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As a media teacher this is an area of interest to me, and as the person who creates the content for the Demon Army TikTok, the content aspect is something I'm constantly looking into. The club certainly could improve in the content aspect and what I'm finding is what they post on the TikTok mirrors what they put on Facebook, Twitter (I refuse to call it X) and Instagram. TikTok is a very different beast, and it takes a fair bit to capture a following, given most people would scroll past a video within the first couple of seconds of the clip. I've made about 600 or so TikToks for the Demon Army account, and as far as I'm aware, only us and Sydney Swans cheersquads (both their NSW and Vic) are active on TikTok, and Swans approached me at the start of the year about how to go about it. It's captured a reasonable following, but certainly I've been more active with the Demon Army TikTok than the club has been for theirs. I miss Ben Gibson, he did great stuff for the club social media.

I honestly can't imagine a scenario where a club that took a Curtain last year passes on a Draper this year.

Hearing Cal's late mail phantom draft will be delayed until Thursday

Smith and his family attended the club last week and met with club officials and past players, this was more than just due diligence IMO and from what I've heard is beyond the interaction we've had with other potential draftees. I understand that it's increasingly unlikely that he'll be there at Pick 5 (6), but he is still the number one priority if he's available.

OK, final prediction time. 5. Langford 9. If Allen available, we trade pick 9 to West Coast for 12 and 26 West Coast get their local boy and we and we pick up a nippy goalsneak (eg Berry, Reid, Hotton) with pick 12 (15ish) Then 🙏 PLEASE, hopefully Alex Dodson is still on the board and we snaffle him with 26 (30ish) I then receive the Demonland Nostradamus Award, or request the mods delete this post. 😬

This quote in the article from Langford is music to my ears (and I absolutely love that he is a left footer): “I really wanted to show my kicking ability – being able to find someone up forward, whether through score involvements or in the backline, and show my in to out handballs as well: being able to get the hardball, take a few steps, get away and get the (hands off),” Langford said. “I’ve worked on driving power through my kick and find someone whether 20, 30 or 40 metres away…and finding the right option.”

Sweet! Match turning performance in a GF here we come!

Another flag and another Caleb Windsor? Welcome to the MFC Bo Allan!

I’m not worried in the least as to who we get in this draft. The 2 players we do select will almost certainly be better than 2 players we have lost since the end of the season. So no matter who, we will be a better side. All we really need to know is that JT and team will pick the best two available for us. I’m sure there will be disappointments from some about whoever we choose, but there will be only 2 reasons for that. The first is that anotherClub chose your preferred player before us; or secondly, JT and team know better than all of us.

I've been a big fan for many years now, but I believe the correct spelling is "Tic Toc".

Cal just said if Crows take Langford, we'll take Tauru.

To my knowledge based on the reports to date Harry has not been present at any of the preseason sessions. He was in the same draft year at Bowey & Laurie so not sure why he is not required but it could be because he was listed with the Lions and they finished the season 5 weeks later than us he might not be required/allowed to start training until a certain date.

He's not exactly to my viking, but we could do a lot norse.

Keep ya blasted tok tiks and put an ad in the weekend herald.

Saw a bunch of the Hawks material, a lot of it was pure hokball brainrot - sadly that’s what attracts people these days

My girlfriend works in marketing and media and previously was working with an agency who dealt with Toyota and the AFL. She’s since moved on but was telling me that the AFL and clubs don’t pay that well in the industry, mainly because it is seen that people do it for the ‘love of football’ or whatever. I’ve always felt this is an area our club should exploit. Pay the extra $40-$50k per annum to get the very best media/marketer we can get to really ramp up our content. This is so important in today’s world unfortunately!

Meant to be!

Shane McAdam is a fantastic person. If Adelaide is a world away from Halls Creek, then Melbourne is another planet. I hope the break back in Halls Creek has refreshed him for another tilt at it. I know he did some training with Ash Johnson Jy Farrar and Bobby Hill - which is at least something. I’d like to think we are a club who support our own when they’re down, and that should extend from the 1st player to the 45th.

At various times the GWS comms team and PR have received well deserved acclaim on DL. But the Hawks have taken it to a whole new level "Social media platform TikTok ran a competition from April to November getting AFL clubs to post content. Hawthorn finished first with 85 million video views from 82,000 unique users. Collingwood were second with 56 million from 44,000 users". hawks-won-tiktok-this-year-now-they-re-cashing-in To outnumber Coll by nearly 2:1 is no mean feat! Would love to see all the rankings. Sadly, I suspect mfc would be near bottom. On the back of their entertaining football and horde of new young followers: they have nine night and two twilight matches in their first tranche of 14 games, recognising the appeal of the resurgent team. (Young people go to night games!!) the club’s guernsey sales were up 25 per cent on the year before Football’s financial year has only just started (November 1), but the club is already up 75 per cent in apparel sales year-on-year. The club’s membership is already 7000 ahead of this time last year waiting list for the premium membership that guarantees grand final access. In some categories of membership the Hawks are up 50 per cent on last year. Imagine the riches that will follow from sponsors, gate takings, merchandising, memberships etc. Clearly, a lot of that is on the back of their 'charismatic' (smart alec) youngsters. But the club has consciously focused towards a young demographic. “We were seen as an older demographic, but the take-up in the last year has particularly been younger. The fans at games are younger because they are energised by the team, and seeing it as fun,” Hawthorn chief executive Ash Klein said. Elsewhere on DL there was a discussion about social media and fan appeal and what we could do attract a younger demographic. Game style helps, winning helps, extrovert players helps, cliches help!! We have a bit of work to do to stay relevant. A lot of clubs will read the article and think the same. Disclosure on my part: I'm a bit 'old school' so don't use social media preferring face to face interactions wherever possible. But I totally get the appeal to a younger generation. The whole social media thing to them is entertainment and lots more!

Rookie Me Central has us taking Langford and Tauru Rookie Me Central’s 2024 Phantom AFL Draft

Our inside 50 connection is going to get a lot better with two beautiful left foot kicks coming in.

***LANGFORD & LINDSAY AS PER TWOMEY*** https://www.afl.com.au/news/1256861/phantom-draft-late-mail

5. Langford 9. Tauru Gut feel is Giants are all over Lindsay if they grab one of the Saints picks. Closest available player to Windsor given they missed him last year.

As much as I’d be thrilled with that, he clearly doesn’t know his stuff if that’s what he’s got happening!

Of course it matters what we say, we've sent a clear message to North that if they want Tauru, they need to take him before pick 5. If they do this, we get what we want which is one of the premium midfielders sliding to our pick. This is no guarantee, but it makes plenty of sense. If they slide down to pick 7 or 8 for example, and think Tauru gets past us, whoever gets that pick off North almost certainly takes one of those mids and we miss out again. The most reliable path for the MFC to get one of these gun mids is for North to take Tauru at pick 2

Can anyone explain why we're not into Sid Draper at all? He is literally everything we need - fast, agile, skilful, run and carry between the arcs, hit targets in transition, tough as nails, creative, good character, in and out midfielder. Looks like a combination of Lachie Neale and Zach Merrett but with even more speed and agility. Langford looks ok, but I don't feel he will change anything with the way we play. It's a big call but Draper could, like Naicos for Collingwood. Maybe it's a given that the Crows take him or maybe he has a big go home factor. Not sure, but there is no player more suited to us in this draft.

So likely two of Langford, Tauru, Allan, Lindsay with a pick out the back end.

Great points. Jeffo is a hit for mine — jury still out of course but I expect him to deliver in spades, development been sound and the club are wrapped with how he is shaping up right now.

Drive him straight down to Casey from the airport and let the magic take hold.

We have 6 or so WA guns already we should have zero issues with recruiting WA kids The more there are the better

I'm hard.

In that scenario that means Tauru is available at pick 9 👀

Langford and Tauru would be a dream result.

All well and good to communicate to an existing supporter base. Even then not much good to supporters who don't use those mediums. I now rarely even go to the mfc website, it is as boring as .... And those mediums are useless in appealing to new fans especially those in the 18-25 age group. Like it or not that is where the growth in the fan base is as GWS and Hawks have shown..

I’m old Saty, but even I get how important social media should be for our Club. It’s obvious from your post that you don’t, and perhaps it’s you that needs to do some research to broaden your outlook.

I think we've essentially got the development plan for Bo Allen already organised which is essentially to do what Trent Rivers has done, be a strong intercepting half back early and slowly transition into the midfield as he builds his fitness base. I really like that all of the guys we're linked to are considered leaders, Langford is a co captain of his team, Bo Allen i believe captained W.A? just what we need when we've had some question marks on our culture, get some natural leaders in

If you think not engaging the younger generation is not important, that says a lot about you. Our online Communication has been appalling ever since Benny Gibson left. We need to employ some young people who understand its instant power and become proactive we have been sadly lacking in this area

Hotton also exists.

Yep 100%. I’m not big on social media personally, but if the club aren’t on the front foot with this stuff they will be left behind and anyone who can’t see that doesn’t understand the modern world.

Every night I wake up screaming.... .... with delight remembering LJ6's perfectly timed handpass to Oliver in full flight who drives a Dog-soul crushing kick through the big sticks to cap off the greatest end to a "Premiership quarter" in the game's history.

This is an example of the kind of stuff I’ve created for Demon Army TikTok https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSjm8uVaj/ This post is shared via TikTok. Download TikTok to enjoy more posts: https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSjm8srsM/

Looks like a very strong consensus at least through to Richmonds picks at 10 and 11 in the AFL / Fox Sports phantoms: 1. Richmond: Lalor / Lalor 2. North: FOS / FOS 3. Carlton: Smith / Smith 4. Adelaide: Draper / Langford 5. Brisbane: Ashcroft / Ashcroft 6. MFC: Langford / Tauru 7. Richmond: Smilie / Smilie 8. Saints: Travaglia / Draper 9. GCS: Lombard / Lombard 10. Saints: Tauru / Travaglia 11. MFC: Allan / Allan 12. Richmond: Lindsay / Lindsay 13: Essendon: Kako / Kako 14: Richmond: Shanahan / Armstrong Looks like a Langford/Tauru and Allan double for us, depending on what Adelaide do re Draper vs Langford. That pick ripples down the same top 13s and then Richmond go for different tall forwards at 14.

I’m still hoping we somehow land Tauru - huge upside imho

Loads of ducks and drapes so it hardly a big call when many say Langford won’t go past 5-6 lol But RN he’s the one in frame and Tauru more in frame for 9 for mine. Dattoli also outside chance as a bolter apparently alongside Allan whom we know is in frame. Warming to Langford now I’ve watched more film but as I have for 12m — Smilie is highest ceiling in draft, Armstrong also a huge ceiling but Jeffo Nick pre-season has our interest cooked on him despite JT infatuation. Langford’s not Smilie or Smith but he is def a bull who’ll add great depth. Depending what occurs picks 1-5 still think we’re a very small chance of making a surprise at 9 - but be it Viking, Allan, Dattoli, Lindsay in JT I trust.. For record, anyone thinking ANY amateur can do a better job than recruiting teams is an absolute [censored]-taker — Amatuers do work based on info out in media and small batches of footage, JT for instance spends hundreds of hours watching and interviewing the planter or coaches/family/friends of each player in their radar all in name of getting a 1% advantage of any other club!!!

As opposed to doing what exactly?

His nickname may have to be Mouldy given how many people he's been growing on lately.

Todays Training reports kicked off by WayneWussell, Winter Dan, Ditcha, Fritta and Turner, Roost it, Katrina and Ghost Writer, Kev plus all other posters has been another fabulous feast of footy information and pic’s as well. Loved every bit of it and distracted me from fretting about the Draft.

I made my way down from Wodonga to watch training for the first time since 21' and brought my wife along with me which she enjoyed. Fritta and Salo were there well before the rest of the boys had turned up and had worked up a real sweat. They finished their training with some goal kicking games trying to out do one another. The boys were aiming to hit each of the 4 posts and whoever hit it, won the game. They followed that with some drop punt kicks from the boundary where Chocco came over and offered some guidance he said "kick the ball high up in the air" which they both did and totally shanked the kick. They were quite animated about and I could hear them laughing away at each other so it was good to see them in high spirits. The rest of the boys started making their way to the track around 10am about 25 all up in attendance and I saw Tom Campbell doing his rehab in front of me. He didn't look to be in any discomfort, I think he just has some catching up to do. Tom is waiting to get a new training kit, which won't come out for a while yet so that's why he's unfortunately stuck in his casual gym clothes. Sestan, Spargo, Howes, Lever and Windsor on occasion also in the rehab group doing individual routines. Spargo had mentioned how bored he was with his rehab as he was limited in what training he could do, so I felt for him. TMac on the boundary watching on. I met the lovely Walking Civil War and her friend Ros, which was an absolute delight. We were so engaged in conversation that I missed a fair bit of the drills the players were doing, but I'm sure others will be able to report on it. Some observations I did notice were that the players are still sprinting to the boundary line for a drink and taking a minute rest break. Viney had called everyone in to chat about one of their drills and he was talking about how well the players in the white bibs were performing and that everyone else had to work harder to cover ground and defend better. Bowey spoke up also showing his leadership qualities followed by McVee. I was impressed with Turner during some of the sims, you can see him improving each time and even did a fancy double spin to evade two tackles but then got pinned on the ground by McVee. Some of the hits were pretty physical this early in the pre-season which was good to see. Jeffo is filling out nicely, he's a confidence player so I hope he can learn from JVR how to be an aggressive forward but he'll come good this year I believe. Sestan and Laurie looking leaner now so I expect them to get a few games this year. Kentfield has a really nice size about him but just needs to working on his fitness/conditioning. Verrall a good size also. Important to note that Petty was in everything today and in really good shape. He was even in the second best running group when they were doing half ground 80% pace running on the boundary towards the end of the session. He's in for a big year if he stays injury free! I also heard Oliver is in a really good space and his hand is the best it's been in years so he is fit and firing to go. Anyway I'm on my way back to sunny Wodonga now. I'm backing us in to have a big year in 2025 and playing finals. Let's Go Demons!

No Saty, that "this year's draft is so even" means the various clubs rankings are less likely to be the same. If the players were more stratified then they rankings would be more likely to be similar.