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Regular reader but rarely post however I am finding my thoughts and emotions around the whole situation changing by the hour. What is wrong with me? It was good news over the weekend wasn’t it??? Having been a few days now since the ‘staying at MFC’ announcement, my initial happiness and joy has for some reason dissipated somewhat as my brain runs over the possible consequences and doubts are setting on how I will feel when I watch the Dees next year, and more specifically, Christian. Reading the comments posted so far, seems there are a few buckets that people will fall into: 1. Will never look at him the same way again and will not cheer anything he does. Should have traded him this year. 2. Will never look at him the same way but will cheer him anyway while in red and blue. 3. Time will probably clear my head from negative thoughts towards him and will be back to loving him unconditionally when next season rolls around. 4. Love Christian and always will. I think I am currently in bucket 2. Hoping to move to bucket 3 in time but will have to see how that pans out I guess. I also have been thinking that I hope the club are putting in place a clear action plan about how this will be managed with the fans moving forward. Based on a couple of the clips shown last night on Footy Class and On The Couch, Eddie was quite clear that in his mind CP is a Dees player next year only and the big clubs have that time to get their ducks in a row to get him in 2026. There was also one that showed CP in a radio interview last year saying that Dees have small crowds and the demographic is quite old (with a look of disgust on his face). Media are going to be constantly over this whole thing again next year and while I am currently probably in denial that he will ever leave, a little voice inside says it is quite likely he will. How are the club going to manage this next year? They need for fans to embrace Christian to make him feel loved but not sure many will forgive and forget. What strategies the club adopt to mitigate the anger some fans have towards him will be interesting to see. Can’t be seen to be pandering to him either. Will the club ask him to do an interview explaining events and reasons it all blew up the way it did but saying how much he loves the club and the fans. Could they go the other way and restrict his media commitments in case he might be a loose cannon and cause another media pile on. If so, this may fly in the face of ‘brand CP’5’. Another year of continued speculation may tip some supporters over the edge. Time will not heal these wounds for many. As Christian would put it, ‘to be honest’ I think we are in for a rocky ride folks and the club must have firm plans in place to minimise fallout from loyal supporters and not just rely on time healing our wounds.

We are unlikely to get many opportunities to bring in a young player who can be the centrepiece of our future midfield. We have long term talls at each end but we've seen the weakness in our midfield once Clarry and Trac were out of the picture. I would be shocked if we didn't use our early pick to pick up a contested, centre square midfielder to be able to build around. To this end I think we'll keep 5 and, if anything, we're more likely to trade up than trade down.

Agree. The narrative that is being pushed and accepted that CP has the "highest professional standards" in the club, and that he's the only one that has raised frustrations, and that what he says goes, does not bode well for team harmony. It's pretty insulting, actually, to the players that work incredibly hard, get little support, and keep their heads out of the media. If there are 'culture' problems in the club (what does that even mean??), then I'd put money on CP being a part of the problem.

In this sequence, X is the unfounded rumour posited by a "journalist" seeking clicks. 1. What if X is happening? That wouldn't be good. 2. Is X happening? Does anybody have any info? 3. I read that X is happening. It's all over Big Footy as well. 4. People are saying that X is happening. The grapevine is buzzing. 5. Are the rumours about X really true? Sounds that way. 6. It appears that X is happening. It's the logical conclusion. 7. X is is definitely happening. Take it to the bank. 8. No smoke without fire. Told you so. 9. The club needs to make a statement. Why aren't we members being kept informed? 10. This crisis is another typical MFC shemozzle. Pert and Roffey must go.

KEY-POSITON GIANTS IN-DEMAND Uncapped GWS swingman Wade Derksen has emerged as a wanted man in a thin field for key position players this trade period. Derksen, 23, believes he can be a goalkicking forward and has played as a key defender throughout 2024 but has been stuck behind Giants Sam Taylor, Harry Himmelberg, Jack Buckley and Leek Aleer. Several clubs have registered interest in the 194cm player, including clubs in Western Australia and Victoria. It is understood Melbourne is one of the clubs interested in Derksen. He was taken at No.5 in the 2022 mid-season draft after being watched closely by several clubs during stints with Essendon in the VFL, Peel Thunder in the WAFL and NTFL side Nightcliff. Hailing from the Northern Territory, Derksen and his partner are due to have twins this week and already have a young son. He is contracted for next year at GWS but would like more family help given his growing family and is expected to favour a trade to Victoria for that reason. Derksen has put up impressive numbers in the VFL this year, averaging 19.5 disposals, 2.9 intercept marks and 8 intercept possessions a game. He floated forward in the last three games of the year and kicked two goals in each match.

In a similar vein, I found these today at my local op shop. They offered to pay me $20 for the lot if I took them off their hands.

Please post more!

People keen to get rid of Simon Goodwin should be careful what they wish for - they'll get a package exit deal.

Worry not, make stuff up

Why are you so against doing an external review? There are really no bad outcomes here. Either it finds we are well run, nothing to improve. Or it will find areas for improvement which we can act upon. No organisation is perfect. If we can bring an external point of view to find ways for us to get better, then isn't that a good thing? Only if you have something to hide, would you keep your doors closed.

Lol how bogan can you get

His real manager must have been thrilled 🫣

Media: Demons in CRISIS!!!!!! Players left right and centre want our of the club!!!!! Peteacca, ANB (quick release that info) and Kozzie all want out !!!!!!! Reality: Petracca stays. Koz stays. Nibbla goes, but is at pains to say how much he loves his teamates and the MFC. And mutiple players (including several future stars who didnt need to extend now, a respected senior player and our skipper) recommit in the last two to three months. Reality: Three of the Tigers five best players want out - Bolton, Baker and Rioli. And all three will almost certainly leave. Even in the context of tbe rigers being in rebuild mode, that’s huge -particularly given all three are young. Imagine if at the start of goody's tenure tracc, oliver and Max all left the club And losing two senior Aboriginal players can't help in terms of support for young Aboriginal recruits, or trading in Aboriginal players for that matter. Media:

He needs one of these inserted for the next 12 months. We need to know which clubs he visits.

I am financially secure. I place loyalty above most things, my brother and myself are a player sponsor. I am a Demon for life. If I was not going to renew because of club turmoil it would have happened decades ago. Things can turn around quickly (see 2021) I was at the 1964 GF as a child and I was hoping I might get to see another Premiership in person before my inevitable demise 🤞🏻 Stick with the club if you’re able. The night is darkest before the dawn. Go Dee’s 🔴🔵

He's not just honest, he is humble, vulnerable, witty, genuine. A remarkable leader, Jimmy Stynes would be so proud of not just the player but the leader and the man he has become.

Someone did mention here a while ago that we had interest with Derksen. Pretty sure he's childhood friends with Andy Moniz Wakefield

Dude has the name of an 80s porn star Get him in 😈

Pick 25 is more than fair for ANB, we simply overpaid for mcadam

He never said he was going to leave or wanted to leave And now he isn’t leaving! What a scoop!

No team in football needs an independent review more. There would be only 2 reasons to reject it. Your head is that buried in the sand you don't actually believe anything is wrong, or you have everything to hide. Somehow, our board is both.

Can’t pretend I’m any sort of expert on indigenous culture but the woman who died was Kozzy’s “old mum” who was in fact his aunt (Byron’s sister). His birth mother is still alive.

Peter Wright as a forward/ruckman type to give Gawn a decent chop out instead of throwing JVR in there. James Peatling for more midfield talent. After seeing him monster Clayton Oliver around the stoppages against GWS I want this kid big time. Malcolm Rosas for more half forward offence and speed inside 50. I don't particularly rate Chandler all that highly and I think Rosas could easily be our Jack Ginnavin for next year if given a fresh start with a brand new offensive game plan. Will Brodie, Alex Davies and even Ben Hobbs for added midfield depth.

I think people overstate the whole ‘leverage’ angle with trading. The industry is quite small and everyone has a fair idea of players worth. Sure, there is a little haggling here and there but truly shafting a club is very counterproductive for future dealings

I say yes just to see this joint melt even harder 😅

It was a drive-by sniper comment. Until recently we had Toby Bedford and have never shied away from recruiting indigenous players or NGA players. Maybe he should produce a ladder of which clubs has the most indigenous players !!! He needs to get his facts right. I totally trust @WalkingCivilWar report that Ardu's sister lives in Melbourne not Kozzie's sister as Ralph reported. Also, iirc Kozzie's mother sadly passed away in SA several years ago where as he says she lives 3 hrs from Perth. Ralph like many of his cohorts is an 'unreliable witness reporter. Worth keeping this handy when reading their reports. Edit: My bad: thanks to @Dee Boys for clarifying it was Kozzie's 'old Mum' who passed away. His Mum is in WA.

Peace and quiet

Me. Demonland. I have once again renewed my interest in Margo Robbie. No suggestion at this stage Margot is considering leaving her film producer husband for some weirdo on a footy forum, just that the interest has again been made clear.

Interesting to see 20-30 upvotes on any comment wanting Goodwin sacked over on the melbournefc reddit page. Maybe it's the impatience of a younger demographic, wanting the sugar hit of a new coach thinking its the missing piece. Maybe Having not lived through the pain of the 70s and 80's or even the 2010's... they've got no understanding of how quickly it can be gone for good, or at least until a new generation rises decade/s later. Goody has earnt another year at least to right the ship, some of his assistants perhaps not. But that's not really new news.

Soft

seems like they still do

Andrew Brayshaw.

Kozzi sure knows how to relax in the off season. A Drive to Darwin with a crying baby in the back

I'd go after Owies.

Yes, as someone who grew up in the states I can verify that this is pretty spot on. We leave for college at 18 and that’s kind of when you’re supposed to fully step into adulthood and out of the family home. The pandemic paired with cost of living has definitely changed that a bit. But even so it’s been an adjustment for me living in Melbourne to see people living with parents into their late 20s and to not see it as a bad thing. We are told you’re supposed to be out when you finish Uni and into your own life and being at home any longer means you’re unsuccessful/lazy/can’t make it on your own. Add it to the list of the many absurd aspects of American individualism/work culture.

My perfect player: - End of career - Played half a good season four to 12 years ago - I heard someone once say they were "clever with footy in hand" (I've seen no evidence of this, but it sounds good) - Studiously avoids contact

I was also a proponent of spreading it far and wide at any opportunity. Curious if it got through or they finally found it on here, but howabouts journalistic due diligence and all that? Seems convenient to air it now that Petracca is staying put and they all got led up the garden path, yet now that the MFC turns out to be reasonably stable after all they're coming after our beloved CP5. We love you Cristian 💞 Also, the rhetoric has somehow shifted from Roffey being under significant pressure to seeking out an orderly handover herself. And Kozzie is now content as well. Go figure.

If they’re not your ideal trade then they are not worth pursuing. Better to find a young recruit and try to develop his talent.

Moyle signed on with the Sun not long ago unfortunately. Wouldn’t mind Bryan from Essendon. I hope we go hard for Peating. Would give us some much needed change in the middle. I still think we need a small forward as Chandler is more a defensive small forward. Pickett spends some time in the middle or is having an off night and then we are left with no small… Malcolm Rosas for me is gettable. Matt Owies would be good but I can’t see him leaving. I low key like the look of Reef McInnes. Do we take a punt on someone like Nick Hind to add some speed? I think Will Brodie or Ben Hobbs are good Options. Do we also take a shot at Brandon Parfitt or Will Phillips? Although 95% of these players are not my ideal trade ins I’m trying to be realistic but still think they can add something to our list.

And yet despite the current board inviting interest from Smith, the media are suggesting its a challenge ... talk about twisting the facts

Let's call a spade a spade, you are a groupie and love the fact that you can talk to the players and probably some of the committee and and staff, it obviously makes you feel good and somewhat important. There were many like you, well that's an exaggeration, who denied there was any problem at the club, well we know that is just B/S. We have issues, how severe, we don't know. Even you would secretly recognise that, or maybe you are so enthralled with your apparent closeness with the club, you know that you can't see the forrest for the trees. Me, I love the club and hate to see it implode so often, especially when they are so close to sustained success. My view is that we need to nip this in the bud and if there are any problems, let's get to the bottom of it and eradicate them. Why should we be frightened to do this, if it's cost then I'm sure that there are plenty of supporters that would chip in for the cost, I would and I know a few more that would as well.

I doubt that Nibbler was only set on going to Adelaide. He has a huge amount of goodwill at the club to send him to SA and is not doing his negotiations through the media. If an announcement has been made it's likely to either be because a) Port aren't interested in him/can't bring him in (salary/picks etc), or b) Melbourne and Adelaide have already reached an understanding of what a deal looks like. I suspect the latter.