Dr. Gonzo

It's like some kind of self sabotage because they don't think we deserve nice things

Depends on the quality of the draft and if we have any FS/NGA picks next year. Doesn't sound like this year is a particularly strong draft.

We should definitely have cap space to splash around. Brayshaw being retired and our key players on long term contracts should give us flexibility to make a big play for a recruit but since bringing in May we haven't seemed to be in the picture.

Draft for talent and trade for needs I don't think we can go all-in on the draft by trading out our senior players considering the depth that's walked out the door the last couple of years. Senior players we may be willing to let go like Salem aren't going to get us much. We already have too much dead wood on the list without trading out potential best 22. I didn't think I'd say it after the flag but 3 years later our list is in a real hole. Schache, Brown, Fullarton, Hunter, Billings, Smith all need to be turned over. Brayshaw and ANB are done. Tomlinson will likely leave. TMac and Melksham may have 1 year left if that. Then you have guys like Laurie, Jefferson, Howes, Verrell, Farris White, AMW, Adams, McAdam, Sestan, K Brown, Taj and Kolt who have shown a bit but not enough to know whether they will make it long term or not. It is not beyond redemption but it is teetering on the precipice. A good offseason could see us bounce back quickly, a poor one could see us down for another decade.

That argument has worn thin. You can guarantee if there was any movement whatsoever they would be spruiking it from the rooftops.

1. Fair enough, he is an uber professional and I would be frustrated too, especially if the slip in standards and professionalism coincides with a fall down the ladder 2. If that's the case they need to grow up. He had an extremely serious injury and is entitled to have some time away from the club to refresh. It's not like he could do much in the way of recovery, mental recovery is just as important as physical.

The AFL is not MFC-centric though. We may only get 13k vs 16/17k but if a Carlton or Essendon can pull 50k/60k instead of 30k/40k what do you think the AFL would prefer? If it's against another Vic club that potentially rises again. I don't want us playing home games at Marvel either but if we draw [censored] crowds to the MCG I think it's inevitable we will be forced to play at least a couple of home games there. At the end of the day we need to show we are viable in a national comp. Home crowds of 13k, 16k or 17k show we are vulnerable.

Losing to the Eagles in Perth and then smashed by Freo in Alice.

The comms from the club suggest we won't be holding him to the contract. It's clear he won't be at the Demons next year, I hope we can get a 2nd but I'm not holding my breath.

I agree wholeheartedly, the opportunity is there though for someone to grab.

I'm a big fan of ANB but won't begrudge him going. His goal in the 2021 GF was the one that let me relax knowing we would win. Great servant of the club but let's be realistic, he is a role player not a matchwinner. And that's not to denigrate him, he is a bloody good role player but not irreplaceable. ANB leaving won't be the difference between whether we can challenge again in 2025 or not. Gives an opportunity for someone to put in the hard yards over preseason and become that gut runner, defensive forward, linkup type player. Could be Chandler, Spargo, Sparrow, Laurie, Brown etc I also wouldn't be banking on a big return for a 29yo role player, we may get a 2nd but more likely a 3rd I would've thought, especially with the SA clubs holding the whip hand knowing he has requested a trade back home. They may not be that keen about him one way or the other, like yeah they would take him but they're not going to give up much for him if you know what I mean. I would assume we would try and accommodate him returning home so would likely take unders to get the deal done.

The article says he spoke to the club about this week's ago. So why is it in the media today? Who leaked it? And what is their agenda?

I think every supporter base is fickle it's just that we have a small supporter base so when we drop off it is far more stark. I posted the other week I have mates and relos who are members of Collingwood and Carlton who would have been to no more than 10 games each over the last decade! A Carlton supporter at work is an MCC member and only went to his first game of the season yesterday. Every club has these fickle supporters but when you're hardcore is only 15k or so instead of 30k or so it makes things look a whole lot worse when fans drop off. It looks even worse for us on TV because 80% of our supporters sit on the broadcast side. I'm in two minds about this, it is a reality that we need to turn up for team morale, for finances and to keep the wolves at bay. But it is also a reality that supporters of other clubs are just as fickle and don't feel the same guilt/obligation to turn up every single week. The club needs to figure out a way to engage the supporters and make sure they don't drop off, but at the end of the day results and timeslots will impact crowds more than anything else. We probably should have played at 1:10pm yesterday and Carlton/Hawks on Saturday night. They still would have cracked 80k and we really should have got over 20k if not 23-25k.

They won't move Melbourne to Marvel, they may move two Melbourne home games to Marvel though (in addition to the NT game). If the club would fold because a couple of home games get moved 5 minutes down the road then we're not viable in a national competition.

Pretty sure that 2013 game was Easter Sunday - and in the depths of the Neeld era

Will Melbourne?

Hawthorn finished 16th last year, GWS 16th the year before. Things can change quickly, North have a lot of good young kids coming up.

Losing Petracca would be the modern equivalent of losing Barassi. The kids who have jumped on board the last 5 years would leave in droves. Probably plenty of their parents too.

Didn't he consider going to Geelong before our flag? He ended up staying but he did consider it.

In a dud draft 🤣

Unlike others who've been posting in this thread you're not usually one prone to hyperbole FTB so I'd like to know some specifics about where the discontent lies. Is it to do with recruiting? Conditioning/performance? Training facilities? Coaching? Allegedly Morris said the dissatisfaction wasn't with Goodwin, is it the line coaches/Richardson? Are the players dissatisfied with club leaders because of who they have put in those positions? I get the frustration, players like Petracca want to leave a legacy, want multiple flags, want to play in front of big crowds. But where exactly is the frustration/blame being directed? What specifically are Goodwin, Pert, Richardson, Roffey, the board responsible for that is leading to you calling for their heads? I'm just a nuffie in the outer, no connections to people in the club etc and obviously I'm not happy with where the club is at or the last 3 years but I'm also pragmatic to look at the reasons some of this has come about. I can understand if there's frustration with the coaches/recruiters but I'm not sure where the frustration would be directed at Roffey, Pert or the board - is it due to re-signing Goodwin? Poor FD appointments? PM me if you don't feel comfortable divulging specific info on here.

This is both wishful thinking and an entitled mindset that is a large part of the problems our club has faced over many decades. I agree night games vs interstate sides aren't great but if we were playing for top 4 against the Giants and Port as the AFL thought when scheduling these games we would've had much better crowds, probably around 35k. I disagree that moving us to Marvel won't solve a thing. Of course you are correct, it won't solve a thing for the MFC but it will solve problems for the AFL who want to maximise overall crowds and for Carlton and Essendon who want more home games at the G.

Can Houston go through the middle or is he better suited across half back? Because we need midfield depth with good ball use, a key forward and a backup ruck ahead of another half back flanker.

https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/dees-to-marvel.1385443/ Its only a matter of time until some in the media (particularly those with Carlton and Essendon agendas) start pushing this. They want more home games at the G and someone needs to make way for them by playing home games at Docklands.

Wow, those Port supporters really are feral!