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Good question - they play Freo and I would think Kozzie will be selected. Pity the game won’t count towards his suspension.
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Date of Birth: 4 January 1996 Height: 187cm Games MFC 2024: 13 Career Total: 189 Goals MFC 2024: 14 Career Total: 184 Brownlow Medal Votes 16 Melbourne’s most important player who dominated the first half of the season until his untimely injury in the Kings Birthday clash put an end to his season. At the time, he was on his way to many personal honours and the club in strong finals contention. When the season did end for Melbourne and Petracca was slowly recovering, he was engulfed in controversy about a possible move of clubs amid claims about his treatment by the club in the immediate aftermath of his injury.
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Date of Birth: 16 April 2003 Height: 193cm Games MFC 2024: 21 Career Total: 41 Goals MFC 2024: 30 Career Total: 58 Brownlow Medal Votes 1 Strong marking youngster who plays forward and relief ruck, continued to make significant strides forward in his career path. The Demons have high hopes for van Rooyen as he stakes his claim to become an elite attacking forward.
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JOEL Smith's AFL career is effectively over after the Melbourne player was suspended for four years and three months for anti-doping rule violations relating to cocaine use and trafficking. The AFL announced the ban on Friday afternoon after a lengthy Sport Integrity Australia investigation that ran for more than a year. Smith's suspension relates to five rule violations: A positive match-day test for cocaine after Melbourne v Hawthorn on August 20, 2023 Trafficking or attempted trafficking of cocaine on and/or between April 12, 2020 and September 7, 2020 Trafficking or attempted trafficking of cocaine on and/or between July 28 and July 30, 2022 Trafficking or attempted trafficking of cocaine on and/or between September 5 and September 10, 2022 Possession of cocaine on September 9, 2022 Smith, the son of former Melbourne and North Melbourne forward Shaun, has been provisionally suspended since October 9, 2023 after he returned a positive in-competition test for cocaine following the Demons' round 23 win over Hawthorn on August 20 in the same year. Taking into account his provisional suspension, Smith cannot play in any World Anti-Doping Authority-compliant competition until January 9, 2028. He can return to training in November 2027. It means that Smith, who played 42 games across six seasons at Melbourne, cannot play football at any level until early 2028, when he would be almost 32. He kicked a career-high three goals in his most recent game for Melbourne, the losing semi-final against Carlton in September 2023. AFL CEO Andrew Dillon welcomed the ban handed to Smith. "The outcome in this matter, in which Joel Smith has been suspended for more than four years, reflects the seriousness with which the AFL treats breaches of the Australian Football Anti-Doping Code and is a salutary lesson for any player using illicit substances that are prohibited under the WADA Code," Mr Dillon said. "The use of performance enhancing substances is strictly prohibited in Australian Football and the AFL will continue to work with Sport Integrity Australia to identify and prosecute the use of such substances In-Competition and other conduct prohibited by the Australian Football Anti-Doping Code." "The AFL does not in any way condone the use of illicit drugs. If a player chooses to use illicit drugs, the potential consequences are substantial, including risks to health and safety and of losing the privilege of playing professional football, as has occurred here." Smith is currently out of contract at the Demons, having concluded his most recent two-year deal this season.
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Letter from Brad Green Dear Members, I hope this message finds you well, and that, like me, you’re looking forward to some positive results this weekend to help secure our AFLW team’s place in the finals. After a challenging start, our women’s team has shown tremendous resilience, emerging as one of the form sides in the competition as they prepare for Saturday’s clash against Collingwood. Let’s rally behind them and hope to see them in finals footy this November. As President of the Melbourne Football Club, I want to be up front with you. We know that 2024 was a tough year, both on and off the field. We faced some big challenges, and we recognise that certain off-field issues caused disruptions. We admit that some situations could have been managed better, and we're committed to learning from these experiences to handle the inevitable challenges more effectively in the future. Yesterday was a significant day for our club. While the focus was, deservedly, on acknowledging retiring CEO Gary Pert’s contributions, the announcement of Steven Smith’s commitment to stand up and support the club, the Board, and myself was equally important. The Board and I have been working hard to bring Steven into a position where he can contribute, and we look forward to the potential of him joining us in driving the club forward. As I’ve mentioned in previous communications, we have some important updates regarding both the AFL Football and Board reviews and at the bottom of this letter you will find details regarding Call for Nominations ahead of our Annual General Meeting. AFL Football Review The purpose of the review was to identify opportunities for the AFL Football program to return to finals in 2025. Over the past four years, the AFL program has achieved significant milestones, including a drought-breaking premiership in 2021, three consecutive top four finishes, and the inaugural McClelland Trophy (in conjunction with the success of our AFLW team). We entered 2024 with the expectation of playing finals, and not doing so was incredibly disappointing for our members, players, staff, and everyone associated with the Club. We understand that this competition demands continual improvement, and we are committed to doing the work in every aspect of our football program. This review involved over 40 interviews with players, coaches, football department staff, and external industry experts. Ex-All Blacks Manager Darren Shand, Gary Pert, and I conducted these interviews and meetings to gather comprehensive feedback. Darren Shand then used the interview findings to lead a series of workshops and collaborative meetings with on-field and off-field leaders, including Max Gawn and Jack Viney, to establish key priorities for improving our program in 2025. While much of the review’s details must remain confidential to maintain a competitive edge, we felt it was important to share the high-level findings and priorities with our members. Key Findings: - Our Playing List: The review identified strong confidence within the playing group and football staff that we can play finals next season. We have a very strong core group of players, but fast-tracking the development of our talented young players will be essential. Throughout the pre-season and into the season, we will prioritise and dedicate additional time in our schedule for coaches to focus on developing our first to third year players, ensuring their growth and progression remain a top priority. Members may have noted our commitment during the trade period to secure an additional top 10 selection ensuring we have two early picks in this year’s draft. This aligns with our decision to continue bringing in high-end young talent to complement our core group and return to AFL finals next year. - Staff and Structure: The review confirmed the strength of our football program’s leadership and staff, while identifying an opportunity to refresh energy and leadership within the Assistant Coaching group supporting Senior Coach Simon Goodwin. The review also reinforced the importance of our midfield as a critical driver of success, prompting us to create two dedicated midfield coaching roles as detailed below: Troy Chaplin will transition from managing defence to overseeing our forward line and team offence. Troy has successfully built one of the league’s highest-performing defensive units while nurturing emerging talent. The review recognised our highly talented young emerging key forwards, as well as our dangerous mid and small forwards. Troy's focus will be on developing cohesive structures and disciplines within our forward line. Nathan Jones joins us as a midfield coach focusing on stoppages. Known for his football intelligence and drive for success, Nathan is highly respected by the playing group. His recent playing experience brings fresh perspectives to the role which the review identified as an opportunity for improvement. Sam Radford will work alongside Nathan as midfield coach. Together, they aim to maximise our current midfield group’s strengths while integrating new talent in the midfield mix. Nathan Bassett joins the club and will lead our backline and team defence. With a wealth of experience, including a decade in coaching roles with Essendon and Port Adelaide and most recently at Norwood in the SANFL, Nathan’s fresh outlook will greatly benefit our program. - High-Performance Environment: The review highlighted the importance of empowering the player leadership group to play a greater role in shaping and sustaining our High-Performance environment, setting clear expectations and driving performance outcomes. This includes preparing our next generation of leaders through education and development. To support this, we have engaged an external leadership expert to implement a club-wide program with a dedicated focus on our player leadership group, set to commence when players return for pre-season training. In addition, Darren Shand will mentor both our on-field and off-field leaders, as we implement the various initiatives that resulted from the review. - Game Style: The review emphasised the need to refine our method of play, focusing on all facets of the game— with the ball, without the ball and in the contest. During the pre-season, our coaches will work on evolving our game style to maximise the strengths of our playing group, aiming for a style that not only propels us back into the finals but withstands the pressures of finals football. As a competitive measure, specific details of our game style remain confidential. While the review has highlighted areas for improvement, it also reaffirms that we are well-positioned to turn challenges into opportunities. With strong foundations in place and a clear path forward, we are committed to driving the Melbourne Football Club back to success in 2025. Board Review In tandem with the football review, the Board initiated an external governance review in September, conducted by governance and culture expert Megan Dwyer. This review assessed our structure, practices and composition to identify areas for alignment with best practice and our strategic goals. Key Outcomes: - Commitment to Improvement While the review acknowledged our commitment to improvement, it also identified areas where further changes would support our objectives. The Board is committed to embracing these recommendations and will continue evolving our practices as we implement them. - New Committees As part of our strategy to meet member expectations and bolster on-field success, we will establish two new committees: a High-Performance Committee and a Member Engagement Committee. These committees will bring in additional expertise to strengthen our approach in these areas. - Governance Working Group To maintain focus on continuous improvement, a Governance Working Group, chaired by Director Sally Freeman, has been established. This group will guide the implementation of review recommendations. - Strengthening Board Skills and Experience The review’s skills matrix analysis supports and expands on the Board’s objective to recruit highly skilled and experienced individuals who can support our strategic objectives and foster a culture of TRUE (Trust, Respect, Unity, Excellence). In closing, I want to extend my gratitude to all who contributed to these reviews. We acknowledge the honest feedback from our players, coaches and staff, which will be invaluable as we strive to improve. Most importantly, we thank you—our members and supporters—for your unwavering trust and passion. As we enter the Call for Nominations period, members can nominate for a Board position. As mentioned yesterday, Chris Barlow will be nominating alongside Steven Smith, while incumbents Sally Freeman and Dr. Angela Williams will stand for re-election. Our path forward relies on collective effort. With the reviews complete, our players and coaches are ready to put in the work needed to return to the finals in 2025 and we ask that they feel the support and energy from you, the Demon faithful, as we prepare for the 2025 season. Thank you once again, and as always—Go Demons! Brad Green President Melbourne Football Club
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Nathan Jones joins MFC as an assistant coach.
Demonland replied to dazzledavey36's topic in Melbourne Demons
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The Demons’ impressive late season charge to finals will most likely come unstuck this Saturday evening when the Bombers blow up the also-ran Blues in the Ikon Park double-header. To mangle McCartney, what does it matter to ya? To have any chance to play next week Narrm has got a job to do and needs to do it well. We’ve got to give the Pie sheilas hell, say live and let die! It’s Indigenous Round for this game and the chance to celebrate and engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. Supporters are encouraged to be in their seats by 12:40pm, with students from Worawa Aboriginal College performing a traditional dance prior to Narrm running out at 12:55pm. A Welcome to Country from Wurundjeri man Colin Hunter Jnr will then take place before the first bounce at 1:05pm. Saturday is forecast for a sunny afternoon, ideal for entertaining footy in Narrm’s final home game for 2024. Both teams have endured long injury lists this season which has impacted their respective ladder positions. A Pies loss will see Collingwood win the wooden spoon while we Dees will have to wait until around 9pm to learn their fate. Congratulations to Blaithin Mackin who was named in the Week 9 Team of the Week. B has played some scintillating footy this season. How good will it be to see A and B return fully fit for Season 2025. Selection this week Kate Hore has been cleared to play and Alyssia Pisano gets to play her 8th game in this debut season. The small forward is yet break into disposals double figures. A goal-sneaky chance this week? Making way is Goldie who was really banged up by the heaved-handed Hawks last week receiving concussion, while reliable defender Denby Taylor is being managed. Meggs’ view The Demons must win. Collingwood is missing their Captain Bri Davey but has a solid core group of experienced players such as Brit Bonnici and Ruby Schleicher who are capable of restricting our ball movement. Can the Pies maintain the pressure for 4 quarters? The return of Kate Hore will strengthen the midfield and Hanksy et al will enjoy her company. Goldie’s attack and flair will be sorely missed but Mick Stinear will ensure that others step up. Expecting Loz Pearce to match it with Sabrina Frederick and give our midfielders first use of the ball. The Demons defensive group are well led by Chaplin and Gillard. Fan favourite Alyssa Bannan is in a rich vein of form scoring in her past 5 games. Narrm should kick enough goals for a comfortable win. Carn the Blues! Narrm by 24 points THE GAME Round 11: Narmm v Collingwood Saturday 2 November 2024 at 1:05pm (Melbourne time) Ikon Park, Melbourne – Wurundjeri HEAD TO HEAD Overall Narmm 4 wins Collingwood 2 wins At Ikon Park Narrm 2 wins Collingwood 0 wins The Coaches Stinear 0 wins Wright 0 wins MEDIA TV – Fox Footy, Kayo THE LAST TIME THEY MET - 2023 Season 8 Round 1 Melbourne 10.13 (73) defeated by Collingwood 4.7 (31) at Ikon Park, 1 September 2023 MELBOURNE 1.4 2.7 7.11 10.13 (73) COLLINGWOOD 2.0 4.3 4.4 4.7 (31) GOALS MELBOURNE Bannan 3 Heath Zanker 2 Campbell Harris Hore COLLINGWOOD Brown Cann Davey Morris-Dalton BEST MELBOURNE Hanks Mithen Bannan Purcell Zanker Heath COLLINGWOOD Davey Bonnici Rowe Cann Morris-Dalton CROWD 8,412 at Ikon Park Entertainment plus in the Season 2023 opener as the Hot Pies went cold after half time due to an 8-goal second half blitz by the Mighty Dees. The skill level and delivery into our forward 50 was some of the best we’d seen. The vibe at IKON Park was great and Kate Roffey and Daisy Pearce unfurled the Demons Season 7 premiership flag. It was Hanksy’s 50th milestone game. She displayed her usual gameday awesomeness, celebrating with a crushing win. THE TEAMS NARRM B S Taylor Gillard HB Heath, Chaplin Lampard C Mackin Hanks McNamara HF Gall Wotherspoon Zanker F Bannan Hore FOLL Pearce Purcell Fitzsimon I/C Johnson Watt Campbell Mithen Pisano EMG Hill Rigoni Madigan IN Hore Pisano OUT D Taylor (managed) Goldrick (concussion) COLLINGWOOD B Cronin Livingstone HB Schutte Butler Schleicher C Rowe White Allan HF Morris James Porter F Fowler Hyde FOLL Frederick Bonnici Cann I/C Atkinson Barnett Evans Remmos Brazzale EMG Sansonetti Clark Taylor IN James Hyde OUT Ivey Clark INJURY LIST: ROUND 11 Narrm Kate Hore Hamstring Test Sinead Goldrick Concussion 1-2 weeks Gaby Colvin Concussion 1-2 weeks Paxy Paxman Foot TBC Grace Beasley ACL Season Tayla Harris Shoulder Season Jacinta Hose ACL Inactive Aimee Mackin ACL Inactive Collingwood Eliza James Concussion Test Bri Davey Tibia Season Grace Campbell Hip Season Kalinda Howarth ACL Season Selena Kalson Shin Season Annie Lee Knee Season Charlotte Blair Shin Season Nell Morris-Dalton Back Inactive Aishling Sheridan Personal Inactive
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Had to shoulder more responsibility as the club’s injury concerns deepened but needs to step up more as he closes in on 100 games. Date of Birth: 31 May 2000 Height: 186cm Games MFC 2024: 21 Career Total: 95 Goals MFC 2024: 6 Career Total: 34 Games CDFC: 1 Goals CDFL: 0
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Melbourne board candidate Steven Smith says he has plans to help reunite the club, address its cultural failings and capitalise on its three-year premiership window. The highly-respected former MCC chairman and 203-game Demon on Thursday confirmed he would nominate for the club’s board and take over as president in 12 months, if elected. Smith last month knocked back the club’s advances but changed his mind after interim president Brad Green ticked off a pre-planned overseas family holiday from May – July. The successful property lawyer said the club could re-enter the premiership mix next season, but only if it faced up to the errors that had contributed to the Demons’ poor year on and off the field, including the botched handling of superstar midfielders Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver. “I really want to be around to implement the review findings and basically provide some stability because the next six months is going to be so important to effectively reunite the club,” Smith told the Herald Sun. “We need to include the groups which have been, to some extent, disengaged at the football club over a period of time, and make some changes from the reviews which will get us back to where we should be. “For the actual playing group itself, I think the premiership window is another two or three years, and I’m excited about the phase beyond that. “In ‘22, we had bad luck and injuries to Max (Gawn) and Jake Lever and then in ‘23 we just kicked badly, but this year has been different and some of those issues have been forced upon us, like Angus’ (Brayshaw’s) retirement, and, J Smith with his drug issues. “And some of the others, like Christian and Clayton, were badly handled.” Smith, who has strong connections in the top offices of Australian sport after a 21-year stint at the Melbourne Cricket Club, said he had a lifelong passion for Melbourne, and was excited about the changes the twin reviews into the football department and board would bring. Club great Nathan Jones and former Port Adelaide assistant Nathan Bassett are expected to join the coaching staff, with a strong focus on bedding down an effective game plan, and setting clear expectations for players. Smith said the trade period had shown the Dees had to repair its culture and restore its reputation as a destination club. “I love the place, it has been very important in my life,” Smith said. “This year has been a really hard year for the footy club and that really hurts me. “But footy clubs aren’t perfect, they make mistakes, and it can be a complex dynamic dealing with 40 young men who don’t always get it right either. “So, we have got to learn from those mistakes, and I think the review will help us do that. The recommendations will make sure the mistakes don’t happen again. “What was clear from the trade period was that no one really wanted to come to us. “We have to get back to being a destination club and that comes with restoring the culture. We are definitely still in the premiership window. “At board level, we need to make sure we have the right people in the right positions to create that environment so the players and staff feel happy, safe and secure coming into work every day.” Melbourne will endorse Smith, who previously served as a Melbourne director between 1990-1992, and 7-Eleven director Chris Barlow for its two board vacancies. Smith said he would come back from the holiday feeling rejuvenated after a busy work period and was grateful for Green’s understanding and commitment as interim president during a tough time. “I need the break,” he said. “I need to come back fired up because, if I am elected, the difference between being a director and being president is significant. “Being president is almost a full-time job, and I want to come back refreshed.”
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