Lucifers Hero

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.

Several guesses: maybe he doesn't know, we are in less turmoil than Freo or are offering him more $ than other Vic clubs. Seriously, using Langdon who is no AA star as a barometer to measure our standing is not a great benchmark.

Hadn't heard that but could be. Just can't see Gus reneging on a 3 year contract and move i/state to be near family.

Gus grew up and went to school in Melbourne. His parents live in Melbourne. He has a brother in the Army, Andy plays for Freo and Hamish is on Eagles list but hasn't played an AFL game and could easily be delisted this year. Gus may go to WA but doubt it will be for family reasons. He has 3 years to run on his contract and our highest Brownlow polling player in ever so long. Has proven courage and resilience. Surely, a club just doesn't trade out a player like that unless he asks to go.

May be so but fair chance he has been 'briefed' by someone at the AFL on what our problems are.

AFL House leaks like a sieve! Barrett is an AFL employee. Join the dots.

Overall agree with your observations. Re the above extract, all the outcomes are yet to be announced. No inside info, just going on: - The club flagged there will be lots of changes to our medical/fitness staff. Guessing this involves Burgess who officially doesn't start for a while but is probably working with the club on changes. - That Richardson's role has not been disclosed suggests more changes in coaching/football department. From early last year I've advocated for a Neil Balme experienced type person to manage all areas of the football department. Notwithstanding some things he does well, I've had serious reservations about Mahoney as the GM Football because our current problems have happened on his watch with his signing off on decisions made in the various football departments over the last 3-4 years. I'm looking forward to all the changes happening as then we can make a more informed assessment.

Gone under the radar is that Bayley Fritsch made the squad, interestingly as a Defender. Well done to Oliver and Fritsch. Fritsch could become a star if allowed to play to his strengths...in the forward line!!! But this has left me wondering about the rest of our young draftees since Oliver in 2015. Is it we haven't recruited well (partly because we haven't had top 25 picks ) or is it that we aren't good at player development? The old recruitment vs development conundrum! That is 3 years without a Rising Star nomination, or a young draftee 'breaking out'. It troubles me that while we have good mid 20 yo talent we are creating a future problem not having a core group coming up behind them. All good if we are regularly contesting for a premiership but we seem a long way from that. It almost sets us up for having to continually 'buy-in' talent in the future. Hopefully, we rectify that in this draft and use our early draft picks.

Looks like Giants want our pick 2/3 to stop the next pick # holder bidding on Green. giants-are-eyeing-off-demons-no2-draft-pick It means GWS is less likely to take their 1st round picks to the draft and Live Trade them so it gives us a bit of leverage in getting value for #2/3.

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2019-08-26/fritsch-nominated-for-mark-of-the-year- Scroll down on that web page and there is a box that says 'Vote Now'. Great mark. One of the few highlights for the year.

An article by Mitch Robinson criticising the AA selectors by putting midfielders on the wings and not selecting any true 'wingmen'.not-selecting-genuine-wingmen The real value of the article for me is It gives an amazing insight into the role of a wingmen and his importance in the 'modern' game. Interestingly, he says: "...put any full-time on-baller on the wing, you cut their stats in half". Reinventing Robinson as a wingman is a masterstroke by Fagan.

I like how Pendlebury stirred Chris Scott (who embarrassingly won't stop whinging about playing finals at the MCG): “Yeah I was rapt I didn’t have to head down the highway to Geelong...It’s nice that we finished fourth and got a home final.”

No need for angst that Max is on the bench as there is lots of politics in selections: Hurn ignored as captain two years running for headline catching glamour boys. Ablett named in 44 to put some icing on his career. Genuine stars like Coniglio and Whitfield ignored in the 44. Hawkins in 44 but Ben Brown not in. And, the 'Grundy was on the bench last year, its Max's turn this year' thinking. Its a micky-mouse team anyway. Delighted Max is in the 22. Much deserved. The only real highlight for the year was Max. btw - loved that no Ess player was even selected in the AA squad of 44!

Not directly related to this thread: I hope Goodwin is having a big say in who the new coaches are. It seems he made 'captain calls' on the current coaching panel. I just hope we don't go too far the other way. Sign off on appointments is required by higher ups but he needs to be 100% sure he can work with them and he can deliver a united and cohesive coaching panel.

They have the best kicking skills in the AFL. A big 'Yes' from me. If he is to be Strategy Coach, I hope he can do the goal kicking coach thing on the side. He also had a beautiful kick going i50. In fact, he could teach the likes of Oliver, Harmes, Viney, Hunt, Brayshaw a thing or two about kicking. Yze was blessed with natural balance which can't really be learnt. But I'm a firm believer that poise and composure can be learnt. From that comes better decision making. None of them will kick like Yze but imagine if even half of those guys improved their i50 kicking skills by even 50%.