Engorged Onion

Thanks for sharing the update — it’s appreciated, even if it doesn’t seem to add much that’s new at this stage...

This isn't a comment about you @Bring-Back-Powell - but I find it a hilarious notion, that all these coaches have been in AFL environments for a very long time - yet only ONE of them has the capacity to a) know what elite training standards looks like and b) demand/instill/allow elite level training standards from the players on a consistent basis.

Steven May likes this thread.

That's not difficult to swallow - and it makes sense from the SK connection.

Saying “someone with poor impulse control and big emotions is ADHD in a nutshell” isn’t really accurate and it’s worth being careful with that kind of shorthand. ADHD isn’t defined by emotion or impulse issues alone. Those can show up for some people with ADHD, but they’re not the whole story and they can also appear in anxiety, trauma, depression, or just in certain personality styles or life stages. ADHD is primarily about differences in how attention, motivation, and executive functions (planning, organising, regulating focus) work. Emotional reactivity can be part of that, but it’s not the core feature. It’s a bit like saying “someone who gets tired easily has diabetes” ...tiredness might be present, but it’s not what defines the condition. So while the comment probably came from a genuine place, it oversimplifies something that’s actually quite nuanced and it can make people who really struggle with ADHD feel misunderstood...like me.

Anyone for a synopsis - I don’t have Twitter /X

reminds me of covid days... a big glass of beer in the coffee cup.

The motive to ship out isn’t their role as contest winning midfielders - or backmen its culture. Fit in or [censored] off… I wrote an article today on the difference between high performing cultures and high performing environments. SK is working on one pillar first.

We don’t need to be (and most likely won’t be) competitive in the way people want, for 26. We want individuals that can perform specific roles that SK wants over the next 5 years that aligns with his philosophy on this project. The class of ‘21 is done. The game evolves every 18 months. This is the process that gets that occurring. It’s exciting times. Change is hard and emotional though. 😢☺️😇

Is this MFC related?

Thought I'd see if anyone else picked up on that... 😁

From Paul Guerra's first official Newsletter - 30/9/2025 "No doubt many of you would have heard Christian Petracca’s name mentioned in recent days. As a footy club we couldn’t be more excited and confident in where our AFL program is headed. We know our future success will be built on people and players who are fully committed to where we are heading. We met with Christian late last week where he expressed his desire to explore a fresh start in 2026. Christian is contracted for a further four years and is a once in a generation player. With this in mind, any decision regarding Christian’s future will be made in the best interest of the Melbourne Football Club." For those still 'hoping' - that'd be an official endorsement of farewell... Goodbye CP5 and thanks for the memories, and getting the best out of yourself.

Why is it that every year there are disgruntled supporters posturing about sending a player that has requested to the PSD. Food for thought, What does that signal to other athletes considering coming, the rest of the competition and families of players?

For me, I am looking forward to the changes made in the team during the draft/trade period- as I am sure short term it may feel like we are stepping backwards, AND we've got a new coach with a new philosophy and game plan and we need players that align with that. As bullish or at least optimistic as SK was/is about contending in finals shortly, what I am hoping to see is a change in game plan and that being on display more frequently throughout the year. I don't think 26' should be thought of as a year where we seriously challenge, it's an embedding year, and a year of transition on many levels - as is 27, but looking beyond that is where we want to see performance consistency with the right athletes that fit the game style. I also don't necessarily King will pull pages from the GFC playbook - different athletes means different strengths, and whilst there is an overall view that the game is quicker and more outside - as many have noted, the engine room/extractors are still king in big moments (or at least, give you the best opportunity). However... this will no doubt get counteracted. I loved Guerra's comment around King being contemporary, and whilst that may be seen as a slight on SG, I'd hope we see some innovations at least for the MFC. Not sure if anyone wants to add anything to what it is that we might see...

I'll go against the emotional trend so far on this thread - and trying to put a bit of my zen buddhism perspective forward, whilst being disappointed. Some people feel like Judd has betrayed them personally, or even betrayed the club and taken that personally. To me, whats really happening here is that he is a young bloke making a decision about his life, his future, and where he feels he belongs. That doesn’t make the connection he built with the group or with the fans any less real at the time. It just means life moved, and he’s following that shift. Judd gave us his effort and his growth in red and blue — that can be honoured without clinging to him now. For me, this isn’t about loyalty or disloyalty. Thank him for the chapter and trust that both he and Melbourne will find their way forward. ☮️

It’s kind of hilarious that pre grand final, posters were bemoaning our inability to be like Geelong or Brisbane and how great their culture/recruiting etc has been to allow sustained opportunity to compete in finals. And then not winning on the day is proof of failure? 🤷‍♂️

Sounds like some folk think he is a Diversity Hire eh? 😉

You’re right! If there is compromise then the felt experience is one of resentment because of inequity. However if it’s collaboration then it feels more equal. Just remember - the industry is a closed loop - trades one year don’t always quite match up with both parties are entirely satisfied - but future trades between the same to parties aim to address this.

thoroughly enjoying it -> moving up towards GWS level of humor.

May reminds me of Lazarus, on terms with Neitz for the amount of collision injuries he has sustained in his career (jaws for both) and the willingness and desire to keep putting the body on the line. It's ok that careers come to an end, and its ok that people are contracted and their body starts slowing down (be it fast or slow) before the contract expiry. I'll always admire the swagger and absolute dominance in the air when the ball came into the D50 in his pomp in 2021.

Very pleased to be on Magnetic Island with a bunch of parochial Queenslanders...

If that's true, that's fantastic news.* *is anyone also going to question his professionalism whilst still being at the cats? It's almost as though the public announcement in of itself is the problem to people...

I must have miscommunicated @Dr. Gonzo . To be frank, my career has been built around working in and around elite sport, the AFL industry being one of them, for 2 decades. When you become a career coach, the career physio, psych, ex phys etc etc etc - you are passionate about the people you work and care for wherever you are at any given point in time. I know, because I have been one of them and give a great big [censored] about athletes, coaches and other staff ,due to humans doing their best in tough environments constantly under scrutiny. However, whilst that is true, simultaneously, fans are wedded more myopically due to the tribalism. That's a great thing, but as fans its from the outside looking in, where there is a projection of what 'we as fans feel' must be the experience of the players or FD, or administrators... is factual incorrect. It's why people in the industry go from job to job within the industry - because those emotional ties are less (to the clubs, not the relationships they have built). So yes plenty of tribalism for the fans... less so for those who work in the industry. It's why Jack Watts laughing was a problem too :) the optics was he didn't care as much as the average fan, because he had a great opportunity to live someones dream, and great genetics to get that opportunity and thus he should have cared more. That juxtaposition and dissonance really upset the 'tribal fan'.

Agreed @DeeSpencer - of course when you're within the next club - you use 'we' 'us' and learn about the club invest in the relationships and the cultural ways of being, rather than remaining aloof...

Would the pettyness change if you saw the contract start date? 😘 Practically, he's merely finishing one project and moving onto another project... like going from Barwon Water to Melbourne Water and unlike supporters it's not evocative for him in the same way. Can you imagine working in the industry and going through 4,5,6 different clubs, you'd be inoculated to the emotional meaning of the colours, the words, and the hysterical us vs them that most of us as young supporters are thrust in to.