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This afternoon the Club tabled an offer to CP that if accepted would essentially make him a Demon for life. Stay alert as the offer is so attractive, we might get a prompt acceptance.

So, firstly, looking at the website there's been 13 articles in the past week. That doesn't include some of the video content (All the goals, Footy Show interviews, pre/post match content, highlights etc) "The Talking Points", "Gus & Gawny" and more. Secondly, the website is more of a hosting service than a delivery point. Have a look through the MFC socials, there's multiple posts per day, every day. Websites aren't the main point of call anymore, social is. Thirdly, of course lower budgets & less staff is an excuse (see: reason). There's literally less people and less money to do the same amount of work (or more). Be realistic about it at least, every business is adjusting to that in the current climate. Personally, as someone who works in marketing in a very digital-centric environment, I think MFC have made MASSIVE improvements year on year over the last 4-5 years. This seems a, not only inaccurate, but overly harsh assessment IMO.

A nice analysis on what we’ve changed up in our structure and how it’s helped us get to 6 and 0: https://theshinboner.com/2021/04/29/melbourne-rising-whats-behind-the-demons-unbeaten-start-to-2021-analysis-shinboner-langdon-ben-brown-pickett/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

Howe was my daughter's favourite player. The first number she ever got on her jumper was 38. My list shown below is a bit dated (circa 2015). Dwayne and BT still belong though, as does Billy Crystal. And no, wouldn't take him back.

Big difference between "if it ain't broke don't fix it" and "we have an A grade FF ready to play". You can be good, and you can be better.

Think of the compounded interest we would have earned since 1964.

Lever isn't a sniper like Rance, nor does he spit the dummy like Rance. Much better than Rance at the same age. Give me Jake any day.

Salem turned his back on FA when the 5 yr deal was put in front of him, Petracca may well do the same. Might have been clever sequencing from the Dees to sign up CP's two best mates at the club before putting the contract in front of him. It's been really good work by the club to lock Salem and Oliver away so early (and hopefully Trac soon), it takes the oxygen out of any speculation and allows the club to have singular focus on performing on the field. Brilliant.

This one too. Can you imagine if he was 10 times the player Hunt is. 5000 metres gained every week. Tough to do.

An intellectual lol. Someone with just a touch of intelligence wouldn’t need to keep asking the difference between May and Howe leaving their respective clubs. They could work it out for themselves. May has been nothing but respectful to Gold Coast. Where as your mate has stuck the boots in like a smart [censored]. Kids went to watch him with his number on their back, to say he played in front of no crowds shows no class or appreciation of those who supported him, even if it was just a [censored] joke. And you should probably have a look at your own garbage posts before calling people names, doc.

Why is everyone upset? Ofcourse wed give him a huge [censored] offer he is a gun.

I agree with you that the use of handballs wasn't a change in game plan. What I think it was, was an indication of a significant coming of age in the playing group. I think it showed that they are now able in the middle of a game to respond to a changing set of circumstances. In this case the Tigers opening with ferocious attack on the contests was leaving our players exposed and isolated and forced to dispose of the ball ineffectively under immense pressure. The first thing I believe that happened after that first 15 minutes barrage was the players, in the moment on the field, realised they had to increase the support by getting more numbers back around the contests so we were no longer isolated. Once we did that we started to turn the tide. We then used the system around the contests Jordan Lewis said he has been teaching them to have strings of players away from the contest ready to release the ball further and further into space. This is a significant development of the game plan we've been waiting for years for. It's hopefully the end of the bees to the honey pot syndrome. Secondly we realised the way to retain control of the ball was not to always kick long to release pressure which is how I've seen MFC play forever and usually means top teams like the Tigers end up with our clearing disposals. Instead we used handballs to clear into space and then look much further down the ground and if there aren't clear options kick short thus keeping possession. Salem is the master of this. I think this is the single most significant change in the way the team is playing that gives me the most confidence they are becoming a top 4 side. Running in numbers is the key to all of this. You can't run back deep in defence to help out or far in attack to create options if you don't have the fitness. You don't have the fitness until you've had enough years in the system and you have the right fitness people training you. We finally have a critical number of players who have been around long enough. We should have been here in about 2011-12 after the rebuilds started at the end of 2007. Instead of that we've waited through 3 1/2 rebuilds. I think there's only about 3 players left from when Roosy started. Gawn, T Mac, Viney. Salem's draft was the first under Roosy. There's so much else that's gone into this finally happening. But it mainly seems to be a critical mass of players reaching the number of games necessary to understand the game enough to respond to changing circumstances mid game and make the right decisions. Without that you have nothing. Those decisions are taught by the right coaches which we now appear to have. This week they are likely to face a lot less pressure at the face of the contest so will probably be able to get into space away from contests without needing to handpass as much. This won't be a change to the game plan it will be a response to the state of the game.

The new look VFL with its 22 teams is beginning to look lopsided and problematic. The fact that each team plays 16 matches and therefore won’t play 5 of the other teams during the regular season could lead to inequities when it comes to deciding the finals. This is not the ideal competition.

Dom Tyson has certainly fallen from grace and it's a bit sad in a way. Came to the club and was definitely one who gave his all and contributed well from 2014-2016. Then obviously with the natural growth and improved from our current mids this pushed him out onto a wing where unfortunately he was found out for his lack of pace. Went to north hoping to restart his career, but yet cannot get a spot in one of the worst sides we've seen in a long time. All the best to Domma.

All his best mates are signed up, the team is playing really well and the future looks very bright. He'll sign for sure.

Firstly, I would love to have been close to listen to the Roos/Jetta talk It looked as if Roos was giving him a few coaching tips. Secondly, I loved some of the play that I saw from the Melbourne listed players. Bowey and D. Smith in defence look as if they can both develop into good players. Bradke looked a hell of a lot better than I thought he would. A couple of years and a stack of Kilos and he might just make it. Sparrow was very good and I will call it now, In two years time he will be in the first 3 picked in the seniors for the midfield. Harmes was good enough coming off a break of 4 weeks or so. Will be better for the run. Chandler and to a lesser extent, Bedford are both ready to step in a small forward slot if one becomes vacant. When Weid gets a run in the seniors he will be very hard to replace. Good to see that Casey are playing and structured exactly the same way that Melbourne play.

ALEX RANCE VS JAKE LEVER ALEX RANCE IN 2017 Disposals 16.0 Contested possessions 6.8 Intercept marks 3.2 Intercept possessions 9.4 Spoils 8.4 One-on-one mark win % 8.5 One-on-one win % 36.9 One-on-one loss %14.9 JAKE LEVER IN 2021 Disposals 16.2 Contested possessions 7.7 Intercept marks 4.8 Intercept possessions 11.2 Spoils 5.7 One-on-one mark win % 27.3 One-on-one win % 36.4 One-on-one loss % 22.7

Boy, Lynch has some mental demons in front of goal. Couldn't happen to a better bloke.

Yeah, I don't think we should pay any of our players until we've won a premiership.

You don't flirt with your form. You pick the side that gets it done for you. If T-Mac's form drops away, you drop him. What message does it say to our players when they are getting dropped because of their birth certificate? I think you're giving Weid far too little credit. He won't sook up because he's not getting a run at the moment. His time will come. It's a great position for the club to be in.

What a ridiculous notion. Based on that logic, we should drop Stephen May because he is 29 and bring in Harry Petty immediately because he is younger and out of contract. Regardless of form.

I take a different view. Howe was effectively sacked, he wanted to stay and we said no. I don't think May was in the same position but I don't know what GCS's attitude was. Like it or not I don't think we handled the Howe situation well at all so I think Howe had good reason to feel hurt by what happened and hence probably didn't feel the need to say nice things about us. And his quip about small crowds was a funny one liner. People have thin skins. If you were the supporter of another club you'd just laugh because it was a reasonably funny comment. Perhaps he shouldn't have made it, perhaps we shouldn't be such snowflakes.

I’ll wait for Tony Shaw’s response.

Any word from Judd's grandmother if Petracca has signed or not?

'Breaking: Contract offered to Petracca' probably not the most mind-blowing headline of the year though in fairness.

Hard not to have a soft spot for Mitch after that moment in Geelong final in ‘18. Still gives me goosebumps when I watch the clip. Good luck Mitch!

Some of the potting of the clubs media is a bit ridiculous. They bring out the 'back from hell' video and people complain that they shouldn't have. Go back to normal media and people complain it isn't enough.... I think the stuff they are doing is great.... although I'm concerned there hasn't been a Gus & Gawny podcast this week

Christian wants the big stage, and that means the MCG and regular finals. He will be paid well anywhere, but, leaving purely for money doesn't strike me as his motivation. Christian seems to have matured quite a lot, and is very team driven whilst expecting a lot from himself. He feeds off his mates and looks to have very strong friendships with many of the boys. He'd never go interstate (his nonna would kill him), and no other MCG tenant look set for sustained success. Richmond will likely plateau and then slide, Hawthorn are a while off while Collingwood seems to be headed for an unpleasant few years. What a [censored] shame. He is in his prime and we seem to have turned a corner. Our list is so balanced across each line and demographically. Clearly I have no idea to the contract specifics. However, as an approx top 5-10 player in the competition, he's going to be rewarded very handsomely. Being one of the driving forces in bringing success to the Dees with some of your best mates must appeal. Silver service out of the ruck must appeal. Having a A grade well balanced list of contributors will allow him to achieve his best, and that must appeal. X ?️

Pretty sure Lever never hit someone who was on the ground in the back of the head.

When kicking for goal he will begin his run up in Launceston

All this talk about Sam Weidmann is perhaps overblown. We are one injury away from needing him for immediate call up. TMAc, Jackson, Brown or even Gawn go down and Sam is next most likely (Maybe Majak an outside chance if its Gawn). It is a long season, Dogga is only in his second year, so I’m sure Sam’s time will come. He also is being developed as a CHF type (to BBB full forward). There is a spot in the team for him with the other talls if Jackson plays a slightly different role and TMac plays link-up HFF/Wing. A forward setup of weids, BBB and Frittata with Kossie and ANB/Spargo would be a challenge if the ball is coming in properly. I cannot see us wanting to let him go - if someone come calling, they are going to offer a fair bit for an AFL-ready forward. Media will beat it up, but Sam is in a good place in a good team. Hope he kicks the door down by playing the ‘system’ so well we can’t leave him out. Also, Given the team is 6-0, making one change to the forward structure at a time makes sense. Sam might already be on a path to get back to the firsts, just one that suits the team rather than him.

Yep He will get a game if we need to tag someone or injuries occur Great depth at the Dees. And for all these posters that think Weiderman should be in the side instead of TMac, try going to a game TMac deserves his spot & I’m so wrapt for him after not being wanted by the club he’s dug deep & completely turned his career around, shows fantastic character

Is Tom Sparrow just Jack Viney with footy IQ?

Plz close thread. Then delete it. Then shutdown Demonland. At least til Monday.

Lynch and Reiwoldt. Would it be possible to be spearheaded by two greater flogs?

This is the first time the Dogs have been challenged/pressured this year and they’re crumbling.

He is really unlikeable.

The MFC website including it's social media channels is so much better now than it was in the early days of the internet and even what it was say just 5 years ago.

I think the difference with the handballing we did is that most teams handball as a way of shifting the pressure away from themselves and on to a team mate, because they are under intense pressure. Handballing, in itself, isn't a bad way to play but it depends on how and why you do it. Richmond relies on pressure around the ball to either turn the ball over or to force a longer kick down the line. Teams often feel this pressure and shift the ball to a safe player behind the ball (putting that player, who is in a worse spot, under pressure) or chip it sideways to a free player (which slows the game and forces a long kick down the line). But there are only limited resources on the ground at any time, so you have to make choices about where to spend them. For example, we used Hibberd to tag which has advantages but also robs us of a line breaker. In Richmond's gameplan, they commit players to pressure around the ball and towards the defensive side of the contest, and commit them to defending the long kick down the line that results from that pressure. The tradeoff is that a composed short disposal forwards from the contest will be going into the gap where those pressure players have come from because they only have a finite amount of resources on ground. We exploited this gap with composed handballs to players who were taking the ball forwards. This took the pressure players out of play and forced their down-the-line defenders to come at the ball, which took away their defensive shape and allowed us to get some one on one (or better) looks near goal. To do this you have to be a good team with good footballers around the ball. Salem was wonderful at this by being able to absorb the pressure behind the ball and make great decisions that turned that pressure back against the Richmond tacklers.

I do find the we sacked Jeremy How comment interesting considering in July 2015 it was Howe and his management that put off contract talks until the end of the year. This article at the time August 2015 stated that Paul Roos in fact wanted to keep Howe. https://www.afl.com.au/news/196826/demons-restart-jeremy-howe-contract-talks With Jeremy we've just started talking to his manager again about what he wants to do. "We're really keen to have him part of the footy club … he's started to settle in as a defensive player and is playing some really good footy."

I'm looking for a similar scoreline on Sunday - we owe these campaigners.

Good news an offer is formally on the table. I trust goodwindees, I believe he's mentioned before he's mates with a certain player.

The stand out in terms of quality tonight (and last few weeks as well) was Foot. Looks to be an exciting prospect if we could land him albeit I'm still not 100% convinced and would like to see alot more. Weid was solid but no cigar tonight. Work rate great to get to plenty of drop spots/contests up field and up forward but when that ball hits the deck I'm sorry, there's just very little to see here defensively or offensively at ground level. And it's that last part. If he could bring a little of that on a regular basis he'd be hard to keep out of the ones. One could argue BB is no better here, possibly worse. But what BB does bring is proven accuracy at AFL level and a tad extra in terms of height & leap. Extra height that will worry the opp and makes him a very difficult match up. Extra leap that often sees him taking the ball at the highest point, pushing his opponent to try just that little bit harder to spoil and often drawing a few extra free kicks for the cheap goal or two. Which can sometimes be the difference in a tight match. Harmes very busy and lots of grunt but as others have said here there just isn't much thinking going on with his general play at the moment. He'll be better for the run though and not writing him off just yet provided he's played in this similar role from here. Looks like a fish out of water whenever he goes behind the ball. Rosman is the other stand out in terms of class and work rate. Very raw but shows glimpses of 'special' on occasions. Exciting prospect. Sparrow was quite good, got involved in plenty and did some lovely inside to outside work but again, not to a level that says (to me) he's busted the door down (again) and a sure fire replacement for someone at this stage. Bradtke...also has his moments but offsets them with far too many fumbles/blunders for mine and is still super raw. Chandler and Bedford are good, sometimes very good, at this level but I still don't see either as being up to holding their place at AFL level ATM. That's not to say either won't play the odd game upstairs either. I'm sure one or both will eventually get a look. Just not AS excited with these two YET that some others are on here. More time needed to develop. Another very good team effort though and if Maj had stayed on for most of that second half well, that final margin could have ended up blowing out by another 3 to 4 goals i reckon. Norf's list is a doozy at the moment. Not much of a tester for anyone today. Onwards to next week.

Nice to see Paul Roos and Jetta having a chat. Genuinely hope we keep Jetta around the club after this season. A champion human.

Sideshow Bob has been kicking goals for years. The Weid has had a few good games at AFL Level. The jump between VFL and AFL is massive

Haven’t heard May say a bad word about Gold Coast since he left. Same can’t be said for Howe. Howe has carried himself like a [censored] since he left us.

Would be happy seeing Big Benny Brown or "Brenny" as Angus Bradshaw calls him kick 3 or 4 goals. I will admit....seeing "Brenny" kick a big bag of 7 or more goals would be extremely enjoyable though! I am sure he will want to prove the Kangaroos wrong for wanting to get rid of him! Nevertheless, getting the win against the Kangaroos is far more important. I hope the Demons players remain focused and don't get too ahead of themselves and start drinking their own bath water. Just gotta play one quarter at a time and be humble and respect our opponents no matter where they sit on the ladder.

Nor is Huge contract offered to petracca. He has gone from one of the best players in tbe AFL. To one of the best 5, arguably 3. Max must be in the conversation for top 5 too.

Just quietly putting together a pretty good start to his VFL career. Currently averaging 24 disposals in all 3 games he's played so far.