Supreme_Demon

I think that this decision by Gary Pert is the best for all parties. He did a great job for numerous years at the Demons as CEO. However, for whatever reason, things sadly seemed to unravel after our Premiership glory in 2021. Was it hubris? Was it drinking our own bath water? Was it the excitable belief of a "Demons Dynasty?" Anyway, the alleged "shopping around" of Clayton Oliver this off-season and the odd falsehood saying the Demons had "the best culture he had ever seen" was probably the beginning of the end for Gary Pert. Nevertheless, I am glad he is staying on in a consultancy role for our Home Base at Caulfield Racecourse. I wish Gary Pert all the best in his future retirement. Hopefully, we choose an excellent candidate to take over as the Demon's new CEO in season 2025.

Great to have Nathan Jones back at the club! I am assuming as an assistant midfield coach? I wonder if it is worthwhile trying to get Cameron Bruce back to the Club as midfield coach? Whether or not he wishes to leave the Lions is another question altogether?!

Who is a better kick? Jagga Smith or Harvey Langford?

This is a tragedy. A young life lost far too soon. I also hope the Melbourne Football Club do something to honour Jack Davey in Round 1.

At pick #5 I would be happy with either Harvey Langford or Jagga Smith. It all depends who is the better kick and more elite decision maker?

With pick #5 the Demons can see who slides down to us from the top midfielders in this year's draft. As for pick #9 it will be totally dependent upon who Richmond (pick #6) and St. Kilda (picks #7 and #8) decide to draft. St. Kilda, in particular, are very much under pressure to make their draft picks count after their recent draft failures with high picks back in 2017.

Same! Would be a well deserved 250 games at the Melbourne Football Club. Hope he has another excellent season in 2025! On ya Macca! 🔴🔵👹

I think we as Melbourne supporters can raise the funds of $100 million dollars ourselves. Obviously, some more than others, depending upon our personal financial situations. I do agree that we should have done this earlier in 2021 after our Premiership success. That was a missed opportunity. The most important thing is getting our Home Base built at Caulfield Racecourse in the next few years. Finally having a Home Base in our lifetime is just as significant (if not more) as winning an AFL Premiership at the MCG. I have faith that we can get it done!

The height of 194cm makes him pretty tempting. He is definitely a "Unicorn" as they say.... Could he be the next Marcus Bontempelli? My question is, can he also play as a tall forward as well as a midfielder?

Yes absolutely. I don't think Richmond are that stupid are they?! Unless Adem Yze is secretly sabotaging them! 🤣

At pick #83 I have full faith in Jason Taylor rolling the dice on a "smokey" late in the 2024 AFL National Draft.

I think a lot will depend upon if North Melbourne is given a big offer to split pick #2 by Richmond. If North Melbourne say no, then Richmond might come calling to us with a tempting deal for pick #5. I wouldn't risk trading away pick #5 but I think offers for pick #9 the Demons might be open to considering.

I saw that Matthew Lloyd highly rates him as well. Does this add weight to the decision the Demons make? I am torn about this. Personally, I think we just simply take the best talent available regardless of position. But after losing both Ben Brown and Josh Schache this year we definitely need to at least consider Harry Armstrong. I don't really rate Harrison Petty as a tall forward. Besides, one or two games kicking bags of goals I believe he is far more consistent and reliable as a defender. I am open to the possibility of choosing Harry Armstrong with pick #9. But would rather us take two high quality midfielders. Whatever decision is made, I put my faith in Jason Taylor.

I understand Jack Billings' manager pumped up his tyres when we traded for him last year. Personally, I found his first season at the Demons quite underwhelming. Hope he gets fitter and stronger during the Pre-Season. Jack Billings also needs to toughen up after a number of soft efforts I recall seeing. He definitely needs to use his strengths (elite kicking) to his advantage. Season 2025 will be extremely important for his career. Otherwise, he will be facing the chopping block!

Hahaha! I actually remember this! 🤣 There's no way Jason Taylor is making this mistake again. His top 30 for this year's draft will be fascinating though. Easily 3 or 4 players could go number #1 in the 2024 AFL National Draft. The Melbourne Football Club could almost sell "tickets" for behind the scenes access to members before draft day. Join Jason Taylor and the recruitment team on a day doing a mock draft. But the prize winners would probably have to only quietly observe and sign NDAs until a few months after the draft. Anyway, just a suggestion.

Ahhhh all good. 😎👍 I used to have relatives who lived in Wonthaggi actually. As for our draftees at the Demons, I am more than happy with Harvey Langford. Melbourne definitely needs more goal kicking midfielders! However, elite kickers to help out Christian Salem would make a huge difference too though. That's why I like the look of Xavier Lindsay and any other top draftees who can put a football "lace out" on a team mate's chest with a beautiful pass.

Sorry mate. I am unfamiliar with the acronym SGST? I just want the Demons to draft young players who are excellent kicks. I will put my faith in Jason Taylor though. He seems to know what he's doing.

Here is Zero Hangar's "Mock Draft" - Picks 1 to 27 (first edition) : https://www.zerohanger.com/2024-afl-mock-draft-picks-1-27-first-edition-156203/ This has the Demons taking Harvey Langford with pick #5 and Luke Trainor with pick #9. I am reasonably happy with that outcome. But I guess we shall wait and see?

We really are spoilt for choice in regards to who the Demons could successfully snare at pick #5 in the 2024 AFL National Draft. Jagga Smith Murphy Reid Harvey Langford Sam Lalor Sid Draper Bo Allan Finn O'Sullivan Josh Smillie We can't really go wrong with any of those choices can we? That's 8 midfield young guns to choose from. Nevertheless, the discussions that Jason Taylor, Tim Lamb, Simon Goodwin and the rest of the Melbourne Demons recruiting team are having would be quite fascinating. You would go overall best talent before specific need this high up in the 2024 AFL National Draft. I recall Jason Taylor saying that they often do a few mock drafts themselves with an overall ranking system for players. So that would definitely be fascinating to observe. We as Melbourne members and supporters just need to sit back and relax, lick our lips and speculate who we think will be our choice for pick #5. But to be brutally honest most of us are pretty clueless and don't really have the expertise to know exactly what the Demons really need. It's certainly fun to guess though!

Apparently Xavier Lindsay won the Morrish Medal this year. Morrish Medal honours caps up and down year for Xavier Lindsay

I still think we should look at choosing a Victorian. Xavier Lindsay is an excellent kick and we desperately need more of those at the Demons.

I am still keen on Xavier Lindsay. He is an excellent kick and the Demons are crying out for players that are great kickers. Forward line "connection" is still a huge issue we need to desperately rectify!

I am genuinely excited about the potential of Kynan Brown. Hopefully during the Pre-Season he focuses on getting stronger, fitter and improving his kicking skills. The more time he spends in the gym and kicking the footy the better. I wish him all the best and look forward to seeing more improvement from him in Season 2025!

I would suggest that Brad Green the interim President considers making a formal complaint to the AFL about this matter. It may not make any difference, but it can't hurt to try?

The media will never apologise. I think it is up to us as Melbourne supporters to either call in to radio shows like SEN or Triple M to call the journalists out. Otherwise, just ignore them all together. But that's easier said than done. The bigger problem is we are seen as a "weak" football club. Especially as we let Collingwood bully us. We lost a lot of respect from the broader AFL community after that. Until the Demons learn to fight back we will continue to be walked all over and ridiculed.