Older demon

Thank you Nathan for your service to the club as captain, most of it through trying times. I hope this year free from the burden you play well and clock up the necessary games to achieve the 300 mark.

A friend of a friend (so don’t shoot me) says the count will be close, as close as you can get! Original source was a journalist so who can you trust for me it is Gawn and Oliver.

Also forgot to mention that Hardwick besides encouraging chaos ball (which we do) could not emphasise enough the importance of defence. I know they lost Rance early but settled in a very stable defence. If there is 1 thing that gives me hope for coming seasons is if we can settle our defence as the injury plague this year really crueller any continuity with our back 6. I am not sure moving forward who the back 6 will be but the formula is a lock down full back (Astbury) the intercept mark (Grimes) the designated kicker and general (Houli) the run and gun (Short) and midfielders who are prepared to run both ways. I am so impressed with how Hardwick has re-invented himself and his thoughts on the game.

With respect to kicking I liked what Damian Hardwick had to say this morning on coaching. IMO opinion there are 2 game styles, Hawthorn with their precise hit the target movement of the ball that won them 3 straight flags and Richmond who will chip to a loose target but prefer the chaos game of run and gun or kicking to their forward marking targets. Hardwick's point was that in 2016 he was trying to coach his footballers to improve their weaknesses i.e play the Hawthorn precision game. In 2017 after a review and close call to getting sacked he decided to coach to their strengths which was run and gun. He also said he coached less and didn't micro manage the team and let them play (I suspect this means he didn't need the runner but the team leaders looked after on field adjustments). Similar sentiments from Grundy in an interview last week. He said Buckley's attitude was work harder to achieve success which drove the players nuts and if it persisted Grundy wanted to leave. Buckley got reviewed, came close to a sacking but changed his attitude. Less is sometimes more and play to your strengths. Set shot kicking is a skill and I hope the new coach can improve this but also moving the ball into better position for set shots is important to and that is game style. I have my doubts that some players will ever be good great field kicks but if you cannot hit a target then kick it to space and let them run on to it

If we look at the premiers and their player mix I can see some glaring gaps in our list and team. Roos wanted big bodied mids but IMO the game has changed and 1 or 2 at most and the need is for speed. Consider these 6 players from yesterday and their height" Prestia 175 cm, Short 178 cm, Rioli 179 cm, lambert 178 cm, Bolton 175 cm and Baker 173 cm. They are all quick and mobile and kick well. That is 6 players under 180 cm and they win the flag in fact 2 out of 3 and a near miss last year. Also note they play 2 ruckman. MFC have Viney, Spargo, JKH & Bedford under 180 The target is pace, pace and more pace whoever they may be

For what it is worth I believe Sam Frost still has a lot of development in him and is a keeper. At Wesley he was gun basketball who played in the footy team showed some run and gun and then had the football coach and basketball coaching fighting over him. He has come to football late and it is up to MFC to further develop him. Areas for improvement are kicking and decision making but he is not on his own in this area at the club. Player development is not something our club is noted for and it is about time it improved. Many posters here believe that he would develop at Hawthorn or North, well I want MFC to show they can develop him better. May can play full back, lever the back pocket intercept marking and Frost at CHB.

There is 1 KPI not mentioned yet and it is often used when negotiating contracts. It is where you place in the Best & Fairest. When shipping off Watts it was always mentioned he never got in the top 10 at the B&F. MFC may be waiting till after the B&F and where Frosty finishes before offering a contract. Frosty was 8th in the Demonland player of the year and a similar result at the B&F would increase his worth.

For those with short memories here is the 2007 draft in which master was taken, There are some interesting names and he was taken pick 3 just before Cale Morton. McEvoy at 9 and Dangerfield at 10 with Rioli at 12 wow. Shows that the gems can be later than expected. Furthermore Tarrant at 15 harry taylor 17 and Alex Rance 18. For me I think we can do better than Masten

You are correct that Jared Rivers coaches a VFL side and is a life member at MFC and still very close to most of the MFC players. Say no more

His foot injury is not my opinion but direct from a former team mate who left, retired and now coaches a VFL side.

I believe it is the brain child of Gary Pert and mimics what he did at Collingwood. It would be of interest if any of our Collingwood contacts remember this being done and how often along with the format of the meeting.

I filled in an online petition some started with a submission to re-sign Frosty. It is run by change.org I think it would be a grave error in judgement to not offer Sam an new contract, but then the FD have made a few blunders in recent times. I cannot divulge more without giving away my identity

One of the things I admire about the current setup is that there are NO leaks. For all we know a review has been done and while we are emotionally invested we are not in the loop who this is info is supplied too. We rely on opinion, rumour and innuendo. Roos gave sound reason why you don't have an external review and reminded us all that the board meets regularly to look at and review each department. The club is constantly reviewing itself and without knowing the exact information we can see that at mid year some serious re arranging of coaching staff occurred. In the last 8 games there was always at least 2 first year players in the lineup often irregardless of form and players sent off you season ending surgery. I suggest there has been lots going on and several assistant coaches have moved on, again this didn't happen by accident. The external stuff and leaks of info are not about fixing things but appeasing the excess number of journos and the insatiable desire supporters want in order to see justification for what is happening at the club. Be patient sit back and see how much of the so called stuff actually happens. The club has plans to have a members forum later this year where members will be invited to hear what is going on and express their opinions give feedback.

Jack will be the first to admit it hasn't been his best season. He had half a game at Casey in their last practise match and then came into the team for game one against the Power, as did Jones. Not the ideal prep for a season and that foot injury has to be managed and will never be 100%. He has a role to play in the team and most times does it to the best of his ability. I wouldn't trade him but wish he would learn to use his right foot instead of always turning on his left and to occasionally not get drawn to the contest and cover the outside. He has been told to toe it down as he is so footy focused he can be annoying to the other players. he has on occasions admitted that he needs to backoff onfield and on the track when communicating to his team mates. Nothing that cannot be fixed and let him develop.

Someone stated elsewhere that Jamie Elliot was a free agent and in MFC sights. Maybe that is the other free agent. Not sure I like the idea but have to trust the footy dept.

Thanks for you service Jade your efforts are appreciated. He got a good offer to join his younger brother at the Kangas so good luck to hime. It doesn't appear he was pushed but decided to move on. In terms of coaching intellect he is a big loss and one of the few coaches who has achieved his level 4 coaching training. Good luck Jade

2 delisted and Lewis, Maynard and yet to be confirmed Smith retiring which is 5 off the list and we realistically have 4 draft picks. With 4 off the main list and 1 off the rookie I believe that any other moves will be trades or swaps.

Viney in Italy, Hunt in Sri lanka and Max posted on Instagram he has taken his bike with him to Europe. Holiday mode

And we would not play him at CHF and only saw him as a beckman. He thrived at Carlton up forward, we got that one wrong.

Well GCS are a very weak team. On the other hand Port bought in three first year draftee, Rozee, Duursma & Butters who played 22, 20 &19 games respectively. This is an excellent return on an investment in youth. One would hope with the core group of MFC regulars high draft picks could flourish with us

Thanks Drunkn all the best to Dec he is a ripping bloke who even posed for pic with my daughter and her dog at family day. Polite, easy to talk to and a gentleman. I wish him all the best in his football future.

MFC have exit interviews till Wednesday so I doubt there will be a Mad Monday maybe Thursday!!!

I read in a VFL report that Tim Smith has announced his retirement. Can anyone confirm this please?

And I hope a contract offer to Sam Frost

Thanks Demonland that is a great summation of the contested possession winners. To my surprise even though I think Clarrie handballs to much his kick to handball ration isn't that much different to the other gun mids in Neale, Fyfe and Cunnington. I wish he would kick more goals and maybe it is the quality of handballs or their outcome that lets him down. Another thought is that is a setup/organisation thing where rather than handball to an outside mid he dishes off to a ten mate who is also in the contest. Dangerfield is the only mid who kicks more than he handballs. Something the coach and midfield coach ned to work on