Maldonboy38

A natural wingman in an era when they have almost been driven out of the game by the term "midfielder". He demonstrates excellence in the four basic skills of footy - mark, kick, handball, evade - and can sustain this excellence often under pressure. And now this pre-season he has demonstrated an ability to work very, very hard on the training track. Put all this together and add emerging similarities the great R Flower; 2019 could be anything.

Spot on. In the 80's we used to drink cordial for thirst quenching! No wonder we spewed so much. I don't know about Manangatang, but I clearly remember near the end of some serious gut running during pre-season playing for Kyneton, where the coach stopped our running, and had the other players jog in a circle around me until I had finished spewing.

He will be his own man, and won't be trying to fill PJ's shoes because he can't. No CEO can be hands off and just let everything run, regardless of who he follows. His job is not to maintain things but to develop, grow and increase influence across every part of club life to the point of a Premiership. rjay got it right above - Pert's main job particular to his appointment is to get our new footy/admin home base done.

I had never heard of him before drafting him, but looking at his size, assets and body-readiness, I really like his addition to our squad. I can see him getting a game sooner than expected.

This.

Petracca is a natural ball-sport player: basketball, footy etc... come easy to him because his instincts and reactions are amazing. He has all the skills, great vision, incredible eye-hand co-ordination. His goal kicking is probably a mental thing and when he gets it right, look out. I also think he has trained very hard since being at the Dees. I remember the photos from his first training sessions when he realised how far he had to go to work alongside Nathan Jones and Bernie Vince. Like Max, I don't reckon he has to work harder, he has to work smarter, and change the way he trains. Less gym, more longer distance running, rowing, boxing. I have to admit to being a fan, and his 2018 season was very, very good. His influence and goal assists were breathtaking at times. Even if he doesn't improve any further he is a wonderful footballer and I love what he brings. However, with his skills and smarts he could become anything. If he can train smarter, change his body shape slightly, run more, then the sky is the limit.

No, but up until 2018 I was often a bored member. It is widely known that the conversation about the "benefits of losing" took place. Anyway, back to Colin Sylvia...

I still rate him as one of a handful of MFC players I have seen in 50 years, who had every skill. I actually put him in the Dusty Martin class. Power footballer, amazing skills, awareness, competitive. Could grab a game and tear it apart in a 10 minute burst. Unfortunately, he rarely put it all together. His mind wandered during games, and off the field. Very, very sad ending. And Cranky, we did tank, and for more than one game. There was a conversation at Board level initiated by Chris Connolly about "the benefits of losing". May you rest now Col, more than you did during your 20's.

Our playing leadership is in great shape with Viney, Jones, Lewis and Gawn holding official positions, and the likes of Jetta, TMac, Lever, May also likely to be on-field for a large percentage of time. And I am happy for any of these blokes to be in the official leadership group. It seems more about finding reasons for some of them NOT to be in the official leadership group. Perhaps the other considerations for leadership are being focused on, the off-field stuff. The media loves the Jones story - playing for so long at a poor dysfunctional club, declining offers to join other clubs on a bigger salary, and leading the team onto the field for 2018 finals. His media work during the finals campaign was outstanding. The only other media performers we have are Gawn and Lewis. This was very, very good exposure for our club and sponsors. Lever approaching fans at a club function - we supporters love that stuff. I had a long conversation with Nev Jetta at a Casey open day just after he had shoulder surgery. We chatted about life, the universe and football for about 15 minutes, and he seemed relaxed and comfortable doing it. Jack Trengove was known among the group for his work of caring for those injured or struggling with personal issues. No-one outside the inner sanctum sees this but he was chosen as captain by his peers and this was one of the main reasons. My leadership group would be Captains - Jack Viney & Nathan Jones VC's - Max Gawn, Jake Lever

His forward play is very very good and he has some rare goal-awareness abilities. But his contested game and defensive run are nowhere near AFL standard. Absolute no from me.

Sorry everyone, but I actually don't see too much favour coming our way. Yes, we play one of the best game styles of anyone - maybe even the best. We have personalities like Gawn and Petracca, and great stories like Nathan Jones. Finals campaign 2018 showed a massive ( and growing) supporter base. But the AFL and Channel 7 are obsessed with a small group of teams, a handful of their preferred stars, and money from advertising on Friday and Saturday nights. They have never got past the 1970's power teams on TV - Collingwood, Carlton and Richmond, and then they added Essendon and later Hawthorn. Everything - and I mean everything - revolves around the AFL promoting these teams with their (supposed) massive followings and the money that follows them. Traditionally, MFC, Saints, Port, Bulldogs, Dockers & Lions are at best 2nd or 3rd considerations in all things AFL. We will get a game versus Freo in Perth before round 5. Channel 7 will gush all over this. We will get 2 - 3 Friday night games but maybe only one against a blockbuster club. And the AFL simply do not care about our NT initiative, it is fully empowered by MFC. We have been lucky to get Adelaide involved this year but after that flogging I can't see them signing up again. Probably Suns, Port or North in NT. I simply do not trust the AFL with fixturing. Even the Eagles will get no favours - while Collingwood will be polished and primed. I would love to be wrong.

Something that has emerged at MFC over the past 2-3 years is a real honesty about our trading and drafting. Although Viney, Mahoney and Taylor do not say a lot publicly, you can take as gospel the things they do say. They got exactly what they wanted during the trade period - 3 needs filled with the players they wanted. 7 vacancies left. Picks 23 & 28 will be drafted players. I see a midfielder and a tall. Up to 3 of our rookies upgraded - possibly Maynard, T Smith, Keilty. 2 vacant list spots - possibly a mature player out of contract and a project player.

Test cricket just around the corner - tick. A struggling Australia is a breath of fresh air. We will see some young stars emerge and the death of the nasty bogan culture that has dominated Australian cricket since Lillee and marsh. A-League - tick. It is finally producing world class football and 1 or 2 games per week are actually watchable. EPL - tick. Except that you have to watch it via Optus. Massive fail. Basketball of any kind - simply a boring sport. Only thing going for it is watching the athleticism of freaks like LeBron James. Golf - No. Apart from those days of 42 degrees where even golf is better than trying to breathe outside. Horse racing - No. C grade celebrities talking vacuously about their new dress, suit or "fascinator" interspersed with gambling adds and inane sub-commentary, followed up by 3 minutes of watching horses flogged to death. Local sport - yes. Find a tree at your local A grade matches, take an esky and some nibbles. VERY enjoyable.

No. After further thought... absolutely no.

Don't like this idea at all. Really disruptive to the state leagues, and could lead to some very bad list management decisions based on possible short term gains rather than a long, thought out planned process.

Never easy fearing an absolute gun forward leaving the club while contracted, especially that the premiership window seems to be opened wide. But the footage is the sealer - we plan for a post-Hogan tilt at the flag. Sorry to see him go. Loved his footy, but his personal griefs might be weighing a bit too heavy. I for one am proud that our club is treating him as a human being before treating him like a product.

Hunt still has so much raw potential, and his improvement is nowhere near complete. Listening to Max Gawn's B&F speech, he remarked how late in 2015 the penny finally dropped for him. I reckon 2018 being a poor year for Hunt might see him rip the 2019 pre-season apart and spring into the footy season in his best nick yet. No he is not a pure footballer like Brayshaw, but his best so far has been electric. I can't wait to see him next year.

Yep - well done and kudos to all with Demonland responsibilities. My morning routine of reading the online news, Demonland then the AFL website gets me on my way to a rather boring job.

Tyson is frustrating at times and for some strange reason, his turnovers stand out as being worse than others. But he gets heaps of the footy and keeps going all day. Looking into 2019 I can't see him in our best 25 so I can see why his manager is making him a public talking point. But I would be keeping him. 2 midfield injuries and in he comes.

It is interesting how many defenders win club B&F's in successful seasons. Internally, voting is often so different to Brownlow or media awards. But our top three will probably be - 1. Gawn 2. Brayshaw 3. Oliver Jetta will poll well, along with Harmes, Tmac, ANB and Melksham.

Great game, the best team won. A few chokers there in the last quarter but 44 blokes going toe-to-toe. Dom Sheeds's goal. Just wow. A shocking game from the umps. Many head high contacts missed and a lot of dropping the ball/holding the ball interpreted as a ball up. Something has to be done about blocking in marking contests. A real blight on the game now. And even though I admire Collingwood under Buckley (who I loathed as a player but respect as a coach) there remains a deep seated, unspoken satisfaction that Collingwood have lost another GF.

He really surprised me this year. He showed some real energy and grunt, and fully earned this 1 year contract. He might really surprise in 2019.

Eagles 22 points NS Shuey FG Rioli

If our circumstances/needs were different I would chase hard after May. He has strengths and weaknesses, but his physical strength is a massive plus, which can be used as a structure point for defending inside our defensive 50. However, for the first time since the early Daniher era I rely on the MFC player development staff, in particular Brendan McCartney. Although none of the Casey boys are ready now, who knows what transpires after 1 good pre-season. And OMac is nowhere finished his physical development. He is still young and could emerge as something quite different to what he is now. Our three tall backs - Frost, OMac & Lever - make a very strong back structure, with varied strengths which compliment each other. I wouldn't want to stuff it up by moving someone in that means moving someone who is currently effective out.

This just made my day. Absolute gold, Biffen.