BLWNBA

Above: Mitch Cleary, colourised.

‘Comfortable’

TC will get a one year extension.

We've previously tried to lure Bartel across to us, so there is residual interest. This could turn into a very interesting 'watch this space' over the next few weeks.

Hey may not have made it up, but it’s not true.

Bingo.

It was reported on Gettable that Adelaide had some preliminary interest in McVee (they didn't state any offer had been made - at least from what they said last week). It was spoken in the context of NWM re-signing with StK and suggested that this may mean they have their interest reignited in McVee, should they turn their attention back to him.

I've never said a new coach wouldn't want Jackson, but I don't necessarily think it would be a certainty we'd go in this direction. The personal connection and affinity which was a two-way street did (does?) play a big part in this. Would Jackson make our side better? I absolutely think so. Would I want any incoming coach and list management team to pursue Jackson? Overall, yes. But depending on where a new coach thought our side was, what areas for improvement were identified, and what we needed to be competitive and play the game style that the new coach desires, would dictate the decision (amongst list management considerations). If I was providing analysis based on an admiralty rating, with so many unknowns at this stage, I'd say it's possible (50%~). To some this will sound like I'm sitting on the fence, and maybe I am. This part of the conversation is based on my interpretation of events and my own views, it's not based on facts or knowledge as we just don't have those at the moment. The flip side is if we could accommodate a trade for Jackson, it would almost certainly occur. What I would say, based on the current situation (without knowing intentions regarding outgoing trades), is that it's remote and highly unlikely that Jackson would be at the club next year as it stands.

I'd look at it more that the personal connection of Goodwin being coach, increased the affinity of the Club wanting Jackson. There was an emotional connection there by virtue of Goodwin being his coach from 2020 - 2022, that is no longer present. I have no doubt that if Jackson were to declare his intention to seek a trade to Melbourne we'd look to facilitate it, but there may be less of an inclination from the Melbourne side to pursue this actively, now that that personal connection is gone. A new coach may not have this desire to drive this.

There's probably some truth to this too, and I'm not seeking to bash Trac or Oliver. I actually think there's a spot for them both under a new coach and I'd rather have them playing with us, than against us (unless there is a decent return of draft capital). Interestingly, CD rated Petracca as the 74th best player in the competition this season (his lowest return since 2018), with Oliver ranked 232 (last year he was ranked 244).

Jackson still wants to get back to the MFC. Immense difficulties with it occurring, diluted by the fact that there is an incoming coach who (obviously) isn't Goodwin.

I think this is very flattering and a bit of a stretch. Based on the kick rating stat (note: this is not kicking efficiency) which takes into account expected hit rate and degree of difficulty, Clayton Oliver and Trac were ranked as third and fifth worst midfield kicks in the league (Viney was the eighth worst). It's fair to say that neither of these two have ever been elite, but in a season when our disposal was one of the major reasons for our demise (read: multiple reasons exist, but disposal was a significant contributing factor), to say that Petracca and Oliver were back to their best is a gross oversell of their seasons. Personally thought Oliver came on in the last 6 weeks or so (and I think he had a better season than Petracca), but still if we're saying their 2020 - 2023 form was 'A grade', they were both a fair way off. Positives? Lindsay, Langford, Gawn, Melksham, Turner, Pickett (though he definitely tapered towards the end of the season). I'd probably throw McDonald in there too. Kentfield's recovery and VFL form is also a massive positive, hoping we can get some continuity and see this translate into the AFL next season. I'll be in the minority on this, but I thought there were some positive signs for Jefferson too. Yes, they were momentary, but maybe he'll come on. I'm probably more on the agnostic side with this, and maybe I'm more seeing something in hope more than anything else, but I'll carry this into the 2026 season before making a definitive judgement. At times our ball movement started to look cohesive, but I'm still extremely concerned about the lack of genuine elite users in our side. I'd also agree that Goodwin's departure was a positive. Regardless of what you think of him, the constant commentary was a distraction and this definitive decision allows us to move past him and the situation without it dragging on for another year.

What I understand from this thread is that Buckley has no autonomy at all, and is influenced via clandestine messaging which is directly driven by the New World Order, World Economic Forum, Bill Gates, the Illuminati and Lizard People as part of a vindictive, direct and highly capable media campaign, backed by the AFL and in particular, Andrew Dillon.

That would be extremely Melbourne.

Fair points, although a signed contract and affixing a signature is a type of execution which will then create a legally binding agreement (and an indication of the agreement of terms), executed contracts indicate all parties have competed their obligations under the contract.