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Will retire. 💯 I’m told (barring miracle knee swelling dissipation within 3-4wks) Club is already now approaching higher $$$ fwd targets and it’s only reason we’re also considering Grundy move ie free cap for a ‘play now’ Fwd. **DISCLAIMER** Do not read if you’re a troll as you will undoubtedly be triggered. I’m lucky enough to get to talk to many club & AFL folk through my work and regularly ask Q’s for my own excitement (in fact I don’t ask anymore as they now just share cus they know if they tell me not to I won’t) so pls ignore below if you can’t handle the fact that clubs openly talk to agents and players about potential moves in a volume that’s completely obscenely larger than you’d ever imagine, I won’t answer Q’s cus I can’t & wont get specific for no other reason than I’ll be breaking a prof trust (unless I get approval to or it’s form a non direct source ie a media type or club insider not employed by the AFL, a club or player) & I like having solid relationships, simples. My intent as always is to share some fun info to help fellow Demonlanders know some interesting stuff, ie stuff I’d wanna know before I had the lucky happenstance of getting this type of info… Thus, there’s no perniciousness or subversive or egotistical function or form to it whatsoever — Deal with it or DO NOT READ on!!!*** Dreaming (probably) Targets: (chase cus gotta ask to know) Allen, McKay, King, Naughton (hate kicking but like versatility as cover for May of Jeffs/Roo develop as planned), Walker (god he’d be ideal for 12-24m, but no chance), Dixon Genuine Targets: Georgiadis, McLean, L McDonald, Darling, Silvagni, Fullarton, Jones, Day, Hayes, DGB, Koschitzke, Reid, Waterman, Edwards, Coleman-Jones, Treacy, McLaughlin, Derkson, Voss, Burgess Kuek. — Garoni, Keitel, (non-afl listed), Backup Ruck/Fwd Targets: S Hayes, Fullarton, Teakle, Bryan, Edwards, Miller, Ruck Targets (if Grundy does go): S Hayes, Phillips (rumours of coaxing out of retirement), Flynn, Pruess, Goldy, Sweet Clubs pref desired toolkit (as given to player agents): Aggression, Competitive edge, Finishing *Bold denotes heard from multiple sources (2* diff ppl or 1 w/further source named) I’ll share some non-key-fwd names further along as right now it’s pretty sparse.

GNF that is very sad news you have passed on about your health. I wish you and I am sure the whole of DL also joins me in wishing you all the best. I hope you receive more joy from the Dees and that you are with us for much longer than you or your Doctors think. I have enjoyed your posts and rumours of course don’t always come true. I have always looked forward to reading footy rumours and taken them with a grain of salt. All the best mate, thinking of you.

Hi Dazz. There is a bit going on and I'll be in a better position over the coming weeks to possibly announce some details. I can tell you though that the Swans have, and are still having an enormous crack at Brodie, however, Brodie has almost totally decided it is back to SA for him due to changing family reasons. This will probably leave Port as the most likely. Lots of details yet to be worked out and tricky with both Clubs going deep. I can also tell you that the Swans are heavily into Parish & Bailey Smith, I don't the media has caught up with their interest in Parish, but they're very keen. It'll come as no surprise but it is almost certain that Bailey Smith will be elsewhere next year. Stay well & Go Dees.

Goodwin was right tho. McGuinness had no interest in getting the ball himself, which is why he has done such a good job shutting down players. At no point did Goodwin said he didn't do a good job, but it's much easier to tag when you don't care about winning possessions yourself, which was the point he was making. The bottom line is, top clubs would never utilise this type of tagging role, because they would never risk playing 'a man down', they would rather just back their own systems in, while trying to limit the influence of the opposition's key players.

No disrespect RPFC but over the years I have openly spoken on what I have heard. Some things have come to be, some have not.......... and sometimes yes, you have annoyed me so much I have had some fun. Perhaps you forget some of my scoops like Roos a lock to coach the Dees next season a done deal after round 7, 2013. The abuse I copped on here for 9 months was extraordinary........ but no apologies in the end. Anyone can go through my record if they could be bothered, the truth is its far better than any journalist as I have enjoyed a direct ear from the very top for a long time. There is plenty more I hear that I simply dont tell as its not in the MFC interest. To suggest I make it up is not true. I have rarely done this, when I have it's been so obvious, it's been to get you back. This place is pretty boring most of the time. What is the point of having a rumour thread if those hearing rumours only get abused, or belittled when things don't eventuate. Unfortunately, I am terminally ill, I have been for 3 years. This will be my last season to pass on what I hear. So enjoy it while it lasts. As for Reid, what I have written is 100%, we had an in principal agreement with WCE....... but as I said who knows whether it would have eventuated anyway.

Agree on both points. Goody, who simply does not get the credit he deserves for his tactical smarts, has been really clever with the way they have used Tracc. Essentially, Fritter come back in as a forward and Tracc can go back to being a 70-30 mid with very little disruption to the set up. And, to boot, as you say he has been kept out of the fray in the middle (even against the lions and to a lesser extent the blues), so comes into finals relatively fresh, as does Clarry - which is brilliant for two power players. And is in contrast to last season when both looked really banged up at this point in the season.

Fritta confirmed to play this weekend by Goodwin in his Thursday media conference. Excellent news.

I just think it's a mistake to flirt with form. We need to win on Sunday, and win well, to give our club even more confidence and put extra fear into the opposition. A loss could see the exact opposite occur. If injuries happen, it happens. That's life. Could've happened any time during the year.

Been a busy week at work, sorry for the delay! Here's a bumper edition of comments from not one... but two Swans forums! BBO, LH, please come back and reassume the mantle :') For Swans, they certainly are crowing First Swans-Melbourne game at the SCG since 2019. As ever I think the Swans best can win it, and they have a few positive psychological factors: at home for the last H&A game, on a winning streak and perhaps a good send-off for the retirees Big game and a potential finals rival . Would send a big warning to the rest of the competition if we can knock them off. I don't believe they are playing at their peak , but we will need a 4 quarter effort . I hope we win so we can shut all the people up who are saying we're lucky to make finals ...and if it's not too much to ask for, Adelaide to lose to West Coast. This next post was followed by some well made points but I'm going to cherry pick it out of context anyway! This is an absolute must win game. No point limping into the finals to be eliminated week 1. Some turned the other cheek... I personally dont think this week matters as much. Id put health and availability over the first week matchup. Well let’s be real we’ve had a fair portion of luck to make it to September anything more is a bonus. We win a final from where we were surely that’s a good result It has to be a Dees goal near the end of the game that gets reviewed before the bounce and comes back..... deelicious! I wouldn't be surprised if Melbourne rest players [...] Not saying they'll tank, but I think they'll tank Response: they have a long storied history of tanking... so it makes sense really Some red and white views about some recent controversies... It's amazing that for all the times we failed throughout the season. We were gifted two wins and effectively got a free pass into finals Dane Rampe defence [...] Little did they realise that they would need to roll out this defence again so soon, and in a week when the club is Public Enemy No 1 after we single-handedly ruined the Crows’ rampant premiership thrust. If we weren't already the scourge of the AFL media before this, the knives will be sharpening as I write. Bwahahahaha. Gil will impose another trade ban on his way out the door the way we’re going. I do feel for McAdam, but it was an accident caused by the last second wicked ball bounce and the comparative stature of the players. Magnifique! Now if we can just get our legal eagles on to helping the goal umpire that was stood down back on the active list and shipped to the SCG that’d be great! These ones made me laugh (About JMac being injured) How dare you mention the dreaded 4-6 weeks!! And this close to finals. Wash your mouth out!! I’d just like to see the boys run through a banner that says: “IT HIT THE POST” No one should be re-posting from the Crows board - its against BF rules. But they are going nuts on twitter right now. Its hilarious. [Editor's note: cue a page of gifs aping the Crows board meltdown] Spare a thought for Melbourne though, whose game last week was arguably more intense and difficult than ours. I heard they're so distraught over the Finn Maginness tag on Clayton Oliver that both player and coach might be taking personal leave this week. Watch this space My least fave since Grundy is my fave 🙃 Hope someone remembers to give Grundy a tour of the new training facilities and a couple of good Sydney cafes while he’s in town.

The real Robbo (Russell Robertson) has lashed out at Kane Cornes for his ridiculous attack on Simon Goodwin’s characterisation of Hawthorn tagger Finn Maginness as a player who doesn’t want the ball. ‘No one gives a s*** what you think’: Ex-AFL star Russell Robertson erupts in scathing Kane Cornes spray

Not to mention that in the last quarter Mitchell moved the tag off Clarry, because he obviously felt they couldn't win the game if we continued to drive so much attack from half back, so he tagged Rivers instead and Clarry spent like 10 minutes being Clarry and we win the game anyway. You don't beat the top sides with a tag, because the top sides do not rely on one player to win games. We literally beat the top 2 teams this year without Oliver.

The karma bus hit the AFL. Stopped, and backed back over the AFL. The AFL would have had their final round drama if the Keays goal had been awarded. And the reason it wasn't awarded is they've had 14 years to get the goal review system, brought in to prevent exactly such howlers, right. And have still not got it right.

We're still trying to polish cohesion and will be making a significant change with Fritsch coming in. We need to use it as a dress rehearsal for the QF and go in with our preferred structure. Maybe use the sub to rest whoever needs it most.

Their arrogance is truly bizarre. Smashed in the granny and barely got to finals thanks to a some lucky breaks. I guess when the AFL is spoon feeding you at every opportunity, you grow into an entitled brat.

Don’t mean to cause any unnecessary concern but Steven May just posted a photo on social of him currently dining at a steak restaurant with a teammate 😬

Get your hair gel ready boys and girls!

If Melbourne wins the flag on the back of a fit max firing in September, the Grundy trade is a big factor. To have Gawn this fresh this late in a year is a credit to the clubs list management

they deserve a good belting.

Please, show Grundy the cafes in Sydney, then he'll see how [censored] they are, and he'll choose to stay.

With Tmac, it's fair to say they want a senior body next JVR. Can't be expecting a 20 old CHF to take the brunt of our forward line come September. If he's taking the best defender then it does release JVR to some degree.

Hoyne is Binman

If we didn't have Grundy who else would we have got? Name names. It would have to be someone who could genuinely offer something at senior level like Grundy has when Max was injured and in tandem with Max. Have you completely forgotten that Max was totally broken at the end of last year and that's a big reason why we lost two finals narrowly? Grundy has definitely enabled Max to hit this part of the season fit and firing.

Goodwin also said that TMac is moving better than at any time this year. A mobile and agile TMac could be the difference for us come September.

Hey mate, all I know is that right now it’s just due diligence & having the convo with plyr agents etc — Only one I know for certain they’re even slightly bullish on going back a ways is Allen — I think Georgiadis is one I’ve heard most of that helps!!!

100% this. When either of them are forward, they end up too deep and we often just end up bombing to them and end up with at least two dees flying for the same ball (+ kozzie alot of the time) without success. Jackson was able to push up and be a linking forward. I thought Grundy would have been capable of this but hasn't so far

I’d argue it’s obvious why it didn’t work. Neither Gawn nor Grundy contributed anything substantial in the forward line. If either of them did it would have worked.

100% deeserved on merit and performance, and as Grapeviney alluded to, deemonstrated ability to adjust his game plan. However I can’t help feeling with the external noise, a’la Mick, Caro et al (you know who), I think this is the perfect way for the board to back up their statement, and I applaud the presideent and dee board for this move at this time to make sure the club is focused on finals, should the noise start again as our success triggers the malcontents.

Good luck to Ooze if he does get the job. Was an important part of our 2021 premiership

We’re hitting finals like a freight train, I’m pumped I will add that I was also confident in 21 and watching the footy is hard. I get really nervous and anxious. This finals series is going to really test me. Breathe Roost It!

I think they're also using the forward half to rest/take Trac out of the bang and crash of midfield for a few weeks, and I'd expect him to play heavy midfield minutes in finals.

Just consulted the person who can best answer this… his mum. She says while he does have auburn tones in his hair, she wouldn’t class him as a ginger. His nan, on the other hand, was a little more succinct. She was in the back seat of Pauline’s car yelling out, “Bayley’s not a bloody ginger!” 😂 PS: They very much appreciated both of the above descriptions. 😁

Kane Cornes is just a shock jock really. He says controversial things just for the sake of it. Very boring! 🥱 Good on Russell "Robbo" Roberston for standing up for Simon Goodwin, Clayton Oliver and the Melbourne Football Club though! I know "Robbo" is the MC/Host for Melbourne Demons Home Games at the MCG. He does a great job there! However, I would love to see him more in the media. If they ever brought back a variety Football TV show (kinda like the Footy Show or Live and Kicking) then "Robbo" could easily host it and even play in a band due to his musical talents.

Was that the year Gawn, Trac and Oliver were amomgst our All Australians, Trac and Oliver scooped up several individual honours throughout the year, and said midfield tore the Bulldogs to shreds in the GF? Yeah, good call there Champion Data. Oh boy.

Pre season 2021 they rated our midfield bottom 4. I still laugh at that.

Unless they tipped us, they have no idea.

Coincidentally I had a truly superb coffee from a little place in Ashfield just yesterday. On the one hand it was a great moment of actually tasting the coffee and getting that really satisfying feeling... on the other hand... it made me realise how bland even the 'fancy' places tend to be here. There was more difference between this excellent coffee and a 'normal' Sydney cafe coffee, than there is between a normal cafe coffee and my zero care instant coffee while staring at dirty dishes in the morning! Anyway, if anyone travelling up feels like a non-CBD experience at a tiny local cafe, 'Ashfield Apothecery' genuinely cares about what it does. Also, Sydney can get stuffed.

Wonder if things aren't all that happy at the kennel. Dunkley wanting out, Smith reportedly wants out. Perhaps we can try and entice Naughton. Is contracted so unlikely but doggies also have a lot of key forward prospects coming through in JUH, Darcy and Croft in this year's draft. Doggies might be tempted by another mini reset of their list with early picks.

No stats support what the AFL site says there. Quite the opposite in fact! See an extract from a previous post of mine regarding Ben Mckay stats: "On 2023 form, he's lost 41% of one on one contests, which ranks him as the worst key defender in the league. Outright statistically worst tall defender in the league. He's averaged a bit under 2 intercept marks a game. For context, May has lost 21%, Lever 25%. Tomlinson surprisingly has been our strongest defender in the contest, and has only lost 12% of one on one contests and averages a bit over 1 intercept mark a game, including matches where he's been subbed off. Statistically, Ben McKay is work the Tomlinson, so if Ben McKay is worth a first round pick, then so is Tomlinson, and we all know neither are". In no way is Ben McKay worth anything more than 2nd or 3rd round compensation. If a club is willing to pay him $800,000+, then they're run by a drugged up lunatic mid-[censored].

They seriously are a deluded lot in Sydney then………..the coffee up there is [censored].

We bomb whoever is in the forward line.

They have always been a particularly arrogant bunch on bigfooty. Seems they forgot we beat them by 50 points in round 3.

No surprise really that @Jaded No More and @WalkingCivilWar are red-heads.

There is zero chance that we had an “in-principal” deal with WCE. It is one of the dumbest things I’ve heard, I have no idea how people still get sucked in by your garbage. The part about Lyon being “involved at a personal level” did give me a laugh though, so points there.

no one beats that team under the roof at Marvel

i am an unabashed milkshake fan after being an avowed hater when we recruited him that semi-final wheel and goal may be my third favourite goal that i've seen in person after the kozi miracle against carlton (which melksham delivered to him) and the goal to beat the bears a few weeks back great interview andy

Unintended consequences alert

I’m surprised we haven’t seen more about goody’s flaws on here: * stubborn * no plan b * still playing his best mate Melksham * not a good gameday coach * doesn’t reward form at casey * bad at press conferences * still hasn’t reviewed the 2018 PF!

72% winning rate in the past 3 years

It was an awful year SD - we won 1 game, by 1 point. Don't stress, things will pick up soon, as Ron assures us we're in the market for "some top-name interstate recruits"! If you look carefully in the top right corner, the number for the changerooms is listed!