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I’d put Daniel Cross in the same category: not a premiership player but came to the club with a very professional attitude and IMHO greatly helped revive our fortunes.

Not even worth debating. He helped to ingrain a culture of hard work and discipline

Interesting comments Steamin. Personally, I’m a big picture guy and sometimes detailed analysis leaves me cold. However, in this case, there is something else. It’s Max. I’m sorry Steamin but I just can’t in any way, shape or form criticise or find fault with Max. It’s almost sacrilegious. If he has had a few off moments, after all his superhuman efforts over the past few years, in particular, last year, he has, well, almost earn’t them. He has more credits in the bank than anyone I can think of. No, I have had a good hard think about your comments, and I can’t come up with anything but praise, adulation, indeed love for our Premiership Captain one of the most remarkable individuals ever to don the red and blue. He is in lofty company with other Club legends and is getting closer to the sanctity of the Clubs spirit soul, the immortal Robbie Flower. And now I think about it, together with Robbie, a Yarra Park sculpture would be most fitting, a place of homage after his retirement.

Based on current output, Trac will win with a total of 66 votes.

Jordan doesn’t wax lyrical about this when prodded by Garry Lyon and other Fox people that know - but he had the ear of Oliver and Petracca and Gawn long after he retired and even came down to the club in the pre-season ahead of 2021. He considers himself someone with a split allegiance which is simply stunning when you consider what he achieved at the Hawks. He was better than people remember and the people that matter got a lot out of him.

Definitely a yes from me. He was well past his best but he instructed and lead others on the field. His leadership on the ground was akin to Jake Lever today. His move to the Demons was also one of those small steps that started to change people’s perception about the club. That others viewed us as an up and coming team, no longer the basket case that players would avoid. We suddenly had Melksham and Hibberd, and then Lever etc. Lewis also talked us up helping to create a positive image of an improving club. From a marketing perspective a win win.

Jordon Lewis knew what it would take to become a Champion team, he and his former teammates had already achieved the ultimate goal on four occasions, he chose us and our young champions were like sponges soaking up Jordons knowledge and work ethics. Yes Jordon Lewis was worth every cent.!!!

Jordan was the type of player who invariably played well against us when he was with Hawthorn. Having said that plenty of players did. He was however pretty much cooked when he came to MFC. His on ground form wasn't great when he played with the Dees. He was pretty slow, often went to ground and was undisciplined. So, was signing him worth it? I think so. It sent a message to the football world that a high profile player (albeit past it) was happy to come to the Club. And his background (4 flags) and football knowledge (learnings, hah) helped educate his teammates. Apparently he was pretty good directing traffic on the ground and emphasizing good training standards.

Bernie for me was the sugar hit to make the medicine palatable. While Lewis was there to help plant the seeds of work ethic and attitude, Vince was there to make us immediately better, which he did. Both excellent signings at the right time.

Also, though perhaps in a lesser measure, Bernie Vince. I think people forget how lacking we were for senior players of any kind of quality across that period.

Yes. I saw him at training and he led from the front. He seemed to be respected by the playing group.

Absolutely worth it. Any time you can get a player of Jordan's calibre without losing much in return, it's a win. Even if his performances on-field left something to be desired, we can't really quantify the impact he had on guys like Petracca and Oliver. My guess is that he had a really positive influence on them and the culture in general.

There’s been some pretty hard criticism on the bombers in the last couple of weeks, particularly in the perception of them not going hard enough. I would be shocked if they didn’t put in a massive game against us, coming up against the reigning premiers they’ll have a point to prove.

OP was not disrespectful and made an observation that many Demonlanders have mentioned in other posts. Insulting people is not the way to discuss topics raised.

I really wish the club would go to the AFL and complain about the treatment he cops from opposition players that never goes punished.

The humid slippery conditions were very much against the big men against the suns. Very few marks were taken. Also I think Max was shafted by the umpires when against English. A greater sample of games is needed before writing Max off.

BECAUSE!!!

Max gave away 6 frees against the Bulldogs and mis-timed some of his marks but he was otherwise ok, including his long 55m goal when we really needed it. He dropped a large number of marks against the Suns and looked exhausted in the third quarter on Saturday. Not his best game, but Witts is a tough opponent for him because he is just as tall and heavier than Max. I reckon he has been pinged twice unfairly this year for shepherding when he caught the ball in the ruck on the way down. The adjudication on this rule has been strange in some other games I have watched. I think it is premature to worry because he is covering the ground well and marking form can turnaround quickly.

Yes

My thinking is he'll get 3-5 years here on some really good coin (maybe less than he'll get elsewhere, but that's the premiership levy, then, as a bona fide superstar (well on his way), make bank at home for the second half of his career, when we may be at the tail end of our premiership window, and Freo is MAYBE in theirs.

I don't recall Gawn ever starting the season well. His shocker against Port in 2019, last year when he struggled against Lloyd Meek from freo (Darcy didn't play in round 1) and only average against Paul Hunter in round 2 against the Saints (neither Ryder nor Marshall played that night). Both seasons turned out pretty well - AA in both. I'm happy to wait a couple more before even slightly being concerned. Plenty of credits in the bank for the big fella.

Nailed pretty important goals in both games. Max has the runs on the board as both an individual player and as captain. I think we've got so use to him dominating each week that it's become an expectation that isn't exactly normal for most players. If Max can pace himself, really turn it on in the games he has too and share, duties with Dogga when the opportunities are there, I think that's great for the medium to long term development of the team and both Max and Dogga as individuals.

My intel says that all is not right at Bomberland. There is a bit of turmoil behind the scenes with a push to get Hirdy back amongst other things (before he takes the GWS job..). Players unhappy about game plan etc

Absolutely. He gave us two years of being solidly in our best 22 and one further year of being a kind of 'playing assistant coach.' Standard setter and a substantial part of the sheer weight of effort that it took to turn the culture towards professionalism. One of the best veteran trades made. Nods to Daniel Cross, also, who gave an uncannily similar contribution. Unlikely we would have a premiership without what those two added to our club.

I'm delighted to see Shelley Heath named. She's the female equivalent of Nev Jetta. Tough as, hard at it defender. Doesn't lose to many one on one's.

100% worth it

Didn’t he kick five in a prelim four games ago? Gone way too early… almost disrespectful of our great Premiership winning Captain…

well i thought that's what i was effectively saying

We are the most studied team in the AFL this year. Everyone knows where Max is going and what he’s trying to do next. He still gets to where he needs to be, but he’s being guarded closely. I also think he’s being used forward of the ball more, which makes it tougher in terms of marking. He’s being deployed that way because we have less certainty behind the ball with Lever out - so Max forward means opponents need to have a very big guy in defence to man him (and not in their forward 50 trying to mark it). And the other thing to note is that the effort and work that goes into hindering Max is what allows Jackson to have a clearer run at it. So essentially he’s doing everything for the team, and making us a better side.

What about Max's sore head, from all the blows landed on the back of his head in marking contests, typically without any free being paid to him.

Like the Gus situation the consensus between the parties here could just lie in the new bargaining agreement that is due to drop soon and what the numbers on a long term contract might look like to help keep most or all of the current squad on our books.

I think that opposition coaches, over the last 2 or 3 years, have put so much effort into nullifying Max’s dominant ruck craft, that we rarely see his “silver service” taps to our mids any more - that once was so commonplace. Max has changed the way the game is now played, and despite this change, Max is still the premier ruckman, and has still won AA honours during this period. As such, I have no worries about Max playing some quieter games, and while SD’s observations may be accurate reflections of what he saw, I’m not concerned about Max at all.

Hear, hear!

I think Max has been traditionally a slow starter and I have no concerns about his output. The big fella is like a fine wine. Long live the King!

Alan Richardson was just asked about this on the DeeBrief podcast. He sounded extremely confident about Luke staying (mentioned he's involved in the actual process), and also mentioned that he had been involved at eight different football clubs and has never seen a player of that size move around the field like Luke does.

Playing a team role beautifully. He's two good possessions off his 2021 and that's all, while clearly taking an accountable role to neutralise opposition rucks. He may have another comparatively quiet game against Essendon on Friday, looking to physically evaporate Sam Draper, which will again give Jackson a chance to play free and wild. Gawn is giving Jackson the kind of support and protection that few young rucks would dare dream about and it is also giving the Demons the very best attacking output from the young gun. This is dynasty-building stuff we're watching.

……… and regardless of his current form (which is of no concern to me whatsoever!), Max is the very best leader in the AFL by a country mile. He’s pacing himself beautifully, with Dogga at his side. There isn’t another team in the AFL who wouldn’t be envious of our ruck duo.

ffs

this is just so misleading by using the whole list......and in essendon's case with a whopping 10 rookies. the only meaningful comparison is only including those players who played seniors (adjusted by whatever % they played).

Frawley was out the door after round 2 of his last year. He was played up fwd thereafter. Howe priced himself (or his manager did) out of contention. Declined to be traded to GCS (don't blame him there) and found a spot with his childhood hero, FIGJAM, reportedly at the same $ we had offered, in the role we had offered. In return we got Brayshaw and later replaced Howe with Lever. Frawley got his premiership medal, Howe is a bit of a hero at the Pies. We got Brayshaw and later got Lever. Brayshaw and Lever have their premiership medals. Howe is still hoping. Very happy with the outcome.

But for the love of all things holy… NOT TO ESSENDON!!!!!!!

Two games in and I'm seeing a few concerning signs from our Premiership Captain. - Dropping marks he'd normally swallow - Continued bewilderment at ruck infringements - The misjudging of flight. The Doggies game especially. - He's smiling/carefree attitude towards his mistakes. Dogs game again. I accept it's early but the early signs from Max this year aren't great. Is the rise of Jackson affecting his game? Lets hope he has a blinder this week and gets some of his aerial confidence back.

I get you are being I presume (slightly tongue in cheek) but wanted to say our enemies also help define us, as much as I hate Collingwood, (and Carlton/Essendon) I never want them gone, game would be poorer for it (same with Saints, Dogs and Cats). North, and Hawks are disposable, I actually agree with the long term AFL strategy of clubs in growth corridors, GWS and GCFC will eventually have a support base, Football is an existential threat to Australian Rules, we need it as the national game, we are a small country market/population base wise. I see the AFLW and the expansion teams as future proofing the game.

The compensation package that another club would have to provide to the MFC to get Luke Jackson out of our club hasn't been seen before! Jeremy Cameron was 3 first rounders (13, 15 & 20) Jackson would be significantly higher again based on age profile, talent, the number of years of service remaining...

I think the comments are fair. He's misread the flight of the ball on several occasions, and is clearly frustrated with the interpretation of "blocking" in ruck contests. And it seems that he understands that he's not at his best, and lets Jackson take over.

25 goals please, paybacks a [censored] and I want them to feel that pain

Likely they're trying the old "copy the premiers" trick, have a foot in each camp, and now don't know what TF they're doing. Hey, things aren't working. Let's go back to the guy who really put us on our arses. The problem with a guy like Sheedy, although his football pedigree is amazing and his record of success up there with the best, is that they can stay in an organisation for so long that they become the organisation and the organisation becomes them. The joint has suffered an identity crisis since he left, and his input doesn't help. Their best shot was with David Evans but Golden Boy threw him under a bus. So let's bring back Golden Boy! Yes, go for it. I don't boo at the footy but if Hird shows his mug I definitely will.

Let's start with this thread

they need to go to the supplement-ary draft.