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MFC fans: "Our player contracts are too long" "Our player contracts are too short"

Club has actively been trying to get Brown involved in some way for a few months, at one stage the rumour was a board position was on offer. Fingers crossed this is a hint/step towards more official involvement from him.

Just listening to Angus's mum on ABC Grandstand. What a terrific person. Raised 4 boys, 3 to elite level sport and with them all out of the nest has taken in Luke J, Kossie and Trent Rivers into their home. An inspiration.

Compare that to the other clubs... Judd, Black, Hird, Fyfe, Ablett, Dusty, Cousins, Harvey, Pendlebury.,, Thank god we have Trac and Oliver coming through.

My problem is that I still remember the player numbers from the 1950s and 1960s like they were still playing, but I struggle with the current team. I mentioned this to Mrs Deeoldfart one day last season, and she comforted me by saying "that's quite understandable dear, the game is so much faster these days".

Slim pickings.

JB a great player of the game and a triple premiership player in the positions that the Weid is trying to make it in. 24 yo now not the teenager in his first season has had success in finals playing in the forward line before. I believe JB'S knowhow might be the key to unlocking his talents. Will be watching him growing in confidence in 2021 and beyond and with much interest.

I think positioning and not getting enough easy ball are far bigger problems for Weid than toughness or presence. The lack of reliable second option meant he had to be up the ground, and the game plan to get goal side for long bombs to the square left him sprinting deep. The Jackson - Weid combo worked briefly before Jacko went down. Personally I’d rather stick with that but the Brown-Weid combo should be able to produce similar results. But part of that is Weid finding easy ball when he’s up the ground or even leading inside 50. Add a couple of uncontested marks each game and another half a goal a week and he’s right up with the best forwards.

Bit of garbage from you there.

Pert has been a player and a CEO, never a coach or football manager as far as I know, so I am concerned when he gets involved in footy his opinions will be framed by his playing experience. And he played when key forwards were vital which is different to how footy is played now. When you add in the misadventures of the Collingwood football department during his time there it doesn't fill me with confidence. I guess he has picked Richo and given him the chance to take the reigns now. Demonland opinion has soured on him but he's an experienced football person who did far better than others would've with what he was given at the Saints, let's hope he's making the right calls.

Mate not one even said that at all. You're making up lies now.

I thought the same. A fantastic warrior, but the fact that he won 3 x B'n'F s without ever being AA shows how poor the team was during his career. Oliver and Petracca are way better players. Hopefully they have long careers with MFC.

wait, but Oliver wasn't even in our best 22 last year at some stages according to some demonlanders. LOL, you lot. Oliver is the best 21st century mid

When Farmer left Melbourne it was the only time I have seriously considered abandoning the Demons. Such a gut punch.

Only Melbourne supporters would be making excuses or being panicky 3 months out from a game. Freo are a well coached improving outfit but if we have the pre season we expect with the list that we have then we win this well. No excuses. And on Jackson if you were he or the club how many years would you extend for to maximise your value either way.

This is clearly an article that does not know want to answer its own question.Its not asking who has been the most consistent, durable, dependable it has asked who is your best. Take all we’ve had over that time at the top of their game and do a school yard pick and I double many would choose Jones to start their midfield. Oliver for me on the basis of consistency of high quality output. However one more season of Trac 2020 and that would also shift.

Thank you Debra and the Brayshaws plus all the other host families and player sponsors for the Dees. A most underrated and valuable resource which must give much comfort to all Footballers families and faith in our Club. Well done Dees !!

He’s absolutely recovered and very very fit

Prime example would be David Neitz. I reckon in the 2nd half of his career he turned his training mentality to become one of the aggressive power forwards of the game. Would crash packs and go in to bat for his teammates. Russell Robertson and Jeff Farmer have been on record to say they always walked taller when big Neita was around the area. Weid lacks that. In fact I doubt there would be any defenders in the league that fear playing on him. Weideman is a nice fella, but its time to get some ruthless and aggression in his game if he needs to take the next step forward.

For the record, it is absolutely possible to train 'tough'. Hell, you can train people to be savage killers if you're willing to go that way. More practically, it is absolutely possible to train people to keep their eyes on the ball when anticipating a collision, to initiate/respond to heavy body contact in a marking contest, or to hit a pack at speed in pursuit of a mark. These things are decisions and habits that can be trained and provide something very close to 'toughness' even if you don't have Jonathan Brown's look like he's about to solo wrestle and haul out the mad ram that got into the home paddock again.

Realistically we have to assume he is a fair way off AFL standard, even with development, as evidenced by 2 clubs passing on him as a father/son, or even rookie. We have given him a chance to show he has the ability and work ethic, but as good as having a son of the Wiz on our list would be for the fans, it is a waste of a spot, if he simply isn’t good enough and but for his name would be nowhere near an AFL club list. That would cost us a potential player who we could have taken instead. There are plenty of father/sons out there who are simply not good enough, or have other passions, so clearly the pedigree alone can’t determine spots on our list. Here’s hoping though for Kobe!

You can't teach tough.

I have gone out on a limb and predicted Tom as the MFC most improved player in 2021.

All I want for Xmas is a flag. Not too much to ask. Merry Xmas everybody

I actually really love the fact he wears his helmet mainly for his mum. The studies done on wearing helmets show minimal (if any) assistance to persistent concussion issues, but he wears it because he knows his mum worries.

Wouldn't it be great if the mantle gets taken by neither Oliver or Petracca but by one of the even newer players on our list?

Alright, looking forward to Goff airing it out I've got him for over 276 and Kupp TD, Woods 71+ yards. As a matter of fact all bets involve the Rams winning. Better find the nearest shower :p

Probably won't peak for another season or two as he hasn't built enough strength into his body yet. He is still too easily bodied out of contests. But with three tall options and some smarts around playing decoy and sheparding for one another and leading patterns he can definitely be part of a functioning forward line. As for Brown he was an Apex predator in the classic full forward role of Carey and Lockett. Weids is not an Apex personality, he is more similar in personality to a Matthew Lloyd. Lloyd was under a master coach. Weids desperately needs good coaching.

Raised four boys and now looking after three more footballers? Australian of the Year!!

I opened this thinking she had taken over from Gus to complete traditional 100/100s.

Mark Brayshaw played for North Melbourne and Claremont aprox 142 games in Total and Mark's father Ian Brayshaw was an all rounder playing cricket for WA and was an excellent player captained WA and played over 100 first class matches. however did not play for Australia. Ian Brayshaw is father of Mark and James who is a former State cricketer. A commentator for Afl footyball on radio and TV. Mark has 4 sons 3 play AFL footy and Angus Brayshaw is his son. Now that is an elite sports family. Debra Brayshaw has an elite sports family in her life and bet she keeps them level headed.

3qts of that game was like a training drill for Melbourne, if we can stop in game lapses we are a top 6/8 side. And playing at our best can have a real crack at the flag. That should be the aim, imo no way we miss finals next year and n ok way Oliver goes anywhere

Wrong Dr. If you couldn't see his bulking up then you are either not looking or maybe a Spec savers apprentice. Vlearly Tommy has bulked up look at his thighs etc. I am looking for a renewed Fit and agile player who can play forward back or ruck. Lets not be stupid an try and play him on a wing he won't be up to the pace of our New wingers or Ed . Good luck Tommy.!

Troy Broadbridge passed away on this day in 2004, on the Phi Phi Islands, Thailand, one of 227,898 victims of the Boxing Day Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami. Never forgotten.

Merry Christmas to all on Demonland and to your families and loved ones from the bottom of my heart. Regardless of your beliefs, I wish everyone a safe and peaceful Christmas/New Year break. Hoping next year is a better one for all and for everyone no matter where in the world they are. Merry Christmas and a Happier New Year 2021 (even for all the Scrooges) ?

Two things that stood out for me about Rivers and why I think he’ll make it: 1) his debut against Carlton in round 2. After fluffing his first disposal he made up for it in his next disposal and totally hit the ground running from there with his composure and crisp disposal from half back. One of the better MFC debuts in recent years. 2) That goal against GWS. With the season on the line the kid stepped up to the plate and snapped an extremely difficult goal in the dying minutes which suggests to me that he’ll be comfortable on the big stage. An excellent debut season by Trent.

if.... if tom is fully recovered from injury if tom has a good preseason and gets fully fit if tom can avoid future injury ....then he just might have a very good year. we know his best is very good.

....... and a huge thank you to Andy, the Mods and everyone else involved in providing us Demon 'tragics' with far and away the best fan site in the AFL. You deserve a premiership for your efforts.

I feel that despite his foot and agility issues we are better off for having Tom on the List, he can provide back up in the back line forward line and ruck and who knows he may have to earn his keep in all three roles going into 2021 and beyond. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just looked at Wikipedia and Roy Park was a pretty incredible guy. As a teenager, I remember hearing a number of old guys of the day say that he was the greatest schoolboy footballer and cricketer they had ever seen. Served in WW1 and played for Uni, Dees and North. A little guy at 5ft 5 he kicked lots of goals but retired after being suspended for 4 weeks for hitting a player. He maintained he did not commit the offence and was outraged by the suspension. Clearly a man of principle. His Test career was one test and a first ball duck. His wife dropped her knitting and missed his entire Test career. Served as an administrator and his son in law was ex Test cricketer and Sec of the MCC, Ian Johnson. His entry in Wikipedia is worth a read for history buffs.

It’s not unusual for key position forwards to bulk up. I’ve heard commentators advising Weiderman to hit the gym and get bigger. The extra bulk helps when crashing the pack, outbodying opponents or protecting the drop zone. I think TMac’s problems started with his foot injury. If the foot is ok then he might be able to get back to a reasonable level of performance. Fingers crossed.

Is it? If the FD tell a player to bulk up, can you imagine a non star player refusing?

He looks very, very skinny and young. But if that's the main reason he's been overlooked it makes sense to see what happens to his body with even a couple of months in the system. There's little point leaving a spot vacant for a year.

I the picture he looks not much shorter than Viney or Spargo

Personally I reckon Tom will prove his worth over the next 2 years

Could have been alot worse, could be in Collingwood's shoes.????? It's not the end of the world guys and girls, i hope this sparks a fire from within for Tmac. He's just going to have to wait for his opportunity to shine.

Quite happy for T Mac to remain at our club. If he can shed the kgs, then I think he still has plenty to offer. Personally, I don't get the benifit of us paying several hundred grand a year for someone else to be getting a solid mature player, while we'd still be paying an additional few hundred grand for any sort of backup worth having. T Mac's versatility is a big plus he has going for him IMHO. Can do a respectable job up forward, down back or in the ruck. If Max gets injured, I don't want us to have to be in a position of flogging the guts out of Jackson if his body isn't quite there. Conversely, I'd be quite comfortable with rotating Brown, Jackson and T Mac through as ruck/forwards. Actually thought T Mac was starting to find form as a forward and clunk some good big strong marks before he got his eye poked out of its socket earlier this season. If Steve May goes down, we still need a player capable of taking on the gorilla forwards. Not so worried about his previous weaknesses woth disposal comming out of defense. It's true that he was pretty hit and miss by foot at that time, but we were a side under siege in those days without the same quality of players around him. Beyond all, I do like the sentiment of T Mac finishing in Red and Blue. He's been with us, copped pleanty through some pretty lean times and think he deserves some respect and an oppertunity to share in any success that we might have in the next two or three years.

Gus often references his mum in interviews and it’s not hard to see why. If there were awards for raising kids she’d be front of the line.

Must have shares in Weetbix, seriously can you imagine the grocery bill.

All teams need good people to help out when youngsters are brought into a club. Mother (and father?) Brayshaw certainly fit that bill. All of their boys seem like genuinely nice fellas, and that is a direct reflection on the parents. It is a very good thing that they have opened their doors to our new generation of players. Thank you Brayshaws....