Neil Crompton

I must be dumb - I still cannot see the rort here. If player A has 2 years left on his contract at $500K per year. He retires and club pay him out $250K for this year. Surely the club has the right to add $250K to their payment purse this year and $500K next year? Could someone please explain the issue here? As I said, I must be dumb

Interesting you haven't ended up in hospital, BBO, given the amount of stroking you supposedly do.

Best wishes DF- wish you a speedy and full recovery.

If you are watching what is effectively a part-time, amateur competition (AFLW) and expecting to witness the skill-set of a highly professional comp (AFL) then you are going to be very disappointed, and may well think it is “awful” by comparison. The same comparisons and comments were prevalent when women’s cricket started. Today however, I’d happily watch the Aussie women play cricket, or the women’s big bash equivalent. The growth and skill improvement of women’s cricket came about by investment by the cricket board into better facilities, more junior coaching, and finally better payments for the players. Which came about because of large spectator interest and of course tv payments. The same will happen with the AFLW - as long as the AFL understands that skill development can only occur if the women get the right levels of coaching, and a proper level of compensation to allow the players to spend the time they need to develop their skills.

To me, the real feel-good story about Harley Bennell is that the MFC has given him a chance to make an AFL comeback - and I am really proud of our club for making this a reality.. What happens from this point on is up to Harley and really, is in the lap of the gods - but we all wish him well. If he gets to a level of fitness where he can play again - I'll be extremely happy for him. If he gets to a point where his performance gets him selected in our best 22, then i will be ecstatic for him. If he gets to the point where he actually stars in our best 22, then I will be orgasmic. However, if he breaks down during any of these stages, and has to give the game away, i'll be sad for Harley, but extremely proud of our Club for doing all it could to make Harley's dream a reality.

My father used to play for the swans and used to swear by Bill Mitchell. Said he was a miracle worker.

This post makes you sound awfully familiar MFM. If I'm correct, your previous incarnation i think broke the record for the most blocked poster on Demonland. My apologies if i am wrong - but please do not turn into a reincarnation of that bloke.

Pickett Petty Jackson Sparrow Lockhart

I would have thought that if we had any notion of signing him up, he should be going to Maroochydore. One of the great aspects of the Qld training camp is the bonding that occurs - and IMV would be worth going for that alone.

Tomlinson Bedford Baker May Langdon

So in a thread about our last training session, you have been able to detect an underlying, deep-seated aversion - which is what "subliminal antipathy" basically means - to Jeffy by some on here? Are you f' ing serious? Why would you even raise such a thing about a player - a much loved player - no longer at the club? Are you trying to stir up trouble?, infer racial issues? what? I normally read your comments with interest Dieter, but this last one absolutely astounds me.

I think you have misplaced your comment. This thread is called "Unexpected Best 22 Player". Better you look for the "Not Expected Best 22 Thread" to place your comment.

From a business perspective you are probably right Steve - might be an early call, but that may well be the smart thing to do. The feel-good approach would be to sign him up and allow him one year to come good (on the basis that there are always going to be hiccups in his recovery) and see if this pays off. if it does, we are a mile in front. If not, we are the value of a rookie contract out of pocket. I'm hoping for the feel good approach - but I was never great at business.

OK Red, I'd like to nominate myself for the position of half-full-on-the-fence. I am actually getting better at this role as the years go by. Like a good wine actually.

Surely real qualifications won’t get you a role in this team Red.

thanks Jontee - must be blind

Thanks for correcting me Jontee

Thank F. The sky isn't falling in after all.

IMV, defining success in 2020 has to be measured against the 2018 season. The 2019 season was clearly an aberration for all the reasons previously discussed at length. In 2018 we lost a preliminary final - and therefore, for me, a successful year in 2020 will be achieved if we go at least one step better - ie winning a prelim final. Anything less should be viewed by the Club - and certainly will be by me - as a failed season. Can we do it? That is the question. While there may be some psychological scares from 2019 to overcome, I believe we should be a better team this year than in 2018, for the following reasons: - a better list of players - a more experienced list - more experienced coach and coaching staff - a better fitness coach - considerably more competition for places in the team. With all these advantages over 2018, the issue will be how well the coach and his staff can heal the scares of 2019 and gel this group of individual players into a well oiled team. If they cannot do that, then, given the above, I will see this as a coaching failure.

haha, you are one sick puppy Demonstone

I used to play football with Mr Woodman - the b astard would never even shout a drink, let alone offer me money!

Has he shrunk 2cm since coming to Melbourne? That’d be right!

Couldn’t agree more. I have no problem with posters wanting to criticise the 2019 pre and in-season, but for f sake, do it in a separate thread, where you can sprout whatever history you want. Personally, I think 2019 has been done to death - as has the last 55 years - but if you think more needs to be said and argued about, be a bit considerate and establish your own “shaking your fist at clouds” thread or “lessons to be learnt” thread. As far as i’m concerned, 2019 is gone and no amount of arguing will change that. I am only interested in 2020, and would prefer current threads to be just that - current.

A few days after Christmas, a mother was working in the kitchen listening to her young son playing with his new electric train in the living room. She heard the train stop and her son said, "All of you sons of b*tches who want off, get the hell off now, cause this is the last stop! And all of you sons of b*tches who are getting on, get your asses in the train, cause we're going down the tracks." The mother went nuts and told her son, "We don't use that kind of language in this house. Now I want you to go to your room and you are to stay there for TWO HOURS. When you come out, you may play with your train, but I want you to use nice language." Two hours later, the son comes out of the bedroom and resumes playing with his train. Soon the train stopped and the mother heard her son say, "All passengers who are disembarking from the train, please remember to take all of your belongings with you. We thank you for riding with us today and hope your trip was a pleasant one. We hope you will ride with us again soon." She hears the little boy continue, "For those of you just boarding, we ask you to stow all of your hand luggage under your seat. Remember, there is no smoking on the train. We hope you will have a pleasant and relaxing journey with us today." As the mother began to smile, the child added, "For those of you who are [censored] off about the TWO HOUR delay, please see the b*tch in the kitchen."

......and a happy Demonic year ahead