Demonland

The next week we play a home game against St. Kilda at Casey Fields.

Games MFC 2012 8 MFC Total 16 Goals MFC 2012 2 MFC Total 2 Games CSFC 2012 9 Goals CSFC 2012 2 Games CSFC DL 2012 1 Goals CSFC DL 2012 1 MFC 28 kicks 46 handballs 74 disposals 20 marks 30 tackles Keith "Bluey" Truscott Memorial Trophy 99 votes

Games MFC 2012 0 MFC Total 0 Goals MFC 2012 0 MFC Total 0 Games CSFC 2012 19 Goals CSFC 2012 2

Several Dees hit the track early. Could be a forced perspective issue.

Games MFC 2012 14 MFC Total 124 Goals MFC 2012 1 MFC Total 45 Games CSFC 2012 1 Goals CSFC 2012 0 MFC 54 kicks 62 handballs 116 disposals 30 marks 23 tackles Keith "Bluey" Truscott Memorial Trophy 157 votes

Games MFC 2012 6 MFC Total 36 Goals MFC 2012 1 MFC Total 19 Games CSFC 2012 3 Goals CSFC 2012 1 MFC 39 kicks 21 handballs 60 disposals 21 marks 15 tackles Keith "Bluey" Truscott Memorial Trophy 55 votes

Games MFC 2012 22 MFC Total 35 Goals MFC 2012 19 MFC Total 37 MFC 227 kicks (3rd) 122 handballs 349 disposals (4th) 122 marks (equal 1st) 47 contested marks (1st) 68 tackles 58 inside fifty (5th) Keith "Bluey" Truscott Memorial Trophy 293 votes (7th)

Games MFC 2012 0 MFC Total 4 Goals MFC 2012 0 MFC Total 1

Could we stick to the topic please. Left v right journalists is a subject for the general discussion board. We're just dealing here with lowlifes who like attacking the MFC at every opportunity.

THE FAT CHRONICLES - THE FAT SIDE by The Oracle Soon after the free agency exchange period came to an end on Friday afternoon, the AFL announced the compensation it was giving to cover the loss of players and it finally dawned on players and supporters that the system was more about allowing the free flow of players with more than seven year's service to their clubs than about "compensation". It should be obvious to all and sundry by now that when the AFL talks about compensating clubs, it does not speak of providing restitution for players lost within the system it has created but something entirely different. The results of the system speak for themselves. Here are the movements of the past fortnight together with "compensation" (where applicable):- Free Agency Movements - October 2012 ■ Adelaide Gains: Nil Losses: Chris Knights ■ Brisbane Gains: Brent Moloney Losses: Nil ■ Collingwood Gain: Quinten Lynch and Clinton Young Losses: Nil ■ Essendon Gains: Brendon Goddard Losses: Nil ■ Fremantle Gains: Danyle Pearce Losses: Nil ■ Geelong Gains: Jared Rivers Loss: Shannon Byrnes ■ Hawthorn Gains: A third round pick (66) Losses: Tom Murphy and Clinton Young ■ Melbourne Gains: Shannon Byrnes and a third round pick (49) Losses: Brent Moloney and Jared Rivers ■ Port Adelaide Gains: Two second round picks (30 & 31) Losses: Troy Chaplin and Danyle Pearce ■ Richmond Gains: Troy Chaplin and Chris Knights Losses: Nil ■ St. Kilda Gain: A first round pick (13) Loss: Brendon Goddard ■ West Coast Gains: A third round pick (62) Loss: Quinten Lynch The "compensation" was based on a document issued by the AFL which said: ''We confirm that the compensation formula will produce a points rating for players based on two factors: 1) new contract of the free agent and 2) age of the free agent. ''Draft picks will be allocated to clubs based on the net total points for free agents lost and gained during the transfer period. Draft picks will be allocated to one of five places: first round, end first round, second round, end of second round and third round.'' There are winners and losers there and the frustration at some clubs was obvious. Hawthorn received a third round compensation pick from the AFL for the loss of Clinton Young, and nothing for Thomas Murphy. Football operations GM Mark Evans has told of how the Hawks feel they have been "pick-pocketed" and that they are considering an appeal. Melbourne could also feel cheated with its meagre "compensation" for two players who a little more than twelve months ago finished first and second in their best and fairest. On the other hand, if remuneration is paramount in determining compensation then the Demons might also feel vindicated in not working too hard to keep either Moloney or Rivers if their new pay packets are so meagre as to warrant nothing more than a third round pick at 49. Port Adelaide was nicely rewarded for the loss of its two players with not just one but two picks but it was aided by some nifty footwork in the guise of a trade it worked out with Essendon over free agent Angus Monfries. However, it is certainly arguable that the two clubs were tampering with the draft system in a way designed to manipulate the free agency compensation outcome in favour of Port Adelaide. Monfries and his four year contract would have bitten deeply into what Port would otherwise have received. Essendon who were going to get nothing out of it were glad to pocket pick 48. The AFL is usually swift to knock such things on the head but, in this instance, it did nothing. The end of the story is that in a very short period of time it is likely that free agency will become exactly that as otherwise the presence of this arbitrary system of compensation will destroy it altogether amid feelings of suspicion from both the clubs and the public about the way it is administered. If you think free agency is done and dusted until next year, then you should think again. Between 1 & 13 November any player who has been delisted can be signed up by any club. In other words, free agency will be well and truly on for delisted players and with no compensation for the clubs they are leaving. This will facilitate movement for delisted players without their involvement in the draft or trading. Naturally, the clever club list managers will have already worked things out and have been in the ears of player managers. The result might be a reduction in trade deals over the final week of the exchange period as clubs wait for the free pickings of delisted players. And so it was that this week's trading was subdued in many cases because clubs were waiting on the outcome of the free agency compensation.The big news from Melbourne's point of view was the club securing Chris Dawes for pick 20 and an exchange of later picks. The coup put a lie to the claims by critics that good players didn't want to go there but it didn't stop them from turning their attention to new claims that the price paid was too high or that the club was using a scattergun approach to recruiting. Undeterred, the Demons continue to move forward with their plans. This week's excerpt for Melbourne from the AFL website's State of Play for week three:- North's Cameron Pedersen remains in the club's sights while contracted Rockman Stef Martin is attracting interest from a few clubs. The long running Kurt Tippett saga continues and we're seeing signs that Sydney's "nice guy" image is beginning to tarnish. The coming weeks will continue to see changes to every club's list. This ain't done and dusted just yet. Completed Trades, Weeks 1 & 2 ■ Richmond trade Angus Graham and pick 50 to Adelaide for pick 40. ■ Gold Coast trade Josh Caddy to Geelong for 2010 first round compensation pick and pick 55. ■ North Melbourne trade Hamish McIntosh to Geelong for pick 36. ■ Collingwood trade Chris Dawes and pick 58 to Melbourne for picks 20 and 45. ■ Gold Coast Suns trade picks 2, 63 and 2010 end of first round compensation pick to GWS for selection 1 in the mini-draft (Jack Martin) and 2011 end of first-round compensation pick. ■ Port Adelaide trades pick 48 to Essendon for Angus Monfries. ■ St Kilda trades pick 12 to GWS for Tom Lee (Claremont), picks 24 and 43. ■ Hawthorn trades picks 21 and 41 to Western Bulldogs for Brian Lake and pick 27. ■ Melbourne trades picks 3 and 13) to GWS for Dominic Barry, selection 2 in the mini-draft (Jesse Hogan) and pick 20. ■ West Coast Eagles trade pick 17 to Collingwood for Sharrod Wellingham

THE FAT CHRONICLES - THE FAT SIDE by The Oracle Soon after the free agency exchange period came to an end on Friday afternoon, the AFL announced the compensation it was giving to cover the loss of players and it finally dawned on players and supporters that the system was more about allowing the free flow of players with more than seven year's service to their clubs than about "compensation". It should be obvious to all and sundry by now that when the AFL talks about compensating clubs, it does not speak of providing restitution for players lost within the system it has created but something entirely different. The results of the system speak for themselves. Here are the movements of the past fortnight together with "compensation" (where applicable):- Free Agency Movements - October 2012 ■ Adelaide Gains: Nil Losses: Chris Knights ■ Brisbane Gains: Brent Moloney Losses: Nil ■ Collingwood Gain: Quinten Lynch and Clinton Young Losses: Nil ■ Essendon Gains: Brendon Goddard Losses: Nil ■ Fremantle Gains: Danyle Pearce Losses: Nil ■ Geelong Gains: Jared Rivers Loss: Shannon Byrnes ■ Hawthorn Gains: A third round pick (66) Losses: Tom Murphy and Clinton Young ■ Melbourne Gains: Shannon Byrnes and a third round pick (49) Losses: Brent Moloney and Jared Rivers ■ Port Adelaide Gains: Two second round picks (30 & 31) Losses: Troy Chaplin and Danyle Pearce ■ Richmond Gains: Troy Chaplin and Chris Knights Losses: Nil ■ St. Kilda Gain: A first round pick (13) Loss: Brendon Goddard ■ West Coast Gains: A third round pick (62) Loss: Quinten Lynch The "compensation" was based on a document issued by the AFL which said: ''We confirm that the compensation formula will produce a points rating for players based on two factors: 1) new contract of the free agent and 2) age of the free agent. ''Draft picks will be allocated to clubs based on the net total points for free agents lost and gained during the transfer period. Draft picks will be allocated to one of five places: first round, end first round, second round, end of second round and third round.'' There are winners and losers there and the frustration at some clubs was obvious. Hawthorn received a third round compensation pick from the AFL for the loss of Clinton Young, and nothing for Thomas Murphy. Football operations GM Mark Evans has told of how the Hawks feel they have been "pick-pocketed" and that they are considering an appeal. Melbourne could also feel cheated with its meagre "compensation" for two players who a little more than twelve months ago finished first and second in their best and fairest. On the other hand, if remuneration is paramount in determining compensation then the Demons might also feel vindicated in not working too hard to keep either Moloney or Rivers if their new pay packets are so meagre as to warrant nothing more than a third round pick at 49. Port Adelaide was nicely rewarded for the loss of its two players with not just one but two picks but it was aided by some nifty footwork in the guise of a trade it worked out with Essendon over free agent Angus Monfries. However, it is certainly arguable that the two clubs were tampering with the draft system in a way designed to manipulate the free agency compensation outcome in favour of Port Adelaide. Monfries and his four year contract would have bitten deeply into what Port would otherwise have received. Essendon who were going to get nothing out of it were glad to pocket pick 48. The AFL is usually swift to knock such things on the head but, in this instance, it did nothing. The end of the story is that in a very short period of time it is likely that free agency will become exactly that as otherwise the presence of this arbitrary system of compensation will destroy it altogether amid feelings of suspicion from both the clubs and the public about the way it is administered. If you think free agency is done and dusted until next year, then you should think again. Between 1 & 13 November any player who has been delisted can be signed up by any club. In other words, free agency will be well and truly on for delisted players and with no compensation for the clubs they are leaving. This will facilitate movement for delisted players without their involvement in the draft or trading. Naturally, the clever club list managers will have already worked things out and have been in the ears of player managers. The result might be a reduction in trade deals over the final week of the exchange period as clubs wait for the free pickings of delisted players. And so it was that this week's trading was subdued in many cases because clubs were waiting on the outcome of the free agency compensation.The big news from Melbourne's point of view was the club securing Chris Dawes for pick 20 and an exchange of later picks. The coup put a lie to the claims by critics that good players didn't want to go there but it didn't stop them from turning their attention to new claims that the price paid was too high or that the club was using a scattergun approach to recruiting. Undeterred, the Demons continue to move forward with their plans. This week's excerpt for Melbourne from the AFL website's State of Play for week three:- North's Cameron Pedersen remains in the club's sights while contracted Rockman Stef Martin is attracting interest from a few clubs. The long running Kurt Tippett saga continues and we're seeing signs that Sydney's "nice guy" image is beginning to tarnish. The coming weeks will continue to see changes to every club's list. This ain't done and dusted just yet. Completed Trades, Weeks 1 & 2 ■ Richmond trade Angus Graham and pick 50 to Adelaide for pick 40. ■ North Melbourne trade Hamish McIntosh to Geelong for pick 36. ■ Collingwood trade Chris Dawes and pick 58 to Melbourne for picks 20 and 45. ■ Gold Coast Suns trade picks 2, 63 and 2010 end-of-first-round compensation pick to GWS for selection 1 in the mini-draft (Jack Martin) and 2011 end-of-first-round compensation pick. ■ Port Adelaide trades pick 48 to Essendon for Angus Monfries. ■ St Kilda trades pick 12 to GWS for Tom Lee (Claremont), picks 24 and 43. ■ Hawthorn trades picks 21 and 41 to Western Bulldogs for Brian Lake and pick 27. ■ Melbourne trades picks 3 and 13) to GWS for Dominic Barry, selection 2 in the mini-draft (Jesse Hogan) and pick 20. ■ West Coast Eagles trade pick 17 to Collingwood for Sharrod Wellingham

Games MFC 2012 8 MFC Total 158 Goals MFC 2012 7 MFC Total 159 Games CSFC 2012 3 Goals CSFC 2012 2 MFC 51 kicks 33 handballs 84 disposals 13 marks 37 tackles Keith "Bluey" Truscott Memorial Trophy 82 votes

Games MFC 2012 14 MFC Total 29 Goals MFC 2012 2 MFC Total 4 Games CSFC 2012 5 Goals CSFC 2012 3 MFC 100 kicks 56 handballs 156 disposals 54 marks 48 tackles Keith "Bluey" Truscott Memorial Trophy 142 votes

Games MFC 2012 7 MFC Total 57 Goals MFC 2012 7 MFC Total 23 Games CSFC 2012 3 Goals CSFC 2012 7 Games CSFC DL 1 2012 Goals CSFC DL 2012 0 MFC 55 kicks 42 handballs 97 disposals 31 marks 13 tackles Keith "Bluey" Truscott Memorial Trophy 62 votes

Tom Scully Voldemort coming to take a look?

Games MFC 2012 0 MFC Total 0 Goals MFC 2012 0 MFC Total 0 Games CSFC 2012 4 Goals CSFC 2012 3

Games MFC 2012 MFC 16 Total 16 [37] Goals MFC 2012 9 MFC Total 9 [12] Games CSFC 2012 1 Goals CSFC 2012 0 MFC 87 kicks 81 handballs 168 disposals 50 marks 27 tackles Keith "Bluey" Truscott Memorial Trophy 197 votes

In response to that post WJ queried what were the criteria adopted in determining the compensation and whether it was primarily based on the player's contract.

I reproduce below an interesting post by Rumpole on the FAT thread:- I'm having some trouble understanding the proposition that Moloney and Byrnes cancel each other out for the purposes of determining compensation under free agency. Shannon Byrnes was born 7 April, 1984 and is 175 cm 77 kg and has played 108 senior games. For the past two seasons, he's spent most of his time in the Cats' VFL team. He managed only 5 senior games in 2011 (47 disposals) while he played only 4 in 2012 (40). Brent Moloney had a stellar season in 2011 winning the club best and fairest and polling 19 Brownlow medal votes. He was born 28 January, 1984 and is 182 cm 88 kg. He has played 145 senior games (22 with the Cats). He featured in all 22 games in 2011 (509 disposals) and in 2012 he played 15 senior games (256), a fair result seeing that he was considered well down on form. He played only 4 games in the VFL but three were at the end of the year when it was clear that he most likely wouldn't stay on at the club. Remember, his manager made it clear earlier in the season that Moloney would pursue his free agency options at the end of the year. By what measure does the author of this piece come to the conclusion that their value is at par? Melbourne must not accept such a result. It would be a complete injustice. [/ii]

Games MFC 2012 16 MFC Total 43 [123] Goals MFC 2012 0 MFC Total 6 Games CSFC 2012 2 Goals CSFC 2012 0 MFC 140 kicks 146 handballs 286 disposals 61 marks 43 tackles Keith "Bluey" Truscott Memorial Trophy 228 votes

In a couple of day's time this thread will be merged with the other FA thread which is pinned up at or near the top of this board. Cheers

Games MFC 2012 22 MFC Total 150 Goals MFC 2012 13 MFC Total 18 MFC 171 kicks 111 handballs 282 disposals 109 marks (3rd) 33 contested marks (2nd) 41 tackles Keith "Bluey" Truscott Memorial Trophy 310 votes (5th)

Games MFC 2012 11 MFC Total 20 Goals MFC 2012 0 MFC Total 2 Games CSFC 2012 3 Goals CSFC 2012 1 Games CSFC DL 2012 1 Goals CSFC Reserves 2012 0 MFC 116 kicks 87 handballs 203disposals 57 marks 27 tackles Keith "Bluey" Truscott Memorial Trophy 166 votes