Demon Dynasty

I know you'te being somewhat flippant Flemo but anything's possible. The 'games' against Freo & the Eagles were all at a level that were unacceptable for this club and took us back to 2008 - 2014 type horror years. That one team (Freo... not even a solid finals contender) has been able to so easily pick us apart since Rnd 11 2022 (when we were on fire at the time), speaks volumes and was a reasonable basis of a blue print for all teams that followed. Simon should have seen that his general Melbourne way method at that point onwards, was now under threat of succumbing to teams that could similarly replicate Freo. Not being in the inner sanctum we will never know exactly what discussions took place during the exit interview, with other members of the FD and the leadership group / Max.etc. But part of it being about game style now mostly redundant would not surprise me at all.

A great outcome for the club, Tracc and our amazing supporters. No doubt some changes will follow from this which is a good thing. We are still holding a core group of really great leaders throughout the FD and list. In particular our magnificent Captain Max. The shroud of darkness has just been lifted on the club. Stay true and believe fellow minions. Onwards and upwards we go!!

Thank Lucifer that's settled. Time to hit the JD Single Barrel 100% proof!

Couldn't have said it better Swooper. Ty. I hope Tracc gets to read this

Yes that is my undeestanding. Some in the media (surprise surprise) are getting their wires crossed or misrepresenting (deliberately or otherwise) what the message actually was in the response. Part of this does come back to Kate's delivery though and ability to express clearly and make sure pertinent points were made when the opportunity arose. She was left looking a bit too defensive imho seemingly due to a fair bit of inexperience and / or a lack of prepping. Not an easy gig by any means but plemty of room for improvement from here. This is by no means a disparaging view of Kate in general either. I think she's a great people person and her love of the club is in no way in doubt. I'll always be greatful for everyrhing the club brought us in 2021. Hoping the sun shines brighter for everyone involved from here. We need to lift the seemingly darkish shroud of late and move on as quickly as possible and reset on our path towards more success.

Yes we should expect nothing less DR. There's enough good people within and without the FD. I'm sure they will want a satisfactory solution as we all do. Work needed but both parties might also need a little clear air and space just to breathe, think, meet, sort and discuss the where tos from here. That's assuming the door's still ahar and hasn't been completely shut on the club. An early break of contract is not a new thing for a pro sports club by any means. But you would say the way this has (apparently) unfolded so far is a long way from anything most AFL clubs have experienced before. Kate also needs to prep much better before she holds any further interviews with the media. Or alternatively use Perty from here if / until she's better prepped / confident to go around again.

It depends on how we as supporters and the club handle it DZ imho. I believe we all need to galavanise and get behind the club and quickly. I'm backing in Roffey, Pert, Goody, Gawny, Vines, Choco to get this done and if they can't to NOT back down but instead hold Tracc to his contract as Simon & Richo have already stated. In Tracc's own words, the efforts of Roffey down (including players such as Gawny) were incredible during his early weeks of this crisis. So it's nothing to do with that as the media circus pile on would want everyone to believe. Ie; the MFC has such a bad culture. Heads should roll blah blah blah. As Kate said, let the club do their work. The key players in the FD including the player leadership group are no doubt working away through as best they can. Possibly against all odds if the Tracc camp has cast its die already for whatever reason/s. And who knows what the reason/s are unless you've had a direct meeting with the man himself such as Max / Goody. Even then, a clear and obvious reason/s may not be there if he is not being open and/or completely true to his heart / word. Have faith and let the cards play out. If he wants to be there he will find reasons to stay assuming we address some of his concerns where they are legit and assuming the club is being open and honest. If he made his mind up before returning to the club and wants to move on for some other unknown reasons then it's going to be a difficult save and probably unlikely to be a pleasant one for both parties. After everything i've heard from Tracc himself, Roffey, Gawn and the club i'm backing the club in 100% from here either way. If Tracc sees the light, does a 180 and stays, we forgive and move on. If he doesn't i want to see the club hold him to his contract and / or get a sensational deal from any club that we feel can provide a windfall outcome. And not a 'big club' of Tracc's choice IF that was an accurate account of his wish in the exit interview. They won't have the currency to do so anyway. So IF Tracc is adament he wants a fresh start, all good son, but we hold the cards and we'll decide where that might be. As painful as it is, as supporters all we can do is hold the line and let the club get to work big time here.

Not directed at you Skuit. Just some of the scummy media circus who are looking to re-write history to try and concoct their own narrative. In Tracc's own words (respomdokg to a question about support he received during his traumatic first few weeks)... "My phone was popping off from everyone, it's just really tough period the first two and a half weeks i literally haven't been able to see anyone (bar Bella who he was able to nominate). So it's all been, yeh just through text messages, and yeh the support i've received has been incredible, from Roffey (Kate) down. So, um yeh it's been awesome to kinda be outta this isolation period, you know Gawny came round, which was awesome. No doubt i'll be back in the club in the next few weeks. It's been great, it's been tough."

i thought the same at the time. i had to check twice as it left me thinking that my original understanding that he had to nominate only one person to visit due to the isolation request from Doctors / hospital was not correct and that others were able to come visit if they wanted (you just had to ask!) Not so and yet almost the entire AFL media circus are happy to overlook this in their scramble to concoct a story and maintain the 'cultural problem' pile on.

Superb Max ty. In such illustrious company now with 7. Very few can claim that mantle.

Gotta love big Max. Always leading by example. Already down as one of the greatest Captains and produces one of his best years during a very trying season, to say the least.

It would be great to see change but nothing will change while the bulk of clubs, including ours, continue to roll over, say nothing and happily stay on their gravy train. Morals, eithics and doing the right thing stopped being part of the culture within the VFL / AFL many decades ago. If you're in the circus and want to stay in the circus you can't be seen or heard to rock the boat. You'll just end up being punished and / or shown the door. Not many have the guts or gumption to rebel against this across the board. Some clubs do have more clout than others though. I was hoping we might become one of them but haven't seen any signs that we might so far. Although Kate and Co. did have one minor win in avoiding yet another trip down to Tax Payer Park for the first time in a long time this season (against the AFL's wishes). We were still punished though with a fairly tricky fixture including a number of 5 day breaks. The AFL is a harsh ring master unless you are on their preferred 'marquee clubs' list.

Bottom line is this. And all other marquee players, past and present, i would think understood / understand this. Yes, even when they worked their brand! Some can even cook!

Yes (reading between the lines) his main point was that what was being touted around in the press was not an accurate account of things based on his catch up with Tracc (as mates).

He goes ok. Yes to handy depth player. Pretty good on the clearance & pressure side. I'd also consider trying to prize Shiel out of the Bombers if we can grab him on a 2 year deal for more depth. Shiel still has some wheels, a good tank and can hit the odd target coming inside unlike our present mids and is open to offers. The #brandpetracca fiasco won't help our cause in any such discussions right now though most likely but in many ways this also means we need to be more aggressive than usual given the cap space. Even if Tracc is held to his contract there's no g'tee he'll get back to Tracc of old in 25. Same with Clarry. Need to go super hard to correct the recent poor trades, as well as giving the team and our weary supporter base a new look and some hope coming into the pre-season.

Starring.... Petracca as Isuldur Gus as Elrond The One Ring > #blandpetracca

If that ends up being the case then we are better off holding him to the contract and play him out at Casey. If we cave on a mega deal we will lose on both sides as we'll then be having to curb his exploits playing with another club. I'd much rather the former and just go to the draft and try and nail the mid seasons as well.

Pick 8, Durham and Caddy

After listening to Tracc on Howie's blog, he sounds like he is still in major flux mentally. While i'm certainly in no position to speak having no background in such matters, i would think the club might be 'accidentally' missing the boat here in terms of how Tracc reintegrates back into the fold and the bricks & mortar on his return. The after math of what happened to Tracc once he hit the hospital is by no means a normal 'footy type injury' that you just slip back into 'normal'mode. Even if it be a very slow burn. I'm sure the club gets this last part and has been very accommodating / understanding. However, has it gone the extra mile here in terms of psychological assistance and support both for Tracc and even immediate family to some degree? While i'm not suggesting Tracc should be held on a pedestal and treated as a god, given what he's gone through, have we left no stone unturned in terms of assisting him with his transition back to footy? The old 'bloke's world' traditional footy view of "she'll be right mate, ya just need to get back on the bike slowly" may not cut it here. Tracc appears to come from a very sensitive new age up bringing where he values a whole lot more than just playing the game itself at the highest level. He comes across as very very focussed about making sure his off field health & prosperity (and that of his partner / family) is equally well looked after. He wouldn't be alone here, but have we dotted all the i's i wonder? If we have then we need to just hold the line, keep working our way through his issues where possible and ask him what we can change to rectify matters? If we've done all that and he's still not happy then the issue falls back on Tracc coming to his senses and falling back into line at some stage. Like any adult relationship, both parties will probably need to compromise if they're to find common ground, forgive & forget and move on.

100% this but any trade would need to be great not good.

Is it a frustration though? Sure we've had a pretty poor year after Rnd 4, with few exceptions, but other teams are still well below us on the average attendance ladder yet you don't see / hear any of their stars making this an issue or cause for concern. Tracc being out also was a massive blow to any chances we had of making finals. Does he understand that i wonder? The Bont is easily up there or even ahead of Tracc in a star / performance / impact sense. There was talk of 'unrest' with Bevo early in the season. "He might not see out the season" etc. But you never hear of their super star or anyone at the Dogs being upset about crowd numbers and wanting to go play for a big Vic club for the sake of 'their brand'. That's not to say Tracc is doing so either but regardless why does this only get raised in the media when they discuss our club? Now i'm not saying Tracc doesn't see this as an issue. Maybe he does. But if he does, i'd say that speaks more about Tracc than it does about the club. Ok so raise it as a concern, but if you're a genuine team / clubman and just signed a 7 year multi million dollar deal, surely you look at ways to improve this side and sit down and work things out like adults? How much love do you have for your club and team mates? Hopefully more than many in the media would have us believe. Having said that i don't think this is at the top of his gripe list and may not be an issue at all. There must be other issues that has seen this alleged impass occur that are of more signifance surely? It would have to be something pretty mega for a club's equally biggest star to ask to break a 7 year comtract only 2.years in yes? Let's face it, Tracc could easily put any congecture to bed and come out publicly (alongside Goody?) and say so. Maybe he still will but the non-appearance on Fri night has sent the media into a frenzy. Let's hope the relationship is not beyond repair and they can all get in a room together and sort their stuff out. It seems ironic to me that one of our biggest stars, who was injured and put in hospital by a player from the filth who had genuine intent to hurt, then allegedly wants to join someone like the filth ie; with a culture that ended Gus's career and nearly ended his. This makes no sense at all and for me is a WTF moment if true. If you made this story up and posted it online as a scenario prior to the event, no one would believe you and you'd be called out as a nutter. Which then begs the question, how the hec did things end up here? There are two sides and many complications to every story. I'm happy to sit back and wait to hear from Tracc but surely if our NS premiership star has any genuine love left for his present club, he needs to move through this quickly and sort it. As the longer this drags on the worse things will be for everyone involved and may leave a scar that could take quite a while to heal over.