binman

Are you serious? In what world would the MFC be paying a single cent of tracc's contract if he leaves? In fact, if anything the dees might even be prepared to take unders in terms of what another club offers us to get his exorbitant salary of the books. The reality is that even if tracc changes his tune and wants to stay: - he turns 29 in January - won't be able to put a full preseason together (he hasn't been able to do any running yet, or presumably strength work, so his fitness base must be completey eroded), which will impact his 2025 season - has said himself he is struggling with the trauma relating to the injury - if I was a betting man, I would offer no better than even money (ie 50 50) that tracc will ever get back to his best - seemingly has burned bridges with his teammates (and possibly coach, and almost certainly the footy dept and board). In short, even leaving aside the impact of him staying when he wants out, there is a very good chance we would not get value from our investment In that context, it might be prudent for the dees to take unders. We will then have plenty of cash, particularly with gus' salary iff rhe books, to invest in our young guns and money to attract stars from other clubs. However the media spin this, the MFC has the whip hand here.

Not a million yet. And he is 20, not a grown assed man, so you can forgive a bit.

The last sentence is such an obvious point. I mean how many clubs want to spend a million bucks a year on a player that prospective teammates thinks is a diva?

Insert gif of binman walking hand in hand with tracc, looking back at Anderson.

Alternative theory: Tracc is concerned about the increasing angst and division on Demonland. And decided to do something to bring us together.

Snap.

It's funny you should note that. The inference has been that other clubs would fall over themselves to get tracc. That's its a given But i wonder if tracc has actually been given any indication the pies or blues are actually keen. Leaving aside no draft capital, and salary cap pressures, the pies have a raft of plus 30s on their list - list wise, do they really want a player, one who would be their highest paid, who turns 29 next January. The blues have a better balanced list but he will be coming back from a serious injury, one he has openly said he struggled to deal with psychologically. Hell, he couldn't even pass a medical atm Not out a sense of schadenfreude, I genuinely wonder how tracc would feel and/or cope if neither the blues are keen.

I can attest to that!

No, but the other 43 players on the blues list certainly would.

On my last point, some blues players might already be annoyed with tracc. Case in point, Harry McKay. Bloke has just signed on 'till 2030 and is about to play an elimination final. And out of the blue, the talk (solely based on speculation by mclure) is he is trade bait and his manager has to come out and shut down talk of his club trading him. Not a great way to build enduring bonds with prospective teammates.

Maybe. Maybe not. The result is the same. On conners, if he is not responsible for the strategic backgrounding of morris why has he let this play out like it has? Why hasn't he backgrounded another journo to at least tamp down the noise 'till after the GF? I mean, he's tracc's manager after all. And if demonland is any guide, tracc's stocks are falling in terms of his reputation. That's to say, whilst the initial reporting was favourable towards him (ultra pro unhappy with the 'direction' of a club the media loves to hammer), it's swinging the other way - for example the suggestion his teammates are jack of him. If I was conners I'd be concerned the idea of tracc as an entitled, prima donna taking hold - Australians are allergic to that idea of stars elevating themselves above their team. And leaving aside the response by fans, if that perception takes hold amongst players at say the pies or blues how keen will they be about a diva coming to their club (probably instantly the highest paid), with all the attendant palaver. And how will the big stars at either club feel about having to share the spotlight with tracc?

My tip. This will all blow over and there will be a big redemption, reconciliation patch up job by tracc's team. Why? Well, whilst i don't doubt tracc wants our, it appears he's wedged himself. (I say appeared because whilst there's obviously been some strategic backgrounding to journos, the only info we've got thus far is from peanuts like Morris and McClure - note this a classic move of politcians and player managers alike as it gets the desired message out, sets the narrative but also provides a get out, we never said such stuff, option). By wedged i mean the suggestion is he wants out, but only to a 'big Victorian club' in the Premiership window. Realistically that is the pies, blues and a very long stretch the bombers (noting their home ground is marvel). To get to one of those clubs a mighty good deal would need to be done - one that satisfies us. What leverage does tracc have? Well, some might argue his leverage is the dees having a player on the list who wants to be elsewhere and who might be bad for the vibe at the club Big f deal for one thing. But that's basically a threat - one we have clearly signalled (goody's post match presser being the best example) we are not going to be bowed by. A key point is if things are so bad, and he really, really wants out then suck it up and go to the Tigers, or West coast, or the suns. Or wherever. Or not, and honour his contract.

Me too. And I'd add: Clarry full, intense preseason. Clarry no broken hand. Tmac uninterrupted preseason. Hore an injury free year. May not having his ribs broken. Twice. Maxy not cracking his ankle (he was never right after that injury). Lever an injury free year. Bowey not starting season (after having a ripping preseason) smashing his collarbone In round one. No Hunter. Windsor no syndenmosis. Tracc no ruptured spleen. Turner no groin issue.

Or perhaps a monorail somewhere

This x 1000.

I said at the time Freo were crazy to use up so much capital to go after Jackson. Not because he's not going to be a star (though I wondered if he was driven enough- still do), but because they had an A grade ruck, Jackson is not a natural forward and had more pressing needs than another ruck. There was also the opportunity cost with the picks they gave up, and his starting salary created challenges trading in other gun players, nor to mention cap issues when it came time to resign Brayshaw and other guns. Two full seasons later, I haven't seem anything to suggest I got it wrong Surely by Jackson's second season they would have hoped to be a genuine flag contender. Hell, just a few weeks ago (after flogging us for the second time) they were in the top 4!. But for the second year in a row since trading in Jackson, they have missed finals again. And might have made finals if Jackson had put the team on his shoulders in the port game and been a difference maker, something you expect from your highest paid players. Like riccardio leaving red bull, the smart play for Jackson was to stay with the dees for 3 more years and then go to freo on a mega contract - maybe as a two time premiership player (imagine how different 2023 would have been with Jackson in the team).

Yes they do. But it has to be cooked very rare.

All I want for Xmas is an elite kick and decision maker. A lefty would be a sweet bonus.

Port win and they play the cats at home. Lose by more than a a few goals and we all put up with cats demanding they play port at Tax payer Park.

Not atm. Too devastated and/or willing port to win.

Suns do the business Ditto Saints. Our inability to hit a target inside 50 does the rest. Hello pick 5. Pick 5 changes the Houston dynamic from our perspective. That's a high pick in what is apparently a strong top 10 or so in the draft (though how often do they some variation of that).

And i was able roll out a golden oldy sledge to the Pies fans that were sitting in a dese members area - "You are rubbish Collingwood - a half decent team would be 100 points up!!!!!!" And i have to say i enjoyed contributing to the Collingwood chant - blending in: "Missed the finals as flag wiiiiiiiiineeeeers"

Cue in rack

Spring Racing Carnival

That's an excellent point.