Ron Burgundy

Even though it was filmed at Oktoberfest, and the substance is apparently legal, it didn’t look like his first rodeo. Not a good look. Not remotely. Whovever filmed the footage and then uploaded it, should be exited from Watts’ inner sanctum. Cannot be a close mate. And that Watts is described as an ‘ex-Melbourne football player’ in some media reports, ironically serves to demonstrate the professionalism of the club these days. We would’ve been putting a 5 year extension under his nose for that a decade ago ...

Quality post. I’m pleased that certain posters here are not Magistrates. It’d make justice in Dodge City in the 1870s look positively enlightened.

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.

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.

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.

I love scotch.

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.

I just watched the interview with Steven May on the club’s website. He is already a favourite of mine. I never heard Jesse express that type of enthusiasm or excitement about the club. I found it super refreshing to hear it from May though. Hogan will be a very good player for Freo, but I’m very happy we have May now. I expect he’ll become a club legend. The Dees secured a cracking trade result here.

In fact, a Dons’ supporter friend of mine was whinging about how good the Hawks’ trade period has been, saying “they’ll win the flag next year”. My response was “are you serious, have you seen how good our trade period was?! Our list is now perfect.” He just shook his head and laughed. But I reckon it is. I think the club deserves more credit than we’ve received to date. We simply nailed it. Everyone gets dazzled by brand name player trades, and seems not to play sufficient credit to the trades like Vince, Hibberd, Melksham, Garlett, Cross, Preuss, and KK. It’s about how trades actually improve a club’s list that is the critical element in determining the success or otherwise of a trade period, surely?

Much like the Jeffy Garlett ‘trade’ several years ago, KK will turn out to be an absolute gift. Thank you GC Suns. I’m glad that we, and not some mongrel club like the Hawks or the Blues, have been a clear beneficiary of the talent exodus from this Suns this year. Really excited about May and KK. We are so good at identifying, and then trading in, experienced players these days.

AFL 360 will be interesting viewing next year. We should get some insight into his intentions throughout the season. I suspect Lewis will want at least another year after this contract ends - and, right now, he is in our best 22 (despite having an absolute shocker in the preliminary final, which was seemingly not due to lack of fitness, but due to playing like an inexperienced TAC Cup player - bizarre really). I’m not writing off Lewis for 2020 just yet.

And, for the record, I did not ever love Sam May.

Yep, Sam May was a mate of mine from uni - must’ve typed it without thinking. He’s a very different dude to Steven May who is about to become an MFC club legend.

Yep, that’s interesting. If true, I wonder if Dean Kent leaving to go to the Saints represented the loss of a mate in circumstances where he was already feeling a bit isolated, and he just thought - it’s time. I heard (again hearsay to the power of the distance between the Earth and the Sun) that the leadership group wasn’t entirely happy with him. Added to this, a mate who’s wife is best friends with the wife of an absolute club legend (former player) told me that Hogan’s name was involved in trade discussions last year - I didn’t post it at the time because I couldn’t be bothered dealing with the wrath of a few here. Anyway - whatever the reasons, he’s now gone. As I said, he seems like a decent fellow - but, as an observer from afar, Hogan’s relationship with the club always had an awkwardness about it. I think I’m going to love Sam May.

Good luck to him - seems like a decent fellow, but I’m bloody stoked that we managed to land Sam May et al. As an aside, I can’t recall Hogan ever saying words to this effect whilst at the Demons: “I’m just excited to get into it but it kind of hasn’t sunk in just yet. “But I can’t wait to pull on the jersey and run out for the first time - hopefully, for the next five to 10 years.”

Surely, he has to be in the leadership group.