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Not sure if this belongs here but it put a smile on my face

I was looking through past phantom form guides by Cal, and came across the November one, which features Dogga at 11, Rivers at 23, and Pickett at 30. Considering we haven’t even reached Cal’s November phantom form guide this year, it just really shows how unpredictable drafting can be. And yes, I am aware Cal isn’t predicting who will go where, I just found it interesting. https://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/news/308766/cal-twomeys-2019-phantom-form-guide-november-update

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Port don't have a first round pick for next year, would have to be future first, but that would have them trading out 3 years worth of first round picks and not sure how that goes with the AFL rules??? Hypothetically speaking.

Can we include VFL as well? Powerhouse club!

Yeah Imagine!! Well Ive looked into the chrystal ball and do you know what it says?? DEES TRIUMPH WITH ASTUTE OFF SEASON PICKUPS!!!! 🤩😍🥰😇

Mmmm ..... Latin. Were you once an altar boy Stiffie?

Great summary, thanks for that. To make it clear, I don't care if construction commences by end of 2023 if we have a clear pathway towards a solution. I just want a solution - I was only pointing out the 2020-2023 Strategic Plan of the club says they should start construction by end of 2023. If they don't but there is something in place to commence construction by say 2025 I will still be very happy at that outcome.

I'm inclined to this GSS redevelopment possibility, with you and @Sir Why You Little. Apologies, everyone, if the detail below has already been canvassed. I also note it would seem a strategic plan 'fail' as pointed out by @Dr. Gonzo. From 'felix.net' in 'Felix Project News', claiming itself to be 'Australia's Favourite Construction Blog' [with my numbering]: 1. $2M+ State/MCC/G funding was committed mid year to '... complete the business case for the [GSS] redevelopment project.' 2. Development won't start until 2027, after the 2026 opening of the Commonwealth Games and a possible 2027 Rugby World Cup, and '... is expected to be undertaken in sections, enabling the ground still to be used for major events ...' 3. Quoting MCC's Stuart Fox: 'This [State/MCC/G] funding will allow the MCC and the State ... to develop detailed plans around scope options, funding [my italics] ... ' etc 4. The project '... will ... include "best-in-class facilities" for event and non-event [my italics] days.' 5. '...new elite player facilities will ... be incorporated into the stand.' 6. The stand '... will ... have better connections ... potentially to the Melbourne and Olympic Park precincts.' 7. Paraphrasing, the stand will open up to the Yarra Park surroundings. 8. It will '... also feature ... a possible hotel to generate additional revenue ...' Points 1 and 2 provide an 'it's early days' reason for a current, at least 'nothing to report' silence. All the points to varying degrees involve a likely (lead?) tenancy, as opposed to an 'owned' facility elsewhere, which points to 'commercial in confidence' and 'negotiation' reasons for a current silence. Current MFC director and property lawyer David Rennick is involved (and good!) Point 3 indicates scope development is still very much in play in negotiations. Points 4, 5 and 6, supported by point 3, provide the hint that player needs we have debated in here can, and likely will, be met. Points 7 and 8 suggest a component of 'corporate' type construction, in which MFC corporate needs could be met. I wonder if point 7 might be met be a fill-in of the triangle formed with Brunton Ave outside Gate 5(?) Sadly point 2 would suggest such new facilities could be instrumental only in our next premiership window!😉

Who? If you're referring to me I was never a supporter of Lawrence and didn't even vote or send a proxy on the constitutional issue. Don't just troll from the cheap seats instead of actually participating in the discussion. This has been a longstanding issue - our lack of a home base goes back decades. The current board has been fervent in their pursuit of this and making promises of action to members. The Board has performed well and I'm not agitating for any changes - but they are the ones who put this on the agenda. The members deserve some answers on this because they have been promising for years that things are moving and they can't say anything now but within X months etc etc The reason I posted in here is because I've just been reading the Ian Munro book and to see it spelt out how long this has been an issue for and how poor our facilities were for so long and how far we fell behind the rest of the league is extremely frustrating. I want the best for my club and that includes a proper home base with the whole club united under one roof. Again, to reiterate - the board themselves put this on the agenda by including it in our strategic plan. Point 5 of the 2020-2023 Strategic Plan states; * Finish construction of high performance facility at Casey Fields * Start construction of new Melbourne home base facility If they do not get something up and running in the next 12 months they will have failed to meet this stated ambition.

Hand clap emoji required, @Demonland

You don't think there is a problem here? Personally haven't been up in arms about it as I've thought we had it in hand. ...however the longer it goes without any news I feel a little concerned and that concern is growing.

I'll put my hand up and say I thought we "reached" with drafting him high at pick 12. I was massively wrong. He's a gun and is super important to our team both offensively and defensively. He's already had back to back 40+ goal seasons as a small forward, which is an incredible achievement. To put that in perspective against other current gun small forwards; Charlie Cameron is 28 and has kicked 40+ 3 times. Papley is 26 and has kicked 40+ once. Kozzie is 21 and has now kicked 40+ twice. He's out of contract end of next season and we need to lock him away. He's the most important of our young future core IMO.

who is to say indeed...

That's a furphy. Who is to say we wouldn't have been more successful with a proper footy/admin base? Who is to say having our admin and footy department in separate locations couldn't cultivate discord between the two? Who is to say that having a training base decades behind other clubs doesn't impact on recruitment or player retention? Who is to say that having no firm base for the club fosters a lack of identity making our enviable culture difficult to embed? Just pointing to last years flag as though that solves decades old issues is a sure way to be back right where we were before too long. We need to capitalise on that momentum not rest on our laurels.

It's a bummer for the team they don't get their home ground advantage. Good for me but. It will be like old times, getting a tram up one of Melbourne's two great boulevards to watch a game at Princess Park. With our method, a bit more protection from the win and weather won't hurt either.

Why wouldn't we be? We're decades behind the league and falling away further every year.

Many aflw facilities are getting renovations now that were timed to finish before the January season, then got caught out with the season moving to spring. I assume that’s the case for Casey, and the cost of moving timelines with construction at the moment is monumental. The grand final was unlikely to be at Casey even if we host it. Princes’ park is designed as the leagues showpiece venue. Might as well get used to that

Becoming right up there with Jeff Farmer as one of my all time favourite MFC players. Some of the [censored] this kid can do on the footy field is nuts. Please re-sign Kozzie..

I think this belongs here too

Yes, it is by far our best chance to get facilities within the MCG. Another 2-3 flags would helpno end!!

Not sure how you can categorically state he would have flourished under Goodwin. Like what's this based on exactly? Not every high draft pick player has flourished under Goodwin. Gysberts for all his talents was an incredibly poor trainer and was usually in the bottom 3 of the time trials and didnt apply himself well on the training track. When North recruited him he turned up in poor shape and only lasted a year on the list with 0 AFL games to his name. Can't blame Neeld for every player failing. Sometimes it comes back on the player itself if they desperately want an AFL career.

Veterans Hibberd and Melksham will go around again and could be re-signed as soon as this week. The 2021 premiers will use two selections at the national draft but upgrade Kade Chandler, who will have more opportunity with Bedford’s departure, to meet the AFL minimum of three picks. That will leave three rookie vacancies, although the Demons may leave a spot for a pre-season or mid-season draft recruit. Their second category B rookie, on top of Andy Moniz-Wakefield, is fresh signing Kyah Farris-White. https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/afl-2022-how-your-club-is-placed-ahead-of-the-list-lodgement-deadline-and-upcoming-afl-draft/news-story/4f00f7284da5d28bc78a5965f9d0536b

Michael Hibberd has played 101 games for the Demons (84 games at the Bombers). Whereas, Jake Melksham has played 94 games for the Demons (114 games at the Bombers). Let's hope Jake gets the remaining 6 AFL games for the Demons to get to 100 games. I am always thinking of possible Father-Son (or Father-Daughter) opportunities for the Demons and I know the rule is 100 games for an AFL Club. Fingers crossed both of them get a 1 year contract extension for season 2023. I guess we shall find out if this happens in the next day or so?

Pipped at the post again.

Yes but his best is about 2/3?years ago and injury can be an issue after a layoff. My point is that the role we may prefer Brodie to play could well be a bit different from CFC and more midfield centric. Has he the skills straight away to hit the ground running no matter what his ability has shown as a ruckman? The jury is out also in this Demonstrative !! PS sometimes even juries can get things wrong. FWIW I think by the end of the season flag or no flag Brodie will be classed as a great pick up fir us and a team improvement on Jacko but not necessarily in the earlier rounds.

Been a joy to watch over the last two seasons after scratching the surface in 2020. Absolutely no upside whatsoever if he wants out next year. At least with Jackson we had a ready made replacement.

add in the vfl and that will fix it 😉

Wrong thread, ya silly bugger Maze! This belongs in the lookalikes thread. But yeah, you nailed it!

What a gifted, exciting player is Kozzie my wife and I were fortunate to have been in Alice to watch the Dees when Kozzie played possibly his best game for the Dees kicking six scintillating goals and got us home from a determined Port. He was on fire and so was the crowd. Comeon Kozzie as Dazzle said please re-sign and make MFC your home long term.❤️💙🤘

I wouldn't draft him with pick 100. Go back and watch his tape. He doesn't bodyline opponents when he tackles, he ducks his head in marking contests and when opponents have the ball his chasing effort is not up to standard and he provides next to know spread from contest. His contested hands game is wildly over-rated too, often panicking in the heat of the contest and flipping it to random areas. He's got a lovely technical kick on him and great size for a midfielder and when he gets on the end of chains of possessions and in some space, there is some Nathan Buckley about him. If I knew he had an injury or something like that I would give him a pass mark but his lack of defensive heat and spread from stoppage were massive red flags and the reasons he is dropping in my opinion.

There’s no point burning a future pick if it only lets us have the choice between Lucas Cook & Brock McLean.

I recall when our premiership window was touted to be 2012-2014. Glorious times. Ah, what memories.

Nibbler is a total enigma to me. His transitional running and positioning I know is really important to our game. In 2021, when he got the ball, he did good things. In 2022 when he got the ball he would often make bad choices or cough it up. There is a bit of me that just thinks we should get rid of him, but I just don’t know how we would fill the hole. When he strings it all together the way he did in our 21 campaign he is an absolute lock. I don’t know why the difference between his best and worst is so big but it is very frustrating. The coaches definitely see something I don’t though, there is no way he would have been in my top ten for demon players last year. He’d have been lucky to make my top 20

I think he premiership window just widened with the recruits Brodie Grundy and Lachie Hunter quality players who if they play at their best will help us win at least another premiership.

Electric small forward with a huge back of tricks and a penchant for upsetting opposition defences, finding the goals and kicking plenty of them. Date of Birth: 2 June 2001 Height: 171cm Weight: 73kg Games MFC 2022: 23 Career Total: 62 Goals MFC 2022: 41 Career Total: 88 Eighth Club Best & Fairest: 391 votes Brownlow Medal: 4 votes

No doubt Gysberts was a product of the woeful Melbourne environment then. The club was a train wreck in that era under Neeld. Gysberts burst onto the scene and then got "Melbourned" like many other highly talented juniors that were unlucky enough to be drafted to by Melbourne during those years. Any kid who is ripping out 26 disposal, 8 clearance, 5 tackle games as an 18 year starting his career in a team getting belted with bugger all senior support has clear talent. Neeld and the poor development of the club at the time ruined his career. If he were drafted now, he'd be a 200 game player. I feel sorry for those kids whose careers we ruined back then. As for pick 37 now, I'm hoping someone like Keeler may be available as a bit of a project player. 13 needs to be ready to go IMO.

Under Goodwin he would have flourished. Neeld sucked his love of footy from him. Boy, could he play.

If he plays the same way with us he'll be considered a clever, evasive outside runner.

Neither Hawkins or Podsiadly played in the 2007 Grand Final with King and Ottens

Hopefully just in looks, not in character.

It’s about time sports journos added some more realtor lingo to the football landscape. Surely we are in more of a Bay window versus Geelong, who are clearly in a porthole by comparison. As for Gold Coast, that’s not a window that’s an egress - the kind of window you only have in the hope you can escape from it during a home invasion.

Incendiary pioneering late rock-n-roller, and 3 time All-Australian / 4 time "Bluey" winner.

I'm not sure they divide the salary cap into areas of the ground, but one thing that is absolutely certain is that once a player is on a contract north of say $800 he’s in the spotlight. It’s often not easy to do, but a List Manager can quickly solve a lot of challenges by moving on one player on a million rather than 2 or 3 for that money, particularly, when that Player is a Ruckman, who as we know, are held in varying degrees of importance by different Coaches. This was an immaculate meeting of needs as the Dees were desperate to replace Jacko and Craig identified Brodie as the best way to solve multiple needs. When you combine what the Dees are paying Brodie, what they had to give up for Brodie, plus what they got for Jacko, in my opinion, this is a truly Golden Deal for the Dees.

Witnessing a bit of history for our club with Karen Paxman; a pioneer of the sport at the club that got this going with the Bulldogs. 2 x B&F winner 5 x AA honours Still playing like that at 33. Is a trailblazer for girls who want to play footy or just be accepted as a proud [censored] woman and is someone willing to put up with a ruckman as a partner… Lucky to witness this historic Demon.

Here’s a winner’s smile… ❤️💙❤️💙❤️💙