Farmer

With the exception of Johnson all the bigs were with us in 2024. I’d love to hear of determined work on lowering the eyes when entering the Forward Line. I would also love to hear that JVR, Turner and Jefferson are being taught by a specialist in leading . There is real skill in leading. I saw an undersized FF at school , turned into a real gun once he learnt timing etc . He was barely six ft yet went on to a great career as a FF in Amateur A Grade

Gosh! I admire your comparison but pre AFL Wilson averaged 3 plus goals per game . Our bloke, from memory averaged about .5 goals per game . Tho I accept that one year in the O and M League when he was very young, he did better .

I FEEL I should agree with the optimism. And in a very long interview with Clarry Oliver last year, he also expressed the view that the team had plenty of decent forwards— it was up to him and others to deliver to them. This has apparently been an issue during preseason, better delivery to Van Rooyen, Turner and others, but has it really improved? Nate Jones, great chap that he is, doesn’t inspire me with confidence. Great delivery to the forward line was not exactly his forte So I still don’t get the impression the problem is solved . I’m certain JVR will end up a very good player but IMV just yet he is not. We really have no idea whether Jefferson will. I don’t get the impression Turner is starring in the match sims. So, who will be the key forwards? I don’t believe the club yet knows . It does seem that Fritsch is training impressively . I would love to believe that the match Committee has a clear handle on all of this but I see no evidence it has

Must say I’m puzzled by the controversy re Windsor. I thought he had a fabulous first season on the wing . We have heaps of half back flankers and I can’t see the point of adding him to that list. I regard Monez Wakefield as v promising. I rate Marty Hore as very capable tho he struggles to get a game. I thought Howes’ end of 2024 was very promising . Salem is still an excellent defender with supreme kicking skills. Bowey, now fully recovered from injury might have a great year, and when fit his disposal is great. And then we have both McVee and Rivers. I’m keen to see more of McVee in the middle , but it’s unlikely any of Petracca, Oliver, Viney, Sparrow will make room for him and I think he will at least initially start as a HBF. So why move Windsor?

We understood that! Don’t worry!

My suggestion that MFC might get to Caulfield in, or shortly after 2030 has drawn scorn from Dees fans who are friends. One directed me to The Age of 3 June 2015 when the Hawks announced they had bought the land at Dingley and hoped to move there in 4/5 years. Now, they expect to finish at Waverley at the end of 2025. Thus their expectation as to timing was 100 percent wrong . The other matter raised by the same friends is that MFC clearly expects a contribution from the VIC Govt for the Caulfield development . We find it very hard to imagine that in the present circumstances there will be any such contribution.

But when? Not before 2030. And I sense that MRC under Kanga are less keen on MFC than the previous admin

I think the article raises many issues worthy of thought. Gosch’s Paddock we share with Storm and Victory. Quite unsatisfactory, we must have our own space and facility. Waverley apparently available pre season 2026 Caulfield available when? Likely next decade. Ever heard of VCAT? Even if we have broad support, any local individual or sporting association can issue proceedings in VCAT which takes 2 years . none of our present top line players will get to use the facilities at Caulfield. Hawks are leaving W because, like all AFL teams, they need 2 ovals so they are going to Dingley— further from the CBD. They are NOT leaving because of poor facilities. The facilities have enabled them to win 4 flags ! Whether we go to Caulfield or Waverley we will keep Casey ( upon which we have spent a lot ). A combination of Waverley/ Casey works fine. Surface conditions at W are apparently first rate . Lighting? AFL players train during the daytime , not at night. Lights are needed for matches at night. There won’t be matches at night at Waverley ( or Caulfield) when we all struggled to get to and from Waverley it was due to the fact that 20,00 to 40,000 others were trying to do likewise. Waverley is very close to the freeway, in fact easier for most MFC supporters to get to than will be Caulfield . Admittedly there will be public transport access to C . Ryan’s piece mentioned 2 options, buying Waverley or leasing it . I’m concerned that putting all eggs into the C basket makes us vulnerable to pressure from anyone wanting to make the most of the situation. If my suggestions as to the drawn out timetable are accurate, why not lease Waverley for, say 3/4 years . Suck it and see. If Caulfield becomes just too hard we are not bound to it . And finally cost! Do we really need to spend $100m for training facilities ? I suspect that the Waverley option would cost less than one third of that

I recall Max saying that Fullarton was very close to selection for around 1 2024

Where does this information come from ?

Exactly. He might well end up a key defender . At #70 or whatever we’ve picked up a bloke who kicked 53 goals at Laverton and then played a whole year at Werribee as CHF, and they won the flag. I think it’s a great selection

Plainly some senior players believe that Goodwin’s increased anxiety and seriousness have not assisted him, or the playing group. IMV that’s entirely understandable in the light of the year we’ve just experienced. I think that all of these developments playing out now, rather than in Feb/ March give us every prospect of a much better year

Too cynical by far mate! Like most supporters we are keen to hear asap what the two Reviews have found. They are hardly leaks as Steve Smith is openly referring to them

If Brad Green’s comments are true, Pert has reached his own decision, having raised the subject with the former president many weeks ago. Has achieved a lot.Whilst I’m pleased he is leaving,this is not the time to be bagging him IMV

Parker, Perhaps.,Darling, hell no. Way past his best

Is it valid simply to rate him as a key forward? I don’t see why he couldn’t turn into a good CHB . Good judges are pointing out we have to build up defensive strength for the future .Having said that, he is an excellent accurate kick. If we ended up with him at 9 I’d be delighted

Well, yes, but it is a verbatim quote from Clarry, utterly supportive of MFC . And repeated again verbatim in The Hun. Most favourable material from Clarry, let’s rejoice in it

Well your mate Daz was passing on material which is totally at odds with material available for all of us to see. There was the podcast of an hour or so which we had access to ten days ago, Clarry spoke with warmth about MFC and his fellow players. And then the interview at Caulfield yesterday . If the CEO did “ shop him around” that’s amazingly stupid and I don’t blame Clarry for looking around. But that’s past, he is fully committed , let’s relish the situation and get on

Can he actually get the ball? It’s fairly important in footy !

The searching questions hurled at Tim Lamb today appear to reveal a catastrophic situation within the Club.Those in football management had no intention of losing Oliver , yet others, and apparently Pert, have indicated he might be traded. He has been permitted to visit Geelong, mingle with their players etc. Then he announces he will stay with MFC! The word shambles is being bandied around and IMV it is justified. If we didn’t all love the club so much we’d be bursting our sides laughing . Yet the CEO has said nothing. The President has announced Oliver is staying but offered no explanation as to how this farce occurred. Whilst the present situation continues our club is doomed for 2025 and beyond . Time cannot be allowed to run on, whilst the Reviews are conducted. We need an explanation NOW . If the CEO was acting on his own initiative then he should very carefully consider his positions

But did he? Evidence please!,,

This interview shows that we would be MAD to let him go. There is nothing fundamentally wrong with his relationship with his team mates . He is obviously close to Max , and speaks so well about Tracc. He will be determined to be as fit as can be for round one . He is a champion— keep him

Thanks for posting this data. It confirms what I’ve always liked about McRae, notably his effective disposals . I agree, much depends on the price , but at the right price I think he could be very useful

Four days in the Federal Court plus all the preparatory work— between 500- 700k IMV . Experienced silks on both sides. and yes, it was entirely avoidable had the Club adopted , from the beginning, the changes it ultimately agreed to .

I think that u overlook the crop of new payers we introduced this year. My rating is Windsor 200 games plus Tholstrup 200 plus AMW and Howes 100 plus I also think that Laurie will become a good player if he can get time as a mid, rather than a HFF and I think u might be underestimating the likes of JVR , McVee ( a star already) and Turner all of whom I expect to play 20 games next year . And I think the caution shown towards Jefferson may well pay off . we DO need a second ruckman. I just don’t understand the Fullarton position