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Lee Halfey Oswald?

A lot as been said in this thread about Tom and if there is any consensus it's that a fit Tom at his best would be a welcome addition, but we are unsure he'll get back to his best. Personally I don't think it is likely that he gets back there but I will add that if he does hit some heights again I won't be surprised. The reason is that he has traditionally been very slow to recover from injury, to regain fitness and subsequently form. The lisfrac injury derailed his 2022 and in 2023 he never got back up and going, with a follow up surgery on his ankle. It meant that by the time we got finals 2023 he'd effectively had 16 months injured, with only 6 games between 21 May 2022 and the 2023 finals series. Assuming this second surgery on the ankle has cleared everything up properly it is very possible that a full preseason means he bounces back really well fitness wise. If he does we'll be a different team that 2022/2023.

well done wcw - korean it was i thought it was so obvious and that posters must be joshing me

No doubt in my mind we’ll be in the top 4-5 teams competing for the flag. The Clarry sitch is a major concern but we just need to see what happens there.( i have low expectations there). we need tall fwds to stand up and a consistent fwd line that the mids can get used to kicking to. We need to regain that hungry winning mentality in finals. we have good kids coming in which will help. there are no unbeatable teams out there so we are in the mix

There is no doubt that decisions are made in sport and in this case footy, by clubs about the abilities of players to play in various positions and to play to a certain standard. It seems to me that for reasons of pride, tightness of lists, or whatever, some of those decisions are never revisited by the makers of them. That is why some players leave clubs and go on to successful careers at other clubs. Of course others are never heard of again. I have always thought it is a difficult decision to make in many cases. Just look at the divergence of opinions among the fans. As an example, I thought Deakyn Smith could make it for us. The powers that be differ. That is their job to make decisions and no doubt they are often difficult and lineball. I accept that if these decisions weren't made, playing lists would hardly change.

Tholstrup should be pushing for games but I'd imagine the club will try to not overload him and will give make him push hard for a debut and then rest him at times. I'd be surprised if he played more than 10 games. Even 5 games for Windsor would be a good result I'd imagine. AMW's a complete wildcard if his fitness can take a huge leap with a full preseason, but I expect in a really competitive role he'd do well to debut and just get a taste. Which leaves Turner, Laurie, Woey and Howes as the 4 who have the strongest cases to become best 22 regulars. They should all play very well at VFL level and get chances but it's a question of opportunity and whether they've rounded out their games enough for the coaches to really stick with them. If Howes can improve his contested work and defensive game he'll be hard to keep out. For Disco it's his one on one work and staying more involved when he's having a quiet game. Laurie has to be stronger at the contest and given some midfield time IMO, otherwise it's hard to see him not beaten for pace as a pure forward flanker. Woey it's a matter of adding some half forward craft if he's the 3rd winger or overall improvement to beat out one of the established wing options. I'd probably lean towards Howes from Laurie but I think any of the 4 are worthy choices.

I've seen a few just pot Goodwin without saying what they would have done differently. I think your suggestion is legitimate & wonder why we didn't make that move. All I can think is that they didn't trust Schache in the heat of battle and he was only there in case of injury (to Max in particular). Not saying it's right or wrong but just trying to think it through. I'm one who thought Goodwin coached well last season under a lot of external pressure plus the internal problems with injury. Doesn't mean he is beyond criticism but in my mind it needs to be reasoned and also attached to the rider that we don't really know the situation behind closed doors. The Grundy scenario is another case in point.. Why wasn't he selected? Had he already mentally checked out? Etc..

I reckon you'd qualify on two fronts, Ethan. 1. Solving cryptic clues requires a warped mind. 2. You're ET. Your first language is alien.

The quiz posted by @Roger Mellie has inspired me to saddle up the old grey matter and take 'er for a ride. Below is a list of ten cryptic clues, the answer to each being a Melbourne listed player since the year 2000. PLEASE READ: a) Reply by PM only. Don't blurt out answers or guesses on this page, please. b) Don't be greedy and hog all the glory. There is a limit of two (2) correct answers per poster at this stage. 1. Ales investor is drunk. (6,6) Oliver Sestan 2. Scratchier captain irritated. (9, 8) Christian Petracca 3. Turns alternative. (7) Windsor 4. Floral mutton chop. (3, 9) Tom Fullarton 5. Ant prehistory analysed. (8,5) Harrison Petty 6. Sarin alchemist formula. (9,5) Christian Salem 7. Box and run. (6) Spargo 8. Box and fight. (7) Sparrow 9. Yachts briefly changed course. (6,7) Bayley Fritsch 10. A banjo conveyor shattered. (5, 9) Jacob van Rooyen

Arthur Daley springs to mind.

just a golf action. happened in a fraction of a second therefore not a conscious decision.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/teams/melbourne-demons/promised-him-some-tickets-afl-stars-wayward-tee-shot-leaves-fellow-golfer-bloodied/news-story/de1cec9a00c77cb83fab9bc76ddc2aa6 He was attempting to smother - nothing to see here.

Disagree on both points. My recollection is that Tom, after a good season, was given a 4 year contract and there was no pay cut, or extending the contract to help the club out. There is nothing wrong with having BBB, Tom and Schache all coming out of contract next year.

Anyone criticising Tom McDonald's spot on the list in 2024 needs to direct their anger / frustration to the club. Don't blame the player for taking a pay cut whilst extending contract length to help the club out. It is simply woeful list management to have all of Brown, McDonald and Schache coming out of contract next year, and all likely to be spending much of their time impeding Jefferson's potential development at Casey. Don't be surprised if at least one of those three plays on in 2025, because we're unlikely to delist / retire three similar players at the same time. That said, I'm one of McDonald's biggest fans and will back him in to have a significant impact if he is anywhere near full fitness.

Good to see Filthy back on the list

In last Fridays Hun, Lachlan Hunter was ranked the 5th best Melbourne player last year. I thought he had an excellent season!

With all respect, I find Goodwins coaching feeble and uninspiring. Of course a fit Melksham is an automatic selection because he has some x factor. With regard to Shache this is an example of poor selection and even more so poor coaching by not dragging an insipid T.Mac of and at least giving him a go. You are 100% correct with the Ollie Holands scenario and that more than anything else may have cost us the game.

I'm sure that's the reason why they selected Schache as sub and then would refuse to play him unless Gawn got injured. What disappointed me about this strategy is: 1) Carlton brought on a fresh Ollie Hollands who had a productive 20% game time including being instrumental in the winning passage of play for them. It basically felt like we were giving them a competitive edge on a mild to warm night by not playing our sub regardless of player. 2) T Mac had a really poor game. 6 possession, 2 marks and 0.0. Why wouldn't we give a fit and healthy Schache a go in the last quarter? He simply could not have done any worse than what T Mac provided, and we probably would've had a net gain because at least he was fresh and could have provided more run. I would have selected Grundy to play T Mac's role, and had a Woewodin, Laurie or Harmes as the sub to replace Grundy in the final 15-20 minutes in the pursuit of more run. I think your point about Goodwin coaching well and adapting to injuries was fair. The way he re-integrated Melksham into the forward line was inspired and he had JVR and Petty gelling well together until Petty went down. I just don't believe he had a good finals campaign, irrespective of injuries - eg the sub debacle and playing a small defence against Collingwood when it was proven all year that we need a third tall down back.

Core-Ian.

like Newton but really dont have any idea although we had a couple of kids who did same. It was seen as an unusual practice One was called Hungry but mainly coz that was the way he played sports, his name was Kevin so he later got called Bartlett on the footy field. Cant remember the name of the other kid who was also a little weird. Probably went on to head to a major corporate and is now well retired on the gold coast.

Hmmmm, I like it!

On a bit of a lateral take on the initial question, I’m going with Van Rooyen. I think everyone agrees that he had a great first year but as far as impact on 2024 I feel there’s great scope to improve. I feel he had plenty of forgivable first year moments that will slip away as he becomes accustomed to the requirements and we are in for an astounding ride watching the incline ahead. Is it round one yet? Can the afl bring in a round minus 8 next year? Round zero simply isn’t low enough

But Schache should have bee bought on mid way through the 3rd quarter vs the Blues. He could hav played a similar plan to Frampton did in the GF. Deliberately just hinder his opponent and other backs. No one will ever know if he could have jagged 1 or 2 or 3 marks and kicked straight. Goody let himself down not trying this at least.

McAdam obviously as a mature player should play from round 1. Woewodin is looking good and a big chance for round 1, likely off the bench. He looked good in limited opportunities in 2023. Really hoping Blake Howes gets to showcase his talent. A big pre season to get his body right and fitness to peak standards. He also loves a goal which could add to our scoring power.

A well placed source told me that Blake Howes does some unbelievable things on the training track and is ready to explode. The source compared his fend off and running as looking very similar to Chad Warner.

Crystal Balling Judd McVee, February 2023 DistrACTION Jackson Posted February 14, 2023 I think there's a very low chance that Jefferson debuts this year. If van Rooyen didn't last year, I can't see the selectors backflipping on this philosophy and picking him this year given his slim size. My thoughts on the 5 most likely to debut this year: 1. Jacob van Rooyen 2. Blake Howes 3. Judd McVee 4. Bailey Laurie 5. Taj Woewodin Lord Travis Posted February 14, 2023 JVR, Howes, Woey. JVR a lock to play barring a serious injury before round 1. Could become best 22 if he handles senior level well. No others likely to become best 22, but could see Howes, Woey, Laurie all getting a run at some point if they perform well at VFL level. Howes in particular has been close to selection already and shown flashes this preseason in match simulations. Jefferson needs time to build his body and learn at Casey. He sits behind BB, Tmac, JVR, Schache in the pecking order for tall forwards at this stage. Mcvee doesn't look likely and probably be delisted end of year tbh. Deakyn Smith could potentially surprise as a small defender, but is an outside chance. Would be great if he could take over the Hibberd smaller defender lockdown role. waynewussell Posted February 14, 2023 McVee is progressing well. Those who have attended pre-season would be aware that he is highly regarded and is doing well as a defender in match sim... more likely to get an extension than be delisted. Whispering_Jack Posted February 17, 2023 I recall reading at the time when Melbourne drafted Judd McVee as a rookie at the end of 2021, that the recruiters were relying in part on the initial impression he made when he was part of WA’s midfield mix two years earlier in the state's Under 16 National Championships campaign in 2019. It was back then that McVee’s class came to the fore. He was regarded as a clean ball handler, an efficient disposer of the football who had a cool head. His stocks fell during the Covid19 years and he barely held on to his state spot but managed to take a place across half back for WA in what were regarded as the U19 Nationals of 2021. It’s still a way to go but hopefully, the long memory and/or faith paid in him by a Demon recruiter plus his own hard work and development will pay off in spades.

A FINAL NOD TO RON by Whispering Jack I sat down a little while ago to document the Melbourne Football Club’s 2023 in a “That was the Year that Was” format and I soon hit a snag in putting it all together. You see, it was a year that by all rights should have been a shining light in the club’s history after the club achieved such great heights at both men’s and women’s levels that it took out the revamped McClelland Trophy, adding $1m to its coffers. The format now includes the AFLW and is a combined award presented to the 'Champion Club' for the men and women. The Demons finished both competitions with the double chance but failed to make a Preliminary Final in either one of them; a crushing blow for all at the club, from the point of view of the administration, players, staff and supporters alike. Particularly so, because in both competitions, the club was not far off the mark which is a testament to how competitive our game is at the highest level these days. And as if that wasn’t enough, Melbourne suffered a further blow within a day of its semi final exit against Carlton, with the news of the passing of the man who was arguably the greatest player to ever wear the Red and the Blue, Ronald Dale Barassi. Former skipper Stan Alves, who made his debut in 1965 which was the season after Barassi left the club for Carlton, said, “No greater person has been involved in the game than Ron Barassi.” The dark cloud hanging over the club has barely lifted over the past few months with issues facing one of the great players of our present but time will surely heal. The players will be back on the track in no time to begin preparations in earnest for the season. What would the great Ronald Dale Barassi advise the players as they embark on their next campaign after letting the opportunity for greatness slip twice in a row? It would have to be encapsulated by the elements that made him famous — his resilience, his determination and his heroic feats. During his playing days, it was always Barassi who demonstrated the ability to rise to the occasion. He did so throughout his life and his career, both inside and outside of the game. Barassi was born in Castlemaine in the goldfields region of Victoria in 1936 and was five years old when his father, a former Melbourne player Ron Barassi Sr., died in action at Tobruk during World War II. I recently found this news item from the Castlemaine History Group that demonstrated his potential as a young sportsman of 11 years of age. Not long after this, he and his mother moved to the big smoke of the city and when she married and moved to Tasmania, he was taken in by Melbourne’s Coach Norm Smith, the father/son rule was devised and by the time he was 17 years and two months old, he was a senior footballer with the Demons. Two years later, a premiership and on the way to six flags in a decade as a player. Ronald Dale Barassi could turn a game on its head with a single bound. He was a hero to every second kid on the block. From his modest start in life and with the difficult circumstances of losing a father in wartime through his outstanding playing career, his brilliant coaching and even in the later years of his life, by his chivalry in saving a damsel in distress, he was not only the quintessential hero. He was a winner and while he was as tough as nails, played the game in the right spirit, was a happy, personable friend to all. That was Ron - heroism, sportsmanship and resilience personified, the very person for the Melbourne Football Club to honour in the season to come and, in return, his legacy will give inspiration from on high to take us forward to a bright premiership filled future.

Koltyn Tholstrup

Which player or players do you think can step up and make an impact in 24? I reckon of the younger brigade Laurie will step up and I expect McAdam to play a forward role.

Odds on it have to be Laurie as he would be in the starting 23 or close to it in rnd 1. Taking Petty's injury into account, Smith's suspension into account, and Pickett's suspension. My opening-round lineup would be B: Lever, May, McVee HB: Salem, Tomlinson, Rivers C: Langdon, Oliver, Hunter HF: Petracca, van Rooyen, Neal-Bullen F: Fritsch, B. Brown, McAdam FOLL: Gawn, Brayshaw, Viney IC: Bowey, Sparrow, Billings, Spargo SUB: Chandler EMERG: Laurie, Turner, Fullarton Laurie just misses out. Turner could be another McVee if Tomlinson slips up.

AMW!

It was a shame that the tough year in Indy hurt his stocks so much. Without that I've got no doubt he'd be starting somewhere. He'll get his chance.

Trying to line up all the names in some sort of semblance of order is damn near impossible! Looks ok(ish) on a laptop but on a phone, landscape view only of course The post-season comp (from my point of view) in terms of picking winners & margins is good fun So, in the off season we should have an open chat about the regular season comp in terms of tweaking or even a do-over. Even just picking 2 road winners instead of 3 would mean that we'd be rewarding more points instead of numerous weeks where no points are allocated. Maybe incorporating the margin brackets like we do in the post season? Since we brought in the bonus point, many have been more creative with their picks so there's that

The upcoming free agent tall defenders seems a bit limited for the next couple of seasons. Wait... no... I stand corrected. 2025 is like a big fish special for tall defenders. Harris Andrews, Jacob Weitering, Sam Taylor as the headlines with a few credible mid-tier options and even Oscar McDonald. There's a bunch of other exciting Free agent possibilities to come in the next couple of years, too. I think we might even be doing a little bit of salary cap stacking to prepare, given how many relatively low-cost players we've got providing depth. End 2024: Himmelberg, McCluggage, McGrath, English. End 2025: Fogarty, H. Andrews, Weitering, Charlie Ballard, T De Koning, S Draper, Worpel, Davies-Uniacke, Tristan Xerri, Noah Balta, Oscar Allen, Andrew Brayshaw :) , O McDonald :D

We ran out of viable forwards (our best forward line as a collective might be rated as B or B+ (A is a bit of a stretch)) The forward line that took the field in both finals was no better than C or C- In defence terms it would have been like losing May, Lever & Rivers (shudder) I've no doubt that the 5 or 6 forwards that took the field gave their best but talent is talent (and that includes a banged up T-Mac) Fritsch wasn't right either and Gawn had lost his mojo up forward As @rjay has said previously, we ran out of options Here's what our forward line might have looked like if everyone was fit (and firing) Pick your best 6 HF Petracca/Kozzie Petty/T-Mac Fritsch F Chandler/Spargo Brown/JVR Melksham Petracca couldn't play forward because with Brayshaw out, we needed him in the midfield full time T-Mac was not match fit and was on 1 leg Fritsch was not match fit and obviously hampered Brown was not available because he was on 1 leg Melksham was out with an ACL Petty was out with a foot injury JVR was out suspended (ok, that's self inflicted) Gawn had become a liability up forward (for whatever reason) Grundy is not a forward (again, that's on the club)

Goody & the selectors have been extremely inflexible, risk averse & conservative in the last 2 years. When a selection option is available they always go for the tried & safe option. The dumbest selections in 23 were dropping Tommo after the KB game and bringing in 2 talls in Grundy & BBB on a soaking wet day in the Alice.

Gus reportedly hit another golfer in the head with a stray tee shot yesterday (drawing blood!). Early speculation that the victim was in fact Bruz was quickly ruled out when it was confirmed the incident took place at Royal Melbourne, not Moe pitch and putt.

They don't come around every year necessarily. That's what makes Judd McVee Judd McVee.

I think the club must have real faith in the progress of Jed Adams given that they skipped the chance at Dan Curtin in the draft. I'd expect to see him sliding into the tall defender mix as the kid surrounded by the old men Lever, May and Tomlinson! Oddly enough, if Petty remains forward then Adams is actually our tallest defender. There's going to be huge competition for spots in our midfield and medium forward roles this season. Woewodin seems like the most versatile of the group who will keep getting games each week, and thus most likely to get a good block of form going and develop consistency throughout games and over the season. Also, Jefferson will come in at some point during the season, and kick a goal a game and take a few useful marks on the lead and without being a spectacle in himself will make a disproportionate difference to our game. Think of it as what you get if you add 20cm to Charlie Spargo.

I’ve never seen the kid play but I’ll go Jed Adams.

Laurie - from all reports he’s taken a significant step forward with his fitness (coming 3rd in the 2km time trial), which is what Judd credited for his breakthrough into the senior side last year We’ve been crying out for classier ball users and if Laurie can hold down a spot averaging 15-20 possessions a game (which an increased fitness base should allow him to do) it will go a long way to addressing one of our biggest areas of weakness

Woewodin or Howes. Woey II can do a lot of different things well which should give him more opportunities. Howes is the type of player we could use in terms of physical traits. If he can stay healthy he might surprise as he offers a point of difference.

Woewodin, I thought he showed enough last year in the games he played.

based on performance I think Turner, who is improving like JVR the year before.

Blake Howes.

After last September i am staggered that he is going around again I love Tom, but we played those 2 Finals a man down…

As the MELBOURNE Football Club I’d be very happy for us to have a training / administration base at Caulfield, with a satellite base at Casey, and afl games played at the MCG, aflw at princes park and Casey, and vfl and vflw at Casey Representation all over the city!

The crew here at Control are Angus’s platinum sponsor and we’re so looking forward to catching up with him again. We won’t be discussing the concussion, that’s history. His insights on the team prove to be very insightful, he picked Judd Mc as a possible surprise team inclusion during the January catch up last year.