Older demon

It was mentioned that luck and score reviews played a role and we did not get the rub of the green. The score review against Carlton shaped the flag. We win we hold top spot and I believe play Collingwood in the grand final and win.

The night was great. It was an awards night not a vote bore-a-thon. It's so great to see the surviving 64 flag players get life membership. May was epic and even more vocal post count; honestly, he only said what most were thinking. He thinks we are better than them and he doesn't like them. He did say if he thought they were better than us he would congratulate them but was annoyed that we missed an opportunity. I do hope they find a post-career role for Pig his speech was heartfelt and sincere and he has left nothing in the tank to complete his career. BBB was asked by a doctor mate about his knee and said it was ok and he would play on and TMac needed more time to find form post-op but will suit up next year. Goody has his detractors but I came away thinking he is a very good head coach, drives the standards, is loved and respected by the players and has got this team into the top 4 the last 3 years which no one else has done. Sure he has his weaknesses but that is up to the assistants to cover the gaps. Kate said don't believe any media [censored] only what the club publishes which after the last week has convinced me is correct. Too many journos not looking for the true story but getting the first story. Pert's letter was brilliantly timed and answered the critics and the media scribes. We are reminded it took Geelong a decade to win that last premiership despite making the finals every year. They are bloody hard to win and everything has to go right.

Hi Jane do you still have a spare ticket available in case any one is interested at the right price?

Already mentioned that Dunstan, JJ out and Harmes looking. I have serious worries that Gus will pull the pin or be rarely available next season, he is only one head knock away from serious trouble. There is a desperate need for more class midfielders. Rivers is the only one I can see stepping up or recruit a running outside mid as we have enough bulls.

Replacing Yze could be more complicated than we think. It was mentioned in an earlier post and confirmed by Yze that he was the match day coach in the coaches box and Goody was the counsellor down on the boundary. This suggests to me that Goody is aware of his tactical match day short comings and acknowledges that is Yze's strength. If so that is more than a line coach role but almost senior coach material. It also begs the question whether Goody has been vilified unfairly and the coach upstairs should be held more responsible for the match day gaff's. I believe Goody is a very good club coach, man manager game plan development. The replacement should complement these traits and have a skill set to complement and cover the deficiencies

I really like the look of Will Verral who missed the early season with a stress fracture. He would be my choice for the understudy he has more upside than Teakle imo. As the back up a more mature body who doesn't mind being 2nd fiddle. Tom campbell has filled this roll at 3 clubs now. Another rumour was the club considering whether they develop Roo as a forward ruck option not a key position, only a rumour though.

Plenty has been said about trading and deficiencies in our existing players. Every player has strengths and weaknesses and I wouldn't trade them just on that basis. Barrassi always said that each season you have to find at least 5 % improvement in yourself just to stay at the same level. Trading out isn't solving the problem in some instances it is bringing in an unknown problem. Remember that quote about known unknowns etc. As I see it we have lots of contested beasts who aren't really good kicks. Hawthorn stacked their premiership teams with left footers down back who could lower their eyes or kick long to position. We are deficient in that area. Buddy was never very good over head so they didn't bomb it to him but kicked it out in front or to space. We don't do that or when we do we look a million dollars. May is a great kick out of defence as is Bowey, Salem used to be. Lever isn't a great kick but is a superb interceptor. I hope Turner comes on as he looks like a great kick. The sort of player who would lift us is Kelly at GWS that is the prototype player we need to get. If we cannot trade for no 1 get 3 first round kids in and develop them. Don't forget this year Roo, McVee, Laurie & Woewodin all played their first game and Chandler was like a first year player

I wish JJ well, he is a very solid player. I know he has his critics and he rarely seems to run and gun preferring to stop and prop. But he may be playing to instructions, we don't know! I am sure he will have lots of interest. Note Harmes still has a year to go so he may explore options but I suspect he wants to stay local and with MFC

Petty has a fairly serious foot injury and his return is far from guaranteed. Tomlinson is an obvious choice for the backline just in case.

AS stated earlier the clubs are completely professionals with regular advice with KPI's. When given end of year assessment there should be no surprise sackings or exits. Organisations just don't do that. Most of the input should come from the player re their thoughts on their achievements and what they hope to address and improve. Out of contract players who haven't been made an offer would be concerned and injured players would have a fare idea if they can go on. For all we know Grund may have already left the building emotionally and that is why he wasn't selected. BBB may not physically be able to continue, heck we have no surety that Petty will overcome a serious foot injury. I hope that the players have self assessed themselves and know what they want moving forward.

Read what Robbo said! I never said I wanted him to blast players or make excuses nor did Robbo. He knows there is a presser and he says the same stuff every week. He is a well paid experienced coach and post match press conferences come with the territory and this was the 4th final in a row this experienced team has lost. Robbo put it beautifully when he said you need consistency and stability in finals and the facts of the matter are we had neither.

For those who haven't seen it please look up Russel Robertsons post on Facebook and Insta. He made me feel a whole lot better with a calm measured assessment of the season and the need to have team stability and continuity which we didn't have as well as the new blood injected into the team. He said everything I hope Goodwin would say but didn't. Well done Robbo, he is hurting and details how much it hurt losing finals in his day. Disappointed that all Goodwin could offer is one of his motherhood statements about dealing with adversity and learnings, I am so sick of hearing his corporate speak.

I remember that day and the multiple forums. I was there and RDB was moderator I could barely talk when he asked a question. He was good enough to sign one of the books on sale of the then "History of Melbourne" that day will forever stay in my memory

Reality & brutality We will build on adversity, where does Goody get these lines. Get real for 22 weeks this year the forward line has been ordinary and don't seem able to tackle. Brutality, get an external review because internally we are strong enough to identify our faults. Forward craft and coaching is a disaster. Develop a plan B if A isn't working. Also finally notice our contested ball is good but what we do with it is poor and at times laughable.

Let me tell you it is no better being in Europe I am so disappointed. Once again this club lifts you up promises the world and crushes your soul. Will the players be extra gutted pre season for going out in straight sets again? I hope the review is brutal and honest. None of Goody's corporate speak and learnings. Mate we just had our backsides handed to us on a plate for the second year in a row and this year both losses were self inflicted. Good team don't do that. Get in an external reviewer because internally the club clearly cannot self assess and see what it is doing wrong and how to fix it. We have had 22 weeks of learnings about connection to the forward line not to mention last year. The definition of stupidity is to repeatedly do the same thing. I f Goody is to stay his assistants need to go because we have not improved1 % Rant over just do something

Fear not WCW. Cripps was found guilty but the case was thrown out on a legal technicality in the the Chair didn't adequately brief and what options they had. Nothing to do with the guilty verdict which wasn't changed. The case was abandoned and Gil was furious and the rules changed to ensure it doesn't happen again. He is either guilty or not no downgrades lets wait and see

Sorry to hear that Jane. But no matter what he thinks Maynard jumped into a contest unable to control his trajectory which is careless and the impact and the head high content are indisputable. The rules are if you jump and bump irrespective of intent you get suspended.

True, recover away from the club and return to training once certain goals are achieved. As I mentioned earlier the contents of the medical report will play a big part in this, especially in relation to the severity of the blow. A neck injury as a consequence indicates severe impact. Lets not forget Gus wore a helmet which is supposed to offer some protection, yet he was still unconscious for a minute.

AS I am overseas and not privy to all the media can someone answer these questions Ha anyone seen the medical report? The severity will impact the tribunal. We all think we know but the medical report always has an impact on MRO proceedings. I assume Gus has been discharged? There is the mention of neck pain, has he sustained and injury to his neck or just bruising? Was there memory loss? Is he still experiencing headaches and other symptoms such as light sensitivity? What is his current mental state? Anxiety, vertigo etc. Will the Gus & Gawny podcast proceed this week? From Track's interview it appears many of these are present and his throw away line about his future suggests to me that there is no way Gus plays again this season. Surely there must be serious doubt about his playing future. As for Maynard, Whately summed it up best "Once Maynard chose to jump in the air he ignored his duty of care". Maybe he limited his safe options and had nowhere to go but he made head contact and is culpable. Kane Cornes is a [censored] of the highest order and Rama is misguided. Yes it is a football act but a dangerous one which is in all cases when you choose to bump with a bad outcome a dangerous one. Just pay the price.

Layzie makes good points. The action that has to be stamped out is jumping in the air and cannoning into a player. In the old VFA days I was taught don't jump when you make contact as you will lose momentum, be off balance and raise your arms for protection and balance and because you are in the air you will most likely hit someone in the head. The bump was when you ran into someone with your feet on the ground The poor technique is jumping into the non marking contest and Maynard jumped high and lost his balance turned sideways and collected Gus. He didn't need to jump that high and straight at the oncoming player, I classify that as reckless. This is what Cripps did and don't forget he got suspended for that action but got off on a legal technicality, not because it was an accidental football act. He was still found guilty. Because of poor technique Maynard made forceful head high contact for which he will face the tribunal and in my opinion the tribunal need to make a stand and say stop jumping into packs or players. It may be categorised by the Pies as a footy act but it is a poor one that is dangerous and mostly performed poorly. And again I Reiterate Cripps was guilty.

I have to disagree if his intent was to smother why did he raise his arms. If his intent wass to smother why did he turn side on? If he was protecting himself then he ignored his duty of care to Brayshaw who having just disposed of the ball was wide open. Why didn't he try to fall across the boot? By jumping he had no control of his direction and could only inflict harm. He chose to bump hit someone high did damage and should be suspended. If it is a football act then I sincerely hope the next time we play Collingwood every attempt should be made to smother Pendlebury, both Daicos' Elliott and see how Collingwood react. Time for the AFL to grow some and start dealing with football acts if they are serious about making the head sacrosanct. Goody at his presser mentioned Brayshaws anxiety which is a symptom of a sever concussion.

Agree, he jumped in the air, chose to bump, showed absolutely no duty of care, took out Gus with extreme impact to the head and concussed the player. Add to what sort of medical report the club offers in assessing Brayshaw, I expect it to go straight to the tribunal, minimum 4 weeks every day of the season. Also Maynards record is bad and already suspended this season he has to go and go for a long time

These 2 injuries will have a significant flow-on effect. I would think Harmes has to stay. The loss of 2 mids in Melk & Dunstan isn't going to see them replaced with 2 kids. Not sure we saw those vacancies on the list next season (maybe Dunstan out of contract)

I think this all changed today with the season and maybe career ending g injuries to Melksham & Dunstan. Spots open up

If not mentioned earlier the bun fight starts at 9 am with MCC members tickets going online. 1 visitors ticket per member