Wiseblood

If this is the case, and I'm not necessarily denying that it is, then I'd love to know why. He is played in his preferred position week in, week out. He is on good money which will only get better, you would imagine, when his next contract comes up. He's said before that he doesn't like change and, from what we can gather, he enjoys playing under Goodwin. So what is it? Okay, we missed finals for the second year in a row, but we're not a bottom four club going nowhere. And he isn't 28-29 and looking for that elusive premiership before his time is up. I'll fully accept that he might be frustrated at present, as we all know how competitive he is, but I can't accept that he would be unhappy and pushing for the chance to be traded.

That's pretty much the role he is playing here now. You would think he would move to a club that guarantees him more playing time than we can, but that offer has to be out there for him to do it. Otherwise he'll do a Preuss and end up in the same situation at a different club.

I get the worry from supporters when stuff like this comes up - their own frustration with the club is almost manifested through one of our better players, and the worry begins. We have people here packing themselves over players potentially moving on at the end of their contracts, but the club has been good at having players re-sign over the past 5 years or so, and we aren't really hearing concrete, believable reasons for players wanting to move on at this stage.

It's the silly season. There are rumours about most players these days, most of which turn out to be garbage. I have no doubt players think about their future on a regular basis - Viney even said in an article today that he did seriously consider the Geelong offer, and even got his blessing from his old man if he chose to have a fresh start - but ultimately turned it down. I have no doubt clubs enquire regularly about a variety of players, but it doesn't mean clubs will trade them or that the players are interested in moving on. Unless I've missed something, it seems Oliver wants out based on his B&F finish, some problem with the medicos (which seems laughable considering how fit the players seemed and that we got through the season with the smallest amount of injurie sin years) and some throwaway comment on Footy Classified. It doesn't make much sense to me, and I while I can understand frustrations about how the season finished, we aren't a bottom four side. I just can't really take it seriously at this point.

For those who can get past the paywall, article is here: VINEY REVEALS WHY HE TURNED DOWN A MOVE TO THE CATS A few choice bits from the article: One of the main reasons he re-signed was his faith in Goodwin. Did have his father's blessing to leave if that was what he chose, but he felt he would be abandoning the club and Goodwin if he left. He did, for a time, seriously consider the offer that was on the table from the Cats. Losing the captaincy stung at first, but that is well and truly in the past. Really believes in the vision of the club moving forward, but he knows we must deliver on the promise. Happy to provide more, or direct quotes, if you want them. Happy to PM the article if you want it as well. Cheers.

Cotchin really annoys me these days. Didn't mind him at all as a player, and he is a terrific one at that, but he has become a bit a sniper in recent years and his tackle last night was a shocker. No doubt he just cops a fine, when a week is what should happen, but he does this more often than he used to.

While I'm not a massive fan of Brown, especially as I don't think he fits with our style of play, North have backed themselves into a corner with this. They have basically told him to move on, so they can't come to the table and demand heaps for him as they don't want him. If he wanted out himself then it would be another story, but North have clearly instigated this, so it takes away some of his value in my opinion.

He was never going anywhere this year. However, if we struggle through next year then it will be a different story.

I love you @Chook in Perth. What a great coup for the club. Absolutely love this appointment.

The only card the Bombers can play with Cameron is cash. With Daniher, Saad etc all leaving, they'll have plenty of money to throw around. That would be the only reason he would go there. It looks as though it will be a 'cash off' between Norf and the Peptides to see who can miss out on the most players this off season.

@JimmyGadson - this one makes me smile a little, as you banged on for years about how poor our back line was and how we needed to recruit quality to improve it. So, we do it, and you're still not happy. It's a no win situation with you, Steve.

Nuffies is being a little too kind, ET.

I'll be honest and say that I'm impressed that you can make any sense out of the post in the first place.

Depends on what he is on himself. The Lions are obviously in terrific nick with the culture and their list, and with their good record around injuries and rehabilitation, he may have been happy to take a bit less to fit in their wage structure to get there.

I just see it as something that isn't the clubs fault. I buy my membership to support the club. Going to games is a bonus. I'll still buy the 5 memberships I get next year without hesitation. Would I love to be able to go to the games and take my kids? Of course I would. But that's not the clubs fault. If people buy them solely to go to the games then I would understand it. But I don't, and I would assume that others buy it to support the club more than anything. But again, that's an assumption, and I don't need anything else from the club as compensation. I'd rather they continue to put that money into the club to pay for coaches, players etc. I don't need freebies or money off my membership. But that's just me.

You're looking gorgeous in your profile pic, ET.

Considering the contract he is on, and the season he just had, this isn't surprising. I don't think any club wants to take on a large chunk of his contract for the next few seasons.

OD is obsessed with compensation for this year, as if the MFC spread the coronavirus so we wouldn't have to watch the debacles against Sydney and Fremantle live.

The club has been pretty good in recent years in getting contract extensions done. We've lost the odd player here and there, but they've never been crucial to our side going forward. All of our key players have signed either short or long term deals and you would expect the same thing to happen with Oliver, whether that be 5 years or something shorter, which we've also done in the past as well. I think we're jumping at shadows a little with Oliver, though. Sure, he might be disappointed in his finish in the best and fairest, and may be disappointed with our season overall, but I don't see that as a reason to jump ship to someone else. He doesn't strike me as that type of person. I'm pretty confident he'll be a Demon for life... but then I never thought Jeff Farmer would leave all those years ago, so what the hell would I know?

So, we are talking of Clarry leaving based on a throwaway comment on Footy Classified and some bloke on a BigFooty supporter page? Have I missed something here?

I'm not worried. BigFooty rumours do nothing for me.

I thought we had it? Fantastic news on Rivers. You could tell from his first game with his run off half back and his courage that he was going to play a large chunk of the season for us. Can't wait to see him continue to develop.

Chook in Perth gets the respect he deserves around here. The others who throw mud and hope something eventually sticks.... not so much.

I hate that word, especially when describing a player. As fans we can be critical of players in the right manner, and critical of how games turn out, but resorting to calling a player a 'spud' is pretty low to be honest. In the end, Oscar McDonald has played 81 more AFL games than me, so if that still makes him a spud, then the rest of us must be absolute dog [censored] in comparison.

I know you didn't, but you said he didn't have a clear role. Our defence worked very well this year and was probably the area of the ground where we functioned best. Clearly, the roles set out to the players were easy to follow. Oscar had 7 games and, clearly, couldn't either play in the role that he was given, or couldn't follow the instructions given. Considering that the other defenders understood their role and executed it well as a unit, I think it's on Oscar that he couldn't do the same. Either way, it looks as though he may well be headed to another club, and I think that's a positive outcome for all involved.