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No way! I don't see any upside to this at all. There will be a good player available at six - take him. Why take a punt that could go wrong?

A timely reminder from one of our own…

Take curtin and use him as leverage when Harley Reid wants to come back to Victoria

Yep. Good advice. I have been having regular blood tests every 6 months for many years. 18 months ago there was a significant jump in my PSA levels which is an indicator for Prostrate problems. After additional tests and a biopsy The indicators showed that the cancer was a vey aggressive type of cancer. Had all the offending bits removed as that was the recommendation of the surgeon. 1 months down the track from the op and all is clear and trending the right way. the regular tests meant that I got it early. Get tested!

I spoke with Sinead at the local coffee shop recently she is our only 23. She is a fantastic person and a great asset to the club. She is the number 1, number 23 in the club

Looks pretty good to me happy that Zurich and Jaguar are prominent on our jumpers it’s great to have some real continuity with our major sponsors. We have had quite a few over the years.!

i like the club getting money

Don’t like the sponsor logo bigger than the club logo. Overshadows it.

Generally just a blood test now. So easy. I think a lot of men were put off by the traditional test. As for the bowel cancer test they send out. Finally got around to it. So easy ! You owe it to not only yourself but your loved ones. Do it NOW. Don't think, DO.

Sinead’s a beautiful person. Always has time for a chat. She’s my fave W player, and that’s not because she’s Irish (but that does help). 😁 Sinead is underrated imo. Our backline wouldn’t be nearly as effective without her.

I'm with you, @TeamPlayedFine39. The ideal number of logos for me would be zero, but I recognise that they're a necessary evil.

If West Coast are desperate to add a top 6 pick, they will be the ones adding the steak knives.

I love the monogram but think this is looking a little bit cluttered. Ironically, I like the simplicity of the monogram, especially compared to the previous logos, but five logos on the front of the guernsey is a bit much IMHO.

I'm not going to argue that the AFL is totally transparent, trustworthy and not keen on maximising revenue, occasionally by foul means, but mostly fair. However, the paranoia in here is beyond extreme. Gill doesn't set his salary level - this will almost certainly be set by the Board of the Commission using a number of internal and external benchmarks. Gill is not incompetent/inept/corrupt. For example, to keep the comp going during COVID-19 was an extraordinary achievement. Anyone who watched his press interviews during that time would have seen a man deprived of sleep and under tremendous pressure. Commercially and financially the comp is in the best condition is living memory. His management of the huge, self-interested and toxic egos in clubland is extraordinary. The list is long, but we can start with Triple Chins, Kennett and Cochrane. I wouldn't have any of them within 100 metres of my home, let alone pay me enough to work with them. Regarding the fixture, yes it's mostly %$&*)@, but I've yet to hear practical solutions to all the dilemmas the fixture throws up. Putting a bandaid on one wound simplely creates another wound elsewhere. Yes, the The umpiring standards, MOR and score review system is completely %$&*)@ and should be improved - no doubt about that and I cannot defend it. There is no doubt Goyder is incompetent and should not be the chair of a major sporting competition (let alone an airline) - and I cannot defend that. And finally, to say the AFL are the most corrupt sporting organization on the planet is beyond extreme. Anyone noticed the BCCI, OIC or FIDA lately? They place the corporate corruption and organisational toxicity and incompetence of the Federal Reserve, Fanny Mae and Freddy Mac, Credit Suisse and Bear Stearns in the veritable shade.

Second prize has been claimed by @hardtack. Although the comfy chair has gone, he is now the proud owner of a nice fluffy cushion.

Thank you! Send the delivery truck to a charity...as I'm a bit of a 'mimimalist' with furnishings. I'll settle for a

Sinead Goldrick ❤️💙

I don't want to be too negative, but I'm worried for next week. Potentially Lampard, Gay, Paxy, Colvin, A Mackin, Chaplin, Goldy and Hanks (absolutely should be no concern but the tribunal has been so inconsistent on tackles that anything could happen) may all be unavailable. I'm also concerned that we've beaten the Kangas six times in a row, and it doesn't matter if you're the better team in the end the law of averages will get you. Beating a team nine times out of ten still means there's that tenth time. We really missed a chance last night to set ourselves up. Imagine If we'd had Gold Coast next week for a week off and straight through to the Prelim? Brisbane had the three big motivations - the GF loss, playing for a top four spot and to atone for their poor effort last week - but we should have been ready for that. We yet again were jumped, ironically the only game where we've come out hard was against Adelaide. Nearly always slow starters, it's as if we want to let the oppo play their best so we can then put in place our counter measures and then take control. Coming out with steam coming out our ears might not be a bad idea now and then. And as has been said the team selection was weird. With Paxy a late withdrawal we go with Gall over Campbell? With the three emergencies all being talls we didn't have a like for like, but we went for the least experienced option in a game of such importance?

My Bro was diagnosed at 43! unfortunately he went to liver cancer, a secondary of bowel cancer 6 months later. A terrible way for me to learn to keep on top of your Men's Health guys.

Total lack of run last night. Not having Paxy in hurt, I think we went in a bit tall. But the lack of run wasn’t all due to personal lot was also attitude based which was disappointing. Bannon offered nothing there or was set up to provide run in an open forwardline with a kick to her advantage side. Our forwards pushed too high up the ground last night.What stood out was a lack of chase. Shelly Heath who is usually a determined player and has wheels stopped chasing a Brisbane player who ran from half bank flank to half forward flank with some handball receives who set up a Brisbane goal from that chain. Our handball receives were way down with little overlap run. Really disappointing result now as we rely on Adelaide to slip up to host a potential Grand Final. It actually was like watching our men’s team last night. Win the inside but getting smashed outside the contest, forwards too high up the ground. Slow ball movement and a lack of run dare. And a few eyebrows raised with team selection. Too many passengers last night but I am sure that the girls will bounce back.

Noooooooooooo! Credit to Brisbane, they really brought it and we were simply not up to it. Negatives Outplayed all over and SO MANY MISTAKES. Frustrating. Need to find a way to wrest back momentum and own the ball when the pressure is up. Small sample, but we haven’t been able to do that against proper competition this season and it’s a worry. We started too reactive and weren’t switched on. Any chance we could come out all guns blazing sometime? Then again, the way the Lions were on…if we’d backed our game, they might’ve had 5 in the first. Too many were ineffective with the ball under pressure (count West, Mithen and Heath among those). Goalless in the second half. The forward line was starved and then when we found a bit of connection looked fairly toothless in the last quarter. We’ve struggled to get Bannan’s full impact against the top teams this season. A couple of our tackles will be looked at. All season players have been getting off for dangerous tackles so of course just watch Hanks and possibly Heath get weeks. Hate to see Watt who surely has limited chances left in her career have her season possibly ended like that. Positives The ball bounced, I guess. Not our way. But it did bounce. I thought the most likely way for us to lose that game would be through inaccurate kicking. Well, we did lose, but not in that way. I was also worried about their speed and they definitely broke us open a few times…wait, that’s not a positive. Hopefully that was about as bad as we can play and about as well as they can play. We’ve seen Adelaide and Brisbane’s tactics—do we have a response? Paxman as a late out set off a chain of shifts that were less than ideal and left things out of whack. A tough ask for Gall. We can field a better team than this, but no excuses. Thought it was a good return by Harris overall. Mackin the only player who had any real space. Goldie tried hard. Hore and Hanks tried to lead the way. The backline did about all it could under that level of attack before caving. People reacting in the gameday thread with vitriol and exaggeration. It’s Demonland code for "This hurts", which translates to “I care”. May the sting of losing send us into beast mode for finals. Our best beats anyone. Just need to do it.

RECOGNISING AN AMAZING TALENT SHELLEY HEATH HAPPY 50 GAMES Heater’s nickname amongst the players is ‘Rash.’ She played her 50th last week but the wind at Casey meant no banner raising.

Well done to @WalkingCivilWar for working it out and claiming third spot. I trust she will enjoy her prize of a lovely, decorative antimacassar.

Curtin and O’Sullivan? No way we’ll take two key defenders. I don’t think we’ll even take two talls. One of 6 or 11 will should be a midfielder wether it be inside/outside. Would be shocked if one of Wilson Leake or Windsor isn’t a Demon. We went tall last draft with Jefferson and Adams

This was the reason many cases of cervical cancer went undiagnosed… women simply avoided Pap smears because of the attendant discomfort. But five minutes of discomfort for invaluable peace of mind is a good trade.

No. If we can’t manufacture the Reid trade then we use 6 and hopefully get Watson now. We need to do everything we can to build a high potency forward line now whilst we have the other pieces in place. I also don’t think the Eagles will be much chop next year but what if they do manage a mid table finish and we end up with egg on face?

Agreed. Taking a good player at 6 this year means that we get a year of development into him whilst we are still in the window for 2024. And we all know windows don't stay open forever Keep 6. If anything, I'd offer our F1st + 11 for 7 or 8 this year. Curtain and O'Sullivan would be a great haul

Good win. Getting root out helped win the cause.

We would want more than a future first for #6 but we should definitely consider any trade which gives a better long-term result.

Have I missed something. Wasn't Beyond Bank top back of the jumper? Have we lost them? And is Reid getting JJs jumper? Important number 23. 🤪

Zampa has been excellent this WC.

Beating England is always joyous! We're now playing some very good cricket with games against Afghanistan & Bangladesh to come India play South Africa tonight which should be a beauty. India look strong but anything can happen in white ball cricket ... it's a lot like a baseball game in that sense One bowler or one batsman gets hot and the game sways

I don’t need to use the code, DiO. It hurts and I care. It hurts because I know we’re better than that. I care because our girls work so hard and they are the most awesome bunch of people you could hope to meet. But I’ve stopped pouting and now I’m really looking forward to and feeling confident about our first final! Bring it on!!!

Yes. Get checked. I did and luckily all good. I did demand the Dr buy dinner before the next check!

CHANGES 2023 Part 2: The Picture by The Oracle The trade and free agency deals are done and, when the dust settled, the picture of how each club’s list was going to appear in 2024 was beginning to become much clearer. For the Melbourne Football Club, the ins and outs appear as follows - In: Jack Billings (St Kilda) Tom Fullarton (Brisbane Lions) Shane McAdam (Adelaide) Out: Luke Dunstan (retired) Brodie Grundy (Sydney Swans) James Harmes (Western Bulldogs) Michael Hibberd (retired) James Jordon (Sydney Swans) Jake Melksham (delisted) Deaykin Smith (delisted ®) Kye Turner (delisted ®) In terms of the players coming into the side, there was no “big fish” captured on the hook. Indeed, all three would have to be regarded as speculative selections by virtue of the fact that none of them have been stand outs in recent seasons. However, as I mentioned in the trade week wrap-up there was nothing in Collingwood’s 2023 recruiting “that screamed brilliance” but four players picked up in the post season are now premiership players. It has been said that Melbourne was interested when Jack Billings was drafted by St Kilda at number 3 ten years ago. The brilliant 185cm, 82kg midfielder/forward has had an up and down 155 game (108 goal) career, highlighted by a place in the Saints’ leadership group and a fourth placing in the best and fairest in 2019. During his time, he has had his share of injuries and some form lapses, but a fit Billings at 28 years of age would certainly be an asset in Melbourne’s attack for the next couple of seasons. Similarly, with Shane McAdam who is also aged 28. The 183cm 79kg forward was a late starter at Adelaide and has notched up 50 games (72 goals) and played in only eight games this season. At his best, he’s a dynamic player with a good bag of skills who could electrify the Demon forward line in combination with Kozzy Pickett. Tom Fullarton played four games for Brisbane in 2022 and none this year. The 24-year-old, 200 cm ruckman/forward with a basketball background could fill a couple of distinct roles including giving the skipper a chop out in the ruck. Brodie Grundy and James Jordon found their separate ways to the Sydney Swans and James Harmes became a Bulldog in a low-profile trade. Luke Dunstan joined Michael Hibberd in retirement after his late season ACL surgery while Jake Melksham was one of the delistings but he’s expected to be relisted as a rookie later this month. Rookies Deaykin Smith and Kye Turner have also been delisted. Daniel Turner is expected to be upgraded to the Primary List before the National Draft. We can also expect to see Kynan Brown (son of former Demon, Nathan Brown) drafted on one of the lists after he nominated himself for selection under the father/son rule. Here’s a look at the club’s list as they stand at present: - PRIMARY LIST 1. Jed Adams 2. Jack Billings 3. Jake Bowey 4. Angus Brayshaw 5. Ben Brown 6. Kade Chandler 7. Tom Fullarton 8. Bayley Fritsch 9. Max Gawn 10. Blake Howes 11. Lachie Hunter 12. Matthew Jefferson 13. Ed Langdon 14. Bailey Laurie 15. Jake Lever 16. Shane McAdam 17. Tom McDonald 18. Steven May 19. Alex Neal-Bullen 20. Clayton Oliver 21. Christian Petracca 22. Harrison Petty 23. Kysaiah Pickett 24. Trent Rivers 25. Christian Salem 26. Josh Schache 27. Joel Smith 28. Charlie Spargo 29. Tom Sparrow 30. Adam Tomlinson 31. Jacob van Rooyen 32. Jack Viney 33. Taj Woewodin ROOKIE LIST CATEGORY A 34. Judd McVee 35. Oliver Sestan 36. Daniel Turner 37. Will Verrell ROOKIE LIST CATEGORY B 38. Kyah Farris-White 39. Andy Moniz-Wakefield With the likely inclusion of Kynan Brown and Jake Melksham on one of the lists, this leaves the club with very little room to maneuver in its drafting although it remains in an advantageous position with two high end picks. Will the club make a play for the highly regarded top selection Harley Reid or will it go for two first rounders? We’ll know soon.

You think he acted alone without the Board. It was 90% actually, $2.7m of $3m, still the biggest single donation ever given to the club. What revenue streams back then, would have got us the $30m approx he left us, for Bentleigh and Oakleigh, plus his $2.7m. What have the last few Boards added to what he left us? He may not have been the President I personally wanted, but his contribution to the MFC was huge, in addition to helping save the club from a merger, which would have seen a different club today.

Who doesn't love a good death ride?

Lack of run and very disappointing skills. Fumbled and bumbled all night and for a team that is lauded for its run & carry via slick handball prior to the match, along with dominating hard ball gets, this aspect seemed to dry up pretty badly in this one. You would think the commentators were getting mixed up and referring to Brissy as they were the ones bringing the run and and much slicker game that connected well. They were also the ones picking up most of the loose ball stuff and easily matched or bettered us with the contested hard ball side. We stopped hand balling / running and mostly just kept bombing down the line. Occasional switch across HB but very little changing of angles when coming through the corridor & forward. Whereas Brissy did very well in this regard i thought. A number of times we had two to three loose players in the middle but they were ignored and instead we mostly punted down the line to a congested cotest and much of the time over the heads of our girls up forward who were mostly pushed under the ball by clever play from their Brissy defenders, who then took the easy uncontested mark out the back. Starting to appear like no Paxy, no Demons (against the best clubs anyway)? Don't think you can play all three talls of Zank, Bannan and Taylor up forward either. Probably would have asked Bannan to cover their big forward (Davidson?) after quarter/half time. She was in pretty good form and Bannon played her early career in this role from memory.

Well, we were calling for it... Bairstow out for a golden duck!!! 🤣😂

She did.

I stopped watching it but just before I did I thought I heard them say Maeve came back on (?)

Full on shoulder charge to the head. Going on previous penalties this season should get three weeks.

watt and chaplin won't be playing due to concussion protocols i would imagine? we could have quite a lot of changes with two forced and bringing in a bit of experience with paxy, gay, colvin and then the smarts of a mackin as well

Not this week

Just saw Brodie Gundy's comments. Here is the link to it: https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2023-brodie-grundy-trade-melbourne-to-sydney-max-gawn-collingwood-contract-salary-leaves-club-after-a-year/news-story/37ba08c1b2ba2db26acb2936921b71fa A class act from Brodie Grundy. It's a shame things didn't work out at the Demons. It had so much potential during the Pre-Season. But it just wasn't to be. I wish him all the best at the Swans (except against us).

He actually said Melbourne’s training is brutal and it’s at a level he hasn’t seen from other teams and he countered it with that it would be difficult to sustain that level of intensity throughout the year. He wasn’t wrong we dipped for a period mid year and started to build strongly after the Brisbane win, anyone who doesn’t think we were into it up to our necks before Petty and Melk went down is trying to rewrite history. Lucks involved and you make your own, but from August onwards despite what he says now in hindsight Kane Cornes had us as favourites, Cam Mooney had us as the team to beat, Brenton Sanderson had us as grand finalists and most pundits had the Pies second half of the season pointing to alarming heading into September Could of, would of, should of I know but IMO the window ain’t close to being closed

There is absolutely - without a shadow of a doubt - an opportunity to really use recent events, the Maynard incident, double straight sets and arguably a few other things to galvanize the group this pre-season. Drive them hard. Goody will need to be careful in how he chooses to use the 'theme' as it can grow tired really quickly - maybe save the good stuff for finals, but the theme has to be prominent throughout the year and really build a story around it. End of the day, clubs look for an edge. We were 7 and 2 points away from a PF. That is nothing - so every penny counts.

And I think it is only fitting that a statue of the creator of the thread, be erected at the MCG and also another at the new home base, which will thereby encapsulate his two sporting loves.