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Well with podcast leading the charge it’s only gonna get more and more negative round here! Andy in full MFCSS mode, George basically throwing baby out with bath water and in full meltdown mode — inc saying our kids are no good and that we somehow need to ‘replace’ Jackson, Brown, Hibbo, Harmes etc which is just such an archaic way to look at modern footy, the talent we have coming through is FAR superior to all above outside of maybe Jackson, but I’d argue JVR is his equal talent wise, Kos is a FAR superior player than his 21’ version, Rivers same, Mcvee >Hibbo, Turner will likely out-produce Brown of 2021 beyond, Windsor is significantly better than Jordon on talent, but they’re not replacing anyone, they are their own players! How no one else seems to notice the outlier results happening EVERYWHERE is beyond me. We convincingly beat North and had them get a bit lucky with freebie goals to give them a surge of momentum, whilst we stopped to crawl which is likely a fitness issue combined with fact we were 40 up, that’s basic psychology 101 — yet we held-on, thankfully!!! Shots on goal @george_on_the_outer? We didn’t have any in the last quarter — so we had 15 in 3qtrs which is nothing to cry about, we stopped — we had momentum taken and we held-on for dear life. I’m not sure who’s seeking positivity at present outside of poor @binman, who continues to support his positivity with data unlike many of the doomsday-mob — Whilst also highlighting WHAT the issues are, we can’t run atm, and our skills are poor which in a trans gameplan really shows through! We have clearly set ourselves for this game and I expect a strong showing. A win? Sure why not? The fact we’ve suddenly become a bottom 4 side is ludicrous — where were Brisbane jsut weeks ago? Pies at years beginning? GWS AND cats slaying now struggling, why is it so few can see how tipsy-turvy modern footy is? It’d all momentum confidence and fitness! Petty is fitter, Salem’s base will cont to grow, as will Clarry’s.. like AMW coming in and LEVER — check the stats on how we do without Rick?!?! Go on.. you’ll see the impact he has, seriously he makes a HUGE difference to our setup and cohesion esp in transition and organisation. This dourness is SO easy, it’s convenient and it highlights one’s true baseline or default — when things get hard or scary, they fold! Let’s hope our players aren’t buying into that modus operandi! It’s much harder to stay positive and keep faith in a team that’s given us so much to blv in, more so than ANY dees side since the 80’s and going beyond it with a flag. We have issues — but all clubs have this year thus far and I sure don’t wanna be Sydney who haven’t yet, cus odds are, they WILL and clock is ticking.. Trac being done hurts, it’s akin to Bont or Daicos being out, superior to Swans losing Heeney in impact but it certainly doesn’t rule-out a solid campaign here/in and COULD be making of Riv, Kos and others for next year. what happens if we lose to lions by 8pts? Or steal a win? What will it be then? the frustration I have is the sourness won’t dissipate, and those piling-on won’t come round and say ‘oh, maybe I was wrong’ they’ll just enjoy the win and wait for another chance to pile-on again. THAT is the frustration, many just jump-on every single little negative even Andy talking about Curnow over Weid for goodness sake, that’s full MFCSS right there — Curnow had HUGE knocks on his character and NO ONE was gonna take him inside the top 10, based on those issues. Blues took a punt and it paid massive dividends — JT hit rate is INSANELY good in comp with contemporaries, yet when we’re flat everyone and anything gets a wash. I feel for those whom fall in a heap, I know it’s not on purpose and based on emotion, but many others make a choice to attack the club and it’s becoming really tiresome. Club is flat, this is when they most need to keep faith and a win against the lions would be a MASSIVE tonic and is a big ask on form, but it’s certainly not impossible! 5% off for them, 5% more on for us and it’s GAME ON peeps — youthful exuberance can swing fast, so let’s TRY not to be too OTT is all I’m asking.

Of course not, but the lack of EMPATHY for a one of our very best who has gone through a hell of a lot (more than most know), is staggering. It is fine to suggest he’s down on form. Do you not think he and the club are aware of that? Is there any suggestion anywhere that he isn’t working hard to get back to his best? But maybe, just maybe, the fact that he’s doing well off the field is just slightly more of a focus right now than his on field performance. We are shocked and saddened when McCarthy takes his life, but we are so happy to get stuck into players who are “overweight”, “useless”, “out of form”, “slow” etc without caring at all for what they are going thru personally. The fact that Oliver is playing at all this year, and with a smile on his face, is a goddamn blessing and he has done more than enough for this club to be given grace from the fans, as he has been given from the club. Since his debut he has never missed a beat until last year. He was dominating games at 18. So he’s having an average season. It happens. (I am not having a go at you btw!)

He's struggling and the bar has been set high by him over 7 years. He's missed a pre season and it shows, he's not fat but he's not in ripping shape as he has been over previous seasons and that is understandable after what he's gone through. He has credits in the bank, but the honest conversation will be had between him and the FD regarding next season and lets hope he just needs to take a break to freshen up in the off season and hit the ground running for a solid pre season. That will make a huge difference in getting him back to his standards. I wouldn't mind him going to Neale on Friday night, he will take Oliver to the footy and it will mean Berry has to run with someone else likely Viney, but that will still throw a spanner into the Lions game plan

I’ve no doubt after what he’s been through retirement would have entered his mind, along with a million other things. Can’t see him retiring at 28. He’ll recover in mind and body and be raring to go on or maybe even before Round 1 2025. I think there’s some reading too much into his first interview. He’s raw, drugged up and probably not sleeping well. He’s a very sound human is Christian, I wish him all the best in his recovery.

You can blame Nev Jetta, when he was leaving, after I had along with my partner been doing volunteering with the Club and told him I was finishing with it as it was getting too much with work changes after COVID, but wanted to do something else, he said sponsor one of the new kids, but don't pick the top draft picks, pick a kid you can watch develop and encourage them along the way. Hence why Nev is going to be a Senior Coach one day.

So if Dangerfield is innocent, shouldn’t Walsh be cited for ‘acting’ ?

That moment when you realise you are an actual 'do your own research' professional. Caveat; I am aware this is merely desktop-based meta-research, not actual research. Also the coffee I had while doing it was far too sweet which definitely affected productivity. Bleh. A sample of some of my reading is below, but here's the 'Things I learned' headlines; - Petracca's injury was as bad as a spleen injury gets, short of requiring removal. Most common discussed cases were grade 3, Petracca's was a grade 5, which is the maximum in the scale. - Even a total splenectomy does not mean the end of career or loss of performance for high-level athletes. - Spleen injuries often go unnoticed because they are frequently masked by the much more evident symptoms of much more common injuries such as rib fractures and general 'having your gut smashed around' symptoms. - Spleens heal. It is normal for spleen injury management (other than splenectomy) to aim for full return to health. - Follow-up imaging can confidently assess the level of healing and any ongoing risks, ensuring that return-to-play is not premature. - The initial treatment experience is often a real [censored]-chewer for the patient and loved ones, primarily due to infection control isolation, as well as persistent psychologically exhausting symptoms which can even include a physical sensation of 'my blood isn't right'. Random sample of readings; Young rugby union player with a grade 3 spleen injury - which seems to be the most common. Initial 3 months on light duties only, then another 3 months was added after a further scan showed imperfect healing progress. Eventually made full recovery and returned to representative football (well, Rugby Union). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/42389949_High_Grade_splenic_rupture_in_an_elite_Rugby_Union_player A short case report from an awareness raising program for sports medics. A spleen injury that was not noticed or suspected at the time of incidence. Not a surgical intervention, which appears to be quite a common decision if the internal bleeding can be managed. https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/researchday/2015/events/28/ Case study of a pair of grade 3 splenic lacerations, again, in Ice Hockey. Suggests that with appropriate regular re-imaging to verify the full healing of the spleen, return to play can be much sooner (2 months in these grade 3 cases) than current management assumptions. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/231215796_Splenic_Lacerations_and_Return_to_Play_Case_Report_of_2_Professional_Hockey_Players A report from 2014 about the then uncertainty regarding spleen injury imaging and the like. 3 months light activity only, then gradual return to full activity. Incredibly, it even notes that "high level athletes may choose splenectomy for a faster return to play". I'm so glad we aren't American. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1941738114528468 Speaking of splenectomy; an article on top level Ice Hockey athletes' careers following spleen removal; https://www.denverpost.com/2011/01/17/loss-of-spleen-doesnt-stop-avs-hunwick-other-athletes/

This was a freak accident. It definitely isn’t something that is likely to happen again or be made worse like a concussion. Trac is in the prime of his career and would no doubt look at Gus and see a broken man who had no choice. Of course there is more to his life than football, but you can just tell how much football means to him. Not unlike Gus. I think with time and the right support he will be ok. He might never be the same player, but I don’t think he will hang up the boots. It’s all very raw right now, but time really does heal all wounds. Physical and emotional.

FFS, I'm sick and tired of the discourse around poor Clarry. Back at the start of the year there was doubt he would even be playing. Given he'd had such an interrupted preseason, and the months of [censored] he went through both personally and in the public eye, I give full credit to him that he's been not only able to play every game so far, but for a few weeks with a broken hand. And for the most part his statistics are still above average. Yes, there is pressure on him, and yes, there's an extra load on him now that Trac is out, but I wish people would just get of his back. He's had a remarkable turnaround, but seriously what did they expect, humongous change overnight? Mental health struggles don't work like that.

Full Interview

i get my posts deleted for posting nonsense rumours if any mods have time please follow this guy around farkin [censored]

Spoke to him at the Sponsors function, just told him to keep knocking on the door LOUDLY.......he is as tough as nails.

Players' tattoos are getting worse and worse.

He’s a natural competitor and as such will play on. He”ll be cautious for a while regain his confidence and will play as hard as ever. It’s just in him

All this Clarry angst, speculation and derision is so shortsighted and negative, putting aside the disrespect aspect… One week after we lose Trac from our midfield, with Oliver dealing with a hard tag, we win the midfield contest and win the game of footy. Wtf is the problem? Why the vitriol toward Clarry? What does he need to do vs Lion for those “supporters” potting him, trading him and slagging him off to pull their righteous horns in? What does he need to do if he gets another hard tag..? … and if we win, and our midfield does ok, does Clarry get some credit as a pivotal player in the middle despite his stats? It feel like is just an ugly toxic part of the Melbourne supporter culture that we turn so quickly, and savagely on one of our absolute gems.

I think youre reading the tea leaves right WCW. But he's also still traumatised and in pain and shock. Lets wait til it settles. If he's speaking the same way in 4-6 weeks I'll be right with you. Its a huge thing to leave the game and opens up a massive hole in young mens lives when they do. So, he might change when things settle down and also when he gets back around the club again and feels the love everyone has for him. Hopefully he starts missing the game again. But if he retires for his health reasons then I will of course back him ...with a broken heart also...but will get behind our norm smith player whatever he does.

100% My read is the club went early with the statement around a potential duration of absence etc, without understanding the severity of the procedure - blood transfusions etc etc. No doubt a highly emotional time for family and close friends. Would be no different to the experience of when a child is injured at school or a construction worker is injured doing their job - incidents are investigated and people are shown to have made errors despite their best intentions. Not the sort of scenario that needs to be covered any further in the media imo.

Great news. 👏👏👏 As most Demonlanders know, I have been a huge supporter of AMW and called for his debut for many many weeks. Finally he’s broken through. We should not expect him to star, but play a role. Hopefully he gets a few weeks to adjust. His tackling alone should add to the team. And yes hopefully the coaches call him to run and run and overlap where he can.

I see a very similar comparison physically and attitudinally to another indigenous player who was well loved by all Dees’ supporters, and who ironically also wore #45, Mathew Whelan . i hope Andy’s career is as impressive as Matty’s

Even the greatest of players have had off seasons, so spare me. It is too easy to write him off when none of us know the challenges he has had. That fracture dislocation needed surgery and I suspect has hindered his ball handling. Just last week he gave it a tweak at training but still got up to play. And if you want to see how invested he is in the club just look at his joy in WCW's videos at training and his unbounded enthusiasm last week and today when the club announced to debutants. Hi is our player deserving of our support not our scorn

It saddens me to read all the unpleasant, nasty comments about Clayton. He is a champion player who has won four best and fairest and has been twice the winner of the coaches award. A higher, more meaningful award than the Brownlow in my humble opinion. He is battling to show his true form at the moment as a result of fitness and past personal issues. He loves the club and was looking delighted when Kynan Brown's debut was announced. I would hope that I am only appealing to a small minority and that the vast majority would agree with me. Talk of trading is ridiculous and an insult to the man. Show some fairness please and give Clarry some breathing space. Negativity does not help his cause.

I'm ready to put another $100 on he plays next year as well/doesn't retire. It is still raw for him, he has just lost his young man's cloak of invincibility, which I am sure a few of you can remember... He is practically a god, his physical condition is phenomenal, and in his mind his body has just betrayed him, it is a big adjustment, give him a minute. But everything about him suggests he is a competitor. I don't think he has spent six years lying about how much he loves the club and his team mates and his sense of identity is tied up in that. He ain't quitting yet, although I am very sure the people who love him would probably prefer he did. And there is the crisis, the thing that people love him for, gives him identity and purpose also puts him in peril, however it is not like Gus's injury which is at a tipping point, i.e. structural irreversible brain damage. Trac will heal, his identity will take over and he will play again. While I have never been an elite athlete, and If I'm a god it's as Bacchus, but I have been to hospital as a result of sporting endeavors (10m fall onto concrete anyone), motorcycle crash at turn 4 Philip Island (and a few others that have done ribs etc), I can tell you my first reaction is - I'm done, never doing that again, famous last words. Trac has buckets more of competitive instinct, he will be back.

Its good to see the coaches have finally realised its time to blood the youngsters, if you can't contend blood them. They might actually surprise you. Congrats to AMW, well deserved. 👏👏👏

McCarthy won't get a single disposal on Friday night and I'd be happy to put a lot of money on that.

One of our best v Geelong too

I have to go to bat for @WalkingCivilWar who is the most positive poster we have ever seen on DL and definitely not one who ever shows the slightest mfcss.

I think all the talk of retirement etc is very premature. It's still very raw for him and he's obviously still recovering. I'm very hopefully he will be back ready to go for round 1.

Watched the IV, he's still a Demon, totally open about it still being raw, everyone should stop tilting at windmills though, as he said hindsight is great. $100 says he's a Demon next year.

I heard he’s 110% going to be on masterchef next year. He’s giving up football and going on tv to cook pasta.

Petracca will 110% be at Collingwood next year. That’s what I’ve heard.

AFL Premiership player: 2021 2x AFLCA Champion Player of the Year Award: 2021, 2022 3x All-Australian team: 2018, 2021, 2022 4× Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medallist: 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022 3× 22under22 team: 2017, 2018, 2019 Harold Ball Memorial Trophy: 2017 Frank 'Checker' Hughes Medal: 2022 Neale Daniher Trophy: 2022 2x Lou Richards Medal: 2021, 2022 AFLCA Best Young Player Award: 2017 AFL Rising Star nominee: 2016 Morrish Medal: 2015 Fox Footy Longest Kick winner: 2019 Kindly remind me of another Demon who has this record since 1964. I'm sure I have overlooked someone! In fact, as limited as I am, I can't think of any other player across the competition that has this sort of Resume in the most recent quarter century. Silly me, I'm sure there are heaps... but I bet my bottom dollar, the supporters of those other teams weren't/aren't debating whether to offload their champions!

Exactly what I have been arguing about to the doomsayers. Theres a lot of light at the end of a short tunnel !!!

We've been relatively young and inexperienced all season. People are only just starting to notice. All the following have been regulars except Tholstrup, Brown and I suppose Turner Tholstrup (18) Windsor (19) Brown (19) McVee (20) Bowey (21) Howes (21) JVR (21) Turner (22) Rivers (22) Pickett (23 - as of a couple of weeks ago) Then we have AMW who is 20, Woewodin (21) & Laurie (22). Chandler, Petty & Spargo are also only 24.

Not sure if the playing group realise how serious his injury is. Last week max was on radio saying if we made it to the deeper part if the finals it will be hard to say no to trac if he wanted to play. Trac probably won't even be running in sept. He will be easing himself into the pre season & the club will not be hurrying him through

Pretty much nailed exactly how I'm feeling Jaded. We can only judge by what we see on the field, this can be a good and bad thing. The fact is we just don't know what is happening behind closed doors. For all we know, the guy could be slugging it out on the track at the moment but simply down on confidence, which most of us know can make any of us a shell of ourselves at work/home/anywhere. The one thing you can't accuse Clayton of is complaining and he's obviously doing the best he can in the spot he's in. I was happy for the initial critique of his game on Sat but it's time to move past that. I'm ready to see what he can do on Fri night. He needs our support and we'll give it.

Schrodinger's Trac?

With Gus’ season Eve retirement, and now CP5 season gone, we would be in deep 💩 had Clarry not been here, even below his incredible best.

Someone suggested " amway" and it suits his name. I quite like it.

My strategy this year and best thing ever. Only afl360 I've watched was last night's trac interview. Cancelling kayo after this season. He's all class and a wonderful human. The interview showed Robinson for what he is. Goes for whateley too. P.s. of course danger gets off after smacking the opponents head into turf. But hey let's still all pile on Steven May. Sheeesh!

Love this a lot! More blooding of talent which I'm all for. The regenerating of talent is super important, especially if we want to continue to remain competitive.

he was our best midfielder against the filth by some margin he's not playing as badly as some of the hyperbole would have you believe

Listening to Tracc on 360, I doubt we will see him for quite some time. It’s very apparent, and understandable, that his fiancé was deeply traumatised by what happened. There is the whole ‘life after football’ tone to the way he spoke tonight. I think he has some big decisions ahead of him and a lot will be decided by his experiences during recovery. whilst he denied that family were upset at the club, he kind of said that they were in fact angry. I have heard this from other sources that aren’t in the media, but connected to football. He had the company line prepared, but when emotions took over, the narrative he delivered was slightly different. It’ll be an interesting watch. I wish him all the best in his recovery

Anyone who has experienced sudden onset medical trauma will tell you how awful and traumatic it can be. I was rushed to emergency surgery 6 weeks before my wedding and it was absolutely horrific, not just for myself but for everyone around me. I remember being wheeled off into the OR not knowing if I’ll get to walk down the aisle (spoiler alert: I did!). I hope he takes all the time he needs to recover. Those few weeks after major surgery are the absolute worst. You feel like a sack of [censored] and I can only imagine how difficult that would be for someone as fit and active as Trac.

It is very sad on my part......like a surrogate parent.......met a skinny kid 3 years ago and watched him grow both literally and figuratively....he is great mates with Rooey and Koz so they will look after him pre game.

16 games is a very small sample size to trade one of the greatest players to represent the MFC on. He'll be back

Love this. With a flag now off the table, it’s important that we use the remainder of the season to find out as much as we can about our list. Go well Andy and well done on all your hard work to get here. Hopefully you’re not the sub 🙄

Excellent development by the club. Waiting until he is in great form to give him his chance. And he should get plenty of it down back!

2024 was always going to be about Clayton the person not Clayton the footballer. He has done more than enough in his time with our club to be afforded a “down” year while he gets his health in order. I hope everyone criticizing him never goes through anything personal that impacts their job.

Clarry has put together 7 of the greatest seasons ever by a Demon. Whatever he is going through we must support him. He deserves that and more

Say what you want about clarry, but even in his current form he is a better option than any mid running around at Casey. They're using AFL matches to get him fit. We might still see clarry somewhere near his best by seasons end.