Demon Dynasty

Sparrow back next week. Things are looking up!

That is very positive news LN. Club (Burgess/Mahony?) already recognising some of its deficiencies vs our competition and looking to improve them such as brute power/breakaway (burst) speed in and around the contest, strength in contested marking and the ability to stand up in a tackle as a few examples. While not every player can or should be a Dusty, Dangerfield, Bont or Kennedy (Eagles) this will hopefully go some way towards improving select players in an upward trajectory like Tracc, Salem, Clarry, Gus & Harmes! Even the likes of Petty, Weid, Lockhart, Dunkley etc. Good pick up LN.

Ditto. Another year or two under the master wouldn't hurt either Pit. There's no guarantees he will come back to us but himself and/or Hodgey would be very handy assets to have sitting in the box with Goody. Hodgey very handy on the interchange as a strong voice also when needed.

It's not very often a great champion of the game will walk through the doors of the FD at the MFC. A big thank you to Jordy and Todd for making it happen. I'm just gutted we didn't make it to the big dance with him, the Jones boy, Viney, Clarry, Big Maxy and Harmes at least having the chance to play off together in a GF. A truly sad day when a player who brings so much experience and winning ways to a club, gets up and announces his final game or two to the boys. It's been an honor and a pleasure to watch Jordy pull on the red & blue and literally fight for the club. He brought some venom and an edge that, along with Vince, AVB & Kent (on the limited occasions the last two have managed to play) brought to the group. Three of those four have now departed and one may not make it back. Worrying times for the MFC. Could be a long difficult climb out of a very deep pit from here. Hope he stays and finds a place as an assistant somewhere but more likely he will move on to other interests. Good luck and thanks for some memorable times Mr Lewis. You will be missed.

Obviously a 'wish list' on the 3 forwards suggestion JD. Can't see any of them, other than maybe Rooey, on big multiples of current media $, coming down for a short stint. We could do alot worse than surround ourselves with a 'Hawthorn' biased crew of assistants and line coaches IMV JD. I would be ecstatic to see a combo of Lewey, Roughy and Hodge join us. What an amazing get Hodgey would be, not just for his experience, footy knowledge and a succession option (whether Goody makes it or not) but also the drawing power those three would have getting potential top line recruits over the line in the super competitive trade circus.

I can only go on what Tommy said in both radio interviews 6 weeks apart Bin. "No issues, best pre-season in 3 years, was expecting a big improvement on 2018 output. Increased weight program, tried everything to get out of form slump, spoke to pyschologists/sports science and other ppl around club to rectify, purely a belief/confidence thing etc etc". You say he's lieing i'm prepared to accept it was a form slump with no issues pre-season as he said on multiple occasions when asked. Maybe someone stomped on his toe at one point when you were watching him as restricted. Who knows. [censored] happens on the field sometimes which can impact short term etc.

Sometimes stationary works CB. Mr Miyagi says hello...

All good Dieter. I'm just taking Tom as genuine when he said he's had the best pre-season in three seasons and was ready for a big year of improvement on last season (2018). Turf toe issues yes but that was 2018. I suspect you are referring to lag comments/concerns on D'land early this season referring back to problems he was having the year before that did hamper his ability to perform on occasions.... McDonald edging closer to return Matt Burgan Apr 24, 2018 3:58PM I’m close to playing, but more importantly, I feel confident that it’s going to be good for the rest of the year – hopefully. You can’t ever predict the rest of the season or the future. I’m feeling really confident and where it’s at Tom McDonald Related TOM McDonald said he was “going really well” and edging closer to a return after a frustrating start to the year with a foot injury. The key tall, who has yet to play an AFL match this season, said he was now at the point where he was running with no pain. “I feel really good running around on the field. I’m about to start some main training with the group, so all of the boxes have been ticked from a rehab point-of-view,” he told Melbourne Media. “I’m close to playing, but more importantly, I feel confident that it’s going to be good for the rest of the year – hopefully. You can’t ever predict the rest of the season or the future. I’m feeling really confident and where it’s at. “I’m glad we took the time to rest it properly and build-up slowly. I’m getting some positive news that it’s not too far away. The good thing is that I don’t feel any pain and I don’t feel like I’m carrying anything, so I’m really happy.” McDonald said it had been “a fine balance” between resting and pushing the boundaries in regards to his return. “When I originally found out about the injury, I was probably a bit shocked at how long we originally thought I’d need to rest to get over it,” he said. “On further diagnosis and realising that toes can be a little bit tricky to heal – they don’t heal as quickly as a sore finger does or something like that. “I’ve come to terms that you’ve got to be patient and you don’t want to cause any long-term issues by pushing through foot pain. I’ve tried to be smart, but “I’ve pushed the envelope as well, got better and improved the feeling of it, which still maintaining some ability with my footy. “Hopefully I’ll play soon and I’ll be back before I expected, but until I actually play, I’m not sure.” McDonald said it was like a ‘turf-toe’ incident and he felt the problem occur during an inside drill. “We were doing some tackling and contact work inside, in bare feet, and as we do all of our stuff in boots, I reckon my feet weren’t as conditioned to doing stuff bare foot,” he said. “Your foot and toe gets jammed up a little bit more, so that’s where it started, but it started as a niggly toe, which AFL footballers have every week – a sore foot or a sore toe. You get your feet trodden on – but you don’t know if you’ve if you’ve just been trodden on or you get something wrong. “In hindsight, I probably should’ve taken it a bit more serious, but things like this happen all of the time. They eventually take care of themselves when you do your recovery right.

A big yes from me. Add Lewey as the backline coach also pls. Burgess already in place. Carey, Dermie or Rooey in as forward craft / strategy coach. Hodgey in as the assistant (2ic) to Goody (and other tweaks to recruiting/trade crew) and we're set to go for the next 5 years.

From the horses mouth....i'm merely the postie Dieter. Rnd 8 after the nail biter over GC. And yes it REALLY is T-Mac speaking... i don't have the time or skills to pull off a fakey! Specifically... 5:45 - form slump / trying too hard / asks for advice from Brendan Goddard re getting out of form slump... and; 8:00 - "FIrst time in 3 Years where i haven't really had a major surgery, whereas other years i've had big time off, and i'm like 'yep great i'm gonna have a full pre-season essentially and um should be able to improve' and then it doesn't come to you early in the season and it's just you know it's frustrating, you're trying different things at training, trying to work harder and harder, doing extra weights and stuff and it's almost the last week i've just tried to relax a little bit and it started to come back a bit on the weekend and i'd stopped caring a little.... etc". As per above please feel free to listen to the entire interview BR or if you don't have the time, can't be bothered, the times highlighted ✌? ...and if you need further word from the man himself, this after Rnd 14 following his 3 goals vs the Dockers and the bloody meniscal tear. Again speaks about a massive form/confidence/belief slump from early in the season to the point of self pitty and despair at times (as the season wore on). Trying too hard etc. From the 1:50 mark for those interested... https://m.melbournefc.com.au/video/2019-06-24/on-the-radio-tom-mcdonald-3aw

A fabulous idea and you have my vote Clinto, other than much needed addition of a genuine KF pls. However, can we make it at least an entire pre-season and ongoing for the entire season following that pls? We are coming from that far back in terms of forward craft.

T-Mac by his own admission never played with any hampering injury and was cherry ripe. Said himself he had a severe form issue up till the meniscus that took him out in Rnd 16 (from memory). Not sure why so many are parroting this as if it's an accepted fact on D'land. Fake news.

Yes, Cripps is a cracker as well DD. And you brought up that game by Dusty yesterday. Wow. I would say one of the great games at the G ever seen. Ripping stuff. I have always said you can build a premiership team around the likes of a Clarry, Big M and Harmes. As you say though, there is a long ways to go from here if any of those three (Clarry, Tracc & Gus) are going to go close to the top line A graders mentioned. Clarry is close. Real close. But needs some strong guidance and flaw fixes in the coming years, especially with kicking. Also an injection of power to drive out and away from tacklers and contests. Tracc i've seen glimpses of something bordering on A grade this season but the good stuff peters out as quickly as it appears! Tank/bulk issue vs endurance/extra speed issue maybe? Can only hope Burgess gets hold of both and turns them into insane burst / power beasts similar to Dusty / Danger. And if we can add a bit of Bont/Cripps evasive agility & elite ball use to that mix...watch out! Gus is the one that concerns me the most. Ball use/decision making is so hit and miss and often seems happy to just cruise through a game and gather possessions. Needs to add some line breaking run and finish IMV. Viney also needs some serious improvement on his agility, evasive smarts and skill / finish. Battering ram most of the time just doesn't cut it against quality mid fields now.that they know his game so well. His career might also be shortened if he keeps playing in the same manner.

It is obvious, with some players, that just making the big time and playing AFL is enough to fill the belly. They are on good coin win, lose or draw. Care factor!?? Then there are players like the Bont, Dusty, Danger etc who want to push themselves to greater heights even when they are already there or hovering. Much of this comes down to personal pride and internal drive DD. Which is why "assessment of character/nature" is a hugely understated requirement in the trade selection process by 'some' clubs. Others understand that it can often be the ultimate difference between an ok/good potential talent and a great one.

Don't wish that upon us DD! Terrible captain material. And knowing the MFC we would probably end up getting suckered in to taking him and his mate, old concrete boots Jenkins, on massive coin. They'll then get mostly injured with concussion or foot issues after playing about 20 games between them, retire shortly after, then sue the club for damages claiming negligence.

Has to be cultural IMV. Have a reasonable year....relax & get happy....have a [censored] year. Have a few good wins (not this year) .... relax & get happy... lose the next 3 games. Win the next game against a bottom dweller with half its team injured...relax & get happy ...lose the next 5. 2018.....win 6 on the trot....relax & get happy (including taking eye off the ball ....eg; Max spying on Collingwood training sesh) .... lose the next 3 including the QB just after the Max spying sesh and against the lowly Saints by 2 points, which probably cost us a double chance and a shot at the big one.

Fair enough Chook. Only one more week of misery to go!

Like many before it, the season was written off many moons ago i'm afraid Macca. The old saying "there's always next year" has been a mantra of MFC members/supporters for well over half a century. It's something i'm very familiar with but thanks for the reminder!

I wasn't comparing them to anyone on this site or anyone else Macca. Just flagging the accuracy of the intial statement you made. Given that you have re-framed the context after your initial post then my response is also likely to be different to that originally made or i might not have posted at all. Cheers

Pretty sure that won't pay the costs of running this site GYM

Sorry Macca but that is not entirely historically accurate.

Agreed would make a fab game day analyst in the box. Not only insightful but bloody quick on his feet!

Ditto Pit. Let's hope so...preferably in my lifetime!

Give the Big P some time Bing. Might not make the step up but 14 games is hardly enough time. I'm not that optimistic either but he is 2 meters or so and a massive WIP. Hore has one very ordinary game from 12, most of them top 10 performances and our best defender for the year after weeks out with a collarbone in his first season and you want to highlight his first game back? Fake news Bing. Not sure if you've been watching his other matches.... Given you are highlighting his stats... Barring another week like Friday, he is likely to finish in our top 10 for the year and the No.1 defender for the season on averages.... No.1 Intercept player ahead of our big name recruits Lever and May. 2nd in rebound 50s only bettered by Salem with four seasons plus and buiding. 5th in 1%ers. 7th for contested marks....only bettered by Lever down back with seasons of experience behind him. 9th in meters gained. 13th in effective disposals for the season (averaging 11.83) . Only just bettered by fellow defenders Fritschkrieg (12.14 - part of the season in defence), Lewis (12) & Hibb (12) with many seasons experience and premierships under their belt (Louis). If he has a weakness it is his turnover count ranked 7th (lower is worse) but he still has Salem (6th) and Hibb (2nd) ahead of him, again with seasons more experience behind them. The weighted score above accounts for and punishes turnovers. A rare jewel in a horrible season. Early days, but Marty is going to be a star if this season is anything to go by IMV.

Count me in Beetle. Amazing what can happen when all 22 have a decent crack week after week and never throw the towel in. Big difference though....they have players who can run and spread on the burst. They have an extremely hard work ethic especially with players constantly looking to hit up on the lead. They have marking forwards. Their conversion is first class. And they have the Bont!