Okay, I'm a habitual onlooker and rarely post but I can't sleep and wanted to share thoughts of a lunch I attended at Kooyong.

First up I will say I knew too few people at the venue and I'm afraid my view may have been skewed somewhat through the bottom of my glass but here goes...

Mike Sheehan was the MC and although I've always disliked him he had a red and blue tie on and hung nothing on us. He asked insightful questions all day, cutting the line between relevant and rude. Never did he cross into rude. He's earnt my respect. I will add at one point he made me chuckle by adding that he liked where our favourite Caro had placed herself as "now as the heat was right off him".

First speaker Jon Ralph. To be honest, I knew little about him and paid little attention. Seemed a nice bloke.

Next up, young Jack Viney.

When asked where the moon boot was and said that he was allowed to have it off for two hours. All strictly regimented. Should be back one week after the bye by medicos estimations.

First game, asked about "bitter / sweet" good personal game / poor team performance. Spoke of feeling glad to fulfil lifelong dream of donning the Red and Blue. Felt he played a good game and enjoyed finding good mate Ollie Wines to leave the field despite the scoreboard disappointment. Didn't understand the boos at the end of the game as he "didn't feel the umpires had done that poorly but then, as they got closer to the race, realised it was for us".

He spoke about being at the club for pre-season 2012 and confirmed reports that all facets of 2013 performance were improved. Is very suprised that the club as a whole hasn't followed suit.

Not much insightful stuff, all in all, a well drilled professional. At a free grog function (he wasn't drinking), at 19, I reckon I'd have mistaken the microphone for a taco!

By the way, from a strictly heterosexual point of view, what an impressive rig that lad runs!

Then came Todd Viney.

When asked about the biggest regret of the off season (bait) said that none of the players lost had made them hurt and then said... but Moloney. I know there is a whole thread on this but he spoke of how he and Neeld "never saw eye to eye". He said that from the moment he was removed from the leadership group he had his back up. Then when Moloney was asked to lose weight (bulk) to increase mobility and asked to play a mentoring role the poles moved further apart. Ironic considering losing weight to increase mobility was the first thing he did up north... I digress... He reported that he resisted every instruction. He defended Neeld by saying he was nowhere near his B&F form and he also (more interestingly) by no means blamed Moloney but simply stated that not everyone was going to get along with a new coach. He mentioned there was not much they could do to retain him with free agency.

He also regretted losing Riv (nothing more said).

He was asked about recruiting and stated the loss of so many top 20 draft picks (named Morton, Cook, Scully & Gysberts, in that order) created the need to "fill a few holes". Talked about his days at Hawthorn as coach and how Clarko was in the barrel after results weren't coming. Top draft pick Roughy hadn't fired a shot in 18 months, recruiting was considered poor, they'd lost talent to retirement and things looked glum. He spoke of the days when Akka (and others) got to Brisbane under Lethal and built a powerhouse. He said that young Jack needed to look at that. He inferred that Melbourne find themselves in a similar position but we need to stick fat. He said that the club had plenty of talent and rated themselves fortunate to land all of Tompas ("who they rated as one of, if not the best in the draft") Hogan and of course young Jack but needed support around them. This is why they recruited short term, culture building professionals like Burns, Rodan and Gilles. We all know that but the comment that interested me was "they are there to chop out when the young ones need a rest". I won't waste a paragraph...

He was asked about Jack Watts and stated that he "is not overly competitive by nature" thus the placement of him in the backline as he doesn't have the agro to demand the ball in the forward line. He cited days of old that if he was a combative forward he'd have liked to "snot" a Matty Scarlett type. He described him as a great reader with exquisite skills and the move was to help him show his constructive talent. He has hopes he will find some agro but seemed unsure that he will. He admitted rival clubs would be sniffing around but stated MFC was completly devoid of 100 plus gamers (I know he hasn't played that many) and he was required.

He then stated that more or less loves Chunk and that Sylvia also was required to help extract the pill.

With less admiration (my read) on the 100 plus gamers was Jamar. He also stated that Davey was "at the end of his career".

Then came lunch... glug... glug... excuse my lack of specifics from here...

Ron Barrasi spoke of the lack of executive level leadership at the club. When asked since when, basically said since they sacked Norm. Didn't believe in hoodoo's but believed this has been our downfall. Made no regrets for leaving the club after the way they treated Norm. Said Norm asked him to stay after to take over his job for one more year but he'd already committed to Carlton and that he wouldn't go back on his word. He appeared very emotional (good red).

Cheers,

Jono.

Thanks for the rundown, some interesting comments.

Thanks Jono

First speaker Jon Ralph. To be honest, I knew little about him and paid little attention. Seemed a nice bloke.

Thanks for the report, Jono. Btw, the chap you're referring to there is John Lord, who was a KPP during the 50's/60's. Lordy and I between us have played in 4 MFC premierships...

Whoops! There I go showing the perfect blend of my age (or lack there of) and ignorance!

Any chance you could pull the guernsy back on and snag us a few more Tim?

Thanks for the report, Jono. Btw, the chap you're referring to there is John Lord, who was a KPP during the 50's/60's. Lordy and I between us have played in 4 MFC premierships...

just imagine if some dee posters could read and understand this

best post ive read this month

hope gnf reads this because were not that far away

Thanks so much for posting this, Jono. Really interesting.

My ignorance but what does MBC stand for?

Forgot to mention a couple of things.

Mike asked Jack about the round 2 clash and how he thought he went on Jobe. Asked if Neeld sent him to him from the bounce. Jack said he wasn't and it was just the way the structures were set up that had him go to Jobe. Said he got the first clearance and that he felt good to get off to a good start. He mentioned how big Jobe was across the hips in stature and how hard it was to bring him down.

He said that the physicality he played with as a junior was something he really enjoyed and definitely wanted to bring this across the AFL level. Admitted that on mature bodies he's got a lot of work to do. Showed genuine hunger to get the body required to take on your "Jobe's" of the game. Smiled and said although he'd probably never be as tall was working on getting as big.

Mike said he'd had a great start to the year and wanted to know if he was happy with his progress thus far. He said, definitely not, he has a hunger to get better. I got the feeling that we are going to see impressive things from this lad with that attitude.

Melbourne Business Community

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My ignorance but what does MBC stand for?

Thanks Territory, some good info there... cheers

Whoops! There I go showing the perfect blend of my age (or lack there of) and ignorance!

Any chance you could pull the guernsy back on and snag us a few more Tim?

I think the ratio of premierships between Tim and Lord may be 4:0 :-)

Thanks for the detailed report. My favourite thing about Demonland is when we able to use it to keep each other connected and informed.

Thanks Territory for the insight.

Interesting the truth about Moloney now coming out. Personally I'm glad we got rid of someone with such a divisive character.

Thanks Territory for the insight.

Interesting the truth about Moloney now coming out. Personally I'm glad we got rid of someone with such a divisive character.

It was bad enough that he sulked after not getting the captaincy, but to then refuse to change his body type to help his running game, and refuse to mentor the younger guys, that is just plain childish. Better off without him. I can't help but wonder if Moloney was one of the players Brad Green referred to in one of his interviews at the end of last season when he mentioned that some of the guys needed to get on board what was happening and not just think there talent was enough.