Dockett 32

Not much of a fan of free agency, seems to favour the top sides. But as it stands we have to live with it, be on the front foot and try not to be on the wrong side of future player movement. It is now an ongoing process within the system so no use complaining about it. It is what it is . I’m sure we would have several people charged with future strategic positioning within our list management and recruiting staff. They probably have a few sleepless nights with probably more to come. For instance recruiting players from interstate, particularly SA and WA carries additional risk. However when you look at our young player retention over the past few years it’s apparent that we are doing ok and are no longer the soft target we once were. Bigger problem for AFL is to stop the exodus of players to the stronger clubs ( of which we are now hopefully one) from north of the Murray. We may not be in the worst place for all of this now.

If Max can get be in the media each week surely there’s a role for Bernie somewhere. Also been part of the modern game and strategies unlike many in the media still going around. Come on Fox there’s only so much Dermie I can take.

What seems to be the hold up with this one? Done a pretty good job for a young bloke in a tough role. A few blips here and there but shown enough for a bit of a pay rise.

When we are on about having A graders why would we even consider?

MFC recorded message states not all their allocation sold and once seller gets themselves organised they will advise further ,so maybe there could be an avenue if you are a joint MFC/MCC member? Not sure.

Yep correct. According to recorded message from the MCC all visitors seats and reserved seats sold out. Was looking for one visitor seat for young family member. Was on at 12.01 followed guidelines, just unable to get through. I too will join the scramble before the gates open.

Might make a half decent coach one day. Measured, resolute and focussed. Hope he hangs around our joint for a while.

If Lever was worth 2 first rounders. An injury prone Hill and a first rounder would be massive unders IMO

Decisions have to be made in a ‘spit second’. I wouldn’t think it possible. Prefer to think that as the the season moves into the real result defining period, the umpires only play the really blatant ones. Hope so anyway, as winning the contest ball is one of our strengths. Letting the game go a bit suits us.

I owe him an apology.

Yet another chance for our blokes. Hopefully one day they’ll take one. I hear the talk, but haven’t seen the walk yet.

Don’t think you can wish in this business.

Hawthorn leadershipjave fear of losing . Ours don’t.

Me too but don’t think we are that far away. Would like stronger leadership ( read Lynch from GCS ) and wouldn’t care what we had to do to get him.

J.s.s H C. Rist! No one should be considered unbeatable! Our group should be able to stand up against the best. There are no excuses anymore.

You might be on the money.

Are we finally getting better at this? Suggested a couple of weeks back that the way the cards had fallen, that a number of players could be playing for their careers over the next three weeks. Might this discoslure turn out a good thing? Garlett, JKH and Pederson marked their own papers last week. Maybe not totally unsurprising. We have two more home and away games. Are we finally drilling down into what players we have that can handle the next level? Might know a bit more tomorrow.

The general expectation , not only of Demons supporters, but the football world at large ,was for us to play finals. If we don’t , we haven’t met expectations. Its not that hard. The good news is we can and should still get there.

Be nice if the players did something in one of the next two for Goody. He’s been supportive and covering for them all year. I don’t know how he held it together after the StKilda game.

Kent and second rounder for Gaff probably gets it done, probably even already done, but personally not over excited at the propospect of this.

That seems to be a point of difference between us and a couple of other clubs. Sydney and Hawthorn make these type of difficult calls on trades in relation to list management. Emotion is not a factor ( Don’t always get it right mind you) Hawthorn :- Lewis, Mitchell, Hodge Swans Mitchell The point is they run a club and have no compunction calling the shots. We on the other hand are going to be left with Lewis and Jones on our list next year and still squirm about James McDonald. I realise Lewis and Bernie suited us at the time ,but they can also become a bit of a sea brake. Personally I would think Bernie Vince now has very little chance of survival. If it were true that we offered a very high draft pick for Hannebery that would surely have to come from a trade of a previously highly thought of youngster who hasn’t quite met expectations. I can’t think of any other way. .

A good thread but just a bit premature. A few blokes could be playing for their careers at Melbourne over the next three games. Completely in their own hands. IMO a positive really. Acid and microscope on over the next few weeks. If we do ok, no need to move too many deck chairs.

Lets hope we finally announce ourselves as a serious football side, by winning a couple and making the eight. Ordinary year if we don't.

Hmmmm . Just hope he permanently conquers his issues.

We have had plenty of opportunity to have that covered off, but amazingly we still keep being given opportunity after opportunity. There simply are no excuses anymore, either we start taking a couple them, which we should and look at progress, or face and deal with the fact that we have gone no where.