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This made me lol

The trading process started late last week with the List Managers/Recruiters annual meeting to discuss their list status and trade posibilities. To flag mfc being 'open to a trade' all it had to do was leave Clarrie off the so called 'untouchables' list. Or there was some other mechanism at that meeting to flag mfc's position. Naturally, clubs started doing their homework. It was only a matter of time before the info reached Twomey and Beveridge. MFC didn't leak a possible Oliver trade - it is part of the trading process. This also answers the question of how other clubs came to know that mfc was open to trading him. It is worth noting that his management made no comment and the club has not denied the story. Clubs don't let Oliver type players go without exceptional reasons. We don't know what they are but shouldn't doubt that being open to trading him is the result of a long and considered process.

McQualter rocking up on his first day ... Seriously though. Great appointment and welcome to Demonland.

Perhaps no comment is an indication of our strategy? Which I hope involves giving clarry a massive rocket and wake up call. Like every dees fan I would be shattered if clarry left. But there was plenty of publically available evidence of lack of professionalism on his part this year. Applying the iceberg principle there was no doubt more stuff not in the public arena. Another year of distractions could torpedo next season and beyond. For goody it is all about creating a team that is contention every year. Culture underpins that goal. Crossroads for clarry me thinks. I was absolutely against trading out Watts. But I acknowledged the club had all the info and respected the right of goody to make the call. And hard to argue it wasn't the right call. I'll put my trust in the club to make the right call again.

Well said mate. The club is bigger then the individual and whilst I don't think he'll get traded, supporters do need to brace themselves for the reality that it definitely could happen. Unpopular opinion here but I have full trust in Goodwin and the list management however way they handle this situation.

This is a place of opinions, so you’re entitled to yours. My opinion is you and I probably know less than 10% of what has transpired/is transpiring and we’re therefore incapable of reliably diagnosing what state of ‘repair’ the relationship is in. I’ll defer my trust to those that known more than 10% of what is going on.

Like the sky was falling when Max went down against Brisbane, you have no capability to think anything but the worst in every scenario. Young players get opportunity through injury and suspension and teams adjust when players are out, like we did during Clarry’s absence this season. As for Brayshaw every player in the competition is 1 hit away from a career ending concussion just like Daniel Venables. Whatever the outcome things will be fine, we will have Oliver back focused or we will have picks that JT and Lamb have shown they will use wisely. Teams need to continually evolve. The sun came up today, I’m still breathing and my family are healthy, life’s good look at positives and enjoy it

My question is how the heck am I supposed to get any work done today now?!?!

I don't think it's about being seduced by picks this time mate. It's about maintaining the culture that the club has tried so hard to foster, and maximising what is a dreadfully sorry and sad situation. Clarry is my favourite player, I'm devastated. But we've got the picks this year to work a deal that could rejuvenate our list. The other thing not being talked about is the potential dramatic impact not having Clarry in our midfield will have on our game style. Collingwood have shown you don't need an elite midfield to win a flag. They've bucked the trend in that regard. I trust JT, Lamb and the broader club to do what's right for the MFC here. As gut wrenching as that is. I suspect many of us are so strongly bonded to Clarry because we waited so long for an elite midfielder and then we got him, he helped us win a flag and now here we are...

What Collingwood did with De Goey and Richmond did with Dusty is irrelevant. There is not one person on this forum, or one supporter who understands anywhere near as much about what is going on as those making decisions at the club. The ongoing assumption that ‘Melbourne just aren’t putting their arms around Clarry’ like Collingwood did with De Goey is naive.

His stats pre injury Round 1: 37 and a goal Round 2: 25 and 2 goals Round 3: 34 Round 4: 41 in that shocking loss to Essendon Round 5: 31 and a goal Round 6: 37 Round 7: 28 Round 8: 34 and a goal Round 9: 30 against Port playing the last quarter with an injured hamstring. He was on 38 votes in the coaches award by round 10 I understand stats don’t always tell the whole story, but he was consistently our top 1-2 players every game. As for Brownlow votes, Neale won it so we know how much that says.