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Wtf… Jackson IS the generational talent He’s already a premiership player who changed the course of the grand final

Love Jacko, and would love him to stay, but if we want sustained success the conversation will be happening asking Jackson what he wants and if it’s to leave you look after #1 and get the best deal for the club moving forward Oscar Allen and a first round pick gets it done for me. #1 pick Tom Scully leaving effectively got us Hogan who got us May AA defender Frawley leaving gets us an extra first rounder seeing us nab Bradshaw and Trac I dare say Trac, Gus and May were all vitally important in us winning the flag last year. No player is bigger than the club, keep evolving and improving I have great faith in Jason Taylor making the right decisions

Harmesy will always be a Demon Legend, for “That Kick”

There was never a debate or conjecture to begin with. When I began the discussion around loading around a year ago, and provided information to demonstrate the science and how it occurs in season as well as my own personal experience. I was pretty surprised at the resistance… but then I shouldn’t have been surprised, we don’t all share the same experiences, not do we make sense of the world in the same way. Particularly when we are emotionally invested. The beauty of these threads is that some people - have far more intimate knowledge than others and they’re great at expanding on and detailing it far more forensically than I ever could. @binman in particular has championed discussion around it, both here and in the pod… and there are others too who had added relevant and detailed insights. @1964_2 @—coach— @Vipercrunch Nice that it’s finally spoken about on live tv now…and the quotes from Chris, hopefully that legitimises it for those sceptics/cynics/rooted in convention of the past. And more importantly creates meaningful discussion in a media landscape that chooses not to acknowledge for reasons most probably around gambling. By this thread, I just wanted to create a space where people could make sense of teams fluctuations in form at periods of time in the year that a) didn’t fit form and demonstrated ability and b) actually shone a light into what occurs in elite sport. Hope it’s helped illuminate.

Aaron Cadman - Key Forward Height: 194cm Weight: 88kg This is one player to keep an eye on during the upcoming stage league games as a potential Key Forward prospect. A member of the AFL academy, he plays for Greater Western Victoria Rebels where he played as a key defender in his under-age year. This year he has been switched to the forward line where he has kicked 18 goals in 7 games and has been praised for his repeat efforts and "vice like" marking. Reading some draft watchers opinions, including a writer from rookie me (formerly draft central), they believe he's poised to come into first round and potentially top 10 calculations as the premier key forward in the draft. Has been named for Vic Country which kick off their campaign next week vs SA on Sunday the 26th. In terms of our key forward stocks, we all know that B. Brown and Tmac are approaching the end of their careers and already proving inconsistent when on the park. Our key forward cupboard currently includes M. Brown (likely to be delisted) and Weideman (so far failed to cement a best 22 spot). JVR has yet to debut but shows promising signs at Casey. This should see a Key Foward become a primary area of focus for our recruiting team (as well as a developing ruck). Now perhaps this would be more appropriately addressed via trade and free agency but the cupboards are pretty bare this season with Dan McStay the best on the market so far. Another option would be to look within, with someone like Petty showing ability in the front half. However some would view that as robbing Peter to pay Paul. In my view we could do with another developing Key Foward on our list while Brown and McDonald can let them ply their craft at Casey. This link below is a fantastic resource for draft enthusiasts. https://central.rookieme.com/afl/

Strikes me as the sort of bloke who would stay for a pay cut. Heart and soul player

The bloke literally flipped a grand final on it's head and helped us win a flag, even IF he leaves, that selection has been completely, without a doubt worth it.

And we have the best player in the AFL on our list, who becomes a restricted free agent at the end of next year, to focus on.

It is difficult to see how Freo can get either Jackson or Neale in a trade, let alone both. They may have the salary cap to pay them but little to trade with. They have signed up all their good talent. Those left OOC aren't anything to write home about; some barely 'steak knives'. Would they turn round and trade out a player they recently signed. Unlikely. And their draft picks will not be attractive.

Must be a very desparate club if Jordan de goey is the one player you would take. Must be north

His value, worth, salary may well be decided in the next few weeks when Max is injured. It may also help him realise the value of being surrounded by a good team rather than being the high priced, trophy recruit, saviour.

Not that I want Jacko to go and while I don’t believe the Sumich rumour, which could be Jacko’s manager trying to scare us, but just consider this if he did go. Would you take a player at 3, who helps you win a flag after 57 years without one and is then traded, for say 2 first round picks and a few players who might solve your ruck and forward issues for the next few years? If Jacko is traded, we are in the box seat. WC are on the improve and shouldn’t be on the bottom at season’s end, which should avert the fear of the PSD. I still think he will re sign with us, but now think it may be a longer deal, with better money for Jacko. This rumour could be the Manager’s attempt to get him the best deal, if he has told him he wants to commit to us. I just can’t see any way Freo, with its list and need to re sign players, could flash that offer around and actually manage it. Other players would want their share if he was getting that much. It is just way over the top. $7m over 7 years is way over the top. $10.5m is ridiculous. Then again.

If they value him that highly they'd have to be prepared to hand over a mountain of players and picks in a trade.

With senior players returning and form improving, the Eagles could help our cause to return to the top and hopefully knock off a few of our rivals. They were competitive enough on Saturday to indicate that upsets were possible. Since finals are out of the question I hope they win all their remaining games. Don't believe I wrote that, as living in Perth I DETEST the weagles and would normally want them to lose all games. Yes, I do have one red and one blue eye.

I imagine the FD saw us at 8-0 coming up against an historically terrible Eagles, followed by 4 straight games in Melbourne to lead into the bye and determined it was best to try to make use of those fixtures to begin their loading regime. There was a lot of 7 day breaks and then the 9 day break into the QB game. Enough time to have the heavy training sessions right in the middle between games and hope that the fatigue levels were manageable. Like you, @binman, I think it's a certainty to continue after the bye. However given our two non-consecutive Thursday night games I imagine we'll see something like: Players returning tomorrow from the break, makes it tough to load up and not be fatigued for Thursday night. I imagine a more moderate training into the game vs the Lions The 9 day break into Round 16 vs Crows offers more time to have a heavier training load The 5 day break into Round 17 vs Cats will likely see an easier week on the training track, as the game itself will act as a heavy training session being so close to the previous game. The 10 day break into Round 18 vs Port again offers enough time to load up once again Their is then a 6 day break into the Round 19 game vs the Doggies - this one could go either way. The coincidence of playing the Dogs for a second time in Round 19 exactly like last year is an amazing coincidence! I think we will see energised performances against the Lions and Cats, and sluggish performances against the Crows and Port, and possible the Dogs. We could win or lose any of them but that's just my guess as to how the team will look during those games.

I'm assuming "bosses" means Presidents, but who would Kate have chosen from a rival club? I would think Max King or Aaron Naughton.

Get a guide dog pal You are not watching

Harmes has two years on his contract (OOC 2024 when he will be 29) so if he goes it will be because he thinks it is good for him. Doubt he is on high $ so it might be his best chance to build his financial future especially if a longer contract and extend his career into his 30's. He has fulfilled every possible football dream. Drafted to the team he followed, became part of the regular 22 and most of all has a premiership medal. What a dream come true for a once-upon-a-time, rookie. Will always be a demon through and through. Hate seeing one of our players go at any time but would still be happy for Harmes - he has given all he has to the red and blue.

We couldn’t send him to Norf. That would be such a bad thing to do.

Some Demonlanders want their cake and eat it, without taking the time and effort to bake it! So we finally win our flag last year after 57 years - and it was fantastic, who will ever forget those 7 3rd qtr goals, particularly the last 3 in 32 secs, just unbelievable! The expectation by many is only a flag will do in 2022. But two critical factors influence every season in luck and injuries. Finishing top 4 should be the expectation and then fingers crossed, as best team doesn’t always win - Tigers 2018 Mason Cox plays one of four good games in career & Dusty injured! As you have tried to explain many times(thanks) loading impacts performance in season, but benefits come during finals (as stated yesterday by Scott)! Add in in game injuries and illness over the last 3 weeks and the dramatic drop off in the last quarter due to loading, losses understandable! Fingers crossed on the injury front, 3 wins out of 9 make the eight and maybe only 5 make top 4, let’s hope for better. But if we can find our best from last years finals, there isn’t any one who will beat us from what I’ve seen this year! Loading is just part of the baking! Go Demons!!

Well, i don't think that is entirely true. Plenty of posters (this year and last year) dismissed the idea completely. In any case surely the debate whether loading is the primary reason (by which i assume you mean the main factor) is also over. There are many factors involved in our current form slump, but the evidence makes it clear to me that loading is the main one in terms of casualty and impact (by the by i'm happy for people to disagree with this opinion, but can't be bothered entering into a debate about it).

My issue with ticketed games is the inability to choose where one sits … for me, I hate level 1 and deep in the pockets. In the good old days I could walk up and sit roughly where I enjoy the game most. Now I can’t. Gil - my “game day experience” is becoming less and less enjoyable due to the incessant non game related NOISE. I guess in your corporate box you can enjoy a chat with others while we peasants endure the inane din.

Not a go at you but pretty sure Darcy Moore hasn’t faced sexual assaults charges. They’re two different cats.

This must be what it's like reading the Herald Sun. 58 pages in and still no actual news.

We have found a player in Disco. Looked very comfortable in his debut before being concussed.

10.5 over 7 sounds made up and would make him the highest paid player in the afl, but if true dees should take freo to the cleaners you can’t offer that kind of contract and only offer peanuts in a trade. 2 picks in side 5 or there Brayshaw and a pick inside 5, either would the minimum

If it came from Sumich it will be 100% incorrect

This is even worse, Pink Lady should always be a Saturday night. You get people who want to be a part of the night even if they don’t care for either team. It’s a more worthy cause than most in the AFL and the AFL are shafting it. Being a Thursday 95% of those who would think to go on a Saturday night will not go to the Thursday game. The AFL are so cooked that meth heads look down on them.

I hope Collingwood miss the 8 purely and simply because West Coast’s WAFL side beat them in round 4.

Bring on the losses, big losses, I want them to eat their own

I wondered this myself after the Pies loss, the question is is his loss of form due to the rest of the team playing poorly or is his form drop separate to the larger team? There are many players where when the top falls they can’t contribute in the same way (ANB, Spargo, Sparrow come to mind here). I hope Bowey is separate to that, he looks a long term prospect but when you look at someone like Brayshaw who still gives everything to get us over the line when the rest of the team isn’t performing, that’s the sort of player I want Bowser to become.

I just can't believe that Sumich propose offer from Freo. How do they afford it first of all. And secondly they'll need to come up with a suitable trade, we're not accepting two mid-late teen picks for him (unless we've lined up more deals to trade up which really should be on them to do first). I'm not going to speculate, until he decides not to I'll assume he is re-signing with us.

After the Geelong Eagles game Hawkins said that Geelong have had increased training the last 2 weeks. Following that comment Nathan Buckley said that all teams are in different training modes depending on their plans for the season.

Bottom line is, IF Weed is selected then true MFC supporters should give him every support and encouragement. Deriding his selection cannot do him or the team any good at all.

That sounds ludicrous

Great post. Luke has been off the boil these past weeks and needs to justify the hype at present IMO. He has now been handed a gold-plated opportuniy with Max out. If we snag several of the next few games, against the tide, he will have absolutely locked away his potential and worth , if not, it may just then be hype. And we move on whatever happens a la Hogan the experience and wish him well..

Your MFCSS is out of control at the moment BBP. We have an excellent recruitment team. JT is best in the business. We don't win a premiership without his genius selections Dogga will most likely re-sign. But even if he doesn't he was still worth it imv. And we'll get plenty in return in any trade

You actually Hate the MFC I have read ENOUGH of your regurgitated garbage. Ignore Time

He was directly involved in just one of our seven goals in the third quarter of the GF.

Well, mea culpa, I was wrong, at least one team is going for it. Will be interesting to see what this throws up in terms of what other teams might acknowledge. Amongst all this, I've wondered whether or not teams were reluctant to even discuss it given the dim view the AFL takes of anything that could compromise results, whether it's from over/under training, team selection etc. The T word rears its head (see above). Equally, would be really intrigued to see just what data/studies there are to support a "heavy mid-season training block" in June leading to a peak in September.

Saints supporters on BF definitely bemoaning their lack of "effort" and "heart" last night. They definitely looked sluggish last night (and last week) as did the Swans in the little I saw of them today. It's clear most club's aiming for finals (top 4 really) are doing this, my concern is more about our injuries to key players rather than the sluggishness. We will rebound later in the season, of that I have no doubt.

If that’s true then Freo are silly and Luke would be silly not to take the money. He’s a very good player already and turned the momentum in a Grand Final, but that kind of money should be reserved for a Lance Franklin or Dustin Martin type in their prime. Don’t think Luke is anywhere near that level yet and he may never get there.

Wish him all the best; if that’s true there’s no way he can say no and stay at the MFC Serong and Young and next year’s first rounder...for starters

Just saw that on Instagram. So 1.5 mill a year. Would completely undermine their list management.