BLWNBA

Me, noting you used a custom algorithm.

Dees by 7 points, with Kozzie kicking 5.3. Max to dominate Cameron and kick an ugly 1.3 with the goal coming on the run from outside 50. (I am in denial, more likely that we'll play Collingwood into form and they'll win the flag.)

If we can get back in by moving out a player (or two), I wouldn't necessarily be against it. But, I think we also need to bring in some much needed depth in that second - fourth round range, so if coming back in came at the cost of us packaging multiple picks I don't think we're in the right space to be doing those sort of movements. Granted as you rightfully pointed out, this year is both a weakened and compromised draft so potentially you could mount the argument that there is less impact in doing so, but I definitely wouldn't be moving future picks to do so given we could be looking at bottom four finishes in the next few years, coupled with the (potential) compromised Tasmanian drafts. I guess the TLDR; yes, if we're able to get capital via outgoing player movements; no - if we're packaging current/future picks to do so.

Good summation, only notable difference I would have is Jeffo as 'could contribute' (if the stars align; I thought there were some fleeting moments against North and Carlton that showed there just might be something there), and Kolt under role player / possible contributor (at best).

Please stop living in the real world.

Exactly. Earlier in this thread when he was initially raised, I wasn't even against us having a crack at him. I think he could actually add an improved dimension to our forward line. But for that price? Nah.

Some of the people giving pot-shots to Buckley based on the 2018 Grand Final result, also lauded what Longmire would do for the Club. By those metrics, I wouldn't be particularly enamoured by a 20% W/L record in Grand Finals (1 - 4), including losing margins of 81, 63 and 60 points respectively. If Buckley is the best choice for the job, then we take him. I DGAF where he's from or what his AFL history is.

I've posted this on the TFA board, but it's probably better suited to this specific thread: (18 August 2025) Jon Ralph on Petracca and Oliver: Petracca: The Demons say he’s happy and invested. The rumours won’t die. In any other year with a star-studded draft when clubs have so much cap space you could see a situation where a rival in the window gave up multiple first-round picks to secure his services. But while the Demons have conceded they won’t contend for the flag next year — football boss Alan Richardson is on the record on ABC Radio making that clear despite Simon Goodwin’s belief in this list — they also want to keep their star player. They are using the example of Collingwood, which didn’t tip out its veterans and saw them thrive in the 2023 premiership year. So there will be speculation but there isn’t a real suitor yet. Oliver: Stay with me here. Oliver has looked like he has had his power back in recent weeks. Averaging 5.7 clearances and 5.6 tackles along with 25 possessions this year, his disposal (below average) has let him down badly. But in recent weeks he at least had his spring back in the contest. There aren’t suitors for him given his huge wage even though he was interested early this year in a move to a club like Geelong. So with Oliver unlikely to take a monster pay cut it seems likely a new coach will have to find ways to get the best out of him given the Demons midfield has still been trounced too often this year.

It's not the 1960s anymore mate.

(18 August 2025) Jon Ralph on Petracca and Oliver: Petracca: The Demons say he’s happy and invested. The rumours won’t die. In any other year with a star-studded draft when clubs have so much cap space you could see a situation where a rival in the window gave up multiple first-round picks to secure his services. But while the Demons have conceded they won’t contend for the flag next year — football boss Alan Richardson is on the record on ABC Radio making that clear despite Simon Goodwin’s belief in this list — they also want to keep their star player. They are using the example of Collingwood, which didn’t tip out its veterans and saw them thrive in the 2023 premiership year. So there will be speculation but there isn’t a real suitor yet. Oliver: Stay with me here. Oliver has looked like he has had his power back in recent weeks. Averaging 5.7 clearances and 5.6 tackles along with 25 possessions this year, his disposal (below average) has let him down badly. But in recent weeks he at least had his spring back in the contest. There aren’t suitors for him given his huge wage even though he was interested early this year in a move to a club like Geelong. So with Oliver unlikely to take a monster pay cut it seems likely a new coach will have to find ways to get the best out of him given the Demons midfield has still been trounced too often this year.

That's an absolute insane amount to pay for Ryan. A deal like that is a culture killer and you really can understand why there would be grievances at the club, if that's accurate. Not too mention, it would completely throw their list 'build' out, as you've suggested. I wouldn't be against Ryan being on a list, but good luck to St Kilda with that sort of offer. Bizarre.

It's very hard not to agree with the majority of other posters on this one; the club at the moment is a mess (would rancid, be taking it too far?). It really seems we're back in the position of the player(s) dictating to the club with the club needing to 'buy in' to the player, as opposed to the player 'buying in' to the club. It's imperative to hold onto Judd if we can, I'm flogging a dead horse on this one but he's the type of player we're sorely lacking more of - but, at what cost? If the supposed grievances are true, are we acting to our detriment moving on from the team-first and no d1ckheads approach that brought us a premiership in 2021? Are we putting the cart before the horse in allowing a player to dictate to us where, and how he wants to play? That's assuming this line of reporting is correct. I don't blame Judd on wanting clarity about his role, that's understandable; as is wanting to know who the future coach (et al.) will be going forward. The inference is that this has been a big issue for Judd since the contract was put in front of him in 2024, but this only really adds to the peculiarity of the situation given he's apparently not courting offers, is happy in Victoria and doesn't want to leave, but seemingly is holding off signing. The totality of this is just out of the ordinary. There doesn't seem to be the standard approach of holding out for more money, or (reportedly) waiting to announce his intention to seek a trade. I'd still have to counter that at best he's a 50% chance of staying; history suggests that at this point if you remain unsigned you're likely not going to be at the incumbent club. We'll wait and see, but it really seems to be one of the more intriguing out-of-contract situations we've had recently.

Is there anything of substance actually linking us with Flanders? I've only ever seen one 'X' post about it, which was some 'fan' made trade and draft account with about 100 followers.

Get ready for more years of bottom four finishes, this club is years off even contending for the eight. Everything that is wrong with the Club is on display today with spades.

Geeeez, at this rate we’ll be paying someone to take McVee. Having an awful year by his standards.

When Sparrow looks like one of your best users, you know you’re in trouble.

I don’t know why I feel so shocked every week watching us display dismal skills, but bloody hell - we are SO POOR.

Incredibly pathetic. This is absolutely white flag sort of stuff.

You’re absolutely correct, but this also goes to the larger point that people are inherently unable to discern the difference between articles of fact cf. opinion pieces.

That’s very ‘Melbourne’ of you.

"“I’m pretty proud of that midfield time and hopefully I can do a bit more midfield stuff next year.” " http://melbournefc.com.au/news/1652188/mcvees-moves-a-question-from-goodwin

I'm actually somewhat coming around to this, especially if Derksen comes in and is playing in the Seniors. I'd much rather May down forward as opposed to Petty (as much as I think Petty is a waste of space forward, he still is adequately able to contribute down back IMO).

Green is an appalling media performer, he lacks any form of polish and really struggles to substantively engage in any discussion worthy of analytical value. The sooner he is out, the better for all parties. I won't be sad to see some of his cringeworthy social media posts left in the annals of the social media wasteland.

I understand that this isn't a popular opinion on this forum, but 2022 and 2023 were failed seasons too. People can reel off all the 'mitigations' they want, but the fact is that two consecutive straight set exits has never occurred before in the history of the game. I think this is often undersold in the context of Goodwin's tenure, people are too happy to purely sight the ladder position as being indicative of success, rather than the end output which is a more accurate measure (IMO) in a high performance environment, particularly coming off the 2021 premiership and net result. I personally think the cracks started to emerge during both those seasons that our style was not as strong in totality and the game had already started to move past our tactics and strategy and unfortunately, we never really adjusted or pivoted in a meaningful manner; now some of that may come down to lack of players in order to compete in the modern game, but then that also falls back on the FD. For the sake of discussion, that starts to get a little bit into the realms of chicken and egg type of stuff; a bit of a wicked problem. I agree with most of what you've said though, particularly that this is somewhat of an uncommon scenario and that there's other metrics involved in the dismissal - I'd imagine it's been viewed in the totality of results from 2022 - current which are, at the end of the day, underwhelming at best.