Bring-Back-Powell

Hunter signed a long term contract at Dogs through to 2024. Is it possible we offered him an extra year through to 2025 as a selling point to get him over. At the time (2022) he was still considered an above average league player.

About time the boys are back in training.

Is there something legit about Derkson or would he be just another Pat McKenna who we also got from GWS a number of years ago. I think Matt Owies could be useful for us, but I guess we have Spargo who potentially could get himself back into the side.

Hunter was re-signed through to 2024 at the Dogs. So we must have given him an extra year to coax him to the MFC. Either way, unbelievable that he'll be with us next year.

Hunter on the non Langdon wing for round 0?

Yes and he also kicked 1 or 2 clutch goals against us in the semi final last year.

Is Kennedy the bloke that kicked the winning goal in Gather Round after a Freo player gave the umpire a mouthful?

We probably come home with the 4 points if Owies didn't play against us in round 9. And a big yes to Kennedy who could replace ANB is that mid/forward player. Carlton seem to be well stocked in B/B+ midfielders such as Cerra and Hewett so could probably afford to trade him.

Keen for a Brisbane V Sydney GF. Get the flag out of VIC so it's out of sight out of mind. I don't mind Port as a side but I don't trust them in putting in a decent GF.

Any ideas what percentage of the list did 90% of pre season? Felt as though the season was over before it began with so many players on the side lines in January and February.

Yes to moving on Lamb. Yes to pursuing Wright. However I think Wright is looking for a role that's higher than list manager. Eg - Club CEO or senior AFL executive.

Just did a bunch of googling. 2023 number of 71,388 members from the MFC audited report: https://resources.melbournefc.com.au/aflc-melb/document/2023/11/23/b3cb16b1-2ea5-4d95-a11d-0bf3081645b8/2023-MFC-Annual-Financial-Report.pdf 2024 number of 65,479 members from the AFL website. https://www.geelongcats.com.au/news/1652243/afl-releases-2024-club-membership-numbers Observations: 1) We recorded a 9% decrease in members in 2024. 2) 13 out of 18 clubs achieved record membership in 2024 - clearly not including the MFC. 3) 8 clubs recorded +10% in membership in 2024. 4) It's understood we had the largest drop off in membership but admittedly I can't back that one up with data. But given at least 13 out of 18 clubs experienced record numbers in 2024, we probably did have the largest drop off. Make of that what you will when linking membership performance with Simon Goodwin's performance.

We had a 9% decrease in membership, which was one of the worst membership drop offs in the league. Could even be the worst.

I thought the call was spot on. Made no genuine attempt to keep the ball in play despite the pressure.

Port V Brisbane - 2004 GF Port V Brisbane - 2024 GF ??

I always thought GWS were too flawed a side to win the flag. Their coach bemoaned their inability to play 4 quarters, they had a gross reliance on Hogan and skated by the season with unsustainable accuracy. Unfortunately for them, Brisbane hit the scoreboard too regularly.

Weird to think Geelong can repeat 2022: 1) beat Brisbane in a prelim at the MCG 2) beat Sydney in a GF at the MCG.

I did think about our master piece of a finals series last year but we were too busy kicking behinds to get the unassailable lead the Giants had this finals series.

Can’t recall a bigger straight sets choke than GWS.

GWS are the 3 quarter kings. Not a flag contender in my books.

Don’t disagree in the slightest what you’re saying. We’ll move on and draft whatever Taylor deems best or try to chase another established star. However, in any other previous year I feel as though we’d have 30 pages bemoaning the fact that we fell out of the race in our chase for a genuine A Grader. Why, for this year, are most posters apathetic towards this particular genuine star? He would’ve transformed our back half use of the football.

We (one of the worst skilled clubs in the AFL) would be nuts to overlook a 2023 and 2024 All Australian and confirmed top 5 best kicker in the league. I am astounded by the lack of disappointment around here in falling out of the race for the services of an absolute marquee player.

I’d say it’s more Houston not wanting to come to us than us not willing to give up a premium pick for him. One of the poorest skilled and sloppiest teams in the league shouldn’t be knocking back highly skilled players of the ilk of Houston.

I'm only going by separate reports from Jay Clark and Cal Twomey that the player himself has essentially changed his mind. When you get the same information from multiple media sources that are independent of each other you'd probably think there's validity in the claim. In any respect, Houston is worth a top 5-10 pick given his recent achievements, and if he did nominate us (which he won't at this stage), then I'd be willing to trade pick 5 with a bit of change coming back our way due to his age. Carlton should stump up pick 11 outright for Houston if they desperately want him.

Hard to fathom that Houston basically nominated us as his preferred club until we imploded and went all MFC on everyone. We could had a 2 time reigning All Australian, a top 5 user of the football and arguably our best recruit in the Goodwin era. Another reference below in relation to Houston's initial intentions - being the MFC as his club of choice before we stuffed everything up. https://www.afl.com.au/news/1217505/inside-trading-key-factor-for-eagles-targets-swan-gets-offer-clubs-meet-for-trade-talks