Older demon

The metric that these scribes don't look at is coaching expertise and experience. Goody is in my opinion still a rookie and learning. A few times last year he was clearly out coached and needs to grow in the job. Bomber Thompson took 8 years and a review that nearly saw him sacked before they started their premiership run. Dimma was appointed the same time as Dean Bailey and had a review that nearly saw him sacked. The Times were awful in 2016 but had played finals in the years previous. Bevo had been coaching since 2006, winning flags in 06,07,08 then 2010 and was part of the Hawthorn juggernaut. He is a fantastic people manager with a wealth of premiership experience Just as our playing list needs to grow and develop and even experience finals success and failure so to does our coach and his team. The only goal this year should be to make finals and learn from the experience

I like the look of his play and it was Buckenara who suggested we got a bargain as he rated him at 22 in the drafte and the best key position player available.

Not sure why he was cut from brisbane Academy but he looks well balanced, has some pace and hits targets. Clearly the FD have kept an eye on him

Does anyone think we will take a delisted free agent? There are a number of players yet to have their contracts renewed who may be available to draft. Is Zac Clarke any chance as a backup ruckman?

And now pick 28 has been used by carlton to get their GWS player. Just got a bit easier if we want Fritsch

Bulldogs have traded picks 28 and 30 for pick 16 to Carlton. MFC have shown that they are prepared to list or rookie Casey players

He (Macca) was certainly adamant on the Friday luncheon pre grand final that Jack would be shipped out. His relationship with older players worked well at the Bulldogs didn't it ! Ask Cross his feelings about Mccartney, he didn't want to have anything to do with him when Macca came to Melbourne.

Such a sad video posted of a young fan who loves Jack Watts asking him to stay and that he wear number 4. He thinks Jack is the best kick in the team. Jack's reply is that MFC don't value kicking and that the lad may need a new jumper next year, it clearly isn't in jacks hands and he is being pushed. I know at clinics lots of kids wear number 1, 11 and 4 so I can picyure lots of sad kids

Jack flies O.S on Wednesday so the announcement will be made early in the week. Not reported that he visited Sydney late in the week as he snuck up north and back under the radar. One of his magers who looks after his shorts business is planning to liaise with hime from Adelaide. Port will be his nominated destination and he finally has his head around moving. The only way that wont happen is if MFC reneg on the deal which I doubt even though he is 2nd to Gary Ablett for delivery into the forward line.

Quote from Steven Wells ""We've had a good conversation with Melbourne and they've made it clear what they'd be expecting from us, and at this stage, we don't think we'd be able to do that deal so we're not going to give Jack any false hope or waste anybody's time." So what on earth are we asking for if the club doesn't rate him. I am leased we aren't giving him up for a packet of crisps. maybe others are baulking at picking up his contract and want us to pay the lions share?

Todays AGE http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/dogs-demons-want-it-both-ways-on-jake-stringer-and-jack-watts-says-their-manager-20171010-gyy4b6.html "Dogs, Demons want it both ways on Jake Stringer and Jack Watts, says their manager" "I've been in this game a long time and I just think, next time this happens to us, we'll ask a few more hard questions ourselves," Connors said. "Before we make this all public, well let's get on the same page with what pick. "It's one of the things I will be doing a bit differently with Robbie [D'Orazio from Connors Sports], that we will be asking more questions when we get called to meetings like this in the future. "It's a total backflip, for mine. He's contracted, so there's an option. But again, it's really hard to go back to an organisation where he's probably not welcome." Despite Melbourne making similar comments about Watts potentially staying, Connors confirmed that Watts had only recently decided that he would be better off leaving. "It's no good being at an organisation if they don't want you," Connors said. "Yeah I think he is [up for leaving the state] … he might have to be."

AS earlier stated Connors his manager has come out and blasted the club. After initially saying the process was ok clearly something has changed and Connors has been highly critical of the way the club has managed it. We all have seen how Connors looks after his boys and he is the one who has helped Jack get his head around the idea that Melbourne don't want him. Jack will trust his manager to do right by him. If, initially it was a strategy to give Jack a fright it certainly hasn't panned out that way and my suspision is that Jack's departure was always the agenda (based on Brendan Mccartney's comments at a lunch the day before the G.F.) Personally I don't like it myself but I am not making the decisions at MFC and one only has to look at the collateral damage on this thread to see how badly it has polarised the supporters. I also have my concerns about Goody, and his B&F speech left me cold (actually thought it was Mark Neeld again) but Roos is a hard act to follow. I believe Jack will move on and wish him all the best in the future

On a lighter note Jack also forgot to mention or thank his girlfriend at the B&F. He is most apologetic to her on Instagram

Agree, and it worries me too. That speech did nothing and reminded me of Neeld. I don't need Goody to talk to me or the fans like he would the players. Just like Neeld declaring we will be the toughest team to play againsy Goody saying you need to give more is rubbish talk. What will improve the team from this year? Experience, better players, different team structure, increased fitness, who knows. It took Geelong 7 years under Bomber and the core group having 5 or more years. Our best players are in their 2nd year. Some things he has done well this year and at other times he has been out coached by seasoned vets. Many posts have worried that he has been unable to change or inspire the team at times. Leaving out individual player performances the inability of the coaching team to get the best out of the group is a worry and that they didn't have Melbourne primed for the last game concerned me. We keep losing games we are expected to win, Goody has been there 3 years, he knows the players and talking tough at B&F's isn't the answer.

See my earlier post also on MFC website now

Club just sent an email with the results. Oliver smashed it. Clayton Oliver (530 votes) Jack Viney (346) Nathan Jones and Jordan Lewis (327) Fourth: Ivor Warne Smith Memorial Trophy – Not awarded due to third place tie Neville Jetta (321) 6 – Michael Hibberd (318) 7 – Christian Petracca (302) 8 – Jeff Garlett (284) 9 – Tom McDonald (278) 10 – Dom Tyson (275) 11 – Alex Neal-Bullen (263) 12 – Jayden Hunt (256) 13 – Bernie Vince (240) 14 – Mitch Hannan (216) 15 – Sam Frost (211) 16 – Jake Melksham (201) 17 – James Harmes (197) 18 – Oscar McDonald and Cam Pedersen (196) 20 – Christian Salem (178) Watts was at 21 on 172 votes

I hope one of those later picks is used to pick up Fritsch. The FD have said this draft they want to shore up our midfield so unsure who the targets are. I doubt tht McKenna returning from injury or Balic are the a graders we need. Bernie, Jordan and to a lesser extent Nathan all at the twilight end of their careers.

OK time to move on Jack is going! All that remains is to work out what we get for him and who pays him. Given he is being pushed out he will feel no obligation to go where MFC may get some benefit. Ideally we would like the best pick on offer and for the destination club to pick up all of his remaining contract. I am concerened that all of the clubs in his sights are top 8 teams we will be competing against for a spot in the 8 so I really don't want to improve them. Despite what many here think Jack will improve the clubs mentioned and I don't like the idea of MFC partially funding this. So can we look at what we get. Looks like a 2nd round draft pick at best.

Well Wiseblood it came from a players girlfriend. Believe what you want.

Heard the same and while no imminent move is on Jesse is alleged to have stated that the clubs treatment of Jack will make his decision easier in 2019. Repet, it is never good ditching good clubmen 1 year into a 3 years contract

I was reminded by my daughter, of the time MFC traded out a recent brownlow winner, Shane Woewodin and how well that went or didn't. As he was her favourite player she decided she would follow him and decided to barrack for Collingwood after that. It was only recently and after much cajoling and Robbo convincing her at an MFC family day to switch back, that she rejoined the fold. Woewodin didn't set the world on fire and Collingwood but we lost members as a result and looked bad ditching a contracted player. I cannot remember if we got an decent players back to replace him. Is history repeating itself?

It just occured to me that the ultimate irony would be if Jack leaves, that MFC has to pay part of his remaining 2 year contract. I know other clubs pick up part of a contract when they take a contracted player and I could not see a club that Jack chooses agreeing to pay him in full. So picture the scenario with Jack turning it on at another club and we are funding it or better still he waits till playing us to play a blinder and we are funding it. I repeat my earlier statement MFC have handled this badly and amateurishly.

1 Jack doesn't want to go and we cannot make him go as he has a contract and doesn't have to do the clubs bidding. 2. Mahoney was very clear this morning that the club believes pick 10 and next years 2nd round pick is fair for Lever. So now we now MFC's official starting bid as opposed the Crows desire for 2 first round picks (they haven't specified which year these picks are in)

I was so pleased that Mahoney spoke this morning representing the club. His message I heard was clear to Jack and that is "Pull up your socks as your attitude in the first year of your new contract does not meet expectations". Mahoney has been fantastic. There have been no leaks, surprise late action in drafts netting players and picks we didn't see and he has been the club spokeman. I wish he had spoken earlier. Leaving it to a first year coach and captain to publicly voice their opinion and an assistant coach who talks too much to anyone who will listen is unprofessional and amateurish. It never happened under the watch of Roos and this is Goodwin's first draft in charge. Let us call it a learning opportunity for him I have spoken to other recently retired AFL footballers who were asked to move on with time on their contract. Some chose to leave, others stuck to their contract and played a year in the 2's and nother was offered a payout of a reduced sum. It reflects badly on a club when they will not honour a contract and want to move someone on. It sends a bad message to everyone on how the club is run and I am not happy that MFC has handled this one. At least mahoney has offered some clarity as a team manager should On the other hand what course of action does a club have when a player gets a new contract and settles into a comfort zone, loses form or just slackens off? For example Cloke got his 4 years and in year 3 his performance dropped off so much he got dropped and by uears end he decided to move. Jack may well find next season he is not in the best 22 and go to the club and want out but they gave hime a 3 year deal and he is well entitled to expect MFC to honour it. If that contract doesn't contain performance clauses etc the more fool MFC for the way the contract was written and what changed from 12 monthd ago when the club negotiated a new 3 year deal?

I am surprised that Kennedy was not in the first list of delistings. Did the club have other plans to assist him get to his club of choice or was he going to be aprt of a trade? I doubt he had much currency. Sounds like he doesn't expect to be picked up by any AFL club, hence his quote he will now get a nose ring. Filipovic was recruited on advisement from Max Gawn who had been coaching and mentoring him and thought he showed enough to be rookied. Mitch KIng was coming off a knee reco and had an interupted pre season and late start, small steps and needs time.