Geez, between Essendon, Bulldogs and Collingwood having all these issues, it makes our club look attractive.

And Adelaide and the Suns.

Possibly also Carlton.

Players are getting way too precious and those that don't have the right mind set need to move on.

Clubs being perennial bottom dwellers over the clubs history develop this losing cultural mentality, & even when they are up the ladder, confident & going well, it's still wafer thin & incredibly fragile.

Us, & the Doggies & Sainters are in this boat.

the dogs just treaded water under Eade, at a respectable but a fail level with regard to improving the onfield culture & backbone.. IMO they were always beige.

now they must fix this as the club has better facilities & finances I think at this point in time. the On-Field has to grow up & harden up. they have to lose this defeatist culture, smash it out of the Club. they have to make other clubs concerned about them onfield.

If I'm not mistaken, this is the arm-wrestle going on at the doggies right now, & it will mean players getting out, just like beamer & green & others did with us.

I want to see the doggies & all weaker Clubs lose the battling culture.

And Adelaide and the Suns.

Possibly also Carlton.

It certainly is the first time we have looked relatively settled and united in a very long time.

Given all of the mess at other clubs, we may well be surprised at how many are having a bit of a reset next year, while new coaches get to grips with their teams or, where they haven't been sacked, getting to grips with a changed playing list (at the least, GC, Bulldogs, Adelaide and Essendon).

If it turns out like this, we may be able to jump at least a couple of those teams next year...

There's certainly a lot of unattractive propositions out there. Even Richmond had quite a stink about them for most of the year, until the Swans tanked them into the finals.

Of all the Victorian clubs we're probably one of the more attractive options.

....oh, and we have MONEY.

Agree with the above. I can say hand to heart that if I was a player, I'd be looking at the MFC as an attractive destination compared with at least half the clubs in the league. The list is on the verge of really coming together, with as qualified a coaching panel as there is going around. Next season will still have its challenges on the field, but I think maybe, just maybe, we'll start to see it come together.

Re the Dogs and Griffen, I don't care how long he "mulled" over it. If he gains success at GWS, that's not what he will be remembered for. I'm not overstating it by saying that I would be devastated if Chunk left in such circumstances, and fortunately I think the chances of that are remote.

There is an obvious silver lining if the Dogs can get picks 4 & 7 in return, but it is almost certainly going to destabilise the club and you would hope, or even expect, for us to be leapfrogging them next season.

Agree with the above. I can say hand to heart that if I was a player, I'd be looking at the MFC as an attractive destination compared with at least half the clubs in the league. The list is on the verge of really coming together, with as qualified a coaching panel as there is going around. Next season will still have its challenges on the field, but I think maybe, just maybe, we'll start to see it come together.

Re the Dogs and Griffen, I don't care how long he "mulled" over it. If he gains success at GWS, that's not what he will be remembered for. I'm not overstating it by saying that I would be devastated if Chunk left in such circumstances, and fortunately I think the chances of that are remote.

There is an obvious silver lining if the Dogs can get picks 4 & 7 in return, but it is almost certainly going to destabilise the club and you would hope, or even expect, for us to be leapfrogging them next season.

Love your work, mate, but a month and a bit is a long time in football. Have we all forgotten, what, only a month or so ago? A number of Demonlanders were basically saying it'd take at least two more off seasons just to cut the deadwood from the list, let alone recruit/trade in fresh talent. I agree that we look like a more stable destination than quite a few places and our coaching panel is certainly the major drawcard, but there's no way our list is on the verge of really coming together, IMO. Our forwardline is far too reliant on too few (even with the addition of Garlett) and our midfield is still C grade with its staggering lack of depth. A handful of clubs may go backwards next year, due to destabilising off season's, but I'm just not convinced we've anywhere near the amount of talent that we need to take us forward.

Having said all that, I really hope you're right though. I'm sick of waiting. I hope Roos and co can pull a rabbit out of the hat this off season and in season 2015.

There is an obvious silver lining if the Dogs can get picks 4 & 7 in return, but it is almost certainly going to destabilise the club and you would hope, or even expect, for us to be leapfrogging them next season.

Quite right. Over a 2/3 year period we got picks 1 then 1 and 2 but lost Junior, Bruce and Green in less than happy circumstances. Leaving us to appoint kids as captains. We are still recovering from the cumulative affect of those. Doggies are now where we were 3/4 years ago. They are heading down, thankfully we are heading up.

Lol these posters saying that MFC is an attractive destination for players. The only thing players will come to Melbourne for is money, and partly because Roosy and PJ are very good spruikers. The fact that we've attracted no interest of any quality for pick 2 or 3 (so far) indicates that. We are effectively the complete opposite to Hawthorn. Good players flock there, often for less than market value, because they know they'll play in finals, will be very well developed and will be surrounded by a culture of success.

Lol these posters saying that MFC is an attractive destination for players. The only thing players will come to Melbourne for is money, and partly because Roosy and PJ are very good spruikers. The fact that we've attracted no interest of any quality for pick 2 or 3 (so far) indicates that. We are effectively the complete opposite to Hawthorn. Good players flock there, often for less than market value, because they know they'll play in finals, will be very well developed and will be surrounded by a culture of success.

I think youre doing us something of an injustice there Moonie.

Whilst there would have been absolutely no argument we have been poo for a long whiles. We are turning the corner and the setup Melbourne now have with Roos, many other good assistants...a succession in place. Jackson steering the ship etc all bodes well. Other players who are in positions of acrimony etc or limited opportunities might well look at us and think.. Stay with bozo club or move to a fresh regime etc Some might legitimately take the view we are on the rise and where they are maybe not.

Its not all about money. Some want to play footy

The fact that we've attracted no interest of any quality for pick 2 or 3 (so far) indicates that.

This comment I am not sure about Moonshadown, more so that you seem to infer we can't attract players with those picks, Sure that is more to do with clubs not prepared to trade the players we want, or inversely the players we are bundling with our picks are not that attractive. The players could/should find us an attractive 'alternative', and more importantly I think the player managers know that we are a viable option in Melbourne again.

I think youre doing us something of an injustice there Moonie.

Whilst there would have been absolutely no argument we have been poo for a long whiles. We are turning the corner and the setup Melbourne now have with Roos, many other good assistants...a succession in place. Jackson steering the ship etc all bodes well. Other players who are in positions of acrimony etc or limited opportunities might well look at us and think.. Stay with bozo club or move to a fresh regime etc Some might legitimately take the view we are on the rise and where they are maybe not.

Its not all about money. Some want to play footy

Stable, yes, but we all know how quickly that can change On the rise... well, the second half of the year might indicate no. Just about anyone can play footy at Melbourne - Byrnes, Terlich, Bail and M Jones are testament to that. While I'd love us to land Danger, Sheil or the like, and gleefully I'd eat humble pie if we did, however I can't honestly see us as being attractive to very good players beyond money. I'd love for you to be correct, though Bub.

Love your work, mate, but a month and a bit is a long time in football. Have we all forgotten, what, only a month or so ago? A number of Demonlanders were basically saying it'd take at least two more off seasons just to cut the deadwood from the list, let alone recruit/trade in fresh talent. I agree that we look like a more stable destination than quite a few places and our coaching panel is certainly the major drawcard, but there's no way our list is on the verge of really coming together, IMO. Our forwardline is far too reliant on too few (even with the addition of Garlett) and our midfield is still C grade with its staggering lack of depth. A handful of clubs may go backwards next year, due to destabilising off season's, but I'm just not convinced we've anywhere near the amount of talent that we need to take us forward.

Having said all that, I really hope you're right though. I'm sick of waiting. I hope Roos and co can pull a rabbit out of the hat this off season and in season 2015.

Geeze, you know how to deflate a bloke

The challenges next year will again be kicking winning scores, as expectation on young Hoges obviously has to be tempered. Another year and a full pre-season (that old chestnut) will bode well for the midfield given our age profile. I can see us taking a significant step forward in 2015 in that regard.

I guess this is always the time for Melbourne fans to feel buoyant. Right now, it seems more logical than it has in the past. The club is starting to feel settled.

This comment I am not sure about Moonshadown, more so that you seem to infer we can't attract players with those picks, Sure that is more to do with clubs not prepared to trade the players we want, or inversely the players we are bundling with our picks are not that attractive. The players could/should find us an attractive 'alternative', and more importantly I think the player managers know that we are a viable option in Melbourne again.

You may be right there Ouch, but it would be reasonable to say that player managers think all clubs are viable if they can get a big commission or percentage from a $700-800k contract. They are interested in money, which we have in our cap space. To trade 2 or 3 we must do a deal that is attractive to the respective clubs as well as player/s, but we need high quality players wanting to come to MFC for it to happen. So far (and I hope this changes), we are not attracting any players worthy of pick 2/3.

This story with Griffen could be huge for us. Pick 2 for 4,and 7. We will pick the same players at 3 and 4 that we would have at 2 and 3, and we get 7 for free.

This story with Griffen could be huge for us. Pick 2 for 4,and 7. We will pick the same players at 3 and 4 that we would have at 2 and 3, and we get 7 for free.

If I were the Bulldogs - I wouldn't do that deal.

Even if the Saints offered 1 for 4 and 7 I wouldn't do it as a Bulldog List Manager.

It's like trading Jack Watts for Hamish Hartlett and Daniel Rich back in 2008.

Anyone up for that deal?

I wouldn't want Griffen, any captain that walks out on his club, has a bad feel to it.

McCartney has just resigned

Player power snags another one.

People can go on about the "tail wagging the dog" all they want, but simply, if you find yourself in this situation as a coach, you're not really doing your job that well...

People can go on about the "tail wagging the dog" all they want, but simply, if you find yourself in this situation as a coach, you're not really doing your job that well...

Too many princesses in this current generation of footballers. If guys like neeld and McCartney are seen to be too hard, how would they go under barassi??

Too many princesses in this current generation of footballers. If guys like neeld and McCartney are seen to be too hard, how would they go under barassi??

Who ever said Neeld or McCartney were "too hard" other than a few flogs on a footy forum? "Too incompetent" would be more accurate.

I wouldn't want Griffen, any captain that walks out on his club, has a bad feel to it.

peter moore?

Isn't it great that other clubs are having problems for a change?

Yes and know. Yes because i'm loving our stability. Yes if it was the Cats. But no in the doggies case. They are struggling as bad as us and can't afford a crisis.

I wouldn't want Griffen, any captain that walks out on his club, has a bad feel to it.

I'd have taken Judd from WCE in a heart beat.