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There's never any 'good' in hearing things like this. But here's my good. I've heard gravely ill and Jim Stynes together 100 times and we still stand here today idolising the man who after so many tumours, still has a beating heart. Jim Stynes will be forever change anyone who has met, listened too or even just heard about the man in a way no politician, actor or billionaire ever well. He gives hope to those who should have given up, he gives life to those who should have run their course and courage to those who never knew they had it. The story of Jim Stynes will live on, and when the fateful day where whatever it is he fights finally beats him, not just us as Demons but the community and society as a whole will be indebted to a man like no other. So many people around the world dream that when they grow up they will change the world in some way- Jim has completed that and that is a feat no illness, no cancer will ever take away from Jim Stynes and the people he has touched. Until I hear the words he has been lost, you know he won't give up fighting and it's a life lesson that so many of us can applaud.

Wow.... If I was Cameron I would answer you questions as follows. 1/ Did BP jump before he was pushed.I believe you would have to ask BP that question. Football is a fluid industry with myriads of moves every year. In our football department alone we have had a plethora of new people both from other AFL clubs and outside. To answer your second part of the question - the agenda for recruitment is set by the head coach so it is not a question of whether new coaching panel is unhappy about previous drafting ( which no-one can do anything about now anyway) it is more a case of what the new coaching panel see as their drafting strategy and how it differs from the old coaching panel. 2/ The information and disinformation from that period around the186 point loss and what was reported and misreported could fill enough pages to make a novel. Needless to say that there were some adjustments made and re-focusing on what was important to move the club forward. We needed to be productive and proactive -I think we can see the inroads we are making off the field. The changes we have made are visible for all members to see and I think we should be looking forward and encouraging the same inroads to be made onfield. 3/ Salary packaging and negotiations are kept confidential for obvious reasons. As a generality I will say that there are many various methods of remunerating staff and specifically with senior executives there are various options available to a club outside a monthly pay cheque. (I could have been an AFL CEO)

Folau and Scully. The most expensive collision in AFL history.

Being "sacked" and "dropped to the VFL" are not even remotely the same thing. Given that I highly doubt he has any intention of "sacking" anyone then this headline is more than a little sensationalist. Basically this boils down to "I'll drop players who aren't performing". Whoop-de-doo, I wouldn't expect any less.

Poor kid. I really feel for him, because nothing has gone right so far in his career. First he's drafted to a [censored] weak club that stunted his development and wrecked his knee. Then after finally catching a break by heading to the 2021 premiers in waiting, where - under the greatest coach of the modern era - he finally gets the treatment he deserves, he gets this terrible injury in a random collision with one of the greatest NRL players to ever play the game. Extraordinary! At least now he can focus on his true interest: the housing market. I hear he has quite a penchant for real estate.

In light of the Sylvia situation, I've felt a need to put thought to page. Among the oddities of the suspension system is the seeming paradox that exists in the interpretation of football incidents and non-football incidents. What I mean by this binary is: football incidents are misdemeanors occuring through a 'football' act - i.e. tackling, shirtfront... , non-football incidents are the opposite - a punch, elbow, fight, intentional trip... There is a bizarre tendency for incidents such as punches, elbows and the like to be given one and to the maximum two week suspensions (unless you're Barry Hall). As it is rarely the case that injury is inflicted in such instances, the event is dealt with little seriousness. These are dirty acts. On the other hand a shirtfront, or very hard tackle will likely gather two weeks automatically garners two weeks and usually more. These incidents can be dirty, but they're more often than not better considered tough. I'm sure all out there who have played football at a level beyond under-14's will agree with the following. Stuff happens on football fields. But there still exists an appropriate way to behave. It's acceptable for the opposition to give a strong hard tackle to your best player. It's unacceptable for the other teams tagger to punch the best player. The AFL should be much harsher on dirty acts and slightly more leniant toward tough acts (while retaining an acceptable concern for player welfare). The tribunal should favor Trengove over a Reece Conca type incident. If it is a fair and reasonable action in the play than it has to garner less time - think of the number of times Jarrad Waite has gotten off despite being reckless and hitting people in a way which in no way has any footballing benefit except hurting another player (i.e. Whelan on Hird good, Waite on the entire comp, bad).

From reports I've read, including from Port supporters, Davey was one who gave at least an "honest" performance on the weekend. Everyone reading too much into this, not even worth its own thread. Cook played in Casey twos last year, as at various times did other Melbourne players - however, they were generally under an injury cloud, or coming back from injury.

Why don't we all get off the kids back. He did not bestow no.1 status on himself, the MFC did. I seriously doubt he will live up to the No.1 status but he shows signs of being a good player for the MFC. Can we just let him get on with it and see how he turns out please.

Hawthorns short game only works with elite kicks they have and is yet to stand up against good high pressure football. Let's see how it stands up during the season. More touches, more chance for error a bit like the early Adelaide teams that tried keepings off football and changed when Blight came in. I think (well I hope) you would be doing Neeld a disservice to think that long down the line is the only plan. He did talk of the overseas experience in team sports of the best teams being able to switch plans mid game if need be, we are not at that level yet.

Im not going to read too much in the pre-season. Im not going to take away too much because of injuries a and events either. I think the club ( a sin playing group ) have a year of hard learning ahead. I just get the gut feeling thescoreboard wont particulalry be kind or reflective of anyimprovements we make, well not immediately. Theres going tobe a hardening up of some, and others will be pushed aside or cast aside. Some wiil step up and emerge as the new face of Melbourne. What I will predict is we will finish as a team very different to how we start, but just cant see the ladder being any kinder than about 12th this year. 2013, thats another thing as we will come from a different starting position as a playing group. This year there are still those who DONT get it. Brace for pain, but there IS light at the end of the tunnel.

He doesnt understand what depressed is yet the little boy.

No, I've stopped reading the Hun since they've changed & charged.

Not sure Cam has anything to do with the trumpeter playing or not but i agree. The only time i wish to hear that style of playing is when a bugler belts out the last post on Anzac day. Sad, somber but nonetheless fitting for the occasion. However, Cam does have a say into the "style" and "direction" of our off and on field marketing Part of the off field marketing material says.... "Hard Work, Hard Minds, Hardcore Demons". We are Demons yes? And we sure as hell need to fire up....especially for the start of our matches It's time to fire up before the match and get the supporters goin! It's time for some Hard Rock and a little theatre to go with the rest of the hardness message Cam AC/DC - "HELLS BELLS" for mine..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maaweWsN7I4&feature=related After all, Demons are quite at home....in HELL! Picture this pre match at our home games.... Two minor demon minions (maybe female ones...cough) slowly wheel a black gothic bell onto the arena...a fully kitted winged Demon (or similar) awaits. But he hasn't felt the bells' presence just yet. He kneels on the ground holding his trident. Deep in contemplation. As the bell gets closer, he slowly rises to his full height, turns and faces the bell. Using the blunt end of his trident he begins to gong the bell as the song commences. Raising his fist as the first few bars of legendary Ozy guitarist Angus Young spills out into the arena! Let our opponents Fear us....It's our G. This is our ground, our heritage. Lets make it their worst nightmare! A place they will fear to come to and dread to play on! Maybe our new home ground anthem!

G'day guys just been thinking melbourne should really try and draft or trade for a top class crumbing forward. The small forward is a hole in our list in my opinion we have davey who is getting older by the day and might have 1 or 2 good years left we also have bennel and lawrence who are yet to make an impact at AFL level but a really good small forward is a very important player in the make up of a really good team. Stephen milne is a good example of a top class small forward he has 490 goals next to his name as a small forward he plays the role perfect.Having been sitting at the feet of Nick riewoldt and getting in the right spots for the last 8-10 years. Melbourne has Jack watts and mitch clark who will bring the ball into the hot spots for a small forward so we must get a really good quality small forward. We must make the most of this rebuild and a small forward is one role that's open for the next 5 years at our club. I have not seen much of lawrence but bennel is a fairway of in my view does anyone have thought on who is out there at other clubs or coming through the tac cup who can fill this really important role? Cheers.

Well he's certainly not coming. But one of the best interviews I've seen. Not for the interviewee's- Hutchy and Caro especially are a joke but Rendalls passion was fantastic

Sink or Swim theory was good for us .They will learn to swim . The "too young" excuse is over now.

Matt Rendell is on Footy Classified tonight. I reckon he'll say that the game is heading in a direction where endurance is paramount and sports science shows blah blah blah whatever he supposedly said. How long have the AFL known about this? Sounds like they've been trying to dispel this myth and mount an attack on "sports science". It will be interesting to hear the coaches views on how 2+2 interchange would influence the game. The AFL seem to want to get rid of the press and get players to play positions but I'm not sure 2+2 would do that.

Our senior players get hung out to dry because Bailey thought it would be a good idea to limit the amount of senior players we have due to the fact he and many of us would have thought our younger brigade would have improved far more then they have. Beamer and Jones are probably our 2 best midfielders which means against good teams we get smashed by their midfielders every time because those 2 are not A grade midfielders they bust their butts but they are not A grade which means they need help and are not getting it because so many of our younger players are still "Developing" as they say.

IMO, the Majority of this group, Mostly have been Under Performers over the Journey, & I think we have to push them to Improve, or IF not, > I've highlighted those who Pull their weight. I included them,as they are all in "a tight games played band together". The band where we are lacking experienced Drive. ..3 Bartram, Clint.. ...95.. 24yr 1mth....181cm .82kg ..6 Bate, Matthew ....90 ..24yr 9mth....192cm. 91kg 11 Clark, Mitchell ....82 ...24yr 5mth....200cm. 99kg ..8 Frawley, James ..82 ...23yr 5mth....193cm. 93kg 14 Dunn, Lynden......81... 24yr 10mth..192cm .95kg 10 Morton, Cale ......64 ...22yr 2mth....192cm .87kg 20 Garland, Colin.... 58... 23yr 10mth...191cm. 90kg ..7 Bennell, Jamie....51 ...21yr 9mth.....179cm .75kg 34 Martin, Stefan ....50... 25yr 4mth.....198cm .103kg 15 Petterd, Ricky ....50. ..23yr 7mth......85cm. 85kg I think we must get this group up in games & some are right on the fringe of their tenure.

Isn't it funny. I'd have it the other way round.

I'm realistically enthusiastic. Going to have a great year - just not all the time in every game, certainly for the first half. There was a great post I saw by a Port supporter re Friday's game, who said that for 10 minutes or so of the last quarter, we played like we could beat any team in the league. We just (!) need those 10 minutes to become a 100. Doubt it will be this season though.

Here is my take on the issue, based only on agreed facts known so far. I blame the AFL totally on this. While I don't know exactly what was said and what context it was said in, I do know that what was said, was said in a private meeting between Rendell and Mifsud ( an AFL ) employee, in January this year. If what was said was so bad, surely Mifsud would have firstly taken it up with Rendell during the meeting and allowed him to explain, apologize or whatever. This was not done. Next if what was said was so bad surely Mifsud would have advised the AFL the day it happened and action should have been taken that very day to investigate. That was not done. So either Mifsud sat on it or the AFL did. Why? Why has the AFL not investigated the issue before going to the media? The AFL have admitted telling the media. The media were clearly not aware of the incident before the AFL told them. Why was this not investigated and kept in house. Is the AFL grandstanding? This has cost a decent bloke his job and possibly his reputation without any investigation of the incident. This is disgraceful. Note how the AFL said a club Recruiting Officer had made a racist remark, knowing who it was, but not naming him, thereby intensifying the blame game. Drug using players get strikes. Why was Rendell not investigated and Counselled if necessary? Why was he not allowed to explain and publicly apologize if necessary? Mifsud is a part aboriginal. If he was that upset at a remark, one would imagine a discussion flowing immediately or a report made to a superior that day. Why has this leaked 2 months later without either happening? This stinks and the AFL is the cause IMO.

Hope your bed is not too far of the ground PaulRB

What a shock - Col outed for 6 weeks and no case to answer. Seems like pre-season is open season on poor Col. He'd be safer posing as a wetlands duck on the opening day of duck shooting season.

As I stated previously by myself & BB59, games involving ourselves, Tiges, North, Crows, Saints, Dogs, Freo & Swans will play play a big part in showing where all of these teams finish from 6th to 14th, I dare say a mojority of these games will rely on performance on the day weather injuries and so many variables. Case of wit and see really for many of us

would be handy if col lived nearby, they could carpool

Mark Jamar and Brad Green have been very good players and should not be listed in the above group. Yes, I realised Green had a bad 2011 but I'm sure he'll give his all this year. I don't think the captaincy suited him at all and we forget how good he was prior to last year. And if Jones is considered a "senior" player at 24 years of age then Clint Bartram and Matthew Bate must also be considered senior players as must Lynden Dunn: all made their senior debut in 2006, All are entering their seventh season as AFL players.

sorry mate, big difference between us and Carlton. Carlton were a contender last year, had a bad NAB cup = No reason to panic! We had a pretty bad year last year. had a bad NAB cup = reason for panic! carlton have proven performers in our list, they would have been hoping for good preseason form to continue their form from last year. We have alot of young guys and we were hoping to see some good progress from last year - we're seeing a similar thing so far...

i personally think that the demons is not the right place for alot of our current seniors, the way theyve grown and developed over the years hasn't been right in most situations. I think most would play alot better at other clubs and that the demons should focus on bringing through a whole crop together with a new culture then to have the old culture lingering around with these players.

or vertebrating ?

9.5 out of 10 Nutbean. Suggest you apply next time a position is vacant Keep the above for your presentation.

he slides but why wouldn't team 17 and 18 bid their first round pick? It's no skin off their nose, they still don't get JV, we still get JV but have to use pick#3 do you think sheeds (or any other club) would do us that sort of favour?

Thats the reason why i think they are lacking performance, is because there are so few of them and the youngsters arn't developing quickly. there aren't enough of them to carry/slow paced development and it is impacting there own game. Do you think that none of the senior players wouldn't perform in a team with support from more similar aged players? I think that they would which is why I rate them as having some trade value.

Agree with this, the lack of development that has come from our early picks is unacceptable. We haven't been able to keep most fit and playing or the ones that have played haven't showed enough to warrent there draft pick. Trengove is the exception but he still hasn't torn a game apart like Dustin Martin. I posted before only Grimes and Trengove are automatic selections for round 1 if fit, considering we had 9 first round picks since 2007 draft that is a poor reflection on the development of these players.

I wouldn't say 'hung out to dry' as they are hoping on youngsters and as a collective we seem to be missing continuity in playing with some high draft picks, Tapscott, Grimes, Blease to name a few. Overall we would have expected more from all these high draft picks. most like tapscott have that as an excuse as they showed really good signs but I thought Gysberts in his thrid year should be aiming to play each week in what is an average midfield.

I think our seniors players have been hung out to dry by the likes of Gysberts, Blease, Morton, Bennell and Watts not coming on quick enough. How much better does luke ball look with Swan,Pendels and co around him? The younger blokes are the key to our success not just in the future but now as well.

What do you know? So do we!

I like to consider myself fair and balanced when I watch footy and I've never had a predisposed bias against one of my own players. But I also don't incessantly make excuses for them, especially when my eyes are detailing a different story. I've gone to Casey and watched him play a half in the Scorpions seconds side. I didn't do it hoping to see him perform poorly. I went to TD to see him play for Vic Metro. I didn't do it because I wasn't interested in drafting him. If I had a bias it favoured him. As stated, Watts has poor physicality for a potential key forward and I've never ever seen a key forward 'star' of the game that started out with such a lack of presence, or such a preference for limited body contact. Do you want a star key forward, or have you lowered your expectations ? Maybe you'll give a cliche and say that as long as he contributes to the next flag you'll be happy. Perhaps you believe that it can be rectified. I reckon you're pissing into the wind. And it's not to say that I think Watts won't be a good player, because I do, but at the moment I don't see a star key forward. The toughest position on the ground is as a key forward. No other area of the ground is as physically testing, or demands as much courage. It's not an easy gig and it doesn't come naturally to Watts. Watts has more talent than Hurley, but Hurley has a completely different disposition to Watts. Hurley craves the opportunity to bust a pack, to bring the ball to ground, to hurt a defender, to throw his weight around. And he craved it as a 19 year old. I have no doubt that a year as a key defender would be best for Watts' development and is his best chance to learn how to play the position. Garry Lyon spent time down back, Neitz did, Hurley has, Alistair Lynch did, so too Fraser Gehrig, Barry Hall started as a defender, plenty of players learnt their forward-line craft as a defender. Jason Dunstall started as a back pocket. It doesn't seem like Neeld will give Watts that opportunity, but it would fast track his development. Watts will take the odd good contested mark in the forward-line this year to the jubilation of supporters. I can hear them crowing now. Take that all you Watts knockers !! But he won't do it consistently and it won't make him a key position 'star'. I know you'll respond, but unless the content is new I'll leave it be. It seems like it's another case of 'agreeing to differ'.

Talkin Dog 4 sale Man driving down country rd see's a sign out front of house "Talking Dog 4 Sale". curious he goes and knocks on front door, a man answers door and tells the curious driver to go round the back of house and check the dog out. He finds a nice looking Labrador lying there, a bit bemused he asks the dog, "can you talk", and the dog replies "sure can". Bloke pick's himself up off the ground totally astounded, then ask's, whats the story? "Well when we found that I could talk, I was used by the CIA, and flown all round the world on missions, I was top spy for 8yrs but i got sick off all the travel and retired back home and worked at the International airport and was top dog for 3yrs then i actually retired and sired a litter of pups and now this is me" "Geez, your unbelievable, I'm gunna buy you"! Man went back and knocked on door again, and asked the owner how much for the dog? "10 bucks pal" He couldn't believe it, 10 bucks "What, why so cheap" "Arhhh he's fulla [censored] and never been out the yard"

This is harder to gauge than it has been for many years. We have not seen anything like our best 22 in any one preseason game so far. I reckon we will be 3-8 or 4-7 for the first half of the season, and then a strong finish with 6 or 7 seven wins. 9th or 10th probably. However, if the gameplan kicks in earlier we could be a lot stronger than this.

Doesn't matter - I'm emotionally drained, embattled and bitter.......but, I'll be there cheering the boys on. I love my Club.

We are bottom 4 at the moment! I can only see GC, GWS and Brisbane possibly below us. Richmond & Port are just so much more urgent and hungry. We dont have the hunger. Richmond & Adelaide I am most impressed with there pre-season. But it is only the pre-season! Lets see 10 rounds in. We definitely need our medicore players to break out! If only we had Dustin Martin. He just gets it done and his teamates follow.

I was at Casey yesterday and the highlights were James Strauss and a couple of kids we won't see in Demon colours until next year in Jack Viney and Jai Sheahan. Beyond them were two other important players from Melbourne's point of view in Jordan Gysberts and Cale Morton who will each get another effort in for Casey before being considered for senior selection. They will be joined next week by co-captain Jack Grimes who will make a bid to return to the Melbourne team for its round 1 clash with Brisbane Lions. Strauss was very solid down back, closing down opponents and delivering the ball with pinpoint accuracy. If both he and Grimes can get back into the side for the opening round, I think we should at least see our strongest backline on the park. Morton started tentatively and, at times tried to be a bit cute holding onto the ball a bit too long at times, but got better as the game went on. Gysberts was also fairly good and a class above the standard on show. Both Jack Fitzpatrick and Kelvin Lawrence had their moments but have plenty of work to do to earn senior berths at Melbourne. Fitzpatrick had a purple patch early in the final quarter. He palmed the ball beautifully to Gysberts who ran into an open goal to score and moments later kicked a nice goal from an angle. He remained dangerous up forward but had to be moved into the ruck because the team only had one other player who could fill that role. In fact, the Scorps don't seem to have replaced the lost height of departing players like Mohr, Fevola and Wall. I noticed their back up full forward from past years Ben Waite has crossed to Frankston. Those who thought Fev was holding back the development of young Demon KPF's now have their way but I think the Scorps will struggle for height. I was super impressed with Jai Sheahan and, on that performance, can't believe he wasn't drafted onto someone's senior list. He played full back in the old style, marked strongly, backed his judgement and teamed well with his fellow defenders. I take on board what B-H wrote about him kicking to a static target, which happened once or twice but such is the nature of things at this level. As for Jack Viney. Yes, he might have a bit to learn but he's a real chip off the old block with the one exception that his kicking is so much better.

Thanks for the amazing thread.

I feel for you having to put up with our ignorance. I really though that the coach and players were important. Thanks for sorting that out, it's the supporters who are to blame. I bet that's a load off Neeld's mind. I guess we're lucky that we the fans weren't sacked after 186, thanks bails for taking the hit. Reminds me of the time I saw a really crap film that I blamed the script writers, actors and producers for. I clearly see now that had more people attended, the movie would have been much better. I can now blame my brother for the bad film cos he didn't come to watch it with me and support it. ed: spulling

Happy to call anyone that supports a racist a fool.

Something to settle the hysteria. http://adamwbaldwin.wordpress.com/2012/03/15/practice-are-we-talking-about-practice/

If the weekends game was anything to go by, Bennell should be kept as far away from the backline as possible. He has a great burst on him, is agile and is capable of doing some good things in close. Give him a decent run (along with Lawrence at some point throughout the year) as playing the crumbing forward.

Ah this topic again... What we need is elite midfield class. From what I've seen personally Jack Viney isn't going to bring that, he will bring other things but not class. This draft is one of the most important in our history, get it wrong and dreams could be lost, that's how crucial it is. Personally I'd put a small forward on the back burner until the next year if we still need it, we just need classy elite midfielders desperately. By the way who are Geelong, Collingwood & West Coast 'small' forwards who boot a lot of goals...?? Small forwards are so hit and miss and not many make it, Milne is one in many candidates. I think our draft picks this year should not be compromised and we need the class and I'd seriously be starting to think strongly on where our ruck stocks are heading. But these views are only mine.