Lucifers Hero

Agree with why Richardson chose Dees. Re list management - I hope not!. The Saints list management during his tenure was woeful. And the list is still not in good shape. Richardson was either not in the process (most unlikely as head coach) or wears a significant part of the responsibility. For mine it is time the club found staff who have AFL expertise in their job eg an experienced forward coach, and experienced defence coach and an experienced List Manager. We have had too many coaches with training wheels who learn on the job at the mfc.

Just received a pm from a johnmalcolm: RE: RECOVERED FUND Lots of info asking for contact details etc to refund monies. Clearly a scam. Anyone else receive it?

I didn't say that. I said we had options and Jones could have been sole cap in 2017 when Jack became co-cap. That would give others time to develop and to find a successor to Jones. Max was a candidate in 2017 and definitely in 2018 or 2019. So no, I'm not saying Jones should be sole cap this year.

Todd going (if true) confirms to me that Pert is calling the shots; Mahoney is the conduit and public mouthpiece. No sacred cows, anymore.

1)Don't think so. 2) Various other options for captaincy. The most obvious being to leave Jones as sole captain. And Max says 'hello'. Back to conflict of interest: As List Manager Todd would be in control of any trade options. He sits on the weekly match selection committee. And involved in captaincy decisions. Therefore, he has significant and direct management over his son's career. imv that is a significant conflict of interest and his influence would restrict the club's options on Jack's career, if such circumstances arose.

You deleted from my post the last line which explained the point you disagree with - that Todd has a conflict of interest with Jack at the club...weird to delete it...

If true, it is a very good move by the club. Have often said on here that he is part of the problem for a variety of reasons: Has been here since the Bailey days, for 186, for the supposed 'tanking', for the Neeld era. Not holding him responsible for all that but he is an entrenched part of that culture covering one of the worst decades in our history. imv he has a conflict of interest with his son playing at the Club. The club is now free to make list management, captaincy and match selection decisions about son Jack, if it ever felt it appropriate.

Nic Nat's run down of speedster Saad was awesome! It would be a shame if NN is suspended for shoving Merrett. Got what he deserved. No room for hair pulling in football - a low act.

Would much rather lose Plapp or Chaplin who had no AFL coaching experience before coming to the Dees, joining Goodwin who himself is a rookie in the role. Sure we need some fresh eyes but we have now lost all the experienced coaches. Can't lose that much without it hurting. Sure w will get new coaches but it takes time to develop synergy with colleagues and importantly the players. Hopefully, the coaching exodus (planned or unplanned) doesn't prompt our more talented players to follow suit. Will keep powder dry until all changes are known. Rawlings was a keeper for mine.

That is true but once TMac and Weidemen went out, with Melksham and Hannan still out, the forward line need Fritsch a lot more than the backline did. His move forward came at least a month too late.

Spot on 'Rusty Nails'. 2020 is a huge year for player retention: Petracca out of contract Hunt and Harmes OOC and in their 'pre-free-agent' year Salem not OOC and also in his 'pre-free-agent' year Hannan, Fritsch, Petty and a few others OOC. Wondering if anyone is confident one of the Adelaide clubs won't make a play for Petty next year? For mine we need to fix the off-field stuff, improve player development and make inroads into finals (not just scrape in and go straight out) and no reason for players to go. Fail on those and who knows who will fly the coop. Lord knows there will be plenty of enticement from other clubs for their services. Undoubtedly clubs would be circling as right now. As as you have alluded to our friends down the road are circling. Who knows if any of the above are enticed out next year but we need to give them every reason to stay. Hopefully, most of the above will have re-signed by mid 2020 for more than their 'pre-free-agent' timeframe. For mine the number of young talent re-signing by around mid-year will be a litmus test of how the club is traveling.

You seemed quite demanding for posters to name their source earlier today: To even consider taking a rumour or any mail seriously i for one need a source. Or if that is not possible at least some indication of who the rumor has come from (eg player manager, club employee, board member etc etc). and To Lord Nev: Ok, lets play the game. Who is your 'reliable source'. its not guaranteed he'll be with us in 2021 by any stretch? Seriously? Sheesh. So if you couldn't care less if posters post 'rumours' why push so hard for sources... As Demon Forever said if someone identified the source eg player manager, club employee, board member etc there could be serious consequences as there are ways of tracing info back to the source. It easy to tell which posters have reliable sources: they are considered posters on most matters are neither 'happy-clappers' nor 'club knockers' and they post what they hear on selected players/events.

Fair comment. But I haven't interpreted Demons 11, Lord Nev or Demon Forever as presenting their info as 'fact'. Other posters maybe but not those guys so I feel the criticisms this morning are unfair. Just my view.

I am fine with what @Demons11 @Lord Nevand @Demon Forever have posted. The latter virtually confirming the others who reported having 'heard' that Petracca has been unhappy and had meetings with the club. Any player manager worth his/her salt would sass out other options for him. And lets not be naive enough to think other clubs aren't knocking on player manager doors especially if they get a sniff of a player being unhappy The player manager is obliged to pass that on. Lets say that Geelong have been talking to Petracca's manager, it doesn't mean Petracca initiated it. He would be a fool to not listen to what they have to say. And Geelong desperately need a player like him as Selwood, Danger and Ablett are aging and they will lose Kelly. They don't have a potentially elite midfielder in the wings. Petracca would be a perfect fit. Collingwood is in the same boat with Pendlebury, Sidebottom and Wells getting on and Beams in all sorts of grief. They do have better midfield coverage than Geelong so less in need of a Petracca type. The club and Petracca seem to have sorted out their differences and as Demon Forever said 'nothing to see here'. Petracca is under contract so isn't likely to go anywhere this year. But next year is a different story. That Petracca stays doesn't mean any of the 3 posters above were wrong. Differences were sorted. Why folks are complaining about posters saying what they have 'heard'. There are posters who have contacts at mfc, other clubs and player managers but they can hardly name their source. That things don't eventuate isn't proof that what they heard was wrong. There are numerous, genuine reasons why things don't eventuate. I would rather read what posters 'hear' than not - it would be a very boring trade period if none of that came to DL. If some posters don't want to read it fine, but please stop the whinging about it.

Agree. The B&F is Sept 30 which I thought might be a good time to announce any captaincy changes. According to Viney the next day the players get their off-season fitness program. Also memberships go on sale then. So, my thinking was Oct 1 would be a good day to start afresh on all fronts. If not then, I certainly hope captaincy changes (if any) are announced in November when players return for start of preseason, rather than Feb/march which has been the practice in recent years. I just think that if Max is to be a co-cap he needs to be the face of the club over the summer.

Its interesting the PR made no mention of the captaincy. It seems odd because a contract would include the club, sponsor, media responsibilities and income that go with the role. It suggests that: 1) Jones will not relinquish the captaincy. 2) He will relinquish the captaincy and it will be announced at a later date. Leadership positions are usually announced at the end of the pre-season, in February/March. imv, if there is to be a change in captaincy the sooner the announcement the better: to work with coaches to learn the game plan, help ensure players follow it; enforce the right behaviours, develop relationships with players without stepping on toes of an existing captain, media work, sponsor advertising, membership advertising etc etc. Quietly hoping 2) applies and any changes are announced at the B&F (especially if it involves Max and he wins the B&F) or when players return in November. The B&F is also a good time to pay tribute to Jones' captaincy.

There are rumours that his good mate Ollie Wines could be traded for the right offer. I think it is highly unlikely but it wouldn't be the first time a club traded their captain. He is our least flexible midfielder so needs more strings to his bow as it limits Goodwin's game tactic options. So i wouldn't mind seeing him spend large chunks of a game forward. This gives others the opportunity to play midfield who are equal to or better than him. Viney needs a top notch preseason to regain his form and if he doesn't regain it, that is the time to discuss what the options are. I'm in the camp that he relinquish the co-cap to focus on his form and to broaden his game.

Glad that Jones has another year. Hope it motivates him to get fit and consistently play well enough to make 300. I hope he has the selflessness to step down as co-captain, as others have: Boake, Murphy (and Prendlebury has signaled the same). I'm sure he likes the privileges of co-captaincy but time to hand it over. Hope he relinquishes it without a fuss.

I wrote the comment 3 months ago! Nonetheless, I still believe if we want a forward lets recruit an experienced AFL forward because with the exception of Fritsch and Weideman all our forwards are converted defenders or converted midfielders. And none have much AFL experience as a forward. Neitz was a champion at both ends of the ground! But, he had other experienced forwards around him: Robbertson, yze, Schwarz. We have nothing like that fwd support. Different circumstances and Keath is no Neita!

Yes, maybe. But I would think unlikely 1 year into a 4 year contract. And to join Freo? If Gus asks for a trade just can't imagine it is sentiment to play with little bro. I would prefer he got Andy to the Dees!

I see. People have added 2+2 = fairy tales. Just can't see Gus reneging on a 3 year contract to follow mum and dad West. Methinks the Brayshaw boys are made of sterner stuff.

That is what I thought. Thank you for confirming. That takes the 'go to WA to be with family' reason out of the discussion for a Gus trade request, if he requested it.

Agreed. Our 'destination club' status appears to have been short-lived. tbh I don't see us in the premiership window for a couple of years. As you say we have the chance to get some top end young talent in the next few years from the draft. Hopefully, we take that chance and go to the draft.

You spoke of him as if he coming to the club suggests we can't be really bad. We may or may not be. Neither of us knows. tbh, Saints and Carlton chasing him doesn't raise his standing in my eyes. I don't know if Saints, Blues are better/worse than us but it isn't a great bunch for Langford to choose from...

Welcome back Ernie. Have missed you and your considered thoughts. That reminded me of a line my hairdresser brought out: The grass is greener on the other side until you get there and find it is astro turf!! Guess most of us have experienced that at some stage in life! Players are young they are yet to experience the realities of life. One can only hope they have good family advising them along the way.