Keith "Bluey" Truscott - Best & Fairest

[Bobby McKenzie 2,385]

I found it interesting that Jones didnt win by that much! Thought he would have romped it in!

I thought that too. No disrespect to Grimesy but Jonesy was miles ahead all season IMO. Great to see Tom McDonald do so well also. I was a bit surprised at Garland's high placing as I thought he had a disappointing season overall. Again that's only my thoughts and not the people who award the votes. Well done Nathan you were a most deserving winner.

[Longsufferingnomore 1,631]

I think it is interesting that the players referred to Neeld as"Neeldy" and "Craigy" etc which says a lot about their relationship with the players. I think it was Jones who especially thanked Neil Craig and interestingly thanked our friend Gerard Healey for his mentoring role which makes his instigation of the Brock McLean 'affair" even more interesting.

All the players emphasised that they need to get set for another really hard preseason. Nathan said that he enjoyed the hard preseason set for them by Misson. They all thanked the supporters for sticking with them and that the support that they had got throughout the season really did mean something to them.

There was a really great send off to Greeny and he did say that he would like to stick around the Club. Standing ovation.

Beamer got a rousing ovation when Nathan thanked him which was a good way for him to leave the Club.

Nathan ended his speech by telling the players to enjoy their time off, to look after each other but come back in shape and be prepared to work their backsides off.

Listening to Nathan I am inclined to believe that he would have made a great captain. However Jack Grimes showed himself also to be a leader of men. He does have something about him that when he speaks people will listen and follow. He has a calmness and seems just so levelheaded. To me our leadership group will be a powerful force and will change the culture at the Club.

The C word was mentioned either by Jack or Nathan and in terms that with the work they were doing on the track the culture would change.

I liked what I heard from all the players.

Neeld spoke well. There were no jokes but an acknowledgement of what the Club had been through the year. I liked that he said that he was emotionally invested in the Club.

Cam S well I just found him boring. It was his delivery not the story of the history of the 1950's team.

Tom McD will be a champion. Loved that his Mum couldnt be there because she had to look after the "others".

All in all a good night. Can't wait for 2013. There will still be major changes to come though.

[Jesse Christ 2,884]

Tom McDonald wins the Ron Barassi memorial trophy in second year at club and is a pick 53. Now every club would kill to have him.

We seem to do better with our latter picks. Anyway I like to think that over at "PieLand" or "DogLand" they constantly rue the fact that they drafted X spud, when Howe or McDonald were available.

[Dockett 32 1,239]

Story with all the results.

Garland 6th, Howie came 7th, Trengove 8th, Frawley 9th and Dunn 10th (won't that upset some people!).

Interesting to look at the top 22 in the list. Might almost be our best side.

Tom Mc Donald 3rd! Good stuff. There is always light at the end of the tunnel.

[Barney Rubble 1,576]

I could be wrong.

But I didn't see Petterd or Morton last night

[Dee Fan 3,247]

I could be wrong.

But I didn't see Petterd or Morton last night

They were both there.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

Cam S well I just found him boring. It was his delivery not the story of the history of the 1950's team.

Unfortunately, Cam tells pretty much the same story at most functions and it becomes a bit ho hum; he should start to mix in a bit of the "current" to go with the past.

It was good to hear the players all accept that the year was crap and that they are all determined to continue to work hard and improve their performance.

I didn't know whether to clap or boo when they introduced Gerard Healey, so I just did nothing; perhaps they are trying to heal the woulds by inviting him there.

[Theo 272]

I just got home and I left immediately.

I live 20 min. from crown on a bad night so you were obviously in the cheap seats.

Food was shiitty booze was plentiful.

But info about the club lacked substance.

The only positive I gained from it was Rivers speech in my opinion was a farewell speech.

Read into that as you wish.

The eye fillet was fantastic. Rare to medium.

Jordie spoke really well. He had his brother with him (no girl) and he looks like his twin.

Jones and Grimes were really passionate about success and warned every player not to turn up to pre-season training unfit. Their are obviously some players who have not bought into Neelds methods. Brad Green inferred that this was the case when he was on TAC Cup Future Stars last Sunday.

The players genuinely love Greeny and I aslo picked up praise on a couple of occassions for Brian Royal by the midfield group.

Sat next to the players table and the Legends table with Noel McMahon etc. The players seemed to really respect the old players.

Of the players near me the best looking female partners were with Sylvia, Couch and would you believe Spencer. She had legs going to her armpits and stunning. Where do they get these women?

[Ron Burgundy 8,584]

I just got home and I left immediately.

I live 20 min. from crown on a bad night so you were obviously in the cheap seats.

Food was shiitty booze was plentiful.

But info about the club lacked substance.

The only positive I gained from it was Rivers speech in my opinion was a farewell speech.

Read into that as you wish.

I really hope this isn't the case.

Speaking to Andrew Mackie in NYC last year, he said the only senior MFC player he really rated was Rivers. He wasn't particularly complimentary of some other senior MFC players, particularly given what he observed during "186". Quite appropriate, really questioned our leadership and culture.

I think he knew Rivers from SA days - thought he was a good player and of good character. Wouldn't be surprised if he's currently pumping up Rivers' tyres around the Cattery.

[neeldbeforezod 2]

Just because I'm that kinda of guy, I did a quick calculation on the top 10 if everyone had played 22 games, just for discussion purposes.

1) Jones 385 pts

2) Grimes 364 pts

3) Clark 363 pts

4) McDonald 345 pts

5) McKenzie 343 pts

6) Bartram 327 pts

7) Dunn 314 pts

8) Macdonald 313 pts

9) Rivers 310 pts

10) Frawley 308 pts

All you can really take from this is that these players do the roles asked of them, but interesting to see Dunn, Macdonald and Bartram placing so high. Clark was a monty.

[jnrmac 20,058]

Col Sylvia

17 games and 12th. Another stellar year.

[pitmaster 3,544]

All you can really take from this is that these players do the roles asked of them, but interesting to see Dunn, Macdonald and Bartram placing so high.

That should be a lesson for some of the haters on this website, that they don't always know what is being asked of a player. I suspect Dunn polled the lion's share of his votes in the latter part of the season. Can anyone who was there shed light on that?

[The Chazz 4,077]

I found it interesting that Jones didnt win by that much! Thought he would have romped it in!

It was agreed upon that all players, except Jones, would start with a 250 vote head start such was Jones' dominance this year. The fact that some players ended up with double figure results just shows how far backwards some have gone.

[pitmaster 3,544]

How did Jurrah get 8 votes. Didnt he only play one game in the 100 point loss to sydney?

I was told they used a new voting system this year: the four senior coaches rating the players from one to seven each week. So the maximum possible votes any round was 28.

So Jurrah maybe got two votes from each of the four.

Interesting that Gysberts one game yielded just six votes, possibly 2 x 2 and 2 x 1.

No-one rated him much.

[Geddy Lee 582]

Col Sylvia

17 games and 12th. Another stellar year.

Unfortunately we may be keeping him and losing Rivers.

[DeeZee 7,378]

Col Sylvia

17 games and 12th. Another stellar year.

Col had a fracture in his back, which stuffed up the first half of the year for him.

Thought he fought back well in he second half.

[Deeoldfart 8,016]

Congratulations to all the place-getters, but it's not time to get comfortable. To you, and everyone else who remains on the list in 2013: buy in 100%; come back in top shape from your break; work your asses off over summer, and start to earn back respect to the Melbourne Football Club.

[jnrmac 20,058]

Great work by Tom McD. Third in effectively his first year. Congrats. And of course to Jones who was a stand-out.

Garland polled higher than I thought. Howe & Green lower.

2012 Melbourne best and fairest - total votes

1 - Nathan Jones (368)

2 - Jack Grimes (348)

3 - Tom McDonald (314)

4 - Jordie McKenzie (312)

5 - Jared Rivers (310)

6 - Colin Garland (297)

7 - Jeremy Howe (293)

8 - Jack Trengove (275)

9 - James Frawley (266)

10 - Lynden Dunn (257)

11 - Rohan Bail (238)

12 - Colin Sylvia (233)

13 - Joel Macdonald (228)

14 - James Magner (219)

15 - James Sellar (197)

16 - Jack Watts (195)

17 - Mitch Clark (182)

18 - Dan Nicholson (166)

19 - Mark Jamar (157)

20 - Sam Blease (157)

21 - Brent Moloney (153)

22 - Luke Tapscott (142)

23 - Mathew Bate (135)

24 - Brad Green (130)

25 - Clint Bartram (119)

26 - Jake Spencer (99)

27 - Cale Morton (97)

28 - Aaron Davey (82)

29 - James Strauss (69)

30 - Stefan Martin (62)

31 - Neville Jetta (55)

32 - Jamie Bennell (35)

33 - Tom Couch (26)

34 - Ricky Petterd (26)

35 - Josh Tynan (16)

36 - Jack Fitzpatrick (14)

37 - Liam Jurrah (8)

38 - Jordan Gysberts (6)

Did not play in 2012: Troy Davis, Lucas Cook, Michael Evans, Max Gawn, Rory Taggert, Kelvin Lawrence, Jai Sheehan, Leigh Williams

[Dee_Flower 53]

Sam Blease. 16 games and 20th.

Luke Tapscott. 14 games and 22nd.

Must.do.better.

[rpfc 28,383]

Jones thanked Beamer and acknowledged that he was moving on so is that the first free agency deal done?

I thought it was pretty obvious from statements from the club and Neeld that we will not consider 'matching' any offer and that Moloney is gone - I don't think he has agreed a deal yet though.

[beelzebub 23,347]

Congratulations to all the place-getters, but it's not time to get comfortable. To you, and everyone else who remains on the list in 2013: buy in 100%; come back in top shape from your break; work your asses off over summer, and start to earn back respect to the Melbourne Football Club.

Yes, Very wel done Jonesy. Testament to what you can be, if you want it. Hopefully you'll prove a benchmark of application for many who follow and play aside you..

Congrats to the others who polled well also.

[GM11 776]

Some good efforts from limited games - Josh Tynan , Jack Fitzpatrick , Tom Couch , Neville Jetta.

Voting really shows how inside & outside views of player performances are poles apart in some cases.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

I thought it was pretty obvious from statements from the club and Neeld that we will not consider 'matching' any offer and that Moloney is gone - I don't think he has agreed a deal yet though.

I was told last night that Beamer wanted to stay at Melbourne but wasn't offered a contract and wouldn't be unless he changed his body shape.

[Dr. Gonzo 24,207]

Sam Blease. 16 games and 20th.

Luke Tapscott. 14 games and 22nd.

Must.do.better.

Both of them improved in the second half of the year so I'd expect to continue that next season. They are still kids in this team though, hard to blame them for the club's year when you've got Sylvia & Moloney not landing in the top 10.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

Some good efforts from limited games - Josh Tynan , Jack Fitzpatrick , Tom Couch , Neville Jetta.

Voting really shows how inside & outside views of player performances are poles apart in some cases.

Yes Sellar is an example 15th with 197 votes when a lot on here reckon he can't play; finished not far behind Sylvia and in front of Watts. He plays a role and I was told that as long as he continues to do so, he will get a game.