Older demon

I know the rest of the comp think he is good but only those of us who know what he does both on and off the field and have followed his career trajectory can truly understand his greatness. Multiple knee reco's and in his own words only a bad hammy or knee injury away from retirement. He get attacked every week bu just shrugs it off and gets on with the game. He is the finest captain I have seen at the dees and I have been watching since the 60's. He defends his club and love his quote on radio this week, I am sure directed at MaClure and Morris : "I missed the memo when you could write on gossip. I thought you had to get facts."

Seriously has everyone who commented here listened to the full interview? Were you already prejudiced and looking for an excuse to hang Pert and Roffey. Are they doing their job and sticking to their job decription. None of us are in a position to judge that just offer an opinion. In recent memory, Cam Schwab was vilified for getting too involved in the football department yet now when Kate clearly states she knows the lines of delineation and sticks to them. She stated that she had no recent conversation with the Petracca family. With respect to the question "has she directly spoken with Trac", and she said "No Comment" not recently because he and his amily haven't been around the club. She made it clear she only comments when she has all the information in front of her. Compare this to to the number of half-baked media blokes jumping around with their own spin looking for clicks. She said it so many times that she follows the process. That is what boards do they have a club structure that they oversee. The football department, and the leadership group etc all report to the board. She lets them go about their work. There is nothing worse than a meddling president. To be clear she made the following points Once Trac was in the trauma unit at the Alfred he came under the care of the state trauma service. This is a world-class trauma facility and they were responsible for Trac's care and wellbeing and most likely they still are. He was not under the care of the MFC medical team. They handed over once he went to Epworth and they handed over once they realised he had a blunt-force trauma injury and was treated appropriately She stated that Trac is always open to discuss his issues with her that just hasn't happened yet . He has had plenty of conversations with the team, footy department and leadership group . Is talking to Kate going to make a difference? She stated if anyone was listening that the club is in constant communication with Trac. Her last line was "We don't throw our players under the bus" when asked about culture. We don't trade them off, we work around homesickness and quoted both Kozzie & Petty being homesick with the latter signing a new contract and the former stating he isn't going anywhere. My expectation was that she would listen to Whateley's questions answer the ones that she could and fend off the ones that aren't for public knowledge. It certainly wasn't IMO a train wreck but may have fallen short of many who wanted an instant resolution and a miracle fix.

Just a question throughout all this vitriol. Does the club review it entire operation every year? Does anyone know? Who can comment on the club processes and their outcome? Each department and level at the club has to report to the board. There is ongoing data getting to the board every month to however often they meet. Does anyone here believe that the board is shocked at the season outcome or didn't know there was a problem? Boards at other clubs are determined by the skillset of the individual and their relevance to their board post. You often get invited to join a board it isn't random or open to just any applicant. Is our club process adhering to best practice? Do other clubs we could benchmark against fill their board positions the same way?

For what it is worth. The article re Trac failing the psyche test at St Kilda is still viewable on Big Footy. The article was written by the well respected late journalist Sam Landsberger (may he R.I.P.) The headline about it coming back to haunt Trac is true. Alan Richardson was at St Kilda at that time and despite the AFL banning psyche tests they did one verbally. Mc Cartin passed and despite being rated 5 pre draft the Saints went with him. Heaney was considered the best and take at 1 as an academy player. Gus was also highly rated and in the top 3. Note Gus nearly won a Brownlow later on. I won't go through the entire article it is there for public viewing but the 2 questions that stood out are "Why did the psych test reveal an eagerness for Petracca to promote himself ahead of teammates? Were there selfish traits? Petracca seemed to enjoy attention. Would his personality blend in at St Kilda?" there is more but it appears he was very much into self promotion even then

Why not have some fun and nominate who we would like to get into the club? I will nominate St Kilda and we get King, Steele and their first rounder maybe send what we get for ANB back. Maybe they have forgotten about their psyche profile. By the way has anybody got access to the paywall so we can see why they didn't pick him?

I cannot wait for Caro's next column. She nailed the situation perfectly "There is no leadership here" Wants bigger crowds and to increase his brand. She also let it drop. There is a board meeting going on tonight as we speak, and McKay's manager states he is happy at the Blues. I can only hope that CP5 isn't thinking straight and making bad decisions because he is trashing his brand. I don't think there will be any love for Christian in her next column

Note the most important line in the article is " Trac wont ask for a trade for fear of further inflaming the situation" There is tension and some bridges to repair, but if Trac doesn't formally ask to go, he stays where he is. Wasn't it a few years ago that Sam Maclure had Clarry upset with the club and heading of to Carlton (whom he barracks for). I have heard this story before. For what it is worth a former board member told me Friday night at a club function that Trac is not himself at the moment and post trauma he is very unsettled.

Haven't heard anything. He would have to be on thin ice though. The fact they played him down back for the back end of the VFL season may indicate our lack of depth with tall backs.

Of the record comment from VAFA & Casey " KFW is playing the wrong game. he is a basketballer and always will be. He isn't suited to footy" As for the others, I don't think that we will delist 9 players. AMW will get a promotion to the senior list of the Rookie B. Yze may take KFW 's rookie spot. ANB's departure creates a spot as will Smith (who I assume will not have his contract renewed). BBB has retired and Hunter is out of contract. Last year we went with 3 draft choices maybe that is all we will go for.

Mc Qualter may be contracted but is on the Eagles job's shortlist. The club wouldn't hold him to that if he gets a senior gig. We may have 2 senior assistants to replace!

Re Ollie Sestan and KFW who are both speculative picks on the rookie list. Recent changes to Rookies now allow 5 years to develop players in particular rucks. This may also include Luker who is a big strong lad. KFY is a basketballer who was sent to the ammo's to get some experience as a first ruck. I have watched him there and seen improvement. He has a decent leap and a good set of hands but clearly hasn't played a lot of footy. His family is always there supporting him and I think I read somewhere that the MFC dietician had outlined a diet designed to bulk him up. He has a great attitude. Ollie wasn't in the conventional system but is a natural footballer who if anyone noted put in an enormous pre-season. His first full preseason, and a massive change in body shape. he trimmed down, got fitter and spent more time in the midfield. One of his metrics was to get from 12 km a game up to 15km. He would go into centre bounces where he showed he was good at getting clearances. The only MFC-listed players at Casey who could get clearances were Ollie, Laurie & Pup Brown. Too many are quick to judge and I trust the club to decide which metrics he has achieved. I believe he has earned another season. Luker, well he is young, relocated and put into an elite system which would have been a massive culture shock. AMW has taken 3 years and is now starting to blossom but he started from a long way back. Just look at his early photos and his physique now. It is unreasonable to have too high an expectation of any of these 3 and each needs time to develop.

I have a particular interest in one player on the list who has missed games at Casey on a few occasions now. The medical reports are scant and on one occasion I attended a club function and asked how he was. No one knew or was reluctant to tell. By accident, I ran into him at the game and he assured me he was ok but got a concussion at training the previous Thursday and was in concussion protocols. Club officials and other players had no idea what was wrong. On other occasions, this pattern has repeated itself. I have concluded that player details or injuries are not shared amongst the playing group. They are so focussed on their own performance and well being they have no time to know all about the others. Maybe this is a strategy to limit information leaking. I have nothing but admiration for WCW attending training so often and keeping us informed. She can keep a secret as well. She is my only trusted source. She posted Monday that Sparrow was in a moonboot with a bad ankle long before the club's medical report. Re Trac, most players only had to read the papers to realise the gory details of his case study but then if I was advising the players I would recommend they don't read the papers. I can understand the leaders reaching out to Trac but hope that not everyone on the list was contacting him. I also read where he turned his phone off. Whatever happens, it will all become obvious in the passage of time so for now I trust the club to tell me what it deems appropriate to know. I stopped listening to SEN, ignore the Sun and all the AFL shows on Foxtel etc.

He has been a great servant of the club, is a wonderful human being and his shave for charity shows the character of the man. Sadly I watched him running around Saturday on the live feed. The spirit is willing but the legs can give no more. He got goals on experience and pure goal sense but he couldn't chase once the ball hit the ground. Let him do a lap of honour at halftime. As it is May looks like he will return so there is no room for BBB.

Thanks WCW your reports are a treat and your devotion is unbelievable. Out of interest do the players and staff address you by your real name or WCW? When is the next session? Thursday perhaps. I know the question was asked re Ollie Sestan but he didn't get a mention in your dispatches.

I like the whoile of club vibe. A post match team photo with everyone on the list who was on the Gold Coast and all called in to sing the song post game. This group of players are tight and love each other. No culture problems to see on field here. As Pert said all the off field stuff we have no control over. Go Dees

Based on what I have seen today Fullarton will not jump at the ball in the ruck and is flat footed in the centre. Will Verral will jump at the ball and provides a better contest. Andy MW has developed and his speed is fantastic. Needs to tighten up his disposal and misses his targets but as said earlier, is a cut above VFL. Kynan knows how to get the ball but his kicking lacks penetration and turns it ver a bit but you cannot question his competitiveness. Ben Brown cannot run. He is unable to chase as his legs just won't carry him. Once the ball hits the ground he has the desire but not the ability to chase. Not sure but think his presence limits Jeffo who hasn't seen much of the ball. HIs 3rd quarter chase down and tackle on the wing was impressive. Woewodin has the attributes. Down back there are too many Casey players and not enough MFC players to gauge the future.

Lots of clubs would be asking but from a time when clubs weren't permitted to publicy approach a contracted player the media circus and managers have spun this around completely. Look at Clarko yesterday saying they would like Viney. So the Cats and Aints would like to explore Clayton's availability. My response would be maybe your first-round draft pick, most of his salary and Max King for starters

That is exactly what happened last year. Grundy ran out of form and his last 6 weeks in Sydney coincides with their drop-off. Last night Draper moved Grundy off the ball and took a clean possession. Swans looked better with McLean in the ruck than Grundy. Max back as 1st ruck almost certainly will result in his 7th All Australian. I cannot remember a time when 1 ruckman has so easily brushed aside his opponent as Draper did last night.

Seriously why cant we take the club at face value. Trac has been traumatised is a bit out of sorts and has a lot of work to regain his physical status back as well as his emotional stability. But for a bit of fun if you wanted a swap maybe Mr King at St Kilda. Prior to his shoulder op he looked disinterested and dispirited playing in the saints forward line. Haven't heard a peep out of St Kilda. Papley wanted out of Sydney a few years ago and carlton could get him. Look at the situation now. Keep calm and let it sort itself out

Given Gus's role as the glue that held the team together, should we consider him for an assistant coaching role? I understand that he sat on the bench for the first game and found it too emotionally stressful having had his career cruelly cut short but maybe he can return next year. Chaplin stays as backline coach, Gus coaches the midfield, McQualter does tactics and match play and find a new forward coach.

Only Tom Morris could put his own spin on the situation and use it to denigrate our football club. Goody told him is he was at a leadership meeting he would be surprised at the robustness of it. Of course then Morris would twist it around so he could get a scoop. I thought Goody challenged him today and had an answer for every pot shot Morris had at our culture.

Only Tom Morris could put his own spin on the situation and use it to denigrate our football club. Goody told him is he was at a leadership meeting he would be surprised at the robustness of it. Of course then Morris would twist it around so he could get a scoop. I thought Goody challenged him today and had an answer for every pot shot Morris had at our culture.

Its not a horror week. Read the articles. Houston will only leave if Port get adequate compensation for him, he may still stay. Weeks ago when this broke MFC were vying for a top 8 spot and could have gone as high as 4th if they hadn't lost those close games. Perhaps the club was willing to part with pick 12 or 13 but now we are looking at 6 that is too much. It all depends on his reasons for leaving and where he expects to play. The only clubs with lots of picks will be Richmond or interstate teams like Freo. If he only wants to come to a club in the premiership window I can tell you there aren't many Victorian clubs in the 8 let alone in contention (maybe Geelong). I hate to say it but Cornes may be right here. Don't waste a top 10 pick on Houston.

Goody has grown and developed as a coach and that was indeed the best press conference I have heard from him. I alos recognised the voice of one of the journo's Tom Morris himself and it had to be a question about Trac. Simon was polite direct and I thought he put Morris back in his place. The club is in good hands with Simon.

I am sad to hear this but family comes first. I often run into him at the local supermarket where he usually does the shopping. He is a great person who has copped more than his fair share of criticism on this platform. He has had a breakout season and will poll well in the B&F. He has been a great servant of the club played 170 odd games and is a premiership player. We have all assumed that the club will grant his request from the comments here. If so his send-off game will be against the Pies so I hope he gives them hell that day.