Skuit

Been saying a similar thing for years now. I agree that Max is the best tap-ruck I've ever seen, but that conception allows opposition mids to prepare to counter it from a negating perspective. When a Pedo or Preuss comes in it's back to a 50-50 contest and the pure ball-winning dominance of our mids get to shine. I honestly don't know the solution - but I hope we can come up with a way to capitalise on both having Max and the likes of Trac, Clarry and Viney in the starting midfield.

I would like Isaac Smith to come to our football team. But part of that depends on one's perspective as to where we sit on the 'premiership clock'. I personally believe our window will open next year again and peak in the next two to three years beyond that - covering the length of Smith's proposed contract. I think it would be beneficial to have him on the list during this period, whether playing full-time or not. But if you're in the anti-Goodwin/club-is-a-mess camp then it would make little sense.

For the record - this is the @titan_uranusand @binman exchange from another thread. Titan: I've seen this 10kg thing a lot. Is there any evidence at all to support it? Is there anyone on Demonland who claims to have a source who has said this? Or is it just a rumour with no real base to it? Binman: It was stated as fact by a poster around the time of the blues game. The poster's name escapes me and I don't recall them posting for some time, though was prolific poster at that point. (Note: Coq au vin appears to be the sauce. Not sure if he or she was posting under a different name at the time). We had a number of back and forth posts about it as in the immortal of Sy Richardson's character, Lite, from Repo Man 'I called [censored] on that'. As if the club in this day and age would ask an already big, 27 year old power forward to put on 10kgs to play deep full forward (which as i pointed out to said poster they didn't even play him in that position against the blues, or subsequently as it has turned out). .......................... Anyone else got any links to the source of this contention? TMac apparently saying he wants to drop some kgs (I don't know that source either - Foxfooty?) adds some weight - forgive the pun - to him being heavier than normal, as do the eyeballs. Any confirmation though that the club wanted him to get heavier? It seems counter to all of our mobile talls having been asked to slim down in recent seasons: Gawn, Hogan, and Pedo off the very top of my head, with obvious results.

Hey OD. I don't mean to pull you up specifically but in a post-truth world we should all do our bit. Since the Roos-Goodwin era the Pies have qualified for the finals at a rate of around 40% - with them shading us by half a game this year (one goal in one game to us and they drop to under 30%). It's a small sample-size but Buckley has also been granted eight years at the helm to date, having taken over a grand-final-quality team with a pretty decent list balance.

MFCSS flaring up like crazy. Either Trac is fat again or will be eaten by a crocodile. Failing that, he clearly looks unhappy about his first placing in the best & fairest and will seek a trade to the Trinity Beach Bulldogs.

Now that this thread has turned to official unmitigated garbage I'll bother to note that I wrote 'interneting' as opposed to 'interesting'. It's not interesting at all. This thread or a particular poster should be culled.

Continue backing self into a ridiculous corner. Then pretend it was trolling. Nice interneting.

@titan_uranusworking overtime and binman putting in some work. Contention: TMac was told to put on some weight by the MFC. Seems sketchy so far. @binmanappears to have got to the bottom of the origin (a certain Coq on this site). He does however look bigger. Confusing if he took that decision upon his own, as has been vaguely suggested in the media. Contention: TMac will only play if his brother is selected. Sounds like complete bs on the surface. I did however once suggest that OMac's contractual status might come into play when signing Tomald. I hope I'm not the origin of these rumours because my post was complete speculative nonsense. Contention: Simon Goodwin is obstinate and doesn't listen to his assistants. Spend a week off this site and on return this is given as fact. I don't think we can get to the bottom of this one. Inside info on contractual details e.g. is one thing, but workplace rumour is another. Jennings would probably tell anyone he comes into contact with that Simon doesn't listen. One is factual, the other is opinion. But where did this idea come from? Contention: Both Trac and Clarry are disgruntled. I know the first was via @goodwindees, but the second? How much validation do either of these contentions have? Let's round-up the original sources and backing.

It's nice to watch both the Kangas and Essendon implode. And I'm generally not the vindictive type.

Very odd footballer. Quite ugly in his posture and movement but then executes a lot of things very naturally. I don't ever think he'll be a fan favourite but if he can hold down another wing . . .

Now my turn for an admission. I have no idea about Brown's knee injury either and it's silly for us to take that path if there's any risk at all. I assume though that the MFC's medical team would be all over it before we went in that direction.

I'm confused. I know many of you have strong opinions but what is it about Carlton that gets players to the club? Simply $$$? Unbelievably, they've performed worse than us over the past decade or so. And why do we complain about salaries when they just dish out whatever to whoever? Have they backed themselves into a corner? Something seems off.

I disagree (and they're getting another NGA this year, right?). But I tend to see the good in people. Eddie was pretty magnanimous this year in some ways, and while baiting over the journey has been pretty good to our club. I doubt he would ever remotely support our extinction unlike Kennett - and I believe he would respect an equitable outcome as to NGA. As long as it's not a direct disadvantage or market challenge to the Pies.

Picket - I know you're happy enough being the class clown but I also know you're astute enough to already know the above without the backing of a VFL/AFL veteran. The only difference in my opinion is putting Oliver in a top-4 team to realise his potential. His potential will put us in the top-4. Trac didn't need to go to Richmond to step up and take responsibility.

I'm of the belief that Tomald has stunted Omac's development as both a footballer and human being. It's not a massive criticism as I would apply the same to me, constantly looking up to a much older brother. Also, I'm allowed to post irrational garbage occasionally if everyone else gets to.

Not sure if anyone has mentioned it yet but I'm of the personal opinion that this is great news.

I respect you as a poster LH but I think this is complete fantasy-realm. I could obviously be wrong but the notion of TMac getting back to 2018 form seems so far removed from my expectations that it would be derelict of our club to even consider that might be happening and then plan around it as such. The ramifications are bigger if we don't cut our losses and address the issue now. What makes you think that TMac isn't completely broken? Had no agility to begin with and it's even worse now - with the added bonus of no confidence. We signed him when we should have. No one erred. But every club has to suck it up on certain players not performing within the cap. In my opinion, he was the single biggest factor in us missing the finals this year (from a personnel perspective). Ben Brown: yes, easily. For a second-rounder, I would be over the moon.

Love Bailey. He created enough opportunities vs Essendon that he could have easily kicked 7 or 8 (a couple of close missed marks on the goal-line, a couple hand-offs, and some poor shots on goal), but there's not many players in the AFL you can say that about. I'm pretty confident he will come back from the yips. Add an extra key forward to the mix and he slides down a spot in terms of defenders - such a difficult match-up. Would hate to play against him. Happiest signing since Trac for me.

I know, and I agree, but outside of commercial interests we do still run the fairest elite competition in the world and I believe everyone involved accepts that it's an important and fundamental principle of the AFL. I'm not automatically anti-AFL HQ, so I believe that if we presented the case on evening up NGA concessions into the future then the league would listen. But the case needs to be forwarded. Those clubs arguing against such an ideal would be exposed pretty quickly, and as such I think for the most part wouldn't protest.

Thanks for the chuckle AmDam. Much appreciated.

Offer de Goey the world (I haven't been paying attention to his criminal charges so there's obviously that to consider). Worst off: the Pies have an extra cap-squeeze and we can maybe pry a Daicos or Mihoceck loose, or: we have Trac and Jordan in a single team which I don't think has ever happened in the history of football as to two top-five game-breakers.

Hey KLV. I don't want to be an annoying optimist but it rained in Darwin this morning and the frogs are chirping. Life will go on whatever may come. Whisky at lunch while working from home is also fun.

Clarry demonstrated his ability at times this year to rectify some of his short-comings (he is capable across the board). It came on the back of a lot of external criticism, but was obviously addressed internally, i.e. the coaches put it on him (in particular to drive out of contests) and he responded. We all know he still has a ceiling well beyond what he's currently producing, which is already extraordinary in itself for a 23 y/o. Goody described him as the hardest-working player on our list: I would be gobsmacked if there were any tensions between Clarry and coach, as everything else suggests there's been a great working relationship since day one. One of the most underappreciated players in the AFL, but I'm certain our club doesn't feel that way even if they apply especially hard expectations. Right now, absolutely first-picked in my team.

I've been reflecting of the proposed phase out of NGA picks in the first and second rounds and although I agree I feel rather aggrieved. One of the best aspects of our sport is the view to equality (as best as is possible in a commercial market) but the NGA was a total crap-shoot. In such an even competition with slight margins of advantage, some teams will massively benefit from a couple years of the programme while others - like us - completely miss out. I still support father-sons as I appreciate the romanticism unique to Australian football, but the NGA stuff is just freebies. I feel that our club should lobby for an alternative phase-out, where the draft-point concessions already given to the clubs which have benefitted apply to other clubs until the cookies are exhausted.

I'm not sure if I've ever uttered a statement as ridiculous as this (and I don't give any weight to these rumours), but if Oliver leaves the club they can factor me into the trade negotiations as well. It would be devastating to both my dwindling care about the MFC and football in general. Choo-choo-choose us Clarry.