Adam The God

Really? Old Time Demon for sure. Nice bit of sexism. She's a good reporter that writes some things that make Melbourne supporters annoyed from time to time. Her gender is irrelevant.

I think if we could land an x factor forward *and* an elite young mid that would be a brilliant off season. We might even be able to land that x factor forward in the draft. Maybe someone like Reid or Cotton. They're not of the forward class of Rachele, but they could provide something inside 50 until they move into the midfield.

One of my favourite goals. That and Farmer's one out at Waverley.

He was a pick 6 and has kicked 70 goals in 56 games. Will only get better. Not sure if he passes the no DH policy, but back ourselves to keep his feet on the ground.

Well, we should have had at least two in that team with Mac and LJ.

Could we get Rachele involved in a deal for Nibbler? I'd be willing to give up a future first for him. Kozzy, Rachele, Trac and Fritta is a box office forward half.

I'm no longer interested in Waterman. If we want an experienced body I'd prefer Walker or Wright. But JVR, Turner and Petty/Jefferson in 2025 works for me. Let's spend TPP on luring a good mid or an x factor forward. TBH, Rachele fits the bill of the latter.

Except IMV and probably many, we can offer a better look at success in the short term than North. I doubt they'll play a final while Parker is still on the parker.

Do elevations to the senior list have to come with a minimum contract length? Or could we merely offer Melksham a further year, but on the senior list? AMW should definitely be elevated, so agree there, I could get behind being elevated, but think Melksham is the stronger candidate and more likely to play.

Get in his ear then mate.

I don't believe I ever said that.

Where did I say Trac needed to say anything? He has a management team. Just like Kozzy. They could have fizzled it. They didn't.

All he had to do was get his management to act exactly as Peter Rhode did on behalf of Kozzy yesterday. "Melbourne has been assured by Kysaiah Pickett's management that he is content at the Demons despite continual approaches from clubs..." NewsCorp. Then it becomes a non story. But that didn't happen. Instead the club was dragged through the mud. Glad his management said no and he's working to rebuild relationships and the club is looking to get better too. I hope he stays, playing it through the media was not the right strategy.

I agree, we need changes, but you were very laissez-faire about Morris and by extension Trac [censored] on our club. It needed to happen. All of that. How about driving change without airing dirty laundry?

You were pretty with him the other day. Said it needed to be aired and change would happen as a result. Are you back pedalling SWYL?

Good post mate. I think we'll be targeting free agency at that age profile that our list lacks (25-27) over the next 2-3 years. Having Oliver, Trac and Viney in your team wouldn't necessarily scare off a Butters or a player of his ilk in 2 years time. TPP is another matter, but this is where these longer contracts give us flexibility to renegotiate and smooth out TPP. I think if I were the MFC, I'd be saying to Butters you complement our midfield perfectly and they complement you. And Butters would be thinking I am absolutely as good as these guys, but offer a different skill set. Win-win. I use Butters as an example, but I think someone that gives our midfield a point of difference from the way it is now (a brutal contested team with less pace and inconsistent ball use) would be a good sell to a target player and to the rest of our mids, who as leaders of the club, who want to get better and win flags, may take a pay cut to get that point of difference player in. Callaghan is another guy who would offer that point of difference. And there'll be others too. Geelong and Hawthorn had their veterans take pay cuts for years. Geelong have sustained it better. I think these new longer term contracts give the club the certainty of having the player signed up, but with the flexibility to go to them in 2-3 years time and say, would you front end or back end the rest of your contract, or whatever accounting situation is needed (maybe that is a pay cut too).

Circa 2019-2020, @old55

Thanks @red and blue forever. Typo on Trac's name btw.

It's not good enough. It's a short video. Give it a watch after you've uploaded. It's going out on your socials and impacts on the overall football club's brand.

You mean like a good leader would? Make him captain FFS.

Give the YouTube link a watch...

I never like to let this thread go too cold. Okay, figured I'd go the early crow and do a best 22+1 pre draft and trade period, which is a bit dangerous. The task here for no particular reason is to build a side that I think could contend, by only utilising those on the list currently, so no new players. (obviously, we will bring in talent and this side will change and get even stronger) With a fresh pre season, I think this team could go places, and score more, but probably concede a little more too. Here goes... AMW May Lever McVee TMac Salem Langdon Oliver Windsor Fritta Turner Melksham Koz JVR Trac Max Viney Rivers Bowey Spargo Kolt Petty Sub. between Billings, Sparrow and Howes. Playing Fritta and Melksham as high half forwards would certainly lessen our defensive set up, but I think have an astronomical effect on the efficiency of our inside 50 entries. I'd be playing Spargo as the more defensive high half forward in that group, but his ball use by foot is also elite. Trac would rotate between high half forward and deep forward too. Midfield rotations are: Oliver (as the anchor with most CBAs), Viney (also spending time as a pressure forward), Rivers (also playing half back attacking role), McVee (also playing half back attacking role with Rivers - occasionally will be out of rotation to play lockdown defensive role), Trac (40% mid, 60% forward, rotating forward high and deep), Koz (25-30% mid burst play, keep building on his 2024 output in midfield), Kolt (mostly forward, but some around the ground stoppages to use his explosiveness and bash and crash physicality) and if necessary, Salem (mostly half back anchor though). If Sparrow plays as sub, he plays his usual defensive role, which frees someone else up. Petty plays forward for 2025, but is to be utilised as a swingman if injuries occur down the other end. JVR plays second ruck again, not ideal, but it is what it is. I'd be playing +1 or even +2 at contest next year, be really aggressive at stoppages, back our defenders to win 1v1s behind the ball, and get it to the likes of Trac, Melky, Fritta, Koz, Spargo across half forward, and Salem, McVee and Windsor across half back.

It'll be interesting to see what happens this off season. I doubt they'll make him vice captain this year, but maybe next year if he shows some renewed commitment to the club. I'd be going with co-captains next year.

Maybe I've gone the early crow then...?

This video is a downright disgrace. Get the sound right FFS, media department. I'm a film producer and I tell you, if this was delivered to me, I'd be on the phone and demanding someone do better. Come on, this is an important media package and you've [censored] stuffed it. Not [censored] good enough, Gary Pert. This is what happens when you cut budgets.