Dee*ceiving

The club we love is a raging tire fire at the moment, and yes a lot of that has to do with media sensationalism but that in itself is a major failure of the club over the last 2-3 years. Our communication has and is diabolical. We gain zero control of any narratives. When our leaders speak only Max takes ownership and conveys confidence that he knows we need to do better and convinces me that he'll actually try. Goodwin tries to do this but blathers about learnings, but with him I have sympathy because he needs to remain trusted by the playing group and I feel like he is working extremely hard. Pert has clearly failed on many fronts: way too many leaks to the media unable to control a narrative fails to ensure adequate communication witht the playing group still no home base Roffey has been largely unseen and made it clear yesterday that at best she is an absent and vaguely interested leader who is available if someone needs her...PLEASE! Sadly, after a lot of hard work and an amazing outcome in 2021 we pretty much started sliding down hill abou 4 months later. Some unfortunate events have conspired against us but the slide has picked up enough speed to reach the bottom of the hill and burst into flames.

Ultimately Roffey did not inspire confidence. Which as president is her number 1,2 &3 objective. This is an abject failure. She was not exhibiting racism though. That is purely lazy, opportunistic, gutter journalism. If they want to report on racism, Collingwood is on the other side of AAMI park

Has tom inferred Kate's reference to they all get homesickness was racial? WTF? Kate's performance was poor but it's clear she was referring to players from other states. Nothing else.

This is the biggest, most public, urgent issue facing any club in the league. It's embarrassing, distracting and disturbing for the players, sponsors, members and supporters. The media and other clubs are picking at our bones like buzzards and she's barely across the details. She's relying on process and structure to solve a giant problem. Roll your sleeves up and get involved. She could have convinced us she was heavily involved without disclosing specifics. But she didn't, because she's not. Sorry, simply not good enough.

The best kind! 😁

History (and some great television) tells us it's often a bad idea to mix family and business.

Equivalent of a workplace injury, near fatality and she's made zero contact and really isn't across the situation. Pathetic.

Disgraceful Your situaton is unfortunate Ungarie. I hope you are ok. When my dad passed the CEO where I work rang me within 4 hours to offer support and all the time I needed. It was much appreciated and in the scheme of things little effort for him. This is in a company of 3500 employees, admittedly we are known to eachother. Footy clubs aren't giant organisations and Superstar football players are not office managers. Kate has completely failed in her duties here. I have become more firm in my view in the 4 hours since the interview. She must go, ideally stepping down real soon (very sad to say).

Kate was more bad than good I'm afraid. Spent a lot of time trying to convince people she's happy to speak to the media any time and that lots of people are doing lots of work. Very little specifics in terms of the actions that need/are being taken. Admitted she hadn't spoken to Christian or his family for several months. Our best player, who was somewhere between critically injured and close to dying after playing a game of football in our colours!! Please...! She just had to have done more than that, herself. Kate should have been able to recount the time and date of the last coversation she had with Christian and when she expects to speak with him again. Not being able to convince the supporters that she is all over this situation, hands on, is simply not good enough.

Trac's link/friendship with Ben Simmons presents an interesting case study. Ben sat out a year in order to get a trade to the Nets. The big differences are the NBA is a much bigger/richer league, Ben was in his early 20s and wasn't a top 5 player in the league. Interestingly the NBA still credited him with a year of service despite him declaring he would sit out the whole year (and then doing just that) But...I can see a scenario where even if he remains at Melbourne his last game in red and blue will forever be v Collingwood on KB 2024

Close. The purpose of mediation is to find a middle ground that's acceptable to both parties. I'd have thought of he goes to the draft we are rid of him but get no compensation, not sure we'd agree to that. We know from previous behaviours the AFL aren't shy of bending rules to facilitate an outcome. Is there a possibility they could award us draft picks if a trade agreement could not be reached and then he nominates for the draft with a price? 😁 The other 17 clubs would love that!! 🤦

Surely the nuclear option could only pry him away from the demons. It couldn't also make sure he lands at Collingwood or Carlton? I don't mind this option if it means he goes to the club that welcomes him and is capable of providing market proven compensation to Melbourne. That's how mediation works in the real world.

Sadly if our players couldn't even sneer at Brayden, in fact they high fived and hugged him, I doubt there would be any animosity towards Trac should he ever play against us.

If anyone hasn't listened to that clip of The Ox on SEN WA. Stop everything and go do it now. The most sense spoken on several inter-related and not pleasant topics I've heard out of the media.

I think it means we'll play at least 2 but no more than 3 of the other bottom six teams twice. So it could be that we play a: total of 7 games v the other bottom 6 teams (5 first up + 2 returns) or total of 8 games v bottom 6 teams (5 first up + 3 returns)

Agree entirely. I honestly hope your weekends don't become entirely free between March and September every year but I worry they might...

👍 Not only that but where's the persecution of the Collingwood club Dr?

Great posts, nailed it No10. Disgusted by this tactic of Moore's Broke Jarrad Witt's vertrebrae only a month or so after doing this to Tracc. Disgraceful it didn't raise a mention. Steve May would have been brought before a magistrate Further on Moore, did he stay on the ground for sometime before coming off or am I mistaken?

The draftees have been pretty good since 2021, 2022 looks a bit thin at the moment but hopes are still there for Jeffo but the trades have been disasterous. 2021 JVR & McVee ✔️ 2022 Jefferson ❓ 2023 Windsor & Tholstrup ✔️ Pretty sure we haven't had the salary cap space to attract above average to very good players 2021 to 2023. Even Grundy who was high priced came with Collingwood paying a big chunk. Prior to 2021 Bernie Vince and Jordan Lewis were good in's for the time, leading to Hibberd and Melksham, then Brown, Lever, May and Langdon = flag!

Good call on Brown. In hindsight though with what we saw from Ben in 2022 - 2024 we were fortunate to have the BBB we did for those last 3 games of 2021. That mid season mini pre-season was a masterstroke. No fault of Ben's but he wasn't able to get his knee right since.

Fritta was frustrating for a big chunk of the year but when you look at the stats 41 goals is a good return. He played a majority of the season with Petty at CHF unable to do a job, though he was much better the last 6 games IMO, JVR in the ruck also causes a problem for Fitsch as he gets the number defender who is often much bigger. Jack Billings 4 goals 8 behinds. Played 16 games this year, that would be too many next year We weren't full of elite ball users but, Angus definitely above average. Salem was 2 levels better than now and was definitely and elite kick at the time. Salo also lost a yard or two since then IMV. Bowey was a deft kick out of the backline and Harmes had his peak year. A pretty good kick, tough and strong overhead. Sparrow should be at that level by now, but isn't. Our tall forwards were also better set shots than what we have now, BBB and TMac. This is leadership!

TMac & Tracc?

Plus they blew a golden chance to stick a knife in Carlton. Agree with others Jackson hasn't turned out to be a surperstar, he might still though, very young in ruck terms. How much had Gawny achieved before turning 23? We didn't really need him to a superstar, just competetive in the ruck and around the ground. He was the perfect foil for Max, faster, good at ground level and enthusiastic. As a one / two punch they would grind every other ruck pairing into the turf.

A lot of work to do but 11 wins after a disasterous end to 2023, unrelenting media pressue, the retirement of Gus, Loss of Smith and lack of preseasons for Oliver, Petty and a few others it's somewhat remarkable it didn't turn out worse. Particularly when you add in injuries to May, Lever, Salem, Tracc and Gawn. Hopefully the spirit we saw in the first 10 rounds is the real Melbourne despite the pressure that was put upon them and it just became to hard to fight against the wind in the second half of the season once injuries mounted amid continued media pressure.

On Petty I wonder if it would be worth trialling him as a 4th tall defender? Could he do a job on small/medium forward? Does he have sufficient pace/dexteriety to match and then use his strength & height as an advantage? If he could play that role, could TMac then be a relief ruck option from out of the backline (or maybe too much to ask...)?