spirit of norm smith

McClure is … Malfoy (cunning but weak)

Add Baum 💩 [censored] article … why reference Oliver. The title is a joke. Theres lots of other examples of messy trade talk and other examples this year. MFC IS always a soft target. A lot of NRL fans and insiders hate the open ability for players to sign for other clubs 12 months ahead. It’s a horrible scenario having to develop a player but then know in 12 months that they are off to your competition. You’d rather a player committed to your team. https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/melbourne-s-poor-handling-of-oliver-has-turned-the-trade-window-into-a-peep-show-20241007-p5kghu.html

the resemblance to Barrett is uncanny

Agreed. @Nascent @Pennant St Dee like Judd McVee a few years ago, Cody could be late pick that really develops. He’s got the pace, skills and smarts. I think he’s probably 4th round or a rookie pick. I had him at 68 in my phantom draft (Sept 19th). Hope he gets a spot on a list.

It’s really disappointing. Dees had him interested and it was likely we were his preferred destination. Now he’s off to probably either the filthy Pies or the arrogant Blues. FFS. This whole Petracca & Oliver mess has caused us damage. It’s a mess !!!

"I do know that it has not been given up on, by some people around Clayton…just because the Melbourne Footy Club attempted to take the air out of it doesn’t mean it is completely off the table." - Damian Barrett on the continual speculation around Clayton Oliver and Melbourne Damo is a 5 star piece of 💩💩💩💩💩

Last 9 years. The four musketeers have dominated our B&F. Clarry x4 Gawn x 2 Petracca x 2 Viney x 2 (Gawn and Oliver tied in 2019) they are surely all going to be listed amongst our very best players ever hope we can resolve the issues with Clarry and Trac over the next 12 months

Rivers. McVee. Chandler. 6th. 7th. 8th. A few votes only lower than Ed. Add them into the mix and our average drops !!! This top 5 average age is not a damning stat for MFC.

Adams. Laurie. McAdam. All contracted through to the end of 2026. That really hurts 😭😭😭

http://mfcde.es/3BHH2cQ Kate Hore is a star. Sorry 5 stars. ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Another excellent game. What a leader. Our captain. Inspirational. 👏👏👏👏👏

Unanimous win for Kozzzzy this year. A very thin field for marks this year.

Let’s wait until “sauce” gets drafted … hopefully at the Dees

Shhhh. Dont talk about the Cats culture … apparently ever!!! Just move on …nothing to see or speak about https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-jack-steven-stabbing-geelong-coach-chris-scott-jack-steven-police-eddie-mcguire-colin-carter-geelong-cats/news-story/2ece5218a425d18e911241533306f0f0 https://amp.nine.com.au/article/728d54cf-a018-4afb-bb3e-10712a7d593b https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/teams/geelong-cats/afl-2024-geelongs-tanner-bruhn-interviewed-by-police-over-knowledge-of-alleged-sexual-assault-latest-news/news-story/d306cc08aa9b6d8113db1836a4f109a5

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/draft/afl-draft-combine-results-2024-afl-draft-2024-news-prospects-combine-top-10-results-leo-lombard-gold-coast-finn-osullivan-richmond-alix-tauru-bolter/news-story/17a533e8356d428e9141e5e29cd09171

GWS are simply spitting the dummy here. They’ve lost Perryman, Cumming, Peatling. Haynes. They must have a toxic culture. Their players can’t wait to get out. Cameron. Caldwell. Taranto. Hopper. Treloar. Shiel. Tomlinson. Williams. And plenty more have walked out. A young bloke who hasn’t been played wants a better situation for his family. He’s stuck behind too many at the Giants who are stacked with tall defenders and tall forwards. Strange decision by the Giants. If I’m Lamb, I’m still pushing and asking the question. I’d offer Pick “48” on the table. Thats more than reasonable. If the Giants hold out or ask for more, its disrespectful to the Dees, to Derksen and his family.

Happy if he’s our pick “5”

A few here are questioning Langford athleticism. He’s 192cms and plays tall, with excellent contested footy, long kick and very good overhead. Resembles some other very good players. Who am I? draft profile … WEAKNESSES Given his height and size, XXX will most likely end up an inside midfielder, which means there is still improvements to be made in his contested ball winning. When he does come to terms with his build, he will look to be more powerful with it, and could work on his burst speed. ANSWER: Bontempelli draft profile …WEAKNESSES XXX is not a big runner, and only managed 13.2 in the beep test at this month's NAB AFL Draft Combine. That's something to build on, but will probably come as he grows more familiar with his size and strength. With greater spread from a contest, it will allow him to pick up a few more uncontested possessions and run with the ball more. ANSWER: Cripps

Agreed. The best reference is the actually footy played through the year. Langford has demonstrated his elite footy talent. The best players are well known before the combine athletic testing. And the stars of today didn’t all excel at the combine.

Agree super risky given the academy and father son picks. The player trades should all happen first. Likely we will wait to see how Freo negotiates other deals and what if any pick retains. Picks can be traded on an ongoing basis right through to live on draft night

Pick 5 options … depending on who’s “available”. Lalor, Langford, Smith, Draper, O’Sullivan… they are the most likely top 5. Only Ashcroft is off limits due to father son. Dees will have to see who is available at “5” . I’d say our choice will be a midfielder. Any of the 5 youngsters named would be an excellent addition. Xavier Lindsay is the Smokey but likely goes pick 11-12. I cannot see us choosing a taller player like Armstrong, Tauru or Trainor at 5. Imv Murphy Reid is now outside the top 10.

Gus is gone Now it’s farewell to NIBBLER Heart and soul player A Leader Best 22 each and every week Premiership player 🏆 tough call to only get “28” in exchange (effectively “33” after Academy and father son picks) … given finished 3rd in B&F and 2 years in contract to run…still he had decided to go and we supported this … no bargaining power 😭effectively same pick we have Crows for 29yo 50 gamer Mcadam 😭

Agree. Pies want a 2nd and 3rd round pick in 20s and 40s. Why? He wasn’t best 22. Dees apparently getting pick “28” for Nibbler. Will likely be pick 33 once the father son and academy picks get done (Ashcroft, Lombard, Ben Camporeale, Marshall, Kako all should be nominated in before pick 18!!) and the Nibbler finished 3rd in MFC B&F . Dees getting screwed but have little to argue with as we have agreed to let him go.

@John Demonic agree. Actually also enjoyed Fritsch’s goal v Eagles where he contests, breaks tackle then snaps from 35 out to nail it.

Reported that … Demon Alex Neal-Bullen’s move to Adelaide should be fairly painless, given the personal circumstances in him wanting to return to South Australia. The 2021 premiership player is contracted for two more seasons, and the Crows’ second-round pick – which is coincidentally tied to Melbourne – will likely seal the deal. The Dees sent that to Adelaide last year for Shane McAdam. (😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭)

Interesting article from today’s Melbourne Age with the players nominating their expected number 1. “The players' pick We asked 10 of the best junior players in Australia who they thought (not including themselves) would be taken at No.1 in this year's AFL national draft. Here's what they said. Jagga Smith Nominated: Josh Smillie “When he’s at his best, I think Josh Smillie is the best player in the draft. It’s his ceiling, and what he could be. But if you want a sure player, I think you can go Levi Ashcroft – he’s as good as anyone.” Isaac Kako Nominated: Jagga Smith “He’s really consistent. Someone’s got to do it, and it’s always him. I love watching him play and love playing with him – great player.” Harry Armstrong Nominated: Jagga Smith “I think he’s got the work-rate and attitude, and it comes off in games.” Alex Dodson Nominated: Sid Draper “He’s an extremely hard worker, a great leader, and I think he’s going to forge a really good AFL career.” Josh Smillie Nominated: Jagga Smith “Just his professionalism and the way he goes about it. He’s everything you want in a player as well. You could just see him being the perfect AFL player.” Jack Whitlock Nominated: Finn O’Sullivan “Country boy, he’s just got that resilience about him. He hasn’t had the best year this year with injury, but his talent is through the roof. That was shown through his unreal bottom-age year, and even his 16th year, when he took out the medal as the best player of the championships.” Matt Whitlock Nominated: Finn O’Sullivan “I think it’s going to be hard to pass on him, even though he hasn’t had the best year with injury. I feel like he’s such a special player, and he’s definitely someone who’s going to be a premiership player [in the AFL].” Sam Lalor Nominated: Finn O’Sullivan “I reckon he’s got the highest ceiling. He hasn’t been at his best this year [because of injuries], but when he’s on, he’s the best player.” Harvey Langford Nominated: Finn O’Sullivan “I think he’ll suit a club really well, just with how he’s able to interact with the other boys and get around everyone. He’s a great leader, and an amazing player.” Finn O'Sullivan Nominated: Sam Lalor “I think he should be one. He’d be an awesome fit for Richmond. He’s got a great mindset, and is a really powerful and explosive player. His footy talks for itself, and he’s also a really social person, so he will form some good relationships with coaches and players.”