Grand New Flag

What I can confirm is only that we are pursuing Lever aggressively and Lever has indicated he may be interested in joining the Dees.  

This is nothing more than what is out there in the media.

Whether it happens, what the size and length of the contract being discussed and what the potential trade I have no idea. I am sure Adelaide will go all out to keep him, and we are also competing with other clubs.  

However, at this stage we are the clear favorites.  A finals win or two will really help. Increase likelihood of Lever choosing Dees and increase value of our players.  You would think a best 22 player or highly rated junior will likely be traded as part of deal.

Apologies it was Jon Ralph's prediction.

Comments from player agent Paul Conner:

"He (Lever) comes home citing family concerns and lands at Melbourne. They become the 2018 premiership favorite,” he predicted.

37 minutes ago, PaulRB said:

If Watts needs the coach to play mind games and drop him to the reserves weeks out from finals in order to get motivated, he should give the game away. 

I reckon he needs to show something special at Casey this week, cause he didn't vs Williamstown, though his intensity was good. It's just not coming together for him at the moment. 

And with Brownlow coming good and Hogan hitting form, amiungst others, we may actually do ok without Jack Watts this September...

Rubbish, we pay coaches the big bucks to get the most out of their players. That's their job.

The biggest superstars have only become such as a result of their coaches keeping them in check when required, motivating when required. Every player needs something different to get them motivated. To get the extra 10%.  Some need Confidence, others need a rocket, some need to be left alone. Just depends on the personality.  

I think Goodwin has worked out what Watts needs to get his best.

48 minutes ago, Garbo said:

Don't think Watts will be back, if you listened to the press conference after the game when Goodwin was asked about Jack Watts performance in the VFL he got very defensive, also don't see them risking Viney.

For mine the changes will be Salem for Wagner, JKH for Stretch

I saw the Goodwin interview. My read o it was different.

Goodwin knows he must play Watts but is carefully managing Watts to get the best return. Simply Goodwin us trying to put a firecracker up Watts.

Worked a treat preseason. 

Goodwin wants that return again. its a clear play. Watts is clearly best 22 and this is the pointy end of the season. We all know we can't go far without Watts at full steam in the finals.  Goodwin is doing his thing. 

Watts to play a blinder this weekend.

Time to play our best fit 22. 

In:

Watts must come in and play forward flank.  I thought he played quite well in very difficult conditions last week.  He is a true utility who can fill gaps anywhere on the ground should things go wrong. He brings players into the game in-particular Garlett. He deserves his chance to prove his spot prior to finals considering what he has been through as a true Dee patriot. He simply must play.

Salem: Too silky under pressure to leave out for crunch game. Simply a better player than both Wagner and Stretch.

Out:

Wagner:  

Stretch:

Both unlucky but best 22 must play.

Viney needs two more weeks to be primed for finals.

Frost: could come in depending on Match-ups, 

Channel 9 suggesting all of Viney, Gawn, Jetta to play.

We can win every game.

I don't see a reason why we could not "win out" the home and away season from here.

I get the romance but anyone who thinks Trengrove should keep Vince out of the team is suffering an old fashion does of heart over head.

Not far off our best team...... but many underdone.

Jones, Vince missing from our best 2017 team. Perhaps a couple of others like Brayshaw could put their hand up on potential curled by injury.... but as far as 2017 goes probably only two short.

Disaster!

Swans at full strength, Dees decimated by injury, coming off 3 six day breaks and likely suffering light headlines after unprecedented over hyped media talk. Always a poor omen!

My head says no! 

My heart hoping my head is wrong.

One last thing, if the Dees somehow win Goodwin has one hell of a selection headache next week.

I too reporting in from Bali. Family all going to some bar in Seminyak to watch the game and eat dinner!!

Seriously excited, but you never know what's going to happen. Bet $100 @ $2.90 earlier in the week, now even money so you must assume there is massive late out for the WCE. 

Confident our backline will hold. Pretty sure our mids will get on top with Gawn in despite Jones out. However, I have concerns with our forwards and general intensity after a second 6 day break. 

Even money probably good bet for WCE.

Simply if we win tonight and then again next week we are genuine contendors!! Premature I know, but just the thought of the unimaginable simply sends my mind mad!!

Go Dees!!

Sometimes what I hear does not eventuate. So what! This is not embarrassing, I am not embarrassed. 

What's embarrassing is you spent 12 paragraphs to say I think GNF is full of BS. 

You are entitled to your opinion.

Gee wiz, what a nasty lot many Demonlanders are, not sure why Satyr should cop such abuse for simply giving his opinion and whispers here on this anonymous, gossip, opinion thread? People should be thanking him for turning up to training and telling all on what he hears, even if not everything he hears eventuates. These things after all have many moving parts.

It would seem there are many posters on Demonland who spend all day searching for any small slice of information on their beloved Dees. Fair enough!  However, it seems that those same people most desperate for information are the same people who then abuse those few who regularly or even from time to time get these precious slices of info.

This reminds me of teenage boys desperate to sleep with a girl. When a girl comes around who is interested this girl in then called a [censored], and socially shamed by exactly the same boys who were soo desperate for her.   Not a very intelligent way of getting more action............. not a very intelligent way of getting more MelbourneFC info......... perhaps these people are simply not very intelligent!

I read some have different views.

My view is that this is the most important games for us since 2006 semi final. If we win we turn at 6 and 5 in 6th place. With Gawn, Hogan (our two most important players) shortly back we set ourselves up not just for finals but a tilt at a top 4 finish.

Shall we lose, we again fail when favourites, this time coming off a 16 day break. Our opponents have played twice since we beat Gold Coast and have lost 3 of their best players in last weekends stirling victory over Carlton. This will be hard for them to cover.  We will be 5 and 6 in 11th place, with mental issues that will be difficult to overcome this season. It will be highly unlikely we make finals. 

Confidence is everything in this game. As its been said it is indeed 90% between the ears.

This is a game we must win!

1 minute ago, binman said:

Serious question - and just asking for an opinion, not inside info, but do you think Hoges will play against the doggies?

Not sure. Lets see how he looks at training tomorrow.  He still looked a bit gingery yesterday. 

Its disappointing Hogan did not get up. It was expected he would last weekend. I never said Hogan was an absolute, just that the club was confident he would come up, that he was likely to play.

For those who seem to be obsessed with what I write on this forum, knock yourselves out.  Not everything I hear eventuates.

I only write what I hear, you can choose to accept that it has come from within the club or you can call it BS.  Frankly I could not give two hoots. 

I will continue to write what I am told when this is appropriate to be discussed on this forum.  This is after all a rumor forum. This is what this site is about. 

My advise to  those of you who choose to believe I am full of sh*t and seem to get upset by this::

Don't read my posts, problem solved.  Surely you have far better things to do with your time than write endless posts on which snippets of news have eventuated and which have not and abuse an anonymous poster for giving gossip on a gossip forum???!?!? Are you people unemployed? If so I can see why!  It is truly insane!

The word I am getting is Hogan still a likely starter. He is fit, wants to play, but faces a mixed view from footy department on whether he is mentally ready and physically conditioned. It will come down to selection committee on Thursday. There may also be some gamesmanship going on here.

Thats what I am hearing. It's from the top. Its by no means absolute. Just what I am hearing. 

Happy to be smashed on here for giving gossip on a "gossip site". Personally I find it entertaining. Knock yourself out!  

Looking forward to some apologies.

Sydney should be paying us to take him off their hands.

Say 3/4 of his salary till contact ends plus a 2nd round pick. 

Seriously this guy is a spud.

I have been told Hogan is playing QB.

Also Gawn desperate to play. Has put his hand up, but club want to hold him back until R13.

The issues will be mental.  If Hogan can get back quickly conditioning will not be so much of an issue.

Both Gawn and Hogan could be back for QB. By god North showed us how badly we need out big men back.

To this supporter.

Go away, change teams, we don't want your support. We the membership of the MFC are better than this. It is baseless, pointless, valueless dribble.

We all hurt when we keep losing from winnable positions. But remember we are playing the youngest team every week. It will click. The wins will come. Show some respect and enjoy the journey.

I suggest this supporter takes up membership with Richmond where he/she will be more suited and amongst their own kind.

Angus received a light concussion last week.  He is physically fine, however, he has some mental issues getting his head over the ball and going hard following his multiple concussions. The club has told him he is in the best 22 but will not play him seniors until he defeats this.