THE LAST GAME DAY OF 2011

[Guest Gareth Keenan]

I wanna be clear in this - I hope we play well and are just beaten in a hard fought contest, because the ball doesn't bounce our way a couple of times.

I don't want us to lie down and let Port run all over us.

But I think pick 12 is a better result than pick 18 and a relatively meaningless win in a dead rubber.

I don't care about trivia questions.

I don't care about the misnomer of developing a winning culture.

I care about the tangible benefit of a significantly earlier pick in a weak draft.

And if you're worried about losses, don't forget how abysmal Brisbane were in the years leading up to their years of dominance.

I firmly believe that epic losses build the steely determination to maintain a period of dominance like we've seen with Brisbane and Geelong.

[PaulRB 6,367]

I want to see our team play passionate and aggressive footy and come off the field with big f#@king grins on their tired faces.

Give it a break... The Melbourne Football Club team need a win after this year more than we do..

Go Dees.

[Carlos Danger 380]

Todd Viney would not be interested in this minimal difference. I'd hope he's only concerned with closing out the year with a win.

Pick 12 or 18, we'd still let a Darling slide and pick a Cook. (Sorry Lucas, you may be a future star but where are you?)

At pick 12 I'd take the under 18 All Australian CHF over Jack Darling any day of the week. And on top of that I think our 2nd round pick was more impressive than Darling this year anyway...

Darling: 20 games, 19 goals

Howe: 12 games, 17 goals

[Nasher 33,616]

Not related to tanking, but why do so many in the media and general footy public think a Port win is a foregone conclusion? Port have won two games for the year, and their 20 losses include two spankings that rival the one we took against Geelong, AND it's a game that is being played at a ground where neither team have played. We've had some rubbish games this year, but if we're a worse side than Port then I've been watching the wrong team all year.

To the question at hand, the draft picks would be a nice consolation, but I hope we smash them. With six months to spend in the footy black hole, I'd like my last memory of the season to be a happy one, even if it's a meaningless win in the big picture.

[Wadda We Sing 10,685]

Knowing our luck if we tank pick 12 will move on to another club and pick 18 will be a superstar

[Pink Freud 365]

Not related to tanking, but why do so many in the media and general footy public think a Port win is a foregone conclusion? Port have won two games for the year, and their 20 losses include two spankings that rival the one we took against Geelong, AND it's a game that is being played at a ground where neither team have played. We've had some rubbish games this year, but if we're a worse side than Port then I've been watching the wrong team all year.

I thought the same thing until I looked at the match ups player for player. Melbourne would be a shoe in with its best 22 but it has a fair number of automatic selections off the track so it's an even money bet. Port's form last week was pretty encouraging bar for its last 20 minutes.

[Guest Gareth Keenan]

Not related to tanking, but why do so many in the media and general footy public think a Port win is a foregone conclusion? Port have won two games for the year, and their 20 losses include two spankings that rival the one we took against Geelong, AND it's a game that is being played at a ground where neither team have played. We've had some rubbish games this year, but if we're a worse side than Port then I've been watching the wrong team all year.

To the question at hand, the draft picks would be a nice consolation, but I hope we smash them. With six months to spend in the footy black hole, I'd like my last memory of the season to be a happy one, even if it's a meaningless win in the big picture.

I think it's due to Port showing some decent form last week against a finalist (Essendon), whilst we were pretty unconvincing at times against a contender for the wooden spoon (gold coast).

Plus we haven't won a game in SA since the 1970s.

[nutbean 8,838]

Pick 12 or 18, we'd still let a Darling slide and pick a Cook. (Sorry Lucas, you may be a future star but where are you?)

Look, up in the air, its a bird, its a plane - no its Retrospective man.

And ably supported by writing-off-20-year-olds-like-cook-the-same-way-so-many-were-bagging-watts-have-we-learned-nothing boy

Edited September 4, 2011 by nutbean

[Roost It 1,434]

You flatter us thinking we need to tank to lose. Stopped caring about 2011 when I realised a young player would pick playing in Shitsville over us. Forget the money. Our club became an evn bigger joke this year. Calling us a basket case gives baskets a bum wrap. At least they do the job they were designed to do!

My tip is Scully will be back playing in Victoria for a club that's professional, has the facilties to bring out his best and most importantly wins finals.

[Jack7 528]

Port will come out ferocious to try and avoid the spoon and we'll be our lacklustre selves,we'll show no desperation whatsoever.

Port easily.just watch!

[Pennant St Dee 13,186]

Tappy the sub, no emergencies brought in!

[bing181 9,240]

Pick 12 or 18, we'd still let a Darling slide and pick a Cook.

Every club in the comp let Darling slide.

[Surfer Rosa 15]

At pick 12 I'd take the under 18 All Australian CHF over Jack Darling any day of the week. And on top of that I think our 2nd round pick was more impressive than Darling this year anyway...

Darling: 20 games, 19 goals

Howe: 12 games, 17 goals

Like those stats.

Look, up in the air, its a bird, its a plane - no its Retrospective man.

And ably supported by writing-off-20-year-olds-like-cook-the-same-way-so-many-were-bagging-watts-have-we-learned-nothing boy

Boy?

Not sure I've written anyone off. I'd suggest that Cook was/will take more time to develop than Darling and that MFC perhaps would have liked a presence such as Darling now, not Cook in another 24 mths. But who knows, Cook's timing well may be in conjunction with our teams fortunes.

I'll let you know in 24 mhts how it all goes, retrospectively of course.

Edited September 4, 2011 by Surfer Rosa

[DaveyJones'sLocker 647]

bate has a new haircut?

[bjDee 1,249]

Is this the way to bid farewell to what has turned out an awful season of football?

Yeah I'm keen to see the Dees win, but mostly to help development of the younger players.

In reality, a win for the team means nothing to me today after this year's erratic performance. I wasn't expecting miracles or high finals placings, just some steady improvement and the emergence of of a winning culture. We have had too many 'big disappointment' games for mine. I'd be equally happy to see a better draft pick on board in 2012 - the winning culture is shot for this year.

Last year I got a ticket to the B&F for father's day from my son. I had a great night. We haven't been together in the same place yet today, but I hope he hasn't repeated the same gift this year. I'd feel like a bit of a fraud accepting it with the way I feel about our performance in 2011.

Edited September 4, 2011 by bjDee

[Dee Fan 3,247]

Never again do I want Melbourne Players or Coaches to think it's ok to lose a game, never.

[titan_uranus 25,020]

Inaccuracy....argh I hate it.

[Samsara 65]

Deplorable skills

[BLWNBA 1,008]

Bate is playing one of his better games. Good contested mark and centering kick.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Entertaining game so far, Adelaide Oval looks fantastic.

[BLWNBA 1,008]

Boak with the torp from outside 50.

End of qtr 20-24

[Bang Bang Bang 5,826]

Nice kick from Boak on the siren after yet another soft free.

Umps are killing us, not that it's really worth kicking a fuss up about. Entertaining game so far.

[Juicebox 628]

Umpires...

[DaveyJones'sLocker 647]

Free kicks

9-3

Horse [censored]

[Jaded No More 68,923]

We.Are.Crap

Entertaining game though because both teams have found their level.