Lucifers Hero

From afar it looks like North has taken ruthlessness to a whole new level of dogged stubborness. The guy wanted 4 years instead of 3. Yet North couldn't find a way to get the deal done. One has to wonder whether they even considered a contract with "triggers" for a 4th year or other trade offs. Shaw is making some big calls for someone with only one year on his coaching contract. Putting his eggs in the 'drafting talent' basket. May end up with lots of egg on face.

Interesting. He has a breadth of experience: player, club captain (Fitzroy), [censored] coach/match-day tactician (Saints) and recruitment manager (Adelaide) and until this year was at the Pies.. He has a well rounded footy background. He played with Gary Pert for a decade. Would he be a candidate for GM Football, should the position become vacant?

I don't wish to deflect this thread from Oliver but I feel it is important to clarify that statement. He has shown consistent improvement since he started playing. Year 1 - 2015. Out injured with ACL. Interrupted preseason. Year 2 - 2016. Out injured (toe). Interrupted preseason. Debuted rmd 6. Played mainly fwd. Kicked 12.11 Year 3 - 2017. First full pre-season. Played mainly fwd. Kicked 22.6 Year 4 - 2018. Played mainly fwd. Had poor goal kicking 19.23 Year 5 - 2019 Played fwd and mid. Leading club goal kicker 22.14. Came 5th in BnF. Year 6 - 2020 A stellar year. So it took him approx 3.5 years not 6 (mid 2016 to the start of 2020) to reach his "one good season". Players don't suddenly have one good season. It is built on hard work with consistent growth and improvement. imv it is a bit unfair to say he wants to walk into a premiership contender. Perhaps he wants to be at a club where everyone (on and off the field) works as hard as he does at being the best they can be. I've heard he is fully committed to winning a premiership at the dees. He plays like he does.

Thought his achievements this year are worthy of special acknowledgement: Keith "Bluey" Truscott winner AA team on first nomination 2nd in the AFLCA coaches award which was won by Neale 3rd in the MVP awards, second to Neale and Boak Reflecting on those in total: he is voted the best by club coaches, AA by 'independent' AFL figures, top 2 by all coaches that saw him play and 3rd by his peers; some 800+ players. He has been building to this for several years and as he said has areas to improve and won't that be awesome! He graciously credited teammates, coaches and fitness staff at the Bluey. He has carried himself with maturity and humility. For the first time in eons we not only have a club champion we have an AFL champion, an elite player. Regardless of how mfc fortunes go in future he will be a joy to watch and people will go to games just to see his class. Rapt for him.

He will never leave the bulldogs. He is our Jack Viney in terms of family connection, loving the jumper and is as tenacious and as loyal as a bulldog.

Final Leaderboard 385 – Christian Petracca 362 – Steven May 311 – Jack Viney 296 – Ed Langdon 291 – Clayton Oliver 234 – Max Gawn 208 – Christian Salem 186 – Angus Brayshaw 179 – Michael Hibberd 172 – Sam Weideman 165 – Jake Lever 154 – Bayley Fritsch 119 – Jake Melksham 102 – Kysaiah Pickett 94 – Trent Rivers 92 – Adam Tomlinson 90 – Aaron vandenBerg 80 – Charlie Spargo 79 – Luke Jackson 72 – Mitch Hannan Hope that helps.

That bodes well. The AFL website said they may not know for a few weeks the final list sizes but clubs are working on 38 senior players plus 2 rookies, which I think wast he worst case scenario. As a reference, after this weeks delistings we have 39 senior players and 4 Rookies (ecxl Bradtke). So hopefully it all works out and Harley can stay.

I really hope @pinksharkdoesn't respond to that. You are just trying to create a platform to continue to denigrate Jack. You didn't value him fine. But let others that did show their love, respect and appreciation. No needs to explain how they feel.

Interestingly, he came to the club with Roos and the only one left from Roos' days. He learnt his trade from a master and good to see he is still delivering and the players think highly of him.

Preuss has one year to run on his contract. We don't have a history of driving a hard bargain. It is more of the honest broker who gets a deal done. So don't be surprised if we don't get that 2nd round pick.

A player is free to go to the club of his choice but he should not be free to that club; it should pay. with draft picks. The AFL can continue to deem what that player is worth (based on the deal rather than a silly system of losing club ladder position) and that is the price the receiving club pays As the FA period is prior to the Trade Period all clubs have their picks in tack so the receiving club will have the currency. Its a simple change. It might make the clubs ark up but shouldn't bother the AFLPA or players - they will still get to where they want to go.

Both are correct. 1) Rawlings was brought back mid 2019 as part of last year's mid year review. 2) Rooke replaced Chaplin as fwd coach at end of 2018. Deck chairs. No fwd coach in 2020 until Plapp was given the gig. More deck chairs. And our fwd line is still like Brown's cows who have little connection with mids. Surprise! Surprise!

That was my point. Everyone calling for another review says that lasts year's review didn't work. Terrible management Nor did they replace Rawlings.

giants-swans-among-clubs-keen-on-big-demon "Melbourne is understood to be open to enquiries about a possible trade for the 25-year-old". Can understand that the clubs position. Preuss will get regular games at another club. Not sure who will cover for Max if he gets injured. Bradke and Jackson don't look ready. TMac is likely gone. We need Weideman in the fwd line. Oh well, interesting times.

Yes, I love his wry smile at the end. It was like he was saying: well done Jack, well done boys. He always barracked for us in the QB game.

Agreed. And hopefully people can show appreciation and respect and the naysayers leave their criticisms on their keyboards. Not the time.

Loved the magic you showed. Some memories and that unforgettable goal - forever my favourite moment of your career. Hard not to tear up seeing that again.? All the best. Thanks for some great memories and your love of the dees.

But they might next year. Contract positions for our highly rated youngsters: 2021 RFA: Salem. OOC: Oliver, Wedieman, Rivers and Jackson. This year is Salem's 'pre RFA' year when clubs get more in a trade than they will as an FA compensation pick. eg Daniher's failed attempt to Sydney last year. 2022: RFA: Petracca and Brayshaw . Next year is their 'pre RFA' year. imv Goodwin has 2021 or some of those players will walk (if for no other reason than they want success ie regularly contend for a premiership) and we will have little leverage. My sense is that just making finals next year will not cut it. We need a really successful first half 2021 to get those players to re-sign, then go deep into the finals. Watch this space. If the 2021 OOC players haven't re-signed before the middle of next year we should start to worry.

On Melksham. Getting a free pass to play with consistent sub par performances must rub off (negatively) on teammates: Mids bust a gut getting the ball fwd and he doesn't do the work to get to the ball. Other fwds see him sit back, not chase or tackle and they either have to cover his lack of work or think 'if he doesn't why should I'. He sets a terrible example and silently condones low standards. As the leader of the fwd line that is inexcusable.

In addition to Jack there are a few FA's yet to make a call: Crouch, Daniher, Cameron. They are being linked to Port, Geelong, Brisbane, Collingwood There is a school of thought that FA's don't ask to go or nominate their preferred club until that club is out of finals. It looks like a domino needs to fall first eg on the basis that Geelong is the main suitor for Viney maybe they are waiting to see what Crouch does ( If Crouch goes to Geelong they don't take Viney). Couch is also being linked to Port again. If Jack is planning to stay it is hard to see what is stopping him from re-signing. If he doesn't sign in the next week, I feel we may be in for a long wait. I feel for him. It must be a massive emotional tug-of-war. Hopefully, he decides soon.

I noticed that Mahoney didn't present any of the awards. Was he even there?

I'd be wary: Shaw believes Brown's lead-up play is not suited to his preferred game style, which in many ways mirrors that of his former club Sydney – slower, considered ball movement that prioritises contested possession. So not sure he would fit our game plan, either. He needs space to run into and ops are learning to shut down space. It seems he turned down a three-year contract at the start of 2020 worth upwards of $750,000 per season. May be regretting that now.

It wasn't the lack of a smile the 'adage' was referring to...

Agreed! 13th. He should be embarrassed. A better season from him may have got us well into the finals. It was left to Sam and a few small fwds to carry the fwd line for the season.

Melksham should be embarrassed finishing that low. Outshone by so many younger less experienced teammates. Terrible season from him.