buck_nekkid

Essendon's salary cap will be interesting - or is it all just paid out to the old drug boys as 'compensation monies'??? Now that Daniher won mark of the year (ha ha) his value at contract time must sky rocket!

Bombers are going to have to give up a bit this year and next year for that bunch. Suspect if they think they are close to a tilt at the flag that they might take this option, and trade out players and picks. Stringer is worth 15 first round picks (according to someone in Adelaide) - in reality probably at least a first rounder plus a schoolgirl and a TAB account, Smith and Saad second rounders. I think they could get it all done, but they may need to move a few players out to allow them to do so. Will they do #whateverittakes?

I'm in. I even bought a membership every year for the 6 years I lived overseas. Sometimes being a Melbourne supporter is painful, but they are my team. If you tell me you are dropping your membership because we are trading out a player you are not a supporter of the club. It is generally self-important twats that think they have some sort of leverage to change the actions of the club through these kiddie tantrums. Your membership is 1/40,000. You carry 0.0025% of the 'membership' - and you think your antics will change anything? Nope. The FD are invested with the decision making for a reason. If you want to have that sort of say, join the board, or get qualified enough to join the FD.

Vince is probably on a much smaller deal, will happily play at Casey, and is worth it for leadership and stability around the place. Maybe not best 22in our GF team, but I have no problems with him being around the team if he is setting great training standards and team first attitudes for the developing kids.

Dwayne Russell is a [censored]. Who cares what he thinks. He has to keep talking or he would dribble. He has no place in setting the value. Walk to the draft if you must, JL, and screw the crows.

Thanks, Drunkn, I love that you post a perspective here, and that you also hold a confidence when you need to (not giving BenKen up, but giving us a heads up). I get this perspective, but I would be looking for the young players to step up and be demanding better contracts as they develop. I’m sure that there would be some jealousy, but after an initial flush, do they really stand around comparing pay packets? Some of the B Rookies are on a pittance to some of the established players. I hope the message was ‘don’t expect overs’ - and ‘we have to spread the load if we want to win a flag’. Rather than ‘you are all going to be paid less’. I think with the new CBA, there is room for guys like Petracca, Oliver, Hogan, Viney (Kealty??) to earn well. At some point they may have to make a choice as the Cats or Hawks players did - take a little less and get success, or get bigger bucks somewhere else. I dont think we are at that point. In 2-3 years I think there will be a core bunch of guys on Lever money, and a band on a bit less. This is not a Boyd to Bulldogs deal (they seemed to manage...), but I think it may set a new internal benchmark for the guys to aspire to.

Best thing on the interweb today!

Regardless, Mr Watts has a contract and can refuse to be traded. Can relax on the cash for 2 more years. He has to agree to any trade. He gets the last call....

This.

You realise this is Demonland...right??

Wasn’t goody just responding to media and Watts in Adelaide comments? I’m sure Goody is answering a question, not starting a fight in the media.

So I imagine Jacky-boy knows what needs to be done if he wants to play AFL for MFC next year. Is this a signal that he is prepared to do it (stuck in a rut) or simply a cry to not be kicked out because he ‘loves it’? I want to hear him say something like: ”I have been here 9 years and I love the place. I also know that what Melbourne need from me is so much more as they move forward. I relish the chance to push myself to new levels and be a part of something special.” Speak now, or forever hold your peace.

Suspect this all is part of a phased build to the club. We have come from being complete rabble only a couple of seasons ago. We had so much to fix, and there was only so many of the list we could realistically turn over (including available talent to bring in relative to what we needed). Last year we traded in experience and leadership, and added some talent in a few key spots. We were so lacking in defence that had to be fixed first. We were crap around the contest, and this has been addressed. We were light on on-field leadership and that was addressed. Next is 4 quarter effort, midfield to forward connections and clean ball movement. I feel we are now at the point of setting the ‘not negotiables’ for team culture, and filling the holes we have in the list. Lever will definitely enhance our backline, and may help free up other resources up the field. We are developing outside runners, but may need to bring some in. We are light on with small forwards, and may have to do something there. It seems that the FD have a clear idea of what is not acceptable, and these are being moved out. We cant do it all at once, and need to make choices that include both the list, and the TEAM. Interesting, if Jack wants to stay, I imagine he will be clear on what will be required or he will be Caseys Best and Fairest next year. The focus has therefore shifted from ‘players we need’ to ‘the club we need’. Quietly, I am very happy with this. No one player is bigger than the club. I find it interesting that BenKen was only cut now - is this because they were holding onto him subject on knowing they had something better lined up? With the ‘pizz-up’ 4 now gone/going and JW under the pump, who is next??

We should not play copy cat. Hopefully Goodwin has a gameplan that can win the big dance, and the players can develop enough capability and skill to deliver it. We can learn that doing what the bulldogs did (throw and run fast) was OK for one flag. Richmond did well, and The son of a kiwi crim had an unbelievable season - lets see if they can do it again next year. The big lesson is that you need to make the finals, and then have a gameplan that works under the pressure of that environment. A champion team beats a team of champions. You need to have great days, with your best players available. The other lesson is that you want to be the 'fairytale' team with protected superstars. This gives you free reign to 'dont argue' to the face, throw like libba, duck like selwood or do 5 360 degree turns in a tackle and not get pinged like Buddy. You also need Waleed Ali and Malcolm Turnbull to provide references any time you punch someone in the head because you are such an outstanding fella. Other lessons - If Tigers and Dogs can do it, we can, too.

Wow! Where to? (Please don’t say Geelong...)

I feel really phizzed off right now. [censored] tigers. Demons must Find some players who want to win a freaking flag. I’m sick of being a Demons supporter more now than I have been in ages. WHen is our [censored] turn? I’m sick of waiting for a fricking ‘window’ and finding solace in nearly good enough. its not. [censored] step up Melbourne. Make your own success.

What [censored] is that? Martin with the Norm Smith? [censored] off. It is a popularity contest now, not a competition. Has been the worst season on record. Howe robbed of the mark of the year. An average goal of the year. Dangerfield gett No no votes in the last round so Dusty wins clear. Poor one sided umpairing all year, and now the Norm Smith??

Last year it was speed, this year pressure. I wonder what next year will be the clarion call?

Now that’s over, can we get on with the silly season?

Hunt went in favourite. Never going to win it from there...

A sticking puddle

Insipid. Gone.

And what it looks like to be a painful sook.

Pretty good standard for first 1/4 of a granny. how does Martin get through untackled so often? our Jake doing well.

Is Watts our Tyrone Vickery? Shed the player, spuds it up elsewhere, take a big step forward?