and if someone comes back and says "Jon Ralph said you promised", it wouldn't be hard to discredit it, unless he can rely on having an actual quote there to back it up.

Yeah of course - I'm not saying that there's evidentiary value in what Ralph has said.

All I'm saying is that if GWS have promised to bid for Viney, that would be clear evidence of draft tampering in my opinion.

If they haven't promised then it's a non-issue. It would just be disgraceful journalism to allege a statement of fact that is completely false.

They will survive SMF

The AFL will keep pouring money and draft selections in for as long as it takes.

That might take 20 years but they will survive.

No doubt about it the AFL will tip in as much cash as required to prop up GWS. However, I wonder if say North or Dogs or, heaven forbid us, get into real financial shite again whether they will extend the same blank cheque?

Sheedy has just done what he does best and poured life into a lifeless game. Good on him. I will applaud Tom every time he goes near the ball. The only thing that would have made this year worse so far would have been if we had paid him a fortune over 5 years and had to watch the performances he has put up so far. Thats without considering whether the Clark deal would still have been possible. We seriously dodged a bullett with that one.

Who the eff cares about the Viney thing?

He's a top three player in that draft regardless.

Stop being influenced by the media, folks. Think for yourself.

And as for Sunday - just beat them and bleed them. Then we move on to next week.

I can imagine one of our players dropping him (with mininal contact) before the first bounce in a bit of pre siren argy-bargy, resulting in a GWS free kick and forward entry. He strikes me as the type of bloke who would stage for a free rather than try and stand his ground against a bigger man.

Hope he gets assigned a tagging role on one of Sylvia or Moloney - surely some pride in performace would help them to lift and beat him (physically and on the stats sheet)

To what end though? A flag? Will a flag garner enough interest in Western Sydney though? Does anyone really care about Aussie rules in Western Sydney?

When their draftees contracts expire will they want to stay in that cest pool? Will sponsors be enticed to back an irrelevant organisation? Will free agents ever want to go GWS when all is a level playing field?

I feel in order to survive they will probably have to relocate. At least GC is an appealing location to live and QLD have interest in AFL. Western Sydney though, in a state that has limited interest in Aussi rules and a successful team already, it looks bleak.

To what end though? A flag? Will a flag garner enough interest in Western Sydney though? Does anyone really care about Aussie rules in Western Sydney?

When their draftees contracts expire will they want to stay in that cest pool? Will sponsors be enticed to back an irrelevant organisation? Will free agents ever want to go GWS when all is a level playing field?

I feel in order to survive they will probably have to relocate. At least GC is an appealing location to live and QLD have interest in AFL. Western Sydney though, in a state that has limited interest in Aussi rules and a successful team already, it looks bleak.

Obviously I can't speak on behalf of the AFL. However, Sydney is our biggest city and they want a bigger slice of it. I reckon they will carry GWS for years. They wont backtrack they will simply wait. It took the SWans a bloody long time to become part of the Sydney landscape.

I really can't stand this mob....

With what they did to us last year re Scully, and now look like shafting us again , by forcing us to take Viney with a high draft pick.

If I was Melbourne president I'd make a phone call to them , just to say, look you really hurt us last year,all we ask is if you could refrain from this viney nomination as a sign of respect, otherwise it's gloves off, and we will stop at nothing to bring pain to you at every opportunity.

I hope our President says nothing.

Action speaks far louder than words...Win.

My money's on Moloney being the first to have a crack at him.

Bleeds red and blue and all that..

My money's on Moloney being the first to have a crack at him.

Bleeds red and blue and all that..

with a bit of luck Moloney will get himself rubbed out and we get to see Couch the week after

I have to admit, the masochist side of me can't wait to see this place descend into chaos if we lose..

I have to admit, the masochist side of me can't wait to see this place descend into chaos if we lose..

I am glad i am going on holidays on sunday night for that very reason.

If we lose to GW$ on the MCG first up, i am sorry but the last 5 years have been totally wasted.

Bring it on & let's see how it pans out.

This is Melbourne, they will win by under a goal and on one will touch Scully (not that I think they should)

Maybe Moloney then Clark then Jordie then Frawley in 5 minute spells until the stretcher is required .

The newboys have us in their sights - shows where we are at.

I hope someone

My money's on Moloney being the first to have a crack at him.

Bleeds red and blue and all that..

I actually hope Jones lays out 'his main man Sculls' - probably hurt him more if it was someone who he got along with or thought he left on good terms with.

Or perhaps a club stallwart like Green can go in with a high elbow or something?

The newboys have us in their sights - shows where we are at.

Looks like we have scum to play.

I think the club should just leave this one, not bite at all, would hate to see a media conference Sheedy/Scully-Neeld/Trengove talking this meaningless contest up.

Would rather see Sheedy left like a shag on a rock, appearing like the goose he is.

Yeah, we'd hate to try and create some interest in a game we're probably looking at making a loss on...

Or perhaps a club stallwart like Green can go in with a high elbow or something?

Green's out for two weeks. Any other 'stalwart' you'd recommend?

This talk of revenge and physical harm might feel good but it's sheer stupidity. Don't get mad, get even. Just win the game by as much as possible, and restrict Scully's influence to about what it was last year when he played for us... very little.

I really can't stand this mob....

With what they did to us last year re Scully, and now look like shafting us again , by forcing us to take Viney with a high draft pick.

If I was Melbourne president I'd make a phone call to them , just to say, look you really hurt us last year,all we ask is if you could refrain from this viney nomination as a sign of respect, otherwise it's gloves off, and we will stop at nothing to bring pain to you at every opportunity.

I'd say it's already gloves off..... They don't respect us, or care what we say or do..... They see us as weak...

Green's out for two weeks. Any other 'stalwart' you'd recommend?

This talk of revenge and physical harm might feel good but it's sheer stupidity. Don't get mad, get even. Just win the game by as much as possible, and restrict Scully's influence to about what it was last year when he played for us... very little.

I agree Maurie I said this on post 161

I'd say it's already gloves off..... They don't respect us, or care what we say or do..... They see us as weak...

There are some good reasons for that tatu as you probably know.

Some may not be far from the truth

I'd say it's already gloves off..... They don't respect us, or care what we say or do..... They see us as weak...

ologists or GWS?

I have to admit, the masochist side of me can't wait to see this place descend into chaos if we lose..

Hahahahahaaha sick sick lady. It would be a horror show.

No one respects us and it is of our making, the MFC are the only ones go can turn it around and I think they will. II just hope the turn around is far enough for us to be celebrating a flag in a few years time.

A mate of mine is a GWS Captain's Club member - essentially an inner sanctum GWS coterie containing about 20-25 corporate partners.

He has invited me to several functions, most recently one at which John Quinn (Head of Sports Science) and Alan McConnell (Head of Development) spoke - this was only a fortnight ago.

In short, I was very impressed. John Quinn has a brilliant CV and he appears to be very well respected in this area. Spoke extremely well too. I was astonished at how scientific the game is at AFL level - it was clear we were simply miles off the pace prior to the new regime entering the fold (ie, Neeld, Misson and Craig).

John Quinn gave a fantastic presentation - no one wanted it to finish. Following it, my one take out was that, as supporters on the outer, we literally have no idea what goes on with match day considerations/game plans etc - it's literally laughable the gulf between the analysis of the internet keyboard heroes here (including me) and the actual inner sanctum of a club.

Anyway, I digress.

The GWS appear to be a professional outfit. They have come a long way in a short time in a region that is not particularly well disposed to the code. They have recruited tough, young, talented players - arguably unlike us. It's somewhat ironic that they took our number one draft pick.

Don't get me wrong - I hope we pump the bejeezus outta them this weekend. But I don't wish them heaps of ill will. They're just another struggling sports team trying to find relevance in a region which isn't really giving them a natural leg up.

The other thing I've learnt from attending these events is that Sheedy is a bloody legend. I used to hate him. I now think he's a great speaker and motivator - in short, a legend of the game.

At the time I thought the MFC was absolutely inspired in appointing Bailey. I now think we missed a great opportunity when we overlooked Sheedy - I think our list would be in much better shape now had we given him the gig 5 years ago.

That said, I'm stoked we have Neeld now. This decision, I believe with absolutely certainty, was the correct one.