i want an apology from the club

[ManDee 7,134]

I have sent my request for an apology with my membership number, I wonder what sort of response I will get?

[email protected]

--I am bitterly disappointed with the lack of effort by the players of the Melbourne Football Club.

If there is a valid reason for the insipid performance of the players, the supporters deserve to be told. If not we need an apology.

I think you have lost me as a loyal paid up member and supporter.

I turn up and pay my membership every year, what have you given me?

Edit - Also sent to (thanks ProDee), [email protected] [email protected]

Quoted myself for context.

From Paul Roos.

I am sure you don't need a long winded response full of excuses.

2013 was the 4 th worst season in AFL/VFL history by any team.

Clearly we have many areas we need to improve on .

I can't speak for the players but I can apologise for my performance .

My job is to get the players ready to play , clearly that didn't happen .

You do deserve better . I agree .

Paul Roos

[biggestred 5,081]

Heh. My email was 800words...

[What 18,810]

Quoted myself for context.

From Paul Roos.

I am sure you don't need a long winded response full of excuses.

2013 was the 4 th worst season in AFL/VFL history by any team.

Clearly we have many areas we need to improve on .

I can't speak for the players but I can apologise for my performance .

My job is to get the players ready to play , clearly that didn't happen .

You do deserve better . I agree .

Paul Roos

ITs good that he responded, and i m sure he is [censored] off. Dont think bombing him with emails will help anything,., its the players that need to be given a rocket by the supporters.

But as usual they will get away with it.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

ITs good that he responded, and i m sure he is [censored] off. Dont think bombing him with emails will help anything,., its the players that need to be given a rocket by the supporters.

But as usual they will get away with it.

I agree, great he responded and bombarding him with emails isn't great but maybe some of them will be passed on to the players?

[Clintosaurus 7,844]

Seems it was good I didn't see any of yesterday's game - got home from soccer at 5.30 and watched the last 30 minutes of Parra beating Manly in the NRL.

I did see the score when it was 50-8 while checking SuperCoach scores and figured the players have given up for the year so I'll forget about being a supporter until 2016 as well.

The one thing I don't get is how the players just don't mentally turn up for work on the most important day each week? I have no choice in my job and even when playing lower division soccer I still turn up and focus purely on the game forthe 90 minutes. It's not that hard.

[Sir Why You Little 37,034]

[email protected]

[email protected]

Thanks for those

First time i will be sending my feelings direct

The players need to go

[iv'a worn smith 1,979]

I had great hope, like most of us after beating Geelong on their now dung heap. Did not expect miracles, but thought that win was a sign of improvement and moving in the right direction of the future. I am absolutely at a loss to understand yesterday's performance. I would have thought that the belting we received last week would have been enough of a spur to perform better and have a red hot go, against what most see at the moment as a basket case of a club; Carlton. To me, this is the worst loss of the season.

For years now, we have debated the cause of such inept displays. Is it culture? Being mentally scarred by past events? Or are we simply talent poor? I suspect the latter, but right now, we are a rabble. I am not looking to blame anyone, as I am not privy to what goes on behind close doors, but there is something very wrong - still - within the club and it needs to be fixed asap. Otherwise, we will again see further leakage in the membership numbers.

[Sir Why You Little 37,034]

I agree, great he responded and bombarding him with emails isn't great but maybe some of them will be passed on to the players?

Roosy should print them all out and make sure the players see them...

[pitmaster 3,549]

I did something I never thought I would do...walked away at half time.

That effort (inappropriate word for what happened but you know what I mean) was so lame, so lacking in respect for the club, its colours and supporters, so spiritless and so utterly p#@% weak that I don't know how the players look at themselves after the game.

And Jeremy Howe, I know he has x-factor and marketability, but some of his disposals in the second half of the year have been spectacularly bad. Right now, I don't think I would care if he walks. I'd take a quick, strong bodied midfielder over his once-or-twice a game playground hangers.

[Adam The God 30,239]

Bloody hell. I'm not sure emailing Paul and PJ is going to do anything, but waste their time. I'd rather them working on ways to fix the team and the club, rather than respond to angry emails from members. Good on Roosy for replying though.

[Mydee 288]

Every member and supporter deserves an apology from the playing group.

But we wont get one.. do you know why?

The players do not give a flying [censored] about the members and supporters.

Get out the old PJ Proby EP/single from the 1960s and pour a large whiskey - He sang a song called I apologize-That's as close as you will get.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,754]

The thing is we probably will. I need to see at least half a season of consistent effort before I will be convinced.

I think we have seen half a season of consistent effort. Unfortunately it's been distributed unevenly across 20 games

Top 5 questions

Why is the tackling ineffective? why tackle around the nec

why handball to other players under more pressure in the back 50?

why is goalkicking so casual?

why kick on your opposite foot and turnover the ball?

why do we fumble and slipover all the time??

I have an alternative question. Why do so many of our players not have the ability to kick with the opposite foot? Newton and Viney both got caught trying to get onto the left when they could have disposed of the ball under less pressure on their right.

I only remember two things Grimes did today, and both were total cockups that resulted in Carlton getting the ball. He's stuffed.

I get that you're angry, but Grimes was one of the best out there (admittedly of a bad lot). He's still got some Bailey/Neeld conditioning that he's had trouble getting rid of. In classic Bailey style, he keeps holding onto the ball waiting for a better option rather than taking the first option that presents itself.

[Jaded No More 68,913]

I appreciate that Roos replied and took some of the responsibility, as it is absolutely his job to get the team up to play each week.

Obviously not something he is used to, as when he was up at Sydney and worked with a bunch of professional athletes who actually took pride in their job, he probably didn't need to tell them to turn up to games.

It's actually disgusting that our players need to be urged to try and play hard. I get that the season is over, and we can't make finals, but futures are on the line, and wouldn't it be nice to finish closer to 8th than 18th for once? Take some momentum into pre-season? Actually take pride in our performances?

Imagine if us plebs who earn not even a quarter of what these guys earned had to be told to turn up to work and try?

In most normal jobs, the conversations would go something like this "turn up, or you're fired". At the MFC it's "what excuse can we use this week to explain why we didn't turn up to work".

[whoszachunt 29]

I agree, great he responded and bombarding him with emails isn't great but maybe some of them will be passed on to the players?

The players, as far as I can see, would not give a toss !! Why would emails from Members/supporters bother them. Nothing else appears to. They (many of them) do not possess much character from where I sit. Caring about what we say , it appears, is not part of their "culture". It is time we made a more serious stand.

What are we getting for our Membership fees ? Why are we paying membership fees at all ? It is achieving nothing and is well earned money badly invested.

I have been a Melbourne Supporter since I was 11 (1958) and an interstate paid up Member for many years and I have come to the point where I have almost had enough.

When I look at some of the younger brigade on our list, I think maybe we have a brighter future and we SHOULD have but I am probably not "clever" enough to analyze the reasons we are not performing on the field and I do not subscribe to now 10 year old theories like "we WILL be there" "it takes time" "they are a young developing side" "the coach is no good" .. NO, something else is sadly missing..

I may not understand the current generation of players when we get flogged they do not seem to hurt enough, they are too "friendly" with the opposition .

I come from a long line of sports people. Some of my family (and I) were involved in professional cycling, boxing, football and more and I just do not get this bloody smiling, laughing business from losers.

I always hurt when I lost in any sport I participated in. I was this year inducted into the Hall of Fame in Tenpin Bowling, which I took on competitively after I finished football and cricket in 1975 and I can assure you despite what some people may think about Tenpins, it is an extremely competitive sport at the top level and I hated losing but never blamed anyone but myself. Am I too old fashioned ??

I love this Club or at least I loved it a little more a few years back.

Where are we heading ? It is so frustrating and embarrassing to keep supporting this once mighty Football Club. Rant over (for now)

[whoszachunt 29]

I'm thinking that I will take 2016 off from football.

I will buy my membership, but I will not attend games, I will try not to watch games (Melbourne or otherwise) and I will stop posting on and reading here.

If you feel that badly, why buy a membership ? They won't notice you are missing . Don't give them your hard earned.

If you do not buy a membership it will be noticed. Why not go the "whole hog" and register your complete disapproval ?

I am thinking along those lines . If enough of us get serious and do the same , it will eventually hurt.

Anyone thinking that would not help the Club needs to think along the lines of "what bloody difference is my membership making now ?" The Club is stuffed regardless.

[stuie 7,374]

[Bobby McKenzie 2,385]

This is not normal though. This is not a football club its a disaster zone. No other clubs supporters have been through such a long period of darkness and ineptness. A club should bring its supporters some joy every now and then... we get none.

You had no joy from beating Geelong at Geelong, Western Bulldogs, Collingwood and Richmond? Lighten up mate.

[old dee 23,788]

I had great hope, like most of us after beating Geelong on their now dung heap. Did not expect miracles, but thought that win was a sign of improvement and moving in the right direction of the future. I am absolutely at a loss to understand yesterday's performance. I would have thought that the belting we received last week would have been enough of a spur to perform better and have a red hot go, against what most see at the moment as a basket case of a club; Carlton. To me, this is the worst loss of the season.

For years now, we have debated the cause of such inept displays. Is it culture? Being mentally scarred by past events? Or are we simply talent poor? I suspect the latter, but right now, we are a rabble. I am not looking to blame anyone, as I am not privy to what goes on behind close doors, but there is something very wrong - still - within the club and it needs to be fixed asap. Otherwise, we will again see further leakage in the membership numbers.

Here lies the problem.

Because we want to see improvement we all see the players as being better than they are.

In the last few weeks we have been beaten by St Kilda ( twice ), Essendon and Carlton

All teams in the bottom third of the ladder.

Essendon have won one game in 12 weeks

Carlton have won one game in the last 8 weeks.

That tells me our talent level is poor.

No amount of effort compensates for a poor skill level.

[old dee 23,788]

You had no joy from beating Geelong at Geelong, Western Bulldogs, Collingwood and Richmond? Lighten up mate.

It is lost when you cannot beat the Saints, Carlton and Essendon especially the last two who cannot beat time with a stick.

Victories three months ago amount to little in the light of the last half of the season.

[ManDee 7,134]

I competed in individual sports, motorcross, enduros, squash, go carting, sailboarding. Now almost sixty I only compete in tennis. I still hate losing.

I hate losing but can live with being beaten. Anyone can be beaten by a better player/team but if you lose that is through lack of effort or too many mistakes. When I lost at squash I would send myself for a 5km run straight after the match as punishment. I did this, I had pride in my performance. Where is the pride in the performance of the players of the MFC?

How about, I did not earn my match payment so I will pay for junior memberships or donate to a junior football team?

If it doesn't hurt to lose make it hurt, then don't lose.

[whoszachunt 29]

No, but surely a person is entitled to some Joy in there life!

He didn't even want to go to school today because he hates being laughed at and bagged for being a Demon.

He and his mates are footy mad......it's tough when you are a footy tragic and your team plays like a bunch of clowns.

No it's not life and death, but it is bloody depressing.

I agree with you, DeeZee. We give our hard earned to this Club and I for one think we are entitled to a reasonable return and not the miserable cr*p this club is presenting to us.You are PAYING for the "privilege" of watching the rubbish they throw up , which is incorrectly called entertainment and professionalism. What a (not so funny) joke. It may be just a sport and no one has died, Melb16, but for some it is more than that and to those who think it is just a "sport", there in lies our cultural problem. Just saying.

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

I'm thinking that I will take 2016 off from football.

I will buy my membership, but I will not attend games, I will try not to watch games (Melbourne or otherwise) and I will stop posting on and reading here.

and when people inevitably talk footy around me I will quietly leave the room

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

If you feel that badly, why buy a membership ? They won't notice you are missing . Don't give them your hard earned.

If you do not buy a membership it will be noticed. Why not go the "whole hog" and register your complete disapproval ?

I am thinking along those lines . If enough of us get serious and do the same , it will eventually hurt.

Anyone thinking that would not help the Club needs to think along the lines of "what bloody difference is my membership making now ?" The Club is stuffed regardless.

The problem is that it is up to the PLAYERS to put in the effort and contest with everything they have on the field. Withdrawing your financial support does not affect them, their pay will stay the same, if the club folds they will go elsewhere. While a massive exodous of protesting members will certainly be felt by the administration, the players themselves won't even notice or care.

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

You had no joy from beating Geelong at Geelong, Western Bulldogs, Collingwood and Richmond? Lighten up mate.

R1 was good too. That's only 5 out of 20 though, the other 15 have almost all been nightmare stuff. Yesterday was actually like being tortured, I was literally moaning writhing in pain in my seat. That's not what supporting a footy side is supposed to be about, and we have endured too much of it for too long.

[Sir Why You Little 37,034]

The problem is that it is up to the PLAYERS to put in the effort and contest with everything they have on the field. Withdrawing your financial support does not affect them, their pay will stay the same, if the club folds they will go elsewhere. While a massive exodous of protesting members will certainly be felt by the administration, the players themselves won't even notice or care.

Correct the club must be kept financial

Players come and go...