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I was quite impartial when Jackson left, maybe slightly disappointed but not overly. I’d be devastated if we lost Kozzie.

The only smoke so far has been from Kane Cornes and I'm very suspicious about what it is he is actually smoking.

Purely as a contingency, I'll be death-riding Port as well as Freo in 2023, just to make sure they can offer us at least a top-5 pick and change. ;) But seriously, Kysaiah Pickett is a rare player. Not many forwards - let alone small forwards - top 40 goals in a season in consecutive seasons, and he has managed in every full season he's played!

Demon positives: - Grundy will be great, as he can really play, and will add to Max fitness wise, re rest during matches and if either slightly injured, can miss a week or two, still having AA ruckman playing. - Hunter a step above JJ on the wing, he won a B&F at Dogs, can really play. Also JJ is ideal 23 player, can cover multiple positions. - Longer pre season for all. - Kossie, Sparrow, JJ, Bowey, JVR, Rivers, Petty all that year older! - TMac & BBB seemingly fit! Tomlinson 2nd year back after knee injury might be moving better, so more realistic back up! - Having won a flag, know what’s required and that our best can do it!

Strangely emotional reaction to a normal discussion. I didn't say winning was unimportant, I just said it was less important than other factors. As I said this has been proven over many examples over a long period of time, across all sports. Jackson couldn't have had a more 'winning' start to his career with the MFC, in terms of games or individual success (RS). Ultimately, that success appeared unimportant to his retention, and potentially even tipped the scales the other way insofar as him not having any 'unfinished business' with the MFC. I am also equally unphased with whatever it is you think. Its interesting that in this day & age there are still supporters who think that winning will solve everything. The majority of players aren't as invested in the fabric of the club as you think they are, and are nowhere near as invested as you are. It serves them well to view it as only a job, and one they can do in 18 places around the country for similiar or better pay whilst playing in the same position, against the same opposition, flying round to the same stadiums and staying in the same hotels. If they can do all of that then with the (more important) factors taken care of like family and lifestyle, this is what will drive most decisions. All players are different though, and success will be more important to some than others. Most will say success is a factor usually for favourable optics for their new team ('I really believe this list can have success') but the evidence does not support the claims. There is little to differentiate the club's themselves, especially for middling teams like us in terms of prominence and size. We don't have the pull of Richmond or Collingwood and we don't have the lifestyle benefits of Geelong, Brisbane or Perth. Success is momentary and transient - at best it can last 3-5 years, on average it lasts 1-3, if you even get there at all. For players looking at a 10-15 year career, they know that all clubs will have both ups and downs and they'll be there for them all. Kossie would know that he's currently at a successful and very well run club. He'd be well aware of what he'd be leaving behind, because he himself has been a key part of driving it. Port are hardly a cellar dweller in any case. If he leaves, it will have nothing to do with success.

I get the impression that Kozzie is quite a different personality to Dogga. I could be wrong, but I sense he won't want the media spotlight on him in the same way as Dogga had and will be happy to get a deal done early. Alternatively if he's set on returning to WA or SA, then I actually think it would be in everyones best interests if he came out early and put it out there. He'd be somewhat of a trailblazer in doing that, but I think it would be the right thing and actually relieve the pressure and angst in all respects if he just did it.

100% agree with this. Players of today are completely different breed to what it was 10 or so years ago. Kozzie leaving will be based around family support and lifestyle.

I reckon this is where ANB gets a raw deal from some on Demonland personally. IMO, almost every time he gets caught with the ball he's just received it from a teammate under pressure. It would be amazing if he had hands like Clarry, but how rare is that?! I think this is one of the reasons he keeps getting selected (along with his running ability and pressure) - in that he will genuinely do what is best for the team even if it earns him the ire of supporters who don't see the big picture.

I don't agree. There are many examples of players leaving successful teams in favour of family or location or lifestyle. Lever left the grand finalist to play for us when we were bottom 6....

Fingers crossed he stays. Oliver is an unbelievable player, rarely plays an ordinary game, let alone bad! Flower was so skilful, moved like a cat, fantastic player in [censored] teams! Kossie is just electric, only needs a few moments in a match to have a major impact. Our current day wizard😃 His pressure and tackling also a joy to watch! Fingers crossed he stays!

Jackson was very will he won’t he. The words out of the club seemed fashioned so that they were hopeful more than anything. Jackson will be remembered by dees fans as a premiership player but a decade from now he will be known only as a freo player. I never want kossie to be anything other than ours. I’d be gutted to see him tear it up for another club. He’s a champ and I hope he gets some good security in his next contract reflecting his value. In the Jason Taylor interviews he seemed supremely confident of pickets signature coming. Would be nice to get it done early enough. I still remember the media beating up Cyril being worth a million in his hey day before he signed. Best to get ahead of that circus

I can’t see Kozzie leaving MFC, he couldn’t generate any more love than he receives at the Dee’s. He is surrounded by players that love and respect him and I want to see him play in at least three Premierships for MFC. Where else could he do that.!!!!!

Indeed. Then there's his non-goal plays. Rewind to the Heavenly Day for his frightening of Williams for Spargs' Q1 goal (which I now realise involved a bit of Spargs' frightening as well!🤩) and his blocks, first on Duryea then famously on Dunkley, for Tracc's Q3 'goal' (such an inadequate label...). Of course, he can combine the two; viz, the intercept on Moore in the OP vid.

This was my thought upon seeing the thread title haha. Still one of the great bands.

Yet when Chandler lays a perfect tackle running a player down and in the momentum lands on him it's 2 weeks. Hawkins swings wildly and breaks May"s jaw zippo. Selwood kicks Oliver's hands zippo etc.......

Not sure either, definitely meant to be a 👍

Doggas a different personality to everyone.

I'm inclined to agree more with @dazzledavey36 that it will be more down to the family / lifestyle propersion for Kozzie. How much he's settled in Melbourne and at the MFC and regards that as his new home and place of comfort / support will factor more than sucess for him IMHO. (BTW Dazzle, not sure where you found the amusement in my earlier post. Not offended, it just bemuses me). One thing with wining the flag in 2021 so early in their careers is that guys like Kozzie and Dogga had it come to them realitively easily, can considered that achievement checked off the list and may consider they have plenty of time to build into a sucessful team at another club where they can do so around established family and freinds. I also can't see Port being down for that long.

Don't forget Steven May's broken jaw with the errant elbow which when you look at the vision was intentional trying to stop May's tackle.

Cant stand Geelong. How many key dees players have they recklessly injured in recent years. Viney smashed jaw, White almost killed with a vicious kick to the head and Oliver this year.All at the cattery i think. No reports of course.

Time to bring Uncle Byron back in some capacity. We could call him the Kozzie Pickett Retention Officer

As Jimmy Barnes might say if he was our list manager "You got nothing I want You got nothing I need"

Kozzy is such a special player and only 21! I can't even imagine what he will be doing at 24/25 years of age at his prime... 😩

Shoulder surgery and delayed return to full training is a lot different to cleaning up a thumb issue and straight back into full training.

Us winning the flag and Freo the spoon would be the ultimate double.

21 year old who moved interstate for work at 18, lost his Mum and his family are all in other states with his strongest connection in SA. Hasn't re-signed yet and despite the club saying he loves Melbourne I haven't as yet seen anything mentioned about talks progressing (might have missed that somewhere though). Not saying he will go, personally I think he'll stay, but add the above to the rumblings of media types with Port connections and you can understand why supporters are a little worried and think it's a chance.

I'm thinking the stringy bit you peel off a banana

Single or three?

I’m more an optimist and typically prefer focus on all great things Demons: 2021 AFL flag 2022 AFLW flag and Casey flag But I can’t resist the anti-Cats theme around Demonland. - Good to see Duckwood gone (could play & lead, but will be missed)! - Hawkins protected species, gets all frees and not getting rubbed out! - AFL bias toward them as ex Cats or relations have had significant roles at AFL. - Cattery huge benefits financially(govt funded), umpiring bias, get 8/9 at home, then often 6-8 across MCG/Marvel so away not as big a disadvantage. - Recruitment wise, cost of housing, provided a big salary cap advantage. By my calcs at least a 10% advantage, that allows them to keep an extra A grade (eg Cameron) & b grade player! - Bad losers, Scott 2022 prelim! Yes they deserve credit for being well run from Costa/ Cooke era onwards. But I really don’t like them!

Hawkins & Selwood both great players, but really get looked after by the umpires, I think part of it is they have played finals for so many years, umpires recognition and respect of them very high. At Cattery, where 95% plus of crowd pro Cats, umpires influenced by crowd and Cats get dream run! Hawkins & Selwood get even better treatment!

Ok then, let’s just give up and lose every week. WINNING is the BEST CHANCE we have to retain our A Grade Players. I am not really phased if you disagree

If that was the case no one would be looking to leave us. We've won more games than any other team over the last couple of years. This won't be about success but geography, family and crowds. If he prefers the town of Adelaide, having family around, and big adoring one-eyed crowds, you couldn't blame him for leaving for port. We love him but he spends a lot of the year doing ridiculous stuff in front of a sparse or quiet MCG. But more than any other player we've had leave the club, he's the one I really want to stay. Whereas I was somewhat resigned with Jesse and Jackson, I'll be utterly heartbroken if kossie leaves. An extremely rare player, a rare endurance-speed combo, supreme skill off either foot, significant power (kicking 55 with his frame is not easy), disciplined and defensive without the ball, spunk flash brilliance and marketable all round. One of my favourite ever MFC players and he really is just scratching the surface at 21....he's well on track to be far better than any of the modern day small forwards (including Cyril and Eddie at the same age). There are very few small forwards that have kicked 40+ in consecutive years around period, let alone at the age of 21. I wanted us to pick him and was thrilled when we made the reach in the first round. Wouldn't be fair for someone else to benefit from the risk we took and investment we've made - I want to be watching him at the G for the next 10 years. We will be a significantly worse team without him and he was a very large part of the flag year. Unfortunately if he does leave, it won't be for two first rounders. Even the best small forwards don't have that kind of currency - Rankine's recent value is about the best we could hope for. I really hate that there is a thread for this. Saddening.

Chandler is no Kozzie, but he's the closest thing we have to a replacement. I also get the impression he is strongly invested in the MFC which is a good thing. Think we need to give him some serious time in the seniors this year for several reasons: 1. He's good enough 2. As backup for Kozzie leaving 3. As leverage with Kozzie (as good as he might be, I don't think it would be great if his managers think they have the MFC over a barrel) 4. Having Chandler in the side as well could actually take some of the heat off Kozzie at times and benifit both the individuals and the team If Kozzie plays more midfield time as mooted, which is probably the next step in his evolution, it should give us a bit more oppertunity to play both players more often.

When we look at the list we have 22 of the 23 that played in the 2021 GF and we won not because of leg speed but ball speed where the forward entries came fast from the centre and kicked to players who were in the best position. Additions of Grundy and Hunter adds class to the team with younger players like JVR and Chandler wanting a slice of the GF cake. By the way Clayton has great acceleration over the first 5 metres and has speed of football skills watch the goal before 3/4 time.

Won't outdo the Jackson thread because Kozzie will extend by Feb...(hoping)

Would love it if he stays. But get the feeling he's going. But the pessimism is still strong in me. Jackson certainly didn't help it. One of Kozzies best mates at the club.

Port Powa don't have a first round pick unfortunately, so any deal would likely have to involve a player coming back + Port's 2024 1st round pick

Does anybody know if his girlfriend is from Melbourne and will hopefully stay here? Might mean Kozzie has one more reason not to leave us!

So im guessing we will have another 9 months of this, I think the total posts could break the Jackson thread. But would be devistated if we lost him.

Mostly agree with your broader post fr. However from my own corporate experience of having worked in several companies, I would say that organisational / team culture does impact significantly on how I'd differentiate. Hopefully Kozzie's manager is awake to this. Not sure clubs like Hawthorn or North or Essendon would be particularly attractive options at the moment based on organizational culture. Conversely the players often talk highly favorably of the culture built by Roos/Goodwin and of the positive relationship they have with Goodie. I know there was rumors of disquiet just prior to season 2021 and without being a true insider, I'm not sure where the truth lies, but if the club / team culture at the MFC is strong and imparts a good sense of belonging for Kozzie, I think that would be an important factor he'd consider.

Gregory Peck

So defs (😁) a cleverly-disguised 'Daisie', too?

If that's correct then that's a great sign.

Oliver Sestan

Sorry Loges but the "current rules" don't state that. The rules were modified (again!!) to allow players to hold their ground in a marking contest by placing the hands on the back of an opposition player. Essentially going back to the original rule where a "push" is what is penalised. If you look up the definition of "push" in a dictionary it says "to propel forward". I've seen Hawkins propel forward defenders by several metres and not be penalised. So perhaps it's the Umpires who are cheats or they are just incompetent, probably the latter. The way commentators, often former greats of the game, fawn over Hawkins with comments like; "a great show of strength in that contest" is sickening. I've also seen Hawkins take strong marks by holding his ground but he does get away with a lot of two handed shoves in the back.