Also I significantly doubt we have (or will) ever win a game with Spencer and Gawn in the same team. Now both will get another preseason and it's unlikely we will see Hogan, Dawes, Clark and Fitzpatrick all injured at the same time but we were much better when Gawny (who got stuff all time in the ruck anyway) got subbed. Hopefully next year we have a proper ding dong positional battle for the ruck. That means competing on the training track in terms of time trails, in the gym with weights and on the oval with skills.

Fitzpatrick or Clark can work out who will be the reserve guy but the big 3 (or 2 if we work out how to ship off Jamar or Spencer I wouldn't mind) better be up for a contest.

I like that Gawn can be dangerous up forward, but that should be for when he's resting up forward, not for a significant part of the game. With the delivery we give and without recognised key forwards to take the good defenders he's on a hiding to nothing.

Also good job from Col Garland today who clearly isn't right with his ankle. He's fighting through it the last month or so and that's pretty tough to do.

Thanks for the memories Flash.

Good bye, adios, sayonara and good riddance to 2013 and the past 6 years.

A new dawn is emerging at the MFC.

Nice radio interview with Jack Trengove now. Interviewer mentioned that people talked about a different captain next year. Jack said he was all about the team and would be happy playing as non-captain next year. He seemed genuine, comfortable and a good guy.

Anyway our recent seasons have been marred with abysmal last round performances - Adelaide oval when we choked against Port, against the Tiges at the MCG when we completely gave up and so on. At least today we gave a bit of fight in the last half.

Ha ha what a cracker. Our first round performances have been shiite for as long as I can remember.....

Wake me up in 2015 please.

Won 3 of 4 quarters (not bad)

Few things that I took from the match:

Davey: well done - thanks for the memories

Kent: a real keeper and will be big in 2014

Toump: showed something - will take confidence into preseason

Jetta: has put a question mark next to his name (previously crossed out)

Watts: whats going on in his head? - I think he has finally turned a corner

Jones: a loyal servant who I will always respect

Trengove: can't wait to see how a full preseason will impact on him

Thats about it I think.

Enjoy the offseason guys! (let the optimism fester)

Can't believe we were watching the same game, Toumpas was extremely POOR gee we made a bad draft decision picking him instead of Wines. People talk about Watts not having a go!.. this bloke is Cale Morton mark 2

Just watched howes marks holly crap the 1 near the boundary line he hit with some speed

Ha ha what a cracker. Our first round performances have been shiite for as long as I can remember.....

Wake me up in 2015 please.

Our first rounders are rubbish but if we aren't going to start well we may as well not finish like a bunch of blokes desperate for mad monday. Today they at least looked like they cared a little bit. It's a start.

Can't believe we were watching the same game, Toumpas was extremely POOR gee we made a bad draft decision picking him instead of Wines. People talk about Watts not having a go!.. this bloke is Cale Miorton mark 2

The draft decision is completely irrelevant, please stop mentioning it. Toumpas has already shown he'll tackle more than Watts and run harder. As for Morton he was one of our better running players in his first year. We just made him worse season after season. Good development would've made Morton a handy type and good development will make Toumpas one of the better midfielders in the league in a few years time.

Can't believe we were watching the same game, Toumpas was extremely POOR gee we made a bad draft decision picking him instead of Wines. People talk about Watts not having a go!.. this bloke is Cale Morton mark 2

Can't believe you were actually watching the game.

Proud of the effort. Must fun I've had at a game in ages. Electric atmosphere, the demon army didn't stop

x2

I was ready to go home at half time - glad i stayed... The boys seemed to loosen up in the 2nd half and just play

Maybe the mini melee inspired them/???

Nice to see Green, Miller (Neitz I think) and others in the crowd and out on the field at the end of the game for flash. Need more of this * 1000!

I have not scoured the match day thread but can someone explain why Nathan Jones was played across half forward and then half back in the second quarter?

I believe the 2013 season was the footballing equivalent (not real life equivalent of course!) of this....

I have not scoured the match day thread but can someone explain why Nathan Jones was played across half forward and then half back in the second quarter?

Probably because the poor bloke has carried this whole crap team all year and he needed a breather?

Can't believe we were watching the same game, Toumpas was extremely POOR gee we made a bad draft decision picking him instead of Wines. People talk about Watts not having a go!.. this bloke is Cale Morton mark 2

Give it a rest PF.. Sooking and whinging about it aint going to change the decision. Toumpas 2nd half of the year has been a big positive for me. especially under NG. If Roos coach expect him to develop properly. Instead of being a Muppet and pot shotting the kid how about you support him and wait till he has 50 games under his belt. Its obvious you haven't been watching him play much this year at all.

Probably because the poor bloke has carried this whole crap team all year and he needed a breather?

For a whole quarter?

That 2nd quarter - a 30 minute cameo of our season. The rest of the game was really enjoyable.

One thing I did note - many of our midfielders's first touch of the ball is a fumble of some sort. When / if they do take possession, they are tackled or hindered in some way. For the most part we got murdered in close.

Some of the running through the middle by Kent, Davey etc.. was superb.

Loved the noise of the Demon Army - especially after the half time melee - well done to all concerned.

Watts ran his guts out tonight, ends up with 4 goals, and people criticizing?!?! His one-on-one marking and pack marking are close to the worst I have seen for a big man, but don't question his effort with the ball. Still not sure if we should keep him.

I have not scoured the match day thread but can someone explain why Nathan Jones was played across half forward and then half back in the second quarter?

Possibly to break his tag?

For a whole quarter?

I wouldn't begrudge him a whole game on the HBF.

Let some other player get smacked from pillar to post for 120 minutes without ANY protection from the umpires.

I agree with jaded, though, I think it was to break a tag and possibly not to get injured before his holidays....

Possibly to break his tag?

We could not get a clearance yet we did not put our best clearance player in the middle. Has that happened at any point this year?

The final siren was soured by some stupid Bulldogs fans behind the Melbourne Cheer Squad hurling abuse. I had to guide my young son away from several punch ups started by drunk Bulldogs Fans. One Melbourne supporter was flattened right next to me by a hoon who was tanked. Why do they allow these clowns to drink near children? The security at Etihad were slow to react and clueless as to how deal with violence!

The final siren was soured by some stupid Bulldogs fans behind the Melbourne Cheer Squad hurling abuse. I had to guide my young son away from several punch ups started by drunk Bulldogs Fans. One Melbourne supporter was flattened right next to me by a hoon who was tanked. Why do they allow these clowns to drink near children? The security at Etihad were slow to react and clueless as to how deal with violence!

Crowd violence at AFL games is a taboo subject. We whinge about the soccer crowds but pretend our crowds are perfect, and they are great 99% of the time but certainly not always. That's really disappointing. Nothing will shock me with Etihad staff though, the fish rots at the head and they take their cues from the management of that place I bet. Slow to react and clueless sums up the joint.

Toumpas was extremely POOR gee we made a bad draft decision picking him instead of Wines. People talk about Watts not having a go!.. this bloke is Cale Morton mark 2

I honestly just want to punch the face of any moron who spouts this rubbish. I have been clenching my teeth at it for 5 years since we drafted Watts. Stop for one second PLEASE and use your god-given brain:

1. Toumpas was rated higher universally and every club would have taken him at pick 3! (just like Morton, Watts etc)

2. We are not in the business of recruiting blokes based on who they are mates with

3. They are 1 year in to 10-12 year careers how stupid are you to pass judgement already

4. Every draft there are players taken at lower picks than others that end up better, it doesn't just go in perfect order you morons

5. How can you determine the impact of the development program/coaching at one club vs another

6. How can you determine the impact of being in a top8 side vs a bottom 2 side?

7. Toomp has actually been OK anyway! He has gotten better as its gone on

8. MOST IMPORTANTLY - WHO CARES? It has happened already and it cannot be changed FFS! What is to be gained by whinging about it constantly, just support your players FCS

smarten up, you embarrass all of us

Is training on next week? - get pumped its the offseason!

I want detailed training reports starting next week............. jokes

Thankgod that is over. I went to the game and the last quarter turned out to be exciting.

Daveys run down on Cooney I think it was him was brilliant and a nice reminder what he can do.

Watts 4 goals. I have been saying for ages to put him forward make him attack the ball and see what he can do

Viney just brilliant. Cannot wait until next year

The crowd. I thought for a 4:40 game on fathers day with 2 sides playing that meant nothing 22,000 was quite good.

Obviously Etihad thought there would be less because the number of ticket offices open was ridiculous. Took over 20 minutes to get a ticket and missed flash running out. People behind me wouldnt have got in until 1/2 way through the 1st quarter.

They mentioned on the radio some past players came back to stand on the ground as Flash ran out. Who was there? I know Aussie was. Aaron said on the radio Jurrah said he'd come but never showed.

Trengoves interview on the radio after was very impressive and is very much a team player and what is best for the team