Supreme_Demon

Bit of a shame that we have lost Brendan McCartney. Think he is a quality football person. But some times you need a change if people get used to your message and it doesn't sink in any more. Hopefully we get another good quality football person to replace him. As I have harped on about I would love to get Mark "Choco" Williams as a development coach. But in the end, it doesn't matter who we get to the Demons as long as they are a good quality football person and help develop our players to reach their full potential.

I am keen on taking Hayden Young. Topping the agility test at the Draft Combine is a big tick.

Hayden Young from the Dandenong Stingrays apparently was number 1 in the agility tests at the 2019 Draft Combine. Hayden's agility score was 7.94 seconds. I am assuming that's good? Hopefully our National Recruiting Manager Jason Taylor takes note.

Would like to see Matthew Lloyd become our goal kicking coach. Besides throwing grass up in the air and diving for free kicks he was a pretty good kick at goal. If not him, then Brad Green or David Schwarz (who has offered to do it in the past but got rudely knocked back by Jesse Hogan I think?). Otherwise Wayne Carey (if he can behave himself) Matthew Richardson or Brian Taylor should be considered.

On ya Chunk! Selflessness personified. You are a legend Nathan Jones. Your commitment and loyalty to the Melbourne Football Club will never be forgotten. You have been a magnificent Captain and always been a tough blue-collar player who goes in and gets the job done. I hope this decision helps you extend your playing career. Would love you to play 300 games for the Demons and even break David Neitz's record. But as others have mentioned you have to continue to earn your spot in the team. Nobody should be gifted games. Personally I think Nathan Jones should play as a half forward flanker as I know he can be a handy goal kicker. His 3 goals against the Swans earlier in the year was an example of this. Nevertheless, I hope Nathan has a great pre-season and comes back the fittest he has ever been and proves the doubters wrong. All the best for 2020 with the Demons Nathan!

Christian Petracca has the ability to become a superstar in the AFL. However, he needs to get serious. Focus on getting himself the fittest he has ever been and work on his skills "craft" every day. I think he should look to employ a former elite AFL player as his personal coach/mentor. Shane Crawford comes to mind. In the end he needs to look in the mirror and be determined to improve himself. As Paul Roos said a few years ago "you choose if you want to be great". Christian Petracca needs make the choice to become a great player for the Demons.

I agree that the Demons need to make some big decisions on the trade table. I would be suprised if we traded Viney though. Not against that posibility. I just don't see it happening. I wouldn't mind trading Angus Brayshaw to Fremantle to join his brother Andrew and we get Adam Cerra but that would be doubtful too.

I was most suprised that Gawn and Oliver were joint winners of the Demons Best & Fairest Keith "Bluey" Truscott award for 2019. The first time it has ever happened in the Demons history. I honestly expected Gawn to win with Oliver a close 2nd. Nevertheless, congratulations to them both.

Getting Ben King or even Peter Wright from the Gold Coast Suns would be a massive coup. If not, I am happy keeping pick 3# in the AFL National Draft. I like the look of Hayden Young from the Dandenong Stingrays. The Demons are crying out for players who are excellent kicks with great decision making under pressure.

So is it confirmed that Sam Frost is leaving? Hopefully we get a somewhat fair trade from Hawthorn. Nothing worse than losing a player for nothing.

I wouldn't mind John Barker as an assistant coach at the Demons. How many coaching positions do we need to fill? I know we have Alan Richardson now. But I still think it is 3 or 4?

As long as he turns up to Pre-Season super fit and at the correct weight this time I won't have an issue. I don't mind him having a sneaky beer...just not like how he got caught out this year. Have a quiet beer celebrating a win not while injured with the team struggling. It wasn't a good look. However, I think he has learnt his lesson. I can't help but like Steven May. He shows passion and care. Particularly after that interesting argument/discussion with fellow Demons defender Sam Frost during one of the games. He is a former Captain at the Suns and can be a leader at the Demons. But actions will speak louder than words. He needs to keep super fit and hopefully have better luck with injuries in 2020. I wish Steven May all the best in 2020 and hope he has a wonderful year both on and off the field. Both the club and Steven May deserve success but they need to work hard to earn it.

I understand the criticisms of Mark "Choco" Williams. I just believe he deserves another chance in the AFL and is highly rated as a development coach. Even this year in 2019 he has done a remarkable job coaching Werribee in the VFL. I am open to the Demons chasing Adrian Hickmont and Leigh Tudor too. Justin Longmuir has snagged the Fremantle coaching job because of the good work he has done at West Coast and Collingwood. But there must be other coaches out there keen to be an assistant coach at the Demons. In all honesty, as long the Demons find good quality football people to help form part of our new football department in 2020 that is all I care about. We need to get the right football people who are determined and of good character at our club to help us break this Premiership drought.

Cheers for that. Found the link here: https://www.sen.com.au/news/2019/09/24/ive-definitely-upset-someone-williams-backs-himself-to-be-senior-afl-coach/ Simon Goodwin might feel a bit threatened with both Alan Richardson and Mark "Choco" Williams breathing over his shoulders. But some times pressure is a good thing. Nevertheless, I am still keen on Mark "Choco" Williams being involved as a development coach. The more good quality football people we can attract to the Demons the better.

Glad we agree on a few things! By any chance, do you know what radio station Mark "Choco" Williams did the interview on? I will try and find a podcast online somewhere.

Definitely agree with you that Nathan Jones is a blue-collar worker. But his loyalty and commitment can never be doubted. I greatly enjoyed watching him play in the first 2 finals against Geelong and Hawthorn in 2018. His sheer joy was contagious for myself and many Demons fans. Sadly I also saw his Wife and children hurriedly get into the elevator to go and see Nathan after the terrible loss against Port Adelaide at the MCG in Round 1 this year. I felt more sad seeing his kids crying and his Wife upset than I was that we actually lost as I could see the emotional toll it takes on his family. That is one of the reasons I would love to see Nathan get a chance to win a Premiership and go out on a fairytale ending. However, sentiment doesn't win you Premierships. It's actually quite tragic comparing Jack Grimes' career with his brother Dylan. One played 100 games and captained the Melbourne Football Club to loss after loss after loss. After a bright start he became mentally scarred from all the continuous losing I believe and lost confidence and ability. Dylan on the other hand started off slow but now has 2 Premierships at Richmond and is one of the best defenders in the AFL. I agree with you about development. It is crucial. I thought Brendan McCartney was a great influence at the Demons and helped develop our players a lot. But unfortunately it seems that either he or the club or the players felt his message wasn't sinking in anymore. We now need fresh voices and fresh ideas to develop our players. Fundamentally they also need to be good football people who have a proven track record and demand success. I'm ok with some "molly coddling" of players...but there is also a time for sprays amd harsh reality checks. Either way we must demand and expect high standards by everyone one at the Demons to obtain Premiership success.

It's all about winning. You win games. You win supporters. You win Premierships. You win even more supporters. Nobody likes a loser. And the Demons have made the finals only 13 times in the past 55 years and have not won a Premiership since 1964. The massive aim is to change this around in the next 5 to 10 years.

Craig Jennings must have wanted to have a fresh start at a different club I guess? I am surprised Justin Plapp wasn't reappointed as he did a pretty good job when he was VFL coach. Perhaps Justin Plapp is on the way out too? I will give Sam Radford the benefit of the doubt for 2020. A proper assessment can be made at the end of next season.

I agree we need a total mindset change at the club Obviously I have a soft spot for Nathan Jones. Back in 2012 and 2013 I felt he was one of the few Demons players that tried his guts out. Have always been a fan of his. Even though 2019 was an awful season. I simply would "like" him to reach over 300 games. Just as I would like any other Demons player to reach over 300 games. But you are right...nobody should be gifted games. Hopefully Nathan Jones has a good pre-season and proves people wrong. It's just an embarrassment that we have only one 300 game player at the Demons. And Robbie Flower definitely deserved 300 games. However, no point worrying about the past. For 2020 it needs to be about winning and continuing to develop a better culture at the Demons. We need to figure out proper solutions to be implemented to fix this basket case of a football club. It's going to take a monumental effort from an army of good quality football people. Nevertheless, I will continue to show my loyalty to the Melbourne Football Club and put my money where my mouth is like I have since 1998. This Melbourne Members Forum that Gary Pert has organised should be interesting. I just hope we can be given a proper opportunity to discuss effective solutions to our current predicament.

Gotta let the message sink in. And the same Mark "Choco" Williams who won the 2004 Premiership for Port Adelaide and was a positive influence in helping Dustin Martin develop into a great player? Yes. If you have better solutions to our current predicament then please feel free to enlighten us.

Respectfully disagree about Jones. He deserves to get to 300 games. Even if this year was disappointing. If you screw over loyal veteran players you poison the entire playing group. Just like what happened to James McDonald. Having only one 300 game player in David Neitz as a club that is 160 years old isn't good enough. But there are a lot of massive issues the Demons haven't rectified since 1964 onwards. Nevertheless, I agree with you about everything else. Fundamental changes are required.

I see lots of complaining but no solutions to this issue. I also want the Melbourne Football Club to be serious. I hope that this means the continued overhaul of our football department. I am keen to see Mark "Choco" Williams at the club in some capacity. But we need more than just that. Things will only change if we have the right people involved at the club and they are given the freedom to make those changes. It will certainly be interesting what happens now in the off season with who the Demons can also recruit into its football department and on to our playing list. Definitely worth analysing how Richmond turned things around over these past few years as well. We might be able to learn from them and other clubs who had had Premiership success.

Well it's all about balance. They don't all have to be former players. Although I think Adem Yze is worth pursuing. I don't mind where they are from as long as they have passion while at the Melbourne Football Club and want to help it win Premierships. I want people who are determined to be successful and demand that from those around them. I am not against recruiting Alan Richardson. But we need more quality people involved with winning Premierships. People who know how it is done and know how to win. Successful people breed more success. That is why we need to chase people from clubs who know how to do this and are keen for the ultimate challenge. Mark "Choco" Williams is one of those people but there are many more at Hawthorn, Geelong, Richmond and Collingwood. All that matters is if they genuinely wish to help the Demons end their Premiership drought.

That's true. But the Cats are likely to be finalists again next year. You gotta be in it to win it. They still have the 2007, 2009 and 2011 Premierships. Our Premiership cup from 1964 is probably collecting alot more dust than theirs at Geelong. Being constantly in the top 4 over 5, 6 or 7 years in a row is what gives you the greater chance of a Premiership. Gotta win games consistently. That's what good teams do.

As I mentioned previously, I think we can all identify the massive issues the Melbourne Football Club need to fix. The challenge is how do we implement solutions? I want to fix these problems so that the Demons can win Premierships again.