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Trigger warning

Quite clearly we'll all look back in 50 years and see the fact that Luker Kentfield took "too long" to get to his first training session as the starting point of the crumbling of the MFC empire, much like the sacking of Norm Smith in 1965. Thanks for bringing it to all our attention so early!

I am exactly the same. This is the first ever King/Queen's Birthday match I will miss since I had a uni exam clash with a game about 15 years ago (which I tried getting out of! ha). I cannot bring myself to attend this game, after what happened last year. I have been a paid up members for 25 years, I pay for one of the most expensive memberships every single year, regardless of whether we are winning flags or wooden spoons, and I attend games religiously. But I made a decision after our finals exit last year, that I can no longer allow football to impact my life. There has to be other priorities, namely my mental wellbeing. It's why I am choosing to watch this game from home. Of course if it was our home game I would attend without a second thought, but I refuse to engage with the verbally and emotionally abusive Pies fans. Edit: and if anyone wants to suggest that I am not a true supporter because I am choosing not to attend this match, they can frankly get [censored]! I challenge them to compete with the number of matches I have attended in my life, including while very unwell, with broken limbs, shortly after a death in the family, and through just about everything else.

Not so sure about that. It’s easy to forget after the Grundy debacle that Jackson and Gawn worked so well for all parties. It’s a great opportunity for an up and coming ruckman to learn from the GOAT for a cpl of years in a lesser role. It just wasn’t a great opportunity fr an already established AA ruckman.

I couldn’t give AF what other fans think

As I posted above, I hope we're making a strong play for Moyle who is a big unit who won't be moved off the line and follows up well at the stoppage with tackles and clearance. Witts is GC captain and is a year younger than Max, and they have Read coming through, although he may be more forward-ruck - staying at GC with all that list talent is probably a sound option for him. If he would move there's the question of would he come to Melbourne after the Grundy experience but I think we are as good an option as anywhere for him to inherit the #1 ruck mantle. Max is the oldest #1 outside of Goldstein and Stanley, who both already have good proteges in Draper and Conway. Collingwood is an attractive option because they will play two rucks and Cameron is competitive forward. There's the Dogs if English leaves but that seems unlikely. It's hard to know Max's mind, he might like to forge on for 2-3 years or he might just say ruck-it, I'm done at the end of this year and go and enjoy life without a totally busted body. Adelaide: O'Brien 28y9m, Strachan Brisbane: McInerney 29y10m, Fort 30y10m Carlton: Pittonet 28y, De Koning Collingwood: Cameron 28y10m, Cox 33y 2m Essendon: Goldstein 35y11m, Draper, Bryan Fremantle: Darcy 25y11m, Jackson GWS: Briggs 24y8m, Preuss Geelong: Stanley 33y6m, Conway Gold Coast: Witts 31y8m, Moyle, Read Hawthorn: Meek 26y1m, Reeves 25y7m MFC: Gawn 32y5m, Verrall North: Xerri 25y2m, Teakle Port: Soldo 28y1m, Sweet 26y4m Richmond: Nankervis 29y9m, Naismith 31y10m St.Kilda: Marshall 28y6m, Campbell 32y7m Sydney: Grundy 30y1m, Ladhams 26y4m West Coast: Flynn 26y8m, Williams, Barnett Dogs: English 26y9m, Lobb 31y3m I'd make Moyle a very good offer because I think a capable Max replacement is #1 priority. I've suggested elsewhere that we've got enough developing KP in the hopper: Turner, Jefferson, Verrall, Adams and Kentfield to complement Lever, Petty and JVR. And I think we've got enough untapped midfield potential in Salem, Pickett, Rivers and McVee to complement Petracca, Oliver and Viney. It sounds like a midfielder heavy draft coming up so we could pick up someone there.

Take them with you. Character-building.

We could do with a Moyle on the team. Someone who is surgical and not afraid to make incisions in sensitive areas. There could be a few tears though!

But it’s the truth, it is what happened Mrs. Maynard. I understand his Mothers’ discomfort, but it is a fact that a players’ career ended after a head knock, caused by her son. It was early in a final, after he had said during that week that he would make the opposition earn every possession and his opponent had been concussion free for the previous 5 years and was even wearing a helmet. The bump was delivered by jumping off the ground, bracing with his shoulder and hitting the victim after he had disposed of the ball and was therefore unsuspecting of being smashed into. They are facts. PS: I have never thought that Maynard intended to knock Gus out, but rather to make him earn the kick after copping a decent bump and putting some fear into his team mates.

I go to as many other games as I can but I have boycotted this match. My feelings might soften next year but I just cannot do it this year. Not good for my head space - it still makes me too upset.

I'd prefer you remain in your own shoes in that case Bates! 😉

Hope Ned sees it your way.

We have showed strong interest in GC ruckman Ned Moyle according to Jon Ralph. Adelaide and Collingwood are also other clubs showing interest.

Jake Lever’s interview on the Deebrief podcast was excellent. Highly recommend giving it a listen. He alluded to a few things: 1) Effort and prep. I’m paraphrasing here but he basically said “There may be some complacency that’s seeped into the group. It’s winter in Melbourne now, and when you’ve just come off a win to get the pressure off your back, you sometimes don’t do all the necessary steps to back up the next week. Sunday’s loss shows there’s no room to be any less prepared with how tight the comp is.” 2) This also led to a focus on the group to ask themselves are they doing everything necessary in their preparation each week. 3) There has been a bit of an over correction on focusing too much on offence and not the hallmarks of our game (contest and defence). This is being addressed and expect a more contested brand from this week.

JVR about to put in his 'power of work'

Goody said in the press conference today that JVR is likely going to be fit to play, but still needs to get thru a big load of training in the lead up. Fingers crossed.

An interesting interview with some good questions - a couple of which goody did the classic politician strategy of answering without actually addressing the substantive part of the question. I always find those examples interesting for what the subtext might be. By the by, it annoys me when media people ask a question with muriple elements, or ask several questions at once. It allows the interviewee to cherry pick which element or question they want to answer - and more significantly the which ones they want to ignore (although that choicr can be instructive).

Great post. If Moyle stayed at GC he could also be competing with Mac Andrew in coming years who made a name for himself as ruck during his junior days. Can see a future where Andrew rucks and Read plays as a key defender.

Has Olisik returned under a new name, very similar posting

yes, definitely take them with you can teach them the art of snake catching at the same time

Agree. Learn at the foot of the master before taking the reins in a couple of years

Given that this player’s footy career has ended by an AFL medical directive, after an act that the AFL now admits is illegal, I believe we will get full cap relief. What we won’t and didn't get for half this season, was a replacement player and if it was allowed when Gus was banned, the pick of all eligible players. Anyway that is now water under the bridge.

For me high up on the ‘hate list’ is Cox and Maynard (and used to include Ginnivan). That aside they are a very good side and play an exciting brand of football. It is their supporter base that l absolutely despise. No better example was when the ferals last year started chanting ‘Collingwood’ while Brayshaw was knocked out cold. It made me very angry. Still am! The KB game for me is ‘our little final in June’. I just don’t want us to win, I want to see Collingwood get smashed….so that I can soak up the crowd atmosphere. (Even better in some ways when we will be vastly outnumbered). GO DEES.

I’m not looking forward to this game. Firstly I cannot look at their no 4 without clenching my fists and baring my teeth. After being at that game last year and putting up with the most feral Pies supporters I’ve ever had the misfortune of coming across, I vowed never, ever to go to a Dees vs Pies match again. I didn’t watch one minute of last years GF - I was still so upset so spent the day at the beach away from any football updates. As it’s a Pies game - I refuse to give that rotten club one cent of my money. I will watch the game at home with my MND beanie on and pray we get over the line. I have made a sizeable donation to the MND charity so would rather donate to them than that awful club. My husband is already a bit fearful of my reaction should we lose. He might end up sleeping in the goat house.

I mentioned to DD on the Stats File that Kade Chandler has dropped right off the charts and needs a spell to get over his injury/ loss of form and that Andy Moniz-Wakefield is running on top of the ground and could spell him, could work for both of them.

But this isn't "closed" because you can watch it through the wire fence. You reckon that a Collingwood forward scout couldn't have seen it if he'd wanted to. We should be embracing dedicated and passionate supporters, not punishing them. If you want a closed session have it at another venue and don't advertise it.

Struth, there’s an “Ignore button” ? Please tell me how to find it.

I’m sick to death of all this Maynard stuff & the excuses of certain supporters, harden up & get to the game if you can, the season is on the line, we need all the support we can get. Imagine how good it will be when we win!!!

On face value you would think going to Pies makes sense for the opportunity. However I suggest we value the importance of ruckman more highly than the current Pies management and therefore would offer a more attractive package. I also think a 1-2 year transition learning from the GOAT would be enticing.

Brilliant work WCW. Good news about JVR. Our forward line needs him.

Max is a 6 time AA ruckman and is turning 33 later this year. If Ned can't see the opportunities that can bring to a young, green ruckman then so be it. It isn't really analogous to the Grundy situation from last year.

I think we will be very active in this off-season and we will have to be! We've already heard of a number of targets such as Ryan Angwin, Ned Moyle & Josh Battle. I also really hope we are going hard for Davies-Uniacke if he is considering leaving, given we lost Brayshaw from our midfield. Given the likely departures of Brown, Tomlinson & Joel Smith, plus the potential retirement of McDonald (not a guarantee), we should have a decent amount of salary cap space to chase multiple players. If we were to get all of the above and keep our first round pick that would be a great way to replenish our list on the run. This would essentially be a mini-rebuild and would lower the overall age of our list given LDU is 24, Moyle 22, Battle is 25 and Angwin is 21. I know this is probably a fanciful scenario, but I really hope Lamb and the team go hard.

thats the way I see it, incident occurred before the new rule and shouldn't be applied retrospectively. I understand there's an inherent risk signing someone who has had prior concussions to a long term contract but at the same time it would be a little unfair to use some of these rumored provisions against us when the rule wasn't announced at the time. If the new rule was in place when AB was negotiating his contract, would the contract have been any different? Who knows? No issue with any new rule applying to any future contracts, but there should definitely be a degree of grandfathering here.

Witts/Read, ROB/Strachan, Cameron/Cox (old) and Begg (miles off)

Ideal get IMO. Massive unit who can't be moved off the line and follows up strongly with tackles and clearance. I'd pay a lot.

A lot of this reads true to me. this game will tell us a huge amount. Not so much if we win but how we play and do we “turn up”. Since the bye, (6 games), in the first quarter we have kicked 3 or 4 goals in two games and less than two in the other 4. The second quarter has been worse. 6 goals and then 5. In the first half. Then 3 for the other games. It does not win football games. I know conditions and the opposite teams play a part. since the bye we have been deplorable. why play finals and go out in straight sets or just the first game again. play, train, and make decisions for the long game 2025. Get rid of the dead wood. some hard decisions needed. And someone smarter than me to do it. i hope we win but experience says no. Go Dee’s

Not much better of an apprenticeship than to learn and take over from max gawn

TMac is finally playing some really good footy, we would just ruin another backman by moving him. Hold Petty/Disco for now and pray Melksham just falls straight back into his form from last year 🙏

Despite the mantra about ‘no limits’ on young blokes at the club. It is rebuked by the number of non-performing players with AFL experience who ‘grace’ the current side. Their selection is biased on reputation and a Hail Mary hope they play themselves into some kind of form. With the team bus teetering on the edge of the no return precipice. Can this season be resuscitated? Not if the whiff of favouritism and blind faith continues. To quote Bertrand Russell “The whole problem with the (footy)world is that fools and fanatics are certain of themselves, while wiser people are full of doubts.” Including a prominent poster on this thread who most publicly announced pre-2021, that ANB was not worthy of consideration as a forward. Time for another Hyphen buddy.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't AMW playing was playing as a small defender. Apologies if not correct, but that being the case, who exactly is he replacing? it's all well and good to say Petty is in horrible form, but we aren't replacing a tall forward with a back pocket. He would be contending with Bowie, McVee and possibly Woewodin. Deserving a place is one thing, team balance and having a vacant place for the player to fit is another. I'm gonna be interested how match committee goes about this weeks selection, it's Kings Birthday weekend! not the game to bring in a first game player, but I'm not seeing too much form at Casey that excites me. A part of me says no change, put the heat on those who played so badly, and make each of them look Neil in the eye before they go out and play this weekend! ... I miss Gus :(

Sorry DLanders, doubtful attendee at training, this morning have pulled Grandfather duties for a few hours P.F

Yes, someone with the tools to cut through!

Ouch! Oy veh, too!

Meanwhile if we picked Kentfield this week you’d probably call us “desperate”.

What a load of [censored].

The dogs who missed finals after winning the flag? we came second in 2022 (H/A) we are poor at the moment but let’s keep things in perspective

Funnily enough his name is Ian, but since he’s not a 73yo grey nomad he goes by Bobby

Can I say that if WCW cannot be her usual self on DL, then DL will be a lot poorer for that. She is, IMO, a breath of fresh air on here. I don’t always agree but I’m always entertained. Don’t change.

So the bloke who just a fortnight ago was being hailed in the media as the greatest ruckman in the history of the game, not just Melbourne. Who is leading the 2024 AFL player ratings and who will get his 7th AA this year is a big part of the problem? What is that problem? Well, we are now out of the 8! For the first time in 4 years mind you, but shame Max! Demon Discipline says he needs to be more consistent, yet concedes he'd be a long way ahead in the B&F. A complement? No, it's only because the rest of the team are so bad apparently. Shame Max! And I love you WCW, but the 'nudge, nudge, wink, wink' approach is really quite tedious. The Swans are seemingly way ahead at the moment, but remember, their only loss was against a team who had their only win. I don't remember them saying the sky was falling. I was devastated on Sunday, but until then we were 4th in a really even year, Swans excluded. Max has never been an enforcer, it's simply not him. So to tell him to get more physical in a game that is ever increasingly being sanitised is ludicrous. I have always bragged to friends and family that a reason I support the Dees is because our supporters are better. We don't cheer opposition misses on goal and boo every opposition player. Yes, I know I'm delusional in this regard but I like that Fantasy Island in which I live. For my own sanity, I feel I need a break from Demonland. Keep fighting the fight Little Goffy and others. I hope to return when less fragile. Go Dees! 🔴🔵

I don’t know what you are implying, but it is difficult to criticise the best player in your team so far this year. There are plenty more who do so much less. If it’s off field, then I am unaware of it. On field my only criticisms are his taps are not going to advantage enough and he can spray his kicks a bit. When a sole ruckman also averages about 25 possies it is hard to criticise. I am more concerned why great disposers like Salem and Bowey can’t pass a ball 20 metres and why so many are clearly not putting in.