Norm Smith's Curse

I work for a Carlton Coterie member and he tells me all sorts of things, some pan out some dont, but a lot that supposedly goes on that doesnt get out beyond inner circles.

Trent Croad hahaha

Seriously Lamb isnt going to come out and say he has no confidence in our young forwards is he? I mean there are certain angles that we just have to go with. As I reported earlier in the year Kelly O was seen checking out a number of suburban talent in a few leagues around Melbourne so a few rookie surprises might be in store.

Name one that was successfully busted. I know they are all true for a fact.

Just to switch the narrative, what if May and Petracca aren't the problem? Just saying. Looking forward and all... One part of a team obsessed with winning and success and another aspect of the team - laughed off as a bit naughty -turning up to preseason camp with corel cuts all over their feet and no shoes (media supported at the time)

Tracc felt let down by the club and so did his family in relation to his injury. And Max telling him to stop complaining when he had a broken spleen. Facts. He learned that while he was actually thinking he may die and was getting an infusion that was described as life saving, there was no contact from the club, only a tweet saying he would be back in six to eight weeks and thus realised that even as a generational talent for the club he was just considered cattle. Facts.

The playing group is fractured. Buckley said as much and it's been rumoured for years. Tracc will leave the club that posted he would be back in six to eight weeks while he was receiving a life saving blood transfusion without ringing him that night this season or the next.

In that case he might get along well with Judd McVee - who according to wikipedia - is a well known eft wing activist: McVee was drafted by Melbourne with their first selection and eighteenth overall in the 2022 rookie draft.[2] He made his debut in the fifty point win to Western Bulldogs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the opening round of the 2023 season.[3] He wore number 41 in his first two seasons, until changing to 4 before season 2024. He is a well known left-wing activist with ties to The Australian Greens, frequently campaigning for the minor party. [4]

If we wanted a player who just blocks and 'falls' on other players all the time we could build our own.

McVee was drafted by Melbourne with their first selection and eighteenth overall in the 2022 rookie draft.[2] He made his debut in the fifty point win to Western Bulldogs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the opening round of the 2023 season.[3] He wore number 41 in his first two seasons, until changing to 4 before season 2024. He is a well known left-wing activist with ties to The Australian Greens, frequently campaigning for the minor party. [4]

BTW which one you guys updated Judd's wikipedia to describe him as a well known lefti-wing minor party advocate?

Hipwood would be an excellent target although I dont know his contract status. I remember him carving us up. I worry the days of us targetting reasonably big names like May, Lever and Langdon may be on pause.

Look in all honesty it wasnt that long ago that we were all panicking about Kozzi going to Freo - if we had the choice between a generational x factor talent or a kid who played one sensational year with elite disposal and decision making and a second year where he seemed to lose both of those attributes I know which one id take. Cant we get a player in this trade somehow? Players going to the preseason draft always reminds me of Luke Ball who threatened to take a year off footy if we picked him up. good times...

Main point is no doubt we would have been selling the age demographic of Windsor, Langford, Lindsay maybe even JVR all peaking at the same time as Judd McVee yet he still left. He was a rookie we plucked out and pity he didn't want to repay the faith more but it's gonna happen.

Seems there is a bit of ill will in general and not just around Tracc.

Well he had never played more than 12 games a season...

Do they have Morton Bay Bugs up there? That will be a sign.

Have a look at what was given for Trent Croad in the trade out of Hawthorn. That is the kind of deal that would be needed. Imo even if Tracc was disgruntled he is still the big game midfielder we were crying out for in the 80s and 90s and even 00s after Scott Thompson left. We finally get someone of his status and a Norm Smith Medalist and we want to walk him for chips because he got as frustrated with the club as some supporters also were. I say unless it's a Croad overs deal involving someone of the likes of Serong it's a no deal.

I still have some funny stories that were never public. Funny but tell me if he was a fringe player he wouldn't have been exited.

I think the point being made is that you dont trade a player that scores 16 votes in a down year for a few picks in one of the worst drafts in a while. I cant really see much upside in trading Tracc unless there was an absolute offer too good to refuse. And count how many Melbourne FC Norm Smith Medalists you can remember.

I mean this respectfully but Vanders did play a lot of games and did compete and did some great things, McAdams hasnt had a chance to show what he can do but in the games he did play he didnt seem a big kick, didnt seem fast and seemed too slight. Id like to be proven wrong and was hoping for x factor.

No guarantee that he will, I havent really heard much other than speculation and I wonder whether his new agent would even be that aware at this stage? Not in the AFL bubble as such.

I suspect that Tracc has perhaps just fallen out of love with professional footy in general which was perhaps signalled by him swapping his known established player agent for a person who has more experience in social media marketing and other arenas. Not criticising but just thought that maybe that might be where his head is at.

This trade at the end of 2023 would have been the perfect time but alas

Mcvee in 2024 was a star in the making with poise and disposal accuracy under pressure. 2024 shows what he can do. I get a real feeling their are some very fractured relationships between players in the club.