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I found it unintentionally sexist that someone named Notman is doing the dishes.

"handball it backwards to Jones to kick it forward"... Pardon me whilst I lower my expectations.

Stephen Tingay, Glenn Lovett, David Schwarz, Paul Prymke, Sean Charles, Gary Lyon, Alan Jackovic. If we'd kept these guys on the park... seen the best of them... we'd have won a flag in the mid-90's.

Just wanted to share my experience... I just got married on Saturday night and my wife planned a surprise visit from Luke Tapscott!!!! hahahaha He came in looking like an absolute picture of health, muscles were just incredibly massive...I don't know if you guys have seen him up close recently but he is so so massive it isn't funny... He came in taking the microphone saying that your wife mentioned how much of a passionate supporter you were and wished me all the best in life and hopefully they could win a few games for us next season! Handed me a framed squad photo signed by the team and got some photos with him and had a good chat to him one on one and with all the family who are melbourne supporters.. Incredibly nice bloke... He mentioned that the mature age blokes have been brought in to pile pressure onto players that have been getting "comfortable" for a number of seasons...And he said that Neeld has sorted a lot of blokes out.....And i asked him who and he just said "a lot of blokes" again.... He said the training was incredibly tough but the guys are responding very well to it.. Just thought i would share some info with you guys..

This logic of Davey having been a midfielder for several years therefore he should be a strong endurance runner doesn't wash with me. Davey and Blease would surely be the quickest two at the club over 5 metres or so; seems like a big coincidence that these two also happen to be struggling with the endurance as well. This thread is in desperate need of someone who knows what they're talking about chiming in, because there's a lot of guesswork going on right here that is leading to some nasty conclusions.

All in all, pretty disappointing for mine. I understand we are looking for the best deal and shouldn't rush to simply sell jumpers, but it does come across poor to the supporters who'd love a new one or to buy one as a gift and even more so to the outer public who see only 2 clubs- Melbourne and Port without a second major sponsor.

1.Robbie Flower 2.David Schwarz 3. Gary Hardeman 4.Stan Alves 5.Gary Lyon 6.Allen Jakovich 7.Jeff Farmer 8.Liam Jurrah 9.Jim Stynes 10 Hassa Mann

Agree - athletes are generally endurance (Jones, McLean, Moloney) or speed demons (Blease and Davey). Some times you get the odd gem who excels at both (Bail & Nicholson). It's much the same as howling down Jones and Moloney when they get smashed in a 50m sprint. I couldn't care less if they're in the last group so long as they're improving their endurance - if Blease isn't doing PB time trials - I'll go he for chasey (Davey has only just joined full training so would expect him to lag for a few weeks - he's way behind)

Andrew Lamprill burst on the scene in 1992 with a couple of goal of the year contenders against the Cats, lived off that glory with selection in another 20 or so games, before completely fizzing out.

I'd have to agree that Davey and Blease's running efforts were very disappointing - Blease's form just looks terrible and they were both wheezing their way through it. I've been surprised that Gysberts still hasn't managed to move up a group, (still in the Frawley, Garland running group) - with his body shape he should be a super long distance runner you'd think...we need him firing. A few weeks ago I heard Neil Craig really giving it to him. He also had it in for Fitzpatrick last time I was down, because Gawn kept beating him in the running...He's one that needs to lift, so I hope he gets a few rockets. Couldn't see him out there today though? Cook still looks stick thin.. quite an awkward looking runner. Still a season away from seniors I reckon. Rivers looks like he's really packed on some muscle this year... noticeably bigger arms and thighs, running really freely too - he kept gave a bit extra in the last 20 seconds of each run while others were dropping off. I have a feeling he's going to have a new lease of life this year. Down at the Yarra end, Sylvia, Jamar, Viney and a lot of the new blokes were running 30ish metre sprints at 3 qtr pace, with quite a gap in between... it sounded like they were trying to get exactly the same time each run - the trainer kept yelling out '4.3, spot on' or '4.1, too fast'... Not sure what this was achieving or why they were doing this? Josh Tynan was in this group, he looks a really good size, has some decent muscle already for a young fella and reminded me a bit of a younger Goddard... he runs very smoothly. The skills weren't perfect in the drills after the running, but the guys were all absolutely spent. Good sesh. Can't wait for footy to be back, I can't get in to this mickey mouse Twenty 20 rubbish at the moment.

The original Coodabeen----------- David Cordner!!!!!!!!!

I think it is available for streaming on this site. http://spekyselector...om/spekyv5.html

Congratulations on your marriage TTT and what a good story ! Tappy is 200 game player I reckon . I know he could play up the ground but I like the idea of the "Menacing" half back flanker !

Agree with nearly all you've said . My only reservation is about some other Clubs . I can't imagine Port and GW$ doing things as well as us . Perhaps they are "Behind the 8-ball" , I do like the idea of having an "edge" on other Teams . It all helps to add to the Wins column . We've picked up Neeld and Brown from the Pies ( are Collingwood the leaders with innovation , progressive thinking and professionalism ? ) along with Misson and Craig and a new look FD . In some ways you'd be disappointed if we didn't become one of the leading Teams in those areas that I mentioned . Neeld strikes me as always wanting to improve on things even if others might be thinking that things are ok . We've put the people into place , now it's time to deliver .

At an aftermatch function once I pointed out to Paul Gardner that it was easier to buy All Blacks merchandise in the city than Demons gear. If you're a tourist and you go in to a city sports shop, like Rebel, looking for Melbourne team gear - you'd have no problems picking up a Victory shirt, or a Rebels or Storm jumper. You'd have to search hard for Demons gear - even during the footy season. We don't get shelf space or prominence like the other Vic clubs. Fact. My suggestion then was that we should have our gear in a shop at Fed Sq. There's a tourist info / booking service flogging trinkets and souvenirs - with the the right kind of display they'd surely ta few shirts (footy jumpers don't have the same ready-to-wear around town utlity as soccer shirts and rugby tops). Ultimately though, winning flags is what sells gear.

New Vet's rule for 2013 is 10 year's service, they got rid of the 30 years old. That means Jamar and Rivers qualify in 2013 (and for unrestricted FA). Davey and Sylvia debuted in 2004 so 2012 is their 9th year so they don't qualify until 2014. Wouldn't surprise me if 2012 was Brad Green's last year. The OP makes a very good point - I reckon we'll need minimum 5 vacancies. With the new coaching set-up everyone is starting from scratch and anything could happen - this time last year Martin and J.Macdonald were probably in the gun but both have been retained.