Deeko2

I'm a big fan of Jayden and believe he's got enough flexibility in his game to have an impact up forward, on a wing, lock down small defender or a rebounding one. Trouble is, he doesn't really play any of these roles that a high enough level to demand a spot in the 22 but still, he'd be in my team every week. We do need to rejuvenate the list a little and bring in some more youth and hopefully unearth a couple gems. Players like Hibbo and Melk will get us nothing and we'd be paying them scraps (no offence to them) where Jayden might snag us a 3rd rounder and save us $300k +/- to assist in the future. It's a ruthless call offering peanuts to players and force there hand to go I can see why we're doing it.

"Bro dees delight" I wonder what would happen if Grundy/Dees last minute decided there little courtship/fling wouldn't go any further and we were to go our seperate ways. Would that mean the pies would have to ditch McStay and a couple others they've been linked to? There salary cap would be bulging I'd imagine.

Really horrible. Can't say much more. This is going to impact every club in the competition now. There is no way Clarko can stay on if there is any truth in this. If he goes: Assistant coaches everywhere will be looking in with intrigue. Players previously looking to stay may potentially now have no reason to Players looking to come may now change their minds.

Fascinating what happens now the dockers boys (Tucker and Logue) who chose North as there preferred club to be traded to. If Clarkson goes, would you still want to go there? If not, do they stay? Does this impact the ability to trade for Jackson with less room in the cap and less draft picks potentially.

I'd be happy to see Chandler go on to get better opportunities at another club. I feel like his best spot is on the ball where he showed at VFL level that he can impact around the contest but let's be honest, he's not going to get an opportunity around it in the ones. He reminds of Ben Kennedy in not enough speed, goal kicking sense to be a permanent up forward and just not quote good enough for a mid either. I'd persist with Bedford as backup as at least he has some genuine speed around the contest and we need as much speed as possible. Interesting chats on Charlie. I'm all for him playing one's week to week but we need to make better use of his skills. I'm always happy when the ball is in his hands delivering it but needs to get a lot more of it. I'd be surprised if he gets the ball 10+ times on average a game and would be nowhere near a goal a game. I think he is a victim of a game plan that doesn't suit him (continually bombing it over him looking for forward half stoppages) but he really needs to find away to get more involved.

Are you sure RL? Happy to be proven wrong (used to it, I'm married to a teacher) however I even got out the calculator and checked.... twice

I believe my maths are correct and the great man Mr Piggy notches up game 100 for the MFC in the first final. I've been a massive fan of the hard nut since his first game for the dees as a rebounding half back flanker. I'm more of a fan now playing the more challenging and probably less sexy lock down small defender role. Still a best 22 player with ease and if he has a good run with the chassis, should get to 200 AFL games next year (needs 17 more). Now he's ticked the box for father son/daughters, time to get him out to stud.

Is it just me or is it since that Gus re-signed he's spending all game in the midfield now? Or is it just due to Salem returning to the HBF and JJ filling a wing role adequately? I can't imagine anyone ever putting clauses in their contracts for certain roles or positions but it's interesting that since around the time of re-signing, he's spent a lot more time in the guts hunting the pill. Just a lazy 38 touches and 12 clearances against the blues and averaging well over 30 over the last 4 weeks. Not a bad month coming into September.

I want to start this with advising everyone that I despise Geelong more than anyone…. But, I have to admit, I do really respect them. One of my best mates brothers was playing there during the flag years whom he lived with and another player. Mid week, every week there’d be a bbq at there house where nearly all the players would be there. One or two quiet ones, some good banter then back home. It’s easier done in Geelong being so close to one another compared to players living all over the shop in Melbourne. Hearing stories like this and learning of all there mateships would make it a very attractive team to play for. Furthermore, if the clubs looking to recruit you, you’d have the confidence knowing they’re going all in - every year - giving you a high likelihood to be there at the pointy end. The biggest reason they’re so competitive in my mind is that Hawkins seems not to age and is still demanding double teams giving a lot of space for Cameron to roam. I still think Hawkins is there most important player and once he goes so does a lot of there firepower. They’re doing this year what they should have been doing the last three in moving quick forward to get one on ones and repeat entries. They’re forwards are too good to have many off games and the pick up of Stengle has been amazing. He’s added so much up forward. There midfield doesn’t inspire. That’s what I’m hoping let’s them down come Sept.

My bro is at the game and made a couple points RE: Weid. He thinks he's playing as a decoy forward leading defenders into space away from the 'hot zone.' It looks like his role is to try spread the defence tonight...... or he's just not smart with his leading patterns Also, he's spent a hell of a lot of time on the pine for someone not injured.

I didn't feel we were rock bottom to be honest - I felt like they were going to close the doors and the MFC would cease to exist with the club in turmoil. We're so incredibly lucky the AFL stepped up to the plate. That would have been rock bottom.

Jeepers, what a great bit of click bait. I had to read it to understand what the hell old mate was going to put a spin on that time. If Neeld was key to bring Jason Taylor across then ok, I'll pay some credit there as JT has done a fine job. Not even sure if there is proof that he was a/the reason JT came across but well done on one thing positive out of his disastrous tenor.

This is so fascinating if true and I would love to know what goes on behind closed doors. Maybe the Dockers have outperformed in there own expectations for the year and may need to fork out some cashola for the existing group. I don't understand why there so easily giving up Lobb who was great up the ground this year and even better this year playing as a deeper target. Being a genuine contender that they are, I struggle to know the appeal of letting go a current playing performing at a high level and attracting a player who has shown exciting 'glimpses' but is still someone based on potential.

Don't quote me as I'm not 100% sure but I'm thinking Pav and Cripps still would have been the highest paid players at the clubs plus they were club captains which might add another layer of buy in/loyalty from the player. Dusty got the record deal from the Tiges so he won out in the end. Watts - well, I don't really worry about him anymore. I know nothing about our contracts so again, I'm guessing but I'd be thinking the offers to AB & LJ would definitely be less then Trac and Oliver and most likely less than May, Lever and Gawn as well. They could go somewhere else and be the number# 1 man. It'd be ridiculous not to take the call

I really don't blame him for taking his time and ensuring the best possible deal. This will be the norm for all players across all teams going forward so sadly, we're all going to have to get used to it. Especially now that we have great players and coaching staff. Personally, I left my employer 3 years ago where we had an amazing culture and some of my best friends worked. I was made a wonderful offer from a competitor at about $60k more than I was on (chump change difference compared to AB/LJ I'm sure) I left on good terms and started the new gig where I hated the culture and struggled to form relationships with my new team consistently missing my old colleagues. At times, I seriously regretted my decision. I then left the new role a couple months back and was re-employed by my old employer and back to getting more enjoyment working with better people again on a lower base pay. I'm quite happy to own the 'mercenary tag' around the office banter. The decision to change, although hard, has set my family up for life. So although it was hard and challenging, I would do it again as I'd always put my family first. AB & LJ are never going to get these offers again. I'd be very sad if either left (especially AB) but would understand completely why.

Agree 100% with this. We have had a taste of the sweet sweet nectar of smashing teams and winning it all and want more and more. As a few have mentioned in this thread also, we were absolutely blessed last year with the continuity around having our best 22 on the park - especially at the pointy end. If Lever played, I have no doubt we would have won Saturday night. Just as I feel we would have beaten the Pies if May was available. Just like all teams, you can't replace your out and out stars and it's always going to hurt when they're unavailable.

I had a thought last night wondering if Clayton is worried about missing out on individual awards due to missing games. It wouldn't surprise me and I think lots of players would have similar thoughts - especially with incentives built into there contracts. Hopefully he doesn't push it however and doesn't rush back early and potentially damage it further. As much as our midfield battled admirably on the weekend, we're nowhere near the same level without this bloke in.

I mightn't have worded it that clearly. We'll most likely trade for experience players and known quality. Unless they're very high end (1-5) where a player can immediately make an impact then they will then be traded.

How good does that surface look! Absolute carpet the lucky buggers! I was one who posted a few pages back being highly doubtful that they'd use the facility this season whilst the grass settles. I cant believe how good its looking. Well done to the curator.

You're right Demon3 we do need to keep adding kids and we'll do that - with second and third round draft picks. We wont get the luxury of high first rounders sadly and don't need late first rounders at the moment to pick up potential players who maybe decent in 2 to 3 years. I'd much rather us getting known quality players whilst we still have Gawn, May, TMc and BBB whilst they're (rightly or wrongly for the last 2) still best 22. If we can get improvements on the last two and any other players on the list happy days. Gawn and May are going to be nearly impossible to replace - both wonderful players. We need to strike with known players right now so we can be premiership threats while these two are still amongst it.

Steven has at times been a naughty boy getting a bit agro but he was still seen in enough light to be promoted to a captaincy role of a club. He then filled a need in which we were desperate for. Dusty wasnt' a cultural cancer like you say. He's actually been an incredibly hard trainer all his life. Ice was never in the conversation but he definitely was enjoying the party & social life of an AFL footballer to the fact he had a club imposed curfew at the start of his second season. But Jordan is on a whole other level! From a two minute google, I have no idea why anyone would pay him the cash!! tells the club he breaks his hand playing with a dog (allows Bucks to go into bat for him against the media) turns out he lied and broke it in a punch on in St Kilda gets done drink driving gets done driving without a licence charged with rape convicted of harassment charged for forcibly touching a woman in the USA charged for assault against a man in the USA follows this up with attempts to expose a womans breast in Bali

I agree with you OD but it's amazing how things change so quickly as the season unfolds. At the start of this year, I thought if anything our list was too big with surplus key position and ruck depth. 18 weeks later we've all put a line through Weid, JVR is still too young, Majak gone, TMac out for the year, Jackson looks to be gone as well. A very sad state of affairs in the big man department (other than JVR). Melk look like he went back to his 2018 role in tagging the intercept defender. I remember him doing some really solid jobs on Sicily, Stewart and McGovern stopping them grabbing every ordinary entry in site. I thought this week would be a dream for Aliir Aliir and he would have been licking his lips. Melk kept him accountable well sneaking out to different areas. Without knowing for sure - I'm guessing it's these selfless roles that don't impact that stat sheet that keep him getting looks in the ones.

Great work on this LH, really appreciate it. Be interesting how we look at the remaining crop (other than Braysahw/Jackson) for 2022. We'll need some extra cash freed up I'm guessing. I'd imagine Baker, Bedford & Rosman would be on minimal and wouldn't save us anything replacing them with draft picks. There could be some savings in Hibberd who could re-sign on a lower base. Melksham might be gone. Smith and Hunt would nearly have to look for other opportunities now wouldn't they? With Brayshaw playing wonderfully (and a clear priority) and Salem back, Tomlinson looking good in the twos as depth and Turner looking up to standard in his debut, we all of a sudden look fairly solid down back. If the cashflow is tight, wouldn't be surprised to see both Smith and Hunt be released.

Holding off right now isn't a bad thing for him as with Gawn out, it's the first time we really get to see what he can do as the number 1 man. If he turns it on, he might jag another 10% on his Demons offer - enough for a deposit on another house or two over the next couple seasons and set himself up life. It might also add a year or bigger increase in $$ to the external offer as everyone finally gets to see him in action full time in the midfield other than the glimpses we catch when Gawn is on the pine/resting up forward. If he struggled then it would be fine anyways as it would be highly unlikely we/others would reduce the offers made. Sadly, he holds all the cards right now as if he wants to go, we'd be supportive as that's what good clubs do these days.

Brilliant news and definitely our number 1 priority IMO - even though he's not out of contract until next year. I'd love to be a fly on the wall in our list managers meetings. I wonder if Clarry was always priority 1 in there eyes before focusing on AB and LJ or if maybe one of these two has confirmed some not so friendly news which has freed up more cash to get Claytons signature and lock him away. Champion midfields are what wins flags. Having two of the very best in Trac & Oliver locked away for years to come is going to see us at the pointy end of the ladder for a long time. Wonderful work!