and challenge them to be better collectively. I believe our midfield group could be 10-20% better with a bit more hunger and accountability in their performance.

I’m not sure he did all that much for the likes of Dusty. Maybe provided another sounding board as a mentor more than coaching. To me it’s this: “For me to look at people like Kane Lambert, Jason Castagna, Dan Butler and Ivan Soldo, I just smile.” Combined with the skills of the young Giants. They were so sharp with their hands and kicking (and attitude). Goody and the assistants can come up with a game plan. Skills is what Choco can train with the best of them. And skills are what separates the best teams.

This is a very, very good get by the club. Well done Pert and co.

Mahoney help to rebuild the club and left it in good nick regardless of where we have finish in the last 2 years. Because of Josh we now have a talented list that in time will hopefully get to achieve the ultimate. In short. Thanks Josh Mahoney for helping our great club and being part of it for 13 years. You leave us for another challenge however you will never be forgotten for your input. IMV you are a Demon for life.

The more things change the more they stay the same d stone. Just ignore them. If we won the flag they would be complaining we did not win by more.

When I heard this news for some reason that song that has the line "celerrrbbrate good times, come on!" popped into my head. Woohoo! indeed.?

Wow I am having trouble getting my head around this, we are on the move, what a great appointment. Thank you Mark Williams and MFC - Wahooo I really loved his work at Port and Tiges, move aside here we come.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

would second that, revered by many at Chirnside Park!

'Jimmy' me lad. The job was never done, it was half a....rebuild. Roos taking the money and running without getting his man. Jackson in some too and fro with the Prez, not able to complete his job. It was never finished.

The interesting thing here is going to be a clash of philosophies. Josh likes to get a deal done and looks for a win/win. Dodo...wan't win at all cost and couldn't careless about the other party. Will it work, who's will will win in the end?

The year MFC left the MCG as its training ground was 1985 which was RDB last year as coach, I was a trainer at the time.

AFL Draft 2020 power rankings: The top 30 prospects The Australian puts us in the race for Brayden Cook 20. Brayden Cook Forward/wing, 188cm, 74kg South Adelaide/SA Ranking points: 120 (SANFL U18) Clubs that would suit: GWS, Adelaide, Melbourne After growing 7cm in the past 12 months, Cook has rocketed up draft boards after a number of eye-catching performances at under-18 level. The 18-year-old has real X-factor, speed can take a strong mark – as a forward target or behind the ball – and is dangerous around goal. Dan says: When he is on, his impact is up there with the best of this draft class. Jordan says: Cook can take the game away from the opposition – he won a number of games off his own boot this year. Not many can do that. They have Carroll one spot behind him - 21. Jack Carroll Midfielder, 187cm, 79kg East Fremantle/Western Australia Ranking points: 126 (WAFL Colts 2020) Clubs that would suit: Adelaide, Brisbane, GWS Carroll enjoyed a strong WAFL Colts season, winning 60 per cent of his possession in a contest and averaging 23.1 disposals and five clearances. He’s got class on the outside but his work in congestion is now the major string to his bow and he can also be used across half-back. Dan says: I have Davies and O’Driscoll just ahead in the midfield pecking order, but Carroll shapes as a promising candidate for a club searching for a contested ball-winner in the second round. Jordan says: The Josh Kelly comparison has been made and the more I watch, the more I see it. Development of his contested game has been a real highlight this year.

Absolute friggen masterstroke by the Dees. In one day remove the last remnants of the dark years in Mahoney and bring in a known winner in Chocco Williams, i haven't been this excited in years. We are going all out it seems, hell bent on a flag(s) lots of knowledge, wisdom and Discipline in Chocco he looks very energized and appreciative of the opportunity to pass on his learnings in the game. Congratulations to the Board for handling it with such distinction.

Absolutely brilliant, we've been crying out for someone like Choco for years. Well done MFC, on the move.

He believes in himself, he believes he should be given the chance to prove himself, he believes he will prove himself to the club for giving him the chance. He believes a club and the players should always aim for the top and not settle for anything less. I like his confidence.

Mark Williams is a worthy appointment and well done Gary Pert for selecting him and now as he has said Mark is going to prove his worth to our great club. I bloody believe him and back him in.

Barlow plays at Werribee under Williams.

"Looking for outside run, creative players, good decision makers, good ball users"

Did not see that coming. Very good appointment on the face of it. From what we saw in his last couple of roles, he seems to be one of those guys that young players love, with a good mix of the old school vs the new.

A clash possibly of two styles.....into the melting pot and see what comes out..

It's happening! Mark Williams joins Melbourne as head of development

Agree PSD, He had to guide us through some very difficult times with a team that was struggling to be VFL standard. In my view he has assembled a fairly good list. On the down side he was one of a team that got Goodwin in when Roos did not initially like the idea. There is a story there for another time. All those who selected Goodwin have now left the building. Hmm

Not unexpected, as I said on the rumour only thread, fairly well known he'd applied for the Essendon position and who could blame him when the position was vacant and our FD was under review. As others have said 13 years is a long time and despite being maligned on here by posters (many of whom also question Taylor) I think he has performed well in his roll. Thanks for your service Josh

Do you think Twomey just made it up? He’s followed the draft crop to get his own opinion then probably called every club, every player manager and every junior club for mail. Every year the draft is speculative but this year way more than ever. If you look at it the top 20 or so picks are mostly WA and SA kids who showed their stuff, academy players then the elite Vics who did enough last year. There’s a pretty steep drop off somewhere in the 20’s. Almost any player picked in that range won’t have played national champs, WAFL on Sanfl seniors, Nab league finals and so on. The so called safe choices might’ve played half a dozen state league colts games, let’s not pretend they are significantly safer bets in any way.

TMac looks in good nic. Hopefully his injuries are behind him and he has a good season.