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If we had picked Cyril. Would he be as good as he is now? I don't think so. Our development has been terrible. He would probably be playing for Casey and we would be complaining that we recruited too many skinny players. Let's get our development right and we will unearth a gem or two.

If I hear one more person go on about midfield speed I will smash a vase! Geez I'd love to see Couch, Magner, Moloney, and Jones in the middle together, much rather them battling for the ball than some of our "speedy" players like Bennell, Morton, or Davey... Besides, if anything we need LESS SPEED, hasn't anyone else noticed our kicks and handballs always go behind the intended player rather than leading them forward?! Probably our worst habit of the last 4 years.

Yes I am praying ...for Liam. Often demonlanders review our draft selections and pour scorn over our recruiters ( I have done it myself at times) and it often includes the oversight of Cyril Rioli. Even though his possession count is often low we would dearly love him (how lucky for him he didn't come to us). His tantilizing skills are supreme. His great value is the motivation these provide his team as he weaves his magic at those necessary moments in a game. Fortunately at a far lower pick we got our 'Cyril' in Liam. I can't see too much difference in their ability. Now with our evolving forward line, Clarke, Howe, Maybe Tom Mac, Jack Watts, and Resting Ruckman, 'our Liam' will be able to play the 'Cyril role'. His return to Casey next week is lighting a spark of excitement within me. .....and yes you are dam right I am praying these next couple of months go his way.

Wow! you actually left the confines of the MCC area to venture outside with the masses; I'm impressed? Next thing you'll tell us you caught a train to the city. Good on you Joe, baby steps first.

I can't stand sitting In the MCC! Level 2 Southern Stand Red Legs area Is where you'll find me.

There would surely be an assumption that all players start with a clean slate with the new coaching group coming in. Given that all discretions or poor form prior to the start of the 2012 pre-season are forgotten, could you really say that Dunn has been poor? Surely he has come out and done reasonably well in a team that has struggled badly. I know it's hard to forget previous under-performing but if you take the snapshot that is 2012, he certainly hasn't been that bad, IMO

Remember only two weeks ago Leigh Matthews stated Ben Hudson would be a more valuable pick up than Mitch Clark? Who got dropped last week from the Lions Leigh? Statement for the sake of a statement.

If it wan't for the heritage of the MCC members our home ground would be Etihad, or Carara. Melbourne represents the MCG and not the City of Melbourne. Our combination of MCC and MFC is an asset nothing we should use to cause division in our club. It means we can have people on all sides of the ground. In our club I can talk to a Collins street toff, or a heart and soul lad from Casey, and when it comes to talking of the dees we are one.

I let Rip in the MCC....I have no shame.. My answer to anyone who gert shirty....."Gotta get the boys home...Prepared to Help Me??" They don't argue after that.

We would have 50k members, Gonzo... But rpfc is an MCC member and a MFC member (Member x 3 in 2012) and about half of the 23k MCC supporters are members so we are getting there. And the MCC pumps money in as they should, it's not a huge issue anymore.

None of the media will say it, because they're all nuff nuffs... But Clake might end up one of the recruits of the year. No-one talked about it, but to kick five in a 100 point loss... in one of the lowest inside fifty games in recorded history... That's startling.

So we have to wait for them to work out this game plan? In the meantime we will have to bear with them not tackling, half hearted chasing, skill errors etc. They never worked out Baileys game plan did they?

Our midfield has been diabolical. Beemer is one of our best mids. If I was Neeld I would want him in there.

When will they realise Cale wont make it! Please i cant watch him any more He is an embarassment. Sitting next to opposition supporters last week they just broke into laughter at his antics Had to move away Geesus!!

All top quality though.

I certainly believe that the crumber we've been looking for is not Jamie Bennell or Aaron Davey or even Sam Blease. It is Liam Jurrah. His ability to read the ball and intercept in the forward-line is better than anyone ele on our team. The only issue is that he doesn't provide the tackling pressure required of a really good small forward (who in our team does). Hopefully he can work this attribute into his game when he comes back into the side.

I like the idea of him giving insight into players Melbourne are looking to draft. Could be a very useful recruiting tool that we have available to us that not many other clubs would have.

The latest news about our 47th player: Jack attack

I like Lyon and reckon he's probably a pretty good Coach, but if he'd stayed at St Kilda an extra year or two he'd probably have ended up on the coaching scrap heap; he chose a good time to switch clubs.

I 100% agree with this. Yes he is super frustrating sometimes (often?) with his decision making and ball use but he commits every game he plays, which is exactly what a senior player needs to model. He obviously trains well as well or else he wouldn't be considered. I thought Morton was weak last week but i think he needs to be given 4-5 games in a row. I really believe he is confidence player and i still feel he might come good

Get enough people in a room for a few hours and they will overthink things. I know that sounds counter-intuitive for rpfc to say about the human condidtion - namely to 'over' think... But Couch is not in the team for what reason? The only answer I can give that has any credence is the 'too slow' argument. I'm glad the Match Committee have convinced themselves that the only problem our midfield has is not enough pace... Makes it easier to sleep at night I guess. Our midfield lacks committment, selflessness, and hard work. Get that right before you try to talk to me about team balance FCS.

Totally agree Mono. The five lost ones are about as relevant to me as the twelve we already have. As far as I'm concerned , I'm flagless.

Fully Agree...has been out of the radar so far this year on the field....We need a Big Game Jack "If it is to be...it's up to me...."

Geez - wonder if its a message to "some" - but they probably wont realise. Tooooo busy "bagging" us. I can see why other clubs consider some of our "fans" the laughing stock of the competition. Anyway footy about to start - Talk more soon.

If we're being honest, Jack needs to start playing some better footy than he's shown thus far this season. Time to step it up against the Dogs, Trenners. Do.

I know- we've been sticking with this club ever since we have been old enough to care about football, I'm finding the constant talking a little embarrassing. There's one way to make sure people don't lose interest. It's called winning mate!

As the saying goes ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS. For the love of god shut up and DO.

Be Quiet & concentrate on winning...Simple....Talk is Cheap MFC. Do.

On structure- how long does it take to learn that you have to stand in a specific area of the ground and guard it for god's sake?

I don't get it. That is the lamest bench I think I've ever seen. Why does the squib Morton keep getting a go. Alright MFC, I get it- he was pick 4 and you must exaust all efforts before you make a call, but I can tell you something that I and everyone else knows it- even if they won't admit it. He won't make it. He won't make it for the home and away season and certainly not in the rough and tumble world of finals. We are waisting games on this kid and it is frustrating me to no end! Macdonald and Dunn don't belong in the team either. Sellar looks like a stop gap at best. We play all these guys and yet Martin gets dropped. Martin has shown a lot more than any of these guys. Why does Morton keep getting chances and yet Martin is dropped when Casey has a bye FFS! Way to develop him you spuds! Don't even get me started on the Couch situation. Why promote someone you have no intent on playing. Give Fitzy a run too! This match selection panel have cob webs in their heads. Bloody sick of it!

I think that is a lost cause - what we need far more is five new ones, preferably 2013-17.

Why is there a picture of Dustin Fletchers car in this thread? I heard he bought it off the showroom floor new too back in the day....

Good for you Rhino-perhaps you could share the cement you obviously had a cup of? Ski season doesn't phase me. Clubs hanging sh!t because we are soft, well, I question why the playing group doesn't change that view.

Hertz and Watts, Covering frequency (sound) and power.......... Whats nexts ohms? Joule? Torque? Good work Cameron, Don and Crew

Can I have my thread back. You guys that want to argue about inane crud go and start your own thread.

AAAAARGHHHHH! That's the sound of me poking my eyes out with a pencil! Ok to clarify it was really unfortunate that we allowed Carlton to head hunt BP, he will do a swell job there, as if Carlton (an AFL club after all) would be so silly to trumpet his vital role all over their website, he has a fantastic skill set (know all the gun 18 year olds, can analyse every other AFL list etc etc) and losing BP circa 2012 is a huge loss for the MFC. Now for the love of god desist!

Happy to see several smaller sponsors involved, if you lose one it doesn't Hertz as much.

Just a thought. Pleeaaaasssse Stop! We get it. BP is a great pick up for the blues and will play a vital role in any future success they might enjoy at the drafting/trading/free agency table. It's win win really. The blues get their man and Neeld gets to install his recruiting man. Everyone's a winner

Fast ball movement depends on team-mates getting into a position to receive the ball before their opponents cover the man/space. At the moment Neeld is clearly working on first phase footy, which is winning the contested ball (Tick. VG), and will no doubt develop second phase footy, which is getting players in the right spot to receive the ball (Needs to improve - a lot).

Inate talent? Then the recruiting should be held accountable, not Travis? Gee, he's playing a game at Chelsea and the same olds still can't let go. He's at least a # 1 capable ticket holder in 2010's! Many more at Melbourne have disappointed more than Travis, some still to today and both on and off the field. I'll continue to enjoy some of the memories. Good luck to you # 16.

BP's new role is FA alright and I don't mean football admin Let's posit two scenarios for the readers' benefit shall we? ... Off the back of one of the worst seasons in the club's history, Mark Neeld walks into the MFC on the advice from multi-premiership winning coach mentor that he's taking on a factionalized basket-case of a football club. Like everyone except blind-Freddie Dean Bailey and his recruiting staff, he is acutely aware that Melbourne plays a pretty, attacking brand of footy that goes to water against battle hardened, well drilled sides. Has done for decades, in fact. First task then? Aside from bringing Dave Misson in to actually train the players the way they are supposed to train, he radically and unilaterally changes the club's recruiting policy to bring in ready made types in Clark, Sellar and Magner, a strongly built kid in Taggart and another red-hot-go type in Tynan. Prendergast, who probably saw the writing on the wall the evening after 186, starts to correctly wonder about his future around the place and this is reflected in the club website interview with Burgan where he openly talks about the divergent opinions about recruiting in the inner sanctum. Somewhere along the line, possibly even before the draft, BP gets the tap on the shoulder. "Your done, fella ... but to save face all round, we'll give you time to put out feelers for another job." BP does just that and, finally landing an "opposition analyst" gig at Carlton, which let's face it is really just a glorified number-cruncher, Jay Clark or whoever it was at the Hun is then contacted and fed the big "scoop" of Prenders "defection" to Carlton to pursue a "coaching career". He saves face and the MFC (and particularly Schwab) saves face at not having to announce the sacking of its recruiting chief. Everyone's happy. It's that ..... or Dr Who/HangO007's (good get whoever clued onto that) laughable meme that the man who helped transformed Melbourne's list into poop is somehow a misunderstood genius and was fortuitously "head hunted" by Carlton for a "PIVOTAL" role so secret and important that they won't even publish his name as a member of their football department on their website! Lol. Yeah ... if only we had more $$$$$$$$$ and 'buy-in' from the supporters, Jamie Bennell would start willing himself on the contest and Lucas Cook would turn into the incredible hulk

A fit Rohan Bail is a very valuable player Definitely not a mistake at pick 64 If he stays injury free and retains some early form, he'll be a steal at pick 64

I don't know if I have tried one of these before. Impossible to cull eleven players in one year, but with the activated compo picks we could make it six? You can build a team around: Frawley, Trengove, Grimes, Tapscott, Howe, Clark & Watts. Mentor them with experience from: Jones, Moloney, Sylvia & Rivers. Complement them with: Bail, Gysberts, McKenzie & Magner. Develop the next lot to come through: McDonald, Gawn, Cook, Fitzpatrick, Blease, Sellar, Spencer, Strauss & Nicholson. Encourage these to find meaningful support roles: Bartram, Bate, Davey, Dunn, Garland, Jurrah, Martin, Petterd. Wait and see on: Taggert, Tynan, Davis, Couch & Evans. Remove: Bennell, Green, Jamar, Jetta, Macdonald, Morton and the usual selection of rookie experiments. Some to delist, others for trade. Replenish the stocks in the 2012 draft. In 2013, those being encouraged to find a role or in the "wait and see" category will come under scrutiny.

A 10m foot race would be much more relevant and probably much more telling.

How bad would we be right now if we didn't get him? It actually terrifies me thinking about it! FWIW I don't want to see him moved to the ruck, we need a big forward damn it and it appears we may have found it!

That play where Clark stood up, broke through two would-be tacklers and handballed off the gimme goal to Sellar warmed my heart. A big man doing big man stuff in the forward line is something we haven't seen since Schwarz and Neitz.

I have to take exception to that - what about Bizz? He was a hard worker in the back line and he was a good player for us.

I don't see Neeld as the Messiah either. He is, however, a coach that has changed us from a team of skinny pretty boys that wait outside the contest and play for uncontested possessions to a team that has to go in hard after the footy at every contest. If players don't do this, they'll be playing in the VFL. JV is the type that the coach likes. He will slot straight into the team, I suspect. He's a 'Neeld Player'. (I'm not going to refrain from using this term).

I'm well aware that Neeld didn't invent getting the hard ball. But that is the style of player Neeld loves, Jack Viney is that type of player, hence Jack Viney is a Neeld type player. Don't understand your problem with me calling him this.

I'd like to see the club introducing a tradition whereby the number 31 guernsey every year is awarded to our first draft pick. That way it would be rotated annually and once again come to be an honour associated with our greatest player and not the last holder of the guernsey.