See I don't understand this. By loving Melbourne, don't you want what's best for the club and what will best help the club in its quest for premiership success?

Assuming you do, then let me ask you this: which scenario best helps the club, beating Carlton or losing to Carlton?

It's not as if hoping we lose is not showing your support to the club. In fact it's the opposite. Hoping we lose is actually showing that you want what's best for the MFC.

Agreed. I am swapping jumpers with a Carlton supporter mate, bc we are each barracking for the other team! I don't think I will actually be able to wear their jumper, but the point is, barracking for the demons means barracking for the blues (unless they win this week), then hiding until 2008!

See I don't understand this. By loving Melbourne, don't you want what's best for the club and what will best help the club in its quest for premiership success?

Assuming you do, then let me ask you this: which scenario best helps the club, beating Carlton or losing to Carlton?

It's not as if hoping we lose is not showing your support to the club. In fact it's the opposite. Hoping we lose is actually showing that you want what's best for the MFC.

Yes, in the long run, I hope we lose this match. The better result in the long run is to lose no doubt about that. However not nearly as much as whats at stake for Carlton.

I'll give you a similar example in round 22 2003. I knew that if we lost to Sydney we'll get a priority pick. But why the hell did I go to the game hungry and desperate for a win? Its because I love the feeling of a win. It makes your night/weekend/week.

I know its more beneficial to lose this game, but while at the MCG, will you honestly shout out "Oh [censored] another goal to the Dees. I can't stand us being 6 goals ahead".

Yes its better to lose this game, but I'm not an advocate of cheering the other team in a home and away game.

Hopefully we can somehow knock off Freo, Or Carlton negotiate the Kangaroos (probably more likely)

so this discussion will then be irrelevent

short term pain..... long term gain !!

nothing to be GAINED by winnng this match

I'll give you a similar example in round 22 2003. I knew that if we lost to Sydney we'll get a priority pick. But why the hell did I go to the game hungry and desperate for a win? Its because I love the feeling of a win. It makes your night/weekend/week.

I know its more beneficial to lose this game, but while at the MCG, will you honestly shout out "Oh [censored] another goal to the Dees. I can't stand us being 6 goals ahead".

I went to that game too. Of course I didn't cheer Sydney. Just sat there quietly hoping they'd run over us, which they did. I also love the feeling of a win - but not when it costs you Brock McLean in the draft! That kinda makes the win an empty feeling!

Any nice feelings associated with a win in those circumstances is short-term. I'm happy to sacrifice short-term gain for long-term gain.

want to make this THE game of the year ??

Get them to exhange jumpers at the startof game.. They are effectively playing for the opposition !! loll Then they'll play to win...hehehe

it would be interesting if the afl came out and changed the rules in the week leading up to the game for those exact reason...maybe they could say winner will get the priority pick? or do a toss before the game.

but no matter who you are, you cannot claim that there will be no conflict with winning this game for both sides...

or...

do a variation on the old Collingwood trick....start a fight..

but this time hope they take the bait..and pick up the pill and kick a score !! lol

roll up...roll up !! its AFL Poison Ball !! :D

or even its the AFL Tunnel Ball :D

"Congratulations Jack, you are a true visionary. "

Thanks for the little dig, Ash.....I deserved that! Some visionary!!!!

But your post helped to specify the dilemma that faces Melb and Carlton. I sort of knew the possible outcomes, but couldn't be sure enough to confidently delineate them in print, so I'm grateful for your lucid explanation.

The reason I was slightly piqued at the low level of comment on my post was because of my provocative claim about the responsibility of our footy dept to make sure we don't win this game. The players will always go flat out. Apart from any other reason, it's not in the interest of fringe players for the club to get good new recruits. It's up to the selectors and match committee to make sure we have the least possible chance of winning this game.

Carlton supporters are confident that their footy dept won't let the unthinkable happen(winning). I'd like to have the same confidence in our footy dept.

If some of you actually think a player goes out there to lose a game you have obviously never played competitive football. Agreed the coaching staff make moves (put players out of position, drop players) but players DON'T TANK.

'Madness'

It seems you may have comprehended that minor component of this thread.

I went to that game too. Of course I didn't cheer Sydney. Just sat there quietly hoping they'd run over us, which they did. I also love the feeling of a win - but not when it costs you Brock McLean in the draft! That kinda makes the win an empty feeling!

Any nice feelings associated with a win in those circumstances is short-term. I'm happy to sacrifice short-term gain for long-term gain.

Totally agree Scoop.

There is nothing to gain by winning either of the next 2 weeks.

The reason I was slightly piqued at the low level of comment on my post was because of my provocative claim about the responsibility of our footy dept to make sure we don't win this game. The players will always go flat out. Apart from any other reason, it's not in the interest of fringe players for the club to get good new recruits. It's up to the selectors and match committee to make sure we have the least possible chance of winning this game.

Carlton supporters are confident that their footy dept won't let the unthinkable happen(winning). I'd like to have the same confidence in our footy dept.

I actually completely agree with you.

Carlton have set the pace by putting Thornton and Fevola in cotton wool for the year.

Apparently James McDonalds injury happened at training.

The Empire strikes back!!!

We will win this games and not because Carlton tank.

MELBOURNE

B: Colin Garland, Ryan Ferguson, Nathan Brown

HB: Jace Bode, Clint Bizzell, Daniel Ward

C: Chris Johnson, Brad Green, Simon Buckley

HF: Byron Pickett, Brad Miller, Michael Newton

F: Colin Sylvia, Russell Robertson, Paul Johnson

FOLL: Jeff White, Brock McLean, Cameron Bruce

I/C: Mark Jamar, Matthew Warnock, Lynden Dunn

OUT: Nathan Carroll Travis Johnstone David Neitz Nathan Jones

MELBOURNE

B: Colin Garland, Ryan Ferguson, Nathan Brown

HB: Jace Bode, Clint Bizzell, Daniel Ward

C: Chris Johnson, Brad Green, Simon Buckley

HF: Byron Pickett, Brad Miller, Michael Newton

F: Colin Sylvia, Russell Robertson, Paul Johnson

FOLL: Jeff White, Brock McLean, Cameron Bruce

I/C: Mark Jamar, Matthew Warnock, Lynden Dunn

OUT: Nathan Carroll Travis Johnstone David Neitz Nathan Jones

Nice team, except take out Robbo and bring in Neville.

We had 6 injuries last week. The task tomorrow is to try and equal that (no serious injuries!), so that we can drop a whole host of first-choice players without looking too suspicious.

The task tomorrow is to try and equal that (no serious injuries!), so that we can drop a whole host of first-choice players without looking too suspicious.

Its like some kind of covert undercover operation to completely suck for the betterment of our future !!!

Its like some kind of covert undercover operation to completely suck for the betterment of our future !!!

Amen to that!

I'm going to miss the first quarter tomorrow as I'll be at work. But when I get home, I expect to see us 10 goals down.

It's all about losing... and watching Newton/Buckley/CJ/Jones/Dunn/McLean/Sylvia...

DAM CARLTON AGAIN PLAYED WITH NO DESIRE TO WIN, I THINK THEY SHOULD BE PENELISED WITH PREMERSHIP POINS OR SUMFIN, BUT I CANT BLAME THEM, WHAT DO YOU THINK THIER PUNISHMENT SHOULD BE.

DAM CARLTON AGAIN PLAYED WITH NO DESIRE TO WIN, I THINK THEY SHOULD BE PENELISED WITH PREMERSHIP POINS OR SUMFIN, BUT I CANT BLAME THEM, WHAT DO YOU THINK THIER PUNISHMENT SHOULD BE.

next week is going to be a farce.

both teams supporters actually wanting the other side to lose. there really should not be a situation like this occur.

there is no doubt carlton are tanking...houlihan and lappin late withdrawels for 2 shithouse 18 yrolds...honestly how obvious can u get?

next week is going to be a farce.

both teams supporters actually wanting the other side to lose. there really should not be a situation like this occur.

there is no doubt carlton are tanking...houlihan and lappin late withdrawels for 2 shithouse 18 yrolds...honestly how obvious can u get?

2 RIGHT BUT I THINK THE BALL WILL SIT IN THE CENTRE OF THE GROUND 4 TWO HOURS AND WE WILL DRAW, GOOD 4 PERCENTAGE, GET RIDA PRIORITY PICS

turn ya capslock off!

turn ya capslock off!

WATS IT 2 U I HAV A RIGHT

The way we're playing, we won't have to try too hard to lose.

We're pathetic, so pathetic in fact that we'll give Carlton a run for its draft picks.

The way we're playing, we won't have to try too hard to lose.

We're pathetic, so pathetic in fact that we'll give Carlton a run for its draft picks.

The trouble is that we are far dumber than Carlton and they will conspire to make us win. After the year we have had if we lose pick 2 and the priority pick, we deserve the hindrance to our improvement it will cause.