Dr. Gonzo

We moved Hogan on so we could get May. He wasn't leaving at that stage, still had a year to go but there was a risk he would leave the following season. That's my understanding/memory anyway.

This victim mentality garbage is pathetic (not singling you out, I've seen similar comments across the site, just happened to respond to your post). If you can't tell the difference between Collingwood, Geelong and us you've got rocks in your head or just being wilfully ignorant.

How is it misleading? Our record has us 13th. Whether it's 12th/13th/14th it's really splitting hairs about the level of underwhelming we've been this year.

Team up with Reach, Jim Stynes Centre for disadvantaged youth or something like that. It's a no-brainer, not sure why we aren't pursuing it! His legacy on both organisations recognised in one development.

We sit 13th and have the 14th best percentage. For every close loss there's a close win (Port, North, Cats) you could say could've gone the other way too. Had we lost those three we'd be 4th last.

The close losses aren't the games I'm worried about. The losses to Lions (MCG), WCE, Freo x2, Bulldogs and Collingwood (!!!) are the ones that are the cause for concern. I would include the Carlton loss too, we were smashed out of the blocks and although we almost pinched it late it was basically down to Petracca heroics and Carlton almost [censored] the bed.

We have the 5th worst percentage in the league. That is indicative of our performance in 2024. Yes we have performed well across 22-23 post flag, but that is all it was. We didn't excel, we didn't dominate, we didnt win a final and didn't finish top 4 (preliminary finalists). If we had a better culture and standards amongst the playing group we may have won another flag.

Its time we had a proper forwards coach teaching our forwards proper leading patterns, structure, blocking etc. The mod-forward connection is not solely on the mids, yes they need to tighten up their delivery but it's not like they're burning teammates leading up to them or into space, they kick to packs because the forwards are stagnant.

If that's the case then definitely would do it

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.

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

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.