Melbourne through and through

Hey, this thread has a poll! I vote 'keep'.

I like Col's commitment to staying at the club but I do wonder if he was one of those 'scarred' by the period of 2008 to 2013. It was a little perturbing to see Herry L pick him up off the ground when we were getting smashed by Hawthorn.

Just take a glance at the B&F results and you will see that he is obviously highly rated. I'm not quite that glowing but very happy to see him stay at the club.

And like others, am absolutely loving that quote. I said a similar thing to my old man (Hawks supporter) about Frawley on Saturday.

I'm sure Frawley enjoyed the premiership, but it would never compare to being a one club player through a really tough period, sticking it out and winning a flag. Now we just have a win a flag!

Intelligent and thoughtful man is Colin - easy to underestimate. Always feel our backline is more cohesive when he's there.

Can't put a value on loyal, heart and soul players.

From my point of you I think it is a good outcome.

Yes Garland's emotive statement probably says a lot about how D's backline felt they were carrying a big load together in the last 10 years.

Wonder if Hawk's CHB spared a thought when he read it.

YAY, Judy has signed!

Now please Mr. Garland, keep your head up when the chips are down and back yourself in with ball in hand and you will be what this clubs needs, a versatile & resilient player that does his role and puts the team first. (Reckon i can get any more cliches in there!?)

Seems like he'd be my sort of bloke, Col.

Stoked a great clubman will be a one club player.

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2015-10-07/colin-garland-contract

Show's that you can't read much into "body language" on field.

After reading that I am ecstatic he has signed on. Exactly the type of person we need around the club as we build forward.

Spot on - and a spooky coincidence. I just copied exactly the same part of that article to make my sig block

Well done Judy.

Good one Col

Intelligent and thoughtful man is Colin - easy to underestimate. Always feel our backline is more cohesive when he's there.

Can't put a value on loyal, heart and soul players.

From my point of you I think it is a good outcome.

Absolutely the attitude that builds a winning team.

“I was watching the game and people said ‘wouldn’t you love success?’ and I said ‘it wouldn’t mean anything to me unless it was with Melbourne’.

Super impressed from just one quote.

Spot on.

I'm absolutely happy about Col re-signing. And Cross. And McCartney sticking around.

All good developments. The green shoots are there.

I just read the MFC article.

I bloody love the bloke. Back into the leadership shortly I hope.

Wrapt that he's staying and his statements about the club were amongst the best I've ever heard from an MFC player - inspiring and encouraging. Otherwise it's just really good to see a senior player, turn his back on free agency and want to stay with us.

I remember his break out game against Hawthorn in 2008 where he played on Buddy and have been a big fan ever since. Try not to read too much into his body language, he mopes around even when we're winning, it's just his demeanour.

I loved Col's quote - the only better thing would have been to hear Patrick Dangerfield and Dion
Prestia both say in unison "“I was watching the game and people said ‘wouldn’t you love success?’ and I said ‘it wouldn’t mean anything to me unless it was with Melbourne’.

Absolutely love this bit from the article

"I told my manager I didn't want to speak to any other club, but it's funny after seeing one of my great mates [James Frawley] win a premiership on the weekend, because you have to be envious of success," he said.

"I was watching the game and people said, 'Wouldn't you love success?' and I said, 'It wouldn't mean anything to me unless it was with Melbourne'.

This is what I love to c from players. Made my day.

Col has shown his true colours as have others.

Well done Col.

Love, love, love Colin Garland! 'That' quote made my day.

Big fan of the Garland, bit of Dustin Fletcher about him will join the 300 club.

Did anyone else just vote 'keep'?

gee great

the 'goals against' statistic will remain high for another 3 years

Did anyone else just vote 'keep'?

I voted let go, now I regret it. Sorry Col.

Is it kosher to remove my vote? No, It stays as a permanent record of the fickle nature of football.

One of the reasons his committment and his quotes mean so much to me - as a supporter - is that it shows that our playing list is turning the corner. Despite the hell we've been through, the players who are still with us are players who want to turn it around, who love the club and want the success. With all due respect to Frawley, who suffered as a defender in a poor team, he got out of there when he could. That sort of attitude would have hung around like a miasma, the idea that "I need to chase success elsewhere" as opposed to the drive to achieve success at Melbourne.

As we look to improve players number 15-30 on our list through trades this year (Melksham, Kennedy, et al) we will become more competitive as we will run a bit deeper, and that drive will build towards success.

This sort of commitment from a senior player is a big thing for Melbourne. Potentially an external turning point for the club.

I've avoided this thread until now, but I found some of the posts criticising him pretty odd, especially the ones which point to some mistake he made as proof he wasn't up to it. The ball has come into the MFC backline so often and under so little pressure in recent years that if Jesus was in the backline there would be a lengthy video album of mistakes he made. Sure Garland may not be a perfect player but I can't see who would replace him in the near future. Glad he re-signed.

Warmed my heart to read Col's statement. A humble guy.

This heartfelt comment is what all supporters want to hear from their players but in today's cattle market very rarely get to hear or read.

Call me old fashioned but if loyalty completely disappears then the game will be much the poorer.

It is encouraging to hear the sense of belief that players like Hogan and Garland have in our players, club and direction. This spoken belief sustains me.

I was thinking on Sat that James Frawley might be happy and also lucky to play in a premiership side, but it never seems quite the same as for the one club player.