3183 Dee

Absolutely.

Well, I don’t mind that we have a player that is hungry for it: I don’t think that he is a selfish player, but I do think he craves team/personal success. Of course, I’d love him to sign up for 5 years today, but I don’t blame him for waiting to see what happens. Since finals, we have finished 17th and 9th, with some quite good and also pretty poor performances. That’s two years, without a sniff of finals. For a player of his ability and ambition, he’d want to make sure that the next contract he signs (which is going to probably be the biggest of his career) is going to be with an organisation who will get him as close as possible to a flag. We need to prove ourselves this year.

I know, right?! I’m not sure whether that’s a specific recruitment policy (I reckon it was, in the past) or a long standing cultural hangover that still rings true at coterie and board level. Maybe once we have our home base and Melbourne supporters of all backgrounds can mix together, this might change? I love it when we recruit a genuine hard nut, like Steven May or Clayton Oliver but I must say, I was very impressed with Ed Langdon’s tenacity and contest, when my preconception had been of a one way runner. Perhaps it’s inverse snobbery, on my part?

Tend to agree - still a bit of the old boy, ammo stuff about our club. I cringed a bit at the last Captain’s Run podcast, with Gus and Wattsy chewing the fat like a couple of Church St retirees.

Also Oliver’s hero growing up. But I think he has said he’ll stay at Port. I would LOVE Hodge!

Dodoro RARELY Saadisfies!

Could be something in it - like the Saints’ return to Moorabbin. Conversely, if our new hub is in the MCG precinct, we should be on a fast-track to Premiership glory!

Good luck to Preussy, no reason why he can’t do a good job for the Giants. I like him - kooky unit!

Yes - he’s also not a bad tackler.

I disagree - Pert has now put his own reputation on the line, by owning the responsibility. Good leadership in my book. Whether it works or not, is another question...

I agree - whilst there’s no doubt Brown is a bonafide forward, he leads on tracks, meaning that the ball into 50 needs to be good. What we need (and I don’t think there’s any out there at the moment) is a big clunker! I would rather get Petty right - who can clunk - and try and get TMac back, who is a good lead.

He has also taken responsibility for conducting the coaching review, which means that all decisions will ultimately be on him. You'd think there will be pretty significant changes, as he'll want to get it right, not only for the club's sake, but for his own.

Good on him! He didn't look particularly thrilled though ?

I don’t think he’ll have a choice @SFebes - the board aren’t going to fork out big dollars for someone to sit in the coaches’ box and not be allowed to say anything.

Where did you hear this? Great news, if true!

Thanks for sharing the info - this would be a great get, if it eventuates. Ironically, I think it would be strengthened further if Goody took the third assistant coach role and someone like Roos came in at the top. I think Goodwin is a great line/assistant coach, especially given his rapport with the players. This is a different skill set to that of a head coach, but one which I (from the outside) think Goody is better suited for.

? Sauce? PS - Good to see you back!

He would be a great get, but the Hawks will surely look to re-sign him as a priority. Also, I’m not sure how Collingwood, who are apparently needing to off load players in order to re-sign Moore and De Goey, are now able to fit Gunston into their plans as well?

Terribly sad for Harley, but I am incredibly proud of our club (I sound like Goody now). We did the right thing in giving him a chance - it was always a gamble, this time it didn’t pay off as we’d hoped, but at least we took the risk. Regardless of what happened at the end, our club can be secure in the knowledge that they gave him the absolute best chance at another go. I wish all the best for Harley and his family - I can’t help thinking it will be a tough old road ahead for a while - hopefully the club will check in on him from time to time. Some things are bigger than footy.

Looking forward to the AFLW - getting better each year and will be interesting to see how the Dees recruit in the draft. The Irish girls have been fantastic and I have a sneaky suspicion that Magee might be the best of all.

It was a clear duck by Shuey, but it was a limp old effort of a tackle by Polec. Reminds me of Melksham’s effort last weekend.

Absolutely - I get a lump in my throat whenever I watch that. The look on his face as he turns away says it all: utter relief and exhaustion. He really came to the club at the worst time and was let down by its administration, yet smiled through it all. I wish him all the best in whatever he goes into next - such a ripping young man.

I thought the same, Daz - but could be for a number of reasons: 1. BNF assembled quickly and held during the day, after exit interviews - no atmosphere. 2. Boys genuinely p!ssed off after season fizzled out. 3. Something is up. Perty was doing his salesman act, but it looked like a place where [censored] had gone down moments before - maybe big clear out of coaching staff, as others have alluded to?

I agree - just postulating. It will be interesting to hear the speeches tonight.