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What I’ve come to realise as the most bizarre element in these whole Brayshaw and Jackson re-signing or leaving threads for me is this - why do I actually give a stuff about what these two kids/young adults do? I’ve got triple the life experience and education of both of them put together (yep, I’m a but older - bit I’m also classier, just ask anyone). I just can’t quite believe myself at the moment. I listen to podcasts daily with astrophysicists, Nobel prize winners, leading scientists, talented artists, acclaimed writers - the list goes on. I’m a professional with extensive life experience traversing many different aspects of life’s great journey. And yet I regularly log in to Demonland hoping to read the latest rumour as to whether Brayshaw and Jackson, two kids relative to the age of most interesting adults, have signed a contract extension with the MFC. I work with junior professionals daily who are much more accomplished than these dudes - and yet no one notices them. I feel bloody pathetic. In myself. These guys are both required players at a footy club with a very long and enviable history. A club which (presently) loves each of them. A club which is super grateful for their contribution and their efforts. And yet they now seem to be stringing the club on. Surely they loved the euphoria of what happened less than a year ago. Surely that bonded them to this joint forever. Yet no one appears to know what they will do going forward - assuming this is actually the case, I reckon that’s pathetic and it shows a lack of class and respect. If they don’t respect this - well, that’s fine. Every human has different priorities - but, for me at least, I like Clint Eastwood movies. I like solid character. I respect individuals who embrace the intangibles in life, who embrace hardship, who embrace loyalty, who don’t sell out. Individuals who can’t be bought. Individuals who commit. Those who don’t follow the cash. These are virtues to me. Brayshaw and Jackson have a tough decision in their minds. So they say. It’s not tough to me. But I’m not them. Godspeed to them if they decide to leave. I really hope they stay. But I’m no longer going to lose any sleep if they leave. If they do, they’re not dudes I want my 9 year old boy to look up to and have posters of them hanging on his bedroom wall. I hope I’m wrong on this and I can whole-heartedly apologise to everyone for mis-reading the situation in due course, but right now the vibe doesn’t feel that great. Onya Maxy, Trac and Clayton. You’re the future. I’m happy for my boy to look up to each of you.

I used to care about players wanting to leave. But not since Gerard Healy left the club to go to the Swans. Outside of Robbie, our best player in that team by a mile. I still wonder how 1987 would have turned out if he didn't abandon the club and his brother. Turncoat. I was furious at the time. He still left. Now i could care less - if Gus wants out, see you later. He is not playing in our midfield. So if that's what he wants, its not going to happen I don't begrudge him trying to to maximize his contract, or explore his options. But i would lose a bit of respect for him, as the great teams always have gun players who have to take a pay haircut to help the cause, Hodge being an example if IIRC. And are celebrated for that sacrifice post career.

he should read the jeremy howe story coaches decide where someone plays, not players

I see Smith is back this week. The more I think of it, the more I like the idea of Smith playing the second tall role. He is everything weed isn't - high intensity, hard at it and loves the contest. And I've always liked the idea of him as a forward - his chaos style, speed and athleticism suits what we need down there, which is almost the forward equivalent of a zone off defender ie get across to aerial contests and either take a big grab or failing that make sure the ball comes to ground. And Smith could also be used as defensive forward to nullify players like Aliir. At 191 cms, he's six centimeters shorter than weed (but 3cms taller than fritter), so obviously he's not going to be a genuine tall. But that is offset somewhat by his huge leap. Accurate kick for goal too. And perhaps creates a match up issue as he is pretty quick and with his height and leap, probably needs a reasonably big defender.

I reckon we're going to love the last month of footy. It's a real chance to play some really strong and desperate teams with finals and top 4 on the line. It's going to be a perfect lead in to the finals and if we want to be a great team like the players talk about, it's time to lift the intensity and run out 4 quarters. I expect us to win at least 3 of our last 4 and hit finals with a bang. I love that most of the press are writing us off.

Thanks for the feedback von. I wish I could listen to more of your musings - I expect there’s a lot of rich and fascinating content to unlock there. As I said, everyone has their own list of priorities. Brayshaw, and you, are entitled to your own priorities. But it doesn’t mean I have to respect them. And, in my gentlemanly world, given that I expect Brayshaw would continue to be handsomely paid by the MFC if he elected to stay, $100k over 5 years is stuff all. In my view, all you ultimately carry in life are relationships, stories and your own integrity - the rest is just noise. But many people are distracted by the noise, and unfortunately for many they just don’t get it until it’s too late. The narrative’s already written. It can’t be undone. I hope Gus doesn’t undo his legacy here because of cash and his ego. He never struck me as this dude until recent months. I don’t know him, so I could be wrong, very wrong - perhaps he’s also being poorly advised. But I know enough to know that there’s more important things in life than money alone. I’m curious to know why he seems unable, or unwilling, to commit to a club which apparently really wants him to stay - a club in which he should hopefully have some serious affection for, and a relationship, with. Anyway - in the meantime, stay classy von.

Hopefully they don't think it will all just happen - it is going to take an big lift in defensive pressure to be any chance

If we do lose Brayshaw and LJ, we are going to have > $1M hole in the salary cap. We should then go after a gun KPF and lure him with the $$$. Whether it happens this year or next. Not some 29yo+ has been, but someone developed in his prime. i.e. King brothers, Curnow, McKay, Naughton ilk... no one is untouchable. We will have the trade picks to initiate a trade as well.

There are many grammatical ways to walk into a bar. An Oxford comma walks into a bar, where it spends the evening watching the television, getting drunk, and smoking cigars. A dangling participle walks into a bar. Enjoying a cocktail and chatting with the bartender, the evening passes pleasantly. A bar was walked into by the passive voice. An oxymoron walked into a bar, and the silence was deafening. Two quotation marks walk into a “bar.” A malapropism walks into a bar, looking for all intensive purposes like a wolf in cheap clothing, muttering epitaphs and casting dispersions on his magnificent other, who takes him for granite. Hyperbole totally rips into this insane bar and absolutely destroys everything. A question mark walks into a bar? A non sequitur walks into a bar. In a strong wind, even turkeys can fly. Papyrus and Comic Sans walk into a bar. The bartender says, “Get out — we don’t serve your type.” A mixed metaphor walks into a bar, seeing the handwriting on the wall but hoping to nip it in the bud. A comma splice walks into a bar, it has a drink and then leaves. Three intransitive verbs walk into a bar. They sit. They converse. They depart. A synonym strolls into a tavern. At the end of the day, a cliché walks into a bar — fresh as a daisy, cute as a button, and sharp as a tack. A run-on sentence walks into a bar it starts flirting. With a cute little sentence fragment. Falling slowly, softly falling, the chiasmus collapses to the bar floor. A figure of speech literally walks into a bar and ends up getting figuratively hammered. An allusion walks into a bar, despite the fact that alcohol is its Achilles heel. The subjunctive would have walked into a bar, had it only known. A misplaced modifier walks into a bar owned by a man with a glass eye named Ralph. The past, present, and future walked into a bar. It was tense. A dyslexic walks into a bra. A verb walks into a bar, sees a beautiful noun, and suggests they conjugate. The noun declines. A simile walks into a bar, as parched as a desert. A gerund and an infinitive walk into a bar, drinking to forget. A hyphenated word and a non-hyphenated word walk into a bar and the bartender nearly chokes on the irony.

Gus stays. (Saw it in a dream, he was holding the cup at the G with three fingers in the air - premiership #3, of course) Either way, my guys - we good.

I'm impressed how you have the time to do all this and be a news presenter.

Picks 14 and 16 for a pick 3 at 20 years old on one of the league's biggest ever contracts and NAB rising star winner. Nowhere near enough

Let's think about this. Let's say if Gus left as well, we'd get a late first rounder/early second rounder as compensation. Jackson leaves, Freo have pick 14 atm. Brisbane have pick 16 as it stands and are likely going to want Ashcroft as a father/son so will require points so there's possibilities there for Freo to get Brisbanes first round pick for a swap of later picks. Imagine what could be done with three first round picks for us. Whether that's trading up the draft, targeting an established player or hitting the draft as is. There are so many possibilities. And you've got to back our recruiters in given their history. I'd be looking at this as a chance to hit the first round hard again, be super aggressive and consolidate our list with another crop of young talent. What an opportunity. We know we'll demand overs for Jackson. Can you imagine if we landed another Oliver? A McKay or Curnow type and a De Koning? Trust in Jase Taylor.

if he goes and jackson goes, then we simply must match whatever the offer is for gus, and force a trade he'll be a first round compo pick, you'd think, but i would much rather match, force a trade, and get peptides' pick 7 or so and give something back the other way than get a pick 20 or so

Why the need to go down 'media street' with all of this is baffling. Destabilising and distracting. Serves no useful purpose. .Angus should politely decline all interviews or, at the very least, give bland responses. Clearly he has an ego . This is less than ideal 4 weeks out from a final series.

So few words. So many grammatical errors.

I would also advise that posters don't use a big word when a singularly unloquacious and diminutive linguistic expression will satisfactorily accomplish the contemporary necessity. At this stage, I should put my hand up and confess that I sometimes use big words that I don't know the meaning of in an attempt to sound more photosynthesis.

Notionally, I'm not overly fussed if Brayshaw leaves, although I don't think he will. He's never finished top 5 in our B&F and in terms of importance I wouldn't have him in our top ten players. I rank him about twelth. For me, he's behind Gawn, Oliver, Petracca, May, Lever, Fritsch, Salem, Viney, Langdon, Pickett, Jackson, and Petty (not in order). He's a solid B grader, maybe B+. He has no dash and doesn't create, but he's terribly brave, smart, and reliable. Unlike DSpencer, I think his kicking off both feet has been very good this year. I'd rather he stay because we won't get commensurate value if he leaves. I attended a Q&A night with Brendan McCartney a few years back and he was no fan of Angus and was very unsure if the ''penny would ever drop''. He was questioning his maturity. Clearly it has and Gus has become a much-loved member of the footy club and also a leader. The fact that he's a Melbourne premiership player is also important to me. From a playing perspective I won't be too perturbed if he departs, but from a cultural aspect I hope and suspect he stays.

I’m just not sure why footballers owe us, the irrational and emotional supporters anything. The club and the league don’t show players loyalty, why do we expect it back. They are their own business/brand acting in a way that fits that description. In the world of modern sport the loyal athlete is the exception and the surprise. Him leaving doesn’t knock his integrity, it may create more and or better stories and relationships for himself, only he can figure that out. The future is unwritten. My values lie much closer to yours than what I am suggesting a modern athletes does but I am not an athlete with a short shelf life. It’s also easier to hold those values higher when you’ve lived a longer life, accumulated more wealth and had those experiences that get you to the well rounded place you find yourself. He is in his mid 20s with a brain that only just matured and took a hell of a beating along the way and is on his way to those experiences. We are irrational, emotional football supporters freaking out that we may not go back to back. I think he stays but if he doesn’t we will fall in love with the next guy.

Well in Collingwood's case they let it all blow up in trade period.

Looking forward to this Freo intraclub

Articles about Chandler on the MFC site suggest to me that he'll be a starter in Perth. His quality game for Casey in the wet last weekend, adds weight to this, I reckon.

I think we are all sitting here hoping we see that switch flicked this week. If we do it will give me a lot more confidence heading into the end of the regular season and into finals. If we don't it's hard to see us getting our best back this season.

The short bit of footage the club released from training showed some reasonably high pressure match simulation. Part of me thinks this is the week we see a real step up…hope I am correct

I'm a perennial optimist, and I won't be losing sleep if either/both of Gus and Jacko leave for the above reasons. Ideally we keep them both, but I'd be hesitant to pay Gus overs even if Jacko left. It's funny, prior to winning a flag I always thought I'd be content with winning one, even if it meant we were terrible for 10 years thereafter. Now, having finally got there, I'm excited by the prospect of finishing top 4 and contending every year for the next 10 years. I look at Geelong, and although I loathe them, I have to respect how they've managed to put themselves in contention for about 15 years straight. That is an absurd run. There's a chance both leaving can result in us extending our competitive window well into the future, not only by enabling us to bring in talent via the draft (assuming Freo can maneuver their way into at least 1 top 10 pick, plus another first rounder for Jacko), but also by freeing up cap space to chase stars who become available in the future. We're in a potential win-win situation here folks. Let's just chill and and see how it plays out.

Players don’t have to work to supporters’ timetables. As much as we would like to know, it’s their lives.

If you're not loving this time then you need to think about your expectations and why you follow the club and the game. We won the flag, something many of us thought we'd never see. Clarrie, Trac and Max have signed on for football eternity, and we're right in the hunt again this year. Who knows, we could be in the midst of 5 in a row. Worst case we'll be a real chance in all of them. These are the great times! If they can't spark enjoyment then seriously consider a different path.

Interestingly, there is some footage up on the MFC socials today, showing an intense, full contact training session from this morning. In line with what @binmanand others have been saying, I remember these types of sessions starting to take place this time last year. It’s only a few clips, but it looks like the intensity and focus has lifted - certainly the ‘feel’ of the group seems to have intensified (in the last few weeks, I’d thought that the mood was quite flat).

I don't want to lose Gus either, but he's a winger and a half back. There's a reason he can't get a game as an inside mid. If he overrates himself then I'd prefer we push him out.

The further this has gone on, the less I'm worried about him leaving. From a playing perspective, losing him never really bothered me. But from a leadership and culture perspective, I wanted him to stay. But hearing him speak yesterday, I don't think he's fabric at all. Fabric players never speak like that. If him leaving meant we got another late first rounder, it would only help in our quest for sustained success. We need another crop of elite talent coming through so that once our current core hit the 27-28 age bracket, we'll have some young players also hitting some consistency. Really, it's the only way a team can stay up the top. A little pain for one year and a lot of gain for future years. We've got to keep looking forward.

For some reason I thought our players would make a pact to take less money and stay together to do something really special like other clubs who've won multiple premierships

They might be brothers but why is Hamish who is still involved with an AFL club, even commenting on the contract intentions of a key player at another club, especially when their other brother's club is trying to poach him.

Some character assassination of Angus on here without any basis. What exactly has changed since 2 weeks ago aside from the media focus?? before people start saying how big his ego is or all he cares about is money, maybe have something to back it up. All that has happened is he is taking his time to sign a contract while playing great football

Thanks RB and Deeno you have summed up my thoughts on LJ and Gus in a far more articulate and clear manner than I could attempt. I love the cross reference to Clint Eastwood as they are the characters and traits that I also respect and love. Step up or stand aside.!!

Yes and no Jaded. He has every right to look at what's best for his future from a playing perspective but also financial. If he wants to financially set himself up well leading to life after footy then he has every right too. Gus has a sharp business mind and this is his last opportunity to cash in to set himself up. Again, what's the issue with that? If it's not with us then he'll certainly find that at another club. I don't even see Gus as a money hungry grub as some might say. As he said on SEN, this will be his last big contract deal he'll get, so all he's doing is doing his absolute due diligence in making that it'll benefit him well moving forward.

Wanted- Demonland Psychologist We won the Flag and some of us and still not happy. Please help!

This thread is 34 pages long. The Jackson one is much larger. 80% of the posts in both of the topics of late are people taking cheap shots and making backhanded comments about 2 current players, both of which arguably won us the flag with their individual performances in the GF. I might be old school, but I think it's unnecessary.

I mean, we kicked 15 goals last week with that lineup...

I reckon it's time to shut up the Shop three to four weeks before the Finals..

No I'm not. I don't have any personal feelings about this to make me scratching for evidence that he won't go. I just ask where is the evidence that "it is widely known"? And I maintain his answer to the question is ambiguous and taken with other statements he has made about being happy on the back line, we have no real evidence of his intentions. I presume you are not putting any weight on jokes about Brownlows.

I was pretty confident our odds would drift a bit, at least into even money (which is how we opened for this game), particularly after the news BB was still out. But i just checked then, and we have actually come in and are now into $1.80 to win. Which, given we are only two days out from the game (and therefore the pool is pretty big and somewhat immune from big price swings) suggests the pros considered the 1.90 opening quote and the 1.86 available yesterday were both overs, and have invested accordingly, forcing the price down. We still might drift a touch, and maybe even back to even money, but only if the pros think the 2.05 you can currently get for Freo is overs. Given we are playing this game on their home deck, and their form over the last few weeks is at least on par with ours, 1.80 favoritism suggest the market is pretty bullish about our chances. (nb: as i noted in another thread, odds are just an expression of probability. So of course the fact we are favorite for the game doesn't mean we win, or if we do the bookies have got it wrong. At 1.80 favorites, if we play this game 10 times we win aprox 5.5 times and LOSE 4.5 times. Even money is 50 50)

You are of course very much correct. The slump in form and contract issues have put a dampener on what should be a great time to be a Melbourne supporter.

We saved this guy's career by moving him out of the midfield. He was one head knock away from retirement. He has to see what the club has given him, and not just be solely focused on himself. I understand he has to get the best deal, but I really wish that I could tell these kids that money is not the be all and end all. Finding a good workplace with a great culture is so much more important than a bit more cash in the bank. Long term, it leads to far greater happiness.

I think the enjoyment of the season took a hammering after we won the first 10 games without really playing exceptionally well. Then we started losing and with it we lost our edge. I sort of expected us to really hit our straps in the second half of the year and play some of that football we saw in the first quarter and last 40 minutes of the granny. Alas, not to be. The Brisbane win was satisfying, especially the ruthlessness of Viney as captain. But in the last eight weeks we've accepted losing. We no longer have that kamikaze attack on the ball or man. We don't have the connection we once did. And injuries have impacted our fitness and continuity. There will be some enjoyment to come though. I have faith in the leaders and the management of the team. It might just start against Freo this week!

Wasn't Gus moved to the wing to teach him to learn how to run both ways? There is a reason he isn't in our midfield rotation and that is because we need some defensive ability in there. Clarry and Trac are streets ahead of him in their roles, so he doesn't fit. If he was on par with them or better, he'd be there. His good form this year has been playing as an intercept defender, that is quite telling

We're the reigning premiers, this whole season is a first for me. It's great!

Literally my week is ruined when we lose, I stew on it, am grumpy, etc, I defy anyone to say they are more [censored] off than me. I have not stopped thinking about the losses, Freo, Swans, Geelong, bloody Collingwood, (Dogs I really wasn't fussed) I've got no dramas with calls for players to be dropped, not at AFL level, bemoan tactical coaching mistakes, that is all fine and dandy, even if I don't agree or I think the positives of a player have been overlooked. But what drives me bonkers is when folks have a go at a players integrity, call them soft or whatever. This is like my children are being insulted, and makes me furiously angry (after already being surly at the loss). So while I believe in free speech etc, insult my kids, then watch out, am talking generally and not you specifically. My French wife thinks I am clown when watching footy, but indulges me (i've posted about this before but it got deleted)....anyway... Sometimes reading Demonland, I think I'm the deelusional one, that I am cooked, and that I have no clue about football, because I still see so many positives, like watching Melk get better two weeks in a row, Sparrow having a ripper game, Brayshaw's bravery backing into packs, Kozzie's immense fwd half pressure. I am not blind I see the need and things to improve (I pray that Salem turns a corner soon), I'm just not a zero sum kinda man, and when I balance it up I still see plenty to like and don't think the season is done. I've put more people on ignore this year than I have done in the rest of my time on Demonland. And I really do believe we are not finished yet, 2 more wins and a finals series it will still be the second best season of my 52 year life (1988+2000 we were always a long shot, now we are deadly dangerous). So in essence, throw your punches, just no low blows... NB. The Swans loss where Paddy McCartin had a blinder I must admit I was happy for the bloke, what a journey he has had.

I won't lie I use Demonland as a punching bag. When we lose it's comforting to realise I'm not the only bipolar football supporter out there. You should look back at my comments on Grand Final day. I don't have anywhere else to vent like that. My wife's interests are mostly Instagram influencers and buying stuff for our daughter. I need *somewhere* to talk about how bad a season we've had...

The Season Yes, Demonland No, I have loved the season, we are still considered benchmark, we will play finals, we have superstars, every promo ad on Fox finishes with Melbourne holding the cup, we get features like 'this is me' on 360. We play some beautiful footy, our rebound and heart are a joy to watch. Demonland on the other hand feels like a time machine, the posting about trainwrecks, sniping the integrity of the players and other banalities makes me think Neeld is still coaching. We are a great club, show a bit of spine...fair dinkum...

You know what, I reckon the grand final has nearly wrecked the brains of most Melbourne supporters (not just the ones on here!). We all would have watched it a dozen (if not more) times each, and because, in particular from the 3rd quarter onwards it was nearly the most perfect footy you can see - you get to expect that all footy will be like that. I know during our first 10 weeks I kept saying to my BIL, who's a massive Tigers fan, that we're not playing that well. His response always was, "I wish we could play close to that - the grand final has ruined you!". And he has a point, as soon as we show were mere mortals on the footy field the pile up on here, and even in the media is WAY over the top. Any other season where 19 rounds in and we're sitting 2nd on the ladder, nearly all supporters would be bursting with anticipation and joy. We've been in every game, played some pretty decent football and have had a few close losses. It's been just a good a season as last, but we've just got to hope the ending is as good as last year!