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Hi fellow Dee's supporters, First post in many years. Was posting under another name previously but but forgot user name and password blah blah blah so set up a new one. Anyway most of this is not new news but this is what I know from what I would say is quite a reliable source within the club. Barlow - Dee's are right into him and all going well he will end up in the red and blue next year. Hibberd - Will be a dee next year. Scott Thompson - Goodwin very keen. Dee's are waiting for crows to finish finals. Peter Jackson loves the idea of succession planning and Thompson could be part of this. Vardy - Dee's are into him. Waiting for cats to finish finals. Could end up at WCE. Prestia - Dee's never really in the running due having no first round pick this year. We were also never going to match Richmonds contract offer which will apparently make him one of Richmonds top 4 or 5 players. Vickery - Personally I was keen on him. Club was not so I'm told. Hogan - Was told that the club is not yet pushing to hard with Jesse due to family issues (personally I'm not sure what they are). Club will meet with him at end of September to discuss his intentions moving forward and a new contract. My source says his intentions are anyone's guess ATM. I also asked about Wells, Mitchell and O'Mera. He said every club has enquired about these three. We were never a chance with O'Mera, Wells maybe a chance. Hartlett is apparently on massive $$ so unless port can come to a deal where they pay part of his contract he won't be going anywhere. Dee's not too keen. He said this time of year every club is enquiring about every player. Melbourne have enough kids and young talent right now so additions of Melksham, Hibberd and Lumumba (basically a new recruit) next year and maybe even Barlow will provide some more experience and hopefully consistency. He also said we were blessed with injuries this year so we will be looking at keeping depth players. As for the Dee's proactively trading away some of our young top talent it's not going to happen as we are trying to get create a dynasty. He laughed about Norths and Richmonds recruiting strategy. North will lose over 2000 games experience this year and have bugger all young talent. As for Richmond we all know they think that there one player away from a premiership. He also said Carlton might as well change their name from the Blues to the Giants as Silvagni is into all their fringe players (picking up the scraps so I'm told). Was also told the Dee's players enjoy beating Richmond more than any other side which surprises me. I thought it would be Collingwood. Anyway most of the above is not new news to everyone. It's basically what I have been told by a mate within the club. Like everyone here I wish Hogan would sign a long term agreement and hopefully the club should know more within the next few weeks. Thanks all and go Dee's

Nothing to be sorry for Markc, you gave the thread some much-needed perspective. My thoughts are with you and your family.

B & F "Benny Matthews who is obviously the midfield coach. Some of the vision I go through with him over the past three years. I think that's why you see we are one of the top four midfields in the competition. Another one of the reasons is I'm palming it down their throat. Which helps. It won't take a genius to work out the top two are midfielders and there's a reason they are there."

It shows just how sensitive Eddie is over Buckley. All Peter Jackson said in an aside, was that " the succession across the road, may not have happened as well as it could have". Hardly a big sledge. What does Eddie do, gets personal of course and attacks the man, PJ. He goes back to the Sheedy days and blames PJ for Essendon being a basket case. Nice sledge of the Bombers there as well. He attacks us as being not much good and can't wait for QB. You can't help but wonder if Eddie is tired and emotional again, like he was when he racially vilified Goodes. Eddie didn't need to reply, as it was an innocuous comment and in fact correct and Eddie has said that in the past. Sometimes Eddie, you just need to shut up.

i am sorry for your loss mate , I am sorry for bringing this up today , i just thought if a little of what hell it is posters could understand might help I don't want sympathy , i was just hoping to make people understand what he might be going through , there are plenty others here have fought and lost this battle here I talk to people to try and help other understand what happens to families, in these trying times. Its Not easy, that look i see in my wife eyes when i do things for our daughters thats what breaks my heart. Most thankfully will never have to understand it fully. Others will I have always enjoyed reading Demonland and thank everyone involved. I am sorry i have derailed the thread , a first for me !

Anyone who has or is living with a Family member who is terminal Ill can understand this I take each day as it comes , I don't make plans far in advance , for myself and my kids , our time with my wife ( their mother) is especially special to us , I couldn't imagine living states apart and having this happen. Time to give the Kid ago , think about how you would feel watching , hearing , seeing someone so close , being that ILL My wife tells us to go out , to enjoy ourselves, to be a family , as I am sure his dad would tell him to follow his dreams , play AFL, these things put a smile on my wife's face for her to see us happy, makes her happy . I am not saying everyone is the same. but you need to understand how they and he could feel. hoping my words will help some people understand what he COULD be going through , sometimes things are greater than our club. As one of his sponsors I want him to stay but can understand otherwise, football would be one of the last things on his mind at the moment mark ps on a side note iI thank Demonland for being here, its keeps me busy

Just love Big Maxy's persona and thought that he needs his own topic to make sure we never miss a giggle from the gems of humor that seen to pop out every second sentence. So here is one to start things off, as reported on the Fox Footy web news page: Via Hawks duo Isaac Smith and Josh Gibson during the night, Frawley apparently said Gawn’s head would’ve “gotten quite big quickly” if he had taken out the Leigh Matthews Trophy. Big Max’s rebuttal, however, had Frawley covered. “Old Chip Frawley, hey? Well Hawthorn has to play a 17-man defence because Chip doesn’t defend too much anymore,” Gawn said. I'm not sure it's right up there with his absolute best work, bid did like that it gave Frawley a well earnt sledging. So what else has the new mouth from Melbourne put out there?

Agreed. I've got to wonder if PJ just threw that in for a laugh; I can't see any other motivation. Who hasn't on occasion got some kicks from throwing a hand grenade at someone known to be volatile? I have visions of PJ sitting in his office just having a chuckle after hearing Ed's comments.

On coming 3rd at the B & F "You might think its arrogant that I had a speech and I only brought it out thinking I was going to be getting up a bit later."

Agree with the comments on this thread. Have only just listened to the press conference and it has to be the most impressive performance I have heard from a President, CEO and coach. Reassuringly, It showed what a stable club we have become and reflects the benefit of good leadership and considered management. People who know what needs to be done and who have shown by their actions that they all have a stake in the outcome. Wise leadership. i liked the belief, the expectation, and the clear vision tempered with a realistic outlook. It was the most impressive performance by a new coach that I can remember watching. What I saw in the new coach was: Belief, ambition, realism, intelligence, listening skills, patience, clear thinking, clear communication, honesty, humility, and support for players and staff, A man with very strong attributes for a senior coach. We are in good hands.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/how-simon-goodwin-and-melbourne-learned-from-john-longmire-and-the-sydney-swans-succession-plan/news-story/20752ea342d67cba8ead7ffb68c320a3 Interesting insight into the behind the scenes work Roos did getting Goodwin (and Longmire) ready to take over the senior coaches role. We on the outside can never truly appreciate his impact. Like others on here I am excited about the Goodwin era but will wait until we get some runs on the board (wins) before I let out an almighty sigh of relief.

At the B & F "Mark Jamar who didn't let me win a hit out in six years. Which was his way to teach me. Russian taught me everything I know today. And finally the guys at list management decided to give him the flick and give me a go. Which is good."

I wouldn't take any notice of anything he's said on the radio. He has clearly learned well from Roos ... the art of uttering words and saying nothing. His SEN interview was all motherhood statements and no actual information.

I live in Geelong and work with a number of the Cats players (they help out our school footy program). One of the things they say is how highly rated Vardy is internally - yes the games played in 7 years is alarming, but that's not to say it's all injury - he has played a lot of VFL coming back from inj and due to the Cats having Clark, Hawkins, Stanley, Blicavs, and now Smith. He is leaving simply open to leaving for opportunity because he knows that even with his body the Cats preferred combo is Smith and Stanley pinch hitting with Blics 3rd man up/mid. They are happy with Kersten's development into second fiddle for Hawkins. Given the low cost it would be to get him over, i am absolutely all for it. Jake Spencer has only played 36 games.....#justsayin

I see Hibberd, Melksham, Salem and Weideman, as four new recruits/regulars in the 22. That is 20% of the side different to this year. Clearly Weed only played a couple of games and Salem not much more. When you add Oliver as a regular that is 25% of the side. On that basis, you can't really add many more. Development will be a key to our future, with the odd trade and continual good drafting, keeping up a good list. We are now in a good position to launch our assault. What we need most, is to find a consistency of good performance.

Mark I'm sure I speak for all who read and converse on demonland when I say our thoughts, prayers and best wishes are with u and ur family.

An enjoyable read... but this is pretty weird isn't it? A succession plan before a coach has had a a single match...??? Barlow has been floated on here a bit; would love to see him at the Dees for three years. For those worried about him displacing a young mid... good - make the kids develop and earn their spot every single week. If Barlow, a proven and hard bodied midfielder wanted to come to us, I'd welcome him with open arms. (I've always had a soft spot for him though - he's a great story)

"I need to vomit. Oh look there's Tom Scully, I'll vomit over there."

Well I disagree,. The context is what happened at Collingwood. ie unsuccessful transition/handover. This has been a successful handover. Whether he is the right coach going fwd is an entirely different matter.

From what i've seen/heard next years draft looks significantly stronger than this years so i am extremely comfortable with missing this years first round if it means giving up next years, the only way i can see us realisitically geting a first rounder this year is if Hogan walks out.

If we could have beaten Carlton, we would have had a good last week into the Cats game. We would have been then more competitive. Probably still have lost, but not that thrashing. The Carlton game led to the thrashing and a bitter end to the year.

The fact they are looking to offload would be partly due to his injuries but they also have an enormous amount of big men on their list. I think he is worth a punt

Viney did not require anesthetic but they had to call for a chainsaw to perform the operation. The surgeon is recovering in Epworth and is expected to make a full recovery. The chainsaw did not survive.

Hi Demonlanders, I read your threads daily and no I'm not that bloke who was called braysure or what ever his name was. Thought it was quite funny.... Anyway tried to get more specifics and will continue to do so but as my man said anything can happen in trade week. Deals that often clubs think are a lock often fall over for one reason or another. It's hard to be specific. I too would love to see us pick up an a grader. The club will not put itself in a position where we are paying 200K above market rate for someone. Developing our current talent and becoming a successful destination club is the goal so I'm told. Prestia would have been in the top few paid at our club. Doesn't create a good culture. Richmond board is trying to satisfy supporters by making them look good at the long term detriment to the club. Clubs like the Hawks can offload fringe players for decent picks and players as their fringe players are much better and more proven than ours. I would hate to think where we would be this year if injuries hit us harder than what they did. Also this won't be news to many but he did say we were in a great position if we can hold on to our young talent because free agency and the fact that contracts mean nothing anymore is killing lower clubs. Being a successful destination club can mean an additional 15% in there salary cap as players are willining to play for less.

I'm not saying Flamingdees has made it up, but he/she is basically just as vague to be honest. "His intentions are anyone's guess". And nothing Flamingdees actually posted should be news to anyone. It's very interesting how a few posters are quite happy to applaud a post that's as vague as a violet, yet if that came out of GNF's account, he would have been heckled and decried. I don't mind Flamingdees' post. I hope he keeps posting, just like GNF, even though the former's post sounds a bit like a [censored]-take with "Hi fellow Dee's supporters", as if it had been written by Sam Newman. GNF's biggest fault was his [censored]-farting around with the cryptic clues a few years back. He doesn't do that anymore though.

Over the years I have read many opinions on drugs in sport, but these two justification propositions are truly remarkable. You criticize SWYL comments as childish, however, your comments are truly foolish.

I reckon we will push hard to swap a Future 2nd rounder for Hibberd and keep 26... in fact I know that's what the Dees will offer, remains to be seen if Ess want that or this years. Hopefully our next year's 2nd pick is high 30's!

Ha ha ha! That's our Eddie "Impulse Control" McGuire. "From now on no more Captain Nice Guy from me." Got it, Eddie. Coz we've been calling you that behind your back for years!

I wish Goodwin every success but I am am not about to lavish premature praise on him like some already do here. The conga line of unsuccessful coaches is very long. The challenge for him is to make us elite and not just another pretender like North or Richmond. He has the players and extensive ground work has been done. I am not sure about the culture and commitment to success from players. He will get my praise when he makes us elite.

oh FFS you guys can we get back to being pryks to each other please?..... logged in half cut and find myself with a big lump in my throat reading this thread... Much easier for me if i can just be combative with everyone. markc and Mgdee, geez what can i say................. heart goes out to you and anyone else who has been in your position. Anyway, how bout that weather...... ? *clears throat.

PJ is simply saying the transition has been successful. That is fact. It has.

There is a difference between smooth and successful. It could be one, both or neither. Clearly in our case it has been smooth, as Roos and Goodwin believe in it and support it. MM did not and he and Bucks clearly can't stand each other. As for successful, well we will see in time.

Surprised by the negativity here. If we pick up Hibberd as well, we are getting two experienced quality players in a good age bracket where we are lacking. Both are comfortably in our best 22. Melksham has decent pace, aggression and a decent kick too. Some of his kicks inside 50 or long running goals will be valuable to us. Hibberd brings a quality lock down defender who provides great rebound. He'd immediately become our best half back flanker, though Salem and Hunt both have the potential to surpass him. We should be excited we have 1, perhaps 2, quality experienced players coming in who can fill multiple roles and add a bit more aggression, pace and kicking skill to the side. Melksham can play half forward, midfield and half back, so he adds lends flexibility. Our currently gameplay with the half backs rushing forward to provide drive suits him perfectly. I wouldn't be surprised if Goodwin created the tactic knowing he'd have players like Melksham at his disposal. He won't be just depth, he will be a lock in the 22 for the foreseeable future. It's another good get by Jason Taylor. Let's hope Hibberd joins us too!

guys thank you for the kinds words I was just frustrated and what i was reading about Jesse i felt if you could understand a little of what someone has to go through when a family member is terminally Ill thats all i was trying to do . its a extremely hard time for anyone mark

Forget the AFL this week. There are two huge VFL finals to be played on Sunday. PETER JACKSON VFL 2016 PRELIMINARY FINAL CASEY SCORPIONS v WILLIAMSTOWN Sunday 18 September 2016 North Port Oval at 2.40pm CASEY SCORPIONS B: White Garland Keilty HB: Michie Hutchins Dunn C: M Jones Kennedy Salem HF: Oliver T Smith Newton F: Scott Weideman Neal-Bullen FOLL: Spencer Trengove Grimes I/C (from): D Collis Ferreira* Hulett McInerney Moncrieff Morris Munro J Smith Wilson WILLIAMSTOWN B: Bese Fahey Sing HB: Charleston Faulks Hislop C: Dorgan Jolley Dunell HF: Schultz Conway Bewley F: Owen Cordy Hetherington FOLL: Meese Greiser Gibbons I/C (from) Anastasio Carr Currie Johnstone Lockwood Masters Siposs Sullivan* Wheeler * 23rd player AFL VICTORIA DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE GRAND FINAL BOX HILL HAWKS v CASEY SCORPIONS Sunday 18 September 2016 North Port Oval at 11.30am BOX HILL HAWKS B: Bond Spangher Glass HB: Evans Gordon S Gibson C: Fisher McIntyre Soccio HF: Traynor Brolic Switkowski F: Cox Summers L Langford FOLL: O'Sullivan O'Donnell Kidd I/C (from) Castledine Dimasi Firns Horner Jeffs Kennedy Kilpatrick Murphy Walker CASEY SCORPIONS B: Vander Haar Moncrieff Wyatt HB: Cotte Rutherford Gordon C: Fritsch D Collis Munro HF: Pattison Baker Hillard F: Morris Max King Hulett FOLL: McInerney J Smith Wilson I/C (from): Ambler J Anderson Beacom Briggs Cox Di Pasquale Freeman Gains Hannon Jaffer-Williams Daniel Johnston J McDonald

Hahaha must be, i am more than happy to trust my own info, just out of curiosity, have you considered ignoring GNF's posts? seems more productive than venting the same opinions over and over and getting absolutely nowhere?

Roosy making the comments he did about Richmond so close to this is very interesting. I really don't think there is to much disputing that the Pies succession plan hasn't been perfect, Eddie just blew his top with an immature irrational reaction and made himself look stupid again and i'm sure PJ is sitting back having a good laugh about it.

It also works to fire a rivalry that has been frankly half-dead for years. It'd be great to stoke those embers and have some real hatred between both clubs. I love it. Remember when we were pitied? There's still a bit of that around, but wait until they start the off to the snow rubbish again. We'll know people are worried then, just as they were under Daniher. I'd much rather be hated than pitied.

B & F on Jim Synes "He lived his life on the motto Whatever it Takes which for him was quite severe. He drank his own urine to stay alive. I'm not going to be doing that at quarter time. I promise."

I give it to three quarter time of Round 1 before someone calls for his head in the gameday thread. Good luck to Goodwin. I liked Roos and there's no doubt he did exactly what he said he'd do, but at the same time it will be good to have a coach that's fresh and fully committed to the cause. No guarantees he'll be a successful coach, but at least we can be sure he won't barge in and [censored] the place up like Neeld did in 11/12.

Thank you markc for putting some perspective into this thread. All the very best mate.

I like the attitude of poking the "Big boys", has a feel of a club confident it is on the rise and prepared to back itself. That we finished higher than both clubs, beat both easily, and have a better list and more stable club at the moment are the exact points PJ should be pointing out to the footy community, especially players considering a move to a Melbourne club.

Whilst I share the worries about his fitness, I worked at Geelong between 2012-14 and watched him dominate both training and VFL games. He also had a couple of standout AFL games. If his body can stand up he has massive upside and plays a position where we have a hole in our list. What would he realistically cost?

Nice interview with Goody on SEN run home. Has a sound head, no hyperbole. I get the impression of stability and continuity and reckon that's just what the players need at this stage of development. Results will have the final say of course but there's something nice about there being no hullabaloo around our new head coach taking over. https://audioboom.com/boos/5046445-simon-goodwin-on-the-run-home

What the club should be doing, is seeing this as an opportunity. Hawthorn are making a bold gamble to keep their premiership clock open, without going through the downturn that the Salary Cap/Draft is designed to facilitate. Sydney has achieved this to some extent; while Geelong are trying their best. It can be done, but it does need everything to line up correctly (Other clubs such as Melbourne needs to ensure that everything lining up is very difficulty and therefore unlikely). It is accepted that the Hawks are going to very quickly lose champion players who as history has shown are not easily replaced. They are in a position to do this because importantly their champions have never been reliant on speed (therefore the loss of it won't significantly influence their output), are all essentially assistant coaches on the field, and they are taking pay cuts to keep the Dynasty going (ironically this approach also improves their income as it extends their careers a number of years, noting that if the club was in a rebuild then they would most likely be encouraged to retire). This works well when the supporting cast suits the mix - i.e for the hawks this equates to a support cast that has speed, and run n carry (Rioli, Smith, Hill, Hartung, Bruest, etc, even Gunston). Now while the Hawks are going about replacing Roughead, Mitchell, Hodge etc with Vickery, Mitchell, O'meara; other clubs should be targeting their mid tier run n carry players. This would result in the Hawks having the wrong mix, to continue in the premiership window. I beleive Melbourne should be offering nice money to someone like Hartung (I'm not a Smith fan, but can understand the appeal) which forces the Hawks to match the offer (reducing their salary cap space and ability to recruit); if they don't match it then we get a player who meets our need (and at the same time reduces their ability to negotiate a trade should if he was identified as potential trade-bait's but request a trade to a destination not of their liking). Furthermore, every run n carry player the Hawks lose requires their aging inside players to take on a role which they are losing the capability to do at the top level; or requires the replacement players to take on a role they were not recruited for. If they lost Hartung, Smith and Hill; they already look very slow! These mid tier players are get-able, for it just needs as some, possibly most will be put out by the perceived pressure of senior players taking pay cuts after being paid top dollar for most of their career, so that new players to the club can get the top dollar, not the mid-tier who deserves it. Also they are not the maryrs they are making out to be as the chances are it was a choice for some between retirement or paycut; and as noted earlier the paycut extends their earning potential while the premiership window is open. Note with Fremantle already grabbing Hill, it wouldn't take a lot to upset their team balance. Now if the Hawks put an effort into keeping these mid-tier players then they don't get the replacements they need for their aging champions. Either way, it makes it that much more harder for them to continue the Dynasty. Who else could we target.

Hogans old man is critically ill. Do you all not think this has something to do with his below average last month and at times poor body language???? Nothing is going to happen with his contract while Jesse is going through this terrible experience. He is contracted for another year, has told the club he will stay a Dee, but all negotiations have been put on hold while Jesse concentrates on his family and father. If this experience makes him change his mind and brings the "go home" factor into play, at least we will be well compensated, most probably with Fyfe. Fyfe is a free agent next year. Fyfe has indicated he will entertain offers. Freo is much better off getting Hogan for him this year who is worth two first round picks rather than one first round pick (compensation) next year. There have been discussions between the clubs. In saying that it is most likely that Hogan has not signed a new contract or asked to be traded by trade week. If this is the case it does not mean he is leaving at the end of next season. Simply he is concentrating on bigger issues at this time. It is highly likely he will re-sign as a Dee. All good management plans for the unexpected. The club has full expectation that he will stay.

Taking an untried 18 y.o. ruck through the draft would be an even bigger roll of the dice. For what it would cost us, surely worth the punt.

Agree. Look at the way Norf is still looking to top up. Older players with only a few years left, while trading away their future youth, leaving no room for a rebuild. We have the quality youth already. Actually, we are over flowing compared to many other teams. To echo another poster, I have put the Melksham suspension behind me now. Melksham and Hibberd are just what we need.