Demon17

Having worked and lived in both devonport and launceston, the answer is NONE or very little. Its just a day out is the way the locals tell me. The crowds in Hobart tell the same story. The hawks and Roos are only over there for the cash, and in the Hawks (or "family club") case means they don't have to have even more pokies than they already have sucking $20M out of problem gamblers and the community.

Goodwin also talks about challenges, lots of 6 day breaks, travel etc. He will just be taking this approach and the self belief of the team will do the rest.

A lift of 5K in new memberships will help cover this shortfall for 2019 thanks to 2018 efforts. 2020 then with both games at Home could be a bonanza year commercially.

Supporters of ALL other teams will be looking at this draw and fearing the game against the Dees next year. Incl the Cats at GMHBA. And in 2018 the team show great efforts on the road - this will hold no fears for them in 2019

The real story here is the AFL scheduling a train wreck for the opening game. It will kill the Blues season from Day 1. I can hear the post mortem now; "...what were they thinking..."

I think there's an upside to having Game 1 at th G for membership sales at the ground, rather than Dees playing there in Round 2 for the first MCG game

Didn't he watch the finals series this year and see how the Eagles unlocked the secret to beat/neutralise 1 big key ruckman (Gawn and Grundy). Great forward thinking by Mahoney and co with Preuss. This also guarantees we will be watching Big Max as a 34 year old too running around.

ALSO good at confronting plane hijackers!

Iv'e just re-watched the hawks and cats finals. You can't be serious?

Insightful comment Ding. Good post Hogan re-signed for 3 years 2 years ago with the undertone that the club has 3 years to prove itself worthy of him committing further or he's off. Well the Dees did in spades after 2 years and are now equal 2nd flag favourite in 2019. What more could they have done. Yet he's still off to Perth and that smacks of insincerity and investment to me. But given his recent history the move can be seen as understandable and I wish him well. But we now have a premiership defence and Weid was always earmarked for a KPP role. Roll on 2019 ( and we still kept AVB whom I love even if he can't kick sometimes)

Worthwhile and timely quote for this thread BB. Many confuse application of testosterone as part of getting a deal done and don't understand why they never seem get what they need.

Deal just announced. Huge kudos to mahoney.

Could be best long term outcome for Dees. Big Maxy will now add another 2 to 3 years to his playing career and this deal will mean in the GF next year Max won't have to carry the load to his detriment, a la Grundy this year who tried manfully but was outplayed.

Thanks for this post and the weekly ones also Joeboy. Much appreciated. A couple of mods above.

No offence but you have no idea on corporate governance, especially given we don't know any background. This post above reads liek "...what have the Romans ever done for us..." BOUGHT PEACE! In regard to Bartlett he was managing partner of arguably( in my experience) the country's heaviest hitting legal firm and appears when interviewed by BT to be just a bloke in the change rooms. There will be no way he is like that in the Board room The club has RESPECT for the first time in nearly 2 decades under his watch. The club was a basket case at his takeover. he convinced PJ to stay when he was wanting to retire and was begged to come to the club. EVIDENCE at a macro level. The club would not be in this position unless the CEO/Chairman were a tight and effective unit. Only Chairman to have played at the senior level - not that matters anyway but clearly understand club culture from the ground up. For what its worth, Caro's performance with Eddie on footy classified this week was appalling and cross between self justification and sucking up to the Pies. Ed said at one stage should he leave and just let Caro talk as he couldn't get a word in.

True. But i understand this was the figure dees received from his management and opted out as a result not prepared to pay that much and gaff moved onto roos for discussions.

Agree. Just don't like it.

Gaff wants $1.1m.

The club will not pay what gaff wants. 1.1m They recognise the need to bring a star studded young group up together a la geelong pay wise. No outliers paywise and the team has bought into this philosophy.

Exactly. My understanding from a club source is that hogan has been groomed as a high half foward utility type and that weideman was seen as the tall forward. Hence hogans up ground time this year and given his aerobic capacity. Nuts to trade such a quality player. I dont care who would come in. Goody trades out those who dont fit. Watts...... Hogan is a star.

And its a smart 10 year decision. Maxys 26 ish. Preuss is 23. This will add 3 years on maxys playing life and give our gun midfield team top service for that period too.

Oliver by a mile. 3 excellent games from the kid who was great from day 1 of the finals despite close atention. Agressive and gave as good as he got . Hugely advanced his reputation and no stage fright for one so young. Yesterday he was our best.

Great post full of resilience which is the true test at times like these. I belive the club has resilience in spades now. The great north teams of the 90s with Carey lost 3 prelims before making the gf. The journey to the next dees gf has now begin imo.

Agree but the jury on vdb is out for me unless he can consistently dispose of the ball. Unreliable kick and problematic handballs nit at afl standard. Cant fsult his vigour and ontent but needs to be more effective

Lewis last 1/4 in Round 22 was sensational under huge pressure at Optus against Eagles. He's a conundrum but I'd rather still have him around next year. He will or won't earn his spot. I believe based on last pre-season 17/18, that Goody will make hard decisions for the benefit of all (Watts, Fritsch yesterday etc. ) making the next 8 weeks or so fascinating. Full faith in this next period to set up 2019. One will be killing off any rumours about Hogan leaving for example.