Ron Burgundy

I couldn’t find an existing thread on this - I’m simply interested in hearing everyone’s views. What’s the likely composition of this year’s leadership group? Viney and Jones as Co-Captains? Gawn, Lewis, T Mac, Lever and May in the mix for other positions?

“Weideman falls out of contract at the end of 2019 and although he's not in any rush to discuss an extension, he has made it clear that he wants to stay with the Demons in a long-term capacity. "I love the Dees so I'm hoping we can work something out which I'm sure will happen in the future," Weideman said.” It’s nice to read comments like this from a required player in the last year of his contract. Hogan, on the other hand, was always slightly equivocal.

I love Bernie.

I like Bugg, and I wish him well at Carlton. He had limitations as a player, but he seemed to run hard (both ways), and always seemed respectful about, and appreciative for, his time at the Dees. He also seemed genuinely remorseful for the incident with Mills. To put the boot into this dude on the way out is tres ordinaire.

It’s so fortunate that Stuart Dew rejected us.

There are absolutely rumours doing the rounds. They’ve just not been posted here. Hogan was probably a required player, but not on any terms - I expect when the opportunity presented itself for the club to secure Steven May for him, the club then immediately became super keen to make this happen. And it did.

I really hope he’s in the leadership group next year.

I was so bloody happy to read this. I love Bernie. The impact he's had on this club is underrated by many.

We learn from our mistakes of 2018, and have a good run with injuries. The Steven May trade proves to be a super astute decision. We make the Grand Final, and go in as mild favourites. And then cruelly lose. To Richmond. A critical life event, for me at least - as I finally turn to Jesus to get me through the rest of my life. This marks the start of a wonderful life journey that comes to an abrupt end on the morning of round 1, 2020. And then it all starts again.

Possibly. Gotta trust the club on this - they seem to get everything right these days.

Gotta be 5 years, surely.

I think Champion Data read the thread I posted late on Melbourne Cup night about celebrating a certain Demons’ flag in 2019. It was compelling stuff.

Plainly the club is very happy with Weideman. He had a good finals series and is a solid character. That said, I’m not sold on him over Curnow. Next that said, I think we have the best (and most balanced) list in the competition. Our forward line is dynamic and has genuine diversity and agility.

I trust Taylor absolutely on this. Seems like a likely lad. That said, I'm interested to know why Collingwood has seemingly overlooked him (2 successive VFL B&Fs) given that their defensive stocks are not as good as ours.

Solid name.

Goodwin came to this club to, aspirationally, be in this position. In fact, even in his wildest dreams, I don’t expect he thought we’d be in the position we currently are. It’s his club. As if he’d leave. That said, sign him up for another 5 years please. I see him lifting more than one premiership cup. For us.

Every first round draft pick in the BP period.

Trac doesn't seem to have an attitude problem. He clearly loves the club and is hungry for success. He does go missing too often though - I suspect it's absolutely confidence-related/mental etc. Anyone know what his GPS stats are (on average) per game? He could probably work on his aerobic capacity a bit.

I love scotch.

Super compelling. Need much more than that.

I just watched the Steven May interview (again). Epic recruit. We’re going to win the Flag next year. It’s happening. We have the best list. It’s perfect. And our coaching staff is elite, as is our culture. We just need a good run with injuries: Gawn, T McDonald, Oliver etc. If and when we win this thing, what are you going to do? How does one celebrate this stuff? I genuinely have no idea. It’s actually making me nervous.

JT will get the best available. I have no idea who that is but I know he does. The BP years feel like some kind of very dated horror movie now.

I genuinely love this bloke. From nowhere, he’s virtually my favourite Demon. Such a good pick up. I can’t believe how good this trade period was - simply par excellence. Competence is such an attractive trait - thanks Josh, Todd, and JT.

This is shocking. He was one of my favourite players for a while. Thought he’d win a Brownlow. Very sad news. A life has been cut far too short here.

I spoke to Kevin Sheedy at a marketing function in Sydney in early 2014. We’d each had about 15 beers, but my recollection of the conversation is crystal clear. He said, unequivocally, that he couldn’t believe the deal we negotiated, and that Kelly was going to be a legitimate superstar. I said it was ‘a win, win’ because we got two top ten draft pick players for the price of one etc, and he just laughed - said Tyson was tres ordinarie and kept repeating that Kelly would be an absolute gun. He maintained that GWS ‘won’ the trade, which I didn’t accept (obviously). This chat stuck in my mind ever since. I really rate Salem, but given that Tyson is now at North - perhaps Sheedy was right (even though it seems we would’ve picked Billings anyway).