Dr. Gonzo

Morris is a grub but he was only doing his job. Who fed him the information for the story? Has his story turned out to be incorrect? Petracca suffered a horrific injury, very dangerous situation, but blaming the club for sending him back in it wallowing in self pity about it isn't going to help anyone. I don't criticise Petracca for being shaken or traumatised by the incident. I don't criticise him for taking time away from the club and heading north. I don't criticise him for feeling frustrated with the club. I do criticise him for letting those frustrations because public and then letting them fester by not saying anything for 2 weeks while the club continues to cop it from all sections of the media.

He doesn't have to do a live tv interview though. He could pre record something and post on his socials. He could draft something that could be emailed out by the club. He could do a press release for the media. He doesn't have to go on a live tv interview to put the rumours to bed. The fact he hasn't done any of these things speaks volumes. Not saying anything is fuelling the speculation and media frenzy which would only be adding to any mental health issues he may have. It would be simple as anything to draft a basic "it's been tough, I've been frustrated, had honest chats, but remain committed to MFC and further success" etc etc, it basically writes itself. So you'll excuse me if I don't by mental health and the reason he hasn't come out and said anything yet, especially someone as keyed into the brand-building and social media as Petracca is.

This is a naive way to view things. Not saying anything is destabilising the club. Someone from his camp obviously leaked to Morris in the first place and caused this news to break. Not coming out to refute it is saying loud and clear he wants out. All the club has been able to say is that he's contracted, no comments saying he loves the club and is focused on getting us back to finals or that he's committed to the club. It feels like the situation is going to get ugly over the next few weeks. It's no wonder we supporters get labelled with MFCSS, this club is so inept, so well versed at shooting itself in the foot that even when we stumble on a generational talent and build a successful team it's gone within a couple of years due to mismanagement and the generational player is so disenfranchised with the club he wants out. You couldn't make this [censored] up.

He deviates off his line and steps into the bump. He's gone for 3.

I don't buy it. It's not about gameplan or execution, our players actually play timid against the filth. There is no intent behind their movement, they should be tackling to hurt the opposition, swarming them etc The club must put their footy down and say, regardless of what happens moving forward we will not lose to Collingwood again. Play with some ferociousness and they don't like it, they only like it when they can bully other sides. Turn the tables and they go to water.

All those saying Moore caused it by sliding are right but it won't change the outcome. The AFL will say "if you elect to bump you wear the consequences". It's absolute garbage because if the roles were reversed you know what the result would be but because it is Melbourne and even more so because it is Pickett he will get weeks. The umpiring tonight was farcical, this would be the cherry on top. AFL are a corrupt organisation run and officiated by inbred maggots. Sick of the lot of them.

Delusional take. We played them on Kings Birthday with a third if their team out and they still killed us. It's about mindset, they have the right attitude we fall to water when it counts. Yeah we can beat up on a soulless Suns team but can we apply the same pressure/aggression against a Pies team with their rabid supporters screaming from the stands? Some of the efforts to ight were deplorable, many of them when the game was still alive early. They were not the only culprits but Bowey and Fritsch were two notable ones who just [censored] themselves at the thought of contact. It's actually embarassing the way we continue to have our pants pulled down by this mob. We've beaten them twice since 2017 and one of those games was at the Gabba. What does it take for us to say "no more" we will not let this mob roll over us anymore!? It has nothing to do with gameplan, footskills, turnovers etc and has everything to do with mindset and aggression at the opposition and the contest.

I disagree with this sentiment wholeheartedly. ANB has given his all for this club, was told he wasn't needed and out his head down and worked his [censored] off to become a key cog in our premiership side and a leader of the team. He has legitimate reasons to want to return to SA after repaying the club, it's not like a young rookie walking out on the club that draft him after one or two years.

I can walk and chew gum 😉

There is some merit in what you're saying but to think the Petracca story just came from nowhere and was pulled from thin air by Morris is fanciful. Goodwin, Pert and Gawn all spoke in the last week and none refuted the issues. Petracca has not come out to say the whole thing is garbage. There was a players only meeting on Monday where Petracca addressed the group. Clearly in this case where there is smoke there is fire.

Yes. It's absolutely ridiculous, the aim is to win the flag. Doing that from outside the 4 is nigh on impossible (apart from the Dogs aberration) let alone winning from 9th or 10th. It's just more pointless money grabbing from the AFL, trying to find more ways to appease the broadcasters with more content, not giving a stuff about the supporters or the integrity of the competition. They are an absolute clown show. Wildcards make sense in the NFL because of the division structure. So you might have a division winner with a 7-10 or 8-9 record make playoffs while another division has 3 teams with records of 10-7 or better so it makes sense for the better teams in the stronger division to qualify for playoffs as "wildcards" despite not winning their division to qualify. The AFL does not have divisions or conferences, we have one ladder with the qualifying for finals being finishing in the top 8. After 22 (now 23) rounds if you haven't done enough to qualify for at least 8th spot then you aren't a serious threat for the flag are you?

Agree but the problem is until Trac comes out and refutes the rumour he wants out those articles will keep coming. Even if he stays this trade period, the articles will continue all through next year especially if the AFL brings in trading draft picks 3 years out. Then you'll have articles like the Pies trading 3 first rounders for him. Until Trac makes a public statements one way or the other the speculation will continue.

And the rest of them

Premiership hero and top bloke. Thanks for your services Browny ❤️💙

"No suggestion at this stage that Pickett is considering leaving, just that the interest has again been made clear. " How is this a story?

Why?

Would've been nice if he had a crack at McRae as well. Don't just go the easy targets Gaz, call them all out

Jack Martins on decent coin, the salary cap is increasing, they could trade out Cerra (who is chronically injured) to make way. If they wanted to (and who wouldn't) they could make it happen

And you can guarantee the media will be all about us being unreasonable if we don't accept it.

If they really needed it explained to them then footy players are a lot dumber than I imagined. I mean, I know they look at anyone who reads a book as a bit "kooky" and "different" but I didn't think they were that oblivious as to think someone who suffered a significant critical injury who couldn't rehab or do any kind of strenuous activity for a while might want to get away for a couple of weeks.

From the outside it seems a bizarre situation, there's no explanation of why exactly he would want to leave. Is it the injury and the way that was managed? The communication issues highlighted here? Are his issues with the playing group more than the club? Or is he just seeing the writing on the wall for our future prospects and using this as a convenient excuse to push the club to trade him? It really doesn't add up which is frustrating for the supporters who can only go by what is in the news or what is told to them by the club. It's crazy that it's been left to fester this long and get to this stage, something is seriously wrong if we can't get one of our best players in 60 years back onside. Even if he's not traded this year the speculation will be ongoing until this is put to bed and clubs will be in his ear for the next 12 months trying to woo him leading to more distractions and destabilisation.

Why do you think getting rid of Goodwin will fix anything? Messaging has been pretty consistent that the players love him and Petracca's issues lie elsewhere.

Players should have no opinion on the CEO or President unless they are interfering with the FD. Unless it's a complaint about training facilities or conduct (eg Collingwood) I don't see why a player would be unhappy with the CEO/Pres and if they were they should be told to stay in their line, regardless of who they are.

Nash couldn't lace Viney's boot laces (or the Ultimate Warriors for that matter!)

Couldn't have asked for more from the team today. Jack Viney what a beast. Turner was fantastic up forward. McVee continued to build on his great form and gives us another option in the middle next year. I thought the Kolt had a decent game too, I do t get the queries over him, he's a first year player, played around 10 games but he knows how to find the footy and he is a footballer first (not athlete). I think he'll develop bicely over the next couple of years. Robbed of a goal today as well. Roos looks ready to explode next year as well. Kozzie very quiet and Rivers had a mare. Tomlinson not far behind him but TMac/Lever/Salem held the defence up. Fantastic coaching too, completely nullified Rowell in the contest. Beat the filth next week, end their finals hopes and finish up with a positive ledger (12-11) and we have something positive to take into next season.