Paul Wheatley Mathew Whelan and Russell Robertson

[Hobbits's 17]

3 great players for the demons, all the best for the future, im a bit worried about 45 hotgod, no whelan, we mite have to put him on suicide watch.

So Robbo is a great player now JtR! Changed your tune? Yesterday he couldn't play VFL standard according to you. :D

All the best to the Wheatley, Whelan & Robbo. If Robbo continues may he find a new home. Personally I hope he is a one team player.

I gather from what I have read if he gets picked up it might be via the PSD.

[Guest JACKtheRIPPER]

So Robbo is a great player now JtR! Changed your tune? Yesterday he couldn't play VFL standard according to you. :D

All the best to the Wheatley, Whelan & Robbo. If Robbo continues may he find a new home. Personally I hope he is a one team player.

I gather from what I have read if he gets picked up it might be via the PSD.

hes not up to vfl standard, but in the past hes been a great player for the demons, stick to the thread little man.

[Hobbits's 17]

hes not up to vfl standard, but in the past hes been a great player for the demons, stick to the thread little man.

I have just wished Wheatley, Whelan & Robbo well, you fool. I'm right on topic, which is more than I can say for your unwarranted personnal attacks. Pft.

[todd 0]

I would like to say well done on a great carrers for all of them. All of them have done a great job for the Melbourne Football Club and they should be prooud of their efforts.

Thanks again. And i wish them all the best for the future

[Hobbits's 17]

Robbo is back IN!

[DEES 0]

Confirmation of the retirements of Wheatley and Whelan

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/newsart...47/default.aspx

[Rogue 585]

At least we have official confirmation.

Interesting that Robbo hasn't been included in our announcement though...

Fwiw, I don't Rogue. I think Fan, RR, WJ have been on the money in moderating in this particular thread. And I agree with Redleg's comments.

I think that there's a middle-ground between adulation and taking a stab at someone and that shouldn't be lost just because the player is retiring.

Btw, I don't think you actually know who was moderating what so I'm not sure how you can make that call...

[beelzebub 23,200]

oh yeah...obviously someone had some good mail regarding this... ..got any more ?? :D

[Old Gregg 1]

Robbo is a legend. I think that if he stays on the veteran list and doesn't take up a spot on the primary list, he should stay.

Who could forget, Round 11 2007? Melbourne 1-10 for the season, Queens Birthday match against Collingwood, who were on fire.

Robbo comes out and boots 6 goals!!! And then after the siren, after a screamer 40 out in the pocket, he kicks his 7th!!! One of my favourite MFC games of all time.

[titan_uranus 24,631]

The fact that his future with the Dees is over is still as news-worthy IMO, regardless of whether it's 'end of a career' or 'hoping for a repreive'.

Agree. It was the same with Yze and Holland last year.

im a bit worried about 45 hotgod, no whelan, we mite have to put him on suicide watch.

I think 45's new fave is now Grimes though.

Interesting that Robbo hasn't been included in our announcement though...

According to Hutchy, Robbo was going to announce his retirement, but when he was told by the club he was not going to get a new contract, he decided to keep his mouth shut. Which means he isn't retiring, he's being delisted, I guess. Hutchy made it sound like he's decided to turn on the club and look for a new contract for the sole reason that he wanted to go out on his terms. But I doubt that.

[Carn dees 108]

Agree. It was the same with Yze and Holland last year.

I think 45's new fave is now Grimes though.

According to Hutchy, Robbo was going to announce his retirement, but when he was told by the club he was not going to get a new contract, he decided to keep his mouth shut. Which means he isn't retiring, he's being delisted, I guess. Hutchy made it sound like he's decided to turn on the club and look for a new contract for the sole reason that he wanted to go out on his terms. But I doubt that.

Im pretty sure if robbo wanted to out on his own terms the club would definetly allow that,

[45HG 1,539]

If it wasn't for Grimes, I'd be bloody inconsolable.

Been wearing my Whelan jumper (auctioned this year) since the news.

[H_T 3,032]

Btw, I don't think you actually know who was moderating what so I'm not sure how you can make that call...

In most cases it had their names next to 'moderated by', that gives a clue.....point taken on RR though.

[The Emblem 1]

They have announced that these 3 are no longer required but not McDonald Why? Surely he won't go on for another year. He has been very poor this year, it has easily been his worst year for the club. He said he was close to retirement the year before he won his first B&F because his form was ordinary well he has been a lot worse this year.

Until recently has been struggling with a niggling knee injury. That seems to have cleared up and he has put in strong performances over the last two weeks.

Will he go around next year? Your guess is as good as mine.

As for Wheatley, Whelan and Robbo.

Wheel's has been great on and off the park, where he has really looked after the indigenous youth, Aaron (my preferred choice for next skipper) now taking over this role.

Paul Wheatley, good footballer, cruel injury run, can't be too shabby if you play AFL for 10 years can you?

Robbo, frustrates me as much as he can delight. Will be fondly remembered though, especially good with the kids.

Edited August 15, 2009 by Its_A_Nightmare

[Pommy Demon 0]

Until recently has been struggling with a niggling knee injury. That seems to have cleared up and he has put in strong performances over the last two weeks.

Will he go around next year? Your guess is as good as mine.

As for Wheatley, Whelan and Robbo.

Wheel's has been great on and off the park, where he has really looked after the indigenous youth, Aaron (my preferred choice for next skipper) now taking over this role.

Paul Wheatley, good footballer, cruel injury run, can't be too shabby if you play AFL for 10 years can you?

Robbo, frustrates me as much as he can delight. Will be fondly remembered though, especially good with the kids.

Ok, so this is my very first comment here! I've been following the Dee's for 3 years now and I don't think I have seen anyone show as much passion for the club as Robbo! I agree he can be frustrating at times, yet when he is on fire I truly believe he is an influential figure that can lift the team in a heart beat! THAT quality will be missed.

It would be a shame to see him in anyone elses colours. He is a true demon - go go Robbo!

[dee-luded 2,959]

If it wasn't for Grimes, I'd be bloody inconsolable.

Been wearing my Whelan jumper (auctioned this year) since the news.

Who's grimes hotgod16???

Edited August 15, 2009 by dee-luded

[Demonland 70,314]

With regard to the deletion of posts and criticism of retiring players. It seems a little precious to me that posters can't criticise a retiring footballer without having their post deleted. (I'm not talking about those who choose to be distasteful in their criticism- these posts should always be deleted) Many of you singing the praises of these guys have in the past called for their delisting or offered stern criticism. We are not a funeral, just 3 rounds short of seeing 3 well paid sportsmen retire. They all had their strengths and weaknesses and talking about them is surely what this forum is about. I know we can say that theirs a time and place for everything but this will likely be the last time we talk in depth about these three so surely we can talk about their weaknesses as well.

Just to clarify, we at Demonland don't like censorship either. We don't have any problems with criticism of coaches or players where warranted and where it is articulated in a thoughtful and intelligent manner. However, where genuine criticism goes beyond that to incorporate personal abuse (often with total disregard for the truth) and defamation then we reserve the right to delete posts in their entirety and, if the practice persists, ban the poster in question. If people aren't happy with that ... there are millions of other sites on the net!

[The Emblem 1]

Ok, so this is my very first comment here! I've been following the Dee's for 3 years now and I don't think I have seen anyone show as much passion for the club as Robbo! I agree he can be frustrating at times, yet when he is on fire I truly believe he is an influential figure that can lift the team in a heart beat! THAT quality will be missed.

It would be a shame to see him in anyone elses colours. He is a true demon - go go Robbo!

Dear POM (preferred old mate).

I agree with you re Robbo's passion but have a different take on Robbo's continuation with another club.

Given that I cannot see us playing in next years Grand Final I would be more than happy to see Robbo collect a premiership with another club. You play for AFL for two reasons, 1) to compete at an elite sport and then 2) to achieve the pinnacle within that competition. Were Robbo to collect a premiership medallion next year I would expect that it would be the Demon supporters at the game to be cheering the loudest when it happened. It don't see that it really detracts from Robbo's status with the club going forward.

[Red Legs 0]

Just to clarify, we at Demonland don't like censorship either. We don't have any problems with criticism of coaches or players where warranted and where it is articulated in a thoughtful and intelligent manner. However, where genuine criticism goes beyond that to incorporate personal abuse (often with total disregard for the truth) and defamation then we reserve the right to delete posts in their entirety and, if the practice persists, ban the poster in question. If people aren't happy with that ... there are millions of other sites on the net!

I still find it a little odd that you can say things that are deemed acceptable on one thread but are deleted from another because a player is retiring.

[e25 5]

I still find it a little odd that you can say things that are deemed acceptable on one thread but are deleted from another because a player is retiring.

I think in this matter it was more a case of vicious personal attacks and offensive comments made about players, not purely a differing view.

After taking a bit of time and considering the moderation of the specific posts, it was reasonable.

Personally, I was initially concerned it may set a precedent that any posts with a negative view towards players would not be accepted, but I'm now confident this won't be the case.