Lucifers Hero

You are probably right. I'm guessing the major injury was life changing and made him reassess his priorities: eg what if he couldn't play footy again. how long can he play footy for then what happens ... tbh, I would think every player's manager works with them to set themselves after footy. Apparently at the BnF he said footy is his job and has said similar at GC. Lots of players treat footy as their job and really it is. imv that is ok. Many of us are upset at him leaving and some of the circumstances around it but not sure we should continue to make assumptions and find fault with his decisions. As much as I would have loved him to be a one-club player, he is gone and I think the club is better for it. A chapter closed.

Therein are some assumptions and not sure they are correct. Maybe King and Petracca were in different states and iirc King was still involved with the GF. For the record, various players have developed commercial interests on social media: Dangerfield: fishing (incl podcasts) Smith: Himself Wakeman: Fashion, Art I doubt their fans criticise them. And, they are entitled to set themselves up for life after football, just like some go to university, into real estate or develop other careers while playing footy. Its ok for them to show such initiative for who knows when footy might end.

I call bs on that poster! People can post anything they like but it does not make it fact. An agent probably does get a % of commercial contracts they negotiate for a player but the club does not. The club would get money or kind from its official sponsors and allow players to appear in those ads/events but not from other player commercial work. AFL rules about players accepting payment from sponsors or appearances eg Caulfied Cup is very clear: if they wear club gear ie officially represent the club it is in the sal cap, If in civvies it is outside the cap. The reason stated in the post for him requesting a trade is also bs. At the start of the year Trac withdrew from all footy commercial arrangements including AFL 360 (and I think Cash Converters). We definitely need a 'Fact Check' thread. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Fair enough. I didn't doubt you wish Clarry well. I will always rue what happened from mid 2023 on. While Clarry may have been a factor there were many others in all levels at the club and they compounded as time went on. I guess I'm happy to let that period go and that we now get a fresh start. And fulfill my greatest footy wish: See a Demon premiership, live !!!❤️💙

I agree with that. But I can still feel sad and compassionate for Clarry and wish well for him.

Yeah, I also don't care to read what he is up to. And agree it is now up to GWS to care for him. But I care about him as a demon champion and care about his well being whoever he plays for. I can't imagine the upheaval in his life: emotionally outed from his employer, a new employer, new state, change homes, delay in getting to know new teammates, new work environment, spiralling career etc. Any of those changes are stressful let alone all happening simultaneously under challenging circumstances. Especially for someone who seems emotionally fragile and reliant on the rigid structures of an AFL club but being the off season and in transition those aren't there. Nor are the welfare support systems he had at mfc. Hopefully, his manager, the AFL and GWS quickly find a mentor like Gawn (Mumford for Jesse) and put in place the welfare support and stability Clarry needs.

Really liked the direct and frank nature of the article especially the discussion with May. Loved his response even more: “He stopped, and he looked at us, and he said, ‘I totally get it’. “He said, ‘The club’s been so good for me. I’ve got a premiership here. I’ll always love the club.’ He said, ‘But just let me be clear, you’re sacking me’, “(I said) ‘No, we’re not sacking you just being honest with you.’ “He goes, ‘all right. I’ll look for a trade, but if I can’t get a trade, can I come back?’ “So in Kingy’s words you come back but earn your spot like everyone else. “He said, ‘If I don’t get a trade I will come back in and earn my spot and commit to helping develop the kids who will take my spot.’ Go Maysie!!❤️💙

haha! I also included Rivers in not so many words.

King is putting together a nice mix of players previously connected to Geelong and to the Dees. Bodes well for synergy and consistent messaging. It is similar to Roos bringing in people he knows he can work with from the get go, as like Roos he won't have time to teach and manage a whole new coaching group. He knows he can delegate to those guys and the job will get done. I feel more optimistic by the day 🙂❤️💙

Again that is just an empty accusation! People are now just making stuff up.

Is there anything to support this? Already a poster is quoting this as a fact and it will soon be quoted widely on DL as true. Wouldn't the fact he wants to help BH contradict the comment that he didn't have time at the Dees?

My GFG is active every year. But I sure won't be booking GF weekend city hotels!

I give us an A: Steele replaces Oliver, bringing leadership and able to play a more flexible role Mihocek for Spargo - a different type of fwd but brings balance and experience i50 we were lacking Jiath for McVee - a different type of defender and we have others to fill the gap Heath - much needed back up for Max. Three first round picks for Petracca plus free up sal cap I see much better connection to i50 especially with a revised game plan and better fwd structures. We covered our departures with equal or better suited players, except for Petracca. Hopeully, Langford can start to fill his shoes! If he does our list is much better than it was last week. And we add 4 1st round draftees over 2025/2026. I reckon we will bounce back to contention faster than most people think ❤️💙

Trades have set up Dees’ ‘next premiership’Melbourne have traded two “hall of famers” but list manager Tim Lamb believes the Demons’ moves have set up “their next premiership win”. Lamb echoed earlier calls thanking Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver for their stellar Melbourne careers which culminated in the club’s breakthrough premiership in 2021, calling them future hall of fame members. They were traded to Gold Coast and GWS respectively. Lamb believes the draft picks and new players acquired during the trade period will soon have the Demons back among the contenders for the premiership. The Demons snared Collingwood’s Brody Mihocek, St Kilda captain Jack Steele and teammate Max Heath, and Hawthorn’s Changkuoth Jiath but lost Charlie Spargo (North Melbourne) and Judd McVee (Fremantle). Lamb said new coach Steven King was excited about the mix of talent at the club while picks seven and eight could net two more talented youngsters or be traded up for a higher pick. “The person who was 100 per cent behind us was Steven King – it’s his footy club now,” Lamb told AFL Trade Radio on Thursday. “He’s thrilled with what we have done and super excited by our young talent and the new guys we have brought in. “It is a balancing act, but we are in it to try and win premierships, and we think what we have done has set us up to win our next premiership.” Lamb is also buoyed about the calibre of the top players in this year’s draft. “We think there is some elite talent that we will have access to,” he said. “The early picks tend to jump in and have an earlier impact because of their talent and athleticism – it’s going to be an exciting time for us and put pressure on for spots.”

The difference in latitude on here to our champions in Trac and Oliver is unbelievable. It is almost like everyone wants to tear down the 'tall poppy' (Trac) and find fault but talk up 'bambi' (Oliver) and expunge all bad behaviour. Nearly every criticism of Trac on here can be said about Oliver. Sometimes I wonder if there is any rationality left in the world.