Older demon

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.

Putting aside personalities and that it is Jack, it was always going to be interesting to ship out someone at the end of the first year of a 3 year contract. It is usually the player, eg Gibbs, who wants out with lots of time on their contract. Personally I think Goodwin has handled this poorly and McCartney talking openly and honestly at lunches about his desire to move Jack on hasn't helped in this day of social media where evrything you say can be broadcast. Did they think that this form of rejection would make Jack leave? They cleraly don't know him and his personality. He has copped more flack and criticism than anyone I know and through it all has kept his head high and maintained his composure and not complained. He is very relient. It is no surprise that he has responded saying he doesn't want to leave despite his disappointment. Why did the club give Jack a 3 year deal if they were so concerned with his shortcomings? What has changed in the space of 12 months? Does this mean any player on contract can expect to be shipped out if they have a bad season? I liked it that the club came out and Mahoney made a statement about Hogan being a required player. The comments from the coach and captain critisizing Jack and Goodwin having to explain himself has been amateurish and out of character for how the club has been run. This will be difficult to manage if Jack digs in his heels and says "I have a contract you must honour it" as it is very clear Goodt wants him to leave.

Note the rumour came from a Kane Cornes tweet. This year Kane has been incorrect, rude and insulting with his tweets. I still think Lever is worth 1 first round pick only but they sound like the new Essendon

McCartney was at a footy lunch today talking to a Demon tragic, Jack gone. An independent source tells me that the Coach (Goodwin) wants Jack out. Jacks manager thinks Jack would be better off elsewhere if 2 coaches no longer have a place for him. Unless something dramati changes Jack will seek greener pastures, not sure why McCartney and Goodwin are so adamant after renewing hsi contract last year.

Re Jesse, he needed some time to himself after a tumultuous season, no surprise there. He has been in Bali and posted numerous photos with his mates Max & Harmes. Perhaps his need for some alone time is mistaken for home sickness. Too many journos, too much conjecture give the guy some space. I hope he is back as that volcano poses more of a worry than trade week.

Every player has a right to explore his options and Jack is clearly doing that. Look back at what Jones said post season of expectation and Jack. He clearly won no friends when he returned in less than ideal condition pre season and was dropped when his form post mid season injury was poor. He has a contract and if he chooses to stay he will stay but may be exploring options if he is not comfortable with what the club wants from him in the next 2 years. Clearly there is still some learning to do about club culture and the relentless pursuit of winning, which we all see. Maybe Jack needs a change, but I doubt he will be comfortable at Port Adelaide who pride themselves on their never say die go hard culture.

You must be kidding! My son is an avid Kangas supporter (I have learnt to live with this) and he rates Gibson as the AFL's biggest ball butcher. Superbly fit and gets the ball but never hits a target. I watch my son go nuts at Foxtel the number of times Gibson turns the ball over. Definitely not.

Waldron is never held accountable for his predictions. Wonder if he makes it up to be controversial, actually has a source (besides Ricky Nixon or is being manipulated by someone else. I have no time for him.

Waldron makes lots of statements and accepts plaudits if he gets it right but is never held accountable for those he gets wrong. Last night "On the Couch" Michael warner stated that Watts stays so clearly someone has got it wrong. I would not trust anything waldron says and he always has another agenda. Watts has clearly stated he does NOT want to go and the club cannot force him to.

Max back doing what he loves, being a barista. Worked Monday at a local fitness centre in High St Armadale pouring coffee.

How good was the way Matisse Stynes spoke? At 16 she spoke with poise to a massive audience, she did her dad proud.