https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1687658/narrm-secure-47-point-win

The Dees defeated Collingwood 11.8 (74) to 4.3 (27), with captain Kate Hore finishing with three goals and 17 disposals, and Liv Purcell finishing with a game-high eight clearances. The result confirms Collingwood finishing AFLW season 2024 with the wooden spoon, whilst sadly it is season over for us as we finish just outside the eight on percentage following Essendon's 9.6 (60) to 3.6 (24) win over Carlton and fail to make finals.

Twice in two days I've heard two different radio presenters/journalists, when describing the dysfunction at MFC, refer in passing to the recruitment of a player the leadership group had said we shouldn't recruit.

Before these two quick references I had not heard of this situation, but they were said as if it was common knowledge.

Is this something that was broken in the last week that I missed?
Is this something that's well known that I am forgetting?
Do you know who this recruit is? Was it Hunter?

I'm well pleased with his communication to members recently. It's disappointing to pay membership year on year and be left in the dark about what the club is doing on behalf of its members and supporters. We are fed garbage from journalists, read rumours in club forums, and we need someone to respect that we shouldn't be idiots that send money to the club and watch dull press conferences from coaches and players with shallow media training. The club is better with him in it, as it was when he played.

During the (men's) season, my treadmill accompaniment at the gym is highlights of all the games that week - 7-8 minute videos put together by the AFL. I watch them without sound and run.

What should I watch in the offseason? I've almost finished a replay of all the Melbourne games this year and I've been doing this for a while so have seen the highlights of all MFC games for the past 5 years.

I will rewatch the 2021 GF in full of course as I do every year.

What else should I watch to get me through to next season? I need 60-80 minies of content per week. Has to be on youtube, and has to be watchable without sound. Doesn't have to be MFC necessarily.

AFLW highlights? Specific games? Highlight packages? Give me some recos.

Dear Members,

I hope you’re doing well and have been enjoying watching our AFLW team put in some incredible performances as they push hard for a finals spot. It’s been great seeing their determination on display, and they deserve all our support.

It’s been a few weeks since we caught up at the AFL Best and Fairest night, and like I promised then, the Board and I are committed to keeping you in the loop with regular communication as we build towards a bright future as we look ahead to 2025.

With that in mind, I’m excited to share some updates with you—there’s a lot happening, from a productive trade period to important Board matters and the Football and Board reviews.

Our List Management team went into the trade period with a clear strategy to improve our draft hand, and it paid off with the acquisition of an additional top 10 selection, pick 9. With this year’s draft class being one of the best we’ve seen in a long time, we’re in a fantastic position to bring in some elite young talent that will help shape our club for years to come.

We’re also welcoming two new players to the club: Harry Sharp and Tom Campbell. Harry’s got serious speed and endurance, which will add another dimension to our playing group, and Tom brings a wealth of ruck experience. I’m looking forward to seeing them in action next year.

Now, onto some Board news. Long-serving Director David Robb will complete his third and final Board term at the end of the year. I want to take this opportunity to thank David for his exceptional contribution to the club during his time on the Board. Since 2015, David has been an invaluable Board member, serving on key committees such as the Audit, Risk and Integrity Committee and the Investment Committee. His lifelong passion for the club, business acumen, corporate experience, and leadership have played a vital role in shaping and articulating our Purpose, TRUE values, governance framework and strategy.

In approximately one week, Members will receive a call for nominations for the Board election. Nominations will be open from Thursday, October 31, at 9 am AEDT until Friday, November 15, at 5 pm AEDT.

It is the responsibility of the Board to provide members with Board candidates and Directors standing for re-election who, if elected, will contribute to a contemporary, effective, skilled, united and committed Board to drive the club’s values of TRUE - Trust, Respect, Unity and Excellence.

I am pleased to confirm that Ms Sally Freeman and Dr Angela Williams will re-nominate for election.

There are two additional director positions open for election this year. Informed by the Board review, the Nominations and Remuneration Committee of the Board has been working diligently to identify candidates with the right skills to strengthen our leadership. I look forward to introducing them to you at the time of the call for nominations.

I’d also encourage any eligible members who feel passionate about contributing to the club’s future to reach out to the club. We value all voices. If you’re interested in nominating to become a candidate for election as a Director, please get in touch with our Company Secretary/Returning Officer at returningofficer@melbournefc.com.au.

Lastly, I want to provide a brief update on the ongoing Board and AFL Football Department reviews. The Board review, by external governance expert Megan Dwyer, is benchmarking our governance against best practice standards.

Meanwhile, former All Blacks manager Darren Shand is overseeing a review focused on the high performance environment and programs within the football department. We are assessing all aspects of our AFL program to ensure we are primed for success. These reviews are crucial for our ongoing improvement, and I look forward to sharing key findings with you by early November.

I want to thank everyone who has reached out to me since I became President. Your support means the world to me, and it’s a privilege to serve you and this great club.

Let’s get behind our AFLW team as they take on Hawthorn in Cairns tonight. They’ve been giving it their all, and they’ve got our full support as they push for finals.

Thank you again for your unwavering support, and as always—Go Demons!

Kind Regards,

Brad Green
President
Melbourne Football Club

https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1248355/aflw-teams-hawk-returns-to-face-old-side-dees-defensive-boost

The team has been named for our penultimate game of the AFLW season against the Hawks in Cairns, with Gabrielle Colvin coming back into the side from concussion, replacing Saraid Taylor who is named as one of the emergencies. Captain Kate Hore starts in the follower line, whilst Denby Taylor, Rhiannon Watt, Sarah Lampard, Ryleigh Wotherspoon and Georgia Campbell form the interchange. Lily Johnson and Jemma Rigoni are the other emergencies named.

Hey Melbourne fans! Die hard North fan here. This is really random but I'm curious to know have any dees fans here been to the Northern territory over the last 10 years or so to watch Melbourne play in Darwin or Alice Springs ? I'm planning to fly up there next year to watch Melbourne play but would love to know what the experience is like in terms pricing food or even the city itself. I've never been there before but would love to watch Melbourne play. I know flights are pretty expensive and the crowds are sometimes pretty low but have any dees fans flown up there for a game? Cheers

This is something I've been mulling over for the best part of two weeks. I'm worried by the way the club has looked to want to downplay pride over the last two years and I thought I should ask the opinion of the fan group most affected by it.

It seemed to me last year that having a pride jumper with the symbol of being queer hidden away on the inside was the exact wrong message for pride week.

This year we had a (if you're not looking for it you'll miss it) tiny rainbow on the back and "generic corporate vision" words on the front, which was equally disappointing when you compare it to the rest of the league.

And then to top it off this year was the banner at Pride Round that spelt out "we love everyone's pride, but remember the club comes first".

Now each of these things might have been well meant and I might be taking a cynical view of them, but they undeniably point to a pattern of "hide who you are, play for the club".

Fine for 51 weeks of the year if you interpret that as "we accept you as you, we work as a team", but there is a bloody good reason why we need to have Pride Round and the team is ignoring that reason the same way any "keep sports out of politics (that I don't agree with)" closeted bigot does.

For me, it's been very disappointing as a straight member who has numerous family members and friends who need the representation and support a Pride Round offers.

But I think I need to hear from people directly affected/involved. So if that's you, what are your thoughts?

Edit: just to add we apparently wore the Pride Jumper today.
I was at the game and didn't realise until I was told on the drive home. Which says everything about our "Pride Jumper".

https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1245347/aflw-teams-eagles-load-up-sun-returns-dee-to-miss

The team has been named for our round 8 clash against the Tigers at home, with Lauren Pearce and Blaithin Mackin returning to the side for the first time since round 1 and round 4 respectively, and Saraid Taylor making her AFLW debut from the interchange, replacing Grace Hill and Paxy Paxman who have been omitted and managed respectively. Alyssia Pisano is also omitted but has been named as one of the emergencies. Captain Kate Hore starts in the follower line, with Rhiannon Watt, Olivia Purcell, Georgia Campbell and Ryleigh Wotherspoon forming the rest of the interchange. Lily Johnson and Jemma Rigoni are the other emergencies named.

https://x.com/RileyBev/status/1846070330936512602

5 likely becomes 6 and 9 becomes 11 or 12 with Ashcroft/Kako and Lombard. Any particular draftees you like the look of or are there types of players you feel we need?

Sam Lalor and Harvey Langford ate the two for me.

https://www.afl.com.au/aflw/news/1242442/aflw-teams-dees-load-up-swan-back-roo-returns

The team has been named for our round 7 Sunday game against the Saints in Moorabbin, with Olivia Purcell, Eden Zanker and Paxy Paxman all returning to the side from their respective injuries as part of the interchange. Gabrielle Colvin misses out with a concussion sustained in our midweek game against Adelaide, whilst top-up player Sarah D'Arcy is omitted. Lily Johnson is also omitted, but is named as one of the emergencies. Captain Kate Hore starts in the follower line, with Grace Hill and Ryleigh Wotherspoon forming the rest of the interchange. Jemma Rigoni and Saraid Taylor are the other emergencies named.