titan_uranus

At Sydney, for those like me who weren’t sure initially:

I think this is the second thread on this topic already. In September. Before the trade period and draft. Are we that desperate for stuff to talk about? There is no such thing as an "upgrade" to a jumper number.

I still believe Trac offers more to us than what we would get in any trade. I also believe it makes no sense for us to be contemplating a trade until King and Trac have met and discussed what King sees for him in 2026, nor any sense for Trac to start looking around until he’s met King.

Presser at 10am, too.

Well he was asked about Clarry and Trac and responded as he did on Saturday - they’re contracted and we’re lucky to have them (but in that order).

Guerra on radio this morning said that our aim, and what King spoke about in his interview, is to be more attacking, “defend with ball in hand”, and score 100+ each week, so that we’re more attractive to watch.

Spoke well again IMO. He said the expectation is finals next year, but that’s a pretty easy thing to say in mid-September.

Yep. And then look at the upcoming FA/trade period: Brisbane will get Draper and Allen for no cost, and are in the running to get Ridley Geelong seems to be the likely landing spot for Rowan Marshall Hawthorn is the likely landing spot for Zach Merrett Can’t see any of them not being in contention again next year (Collingwood I’m a touch less sure of given their age).

Dear’s played 9 games this year. Didn’t play last night through injury. Not sure he’s all that integral to what they’re doing.

So the four preliminary finalists this year: Geelong - 14 prelims in the last 19 years, 4 flags Brisbane - 5 prelims in the last 6 years, 1 flag Collingwood - 10 prelims in the last 19 years, 2 flags Hawthorn - 7 prelims in the last 18 years, 4 flags They have also won 14 of the last 24 flags (soon to be 15 of the last 25). Not the most exciting, novel or motivating final four.

-31 CPs, -6 clearances, -21 inside 50s. Their backline kept them afloat all year but when they heat went up Dawson was left to battle on his own. For a side that opened the season scoring at will, they scored 67, 55 and 59 in their last 3 games against finals sides.

Ugh. A Geelong v Hawthorn prelim is a nightmare. Also, Adelaide, wow. They’re on track to lose all 8 quarters of finals after finishing on top.

Per The Age: https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/steven-king-appointed-demons-coach-in-shock-move-20250912-p5mulr.html “Steven King’s outstanding presentation and “clarity” about how the Demons would play were key factors in his surprise choice as Melbourne’s new senior coach. According to a separate source with knowledge of the discussions, Buckley had informed the Demons that he would be meeting with Tasmania Devils chief executive Brendon Gale next week. Buckley had been the perceived favourite for the Melbourne job, and is now a frontrunner to be inaugural coach of the Devils, who are slated to enter the competition in 2028. Guerra said King’s “presentation was a standout ... [he had] real clarity about how he wanted to play the game”. Guerra told this masthead that King, a former Geelong captain and seasoned assistant coach with experience at the Cats (where he still works alongside Chris Scott), the Western Bulldogs and Gold Coast - would bring the Demons “a contemporary game plan from a successful program”. And to me, most insightful: “Asked how King matched Melbourne’s needs as a football club, Guerra said: “How do we be competitive and stay competitive.” The new Melbourne CEO described the Demons’s aspirations: “We want to get competitive really quickly and then hopefully contending (for the premiership) in the not too distant future.”

This is so predictable (I haven’t opened the link): https://x.com/3awisfootball/status/1966424495150825548?s=46&t=TxNWR8IQfpnCS5ZUkmzG9A

Well whatever he says, you can find out in a few minutes:

I’m happy we have a new coach. Gives me even more reason to hope Geelong lost their prelim. Get him into the club a week earlier! The Buckley stuff will all come out in the wash. It makes sense that we tested his commitment and it makes sense that he was unsure. I don’t really care though. I would have been happy with Buckley, I’m happy with King. As soon as Geelong’s season is done, our pre-season begins in earnest.

On a related note, we again rank 2nd for average home attendance as a percentage of members (Fremantle 1st): https://www.instagram.com/p/DOavttfEqTx/?igsh=cDA4MjJ6bHZ6bG1j

No. No. Please. No. Let Culley make 46 his own. Let Langdon be Melbourne’s best ever 19. Any free numbers can go to new players coming in. 100%. The worst thing about every off season is when a player gets given a “better” number. Let Langdon be 19. Let Culley be 46. Foster a culture of playing your career in the number you get when you walk in the door.

Glad this conversation has moved down off the pinned thread. It needs to be front and centre. It’s an absolute disaster. And with North and St Kilda increasing, we can’t just stick our heads in the sand and say “well that’s what you get for missing finals”. This is broader than just poor on-field performance, which of course will have contributed.

Sam McClure “reporting”, with his usual disrespect of us, that “Petracca is looking around again, with Hawthorn a potential suitor, while Oliver remains hopeful he and the Demons can put aside their differences and start a new relationship under a fresh coach”.

Agree, other than the last paragraph. If going deep into finals was the main thing, North and St Kilda (and the Dogs) wouldn’t be increasing their memberships. What are they doing that we aren’t? We need to take a long, strong look at everything we’re doing on this front. Seek proper feedback from members, and listen to it. Get creative. Get modern. Get youthful. We’re being left for dead by clubs who have less recent on-field success than us. What will happen if North or St Kilda start playing finals?

Like it or not, these are the sorts of numbers that surely impacted our decision on Goody. Alarm bells ought to be ringing at the club. These are disgraceful figures. To win a flag and then within 5 years be the smallest Victorian club is an unmitigated disaster.

There’s a longer gap between Opening Round and KB than between KB and the final round, which is when we’ve played Collingwood the past two years.