Dee-tonator

Do I back the considered judgment of JT or the posters who have already written him off before a ball has been kicked? The answer's obvious.

It's make or break next season for Clarrie. He will emerge at the end of it as the true champion we all know he can be, or as a rare but flawed talent undermined by injuries and off-field issues. I just hope the media sharks will give him the break he needs to get his mind and body into the right shape.

The skill in draft selection is not in seeing what youngsters can do now. It is the much rarer ability to spot what they can develop into. All the speculation is interesting, but I have no doubt Jason Taylor already has his priorities sorted out. And in Jason I trust.

President Roffey: gone. CEO Pert: gone. Petracca and Oliver: unhappy last season and clearly open at one stage to the chance of leaving. Dan Houston: club culture blamed in backflip on move to Demons. Joel Smith: gone, but the mysterious investigation lingers on. Caulfield project: minimal progress, with funding looming as a major problem even if feasibility study is favourable. Premiership window: still ajar, but once Gawn, Viney and May have all retired, a rebuild may be needed, especially if Petracca and Oliver depart as well. None of us outsiders know the full details in the issues listed above, but to deny that our club has serious unresolved issues is to put one's head in the sand. Pert's departure just confirms that.

Sam's a nice guy, but unfortunately ended up somewhere between an excellent VFL player and a genuine AFL forward. Apart from an occasional purple patch he never kicked enough goals to justify becoming a first-team regular. Sadly, in the contested battlefield of the inside 50 zone, he just did not seem to relish the contest. But at least he can look back on an AFL career, which is more than most players ever achieve.

One of those borderline decisions that could have gone either way. Next season's injury toll will probably indicate whether it was the right choice or not. Thommo has always given of his best when selected but unfortunately is way behind May and Lever in the picking order. He should go with the best wishes of everyone at the club.

Great draft hand now. but I'm more cautious than some posters who seem to have jumped straight from despair to elation. Drafting is never an exact science, so it is crucial that we get it right with picks 5 and 9. If so we would be well set up with young talent, given the compromised Tasmanian-team drafts that lie ahead. Maybe an infusion of classy youngsters would also make Oliver and Petracca realise that another Demons flag is still possible in the next few seasons.

If Oliver is indeed trying to force Melbourne's hand, I just hope the club stands firm. Geelong have nothing to offer in terms of trading or draft picks which would come anywhere near Oliver's value as a player. If he then refused to play for us, he would be in breach of contract, potentially leading to a fine and/or non-payment of his salary. That would be more of a legal and financial nightmare for Oliver than for the club. The AFL really ought to be investigating Geelong for such a blatant attempt to poach a contracted player from another club.

The trouble with our Ferrari is that it keeps blowing its gaskets. We need to get its engine running smoothly again.

If Oliver starts next season with a clear mind and a fit body, the sky is again the limit for him and the team. Same goes for Petracca. So after the trade and draft periods, we could be looking a lot stronger than a disastrous 2024 might suggest. Only big loss from our best 22 so far is ANB, whose running and tackling will be missed. What Clarrie needs right now is total support from everyone at the club to get back to his best.

That would be a great result, but unfortunately it would leave you stranded about 384,000 kilometres from the MCG.......

So far we have heard from the media mob that: (1) Viney's off to North Melbourne. (2) Trac is about to start a huge trading melee. (3) Clarrie is as good as signed by the Cats. (4) Kozzie has already bought a plane ticket for Perth. (5) Melbourne are a spent force, consumed by bitter infighting on all fronts. Score: 0 out of 5.

Some rumours for the media mob to follow up: 1. Max is about to leave for Ireland to play Gaelic football for Galway. 2. OIiver's proposed move is a cunning ploy by Goodwin to destroy the Cats from the inside. 3. Bowey is unhappy because his request to play at full forward has been rejected. 4. May and Melksham have lined up a UFC fight to see which one stays at the club next season. 5. Kozzie wants out because of the Melbourne weather. PS: No 5 might be true.

Media pundits and some posters are talking as if Melbourne have no choice but to let Oliver join Geelong for whatever scraps we get in return. Not so. It's time to get tough, tell other clubs to back off, and warn Oliver that the club will fine or suspend him for any further infractions. Melbourne have given him a contract that ensures he can retire from a game a wealthy man. The club has also gone out of its way to support him when he experienced off-field problems that have had an adverse effect on the team's performance levels. Metaphorically speaking, his response is apparently to kick Melbourne players, officials and fans in the teeth. The notion of letting him leave for a likely mid-teens future draft pick, while still playing a hefty chunk of his salary, is frankly insane. Having seen how the Petracca and Oliver sagas have played out, one thing is now certain. Very few clubs, if any, will be offering seven-year contracts, even to superstars.

Suggested message to other clubs: Our minimum requirement is that (1) you take over Oliver's full contract and (2) we require an elite player in return plus a high draft pick. Suggested message to Oliver: you are going nowhere unless Melbourne get a fair deal in exchange, including a high-class midfielder. This club has bent over backwards to assist you and it is you who owe us big time. If there are further issues with fitness or conduct, prepare for a year in the stiffs at Casey.