Leaderboard

Just letting you all know that I was told today that the Caulfield facility will be announced very soon, perhaps over the next couple of days. I was told the MCC is a significant contributor and that the Board considers Pert’s work as exceptional. I wouldn’t post this if it wasn’t from a very credible source, so let’s hope we’re all celebrating soon.

I also hope that the Home Base at the Caulfield Racecourse gets the green light. The MCG precinct was stolen from us by Collingwood when they took Olympic Park from under our noses. We can thank Eddie McGuire's sneakiness and Joseph Gutnick's failures for that happening. The MCG will always be our ancestral Home, but we sadly missed out on the opportunity to have a proper Home Base there. Missing out on Olympic Park, Punt Road Oval (apparently the Richmond Football Club threatened to leave there in the 1930s), the East Melbourne Cricket Ground being demolished in the 1920s for rail yards and the failed Jolimont Train Station Project a few years ago due to selfish local East Melbourne NIMBYs. We probably should of built a Home Base in the late 1950s or 1960s after the 1956 Olympics, but I think there was a severe case of hubris that infiltrated the Club due to all our Premiership success at the time. I am sure Norm Smith wanted a proper Home Base and training ground due to the impracticality of the MCG during cricket season. Apparently former Demons legend and President Stuart Spencer proposed Caulfield Racecourse as a Home Base way back in 1990. So this project is 34 years in the making. It would rejuvenate the area around the Racecourse and there are many Melbourne supporters in Caulfield, Malvern and nearby Ormond as well as Bentleigh. We would literally be building a Home Base in our old "heart land". It makes sense to do this.

The other positive re the Caulfield development is that I understand the AFL are looking at co-locating the umpires there. Presently, they get shunted from venue to venue at the moment and if there is plenty of space at Caulfield (and there is!) that might rationalise the AFL throwing some money that way.

Let's have a look at a few things. The vaunted Hawthorn/Collingwood fast movement style? Collingwood missed the finals. Hawthorn got there on a wave, very reminiscent of us in 2018, but got found out by what?: pressure, contest and defence. Goody believes that is what counts, especially in finals. He is absolutely right. Last year we went out in straight sets but lost both by a whisker with an absolutely decimated forward line; against Carlton it was really lost by a couple of dumb decisions right at the end. The list was built to this style and plan and it will continue to be the right plan. A constant theme is the "waste" of our list. In terms of players who ANYONE would rate (not the ones that we all absolutely love eg Viney, but established crème de la creme) we have had Gawn, Oliver, Trac, May, perhaps include Kossie. I flag, multiple top four finishes but a very disappointing year this year, with multiple reasons. Compare: McRae: Pendlebury, Moore, Hill, Sidebottom, J Daicos, N Daicos, arguably de Goey and Elliott: I premiership, 1 fail. Kingsley: talent everywhere but Whitfield, Greene, Green, Hogan, Taylor, Cadman (no 1 pick).... no flags. Scott: (of recent times) - Hawkins, Cameron, Dangerfield, Stewart, lots of others that we all hate, not to mention a HUGE home ground advantage, the suspicion of some very dodgy ways of paying players, and taxpayer-funded facilities off the highest level: 1 flag, fail the next year, jury's out on this year. Fagan: Neale, Andrews, McCluggage, Starcevich, no 1 pick Rayner, Cameron, many others and another HUGE home ground advantage: No flags yet, doubt if he'll get one this year. Etc etc etc We all see our list and love it and many think it is wasted, but really, it isn't. We have generally - even for the vast bulk of this year - been in the top level, competing with a real chance. The criticism is very largely misplaced.

Apart from those three minor details, we've got ourselves a little gem

The timing of this thread is impeccable (not). We're going into a trade and draft period of enormous importance to the Melbourne Football Club and people are attacking our list manager. Surely, this issue is best raised at the end of November when we can have a look at the results achieved in that time rather than cause more disruption on top of everything we've been put through these past few months? Fair dinkum - we are our own worst enemies.

We'll never be a side if we don't have an edge.

I think time is up for Melbourne List Manager Tim Lamb. Unfortunately I think this is the best course of action and Tim Lamb should look for opportunities elsewhere. If you asked me at the start of 2022 I would of said Tim Lamb has done a fantastic job and helped end our 57 year Premiership drought. Sadly, since then, it has been mistake after mistake with our recruiting and trading. There were many failures that he has to take responsibility for as our List Manager. That is why it is best he parts ways with the Melbourne Football Club. We can then look to heavily pursue Graham Wright. A man with a highly credentialled career as a List Manager with success at both Hawthorn and Collingwood. He is the man we want as our new List Manager. I hope that the Melbourne Demons look to try and recruit Graham Wright. Nevertheless, it will be interesting what the outcomes will be after our external review of the Football Department is completed.

I fervently hope this gets up ( Caulfield) Think it will prove pivotal on a number of different Plains. A chance to build ( rebuild ) a true Home might help heal a lot of our current woes. A shared focus, not only cathartic but galvanising . They'll be planting Fuchsias in the Winners Circle soon ( perhaps ) I await an announcement.

In fairness, he played 16 games for the year - that suggests he's genuine depth and considered in, at least, the top 26 players on the list. By all reports he got a good character, trains well and keeps out of trouble. Definitely worth having around, especially with Casey struggling with mature talent.

Incorrect totally. Since 2019 when we ceased being under AFL defacto style rule we have Won AFL after 2 years, the first in 57 years and VFL for 20/30 years and W after only 3 seasons after W started. Have had membership double since 2013 to record levels in years after 2019. Record Junior membership which sees Dees now with whole new membership base of young fans wearing 5 7 11 13 and many other heroes. off field Sponsorship at record levels including prime time and genuine blockbuster matches regularly each season since 2015 on F to Air also. Casey Fields has had significant upgrades and now is a total second base of real quality with boutique potential that has provided the training base with a MCG size oval for our Club success since 2018. also developed for AFLW who have stand of 2023 the best HAnd A record wins and losses of all Clubs. Casey has been our home ground since 2017 when AFLW started. MFC now has assets of between $30 to $40 million most invested in a Future Fund. In recent years each year has been profitable with between $1 and $4 million. I am sure there are other advantages we have now over 2013/19 so I can’t see in any way the developments that were underpinned from then to now in any way exceed our place in the AFL also. On the cusp of an announcement of the home base project due to enable our 3 main Club needs to be established and centralised nearest our main supporter base in inner south east of Melbourne, Caulfield. And you fondly remember 2013/ 15. Compared to now?? Please don’t stand to try and improve things if you are satisfied about 2013 Adam the God. You are easily pleased and thank heavens hugely misguided.

Oh hell, has it been pinched? This year truly sucks.

If we picked up Harry Oliver it's instant social media time. Video as he walks into the club the first time, title - 'When Harry met Clarry'

Haven't done a thread for a while but it's something that I've been feeling for a while. 2021 one of the things that we had going for us was that we were hard at the ball and high in pressure, particularly in the forward half. Since that year though I haven't felt like we've had that same physical edge to us, and adding to that I don't feel like we are ruthless enough or strike any fear into other teams. I look at our team and I feel like when things are getting tough, we get bullied. I hate bringing it up but the loss of Gus 5min into a final this time last season was a time for our players to raise that side to another level. Instead it looked like Viney was the only player genuinely flying the flag for a teammate and since this we've almost looked gun-shy. The way our players showed up to the QB showed we don't have a mean bone in our bodies, we want to play the game as gentlemen, and only act tough to save face at times. Kozzie plays the game on the edge and unfortunately gets suspended (personally I feel this latest one is OTT in suspension) but at least he gives a bit of mongrel. So to the point of the thread, how can we shift this mentality? How can we get an edge about us again? We've got an off-season to be able to make us a finals/premiership contender, and this is an area I feel needs improvement. I'm sick of seeing us look like the bullied kid at school.

I’m very much in favour of exploring the Matt Kennedy situation. We need more midfield power. He wants that opportunity. But he can genuinely play forward which helps with rotations.

Appreciate u sharing the info g.

I think we lost our home, our way long before we got dudded on Olympic Park etc. Once upon a time , far far away in Football's history the was once a Club who held sway at the "ancestral" home of the Game. As they ought to have having essentially been borne from the creation of the game itself. It was once the MCG the Melbourne Cricket Ground but poignantly also the MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB HOME GROUND. and ONLY ours !!! Then along came Richmond and with the choreographed demise of Suburban VFL grounds others came to call the MCG their 'home' ground. That was where the rot set in properly. We were hustled and shuffled out of our own home. We've never really had one since and this is why the possibility of recreating a HOME, a MFC only home carries so much weight. We've always been different as we grew out of another ( the MCC ) as opposed to a locale. Our roots belonged to the game and not a Suburban Grandstand, local high streets and parochial schools and churches . These elements shaped a lot of clubs but not ours. Our cause was essentially more cerebral and it was housed in the MCG ..until it wasn't. To renew itself is a rare opportunity for any organisation. To do it effectively in the middle of its namesake ( Melbourne ) even rarer. Fingers crossed.

At last, a bit of a balanced approach.

Agree, but prior to 21 we had salary cap space to attract big name players. Post 21 we have not because we needed to give the 21 premiership players long term high value contracts to retain then and because they deserved it. We had no coice but to play moneyball 22-24.

Fken oath we have someone should have walked out of a melee in the QF with Maynard laid out and our blokes all Sgt Schultz - I know nothing absolutely [censored] weak from the players and the club exec for not going postal on all fronts in the media a terrible disappointment and a key reason they didn’t get $500 spent on membership from me this year QB with the risible and vomit inducing friendship with Maynard did it for me. Just Don’t It.

One of the greatest deceptions ever pulled off was the Catholic Church convincing society that Mother Theresa was in any way remotely, a “good person”. She was in actual fact, a psychopathic grifter with a penchant for other people’s suffering. Anyway, as you were….

I'm enjoying the discussions on here regarding Goodwin and it's refreshing to see it differ from the "Sack Goodwin" rhetoric. Most on here agree that he has largely done a decent job and that our list is actually probably overrated rather than underrated. Our dip this year is hardly a surprise given all of the issues we've had to deal with in injuries, retirements, and lack of pre-season to key players. So when analysing Goodwin's efforts as coach it must be said that while we failed in a few key areas, and that there are changes required, with a depleted squad were still able to go close to beating Brisbane at the GABBA, Port at Home, and GWS at home. While also beating Geelong and Port (away) earlier in the season. These are scalps that show we aren't too far off the pace, but that we need a bit more luck a tweaks to the gameplan. I'm glad that it looks like there will be a refresh in the FD, Stafford moving on is a great start. I also think Goodwin needs someone that can help him swing changes quicker on game day, too often he stands by original plan and by that stage it's too late.

With Casey Fields basking in sunshine, an enthusiastic throng of young Demons fans formed a guard of honour for the evergreen and much admired 75-gamer Paxy Paxman. As the home team ran out to play, Paxy’s banner promised that the Demons would bounce back from last week’s loss to Brisbane and reign supreme. Disappointingly, the Kangaroos dominated the match to win by 50 points, but our Paxy certainly did her bit. She was clearly our best player, sweeping well in defence. The Roos won the contested footy and clearances on the day and capitalised on pressuring the Demons into turnovers. North Melbourne’s total of 71 points is the highest score against Melbourne by any team in AFLW history. Melbourne has been considered one the ‘Big 3’ teams alongside Adelaide and Brisbane and held the best win loss ratio in the competition until last week. North Melbourne, after having beaten us by a combined 91 points in our last two matches, are premiership favourites and have pushed Melbourne down the heavyweights pecking order. Today, North’s stars Riddell, Garner and Kearney were supreme. Kate Shierlaw kicked 5 goals and was too good for Gaby Colvin. Midfield bull Mia King laid a game-high 12 tackles and ruck Emma King dominated with 31 hit outs. For the Dees It seemed at the ground that the Melbourne players gave a solid 4-quarter effort but our errors through constant North pressure caused the eight-goal drubbing. Eliza McNamara was everywhere, laying 10 tackles, with 21 disposals and kicked a goal. Kate Hore started in centre bounce, played as a forward, as a spare in the backline and even tagged Ash Riddell in the last quarter. She threw herself into the fray, including a monster tackle on former teammate Libby Birch in the third quarter. The Irish girls Mackin and Goldrick never gave up and worked hard to create opportunities. We would be lost without their combined spread and contest work. Lily Mithen, Tyla Hanks, and Sarah Lampard stayed involved all day while Maeve Chaplin provided her usual grit and run from defence. Mick later rued turnovers which led to North scoring: such as kicking off the ground instead of picking up the ball, miskicks in defence and giving away unnecessary free kicks in front of goal. Remember, Westy played 2 seasons of VFLW when cross-coding from basketball. So wasn’t it great to see draftee Grace Beasley kicking a ripper first AFLW goal today in only her third game! Melbourne has now lost 5 of its last 6 games. It will be fascinating to see whether Mick Stinear, in the last year of his extended contract, can turn this season around. Moment of the match In the centre square, Blaithin Mackin, while being tackled by two North players, cleverly kicks it Goldie and Alyssia Pisano streams by for a hand pass. Pisano shows off her turn of speed and ball bouncing skills to kick from just inside the 50-metre arc and the ball is bouncing towards the big sticks. Eden Zanker, with Sarah Wright in hot pursuit, makes afateful split-second decision to try and catch the ball and kick it before crossing the line. Unfortunately, Edo manages only to touch the ball, and a certain goal is now only a point. Coaches and next week Melbourne Coach Mick Stinear said North Melbourne won the contest and clearance today and cited North’s scoring of 50 points from turnovers as the real difference. It was important to celebrate Paxy’s milestone match and Mick highlighted how much Paxy brings to the playing group. North Melbourne coach Darren Crocker was pleased with how his team responded from last week’s draw against the Cats. He was delighted with how his team won the contest, pressured the Dees and transitioned the ball. He gave special mentions to Kate Shierlaw with 5 goals, Mia King and Taylah Gatt. The Demons head to Perth next Sunday to take on the in-form Dockers at Fremantle Oval. A good chance for some team bonding and regrouping. Looking forward to us bouncing back. Go Dees! MELBOURNE 2.1.13 2.1.13 2.2.14 3.3.21 NORTH MELBOURNE 2.1.13 6.1.37 8.2.50 11.5.71 GOALS MELBOURNE Beasley Fitzsimon McNamara NORTH MELBOURNE Shierlaw 5 Bruton O'Loughlin Riddell 2 BEST MELBOURNE Paxman Mithen Goldrick Fitzsimon NORTH MELBOURNE Riddell Shierlaw M King Garner E King Kearney INJURIES MELBOURNE Nil NORTH MELBOURNE Nil CROWD 2,023 at Casey Fields

thank you… and fingers crossed! I’ve wanted a home base almost as much as a premiership most of my 50 plus years of being a supporter.

A thing that goes under the radar for many. To get the whole club back together is a massive thing. It might just 'connect' a number of depts ;)

Forgive me for asking, but WHY?!?! Also, it sure ain't gonna happen NOW right ahead of draft and trade periods!!! Sure, he is definitely not as highly regarded as JT, but he is responsible for some excellent trades, especially draft related trades that set-up our list incredibly well. He is not responsible for lack of us being able to lure players, that is down to a plethora of things and for me most of all CASEY being the biggest issue right now... Unless Daniel Hoyne became available, or maybe 2-3 current AFL List Managers whom are firmly entrenched in their roles, there is no reason whatsoever to take as big a risk as this.. If Gus doesn't get knocked out in opening 10m of Pies final, we likely win a flag -- Are you even considering such a thing? If AFL doesn't screw us on Mac Andrew we'd have another HUGE piece to be excited about and arguably changed things this year as well.. Smith making his poor decision, Clarry and Trac issues... ALL more to do with our year than Lamby. I think were all rightly upset, but don't think throwing baby out with bath water is necessary just yet and I still think McAdam has a role to play next year, and Billings has added decent depth and finished year strong most of all injury free so another pre-season into him wont hurt either. We got him for nothing! Hunter is washed, but we still have a BIG recruitment drive ahead inc chasing pick 14 or other top 20 picks and a key fwd, mid depth etc so lets see what he does and judge it all in 10mths time.

Wright’s had enough of club land and wants to put his feet up at afl house for a while. It’s hard to know how much blame to give our list manager. It hasn’t been good, but we’ve had a heap of contacts on the books. We’ve also been very safe in not trading anyone out ahead of time. The guys who left were out of contract and getting big offers. Kelly O’Donnell is listed as pro scout on our ancient website. If that’s still the case he has to go. We haven’t found a good state leaguer since Hannan and Vanders and his job is also to scout players from other state league and sides. We got sucked in to Billings and Hunter. They were low risk, but very low reward. Got absolutely sucked in to extending Laurie this year and extending Schache last year. I still think McAdam was worth a go, but giving a valuable pick was stupid. Rucks…Grundy was kind of worth a try? No harm now foul, wasn’t the list managers fault that neither Max nor Grundy ultimately committed to making it work. Fullarton was pretty much a delisted free agent. Thinking anyone tall can ruck was a mistake, he’s so awful there. But he might have something to offer as a forward. I’d have gone hard for Jordon Sweet but I get he wanted to go home. We are really just crying out for a couple of bargain bin finds (both recycled players and with great late picks in the draft). I think the fundamental change I’d be making is to stop hanging on to so many of our own players and stop trying to fill the list in Oct and Nov. Get comfortable with more list turnover and bringing guys in through preseason.

Just did a bunch of googling. 2023 number of 71,388 members from the MFC audited report: https://resources.melbournefc.com.au/aflc-melb/document/2023/11/23/b3cb16b1-2ea5-4d95-a11d-0bf3081645b8/2023-MFC-Annual-Financial-Report.pdf 2024 number of 65,479 members from the AFL website. https://www.geelongcats.com.au/news/1652243/afl-releases-2024-club-membership-numbers Observations: 1) We recorded a 9% decrease in members in 2024. 2) 13 out of 18 clubs achieved record membership in 2024 - clearly not including the MFC. 3) 8 clubs recorded +10% in membership in 2024. 4) It's understood we had the largest drop off in membership but admittedly I can't back that one up with data. But given at least 13 out of 18 clubs experienced record numbers in 2024, we probably did have the largest drop off. Make of that what you will when linking membership performance with Simon Goodwin's performance.

every Saints bombshell bid is a dud

Defence needs to be good when your forward line is made up of part time defenders

it’s a shame that the Chargers lost (8.18.66 to 10.10.70) because they were the only team capable of challenging the Dragons imv. I only saw the first half of Rebels v Dragons but will try to catch the game highlights or replay ⭐️Jagga Smith. He’s small but classy and evasive. Quick hands. Think he’s probably getting closer to being the number 1 pick. ⭐️Finn O’Sullivan. Not at his best again , but still won the footy and his disposal was elite by foot. Also nice to see his tackling and contest work. He kicks goals as a mid. As per prior, slightly smaller LDU. 👏Zane Cochrane. Yes he’s going to get drafted. Saw him in a half at Carey and he stood out. Then he played a great game versus dragons earlier in the year. He’s very good tall mid who can play inside/outside. Excellent skills. Thought he’d be early 4th round. Might drift into high 40s now. Dees should be looking at him definitely. 👍🏻 Noah Yze. Number 15. Good size. Played inside and I think across half forward. Sticks a solid tackle. I am thinking he will not get drafted but definitely would like to see the Dees pickup as a father son rookie.

Also keep in mind before last season he had played 11 games in 2 seasons. It can take a while to get back confidence in your body after injuries, Petty is in the same boat. Let see if he is any better next season with a full, uninterupted preseason.

Good summary Meggs. I thought the team tried hard all game but were outclassed by bigger and more experienced bodies. It was always going to be difficult with four of our keys out and what has been a hard draw to start the year. Will be interesting to see how they go in the remaining games with Adelaide remaining the hardest upcoming game (on paper anyway). Not sure how you feel Meggs but I so hope Nth do not win the flag. They are such a team of whingers, ably lead by the best of that breed in Kearney. For such a good player she doesn't need to but constantly ducks her head and unnecessarily draws free kicks. I think for all her bravado she really does not like the hard contest. As for Libby, well best I say nothing further there. Loving the addition of Grace Beasley and Alyssia Pisano and can see a lot of potential in our two Georgia's. You can see how much better they will all become. I would like to see Alyssa Bannon go into defence for a few games and try and run the ball out for us and give Maeve Chaplin some time in the middle On to Fremantle and hopefully some time away as a team together will help. Would be good to see Denby Taylor get a game and add some poise to our backline. Anyway love the girls and very proud of their effort. They just need to keep the same intensity and a few more wins will come this season. Would be happy for an early draft pick in a now finally national system and pick up a taller skillful mid.

I'm so glad a select group of DL's have orchestrated the character assassination of a highly regarded world identity rather than digging up more crud on Pert, Roffey, Goodwin and Richardson!

My kids are losing interest in AFL due to Goodwins boring game plan. He needs to go to save the next generation

As Collingwood showed in 2022 and 2023 and Carlton last year until ⅔ of the way through this season, the real edge is the ability to win close games and to win from behind. We were overwhelmed by too many challenges in 2024 but there’s no reason why we can’t regain the edge in 2025. We still have a good core of our premiership team and with a good pre season run a number of our key players who had an interrupted 2024 can return to full health and fitness in 2025. Added to that is the fact that we have up and coming young players who are in the range of their careers where we should see rapid improvement. Based on where we finished, we should have a better fixture in terms of who we play and less interstate matches. I’m confident we will regain the edge and surprise a few of the naysayers around here.

Some very clever puns in the last few days🤣. I have taken it upon myself as a connoisseur 😉 of all things related to Italian food and drink, to award a prize for the best. The contenders in no particular order are: The prize goes to @OhMyDees for Can wash it down with a Leoncelli Limoncello! Fittingly the prize is a virtual decanter of Luci's homemade Limoncello. ps I decided against awarding a 🍋 to the least deserving.