I'm loving watching this team grow. The sense of belief, cockiness and comradery, In a strange way remind me a little of the Gallipolli series. That ability to smile in the face of adversity, the self belief to have a crack, egging each other on. With characters like Bernie, Clarrie, Jonesy and Viney a new version could write itself. I guess what I'm trying to say is I love what PJ and PR have envisaged as our brand. The spirit of the digger. 

Articles like Cam Mooney's below, show people are starting to look at the bigger picture and are liking where we are heading as a club. So stop the micro-scrutiny, take the gaze of the navel and start enjoying the ride. I know we've all been burnt before, but, this is very different. 

MELBOURNE

Melbourne, to me, out of all of the sides out of the eight look best placed to move in next year.

They have gone to the draft and got in some high level talent, such as Jesse Hogan, Christian Petracca, Clayton Oliver and Angus Brayshaw. These guys will only get better again.

Add that to some great father-son selections in Todd Viney, who will be their next captain and is already a spiritual leader, and young Billy Stretch.

Add that to more experienced players like Tom McDonald, Max Gawn and Nathan Jones, and a few very handy recruits in Bernie Vince and Tom Bugg, and the list has so much upside.

What I like about the Dees is that they seem to be enjoying playing with each other.

Young blokes like Viney just bleed for the jumper and his mates are jumping in behind him.

They want to be there and they desperately want success together. That is the minimum starting point and the signs are good.

The gap between their good and bad games is getting closer and there is a good culture there now.

Paul Roos was criticised initially for his defensive and ugly tactics, but he has taught tis list to defend, win contested ball, and now as they are learning to attack. Next year I’d expect them to take another step under Simon Goodwin.

The Demons have a lot of up-and-coming talent led by Jack Viney.

The media and armchair experts seem to have also forgetten we moved up in the draft to select weed. If Salem comes on also, there are another 2 prized kids to enter the fray in 2017.

Things are looking up.

There is a hard competitive edge to this team that is still a little raw and untapped; shades of Hawthorn's attitude in 2005/06.  I love the way they get stuck into players who duck or shirk the contest.

2 hours ago, Demi Dee said:

I'm loving watching this team grow. The sense of belief, cockiness and comradery, In a strange way remind me a little of the Gallipolli series. That ability to smile in the face of adversity, the self belief to have a crack, egging each other on. With characters like Bernie, Clarrie, Jonesy and Viney a new version could write itself. I guess what I'm trying to say is I love what PJ and PR have envisaged as our brand. The spirit of the digger. 

Articles like Cam Mooney's below, show people are starting to look at the bigger picture and are liking where we are heading as a club. So stop the micro-scrutiny, take the gaze of the navel and start enjoying the ride. I know we've all been burnt before, but, this is very different. 

MELBOURNE

Melbourne, to me, out of all of the sides out of the eight look best placed to move in next year.

They have gone to the draft and got in some high level talent, such as Jesse Hogan, Christian Petracca, Clayton Oliver and Angus Brayshaw. These guys will only get better again.

Add that to some great father-son selections in Todd Viney, who will be their next captain and is already a spiritual leader, and young Billy Stretch.

Add that to more experienced players like Tom McDonald, Max Gawn and Nathan Jones, and a few very handy recruits in Bernie Vince and Tom Bugg, and the list has so much upside.

What I like about the Dees is that they seem to be enjoying playing with each other.

Young blokes like Viney just bleed for the jumper and his mates are jumping in behind him.

They want to be there and they desperately want success together. That is the minimum starting point and the signs are good.

The gap between their good and bad games is getting closer and there is a good culture there now.

Paul Roos was criticised initially for his defensive and ugly tactics, but he has taught tis list to defend, win contested ball, and now as they are learning to attack. Next year I’d expect them to take another step under Simon Goodwin.

The Demons have a lot of up-and-coming talent led by Jack Viney.

Sorry for crashing, but Todd Vineys soon Todd? 

I went to the Heartland training session at Toorak Park tonight, a great initiative by the club for the 2nd year.

They barely trained 25 mins but one thing that stood out to me was how much they seem to be enjoying themselves, and enjoying each other's company.

Lots of laughs and piz$taking, cockiness as you mentioned but serious and intent when required, seems like a great environment to be involved in.

Better times are coming, we just need to remember how young this group is and be patient, the tide is turning!

I tried to start a thread like this a couple of years ago. In hindsight I was a bit premature, or maybe ahead of my time, Whatever, it took no time at all before the negative Nellies on this forum hijacked it and killed it off with the usual pessimism. I hope this one can endure a little longer. 

I agree, we are seeing the beginnings of something good coming our way. There is a spirit among the boys that I haven't seen for a long time. The heads don't drop any more and they keep doing what they have committed to. Jack Watts now attacks the ball with vigour because he knows everybody has his back. This is something I haven't seen in a long time. There's a sense of togetherness that will eventually lift every one of them to greater things.

We have some great young talent but I don't think we're just going to see a team of champions - I think we're going to see a champion team. It's going to be great. This shot says it all...

Good luck with the thread. Long may it live and prosper.

GO DEES!

 

 

Hulett doing some good things under the radar in the VFL as well.

Hopefully we have pinched one later in the draft. 

26 minutes ago, Hell Bent said:

I went to the Heartland training session at Toorak Park tonight, a great initiative by the club for the 2nd year.

They barely trained 25 mins but one thing that stood out to me was how much they seem to be enjoying themselves, and enjoying each other's company.

Lots of laughs and piz$taking, cockiness as you mentioned but serious and intent when required, seems like a great environment to be involved in.

Better times are coming, we just need to remember how young this group is and be patient, the tide is turning!

Hey Rev didn't you start that thread whilst Neeld was still coach?

13 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Hey Rev didn't you start that thread whilst Neeld was still coach?

No mate not me, who's Rev??

1 minute ago, Hell Bent said:

No mate not me, who's Rev??

Computer Glitch!!

the system is failing!!!!!!

Great thread!  I can so so many positives too and you hear it when the team talk - they believe now too.  Sure it is taking time (too much for some) but good things come to those who wait.  Look at the belief - Max now believes in his body - he can go hard, Watts feels like Roos saved his career, H feels like his best footy is just around the corner etc...  I like optimism, it breeds positivity.  

I think we will rise to mid table / lower half of eight, will unfortunately rise the same time as gws so no premiership glory.

the league will restructure and due to our tiny supporter base and lack of talent amongst that base for board level positions, will eventually either fold or be merged.

mfc, footscray, stkilda won't win another cup

Just s@&T stirring -. Love the thread

9 hours ago, The Reverend said:

 

 

Love that pic!  I reckon Jack Watts would have loved seeing Jack Viney go after Rance - the 'smallest' guy in the team sticking up for him...birds eye view of physical courage and mental fortitude.  Probably helped to get himself into games more, physically.  JV is such a terrier!

 

4 hours ago, Bells said:

Great thread!  I can so so many positives too and you hear it when the team talk - they believe now too.  Sure it is taking time (too much for some) but good things come to those who wait.  Look at the belief - Max now believes in his body - he can go hard, Watts feels like Roos saved his career, H feels like his best footy is just around the corner etc...  I like optimism, it breeds positivity.  

Thats a big step. Even when we lose the talk from the players no longer defensive, much more ownership taken. Roos says the occasional odd thing to draw any heat on himself rather than the players. Then everyone is humble and realistic when we win, all good signs.

9 hours ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Hey Rev didn't you start that thread whilst Neeld was still coach?

I was hoping nobody would pick me up on that. I did say I was a bit premature! What can I say, I'm an optimist!

34 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Love that pic!  I reckon Jack Watts would have loved seeing Jack Viney go after Rance - the 'smallest' guy in the team sticking up for him...birds eye view of physical courage and mental fortitude.  Probably helped to get himself into games more, physically.  JV is such a terrier!

 

Could be my favourite football shot of all time! It just says so much about the boy. Can't wait til he's our captain.

12 hours ago, The Reverend said:

 

I agree, we are seeing the beginnings of something good coming our way. There is a spirit among the boys that I haven't seen for a long time. The heads don't drop any more and they keep doing what they have committed to. Jack Watts now attacks the ball with vigour because he knows everybody has his back. This is something I haven't seen in a long time. 

Good luck with the thread. Long may it live and prosper.

GO DEES!

 

 

I though Jack Watts new found attack on the ball was more to do with our improved player development namely Macca. So many training reports had him doing boxing, wrestling and grappling away from the main group.

But there would have to be an element of walking taller knowing Jack Viney has your back.

 

Jayden Hunt will win a Bluey.

Woewy to come back as an assistant coach.

 

Yes and Rance went down like a $2 hooker what a pretender he is

Still reckon we should have taken Wines ahead of Toumpas.

7 minutes ago, praha said:

Still reckon we should have taken Wines ahead of Toumpas.

Here Here

31 minutes ago, praha said:

Still reckon we should have taken Wines ahead of Toumpas.

I think we all agree with you but we didn't! The past is history. Move on. This thread is about the future and all the magnificent possibilities that lie ahead for the MFC.

If you feel the need to dwell on the past start your own thread. Maybe it could be called the 'I'm only happy when I look back on all the miserable moments in my life' thread. 

If I've misread your intention and your post was actually an ironic jibe at the pessimists, I apologise. Sometimes irony and sarcasm go right over my head.

I don't know why the topic is called Optimist only    it should be Realist only