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I just thought I might start a positive thread - let's celebrate big Maxxy's 7th AA!!! Well done, Max: You are a champion!

The sheer fact that despite being one of the best performing sides over the last 4 seasons, we are back as the perceived laughing stock / problem child of the AFL, speaks to an undeniable failure of leadership and governance. It does not matter if the reality is not as grim from inside the 4 walls, the perception that we are a club in disarray once more, is going to cause enough damage that it will impact every part of our club, but most especially our on field success. I just cannot believe that we are here again so soon.

How sad that in all the drama and negativity that continuously follows our club, we have lost sight of the fact that Max is now arguably the greatest ruckman to ever play the game. What an achievement to get 7 AA jackets. Rare company. Well done Max. You deserve a lot more celebrating, but as per usual, you are instead dealing with the negative attention directed at the club that you so passionately lead!

One thing you can say about Max - and it's not true of all premiership captains - is that he truly led us to a flag: * the game-winning goal to secure top spot in the final round * 5 goals in an outrageous Prelim performance * a selfless captain's call late in the 3rd of the GF, a decision which proved pivotal as the game turned. In a career full of achievements, I think his role in leading us to the promised land is his greatest.

Less than 3 minutes after she said her primary method of judging the health of the club and its culture was talking to players and their families, she said she hasn’t talked to Petracca and his family for quite some time. According to Roffey, Petracca has raised some good issues and the situation is absolutely resolvable but she doesn't know what they are because she hasn't talked to him. Contradiction and failure. She signed off the interview like she thought she'd done a top job. You can't make this stuff up!

No surprise but the winner of the 2024 lan Gardner & Simon Clark Medal is … Mitch White on 130 votes followed by Roan Steel on 100 votes and Matt Jefferson on 97 votes. Congratulations

The interview wasn't bad. It was awful. Her interview responses were contradictory, confusing, disappointing and, worst of all, at times incredulous. How has she not spoken with Trac's family despite the severity of his injury and the focus at the time on whether it was right for him to have gone back on the field? The issue was raised 2.5 months ago, not just this week. Yes, as president she is rightfully and reasonably a step or two removed from football operations. But the issues facing us with Trac (as well as Clarry, Smith and perhaps ANB/Pickett wanting out) aren't exclusively football department issues. If she attempted to dead-bat the questions, she failed miserably given how much she opened herself up to criticism. It's difficult, if not impossible, to resist the calls coming thick and fast now that she is incapable of doing her job and incapable of holding her role as president.

Best Demon I have seen in my lifetime. Consistently performs to an elite standard and has carried the team in countless matches. 7 x All Australia Premiership Captain 2 x BNF AFL Coaches Player of the Year Legend of the game.

Very well said, the amount of people that are comfortable legitimising her effort under the guise "well, this is what you asked for" is astounding. I am unable to conceivably understand how people can defend her efforts (or realistically, lack thereof) yesterday and the old mantra of "what did you expect her to say?". It is not unreasonable at all, that people expect their President to be a competent media performer. One can accept that such an interview would not, necessarily, delve completely into the vault. But to wheel out that nonsense yesterday is an indictment on the current Club and all members. The MFC have refused to accept any sort of responsibility for the issues which have emerged over the past three seasons; rather, they have preferred to attempt to hide all of the skeletons and trout out corporate speak regarding 'culture', 'visions' and a 'one mission' approach. Had the Club dealt with some of the issues in an authentic and genuine manner, I would suspect we're not in the position we're now in. Own the mistakes, genuinely and authentically learn from them, and then look to create best practice out of it. This isn't to say that mistakes will not - or should not be made; mistakes and mismanagement occurs. But it becomes an issue when it is repetitive, not learned from and ignored. I truly think that is now untenable for Roffey to continue in her role, however, the board is stacked in her favour. I would express similar sentiments regarding Pert regarding the nature of his tenure. There are ruminations that several ex-players are being courted for a potential board challenge; whether this comes to fruition, remains to be seen. But change is clearly needed from the top down and it is needed now.

Jeffo getting 3rd is a very good effort. High hopes for this young man after a poor year from Casey and the MFC. Thanks for all your efforts and contributions KC. I think I can speak on behalf of most around here when I say it’s very much appreciated

No doubt about it. It took years to build this, trials and tribulations, false dawns. Forming a winning culture from a starting point of learning how to walk, it was a very long journey. The ground work was laid and it was finally bearing fruit. In what feels like a matter of seconds it's been busted right down again. I think a lot of MFC fans can be forgiven for thinking they may not have it in them to go through it all again. The candle was finally burning bright and we were proud to be fans. A damn shame it wasn't nearly for long enough..

I don't expect the President to be a polished media performer. I do expect them to be, if not a nuffie in a business suit, at least across a lot of club stuff and well-connected with every important person at the club. Important people include all the players and their immediate families. What I took from that interview, and a few Roffey public statements, is that she's neither a good media performer nor obsessively interested in everything happening at the club. In the Whately interview, she seemed to imply that she hadn't spoken with Petracca's family because their absence from the club made it inconvenient. If that's not outright negligence, it sounds like the excuse of someone who doesn't really have the time to be President. I like the idea of a president saying "This isn't my area of expertise; I'll leave it to the people we employ to do specific jobs". But talking to players and their family after a very serious injury and a very public desire to leave seems like something clearly within a president's remit.

The problem is not that she spoke, it’s that she spoke so badly and was unprepared. I’m in the camp that footy issues are perts domain and better if he spoke, but expecting your president to speak when the club is copping it is not unreasonable

So we've the Guru of recruiters in Jason Taylor and I see him as the person to kick-start things again We might lose a player or 2 in this off-season and contending for a flag next year or even 2026 might be a bit of a stretch but 2027? Finals in 2026 is an absolute probability if we recruit well We've still got a core group* of players who have a lot of experience and talent and a number of our younger players such as Rivers, McVee, Windsor, JVR and maybe Turner & Tholstrup have really come on So let JT work his magic at the draft as we might be able to manoeuvre ourselves into have a raft of picks to replenish the list. On the pick #5 thread I made a case that we could end up with 6 picks inside the top 30 (That's with the picks we might get back for Petracca if he goes) And that's without factoring in what we might get back for Kozzie if he departs (I don't believe he will leave though) As for the state of the club, we've probably got a few issues that need to get sorted out but it's not all doom & gloom. The current pile on has a lot of hearsay attached From a FD point of view and from an actual talent point of view, we can easily march forward *Our core group consists of Gawn, Viney, May, Lever, Rivers, Petty, Fritsch, Kozzie, JVR, Salem, Langdon, McVee, Oliver, T-Mac, Bowey, Melksham & Chandler Add in our up and comers and a raft of talent from the upcoming draft, and we're up and running again I'm confident that we will bounce back

That is footy speak for “ no club could get the deal done”. Maybe it will be the same for CP5.

Good, less chance of a first round pick(s) going out the door.

The word legend tends to get thrown around a lot this days but big Maxy is well and truly deserving of it. Legend of a player and of a man.

Only that this didn't come to light just this week. Freo and his manager have been talking about what ifs for some time. The Punt Road stampede complicates things though.

He's contracted and wouldn't have signed the contract unless he was keen on the club he loves. What an extraordinary human being.

I’m normally quite conservative with player valuations in terms of draft picks. But not with Kossie, he’s box office, puts bums on seats, great player just hitting his prime. Was pick 12. Is worth more than a top 5 pick alone. Trading him would feel a bit like selling our soul.

1000% if Pickett left I would be absolutely gutted. Much more so than if Trac left. I hope we move heaven and earth to do what we can to keep him. Whereas with Trac I hope we move heaven and earth to get an amazing trade and move him on.

We've got a few at the club copping a bit of heat right now, but not (arguably) our most valuable asset ... Jason Taylor So, no matter who might leave, what we get back in return (draft picks) can be placed in the hands of JT and away we go It's even possible that we could end up with a couple of picks (this year) that we could swap for picks for next year's off-season (factoring in if 2 high profile players end up leaving) So the thrust of my argument doesn't focus on the issues the club might have but more so a present and future talent point of view The actual football side of things My mantra has always been X amount of good players equals X amount of wins (roundabout) I formed that view in the 70's & 80's when we didn't have many good players yet a number of other clubs did have lots of good players They won and we lost. It's as simple as that. So get talented!! The backroom stuff can be seen as more of a distraction that needs to be sorted out Meanwhile, we keep building a winning list

Well done Mitch....but this just shows how far behind are the Melbourne listed players, many of whom had played most of the season at Casey.

It was only last week the fan club on here was saying all ok, nothing wrong! Anybody who had an alternative view was castigated Welcome to reality fan club members

While he’s at it, he can also pick our next coach. What could go wrong?

I remember in 2015 I think it was, I was working at Etihad Stadium / Telstra Dome in Service Entry, the Dees were playing and my oldest daughter came down at half time for a chat. Max turned up at the entry gate after playing in the 2’s my daughter said Gawny why aren’t you playing today, he gave her a big smile and said something like I don’t know I’ve knocked the door off it’s hinges down at Casey. We all laughed and off he ran up to the rooms. He was very warm and friendly. We have discussed it many times over the years with much fondness.

If you look at MFC over the years of Goodie's tenure objectively, it is an era defined by personal care for players welfare and going the extra mile (clarrie literally moving in with the Gawns while they were expecting a baby, ensuring Kozzie remains connected with his land and family and letting Ed go to his sister's wedding) as well as of respecting the opposition (I've felt sometimes too much). And people here want to believe that the club didn't do due diligence when one of its biggest stars got traumatically injured? Please. Communication to outside world is a shocker though. I think (hope) the strategy is to passively let this wave of [censored] build and wash over us, while not actively contributing to it and trying to deal with the issues in house. Don't think Josh Mahoney would have abided this but let's see what happens.

All this, with the AFL turning a blind eye to him getting illegally hit hundreds of times a game for 14+ years.

Definitely, although this is not necessarily an unusual thing for monster mids. I'm also not convinced he's a natural inside midfielder in the contest at the moment, as he is quite poor at winning the ball in stoppages unless the ball is hit straight at him and he monsters his opponent. I also don't think he has great composure in the contest either. But he's a 6'4-6'5 monster, with a unique trait that will definitely translate across to AFL level and good coaching could have him develop into a very good player. I just have concerns int he back of my head that he's actually not as good a footballer as people think. But I'm just a YouTube judge, so I am likely wrong with some or all of this.

Ode to Max Max stands like a Colossus Enduring indifferent fortune With swings long and low Brightened with the rarest of premiership sunshine Glimpses from the snow Midfields come and go Once it was the fearsome four Now its down to the ageing few amongst the emerging brew Give me the Sherrin bounced high I'll win the ruck again Seven All Australians Places you amongst the best to play Australian rules May it continue next season 'til the next window opens Fate surely owes another flag

Great posts. It will be raw and painful and based on our mob involve way to many leaks to the media but for mine it seems the main reason the leaders of the club don't want it is because of the nature of the skeletons that will be laid bare. I'll admit, I have been behind the club and it's leaders staunchly the whole way along. Probably too long, too optimistic and too trusting, but the wheel has turned too far now. No other way.

Yeah crazy that the members expect competent, informed and prepared leadership.

If we can get a top 10 pick and another in the late teens for Trac I’d trust JT to find 2 good players for us. players will come and go. Things never as good or bad as they seem. As long as we have JT we’ll be right.

Well done, Mitch! We talk a lot of heart and soul players for Demons - Mitch is very much the equivalent for Casey.

Good stuff. Note: More time spent in threads like this, less time spent in threads where people howl into the wind about what the president said.

I am a little weirded-out by the affronted reactions to receiving an unsolicited email in 2024.

Congrats to big Jesse and turning his career around. Really do miss him.

Love Roffey. We are so lucky to have a strong and brave leader in Kate. Thought her interview today was FANTASTIC. Go Dees!

A giant of the game in every way imaginable. And truly a good bloke too…, we’re lucky to have him.

Roffey, Pert, Goodwin all need to go!

This whole thing is wild! CP doesn’t trust the leadership (ie president and ceo), players over it Independent review right now I’m of the view Roffey needs to go without a review

It’s been hard to miss the seismic global momentum happening in Women’s sport of late. The Matildas have been playing to record sell-out crowds across Australia and ‘Mary Fowler is God’ is chalked onto footpaths everywhere. WNBA basketball rookie sensation Caitlin Clark has almost single-handedly elevated her Indiana Fever team to unprecedented viewership, attendances and playoffs in the USA. Our female Aussie Paris 2024 Olympians won 13 out of Australia’s all-time record 18 gold medals. Jess Fox, Nina Kennedy, and Kaylee McKeown are now generational sporting superheroes. After a period of stagnation, will AFLW cash in on this tangible enthusiasm for women’s sport? Well, newly minted AFLW General Manager, Emma Moore, will surely be hoping so. The 2024 AFLW season kicks off 7:15pm this Friday night at the picturesque North Sydney Oval. Taking battle are two of the higher supported teams with superstar Chloe Molloy’s Sydney Swans taking on skipper Bri Davey’s Collingwood Magpies. This season promises to be closer than ever before with more teams realistically having a chance of finals. Encouragingly for spectators, the practice matches noticeably displayed higher levels of skills, speed and scoring. New rules and stuff The games are now 15 minutes plus time on, so expect quarters go for around 19-20 minutes. For the first time in AFLW there will be score reviews with the bunker’s ‘tools’ to include broadcast vision and new smart ball technology, ‘Score Assist’. The AFLW draft in December 2024 will transition to a fully national model. The AFL and players’ union have struck an increased AFLW pay agreement. The 5-year deal includes adding extra rounds to upcoming seasons, subject to attainment of key audience metrics. The Fixture Season 9 is an 11-round season squeezed into ten weeks. In order to create a fixture which produces more even matches, the league handicaps the better teams. The shorter season means teams don’t play 6 of the other 17 teams during the season. The top 8 teams make finals. For the third year, all 18 AFL teams are represented, with Tasmania to enter in 2028. Dees fixture perspective Melbourne has been given a very tough draw. The Dees campaign opens with tough games against three of Season 8’s preliminary finalists: Geelong (at Kardinia Park), Brisbane (Premiers) and North (at Casey Fields). We meet Adelaide in Round 7 (at Norwood). The Dees miss games against Port Adelaide (who looked very impressive in our practice match), Sydney, Gold Coast, Carlton, Western Bulldogs and West Coast Eagles. However, we play away games against Dockers, Bombers (playing for the first time ever) at Windy Hill, the Saints at Moorabbin and the fast-improving Hawks in Cairns. Demons list changes – 9 new players Departures At trade time, the Dees jettisoned four regulars plus a backup defender. Eliza West and Casey Sherriff were traded to Hawthorn, Maddi Gay to Essendon, Libby Birch to North and Charlotte Wilson to Gold Coast. Sammie Johnson and Jordie Ivey were delisted. Georgina Fowler retired without a debut. Trades Grace Beasley comes to the Dees from a successful US college basketball background. Very professional, with toughness and spatial awareness. Expect Grace to play midfield. Lily Johnson from Port Adelaide was injured during preseason, but she could slot in nicely as a small defender with her excellent kicking skills. She impressed during her VFLW matches. Tall defender Grace Hill via GWS Giants and utility Denby Taylor via Geelong’s VFLW team are the other additions. Draft Pick 5: Alyssia Pisano, is a 162cm crafty small forward who kicked 38 goals from 11 games in the Talent League Girls using her dynamite left foot. Pick 12: Ryleigh Wotherspoon, is a 170cm powerful, athletic utility who has a cricket, soccer and softball background. Ryleigh impressed in both practice games so pencil her name in for Round 1. Pick 24: Jacinta Hose is a 185cm agile tall. She has done ACLs in both knees and will rehab in 2024. Pick 29: Jemma Rigoni, is a father-daughter selection.She is 172cm and lightning quick. The talented left-footer will proudly wear her father Guy’s No. 43. Pick 55: Delany Madigan, is a 174cm tall defender with strong marking and kicking skills. Rehab Exciting Gaelic star Aimee Mackin has done her ACL and is out for season 2024. Unfortunately, courageous midfielder Olivia Purcell suffered nasty facial fractures and concussion in the Port Adelaide practice game. Liv will be sidelined for some time. Season 9 predictions Premiers: North Melbourne - The last 3 AFLW premierships have been won by the preceding season’s runners-up. If the trend continues, North will be premiers. Expect Brisbane, Adelaide and Geelong to be thereabouts. League leading goal kicker: Eden Zanker to go back-to-back. League Best and Fairest: Jasmine Garner finally wins. Kate Hore the best Dee. Most improved team: Hawthorn. Their practice match form looked hot. Finals bound. Meggs will be back with a preview of Melbourne’s Round 1 Season 9 opening match starting 7.15pm on Saturday 31 August at GMHBA Stadium.

already wearing his dees cap

I read the Federal Court decision, and it does feel like the board has failed to get the balance right between stability and accountability. The rules were very much designed to make it almost impossible for a major change to be made at board level. While good for stability, it’s less so for accountability. The fact that the election rules had to be changed seven times within a couple of years doesn’t fill me with confidence. The issue could have been resolved in a much less fumbling manner. The decision went in the clubs favour, but only because they appeased almost every element of the application before the decision. The end outcome probably strikes a better balance between stability and accountability, but fighting it out in the Federal Court isn’t the best way to achieve it.

I've just listened to the interview and don't understand what the hysteria is about. I turned off after listening to the first dingbat that called in afterwards. As an aside, Phil Davis has such a calm and measured tone. I don't think I've heard him speak before but he's wasted on talkback radio.

Too slow. Too small. Cannot defend 1-1. Can kick accurately. But his best is behind him. Sorry I’m in the NO NO NO NO camp.

He’s too smart to take on the job. Being a professional talking head pays well with no accountability.