Gator

I found the interview from February this year. He briefly mentions that a lot of his friends barrack for Melbourne and that they would have ''come down'' to the G to watch him if he wasn't suspended. That assumes coming down from Shepparton. The old zone connection makes sense to me. Very briefly mentioned at around 4.30. https://www.sen.com.au/news/2024/02/05/how-talented-but-fiery-crow-plans-to-take-his-game-to-the-next-level-in-2024/

I know Rachele has stagnated somewhat, but he's a very talented player and still only 21. He was interviewed on SEN in the preseason and stated that most of his friends barrack for Melbourne. I put this down to being from Shepparton, which was Melbourne's zone back in the old days. I hope we're going hard for him.

In the final year of his contract (2027) he plays the entire year as a 35 year old. I know it's only detail, but detail matters.

Goldstein plays aged 36. Sandilands plays age 36. Mumford plays aged 35 In Gawn's last year (2027) he'll be 35. He's about to earn AA at 32. It's hardly a stretch to extend him now, especially as the club wants to know it's spending capacity on the eve of trades.

I know all of the arguments, I just don't agree that torso bumps that result in an unforeseen concussion should be penalised. I accept I hold a minority view.

I know I'm a dinosaur, but for me it was a fair bump. No head high contact, just a bone shattering bump that caused secondary damage. I know he'll get a minimum of 3-4, but I'd give him nothing.

I don't agree. Either changing one's mind, or publicly lying, is the norm in the AFL. But if you think there'd be egg, so be it. That would be your take. I'm only interested in decisions being made that are in the best interests of the club. Hopefully, we have the personnel to get things right. I'm not convinced we do.

Oliver is being paid a fortune to be what is currently the shell of his former self. There are mitigating circumstances. For this year, at least. He's supposed to be in his absolute prime years. An important point not to overlook. Either get him fit, or believe that he's fully committed and able to do so, or trade him for a very good pick in what's an excellent draft.

I fully agree. Jon Ralph is one that annoys the hell out of me. On more than one occasion he stated that Petty was desperate to get back to Adelaide. This wasn't true, it was merely Ralph's slant, or added editorial comment, as you put it. Petty would have happily gone home, but Ralph's exaggerations were erroneous. There's no doubt there's joy (and exaggerations) in the reporting of Melbourne's current malaise. But I want to reiterate, I'm only interested in facts, as best as I can ascertain them. I'll let others take the emotive route.

Why are you asking me ?

But it will have been Goodwin's decision. How do you have egg on your face when you're in control ? He simply would say the club and Oliver came to a mutual decision.

I automatically now think less of you than him.

I agree. Petracca has done himself no favours and comes across as a massive sook. Well, to me, anyway.

If I'm Petracca, a leader at the club, and that was erroneously said about me, I'd be correcting the assertion the next day. If I'm Tom Morris, a senior journalist who values his reputation, especially in light of recent events, I'm not running with an inflammatory comment like that unless I know it's true. Now, you can believe what you want, but I have zero doubt it's true and I also believe Morris' responsibity to his employer was to report what he knew. It's a good story if you're in his game. But I also get that emotional supporters who aren't capable of thinking clearly may get upset.

I couldn't care what you believe.

It's childish to attack Morris over a story that is clearly true. Right now, Petracca would walk out of the club if he could. Blaming Morris for shedding light on the story lacks intellect. You should be grateful you've been informed. Now it's in the open hopefully the right changes will be made.

Agreed. Reading between the lines re Jordan Lewis' comments about people ''running their own agendas'' I couldn't help but sense he was taking a significant swipe at Petracca.

He's allowing adults access to information. Adults can then form their own views. Only d.olts want to censor the sharing of information.

I'd call you an [censored], but that's not allowed. As the person who runs the site he's providing all of the latest news re the MFC. He's not endorsing anything he's sharing.

Players are rightfully judged by their output once they take the field. More often than not Oliver has been a liability, not to mention being terribly out of shape. Oliver should have been mothballed by the club weeks ago. They've done him no favours.

I read some comments before I heard Max speak and was expecting a trainwreck doorstop interview. I should've guessed there was nothing in it.

These are the types of opportunities that help force change. Make the most of it.

I'm not concerned about him leaving, just the unwanted negative attention this club has seemingly mastered.

My views contrast with what I've read on here. I have little to no sympathy for Oliver. Clearly, he's an immature, boorish, and disrespectful fellow of the highest order. He's also done his best impersonation of Augustus Gloop over the off-season. I want the club's highest paid player, or close to it, performing on the field. In many games he's been an embarrassment. Every player gets cut some slack when going through tough times, even if it's self-inflicted. But that slack isn't open-ended. I can well understand the club trading him, or considering it, if defined markers aren't being met. Thankfully, it appears he's come a long way and heading in the right direction. But he's certainly not above performance scrutiny, especially with the contract he's on. And no, I'm not endorsing the grovelling Tom Morris. Hopefully, Oliver has a great summer and gets back to being the player we all know and he repays the club's faith. He's paid to perform, which is all that interests me.