Lucifers Hero

I've been a fan of Caro even if I don't agree with her opnions.. Usually she is reasonably measured about mfc but lately her comments are laced with emotive vitriol and bitterness. She should stop trying for click bait headlines! It isn't her go.

Me to! Imagine the meltdown if he wins the NSM at another club or even plays a major role in another club's premiership. To people wanting him traded: Careful what you wish for!

Eight players get Life Membership melbournefc.com.auLife Membership | Eight Demons earn honourEight Demons have been recognised at the Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott Memorial Trophy, receiving life membership for their service to the red and blue.Well done all! What has gone under the radar is that two of them are Petracca and Oliver. It will be a bit weird if either leaves this year. Maybe the club got in early just in case either does.

Why single out Salem! Your comment on Salem is fair only if you note all averages. In fact Salem's average was ahead of Langdon, Langford, Viney Chandler and Olliver. On averages only Max, Petracca, Kozzie and Bowey rated a pass mark.

Thanks! MFC comms department strikes again! I took the data from this article on mfc website. Rivers not mentioned. gawn-claims-third-keith-bluey-truscott-memorial-trophy

afl-member-numbers-ladder 2025 AFL CLUB MEMBERSHIP LADDER (asterisk denotes club membership record this year) 1. Collingwood* – 112,491 (2024 tally: 110,628) 2. West Coast* – 107,079 (2024 tally: 103,498) 3. Carlton – 100,743 (2024 tally: 106,345) 4. Richmond – 92,531 (2024 tally: 98,489) 5. Geelong* – 92,379 (2024 tally: 90,798) 6. Hawthorn* – 87,204 (2024 tally: 83,823) 7. Essendon – 85,568 (2024 tally: 83,664) 8. Adelaide* – 81,067 (2024 tally: 75,477) 9. Sydney* – 76,674 (2024 tally: 73,757) 10. Brisbane* – 75,115 (2024 tally: 63,268) 11. Port Adelaide* – 72,656 (2024 tally: 66,015) 12. Fremantle* – 66,179 (2024 tally: 62,237) 13. Western Bulldogs* – 65,584 (2024 tally: 62,328) 14. St Kilda* – 65,509 (2024 tally: 60,467) 15. Melbourne – 58,563 (2024 tally: 65,479) 16. North Melbourne* – 56,283 (2024 tally: 50,628) 17. GWS Giants* – 37,705 (2024 tally: 36,629) 18. Gold Coast Suns* – 30,107 (2024 tally: 26,157) Very sad for mfc. With those numbers and our lowly finish, another year of off-broadway fixture. Sponsors must be getting nervous. Unbelievable that WCE holds its mumbers despite 5 years of terrible performance.

The top 10: Max Gawn – 592 votes Christian Petracca – 479 votes Kysaiah Pickett – 467 votes Jake Bowey – 459 votes Christian Salem – 404 votes Kade Chandler – 376 votes Clayton Oliver – 353 votes Ed Langdon – 333 votes Harvey Langford – 318 votes Jack Viney – 313 votes Well done to Harvey to finish 9th despite missing a game. Disappointed Rivers didn't feature given his experience, played every game and no apparent injury concerns.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/1355179/melbourne-demons-boost-defensive-stocks-by-signing-college-basketballer-oscar-berry

Add Oscar Berry as a B-Rookie. So there are no B-Rookie spots - maximum is 2.

@red and blue forever Howdie RandBF, you might like to add 2026 and 2027 draft picks to the table as they are in play in this year.

For me it isn't whether Buckley is the best person. The issue is the unbecoming way the AFL is putting lots of mayo on the Tassie job to stop him joining mfc (if he is offered it). And to create a blatant campaign by Caroline Wilson is very poor. Also, I'm not fussed that he hasn't won a premiership. Right now regular top 4, PF, occasional GF are looking pretty good to me!

Tassie pulling out all stops to get Buckley involved next year. AFL appears to bring fwd VFL and VFLW start up to 2026 tasmania-to-enter-vfl-and-vflw-in-2026 They are also dangling a carrot: monday-cal-culations-finals-make-heroes-history-looms-for-nick-daicos-how-josh-dunkley-trade-call-shaped-three-clubs "But in the background, the Devils are also dangling the keys. "The opportunity to be Tasmania's first senior coach will be on Buckley's mind, with the possibility of a flexible start-up plan next year allowing for his media commitments before taking on the role permanently down the track ahead of the Devils' proposed 2028 start in the AFL". "...its start-up list rules should be officially announced later this month and it is getting more commercial support off-field and adding staff internally'. tbh, I find the AFL's campaign effectively working against MFC's interest very distasteful. They have sunk to a new low imv.

It would be a shock if a potential coach didn't do a 'stack of research'! Nothing to back up his opnion - not even a reference to a rumour or 'parties not authorised to speak'. He has no idea! Its a perfect example of the media 'echo chamber'!!

That could be the case. FD contracts usually expire at the end of October, certainly not before end of Sept by which time we will have a coach.

And Malthouse who was a reluctant 'mentor'!!

A positive step for good governance and not parachuting in the Board's selections.

His Mum was hysterically funny. She worked very hard to not drop the F-word! Whoever sits next to her at the Q-clash will have a good time!

Thanks for that. All good points. Two extracts from above: "II do think that he needs to replace one of Sparrow or Viney in the team though. And it does reduce opportunities for Rivers et al in the midfield" You've verbalised what I was alluding when I said there is competition for midfield spots. At times posters have noted those guys aren't too happy to not have the opportunity to show what they can do: . "I also note he has been a regular winner of and high finisher in the St Kilda 3km time trials over recent years. That extra running capacity helps replace the ANB role too". That sounds like a good role for him. It seems more and more likely that we will lose contracted senior players.

Why do we want him when we have so much competition for mid spots by established and aspiring players. Can't see his point of differentiation to what we have. Surely, we won't throw dollars for a tagger!!! Viney, Sparrow and Oliver have shown they play that role quite adequately when required.

We don't have B-Rookie spots for next year. Mentha and Berry have them; Berry till 2027

Hence my question in the OP! I can't see the complete list in the HS article. I would expect most captains to be in the top 10.

The links work but a subscription is required to read the HS article.

In recent times elite players have toyed with the idea of of being traded but their long-term, lucrative contracts are like handcuffs to their club. Most recently Curnow and Merrett. I wonder how long before players realise that all those millions aren't worth giving up a chunk of control over their career. Youngsters like NWM and Reid may be wiser by signing short (two year) deals similar to Bontempelli throughout his career.

From the article below there is a list of 'notable' player salaries taken from the Herald Sun's Rich List which attempted to estimate/ compile a list of the highest-paid players in the competition for 2025. https://www.zerohanger.com/revealed-the-100-highest-paid-players-in-the-afl-167756/ Those that can view the HS article might fill in some of the gaps especially related to Demon and other leading players. The Notable Names 100 - Jason Horne-Francis ($650-$750k) 97 - Harrison Petty ($650-$750k) 96 - Tyson Stengle ($650-$750k) 94 - Riley Thilthorpe ($675-$775k) 85 - Liam Baker ($700-$800k) 79 - Griffin Logue ($700-$800k) 77 - Jesse Hogan ($725-$825k) 75 - Bailey Smith ($750-$850k) 72 - Daniel Rioli ($750-$850k) 63 - Harry McKay ($750-$850k) 58 - Darcy Fogarty ($800-$900k) 55 - Harry Perryman ($800-$900k) 52 - Jack Sinclair ($800-$900k) 44 - Jamarra Ugle-Hagan ($800-$900k) 39 - Dan Houston ($850-$950k) 34 - Jack Lukosius ($900-$1m) 26 - Rowan Marshall ($900-$1m) 14 - Tim English ($1m-$1.1m) 10 - Nick Daicos ($1m-$1.1m) 9 - Marcus Bontempelli ($1m-$1.1m) 8 - Brodie Grundy ($1m-$1.1m) 7 - Connor Rozee ($1.05m-$1.15m) 6 - Tim Kelly ($1.1m-$1.2m) 5 - Shai Bolton ($1.1m-$1.2m) 4 - Errol Gulden ($1.2m-$1.3m) 3 - Christian Petracca ($1.2m-$1.3m) 2 - Clayton Oliver ($1.2m-$1.3m) 1 - Tom Lynch ($1.45m-$1.55m) These are best guesses and don't account for front/back loading etc. The only Geelong players are Tyson Stengle and Bailey Smith but the others may be in the full list. The comment for him is: Bailey Smith's figure isn't as intoxicating as his football prowess, but sponsorship deals and outside commitments would likely see him dominate off and on the field. imv, that is a virtual admission Geelong is using off-the-books means to reward players to stay under the sal cap!!! Lots of captains missing in the top 10!! eg Cripps ... maybe Carlton have uncovered more brown paper bags and their sponsors are being very friendly to players ala Geelong sponsors/3rd parties and actual $ payments are kept low. It would not be unreasonable to think sal cap rorting is widespread. We seem the outlier to have two players earning plenty of cash sitting 2 and 3; perhaps we don't have that type of sponsor 🙅🏻‍♀️

That was an emotional read. I've gone from being neutral on who we trade to wanting Clarry to stay!