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I disagree completely. In a perfect world we would have the luxury of not needing to overhype but in reality we have to do anything we can to sell as many memberships as possible. If we have another terrible season, won't have mattered whether we were quiet or loud now. Have to do everything we can to retain as much of the membership base as possible or we'll just lose more ground.

I literally come to DL to find things out. It's way more informed and way more accurate than 90% of journos. I have no doubt Cornes doesn't believe most of what he says. He just knows his job depends on ratings so the more ill informed and antagonistic he is the better. He has no idea what he's talking about most of the time and doesn't care. He's absolute rubbish. There's a lot of people on here still angry about last season who don't seem to care why it happened. I understand and accept that the overwhelming number of injuries derailed 2019. I don't need or want to rehash it any further. There's been about 25 changes in the FD from Burgess to Richo to Dr's Physio etc We've got Lever May Langdon Tomlinson and maybe some others who make our list better than 2020. That's good enough for me to be optimistic about 2020. Cornes wouldn't have a clue about any of this. Memberships are running close to 10% below last season. I applaud the Club for being proactive both in the media and in doing Hell & Back to get the members back on board. I find Cornes comments which for the 2nd time recently are directed at the Club trying to drive memberships so utterly out of touch with the reality of AFL Clubs that he is ludicrous. Memberships are oxygen. Come on people. Move on from 2019 lets get behind the Club for 2020. Agreeing with Cornes! Are you kidding.

I don't often agree with Cornes in fact we have a saying in my household; "Always bet on the guy that Kane Cornes picks against". In this case he is spot on. Particularly when he is talking about this stupid Pre Season Doco. Whoever signed off on this should be sacked. I couldn't give a rats how good the quality of the video is with the slow mo and the close ups and the inspirational music. The fact is we haven't COME BACK FROM ANYWHERE. TO HELL AND BACK. Where is the back in this narrative? If we win the [censored] lot this year then by all means make you doco with slow mo and inspirational music but until then do all your talking on the footy field. Yeah sell some hope but sell it on the [censored] footy field.

It's all about perspective and opinion isn't it. I've thought this promotion (and that's what it is), is about the road back and not a statement that we are back. It's about how hard the Club is working at redemption. If that work is not enough and we are not redeemed at the end of the season then there will be further changes. You say "just shut up and work" but it's not the players promoting this. It is the Club and it's media department trying to show how hard the players are working at redemption. I'm a little confused about this attitude of yours and others. Why do you come on this site if it's not to glean the positives? Would you rather hear nothing from the Club? I can see the Media release you appear to want to write, it starts; "Nothing to see here"

Not worth a new thread but for your information I swung past Gosch’s paddock this morning on my training run and found a small squad working with Daniel Cross and another trainer. It might not have been rehab but perhaps a voluntary extra session, no MFC training colours on at all. Cross was running repeat 100 m sprints with TMac and Melk while Brown and J Smith were doing longer, slower repeat runs of 200 plus. Bedford was doing agility stuff between cones on his own. TMac, Melk and Bedford then did some 30m kicking to the other player on the lead and practiced some high marking, all pretty laid back from what I saw but they could have going for an hour before I arrived about 9.40. They were finishing up when I left just before 10. I thought the main squad would be doing something today, maybe up at Casey?

I found it hard enough re-watching the ones we won.

To be honest i can't see how the video could be cause any damage or any real substantive risks. Embarrassed if we have a poor season because we produced a three part doc called Hell and back? Spare me. The players won't need a video to be embarrassed if we have another poor season to be embarrassed. Nor will the FD or fans for that matter. Of course if that eventuates the peanuts in the media will trot out the video for their silly montages but c'mon who cares So why not produce it. Damage to our 'brand'. Please our brand is already damaged. As if the video (which will be full of inspirational training footage and rubbish music) is going to damage it further. Sure the title is cheesy and a bit presumptuous. But perhaps deliberately so. Look at the free publicity we have got for video content that hasn't even been released yet. As i have been banging on about content is king. The proof will be in how many times the video are watched. And its not just about increased membership, now or in the future. its also about getting mainstream media interest (hard to do coming off last years results). Tick. And importantly its also about value for our sponsors. I'll bet London to a brick Jaguar are more than happy about all the free publicity and will be with the views the videos get.

Seriously? If the players buy in to this and believe, then there is no issue. Nothing to see here. It is entitled to Hell and Back. Yes, we have been to hell. This is not saying we're back. It is making a statement that we will give everything we have to get back. If we have another poor year, or if we improve markedly, then either way, it will be a story in 2020 and there is no doubt about that. As with other so called journos, Cornes just likes to sink the slipper into us. He and his ilk add grist to the mills of the stereotypists that believe that we are all snow bound, Range Rover driving silver tails, with a soft underbelly. I don't give a flying proverbial about what they think ...... and in this particular case I reckon the old axiom applies, that any publicity is good publicity. Move on and go Dees!!!!!!

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/tigers-plan-to-be-top-victorian-club-20100303-pizq.html Our players were well and truly humbled last year. A strong team with belief that they will be successful should come out and say it, rather than be fearful of failure. You can't get ahead of yourself but the idea that our players should be dwelling on last year like we need to pay some penance for it is ridiculous. After the early years of his career Cornes didn't win a thing.

Irrespective of the Jessie situation, people need to understand that clubs lie, players lie, AFL officials lie and Managers lie. It is an art form in AFL football.

Forget about all the economics and set up a Tasmanian team now! Tasmania deserve it and if you don't want a team from Tassie, don't call yourself the "Australian " football league. This is not a national competition now. Without a team from Tassie, it will never be.

Why don't we move down there and rebrand ourselves as the Van Demons?

Let's say, for the sake of the discussion, no doco has been made. 2020 season starts for us in Perth. We get flogged by the Eagles and by round 6 we're 1 and 5. The hounds begin to bay. Calls for Goodwin's immediate sacking, for the President and CEO to stand down and crisis meetings are held every second day. Headlines everywhere. Conversely, we start the season off with significant wins, TMac reprises he last gasp, match winning goal in Perth. Our recruits shine and young stars take the next step. Go Tracc. Headlines!!!! As I said, either scenario will be news in 2020, doco or not.

I have been pretty strong on the fact that last year all we did was talk and never deliver, it actually really got to me. But i have moved on, i know it cliched but a club has to sell hope, i cant wait to see the doco, i love seeing players and inner sanctum stuff. I love Hibberd saying its been unbelievable pre-season, i love hearing our coaches are great, i love hearing our draftee's are training well and have fitted in beautifully. Life's a bit to precious to sweat the small stuff like this, im embracing it, im excited, i cant wait and if people are bagging us then, it means we get under peoples skin, i like that, Nth Melbourne just said they want to play finals, its hardly caused a ripple. There is talk and there then there is irrelevance.

A few semi random thoughts: * Perhaps Tassie should push for a AFLW team, build and establish a following from there. Could take on it's own momentum and force the AFL's hand. I don't think establishing a Tassie VFL side would be much use as it wouldn't attract anything like the same media attention and would be like conceding that a Tassie side would be perennially relegated to the minor league. * I don't think an AFL side would have any problems attracting and retaining tallent. * Taking the millions of dollars in sponsorship away from Hawthorn (and perhaps a few of their members/supporters too) would be almost as good as establishing a Tassie team in it's self. This reason alone should be enough for at least 16 other clubs to support a Tassie team.

His first year was an unmitigated disaster and he knows it, I get the sense he's a very proud person and wants to prove himself to be every bit the big recruit we expect him to be. I'm not sure if him being at the club got us over the line with Harley but having him and Langdon can't have hurt.

All of our detractors are right ALL of the time. There is no doubt about that. We are a joke until proven otherwise on -field. The end.

You Did what???????? Watched all last years games?? I would call that PURE UNADULTERATED TORTURE!!

Spot on chook, he also told me he got more running a place in a profession foot race meeting than he got for a Saturday footy game. Don Williams left Melbourne and played in Gippsland for two years ( Sale I think ) because the money was better. He then returned for the 64 flag.

Hence many of the old timers who were at the peak of their careers went to the country because it was more lucrative eg Fred Fanning.

I actually thought that was a good kick, his teammate was caught behind 2 opponents and Kozzie cleverly spooned over the top into space more to his advantage where he could and did run on to it. If he had of hit it flat it would have gone to an opponent in front. Smart thinking...

You mean like Kardinia Park where the cats play regularly to less than full crowds in a 35 ish thousand capacity stadium. Geelong has sucked huge capital from govt into the stadium for elite users - despite the spin its for the community too, at the expense of more worthwhile projects in the city

I don’t say it very often, but I couldn’t agree more with Gary Lyons response.

We have the right to look forward to a more successful football season and I agree that 'hype' is not necessarily a part of this as it leads to false expectation, and in the case of the MFC, is a very shallow representation of our capitulation in games during 2019. We did little, we got nowhere, we are not yet poised to play the phoenix amid the ashes and residue that we were responsible for and through which reasonable criticism was levelled. However, one must remain bright and continue to hope for a turnaround in fortunes, to adopt as much positivism as we might; the Club appears to be adopting such an approach; there is largely - and in many forms - a new broom with which to rebuild through a more pragmatic approach to games alongside more versatile preparation and performance. 'Carna Dees! It can be done.

Kozzie magic!!!!! https://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/560975/maroochydore-camp-kozzy-magic?videoId=560975&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1581030439001

Can happen ; AFL Boss wants it? A Tassie Team will not just be people living in Tasmania as members. There are thousands of Tasmanians living in other States Like me I'll always be a Dees Member, but would also become a Tassie member The Team will be exposed on the national front, and will attract National Sponsors, plus Tasmanian business Over 45000 Tasmanians already indicated their financial support GWS and Suns have been given zillions , + Draft concessions to succeed. Tassie has produced more champions per capita than any other state. Ever heard of Hudson, Hart, Baldock, Robertson, Stewart, Sutton Lawrence, Lynch, to name a very few and apologies to the many I've not mentioned? Even Nieta was born there. 6 million in Melbourne supporting 10 teams, (600,000) per team, roughly the pop of Tasmania , plus those living interstate It can happen, just need 'a coalition of the willing!'

This is something that really annoys me about Australian "culture". No one is allowed to seen as confidently backing their abilities or plans otherwise they are chopped straight down. Even being quietly confident is looked down on. It's also a serious issue with Australia in the business space. We really are a society of crabs sometimes.

You did what? As a dare? As a challenge on i'm a celebrity get me out of here? Because you are into S&M? kudos I think

Astonishing that people are falling for the won't be viable line. Seriously, when do you think GWS or GC will be viable in their own right? A Tassie team (some say they'll be the Tassie Tigers, or Tassie Devils...but me, I say call them the Tassie Maps) is inevitable, and fully deserved. Tassie has supplied more champions than its relatively small population would suggest likely. The game is (used to be) loved down there, but the truth is, it is in trouble and a Tassie team would help restore its status If you don't believe it's in trouble consider that Burnie, one of the teams that ushered Russell Robertson into our ranks, no longer has a team. The suggestion that Tasmania will always support the game is ignorant of what is happening. As for viable, viable is what the AFL decides is viable. They propped us up, they are propping up the expansion clubs and they have the capacity to prop up Tasmania while it develops its team. Incidentally, there are already climate change refugees already bolstering its population which is increasing, hence its economic capacity is rising also. Another reason for liking a genuine Tasmanian team is that it pulls some millions out of two of our competitors. Car'n the Maps of Tasmania!!

If he did that, he is a fool and should lose his job. I know he probably won’t, but he should. the only thing i will say is other outlets ran with it as well, so somebody heard something. you are much closer than us to the Perth Media, so i take your posts on board. but if Hagdon made it up out of thin air, the Hogan family should ring a good lawyer and take him down. Someone is going to take their life, if these scenarios continue.

I love that they form a commission who comes back to report that they need: 1. 7-8 million per season in Government funding - which in fairness they currently get rorted for by Hawthorn and North. 2. I'm guessing at least 500 Million for a 30k stadium in the middle of Hobart because the recently renovated 20k stadium a short paddle away is suddenly inadequate. Even though they confirm games will be split so it's probably 7-8 games in Hobart per season. Tassie should have a team but I'm against 19 teams, against merger/relocations and every year that the Suns and Giants exist for makes it very unlikely they get moved. My advice - get Tassie back in the VFL and build a footy club with fans, volunteers, depth players, local heroes. Build something organic from the ground up rather than everything based around big chunks of cash.

I've never worked in PR. I think it's the opposite to patronising and tone deaf. I'd find it highly patronising if they ignored last year and that over the past 12+ years we have been to hell and back. Frankly I love it. It acknowledges what we've been through. Face it head on and look to the future. I'm expecting to see the acknowledgement of last year and how hard they are working to have a great 2020 so get on board. Nothing wrong with that approach as far as I"m concerned. Looks like the most proactive thing I've seen the Club do in a very difficult situation where memberships are haemorrhaging. MFCSS is alive and kickin on here at the moment. Try lifting the veil of negativity. The Club can’t do a thing right apparently.

Think the long term members are feed up with all this hype before the season only to be let down, if they want to increase memberships win more than you loose is as simple as that. All these videos and docos do is create unnecessary presure on the club before a ball is bounce. Knock off the weagles r1 and memberships will fly out the door

If I was fickle I woulda been long gone an not hanging out here with you bunch of losers.

Not sure about that...

The AFL Air Quality Policy: "In the 2020 season, the air at all AFL matches will be premium quality air courtesy of our corporate partners. Patrons and broadcasters will be expected to refer to the air and related aspects as Optus air, the Coca Cola atmosphere, etc, depending on the branding at each venue. "Patrons of matches will no longer be permitted to breathe this air, unless they purchase an AFL Air Accessibility licence, available from AFL stores & merchandising booths. Otherwise they will have to leave the stadium to breathe."

Blah, blah, blah, Cornes, blah, blah, outrage, blah..... Ignore the little [censored]

[censored] Cornes. What a nonce that muppet is.

I must say I like this content. More of this.

So do Ruck infringements now get penalised under the Coleslaw?

He may never play again, but he's the most naturally talented player on our list. I've said it before, he's a better footballer than Tim Kelly. But yes, it means little if those legs don't mend.

Those that are against this in any way are most likely the same people who would be gnashing their teeth and ripping into the club for missing the opportunity had the likes of Hawthorn or Geelong got him instead.

The worst thing about Arden Street in those days wasn't the cramped conditions, the overflowing urinals, the poor facilities, the over zealous parking officers, the lack of seating nor the partisan crowd. It was that godawful Courage Breweries product, which sponsored North, and which was the only beer available in the outer. It was so bad that people were going home sober from a day out at the footy.

I recently watched all of last year's Melbourne games again. That was painful. I came away thinking that it's going to take a lot more than we're doing or have done to turn it around. Are we the only ones who recruited a couple of players from other clubs? Or took quality young players from the draft? Other clubs have done the same or better. Sure, we should be fitter this year and hopefully have fewer injuries, but other clubs won't have stood still. I really want to believe we'll perform, but we will just have to wait and see. As for the video, why reinforce failure? Because unless we do return from hell, that's all it will be doing.

Apparently Razor Ray isn't a fan but then he does have Lidl man syndrome.

Hi all It sounds like attempt by Freo to send a message to Jesse. Get with the program or walk. I think Jones had a strong and positive influence on Jesse to keep him in the straight and narrow. But, I believe Freo didn't have the same support systems for players. A great talent possibly the best FF ever if he can pull he head in and believe in himself without [censored] and etc. I miss him in red and blue. A true beast in midfield and half forward. Just look at his work at Melbourne in 2018. And, people wonder why Melbourne struggled in 2019. A young bloke trying to find his way. I want to see him back on the field with a good support group including his teammates. Whether Freo or whoever. Prove me right Jeese.

He got it from the same place Hardie got the info that MFC signing Bennell was “unlikely”. His arse. I don’t even need to be from WA to know the reputation these guys have for never letting the truth get in the way of a good story. Toss in Karl Langdon and you have the perfect trifecta of tiny WA fish trying not to get eaten in the small pond, battling for relevance.

A couple of points. A lot of commentary seems to be along the lines of "finally - we've taken a risk on elite talent instead of always taking the safe option". I disagree with this for 2 reasons. Firstly, I think we've taken our fair share of left-field recruiting gambles in recent years (e.g., Jurrah, Wonnaeamirri, Clark, Oliver) - they just mostly haven't worked out for one reason or another. Secondly, I can't see how recruiting Bennell is a particularly big risk - we haven't invested anything other than a rookie spot, so it's a classic low risk/ potentially high reward situation IMO. That's just astute recruiting. Let's be honest - if barracking for a footy club was purely about winning games and premierships, we all would have called it quits a long time ago. Players that defy the odds, comeback stories, redemption stories - they're the stories that capture our imagination and make footy great. Both us and Harley are due for some luck in this department - fingers crossed he plays some good footy for us (ideally in September, but no pressure!)