It is such a shame, that a club with such a very loyal supporter base, a club that since 64 has never won a premiership, except a Preseason Night GrandFinal. Nor played the type of football to enspire hopes " in that one day in September"

In the late 80's Melbourne produced a incredible run towards a Grand Final Flag only to have a berth taken away from them because the AFL stuffed it up and couldnt ensure that a siren was heard.

A lot of people say it was Jimmys Fault, even to this day I think he believes this .

The point is it wasnt, If the AFL had had the sirens working so they could be heard properly, I personally have no doubt that the MFC would have won the Grand Final That Year. I was there that day and the pain still lingers,

The whole point of this post though is this whole club including, supporters were united not only behind the coach but all the players as well .

It has been a extremely long time since the Melbourne Football Club has tasted success in this manner

It is obvious that at present we do not have the players nor do we have the Coach to get us to that Grand Final YET!

I have no doubt that our top 10 will continue to Improve and be the core we need, however those outside the top 10 concern me as it is unlikely some of them may even step up to be good middle Class Players

Therefore we have two clear, Problems a Coach that does not have the support of all supporters and a list that fails to embody confidence in the way forward.

Therefore it is encumbent upon the MFC Board to address these problems to move the club forward.

That means doing what ever is necessary without hesitation to achieve this goal

I want to see the MFC win a Grand Final but I dont want to see it when I am Infirm and unable attend on the day

So Time is running out, if the MFC can not make the hard decsions especially if one of those New to the competition win a Flag before we do.

Then I think it may well be time, to give up for some of us oldies, you see it is almost 50 years since we last won a premiership .

So in 3 more years that will be the situation we will not have won a Season Proper AFL Premiership cup in over 50 years that is not a chain I want to see hung around the neck of the MFC

I do not think that it is a unreasonable ask from supporters to ask for the MFC to commit to ensuring this does not occur

It just needs the courage by all involved to ensure that this Tag is one we dont achieve.

I

It is such a shame, that a club with such a very loyal supporter base, a club that since 64 has never won a premiership, except a Preseason Night GrandFinal. Nor played the type of football to enspire hopes " in that one day in September"

In the late 80's Melbourne produced a incredible run towards a Grand Final Flag only to have a berth taken away from them because the AFL stuffed it up and couldnt ensure that a siren was heard.

A lot of people say it was Jimmys Fault, even to this day I think he believes this .

The point is it wasnt, If the AFL had had the sirens working so they could be heard properly, I personally have no doubt that the MFC would have won the Grand Final That Year. I was there that day and the pain still lingers,

The whole point of this post though is this whole club including, supporters were united not only behind the coach but all the players as well .

It has been a extremely long time since the Melbourne Football Club has tasted success in this manner

It is obvious that at present we do not have the players nor do we have the Coach to get us to that Grand Final YET!

I have no doubt that our top 10 will continue to Improve and be the core we need, however those outside the top 10 concern me as it is unlikely some of them may even step up to be good middle Class Players

Therefore we have two clear, Problems a Coach that does not have the support of all supporters and a list that fails to embody confidence in the way forward.

Therefore it is encumbent upon the MFC Board to address these problems to move the club forward.

That means doing what ever is necessary without hesitation to achieve this goal

I want to see the MFC win a Grand Final but I dont want to see it when I am Infirm and unable attend on the day

So Time is running out, if the MFC can not make the hard decsions especially if one of those New to the competition win a Flag before we do.

Then I think it may well be time, to give up for some of us oldies, you see it is almost 50 years since we last won a premiership .

So in 3 more years that will be the situation we will not have won a Season Proper AFL Premiership cup in over 50 years that is not a chain I want to see hung around the neck of the MFC

I do not think that it is a unreasonable ask from supporters to ask for the MFC to commit to ensuring this does not occur

It just needs the courage by all involved to ensure that this Tag is one we dont achieve.

I

That is rather funny. Just look at the Saints and Bulldogs. We have 10 more premierships than both of them.

Interesting post. You are certainly spot on about the siren. If the umpire had have heard it it would a have been a set shot for goal from 50 metres out not 35. It went more than once and the umps seemed oblivious. Certainly Jimmy wouldn't have received the 15 metre penalty if the game had stopped when it should have. He wouldn't have had to run over the mark to cover an opponent on his own near the goals. For a tired player, the distance might have been too great for Buckenara. But, candidly, who knows? We never will.

Its only my 2c worth but it just seems to me that other clubs like a Collingwood or Essendon even Carlton don't stay down for too long, one or two years and they're back playing finals again. Why? Well there's lots of reasons probably, but one reason i think is their supporters simply just will not tolerate failure. Even when these clubs make finals and don't succeed, their supporters seem to immediately scream blood. We on the other hand seem to just roll along and accept what were told and don't, en mass, like to criticize players, coaches, boards or whatever. I'm not saying there's no criticism, there is, but it almost seems to come more from the media rather than the club. Having no longer a financial burden around the clubs neck is the biggest achievement so far and bodes well for the future.....Now and in the next few years, the changes can actually be made.

Its only my 2c worth but it just seems to me that other clubs like a Collingwood or Essendon even Carlton don't stay down for too long, one or two years and they're back playing finals again. Why? Well there's lots of reasons probably, but one reason i think is their supporters simply just will not tolerate failure. Even when these clubs make finals and don't succeed, their supporters seem to immediately scream blood. We on the other hand seem to just roll along and accept what were told and don't, en mass, like to criticize players, coaches, boards or whatever. I'm not saying there's no criticism, there is, but it almost seems to come more from the media rather than the club. Having no longer a financial burden around the clubs neck is the biggest achievement so far and bodes well for the future.....Now and in the next few years, the changes can actually be made.

Changes will happen in 2012...

DS I agree with almost all you say I feel the same, I am rapidly getting to the stage of defeat by weariness.

I am almost worn out by the MFC

Unless we show something by the end of this year I fear for our existance

by the end of 2015.

How many members next year if we finish in the bottom 4?

I doubt there is another rebuild in this club

You can only go to the well so many times.

Perhaps that is our destiny.

I sometimes wonder if becoming the GWS Demons would not have been the better option.

At least I could have walked away in peace

WWS You are spot on. We are way too excepting.

Not one MFC person challenged Malthouse when he called Maric a cheat

Imagine if the boot was on the other foot!

That is rather funny. Just look at the Saints and Bulldogs. We have 10 more premierships than both of them.

So in the here and now, we should take comfort in the fact that we're not alone in being also rans? This once mighty club, should aspire to be mighty again - back up there with the Essendons and Carltons.

To aspire to less is ignominy. In the world of business, which footy is, the market place does not suffer mediocrity patiently. TV rights will provide us with succour in the short to medium term, but come free agency, which will become freer as time goes on, woe be tied those who aren't ready and well placed to meet the ever increasing demands of the market.

Messrs Jalland ,McLardy, Howcroft and Stynes are successful business people. I am confident that they are fully cognisant of what are the business imperatives and they won't tolerate this for much longer.

So in the here and now, we should take comfort in the fact that we're not alone in being also rans? This once mighty club, should aspire to be mighty again - back up there with the Essendons and Carltons.

To aspire to less is ignominy. In the world of business, which footy is, the market place does not suffer mediocrity patiently. TV rights will provide us with succour in the short to medium term, but come free agency, which will become freer as time goes on, woe be tied those who aren't ready and well placed to meet the ever increasing demands of the market.

Messrs Jalland ,McLardy, Howcroft and Stynes are successful business people. I am confident that they are fully cognisant of what are the business imperatives and they won't tolerate this for much longer.

Hope you are right because we could easily become as irrelevant as North Melbourne.

Interesting post. You are certainly spot on about the siren. If the umpire had have heard it it would a have been a set shot for goal from 50 metres out not 35. It went more than once and the umps seemed oblivious. Certainly Jimmy wouldn't have received the 15 metre penalty if the game had stopped when it should have. He wouldn't have had to run over the mark to cover an opponent on his own near the goals. For a tired player, the distance might have been too great for Buckenara. But, candidly, who knows? We never will.

I've always believe that Buckenara would've kicked that goal even without the "Jimmy 15". He was just a dead-eye soda shot for goal with a beautiful kicking action. It was game over with the ball in his hands.

... it just seems to me that other clubs like a Collingwood or Essendon even Carlton don't stay down for too long, one or two years and they're back playing finals again. Why?

Money, Money, Money

Good on you, Stalwart............. your passion is obvious.

However, I'm not quite sure why you raise the excruciating memory of 1987. With Flower and Wilson - and others - sore and injured, its drawing a long bow to suggest that we might have won that Grand Final ......... and let's not forget that we failed badly in two Grannies since (1988 and 2000).

Over the past couple of years, I'd suggest that the Committee has done a marvelous job uniting the supporters. But when you start losing, people start asking questions and the media speculates ...and journos sense blood .... and divisions appear.......

I'm not sure what you asking the committee to do. They won't unite the supporters by sacking the coach - unless they find a universally respected replacement .......and ( after a short honeymoon period) divisions will appear again ........ until we get to the top of the ladder.

Unfortunately in terms of player maturity and facilities , we started miles behind ...... and despite all of the improvements this committee has made, the rich clubs ( esp Collingwood !!) have raised the bar even higher. The competition is intense.

WE all just have to keep the faith.

Didnt Robbie say the other day that the siren went as the ball was in the air before Bucks marked it? I couldnt hear it from where I was sitting (near the fence about Bay 13 position). I was all choked up watching Robbie manfully shake Tucks hand. Dozens of people around me were very emotional.

Good on you, Stalwart............. your passion is obvious.

However, I'm not quite sure why you raise the excruciating memory of 1987. With Flower and Wilson - and others - sore and injured, its drawing a long bow to suggest that we might have won that Grand Final ......... and let's not forget that we failed badly in two Grannies since (1988 and 2000).

Over the past couple of years, I'd suggest that the Committee has done a marvelous job uniting the supporters. But when you start losing, people start asking questions and the media speculates ...and journos sense blood .... and divisions appear.......

I'm not sure what you asking the committee to do. They won't unite the supporters by sacking the coach - unless they find a universally respected replacement .......and ( after a short honeymoon period) divisions will appear again ........ until we get to the top of the ladder.

Unfortunately in terms of player maturity and facilities , we started miles behind ...... and despite all of the improvements this committee has made, the rich clubs ( esp Collingwood !!) have raised the bar even higher. The competition is intense.

WE all just have to keep the faith.

I have been for 46 years Hoopla

And to be honest I do not see us any closer than most of that period.

7-8 players who are good enough then another 12 that are simply not good enough.

Any idea if it is this decade?

Didnt Robbie say the other day that the siren went as the ball was in the air before Bucks marked it? I couldnt hear it from where I was sitting (near the fence about Bay 13 position). I was all choked up watching Robbie manfully shake Tucks hand. Dozens of people around me were very emotional.

No, it wasn't a MARK to Buckenara it was a FREE KICK to him against Rodney Grinter. This did happen BEFORE the first of the sirens sounded. I've watched the video too many times. I hope its faded and unplayable now.

Money, Money, Money

Carlton and Essendon have been down much longer than 1-2 years. Pity about Collingwood.

No, it wasn't a MARK to Buckenara it was a FREE KICK to him against Rodney Grinter. This did happen BEFORE the first of the sirens sounded. I've watched the video too many times. I hope its faded and unplayable now.

Rodney gave a way a desperation professional free kick 1 or 2 seconds before the siren. There was no way he could have stopped Buckenara marking it. He did enough to shove him as far away as possible to take the kick on goal.

Carlton didnt play finals between 02-08 thats 6 years

Forget Stynes and Buckenara, it's Eishold, Yeates and Campbell who should be burned at the stake

Interesting post. You are certainly spot on about the siren. If the umpire had have heard it it would a have been a set shot for goal from 50 metres out not 35. It went more than once and the umps seemed oblivious. Certainly Jimmy wouldn't have received the 15 metre penalty if the game had stopped when it should have. He wouldn't have had to run over the mark to cover an opponent on his own near the goals. For a tired player, the distance might have been too great for Buckenara. But, candidly, who knows? We never will.

And i think there is a little history re-writing - Robbie F said later he could not have played in the GF ( had we won the prelim) he was so injured and Wilson was also out - we were the walking wounded. As it proved to be the case - no one was going to beat Carlton - much as i would like to think we could have

.

Forget Stynes and Buckenara, it's Eishold, Yeates and Campbell who should be burned at the stake

And Ricky Jackson?

Well, as long as we are not condemning the present with the failures of the past...

Jeez...

Well, as long as we are not condemning the present with the failures of the past...

Jeez...

Unfortunately, history demonstrates, that history repeats itself all too often. However, I agree, let's hope we are not currently condemning the present - and future for that matter - with the failures of the past. However, whether we like it or not, I fear the greater football community may well think so.

Carlton didnt play finals between 02-08 thats 6 years

Maths fail

That is rather funny. Just look at the Saints and Bulldogs. We have 10 more premierships than both of them.

Especially the saints they've only won one premiership by ' one ' point. And didn't they declare themselves bankrupt at some point in their not so distant history.

I might be overly optimistic, but I think the club still has a very bright future just around the corner. We do have a good list, and I think any deadwood will be cleared off at seasons end regardless of where we finish.

I didn't suffer through the 80s as much as some of you, as I was only in primary school. The passion still burns the same, and falling in love with the lovable loser that is the MFC is one of the most rewarding and horrific experiences I have ever had.

Hang tough, I think there is going to be light at the end of the tunnel this time around.

As for the coach? TBC