Leaderboard

I wasn't there but I can assume: • The boys are training so much better than previous years • Mark Neeld is going to be so awesome for us • Jurrah, McKenzie, Bartram, Grimes, Spencer, Sylvia, Evans in the rehab group • Trengove, Nicholson, McDonald, flying • Davey trained poorly • Mitch Clark will be handy in the fwd line • Morton needs to show more urgency

I'll get is started: The boys looked good today and skills were good despite the windy conditions. The skills were unacceptably bad for this time of the pre-season in spite of the windy conditions. The windy conditions were unacceptable at this time of the preseason. I don't know why they are forced to train in the open air...

In the short time I've been on this forum the subject of our midfield and it being the weak link comes up consistently. I'm not so sure it is the problem that others think, I think the problem at least in part has been due to the way we set up. It may also have to do with some of our senior players working as individuals and not in a team structure, is it the coaching or the player? This year will answer that question. Let me take the Hawthorn games and mids as an example, their 2 main guys that control the middle are Mitchell and Sewell, they have a bunch of other guys moving through including a couple of handy players in Hodge and Rioli. Neither MItchell or Sewell are overly quick, Mitchell is an accurate kick over short distance but doesn't have a lot of depth, both are strong but I wouldn't think they are any stronger than Moloney, Silvia or Jones. Better footballers, sure seem to be, they work hard for position, to block, clear space and give off to more gifted team mates like Hodge and Birchell with their kicking, Rioli and Smith with their run whilst our guys are trying for the individual glory, ignoring team mates in better position. If lucky they get a bomb forward but more often than not get tackled and loose posession against the Hawthorns of this world. Our younger players just get smashed. I find it so annoying to hear special comments guys on radio and TV referring to Hawthorns larger bodies when we have been consistently beaten out of the centre whilst Moloney and co were in there, that's just lazy thinking. To me it seemed like personnel (and their ability) along with the way we set up, our coaching. This year we will find out the percentages as I don't believe under Neeld our mids will be allowed to get away with what they have. I get really frustrated with Moloney, I think he plays as an individual and although many here say he "bleeds red and blue" he often burns his team mates on the ground. Now the quesion is, was it his fault, was he playing under instructions and or were the coaches not up to it. I guess the board say's no on the latter one. It's a big year for him and he will have to change to be assured of a game. From what I've seen at training a lot of work is being done in close to block for and use team mates, if Moloney can come to the party here he will be a huge asset with his strength, he really will become an onfield leader and not just a rah rah man. Is he up to it? that's one of the questions of the year for me. Col Silvia should be used rarely if ever at centre bounces (and never ever with Moloney) as he doesn't have the reaction time or peripheral vision to get involved in tight, he also plays as an individual but he can be a real weapan if we can use his attributes, strong overhead, burst through, goal kicker. We have quite a few of our younger players coming into their 3 - 5 years of experience this year who will play though the middle and I'm thinking a few of these will really step up, so I guess with new coaches, some added strengh through recruiting and development of the younger players and a change of strategy we will have a better idea of where we sit as the year progresses.

We have 7 weeks until our first game for the 2012 season starts. We have all read training reports some attended training and once again our expectations are high, all of the posters on the site and any supporter of the MFC are bitterly dissappointed with 2011 a year that delivered one thing, a new coaching group. With 7 weeks to go the club has a lot of work ahead of them On Field Starts at Casey next Friday, then into the NAB cup. It would be nice to knock off Collingwood or Hawthorn plus beat Gold Coast and Brisbane. It will be good to show some form in the preseason. Looking back over last year alarm bells should of been ringing when Essendon smashed us followed by Brisbane beating us. Our Preseason form over the past 4 seasons have been a true indication of what was install for that year. Off Season The halls at the MCG should be buzzing, so much has to be acheived over the next 7 weeks. Starting with a sponser, followed by a big membership push we need 16500 members to hit 40,000, the goal over the next 7 weeks has to be to pass 2011 total which means we need to average a little over 2000 members per week. We have family day, A breakfast next week, the Mates of Melbourne Function, the season launch. To me to 2012 pre-season our club has had the head down and bum approach we haven't seen the club in the media pumping up players in fact the opposite, we don't have to worry about GWS poaching a player, we haven't seen a big media push by the club only a few announcements the hype isn't being built up by the club like it has over the past. It seems to me the club wants the performance of the onfield group to start driving our club the administration has done all it can over the past 4 years. Once again I'm excited about the start of the AFL season, the next 7 weeks are just as important as hopefully the 24weeks that follows.

typical melbourne supporter garbage. Hey, let's bag one of our only good players because he is not Chris Judd. I'd like to see you get rookie-drafted, overcome osteitis pubis, and become vice-captain/best and fairest winner/9th in the brownlow. ot to mention he is one of the toughest blokes in the league, which is a long-covete trait of many a melbourne supporter. IMHO it as an absolute disgrace that he has been shafted from the leadership group, makes me wonder WTF they are smoking.Neitz, White, Bruce, Green, Yze, Johnstone, McDonald.. it has always been the same with 'supporters' like you - no appreciation whatsoever for what they have done, just what they haven't done. There are about 6 blokes on the list that are doing their job, and Beamer is one of them. Why don't you make a thread about one of the other 35

Except that we are not wasting money on interest payments. We are making better deals and are trading well with others .On field success is all that matters now . Once we have that winning feeling it'll all build .

Foxtel programme guide now shows the programming for the opening night: 5.00 pm Live: Opening Night 6.30 pm Live: NAB Cup Richmond v North Melbourne 7.50 pm Live: NAB Cup North Melbourne v Hawthorn 8: 55 pm Live: NAB Cup Hawthorn v Richmond These games will then be replayed on rotation in the following hours. The first AFL replay will be at 4.30 am - the game between Western Bulldogs and Melbourne in 2010 when we wore pink and Tom Scully got 19 disposals in the last quarter.

Once again Freak you have made a "FAIR" and accurate, non-biased assessment of Jordan in my opinion. To add further, I believe he is not nearly as much like Pendles as some think here. Yes I have heard him talking about how he would like to model his game around the Collingwood great's but the closest thing Gys has to him is height. Oh, and they both play in the midfield.... Gys seems to have a great ability to read the play from stoppages and finding the ball. He has great hands in close and also seems like he can take a good grab out in front. He has plenty of time on his side to build a big frame which will only help his ball winning ability and his marking. Defensively he could work a lot harder. Needs to add that to his game which should come with improved aerobic fitness. The only question mark for him is his disposal. Doesn't have a fantastic technique, therefore doesn't have a great kick. Let's see what happens. I will say that he is a player worth persevering with. Only my humble opinion... (Maybe I should have just gone with the rest and said, "He WILL be a STAR)."

yep, gysberts foot skills are below average for a midfielder. It's his contested skills and ball-finding ability that is promising.

FWIW, WYL I enjoy your posts and banter with RR - it makes interesting reading. WYL, I love your passion....I agree, the pre-season cup is important to show some form and I will be forever cheering you on when you let Scully have it. I'm with you!!!

I knew you would be back with the old "hand to mouth" line Rhino. With your attitude we should all just give up and walk away. A lot has changed. Paying off a massive bank interest debt each quarter is a good start. Spend $$$ to make $$$ You gotta start somewhere. No i couldn't be bothered talking about the debt with you. I think you wish we still had it deep down. Must you argue in every thread Rhino? J Watts needs to improve his attitude so he becomes elite. Leave it at that please.

this attitude must cease. Yes it is only the Bank Cup, but the club & supporters have got to start expecting a hard contest & victories. Start now..

Too much has been made of that. I think that he was basically saying that football is not life or death. Anyone watching the West Coast game in Perth last year will know that Jack gives his all on the field.

I am happy with what's said in that article. It affirms Jack's training habits, his future as the tall forward few people thought he could be only 12 months ago, his position as a foil for Clark, and mentions, for a third of the article, the 'leaders' from last year and the expectations on them. We all want to read alot into a short article in The Age but it mentions Sellar and the 'leaders' from last year as much as Jack, so I don't think this is Neeld 'holding Watts' feet to the fire.'

Gysberts walked into the Afl and managed mid-20s possessions immediately . He is a ball magnet and has good awareness . Still physically a teen and not really a "unit" big enough to play on the ball all day . Training photos show he has put on a bit of weight . Doesn't have any major defects except possibly endurance which is man made anyway . Could be anything . Has the critical and elusive quality that genuine ball handlers need . TIME .

Nice report. It's interesting to hear how Sellar's tracking - could be an inspired pick. I was at a function yesterday at which Garry Lyon interviewed Kevin Sheedy. (Sheedy is a bloody good public speaker by the way - has vision and is entertaining.) He was asked who he thought would contest the Grand Final this year, to which Sheedy said Hawthorn and Carlton and, possibly, West Coast. He then said Carlton may not have quite enough height though. And he then commented that height's now more important than ever. It's good to hear we now have the tallest list. As an aside, Gubby Allen commented on the focus the AFL puts on player development and how important it is to manage the work load on the younger players. He noted that many of the top youngsters are elite in other sports as well (eg, Jonathon Patton - GWS #1 pick, basketballer, and simply mammoth unit), and how important it is for the AFL development officers to also take into account the work load from the other sports the kids are playing. He then said Melbourne's first draft pick 'two years' ago, Jack Watts, provided a good example of this. Said that the basketball guys essentially had no sympathy for his work load (demanded he attend a training session when he couldn't), and this more than anything led him to choose AFL. He commented favourably on Watts, but wasn't so happy when I pointed out that our first draft pick 'two years' ago was in fact Tom Scully. To which he looked a bit embarrassed and simply said, "ohhh yeah - I meant three years ago".

I think you seriously misinterpreted those rants, if that's what you gleaned from them...

Davey?

It's the Gawn factor.

had a spare 20 mins so threw grimes on the end of the banner

nice post regarding the first comment, I actually dont think JW has shown the glimpses of truely great play that Sylvia or Jurrah have. Sylvia has torn entire games apart (and then gone missing for weeks on end), Jurrah has been the match winner by kicking bags when no one else has, but Watts has never really had one of those games (or even a break out game as a former #1 pick). His best game to date IMO was probably against richmond last year where he did some good things and kicked some nice goals (one gifted from a free kick that wasnt there). That game was a good game, but i wouldnt say ithe dominated it off his own boot like Jurrah and Sylvia have. it is funny then that so many of us do put Jurrah in the enigmatic basket and yet proclaim Jack Watts in the "lock for future gun" catogory. I guess that all of the emotional investment into Watts being a number 1 pick might have somthing to do with it!!

Done you can thank me later :-)

Firstly congrats to JA on little JA.Also congrats to Uncle Dan on behalf of myself and JCBwhom is currently suspended. JCB will accept an invitation to play this year if offered.Many thanks on behalf of him.

Oh, Watts needs to improve on the ten good games he played last year?! He needs to improve his physicality?! You get frustrated by the MFC's 'soft' supporters? I get frustrated with those supporters who shift the goalposts for this team and its players. Watts had a good 2011, a number of supporters didn't think it would be as good as it was. But here we are and they can't see the forest for the trees. Why don't we keep the fire on the feet of those who actually didn't live up to expectations last year: Green, Davey, Petterd, the midfield as a whole, Moloney against decent teams, etc. This desire to keep Watts 'dancing' (that is a reference to shooting bullets at his feet) is getting tiresome for all concerned. Let's see how he reacts to the new FD and the preseason and actually wait until April to cast judgement.

Thanks, the MFCs newest member; 'Viney', is doing quite well despite her mum's persistence in calling her by some other name.

Collingwood.........awwwwwwwwwwww poor diddums !!!!

Malthouse was the only 1 at Collingwood amongst those numbskulls that had senior coaching experience . The only 1 who would have any incling of what Neeld was experiencing or about to experience , hence he suggested Neeld depart . There is no way he sacrificed the 2011 flag on purpose , he wanted that 1 bad . Not only would it have made the pressure on Maguire and Buckley more intense after sacking a back to back premiership winning coach , he's now stranded on 3 flags , he woulda loved to be sitting with both Matthews and Sheedy on 4 .

Malthouse told him "You are the coach of another club" and that's why he can't stay around. It's difficult for clubs to lose coaches at that stage, but that is life. As soon as Neeld was told by Schwab his life changed and as an MFC supporter I'm glad he focussed wholly on the future of my club rather than the next few weeks of a job he used to have.

Stiff sh*t..... Bad luck Pies - take it up with MM.....

The Gys getting season ending injuries in his first two seasons has been concerning, but otherwise I reckon he's a young gun who's very under rated and rarely gets mentioned as much as Watts, Trengove and a former $cully did. For such a skinny kid I reckon his clearance work is first class and reckon once he's put on some muscle could become one of the best clearance players in the AFL. If Jack Watts is a Nick Riewoldt clone, then I'd have to say Jordan Gysberts is a Scott Pendlebury clone.