ChaserJ

If you look real close after Alix kicks his 2nd goal, you’ll see me in the background rubbing my chin pondering just how high he could go…

"Melbourne will complete an external review of the club in a stunning backflip on its approach to the on and off-field problems which have plagued the Demons. The Herald Sun understands Melbourne is preparing to complete a full-scale independent review of the club’s performance in the football department and other senior positions after a turbulent year. The Demons have repeatedly denied they needed an external review but have buckled to calls to open the club’s operations to outside sporting experts to review operations. Melbourne great David Schwarz led the charge for a “top-to-bottom” review in the Herald Sun on August 14 in the wake of Christian Petracca’s bombshell decision to explore a trade. The thorough audit will involve people with considerable experience in successful sporting organisations including former All Blacks manager and culture and leadership specialist Darren Shand. At least one highly-respected AFL figure, such as administrator Geoff Walsh who reviewed Carlton and North Melbourne recently, is also tipped to be involved. The club is in the process of approaching individuals with necessary skills to help identify and fix the problems which have hampered the club and led to the resignation of president Kate Roffey last week. But Roffey may not be the only major departure as the review is expected to analyse the performance of all key roles in the football department. Coach Simon Goodwin is contracted until the end of 2026. His right-hand man is football manager Alan Richardson. Club great Brad Green will step in to fill in for Roffey as president while the Demons attempt to convince 200-game former Demon and ex MCC president Steven Smith to accept a board position. The external review will be welcomed by the club’s supporters who are eager for the club to address the cultural and on-field issues which have troubled the Demons since the 2021 premiership. The club has not won a final since the flag and missed the finals in 2024. Chief executive Gary Pert said in a pre-season interview the club had the best culture he had seen in 40 years but there has been recent acknowledgment the club needed to face its issues. The club hopes an external review can help mend the issues Petracca has spoken about explicitly in recent weeks to club leaders after considering a trade including the professionalism and standards of the player group. The review will be aimed to draw a line on the issues and lead to a fresh start for the club next season with a list which remains one of the most talented in the league. Melbourne list boss Tim Lamb is spearheading the club’s mission to attract new talent to the club, including another prime big man, amid the turbulence. Port Adelaide playmaker Dan Houston initially wanted to land at the club but ruled out Melbourne after the Petracca revelations."

Damn, must have happened before I rocked up. ACL bad or more of a knock?

Sorry mate, haven’t been able to find anything that’s centralised that info either.

Couldn’t add much more to what Adam’s said, but Mentha was pretty quiet and one of our other future NGA kids, Prasad kicked a goal for Dandy but was quiet outside of that. Riak matched up on Tauru for a lot of the 2nd half (including ruck contests inside Gippsland 50), and it was a fun watch. At times they were playing kick to kick with each other though (I’ll blame the wind).

Wouldn’t want to get pinned by an Ah-Mu tackle… Got a decent game here. Tauru looking really, really good overhead.

Will try and navigate parental duties and lob over to watch. Sam Lalor unfortunately absent for GWV against Geelong (playing now). He got a pretty bad corkie in the first half of their win last week, guessing it didn’t come good.

App’s good for the live streams and game day stats (although they take a bit of time to go up).

From what I’ve seen a work in progress, but improving all the time. The athletic traits are really exciting and he has competitive spirit. Getting the better of Shanahan should give him some confidence.

The guys at Baseline have posted some footage of Riak’s game last weekend. https://www.instagram.com/p/C_e5KKOTljJ/?igsh=a3FpZ2Jvd3F0M2Fh

Thanks for the scoop @goodwindees. Any notion on what Clarry’s preference (as in go or stay) might be?

Thanks for posting the write up from ESPN @binman. Jasper has taken over from Knightmare at ESPN, and I reckon I prefer his insight to KM’s.

Today’s results: Should be some mouthwatering encounters in the next round. Many of the top echelon of Vic prospects still in it and all of our NGA prospects (& Noah Yze) still there too.

Don’t threaten me with a good time @Chook in Perth…

Depends on what our list is looking like when we get to the draft. I’m not sure he’s shown enough, but maybe if we get him to train on leading up to the SSP period he could earn his way in that way.

I’ve got a high degree of confidence we’ll extract a first rounder from either Brisbane or GC. Where I’d go with a 2nd first rounder, I’m a bit torn between a small fwd (Joe Berry) that will help with groundball and ball movement in fwd half with a key back later on or flipping and selecting a key back (Alex Tauru my preference - scope for improvement is v high), and taking someone like Hannaford or Alger later on. Would rookie Mentha & Andrew as well.

Yep, 10 touches and 7 tackles.

Add in Brisbane, they’ll def trade their first for multiple later picks, Levi will get nominated well before pick 14/15. Another 30+ touches and a goal for him today in Sandy’s big wildcard win over the Jets, Murphy Reid with 32 & 3 goals. Harry Armstrong had a good game up forward, 4 goals from 16 touches. Jagga’s Oakleigh Chargers got up in a slight upset over Calder. Smith with 24 & 1, Finn O’Sullivan DNP. Waylon Davey-Motlop kicked 5 (has talent, but a long way away from AFL conditioning), Jasper Alger kicked 4 (skilful small forward). Elsewhere, Josh Smillie and the Ranges crashed out to the Northern Knights. Smillie got himself 26 & 2, but didn’t have a heap of support. Jesse Dattoli best on with 35 and a goal and could push well inside the top 30 range.

Player can still be traded in contract if all parties agree. The intent was to stop players coming out of contract so quickly that clubs would have no leverage if their high draft pick from interstate doesn't settle. If Harley really wanted to go next year at least the Eagles have him under contract to either hold or sell high. The rule change wouldn't have changed the JHF situation at North, he had a year left on his contract, North decided to take the best deal possible and move on.

Work rate and running capacity have been the knocks so far.

Only wants to go to a big Melbourne club to further its brand. Other picks not happy with how pick 5 has handled things. Tune in to Tradies for the latest…

I wonder how often we’ve kept tabs on Harley over the year and whether he’d be keen to push for a move. I reckon unlikely at this stage. However, what if start doing the groundwork now with Harley? Ask Koz to come back and give everything with the knowledge that we will look accommodate in good faith if a good deal can present (and work to set that deal up over the course of the year). Neither club will want to lose either player, but each player would fit the other club very nicely. Doesn’t happen without putting the time into Harley. JT loved him, so wouldn’t be surprised if he kept some sort of contact, but not sure what the impact of this Petracca situation would be on his thoughts (given he and Tracc share a management stable and obviously have each other’s number).

Jay Clark saying that we’ll chase Caleb Daniel if Bevo can’t guarantee he’s in Dogs plans going forward. The Dan Houston alternative.