MCDFNL 2026 discussion

[Sherman41]

Sherman investing heavily is definitely the right term.
About 4 years worth of salary cap isn't it

Four years? Mate, you’re selling us short — we’ve pumped in way more than that.

With your knack for crunching numbers, you might be a perfect fit for a job with our major sponsor.
Reckon you’d look elite holding a stop sign.

 

[CurtyB103]

Aaron Hayes has left Natte to return to his home club. He has been the A/C the last few years and the steadying influence down back for Natte. Total overhaul in the coaching ranks, wonder if they can sustain their success or if they will dip.

 

[Temu Clarko!]

Seems like you follow the league pretty closely from previous posts.

I’d like to dig deeper on why you think the hawks shit the bed.

We beat carisbrook throughout the year by 7 points in round 4, lost to them by a point in qualifying final. Hardly a big swing.

Talbot beat Navarre convincingly throughout the year both times, but they were never at full strength.

Trentham beat Navarre by 86 points in round 11. Trentham then beat Navarre by 8 points in preliminary final.

Dunolly beat Navarre by 12 points in round 13 and lost by 57 to Navarre in elimination final.

Clearly Navarre were a much stronger opponent with a full strength team come finals time. There’s enough data there to suggest it wasn’t a bed shit.

Harcourt also went out in straight sets…. But no mention of them shitting the bed…

As Stats said, finishing second on the ladder and going out in straight sets, that’s a bed shit. Doesn’t matter about results during the year, they don’t mean anything and particularly in MCDFNL you can’t read into them.

You’re right, I didn’t say Harcourt shit the bed, but I did mention they’re 0/4 in finals over the last two years. Their bed was shat last year.

 

[Sherman41]

As Stats said, finishing second on the ladder and going out in straight sets, that’s a bed shit. Doesn’t matter about results during the year, they don’t mean anything and particularly in MCDFNL you can’t read into them.

You’re right, I didn’t say Harcourt shit the bed, but I did mention they’re 0/4 in finals over the last two years. Their bed was shat last

 

[Stats101]

Some good thoughts there Sherman41.

Natte will be strong again although the recruitment of two players that are well past their best surprises me. I am also not convinced about the new coach in Dennis Grinton. Good fellow but the game is past him in my opinion. Would have been better to keep Trent Mortlock as coach who was excellent.

Think the improver will be Newstead, have recruited well and were competitive in 2025. Being in the top echelon will be a stretch but I think they will improve a lot.

Avoca in a world of pain with a lot of players moving on and no recruits. As for the Giants, they are going nowhere in a hurry. The appointment of Cupido as the inaugural coach put the new club back 10 years. What were the committee thinking when they appointed him.

Trentham will be the favorite again. Looking to be very strong and have added some good players for 2026.

Who has Newstead recruited?

I definitely agree with the comments about Grinton will be very interesting to see how he goes, I remember listening to him talk at Mitiamo and wow he could give out a good spray.

 

[Sneaky_Beaver53]

Four years? Mate, you’re selling us short — we’ve pumped in way more than that.

With your knack for crunching numbers, you might be a perfect fit for a job with our major sponsor.
Reckon you’d look elite holding a stop sign.

Yep, get him to give me a call mate - Can definitely assist.
My first task would be ensuring Talbot build into their contracts a clause that players need to keep tight-lipped about the huge sums of money they are getting. The old saying goes, Loose Lips Sink Ships and telling every man and their dog about how much cash your making next year to play in a shit league and train once a fortnight might come back to bite their new club. Time will tell

One great thing about Trentham is it is in close proximity to these Macedon Ranges towns like Riddells Creek and the likes. Means some or a lot of our players may work with, have mutual friends or even be personal friends with some players coming from that area.