Lord Nev

Melbourne is the latest club to register its interest in retiring Hawthorn forward Jarryd Roughead. The Demons have already begun their football department shake-up which will include more than 10 position changes across key pillars at AAMI Park. And although St Kilda and to a lesser extent Gold Coast remain in the hunt to lure the four-time premiership star, foxfooty.com.au understands Melbourne has a role for Roughead if he wants it. Melbourne registers its interest in Jarryd Roughead, following St Kilda and Gold Coast

Yes, it is. He's easily our most consistent player, our best trainer, our best speaker and as stated recently by our coach 'his leadership has grown extensively'.

So you're saying Viney and Jones are our most 'skilled' players then?

Not convinced by that given you used a whole huge post just to take pot shots at people on the internet. Come on mate, there's always going to be people you don't like here, doesn't mean you can't talk footy with them or even just ignore them.

Because he's clearly already a leader at the club, it's noticeable both at training and during games. He's a directional leader as well which is what we desperately need. Nothing to do with with salary or trade cost. 'Skill' has nothing to do with leadership. You're clearly just listing players who have played well this year. Leaders don't need to be your most skilled players.

Geez this is a poor post and I'm surprised it's allowed to stay up. A whole big post just to pot other posters here. Disgraceful.

Sensational post mate. I usually pull the TL:DR with lengthy posts here but this one was insightful, sensible and contained great examples. Thanks very much for putting the work in.

That definitely feels like they key, but with an extremely poor season on field and not a huge amount of salary cap room (there's varying opinions on that though) it could be tricky. Even trickier with Mahoney undertaking a club review at a time where he'd usually be the busiest for the year chasing up trades and free agents.

Yeah, fair point mate, was more just checking so I know where the line is, don't want to be crossing it without realizing it. What was your final measurement by the way? ?

Great post mate, I love a bit of research! I'm not trying to downplay maturity and experience, I'm more just worried somewhat about our depth going forward. All the teams you mention would have a greater spread of quality to support those veterans IMO. I'm really excited about some of our young players, but right now I don't think we have enough of them to cover the mature players we will lose in the next 3-4 years. That's what makes me panic a little more in a way, because I'm thinking our window should be now and if we don't make the most of it we could be in trouble.

@Demonland Why were my responses to this, none of which contained any kind of personal comments, deleted but this post remains?

Yeah, not saying those players are cooked of course, just saying it's likely they won't improve from here and some may start to go downhill gradually (you could argue Jetta and Hibberd are already) so our 'window' is now from a core group perspective IMO.

His role already encompasses Casey.

Reality check, next year some of our best players will start to hit an 'age point' where it's more likely they start to go down hill rather than up. Next season: Gawn will be 28. Jetta will be 30. Hibberd will be 30. May will be 28. Melksham will turn 29. TMac will turn 28. That's a huge part of our spine, and very much a core group of our best players. Thinking we're going to get better as we get 'older and more experienced' is a bit of a shallow analysis when you look at the actual players. This list doesn't include the likes of Lewis & Garlett who will both likely retire, Jones (won't be one of our most important next year), T.Smith (will be 29) and vandenBerg (28).

Holding the General Manager of Football accountable for football is clutching at straws?

Gossip and rumour of course, but yes the things I've heard paint a very poor picture from the board down. There is division in the board, there is a 'click' group of Mahoney, Goodwin and Viney (Snr), there is a split between the co-captains, there is unrest with one co-captain in particular among the playing group, a president who has the biggest ego out of all of them and there is a growing disconnect with former greats of the club, both players and others, who have been basically shunned from the club. Some of those things can be improved by winning games, simple as that, but we are very very much on a knife edge right now.

Bit of talk going around that it's been decided officially now GG will get pick 2 as a PP.

Likely won't be this, but my personal preference would be: Captain - Gawn Vice - Lever, Melksham Rest of LG - May, Viney Gives us a captain or vc in the middle and each end, which to me is important as it designates someone to direct. Jetta out to focus on his game, similar with Jones although chances are he may see some VFL time anyway. 3 'directional' leaders as the heads, 2 more 'intent' leaders to fill out the group.

Classic Melbourne that we have the GM of Football Operations leading a review into: Football operations - His role. The managing of players - His mate's role. The coaching - A few of his mates' roles. Player leadership - His mates son's role.

“One of the things I’m most disappointed about with Melbourne over the last six weeks, we understand the year’s been a write off, there’s been a lot of injuries, they’ve been really disappointing, but the way they’re finishing off this season for me is a sign of a club that they just still don’t get it,” Joey Montagna Says Melbourne’s Late Season Effort Shows They “Still Don’t Get It”

“They are deplorable. I feel sorry for the supporters because they are a meaningless team at the moment. “They are just deplorable. I thought last night was their test against somebody in the same neighbourhood as them on the ladder. “I thought last night was a launchpad for season 2020. They’ve got a few injuries, but by god, so do the Sydney Swans. Somebody who is on even par with them. “That was a meaningless performance and they have little to no identity as a football team. I cannot think less of them this morning after last night.” Brereton roasts "deplorable" Demons after Friday night howler “Though, 40 plus points is just not the difference between these teams. It’s embarrassing for Melbourne. "They've had one of the worst years you can imagine and that has just been rubber stamped again tonight." "Appalling" and "embarrassing" Demons beaten up by young Swans “We all saw it … Richmond have been the big one this year, when they’ve played with a real spirit as a group,” Riewoldt said on Fox Footy. “Melbourne have had issues this year with their system, they’ve had issues with their players being out of form — and that would speak to an issue with their spirit as well." Clayton Oliver slammed for ‘selfish’ spray of teammate Bayley Fritsch "Melbourne not in possession is embarrassing. The Swans looked like scoring every single time they went forward, where players were often standing in acres of space. Melbourne’s third goal came at 20 minute mark first quarter. Their fourth didn’t come until six minutes into the last term. In that time Sydney kicked seven straight. The Demons kicked two goals after quarter-time. There was no anger, no fight and no will to change the course they were on. Most worryingly, there was an acceptance." Melbourne slumps to sixth straight loss after raising the white flag against Sydney "But the last question might override the rest. How much has 2019 hurt? From premiership fancies to the worst-performed side in the competition apart from Gold Coast, the Demons' drop is unfathomable. There will be no club more closely watched this off-season." The key questions facing Melbourne in the off-season But if you want an even more telling assessment, take a look at any of the MFC socials, unofficial pages/groups, here of course and anywhere supporters are free to comment; it really seems to have finally hit the fan. The most common theme I've noticed already from even the most rusted-on supporters is that they won't be renewing next year and have had their passion absolutely snuffed out by the season presented by this club.

Accidental double post. Please delete.

Have heard similar things tbh. Might seem like a silly example, but if you want some kind of external 'proof' of this then look at the player interviews from the last few years where they ask "Who is the coaches pet?" The answer every time has been Viney. Now obviously that's meant as lighthearted entertainment, but without installing nanny cams in the locker rooms it's as close as you're going to get to an actual insight.

It would be Rawlings. Has done it before, has experience now running his own team as well.

4x Premiership winner Jason Dunstall said pre-game tonight that Viney would be the player to trade to seek to fix the balance in our midfield.