Trengove has improved over the last few, so has Spencer.. Blease and Howe could be anything

The season's not over yet.

Next week we play Adelaide who don't play well at the G (we beat them there last time we played in 2011).

They're in a bit of a slump after losing to the Lions last night so their confidence won't be at its highest.

This is a perfect opportunity for us to jump possibly one or two spots on the ladder especially with Jamar, Martin and Nicholson possibly returning to the team.

So let's go for it and fInish the season on a good note.

Ok, but it would make about 100 pages on Jack Viney rather moot...

In all seriousness my optimism starts the minute this season finishes. Then changes can start in earnest. Thats where my optimism lays, in that some real tinkering with this team will begin.

Yes theres been some encouraging signs. Trenners is starting to play like he used to. Am I the only one that sees that as a bit odd. Its been quite interesting seeing half a team take on various others and not get totally wiped. Surely this means they are starting to get something understood out there. This in turns encourages me for when we get an "A" side actually playing then maybe, just maybe we might be able to compete.

Im optimistic theres a major cleanout looming, that some real trading will be embarked upon, that we'll actually recruit some kids who can truly ruly play this bloody game.

Im optimistic that the FD actually have a plan invoked that will start working and showing it next season.

im optimistic, I have to be optimisitc as optimism is our only hook to hang a hat on invariably.

Im optimisitc, Im a Melbourne supporter , thats what we are, optimistic, year after bloody year.

Sorry Jack...it was over beofre it started mate !! Just a reality.

because we have , played really well, all year theyre 2nd and we're 16th...lets not kid ourselves

and we'll probably play them back into form...as usual.

Its good for you to try to drum things up a bit but most of us are over this year.

Er, um ... why don't you start a pessimists thread then?

the irony

Keep it coming folks. This is the most enjoyment I've had from Demonland in months. How long will it be though before Tonatopia finds out someone's saying something positive and feels the need to [censored] our balloon? No pricks on this thread please.

Positives will be 3 first round picks in this draft (and hopefully Viney in 2nd round)

Positives also include Scully having another sub par year...

From dees point of view, Strauss and Blease starting to string games togther and show signs, obviosly, Howe, Clark, Jones, Watts.... Spencer, McDonald,

Im excited by the half dozen or so players we have that will end this year with between 20-30 games under their belt. This is a group that has the potential to take big steps next year (eg, Gysberts, Tappscott, Blease, Howe, Strauss, McDonald) Good group

My optimism lies from watching the "Americas Game" series in the off season last year.

Each show was about a the year of a Superbowl winning team of different years.

Many went from easybeats to Superbowl winners in a year or 2 with some astute trading and buy in to new coaches/game plans etc. from players.

I feel we can be in the same position as long as we can trade in some quality.

Our list is young, we have the facilities and FD, all we need is for Neeld to prune the list and draft intelligently for his needs.

Positives will be 3 first round picks in this draft (and hopefully Viney in 2nd round)

Positives also include Scully having another sub par year...

From dees point of view, Strauss and Blease starting to string games togther and show signs, obviosly, Howe, Clark, Jones, Watts.... Spencer, McDonald,

Im excited by the half dozen or so players we have that will end this year with between 20-30 games under their belt. This is a group that has the potential to take big steps next year (eg, Gysberts, Tappscott, Blease, Howe, Strauss, McDonald) Good group

Spot on. It's the 0-60 game group that will make our break.

We have had a bad combo of letting mature bodied players go (Jnr, Bruce, Cheney, Miller) and having experienced players have poor seasons through fitness and form (Davey, Maloney, Jamar, Green, Bate).

Collingwood, St Kilda and Geelong have been strong over the last few years because they have had 12-18 100 game players. Compare our batch of players over 100 games - it's rather thin.

Jumping Jeremy Howe.

A bit of work on his kicking and this guy will slaughter it for us next year.

Jones, Howe, Blease, TMac, Watts, NIcho and Magner positives.

Grimes staying on the park is a huge plus.

1. Jack Watts, Nathan Jones, Jeremy Howe
   
2. Recruitment of Mitch Clark
   
3. Emergence of Tom Mac, Blease, Strauss
   
4. The no crap attitude of Mark Neeld
   
5. Grimes having a great year and being injury free
   
6. The progression of Trenners
   
7. Tappy getting his body right and playing fairly well recently.
   
8. The extra flexibility we now have with Rivers, Garland, Grimes, Sellar, Martin, Howe, Watts, Dunn, Bate all playing different positions
   

The future optimism.

1. Viney and other recruits to come in next year.
   
2. Another preseason for: Blease, Strauss, Cook, Tynan, Taggart, Watts, Viney, Trengove, Grimes
   
3. Us moving up the ladder
   
4. Injury free starts to the year for Sylvia, Watts, Grimes, Strauss, Tappy, Gysberts, Jetta, Gawn and the rest of the team.
   

To me the improvement of Jones, Howe and McDonald, these three guys are the stand outs for me and this started from day one of pre-season. All three highlight the importance of having good pre-seasons, Jones was always working at the front with McDonald and Howe not to far behind them. Hopefully come November we can get full pre-seasons into Sylvia, Tapscott, Grimes, McKenzie, Strauss and Jurrah plus get another full preseason into all our young players.

I still don't think we are to far off, we need continued improvement and with some luck, luck with keeping players fit through pre-season, a bit of confidence and adding 6-7 players I still feal we push up the ladder next year and be playing finals by 2014.

My positive is that we are so bad that the list is exposed and finally the players are getting their right whack for years of insipid play.

Which results in culture changes and player turnover.

So it is a negative wrapped in a positive.

Oh and I am in love with Mitch Clark.

jack grimes last month and a bit has been sensational as a leader. we picked the right choice here and even trenners is finding a bit of form too. good to see tappy and strauss getting games aswell. this will give them lots of confidence come pre season and even bleasey aswell.

Good work Crawf. This thread is necessary. It will be interesting to see if the pessimists can resist jumping on this thread!

One angle is Melbourne were rocked by Jimmy's illness. While initially we thought this may have a positive short term impact it clearly had the reverse. His gut wrenching passing not to mention LJ 's issues and Mich Clark injury were all major set backs.

For me the highlight of the year was the St. Kilda home game at the G. Melbourne's first three quarters were played out with cohesion and venom. Next one was exposing the Bombers and sneaking away with 4 points. I could be heard screaming 3 blocks down the road when the siren sounded.

We have almost gotten through one of the worst seasons on record, and as Melbourne supporters we've seen our fair share of ordinary years.

The amount of shyte that has been shoveled on the club, even before round 1, has been incredible. So to say it's been a tough initiation for Neeld, Trengove and Grimes as a first year coach/captain is an understatement.

As the saying goes, 'tough times never last, but tough people do.' I have full confidence in the trio to help lead this club in the right direction.

As for my point of optimism: season 2012 is almost over and hopefully it's built and not broken the character of the club.

Jones who showed that a bit of talent can be turned into a lot with hard work.

Watts, will be a game winner next year.

Clark who became the soul of the team in a few weeks and you guessed it "worked hard".

McDonald the man most likely to marry Neeld's daughter and become AA.

Blease realising he is a tank half full (and working on it) and playing to instructions.

Captain Jack both improving and especially Grimes staying on the park.

All this is very good news for the club.

Add:

A coach who after a win takes the boys into a room to tell them what is unacceptable.

A fitness guru who will have had a second pre season.

Jurrah will return. Special mention to RudeBoy (a Collingwood supporter) who has done a lot for our club and genuinely hopes to see Liam in the Red and Blue next year.

Finally, we have 35,428 paid up supporters who believe the worm will turn and I hope every last one of them gets to see a Dees flag in a couple of short years.

Cant wait!

I feel a positive is that we havent gifted games to anyone, we have made everyone earn their spot. I feel the dropping of senior players that werent performing was fantastic and its the way it should be.

Culture is heading in the right direction.

2013 here we come!

We have almost gotten through one of the worst seasons on record, and as Melbourne supporters we've seen our fair share of ordinary years.

The amount of shyte that has been shoveled on the club, even before round 1, has been incredible. So to say it's been a tough initiation for Neeld, Trengove and Grimes as a first year coach/captain is an understatement.

As the saying goes, 'tough times never last, but tough people do.' I have full confidence in the trio to help lead this club in the right direction.

As for my point of optimism: season 2012 is almost over and hopefully it's built and not broken the character of the club.

Yep. In years past, such a season may well have seen the club finally collapse. A massive win must be the fact that we can survive a season like this in reasonably good shape off the field and with plenty of players with 100 games ahead of them on the field. A small victory but one that is nevertheless significant. We're still here and the focus is on the footy: recruiting, drafting, list, coaching etc.

I'm with WJ, let's win these last two. Picks schmicks, 5 and 6 are arguably just as good as 3 and 4. Besides, it's a good platform for 2013.

Winning is important for the psyche and mental well being.

Less visits to the doctor later in life.

Ignore the Viney hype and just select him at 5. He's worth it.

Elite compliance.

Oh oh. Maybe a little too positive for some, sorry.

I feel so much better.

The monkeys off the back Billy.

You know I make sense.

Our supporters have the right sort of passion or at least the woman near me on Saturday did.

She booed loudly every time $cully came near the ball but applauded Junior when he scored a goal for GWS.

My positive is my hopeful starting 22 for round 1 2013

B: Nicholson Frawley Rivers

HB: Watts McDonald Grimes

C: Sylvia Viney Toumpas

HF: Trengove Cloke Howe

F: Jurrah Clark Tapscott

R: Jamar Jones Boak

Int: Blease Martin Strauss Sub: Jetta

My positive is my hopeful starting 22 for round 1 2013

B: Nicholson Frawley Rivers

HB: Watts McDonald Grimes

C: Sylvia Viney Toumpas

HF: Trengove Cloke Howe

F: Jurrah Clark Tapscott

R: Jamar Jones Boak

Int: Blease Martin Strauss Sub: Jetta

Not bad - and only four new inclusions. Admittedly, a couple of big ones, but this would indicate some depth remaining in the list. Ah - optimism.

Nate Jones's cracking year.

The unearthing of Tom MacDonald as a genuine CHB.

Clark up until his injury.

The Captain/s late season form, finishing off the season strongly.

Win against the Bombers was something special.

Emergence of Howe and Blease.

Hope we finish the unlike we started it. Winning.