bing181

Just re Spargo, I'd be surprised. The fact that he was the one chosen to take Melksham's place as kind of "player liaison" on the gameday bench says something about how the club and players see him. He must be doing something right.

I take the reference to a drop in standards with a grain of salt, especially when it comes from Trac. That he could cite ANB leaving as evidence of the club's failings says a lot as to where he's currently at. Understandably perhaps given the trauma etc., but still. (Whether or not we shouldn't be looking at how we can improve right across the board is a separate discussion.)

I don't think anyone's taking it as gospel, and the fact that even the bigger names haven't dropped something similar speaks volumes as to how credible it is.

Selwyn is more than competent. We need to stop looking for "gurus" as some kind of miracle workers. Burgess has run fitness departments for plenty of teams who haven't even made the 8 - including us. Not doubting his capability, but he's just one factor amongst many.

!!!

"Petracca drove this exit plan himself. He was not put up to it by his management firm, Connors Sports Management. In 2021 he and that company ecstatically reached a deal with the Demons through to the end of 2029. In mid-2024, he asked his representatives to explore the market on his behalf. Robbie D’Orazio and Paul Connors can publicly explain their involvement in the Petracca saga if they so wish, but history suggests that when their firm is involved in a trade request from one of its players from a ground-zero beginning, it gets it done. It negotiated the passage of one of the all-time greats in Chris Judd, from West Coast to Carlton, in 2007, without fuss. In contrast to Petracca, Judd never sought to publicly embarrass the club he was seeking to leave. The statement released by Melbourne on Saturday night officially committing to a future with Petracca was a convenient, timely end to a farcical saga. But it is almost certainly merely a temporary halt. The fraying of Petracca-Demons relationships since King’s Birthday simply may not be able to be repaired. Fixture in a resumption of the Petracca trade talk same time next year."

I'm surprised there hasn't been more emphasis on KPD. May and McDonald into their last season or two, Jed Adams on a long contract but is yet to really show anything. The cupboard is bare, especially after we've swung Turner and Petty forward.

23 games this year for 42 goals.

If our culture is as strong as Pert, Gawn and Goodwin say (...), then we definitely should look at him. He kicked more goals than anyone on our list and would be a good foil for the younger players coming through. On the other hand, Fritsch + Stringer, perhaps only room for one of them?

“But there’s been an immaturity, in my eyes, a significant immaturity attached to his dealings in the past two weeks at least, and maybe even a whole lot longer.” “I think he’s gone rogue on the whole thing, and his teammates think he’s gone rogue to a certain point,” Barrett added.

Woah. Who were the 10 quality players who moved last year? Grundy, maybe Lachie Schultz and then ... Jack Ginnivan? Mabior Chol? Ratugolea? Paddy Dow? After a couple of marquee first rounders, often due to the go-home factor, it's pretty slim pickings and I don't see any of these players making a real change to a club or a list.

Better yet, they could start putting up cooking videos.

This idea that there is a pool of "talent" out there just waiting to change clubs is a myth. The vast majority of players who change clubs are delisted players or fringe/OOC/free agents. Sometimes those players prove their worth at their new clubs, but it's the exception rather than the rule. Even there, it often boils down to the list and the roles available. The issue we're going to have is that in spite of all the doom and gloom, we have most positions covered and no-one is going to change clubs just to get in the queue. Perhaps mids, with Petracca moving forward/fitness unknown, also as a replacement for Brayshaw. But ... suspect that our priority will be a) getting the players we do have fit and b) the draft.

It may have been a mistake in terms of on field performance, but it wan't a mistake in terms of managing and supporting Oliver. With ADHD, he needs the routine and responsibilities of week-to-week games and of being part of the playing group. All of his issues surfaced when he was stuck alone in rehab for 8 weeks last year. At his best, Oliver is one of the very best players in the AFL and in working to keep him in the fold and healthy the club made the right decision.

"Petracca’s concerns included his belief that Melbourne people did not check in with him enough in the aftermath of his King’s Birthday injury, the pending departure of teammate Alex Neal-Bullen, and previous culture issues at the club including Clayton Oliver’s troubles and the doping charges faced by teammate who shall not be named here over a positive cocaine test." https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/i-remain-committed-petracca-says-he-is-staying-at-melbourne-20240831-p5k6ua.html

Actually, luck doesn't work like that. We could just as easily have more bad luck next year as each year's luck is independent. Sorry. Against that, having a full off-season with no finals so players can have a proper break and recharge will definitely help our "luck".

Ditto JVR.

You're just proving my point. Dangerfield was 26 when he switched to Geelong - same age as when Franklin went to the Swans. And Sidebottom has never changed clubs, not that Pies were ever built around him anyway. All of the really big trades of marquee, AA players were players who were still in their prime and with years of good footy ahead of them. A club like WC, North or GC who need experience might give a 30 year old a nice retirement package, but none of the big clubs would.

Too immature. Captaincy has Lever's name on it, then the next generation.

Agree. But Pies first-rounder could be not much better than 18 - 20, and even with two years of future firsts hard to see how that gets done. But the other variables are: - Trac getting back to his very best after the injury from hell. Not so sure. - He'll be going on 30 at the end of next season. Not the kind of age where you can build a team around him for 5 years. When Judd moved to Carlton he'd just turned 25. - That contract. Long and expensive for someone getting into the later stage of his career.

Trac could have had all the "robust discussion" etc etc he wanted, but still kept it in house. I'm sure plenty of the players have opinions on what we should be doing better/differently, but only one of them turned it into a media circus. The one tiny mitigating factor here is that he's still in trauma following his horrific injury and is probably not in a great place mentally (which he has admitted). Still ...

Don't think he's going to be in any state to be doing that. If he can run laps by Christmas we'll be doing well ... though I know nothing of his fitness.

Frankly, would prefer he was gone. Prima Donna. Going to need some strong leadership from Max, Viney and Jake, but I wonder how much damage he's done to himself internally and with the playing group.

...

Not all. Not her position and there's nothing worse than Board Members overriding the relative staff to stick their oar in.