I'm going to edit this, because it is distracting from the point I am trying to make. This isn't about Bruce, or Green, and it's only about TJ because he is the player who has evoked this vitriol from Melbourne fans. This is about people needing to accept that a big call has been made, and in the long run it will probably be beneficial for our club.

For what it's worth, I agree with your points on TJ. He is the ultimate enigma, the flawed genius.

TJ could stand up when he needed to. Then just as quickly he'd be gone. There are two games I can specifically remember, both against Essendon. One was the Qualifying final in 2004. The second was the "Neale Daniher farewell" game this year. In both, TJ was instrumental in an amazing 7-goal third quarter comeback. Played like a man possessed. Then just as quickly, when the pressure was really on and the game was there to be won, he disappeared.

For what it's worth, I agree with your points on TJ. He is the ultimate enigma, the flawed genius.

TJ could stand up when he needed to. Then just as quickly he'd be gone. There are two games I can specifically remember, both against Essendon. One was the Qualifying final in 2004. The second was the "Neale Daniher farewell" game this year. In both, TJ was instrumental in an amazing 7-goal third quarter comeback. Played like a man possessed. Then just as quickly, when the pressure was really on and the game was there to be won, he disappeared.

Yep, and this is precisely why, if people stop and think, for a minute, they will realise that this is a call that had to be made for the sake of the club. We accept these half-hearted efforts, then moan because people laugh at us for being pathetic. We cannot move forward without changing something, it is as simple as that.

I find it funny that for so long the supporters of our club have called for us to show some balls and make tough decisions. Well we made a big one yesterday. Am i happy? Happy is too strong a word, i'm content with the clubs decision.

I've gotten comfortable with seeing Johnston coming and going from the team due to his soft tissue injuries, and i've always felt that if he could stay fit for a whole year and with the right coach he could carve up any side he wanted. But i have been waiting too long for this to happen, and while i was willing to give him a chance to prove himself with a new coach, evidently the club wasn't. And now Bails is trying to build us a side from the U/23 crop, and to do that we must give quality to get good picks.

It wouldn't surprise me if Johnston does extremely well at the big cats, but it probably wouldn't have happened here. He has been a disappointing no.1 pick, and now we must move on.

I've had it. Enough is enough.

People become very attached to their favourite players, let them vent their frustration how they want to, at least they care enough to do so. If the decision to trade Travis is enough for them to turn their backs on the club then that is their right to do so.

Hawthorn fans got over trading Croad (remember the vigil at Glenferrie) - the Demon fans will get over Trapper. Footy goes on, it's regenerative at it's best - groundhog day at it's worst.

I don't listen to the radio and as such may have missed a lot of this, but why do people keep saying that heaps of melbourne supporters are annoyed and angry, and that they should get over it?

from what i've seen on the boards that is the consensus, that we thought he had fantastic skills and great awareness but ultimately would not take us to where we needed to go. is much of the anger being shown on talkback?

I don't listen to the radio and as such may have missed a lot of this, but why do people keep saying that heaps of melbourne supporters are annoyed and angry, and that they should get over it?

from what i've seen on the boards that is the consensus, that we thought he had fantastic skills and great awareness but ultimately would not take us to where we needed to go. is much of the anger being shown on talkback?

To be fair, there are alot of supporters who are just upset, which is fair enough. But there are some, on here and on talkback, who are suggesting that armageddon is about to beset the place.

'Fans anger over Johnstone departure'

yeah i read that article, but i also don't really trust the herald sun's reporting, nor the motives behind it. of course there will be 'backlash' when such a talent is traded, but surely the positive thinking outweighs it.

maybe it's my personal opinion getting in the way, but i really can't see how someone could be angry about this decision

I think i sum it up for a lot of people when i say:

my heart wanted him to stay

my head knew he had to go

This is precisely the attitude I think people should be taking. I am sad to see TJ go as well. It may not seem it based on my original post, but I genuinely am sad that he is leaving us with so much unfulfilled. But we all need to move along, and realise this is the sort of decision the club needs to make if it is going to get anywhere.

Calling people this and that is just over the top buddy, look most Demon supporters loved Travis because he was such a skillful player and he was a joy to watch in full flight. He didn't do it enough but like most passionate supporters we live in hope, when that hope is taken away it takes a couple of days to get over it. You coming out ONE day later and abusing supporters for being weak and pathetic just makes you look like a FOOL and not understand what supporting YOUR team and being passionate is all about. l suggest you start supporting your team with passion like everyone else and not spend your waking moments dreaming of what derogatory shyte you can call your peers for not towing the line that you have taken. GROW UP :angry:

yeah i read that article, but i also don't really trust the herald sun's reporting, nor the motives behind it. of course there will be 'backlash' when such a talent is traded, but surely the positive thinking outweighs it.

maybe it's my personal opinion getting in the way, but i really can't see how someone could be angry about this decision

Then e-mail the club giving your support to their decision and long-term objectives. I just did.

Then e-mail the club giving your support to their decision and long-term objectives. I just did.

good call!

Calling people this and that is just over the top buddy, look most Demon supporters loved Travis because he was such a skillful player and he was a joy to watch in full flight. He didn't do it enough but like most passionate supporters we live in hope, when that hope is taken away it takes a couple of days to get over it. You coming out ONE day later and abusing supporters for being weak and pathetic just makes you look like a FOOL and not understand what supporting YOUR team and being passionate is all about. l suggest you start supporting your team with passion like everyone else and not spend your waking moments dreaming of what derogatory shyte you can call your peers for not towing the line that you have taken. GROW UP :angry:

That is scurrilous. I have not condemned people for being upset in the slightest. I UNDERSTAND people are upset, but people are slating the club for making a tough call, and that is what is annoying me. People can take all the time they want to get over it, thats their right, but to slam the club, like some people are, is extremely disappointing. How is that being a true supporter, unstable punt? I love the joint, have no doubt of that. I am DELIGHTED that they are finally showing a bit of bottle.

Again, people can take as much time as they need to get over it mate, but ringing up talkback radio and the club and tearing shreds off of them is hardly what we need from our supporters.

Again, people can take as much time as they need to get over it mate, but ringing up talkback radio and the club and tearing shreds off of them is hardly what we need from our supporters.

E-mail the club giving your support to their decision and long-term objectives.

This is what really shits me.

Supporters will ring up and whinge when they feel the need, but they won't turn up to games or support us when we're winning or buy a damn membership, yet they'll all celebrate when we win a flag.

They want success, but they don't want anything to change.

Again, people can take as much time as they need to get over it mate, but ringing up talkback radio and the club and tearing shreds off of them is hardly what we need from our supporters.

perhaps that's the point, the same supporters who berate the club for this decision are most likely the same supporters who stop attending after round 3.

They want success, but they don't want anything to change.

Amazing isnt it?

Then e-mail the club giving your support to their decision and long-term objectives. I just did.

That's a very nice thing to do Maurie.

I'm sure you'll get a box of chocolate's & some flowers.

That's a very nice thing to do Maurie.

I'm sure you'll get a box of chocolate's & some flowers.

Its also a common sense approach against the uninformed bile that people pass on this site as criticism of the Club.

That's a very nice thing to do Maurie.

I'm sure you'll get a box of chocolate's & some flowers.

Don't be silly Premiers, he's exactly right. To counteract the wave of negativity people are unleashing upon the place, we should send them some support. Don't expect to see 'Fan's rally in support of clubs decision' as a headline anytime soon, but it would help.

Amazing isnt it?

Indeed.

Our supporters are one of the biggest issues faced by this club.

There is every reason to be upset when your favourite player leaves, but don't lose sight of the fact that you barrack for MELBOURNE not for individual players.

Do you stop barracking for the club when your favourite player retires? Of course not.

We automatically expect doom and gloom, which is why we always accept mediocrity... we think we should take whatever we can get.

Well we shouldn't, we should strive to be the best. Sitting on our hands chanting "next year" won't help us one bit.

The trade is done. If we're top 4 next year nobody will even remember Travis, just like everyone got over Woey.

Amazing isnt it?

I want change - Massive change!

Not just this trade!

Even though it is a lump of poo it should give room for more players to develop & hey, even a kick up the bum!

I hope we're brewing something big for today or the PSD due to more cap room.

MelbourneFC need BIG changes & everyone needs to deal with them!

Support the jumper - Not the player.

The trade is done. If we're top 4 next year nobody will even remember Travis, just like everyone got over Woey.

I dont think everyone is over Woey!

Bigger picture is what we should be looking at. The whole "black day" for the MFC debate is a joke. If you know your football and love the dees, then you will embrace the shift in direction and acknowledge that while TJ was a favourite of the club, the club still remains bigger than any individual.

I dont think everyone is over Woey!

They don't count