Deeko2

Probably broke even/slightly ahead of OMac in the ruck. The only thing I liked about his game was he seemed to create more spacing up forward. It looked like he was leading away from congestion a couple times creating more space of Petty and our mid sized forwards. A few other times I noticed him staying very deep in the square and not leading out - again allowing for more space and improving the likelihood of scoring. I was wondering if this was a game plan issue (which I like if so) or was it just himself not presenting and forcing mids to kick it to him (as the great forwards do). Hard to tell. Looking forward to seeing it for another week or 2 and see how it goes.

All fair concerns really and I share some similar thoughts there however I don't think the salary cap isn't going to be a concern in a couple years. My thoughts (nothing to back up this mind you) is that we extended Max and Vineys contracts last year to significantly front load some payments once we probably new we were out of the Houston chat. There last couple years I'm thinking will be fairly minimal and more on field coaches - although Gawn won't be shorter so he'll still be impacting. May and TMAC (may not be on much) will surely be gone freeing up some more $$$. We won't lose Melbourne born kids to another Melbourne based club unless we really [censored] the bed as a club IMO. I'm confident that Langford and XL will around for a long time. As mentioned above, I don't think that Trac and Clarrie will be around sadly. Surely we can turn these two into either a gun mid or two or some high quality drafting - plus so free agency.

Just having a look at our age profile with players 25 and under. It looks like we're already well into a re-build with so much youth coming through over the last 24 months. A little snapshot of the team over the next 7-10 years could be: FB: McVee 21 Petty 25 AMW 21 HB: Rivers 23 **** Bowey 22 C: Windsor 19 Langford 19 Lindsay 18 HF: Chandler 25 Van Rooyen 21 Tholstrup 19 FF: Kozzi 23 Jefferson 21 Disco 23 R: **** **** **** Depth: Spargo 25, Sparrow 24, Laurie 23, Sharp 22, Woey 22, Howes 21, Brown 20 I'm (sadly) of the opinion that Trac and Clarrie will go but desperately hope we hold Pickett. If we could turn Trac and Clarrie into say a Butters (24) and another young up and comer, we really shouldn't be bottoming out at all whilst turning over the list well.

Maybe Gawn isn't at 100%. They might want to play TC for a game here and there to reduce Gawns TOG or rest him up forward to keep him going throughout the year rather than just rest him all together. I actually don't mind him having a chop out here and there to prolong him further. Also, interestingly, TC averages more contested marks and more goals per game then Grundy. Obviously Grundy is the better ruckman when he's on, playing as a 4th midfielder. Still - as we all know, the cats will be walking the pill out of the backline with TC or Gawn attempting some defensive pressure.....

Agreed fully. We might be managing some payments down - who knows. He's been a wonderful player for us. Not an AFL great but a Demons great. He'll also be a wonderful on-field coach leader in time and drives a ferocious standard that I'm happy to have around the club to help develop and protect the young crop. Extending his contract (subject to it being for ridiculous coin) is not a concern of mine. What's interesting this year is seeing where he is touching the pill. He's usually roughly on parody between contested and uncontested ball. This season, his uncontested disposals are doubling that of his contested. Looks like a slight different in role/structure for Jack where he is getting more of it on outside. Bit of a worry for mine as he's never been an overly wonderful kick of the ball. Wouldn't mind him back in and under.

Who will he be playing for this year? Interested to keep some tabs and see how he is tracking along.

Agreed - the worst 'supporter' who I can think of. I still remember Jesse Hogan giving him a clip about using personal information gained whilst he worked for the club to get ahead in the world. I couldn't remember what exactly was said but I found this via good ol google. "Honest leech. Had a job at Melbourne football club that was private and used it and leaked private conversations to get a leg up," Hogan wrote. "Not involving me but genuine leech of a personality." Hogan went so far to call Morris a "fake media personality" before tagging his account at the end of the tead. Tom is a supporter of Tom only. I still can't believe he has a job in footy after his previous comments towards a female colleague as well. Absolute pig of a human. But, moving on from that rant, I actually think neither will be with us next year. We'll be loading up for a full re-build whilst holding on to some hard bodies as protection for the young ones coming through in May, Gawn and Viney. No way I'd let Kozzy go however.

Very very impressive highlights. A good leg and some excellent work with the hands in close. I was thrilled when we picked this kid. Looks as hard as cats scone with some impressive marking and kicking skills. The only thing I was slightly worried about was a lack of space but he clearly has no issues in the big time with a quick first step to create space for himself and excellent instincts to create space for his team mates. He's going to have some up and down moments this year as his young body fatigues during the long season but this kid looks a ripper and long term, will be fantastic MFC player. I have no doubts.

Agree with both the above. It's going to be an amazing upgrade to the area and the community will get a lot more benefits than what they're getting there. I have actually read a few comments from people against it on social media and following a couple pages out of interest. Some of the straw clutching and rhetoric shared is just fear mongering and silly. The comments remain so far off the mark advising that a football club is just going to completely take the area over and there will no access. It is clearly not true as we all know that even on the 17 hours a week we're using the ovals - the community will still have access to the rest of the entire area which will see massive improvements. It's such a common sense project IMO and will have amazing outcomes for the recreation community using it. I say this without my red and blue coloured glasses on.

Cripps/Green are the best comparisons - he doesn't have the explosive power of Petracca (as very very few do). I was super excited we were able to get him draft night. Strikes me as one of those lads who's just been born tough and will have no issue meeting the expectations of his hard nosed team mates. Very much a no-nonsense type and just a bloody good footballer with good skills from what I have seen. I think he'll start on the HFF as his marking prowess looks the goods with some solid sessions in the midfield.

Obviously all of these things impact but its rare that any player is ever 100% - or even close to it. One of the best senior coaches I have ever had mentioned a saying which has always stuck true in that, "you'll always find an excuse if you look for one." I'm possibly Claytons biggest fan. But truth be told, injured or not injured, he was very poor last year. Unfortunately, there was no one really kicking the door down in the twos who would have been better. Just like last year year, he started this preseason looking a lot heavier. I was very worried thinking he may only be a niggle or slight injury set back which could see another poor season in which he wouldn't be able to catch up aerobically to impact on games. We're very fortunate he's gotten through nearly ever session so far and gets solid 2 months of hard training completed, he's going to be exciting to watch come round 1.

Its marked pretty clearly within our feasibility study that the land we're interested in for our base isn't the freehold land. Feasibility study complete | Creating our home You can wander down to the image of the layout and you will see the freehold land the school has purchased. Definitely doesn't impact us.

Thanks GW - appreciate the response. I'm so fascinated by what he's been doing and what his needs are to continually see him on a tailored training session and still not assimilating into the main group. Obviously I don't expect (or want) you to pry. The couple games I remember him at Adelaide I was so impressed with his speed and chase down tackling and opportunistic scores. I really rate him but do worry if he'll be able to get his body right again for that to happen. Anyways, apologies to all about de-railing the Roy George thread. Is Roy on the track again today?

I really rate this kid as a high quality role player in the back half. Can lock down well whilst showing he has excellent rebounding skills with his sharp pace, good decision making and efficient kicking. Not a fan of seeing him in the midfield. Don't mind they gave it a crack late in the year with nothing to lose to see how he'd go, but he's far more valuable as an asset down back. I'd be amazed if West Coast and Fremantle weren't fair dinkum having a crack at this kid. That's just the price you pay for having good players at your club. Just like I'd be amazed if we weren't continually talking to every Victorian kid with talent who plays in SA, NSW, QLD or WA. I'm not a believer of him being a future All-Australian or anything like that - primarily as he's a defender who defends instead of zoning off getting 25 touches - but there is no reason he won't be a 200-250 gamer for the club and finish multiple Melbourne B&Fs in the top 10.

I'm a believer in Shane's skillset and think at his best he's a best 22 player. The question marks I have are how much more time do you give a bloke who unfortunately has a body that doesn't seem to stand up to AFL footy consistently? The fact he isn't in the main group and still effectively only completing 'run-throughs' is also a worry to me. I have no idea why and would be very curious to know why when his last game was mid August. Did he need any off season surgery? Or if its fitness based, why wouldn't he have kept up his training regime to ensure preseason day 1 that he's good to go with the main group? Is there any chance 'Ghostwriter' you could maybe get some details how he is tracking?

Petty is too good of a player to not be in our best 22. I actually rated him as a forward when he started - I think we all did. He had sticky mits, kicked straight and applied decent pressure. In hindsight, we did him no favours rushing him back with little training/fitness last year. Doesn't help playing the hardest spot on the ground against multiple defenders. He looked a completely differently unit and it was hard to watch. The only way we can play the 'Big 4' together is TMac and Petty taking the tall forwards, Lever back to an intercept/third tall defender whilst Stevey takes the medium/small forwards. May has completed some amazing jobs on quick smalls in the past but that was a few years back now when he would have had a little more spring in his step but playing him on a medium forward would be hell of them.

His dad seems to basically be his player manager it seems and will be doing everything he can to promote him and ensure he gets on a list. Can a club basically draft someone with the intention of immediately increasing their contract (in terms of length and dollars) to try and win their favour? Obviously if gets drafted say late first round, he'd be on a 3 year deal at the generic $X amount. What would happen if there is a hand shake agreement from GCS or us to say 'Agree to us and we'll lock you in for another 2 years and bring the back ended payments to year 1' Are things like this discussed when kids have multiple options?

I have no doubt the heart condition was one thing but I'm not sure he was doing that well transitioning to the full time commitment. Note - that's just my opinion and I don't really have anything to back that up other then seeing him as a chilled out kid who didn't quite have the drive. It's interesting that he has still been playing since and still going wonderfully showing off his talents. I believe he is the nephew of everyone's favourite back pocket Neville Jetta.

I've seen him play a few games at Tyntynder after finishing up my time there a couple years back. Very exciting to watch and seems to just make the players around him stand still whilst he zigs and zags between. I actually don't think he is as good as Kayle Kirby who came from the club a few years before. Kayle played some wonderful footy in the VFL before getting a game with the pies. Kayle was a better kick and only just made it where as Roy is far more professional and more likely to get the best out of himself. He's a ripping kid, full of life and laughs to make himself known and enough dedication on and off the track to give it a crack.

I was thinking about this last night actually Little Goffy after jumping on the Tauru bandwagon. The only comfort is that I'm still thankful the Saints had a red hot crack in the last game of the year not only defeating the scum but also seeing them leap frog us on the ladder. If they lost that match and picked up Langford and Tauru I would have been filthy.

If he was small and light having, being a little slower off the mark would worry me. He's a big brute of a lad so although he may be 5% slower, he's going to be a hell of a lot tougher to hold on to and stop. I just had a look at previous winners of it and have really never heard of many. As long as he's on the move at stoppages he'll be fine. Seems to have a bit of spunk about him as well and was confident about being a high draft pick all along which is fantastic. Likes to fly for some grabs as well so looking forward to him rotating potentially with Trac up forward and on the pill. Can't wait till he hits the training track and starts some competitive works alongside Viney, Oliver and Trac - should be fierce. Welcome to the dees kid.

I've got a soft spot for the saints with my old man and brother following them and have seen a lot of there games over the years. The above bolded section is a fair summary of his career. Has had so many chances to really make a large impact on a game and very very rarely does. His kicking skills is a myth in my opinion with the majority of these possessions being well on the outside where AFL standard players should not be shanking/turning it over. I have nothing against outside players (we need more really) but continually disappointed with his turnovers and missed scoring opportunities. I can't seem ever changing either as you're not going to overnight improve your kicking (especially goal kicking) and believe if he is in the team, our depth is being considerably tested.

Can anyone tell me if there is there a limit on rounds in the draft if we have extra available list spots? Say no one went past the 4th round and the last pick in the draft was say pick 85; could we then use P86 as the fifth round and then P87 as the 6th round, P88 as the 7th round etc?

I remember reading online so many comments from Adelaide supporters rating him highly and a match winner as a player. The old disclaimer "once he get's his body right" was thrown around a bit as well and I believe one of the reasons he came across was he was upset with the crows medical/fitness team. He was very good with forward line pressure in a few games I remember him playing for the crows so I didn't mind us chasing him thinking he would be a good get and add another exciting dimension to our forward line. There is no doubt he has talent but obviously needs to get significantly fitter, get his explosive power up and hopefully complete a full preseason. It seems unlikely he'll make an impact however as his body does seem quite brittle so I'd be surprised to see him much this year. Not everyone's body can handle the rigour of AFL footy.

I feel like this myself to be honest - would seriously hurt the eyeballs. I'd rather keep him still and pay $200k to full time mentor. Try and get someone like a James McDonald around him to keep him on the straight and narrow. Yes, its an additional cost but I don't really care. Having him at his best is worth it IMO and I can't be bothered going through a rebuild. Should he need a mentor and more support, no, he shouldn't, he's an adult. But some people just need the additional support and sadly, there are always two sets of rules around 'culture' in sporting clubs. One set for the superstars and one set for the remaining players. I have no idea how many stuff ups Clayton has made and refuse to believe some of the [censored] in the media/social media. I find it amazing hearing all of these naughty things he is apparently doing with no footage of it - especially when he is clearly identifiable and the whole world now have access to filming content on there phones. I do know meeting him a couple times that he has a very alert, excited and energised look to him which I think would be misconstrued for him being up to no good. He has had the look to him since he was a child. Anyway, a few weeks ago I think reading here somewhere, he was super keen on a trip to the US or something to get super fit in readiness for the new season. Hopefully he can get through all of this noise and remain 100% committed to this and get back to his best in 2025. I still have faith he can get there.