old55

A bit tough to complain that we've lost Brayshaw, ANB and Petracca(?) when there hasn't been a trade and draft cycle providing any opportunity to replace them

Let's keep the facts straight. Lawrence asked for members' email addresses so he could send his electoral message out and the club refused to provide them. OK Lawrence said, you send my message out for me and the club again refused. So Lawrence took them to court and won.

Harley Reid - they already go to him in a marking one on one with Jack Henry and he wins it easily.

There's all sorts of titles for matches - the Derby, the Showdown, Dreamtime - this is simply "the Hate"

I've been posting here for a long time and people will have formed their views on the value of my content, but I think it's fair to say, as the artist formerly known as Pollyanna, I'm generally very supportive of the club. But not in this instance. I've come to know Peter Lawrence since he started to campaign for greater transparency and democracy in our board elections. I've found him to be of high moral character, someone with broad ranging views that I admire. He's intelligent, empathetic and generous. His actions in this matter are all about making the Melbourne Football Club better and not at all about self-agrandisement. He's paid a big cost reputationally and financially in his quest for a better club and he has directly sought to minimise the costs to MFC. As @Dr Don Duffy said, the board "won" this action against Lawrence but only after they adopted 4 of the 5 changes he was promoting during the course of the court action. It doesn't reflect well on this board that they couldn't find a way to accommodate a capable and passionate person like Peter Lawrence and ended up in court twice with outcomes almost totally in favour of his original positions.

Good question I'm not sure, but shouldn't God know these things?

I expect at least 7 list exits at the end of the season - Brayshaw, Hunter, Schache, Tomlinson, Smith, ANB and B.Brown. The good thing there is that they are all senior listed players so that gives us a lot of flexibility for new acquisitions. I hope we retain all our Rookies and give them further time to develop - K.Brown, Kentfield, Verrall, Sestan, AMW (B), KFW (B) and Melksham and Hore who add value and depth. I think we'll be looking to elevate at least a couple of Rookies to free space on that list for more speculation and Noah Yze, Ricky Mentha. I think AMW, K.Brown and Verrall are the elevation candidates.

I didn't think of that, is it something you might do Sue or something someone did to you?

I don't think it works that way. Houston chooses the club then Port do the negotiations. He's not going to be influenced to come to us because Port get better value.

Hard to believe that Houston has been put off by recent reported "turbulence" at MFC. If he has then that says we probably don't want him anyway. If it's to go ahead I think 13 from GC for our F1st and 27 from Adelaide for ANB should get it done with Houston and Port's F2nd back. Their first pick is 37 so 13 and 27 is a decent boost. We also retain our current first for this year's draft for a good mid. If it doesn't happen then we take 7, 13 and 27 to the draft. In that case we could trade 13 + 27 to Sydney for 18 + 19 and put us right in the frame for SA ruckman Alex Dodson and the pick of a bunch of talls all rated by Cal Twomey in the 20s: https://www.afl.com.au/news/1173505/cal-twomeys-phantom-form-guide-top-draft-prospects-august-ranking

I think you're discounting the leadership vacuum too heavily. North were no doubt offering 4 years and big bucks.

As @Axis of Bob observed Tom Stewart signed for 4 years at almost exactly the same age as Jack is now at the end of last year. https://www.geelongcats.com.au/news/1479173/stewart-signs-on#:~:text=Tom Stewart is set to,a three-year contract extension.

Look I agree that 4 years is a stretch but there is such a thing as shoulder surgery and I've long believed Jack could be very effective in the forward 50. With Gus and ANB leaving we're desperately short of off-field leadership - Max, Jack, Lever (who you don't rate) and then daylight, to steward a lot of young players on the rise. IMO we've paid a premium for what Jack can deliver in this area.

McVee attended 22% of CBAs vs Port but I guess you can't see that if you don't want to watch.

I'd be very sorry to see Chaplin go, our defence has been generally great for many years under enormous pressure. He's a gun IMO.

I thought Lingers hasbeen great since he returned to the wing. I think the spot is Laurie's if he wants it enough.

Lawyers think she's doing a fabulous job.

Did you even listen to Goodwin's press conference? Clayton had to have the plate in for 12-14 weeks to allow support for healing and now that times is up so he's had the surgery to have it out.

People will see what they want to see. I see a coach I want at the club in Simon's press conference today. https://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/1627919/rd-23-media-conference-simon-goodwin?videoId=1627919&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1723594756001

Personal circumstances - he clearly iterated that he loves the club and "the man and father it has made him". Clearly the coach has been a big part of this.

Just like how Kozzy went to Port and Petty went to Adelaide eh?

Amazing that, apart from Jackson and Bedford, every single one that we've wanted to re-sign has done so. How do you reconcile that?

I'd prefer Bergman but you can't buy what's not for sale.

I actually prefer the 3:20 Sunday - time to have lunch nearby and then get settled in.

Do you like Saturdays at 1:45, Sundays at 1:10 or 4:40? Because that's what you'll get.