As others have menitoned, for me its the lack of essential development of Garland, Wanna, Blease, Strauss, Maric, Buckley mainly due ot injury and the low number of games played by Watts. Thought it would be a major development year for these blokes but instead we have been stuck with the the likes of Jones, Batram, miller, Dunn, Johnson who we already knew were not up to it.

Feeling. Anger. Building. Must. Try. To. Remain. Calm.

A few years ago, we were playing the Bulldogs at the Dome. Everytime Davey got the ball this kid sitting behind me who would have been about 10, would say under his breath "Coon. Coon. Coon. Coon."

Now at first I thought, maybe he's referring to Adam Cooney. So before I made a dick of myself I thought I'd make sure.

Davey gets the ball. He goes "Boong. Boong. Boong."

So I turn around and say "Hey mate, you want to watch what you're saying? Quit the racial [censored]."

So his parents chip in. The dad goes "Hey, watch how you speak to my son."

I ignore the dad and tell the kid again to watch it.

So the dad goes "It's a free country pal. We're at the footy. He can say what he wants."

So I say "Ok then mate, get the kid to stand up and say it again so everyone can have a good look at him since you're so proud of him."

The dad just says again under his breath, "It's a free country."

So I turn back around to face the game, but really feeling like clocking the dad.

Then the dad goes "Get over yourself mate. You're not even a real aborigine."

I turn around and say "What?"

He goes "You're half an aborigine arent ya."

So at this stage, my mate who was with me just grabs me by the collar and says "Leave it."

The kid didn't say anything racial for the rest of the game.

Davey kicked 4 goals.

They left early and we won.

Some parents. Some kids. Unbelievable.

Anyway, back on topic.............season disappointments.

well done you for taking them on!

Reminds me of a very funny day at Essendon-ist time we'd won there for yonks. I was with a group of Jewish friends[i'm not Jewish myself] and we were supporting the MFC quite loudly. A woman turned to us and said "can't youse get back into the synagogue where youse belong!"

One of my friends, instead of getting upset said , pointing to me-'hey, that's a bit rough on this bloke--he's one of yours!"Didn't hear from her again--in fact, they moved!

well done you for taking them on!

Reminds me of a very funny day at Essendon-ist time we'd won there for yonks. I was with a group of Jewish friends[i'm not Jewish myself] and we were supporting the MFC quite loudly. A woman turned to us and said "can't youse get back into the synagogue where youse belong!"

One of my friends, instead of getting upset said , pointing to me-'hey, that's a bit rough on this bloke--he's one of yours!"Didn't hear from her again--in fact, they moved!

Ha!! That's Gold. I miss going to Windy Hill. Those Ferals were worse than collingwood supporters from my experience.

Hard Core Red Neck Ferals..Ahh 1990 when Darren Bennett went off out there . Great Days

I don't think the biggest disappointment has happend yet. McLean would be ATM and Matthews attack on a second gamer.

Well, this is my first time on the forum after reading for a while, so here goes.

The obvious disapointments for me; injuries to Garland, Aussie, Blease, Strauss. Would have loved to see the former 2 build on their great seasons, and would have loved to see the latter 2 just get on the park for the Dees.

But i reckon it'd have to be this whole bloody tanking debate. It just goes on, and on, and on....now, I see the value of Scully+Trengove/Butcher, and I'd love to have them at the club. But I want the Dees to win, so badly. I can't bring myself to barrack for "team tank". Why can't we just leave it at the fact that if we are not good enough, we will get two picks, and if we are good enough to win 5 games (which I dont think we are), we don't need pikcs 1 and 2 or whatever. The Footy Dept are going to stop at nothing to win; so be it. Nothing will change that. And I cant stand when people go on about being thrashed so our percentage is worse than Freo or what ever. I can see the tanking argument, I respect it, but thats too far. This debate has been the real disapointment for me.

Well, this is my first time on the forum after reading for a while, so here goes.

The obvious disapointments for me; injuries to Garland, Aussie, Blease, Strauss. Would have loved to see the former 2 build on their great seasons, and would have loved to see the latter 2 just get on the park for the Dees.

But i reckon it'd have to be this whole bloody tanking debate. It just goes on, and on, and on....now, I see the value of Scully+Trengove/Butcher, and I'd love to have them at the club. But I want the Dees to win, so badly. I can't bring myself to barrack for "team tank". Why can't we just leave it at the fact that if we are not good enough, we will get two picks, and if we are good enough to win 5 games (which I dont think we are), we don't need pikcs 1 and 2 or whatever. The Footy Dept are going to stop at nothing to win; so be it. Nothing will change that. And I cant stand when people go on about being thrashed so our percentage is worse than Freo or what ever. I can see the tanking argument, I respect it, but thats too far. This debate has been the real disapointment for me.

I understand you are torn.

But the PP system was designed to help basket cases like us. You say leave it to fate and if we are "good enough" to win 5 games so be it.

With all due respect, if we are 'good enough' to win 5 games this year it will mean we have won 13 games and lost 53 since 2007. With only Sam Blease given to lift us from our mire over and above what all clubs get.

That is a pitiful record and all we are asking is that for the next two weeks the Footy Dept ensure they do everything to not win - with selection, positional changes, and injury sensitivity.

And, lastly, the Footy Dept look like they are doing what we ask. This team has 14 players 22 or younger and the blokes that are playing have been tried in alien positions (ie. Morton as tagger last week).

Yes, we are that bad. Let's make sure we get what we 'deserve.'

I don't think the biggest disappointment has happend yet. McLean would be ATM and Matthews attack on a second gamer.

I can see where you're coming from with McLean but characterising Matthews' comment regarding Watts as an attack is over the top (just like the over-reaction when he made the comments).

Why can't we just leave it at the fact that if we are not good enough, we will get two picks, and if we are good enough to win 5 games (which I dont think we are), we don't need pikcs 1 and 2 or whatever.

That'd be fine if games late in the season were played out on their merits, but some clubs - particularly WCE - have put the cue in the rack.

The Footy Dept are going to stop at nothing to win; so be it. Nothing will change that.

Have you seen the team selections the past couple of weeks?

Colin Sylvia being made to play for Casey for no reason at all after serving his suspension.

An absolute disgrace.

My biggest disappointment. The general lack of respect for the MFC both on field and off by other supporters and the media. It`s bad and getting worse.

Biggest disappointment is wanting to lose.

My biggest disappointment. The general lack of respect for the MFC both on field and off by other supporters and the media. It`s bad and getting worse.

Asking for respect in our position is pretty rich I reckon. Footy media love the sink the boots in to clubs while they're down. Hands up who didn't get some enjoyment seeing Carlton dwelling in the cellar for consecutive years? My hand is down.

Biggest disappointment is wanting to lose.

Agree with that. Never had this feeling before, I'm hoping it doesn't tarnish the good times when they come, because I fear it's permanently changed my outlook on footy.

As others have menitoned, for me its the lack of essential development of Garland, Wanna, Blease, Strauss, Maric, Buckley mainly due ot injury and the low number of games played by Watts. Thought it would be a major development year for these blokes but instead we have been stuck with the the likes of Jones, Batram, miller, Dunn, Johnson who we already knew were not up to it.

I agree with the gist of this (although I'm happy with Watts' progress this year, and think Jones is more than up to it), but while I think its dissapointing that the guys you mentioned have had their developement stifled due to injuries, there is a silver lining in the sense that if the guys you mentioned had got regular games this year (let's say LTI's had happened to Newton, Bartram and Dunn instead of the Wonna, Garland and Maric), theres a good chance we would have won another game or two earlier in the year and not been in a position to grab the first two picks.

Its still frustrating, but looking at it that way makes it less so.