Mach5

I think it’s a ploy by Jackson’s management to gain leverage; if you don’t agree to a trade, we’ll go to the PSD and he’ll land at the eagles for no return.

Goodyear? Felt more like the Hindenburg...

Sounds like you’d see the richer clubs buying more cap space to the detriment of the smaller clubs. Having said that, when you’re at the bottom of the ladder, you’d be reticent to pay the full cap allowance for inferior players, and the money coming in the door would actually be doubled by the cap space you’re not paying out... I just worry it’d create a greater divide between the haves and have-nots.

After all was said and done, more was said than done.

I think even more than that, our team was suited to and assisted by the covid-imposed hub conditions. I feel that external influences impacted upon us this season, while last season they were quelled or lessened by the forced relocation. Whether that be families, girlfriends, mates, whatever - cumulatively I think it had an adverse effect on us this year. One of many factors.

I think Gawn was trying to inspire and maintain belief. I think Roffey believed it, and believed it extended to off-field too. Culture is a delicate specimen.

The roos are finally going about it the right way if they’re enlisting the services of Sir Peter Jackson. We’ll be watching them competing for a flag in 6 years.

You got me

Who would’ve predicted that?

It’s amazing how some of these things can come out. I recall living near Melksham a few years ago & being home to have a couch delivered; he was walking around the block loudly having a football-related phone conversation via AirPods that I was able to eavesdrop on (his end) for a minute or so, and I very much doubt he intended for anyone else to hear. Funnily enough, I recall it being reported that Melksham and Hibberd were 2 you’d choose to avoid at all costs on a footy trip because they are just these types when on the sauce (was it Adam Cooney maybe?)

Absolutely owned that press conference and even gave a journo a light clip for being mischievous.

It’s extra on top of the requirement. It’s time out of their day. I’d think the negative coverage would be more punishment for these guys than anything anyway.

No, it’s a slip up. The key is to own it and strive to be better.

I imagine the source of the insult, being a trusted mate whose opinion of you you value, would have added extra sting to the jibe. Also the fact that deep down Melksham would have some insecurity that it is true. The opinion of an opponent clearly aiming to get under your skin would have much less of an impact.

It was the 8th of the 12 day period, but I can imagine the key focus would have been that if the next match occurs within that 12 day period, you then miss the match. Everything else is just details. Simplistic, I know, but they are footballers after all.

Holding back the footage for a day or 2 is a sure fire tactic for getting another couple of news days out of the story.

I’d imagine May is frustrated because he has been forced out of 2 matches with a concussion, and Melksham is unhappy that his career is at the precipice with one foot dangling over the edge.

Is it a reasonable defence that May’s judgment was impaired as he is still suffering the effects of a concussion..?

Does he? Not sure about that, I wouldn’t at all be surprised if it didn’t occur to the other players present that he shouldn’t be drinking until after the fact, as it wasn’t a standard condition but was specific to his own circumstances.

Is the QB match a GF?

I’ll start by admitting that I understand the reluctance to attend in the frigid weather. I’m more inclined to prefer watching from home nowadays. And yes, I think in some part the age of our supporter base plays a part. But why don’t we have a larger young demographic within our supporter base? We’ve got the flag and wins on the board; isn’t it natural for the supporters to jump on board in droves? Sadly it’s not so simple. You have to put in the work, like Richmond did before their flags, and we simply have not. All of our attempts to increase supporter attendances and build our supporter bases are put into one basket - social media. It’s a powerful platform, but alone it will not convert casual observers into members, or non-interested parties into even casual observers. Pert admitted preseason that we didn’t currently have a strategy for the Casey region and it was something we needed to work on, which I think is unforgivable. We have a captive audience there being actively poached by Melbourne City. The attitude is that “we’ve tried (nothing), and it hasn’t worked, so why bother?” We have and continue to sh*t the bed, off-field. We’re following in the footsteps of the dogs. We’ll convert the kids of rusted on members who previously refused to admit to supporting the dees, but we’re not bringing in any new interest. I don’t know if our time at the top is already over, or will be in 4 years time, but we’ve got a lot of work to do to capitalise on it and it should have started long ago.

Yawn. Cheap gag. Winning will cover over a multitude of sins. Pert is not alone, but he and the board are like a politician focused on the now & re-election, with no interest in the long term. Enough for some. A couple of flags in the bank and it’ll be enough for me. We can try to recover from the mistakes once they’re gone. I’d prefer we do better in all facets now, but I guess I’m greedy. Long may our reign live on.

The length people will go to, to stick their head in the sand is well beyond my comprehension.

Humour me - if this was incorrect, it would be maddening, would it not? How are we not taking up this opportunity to engage with thousands upon thousands of AFL playing kids at an age where they are known to switch allegiances to winning teams, where sponsors would pay for all the branding and merch just they can get their products under the kids noses at the same time?

Thank you - perfect example.