Older demon

Worth noting Collingwood only willing to pay $200K of his contract for 1 year, not every year of his contract. Year 1 he is a bit cheaper for a club but year 2 and beyond you are looking at $800-900 K a year for 4 years. Any wonder no-one is blinking. He isn't that good for that sort of money. On the human side I think Collingwood's handling of this and the other players contracts has been extremely poor and note, not a peep out of Eddie, who has an opinion on everything. If the club has been so supportive they must have known about the plan for his wife to take up a contract up north. If they really cared wouldn't they advise him prior to that, their belief that it wasn't in his best interests at Collingwood. Its not like she is earning the sort of money Adam is. Something stinks IMO.

My son tells me he heard on the radio that Freo are interested in Phillips and this is due to his good relationship with the coach Longmuir from his time at Collingwood.

Sam MaClure was most uncomfortable when Watson got into him about Oliver. Lyon whacked him and he was backing of at a million miles and re Oliver. He must read Demonland because he said Oliver will be at Melbourne in 2021but they would want to have a good year, his discontent was real at the time.

Very perceptive Old Dee, re vaccine the trial for the one Australia is backing officially finishes stage 3 in October 2022. The trial may allow high risk people and health workers to be part of the trial. We mere mortals are looking more to 2023. You are correct that winter is dynamite and Europe, the U.K and U.S are all struggling under the weight of numbers and people get re infected. The Northern states have managed things well here this season and the hubs actually worked and allowed a season to play to its conclusion. I also believe we will get more of the same next year but don't think people want to hear that though.

Hypothetical what happens if in the middle of the grand final there is the predicted thunderstorm and lightning. Precedent from before is the players come off and seek shelter till the storm passes and it is safe to proceed.

That is because Viney and his wife were in S.A. and Max and Clarry were in South Melbourne.

IT was the Gutnick years and I seem to remember, correct me ion I am wrong, that free came knocking and made a big offer. Joes ego kicked in and matched the deal which in retrospect was overs for a one off season. That Woey was willing to take a pay cut suggests he knew he was over priced but then we not only shipped him off we were still paying a large portion of his salary. Who was running the club then???

In the course of the year it is easy to forget just how good a season Max was having before he hurt his knee. Tiernan is a tall lad isn't he

Buried deep in a HUN article on draft targets is a single line about Clarko being unable to visit Pruess to entice hime to Hawthorn and how GWS won the race. Then this kicker, " The Demons are chasing something in the vicinity of a second-round pick for Preuss if they can’t make him part of a deal for Ben Brown." This in the last par but strongly suggests that MFC are keen on Brown! So put your creative hats on demonlanders, who goes from GWS to the Kangas so we get Brown and possible exchange of late picks?

A slight correction if I may. The AFL site mentioned Carlton were asking about Clarry, Hunter & Ollie as part of the plan to get players in. Further into the discussion when pressed who the third in would be they said Carlton were lowering their aim for a player of a lower grading ie an A lister or B+ rather than an elite to fill that 3rd spot. Tis year they don't have the bargaining chips in draft pics and you only have to look at the outlandish request made by Essendon for Saad.

Note it is a Sam McLure article and of late I hav this feeling his scoops are straight form managers looking to stimulate interest. I hope he hasn't become a mouthy piece for a manager looking for a better deal but could explain how a scoop could go off the boil and suddenly come to life again. Just look at Rama ringing every club trying to find a home and a long term contract for Ben Brown. This is a horrible time of year all around with deceit the second language of the AFL.

Sorry Old Dee this is no ordinary bowls club but agree many blows clubs are struggling. It is no no surprise that this bowls club refused as they are huge. They have a massive bar and their function room is enormous with a stage. I have been to a 70th there and then another birthday on a Sunday with the Herberts playing and the place was packed. Bands regularly play there Sundays pre COVID and the club is an institution and used all year around. The footy club misjudged that one when they took on the bowls club. In addition it is very much suburbia and I doubt the residents would agree to a larger oval with a huge hangar and all the other stuff at their new location. Some learning for MFC there is a difference between a training facility and a home and place for members to visit. If you locateg too far away it creates a problem. The trouble with trying to build a sports facility exclusively for footy in the inner city area is it isn't used enough. Multi function/sports facility the only way to go. For all its criticism AAMI park houses MGC, Storm and Victory with all 3 clubs sharing

Correct! His knee interrupted his pre season and started round 1 with little or no practice match play. He injured it again mid season and recently required surgery on it. He has already had one knee reco on that left knee at the age of 17 and ongoing issues. Due diligence certainly required

Interesting read and pleased that he is seen as more than just a back flanker and potentially another running mid who has a long penetrating kick. Still eligible for the Risng star next year but then so is Rowell.

For the person who mentioned Langdon, he is out of contract and has nominated he wants to be traded to West Coast. Could Preuss go to GWS, Caldwell goes to the Saints who will be his nominated club and we get something from the Saints and late exchange of picks? Note the Saints delisted 2 ruckman from their list yesterday

I remember him coaching Caulfield in the VFA days following T. Jewell., P Guinane & S Trott as his coaching predecessors.

On radio this morning the discussion was around Carlton, their salary cap and De Goey, however Clarrie got a mention and I bet all managers have been involved. It was stated that as Carlton have paid under their cap the last 2 years they can now pay 5% over for next season and a set period beyond. Their recruiting team set a list of targets that included De Goey and Clarrie as well as Saad and Williams and who else knows. It was then stated that a few weeks ago De Goey was very heavily into Carlton on their promise of money and more midfield time. For those who cannot see where the money is coming from Carlton have been saving and planning this and now making a raid on their targets. I don't know the sequence but as Carlton cannot approach a player in contract directly, they would have to have approached Clarrie's manager first to see if there is any interest. If he is doing his job he would be negligent not to let Clarrie know. OK so Clarrie is miffed about something and McLure leaks a rumour on FC, all part of the game. I hope MFC told them firmly to F.O. but approaches are made all the time. Carlton got newness last year and Martin for nothing doing the dirty on Gold Coast via the delisted free agent draft and may even get Saad the same way, so they have form

I believe many of Browns associates are helping him get to his next destination. On Saturday Barrett had hime going to Melbourne and on SEN this morning the story was his manager ramanauskas was pitching hime to Essendon and Hawthorn. Rama probably feeling guilty for not accepting the offer made at the start of the year. My son is a Kangas supporter (thanks to my Dad) and he reckons Brown is cooked. He had no pre season this year due to ongoing knee issues. It came as no surprise to my son that Brown's year was so poor, many players who miss significant parts of the pre season struggle. He came back with no practise form and down on fitness. Then he injuries his knee again mid season and doesn't play again. The lack of interest is you don't know what you are buying! He wont get $ 750K or a 5 year deal, he would also want a club with a good track record of rehabbing players with injuries. Having said that, Essendon would be the last place I would go. The crook knee also stopped his other asset and that was doing some ruck work to give Goldy the occasional rest.

So no big fish this draft which is ok with me. Contrast Friday night and 2 of the Saints recruits. Butler was cheap as chips is quick and kicks goals to Hill who cost an arm and a leg, draft picks and had a shocker. Not an isolated event his end of season form shows the risk of spending big on players who struggle on the big stage. Forget Ben Brown, De Goey or any one in it for the money. Read the story today about Lyons at Brisbane now making Adelaide & Gold Coast look silly.

Gee we reckon we have some holes on the list and players that aren't good enough, have a look at Collingwood. Their best are very good but they had so many passengers tonight. Some there are seriously overpaid and with Pendles and Sidebottom the wrong side of 30 they have some issues.. Good result though

I am glad Jack stayed and the article gives some insight at least from Viney's view of inside the club. He is a strong supporter of Goody (I am sure many wont like that) and stayed on to support him. In his mind they keep all of the midfielders and learn to play smarter and less selfish He consulted with his parents and really is red and blue through and through Is aware along with other senior players being seen as can emerging team is no longer good enough and has raised the bar in expectation Gives some insight to just how different and difficult the hub year was with a new bu Realises you don't need to have a title to be a leader. I applaud him and look forward to the second half of his career

Reading between the lines the club is sending a subtle message IMO. The fanfare around contracts for Fritta, Petty, Smith & Sparrow then the big contract for Viney and a new assistant coach leads me to think we are holding off on committing to anyone else at the moment and have settled on the core list. Unlike North who jettisoned 11 players and selling off their oldies we have signed up the essentials and may well have more to be released. It is all well and good to clear the deck but you need to have equal or better replacements to recruit The deafening silence around the 12 players who have not had contracts renewed for next season is telling. Add that to KK a possible retirement with a year to go on his contract. We have 5 draft picks 23, 47, 62, 63, 83 most are late but can be used to promote rookies to the main list. As it stands 3 delisted and 12 in limbo. Part of the delay is waiting the AFL's final number for list sizes and suggestions Oscar and Nibbler are trade bait. Bottom line the club have declared who is essential. Limited options to recruit ie Smith ?? and plenty with their future in the air.

Thanks Luci keep up the great work.

Although Viney's contract signing hasn't been announce I note that since news broke that Geelong had been advised he wasn't going there we have seen the announcement of 4 contract signings, Smith, Petty, Sparrow and Fritsch and proposed 1 year deal for Jones. The dominoes are starting to fall The list out of contracts is shrinking with Oscar I think will not getting renewed and Nibbler with a year still to go, looks likely to be moved on and Pruess is being seriously courted ( I could see the Bulldogs come knocking after their rucks got mauled yesterday). I hope for his health sake that Kolo retires. 3 already delisted and if Oscar, Nibbler, Pruess and Kola's go that brings the total to 7. That may well be it with room for 3 to come in

He has shown that he is becoming one of the competitions best rovers he has all the attributes to be to Collingwood what Shuey is the Eagles if he was every available I would go after him. His brother is a Carlton supporter so I am surprised Carlton haven't made a play they seem to have thrown money at everyone else.