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This should be our main priority at the moment. Then sign Rivers.

For perhaps obvious reasons I'm choosing to reply to you, but it's more a general post about AFL development. I keep reading that one of our major issues has been our lack of development and while I believe there's some truth in that I also believe that it's been exaggerated. If something is pedaled vigorously enough on these forums it starts to grow legs of its own. I believe that there are three major reasons why young players step into Geelong's, Hawthorn's or Collingwood's teams and seemingly fit in straight away. They're usually not rushed, i.e. they've knocked the door down in the VFL; the entire list is in sync with the club's game-plan; and they have quality senior players directing and giving them confidence out on the field. If many of those same young players were presently at Melbourne their output may be different. They may do better than some of our young, depending on their talent levels, but it wouldn't be the same. Another important factor to consider is our poor recruiting. Some supporters seem to think that it's not the players; it's either the coach, the game-plan, or the club's poor development programs. I agree that it takes at least a year for players to come to grips with a new game-plan and in our case it's exacerbated by the poor fitness base of many of them, but in the main I doubt many in the football industry would disagree that we lack talent. Having a very young group is also a key factor. All clubs get it wrong in the draft. At Hawthorn, top 10 draft pick Mitch Thorpe is no longer running around and fellow early pick Beau Dowler is playing in the VFL, and no longer on Hawthorn's list. Another Beau, in Beau Muston, was a top 25 pick and starred on his debut against Melbourne with 31 possessions. After 13 games he's no longer at the club. Can Hawthorn develop talent ? Yes, but they too can get picks wrong. They recruited Melbourne's Paul Johnson and Kyle Cheney, but one is gone and the other isn't a first choice best 22 despite their development programs. The Eagles recruited a discarded top draft 10 pick in WA's Jarrod Oakley-Nicholls. Where Richmond couldn't develop his talent surely West Coast could ? Wrong. He's out the door and so is another first round key forward in Tony Notte. What recent poorly developed Melbourne player has left us only to embarrass us ? Well it hasn't been Brock McLean, or Chris Johnson at Carlton; Simon Buckley is getting games at Collingwood, but go on to their boards and ask about him; it hasn't been High Tower, or Cheney at Hawthorn; it hasn't been Miller, or Maric at Richmond. Scotty Thompson left, but we were all gutted, as we knew he could play. And how did we know that ? He had talent. As I said, I'm not trying to understate the importance of development, but give me talent and I'll show you a player. To maximise his talent, you want good coaches, a strong fitness base, a strong senior group, and a well drilled team where everyone knows their role like the back of their hand. Lots of things go into developing players, but to assume that all our young players are guns and that we just don't get the best out of them is a croc. Tom McDonald is doing really well, Howe is working hard and improving, Nathan Jones is having his best year, Mitch Clark was clearly enjoying the new environment and with another season of hard fitness work and familiarity with Neeld's game-plan/expectations I'm sure other young players will also come to the fore. We do have some decent talent on our list, but not nearly enough; and yes, we've had a rough trot with some unlucky injuries to young players. But in the main we just haven't got it right at the draft table. We get another chance this year and Neeld and Misson get another 6 months in the preseason to make what I expect to be significant inroads. I hope the players have more resolve than some of our posters.

I'm seeing players working harder. I'm seeing more discipline. I'm seeing more scrapping. I'm seeing some fight. Not from everyone, no. The usual suspects can't or won't put in. But there's enough spirit and commitment to the cause there to suggest that Neeld is getting through to a critical mass of the players. He's getting 'buy in'. Get Clark and a Cloke type down there, add a sprinkling of class in the middle and some dog-hungry Moneyballers to the side ... and we will claim some real scalps next year. Don't doubt it. This club will climb up off the canvas. A new Melbourne is going to emerge that we can all be proud of.

Blease is better than his mate from Bankstown.

If the info did come from the club it may have been planned - it's consistent with the 100% Melbourne campaign to raise funds for a massive tilt at FA - show supporters we're serious about this.

I watch him really closely and he's a lazy [censored]. He plays the game on his terms. The difference between his best and worst is massive. With his experience it sickens me. I know he's a great talent and I know he'll have games where he stars elsewhere and opposition supporters will say "how did they let this bloke go", but I don't care, because he's not a leader. Strong clubs can trade a Sylvia type and go on to win premierships.

We are improving. We had one player with 150+ games, StKilda had 10. 'nuff said!

Not great but the doom from some is unwarranted, it's obvious our big problem today was up forward. We are missing Clark, Watts, Jamar, Davey, Frawley, Martin, BARTRAM and Jurrah. In addition to that there is about 8 fringe players unavailable so we are picking blokes who are our 40th best option. Good luck anyone beating anyone with that level of importance dragged out of their side. As usual the odd clanger is the thing that costs us. -inside 50s: 50-50 -after 12:22 minutes in to the match it was 4.1 to 0.1, after that we lost 12.10 to 12.9

Horse [censored]. Has been one of our best in the second half of the year, and although he was ordinary today, there are plenty in the gun before him. Saying that, if a club threw a first rounder at him you would take it, but it ain't going to happen.

We should pick up that Wilkes fella, if only so he doesn't destroy us every time we play St Kilda.

The only time I have every really thought Melbourne were respected and feared was when we had Big Steve Dwyer and Jim Synes in tandem. Spencer has heart and a passion to be out there playing for The Demons and a big man with heart will carry a lot of other blokes along. Someday enough blokes like Jake will twig that they can be the blokes to drag Melbourne out of the wilderness. In other words the blokes who bring home a flag will always be remembered. Stick it up em Big Jake""""""

I respect Neville Jetta and hope he stays. I don't respect Brent (hands on the hips) Moloney and hope he goes. He can take Col with him.

had his first kick for the game today in the last quarter, via a free kick. no matter how much you sugar coat it for a player of his ability and salary is inexcusable. is one of the laziest and most self absorbed players on our list, along with his mate who got subbed off. move them both on and cash on our chips while we can

and how exactly is that going to happen? He can't just leave. GWS can't poach from us again. Perhaps the pre-season draft, but only if GWS has the first pick. I can't stop shaking my head that people keep thinking just cos Scully is at GWS that Blease will do that. Wellingham and Buddy are best mates... is that worth spreading the rumour that they will hold hands and join up at the Pies or Hawks? Bastinac and Scully are closer mates than Blease and Scully, yet Bastinac chose to stay. Seriously people, this is rubbish. Great game today by Blease though, and I totally agree he needs to be secured by the MFC ASAP.

I love Neville Jetta. Gutsy and HAS A CRACK. Also has the pace to get himself out of trouble and can operate in a phonebox. Kicking has improved, still a little way to go. With a few games in a row, could become a regular up forward or around the wing. He's like a Jamie Bennell if Jamie Bennell was not a massive fairy.

Sylvia still had more disposals than Jetta, Green, Spencer, Moloney, Magner, Tapscott, & same as Howe & Sellar. Sylvia laid 8 tackles, 2 more than anyone else. Okay, not a great day for him today but let's not have him drawn & quartered, he's still one of our best over the past 6 games or so.

Well done Jake Spencer. Two good games in a row. Wish some of our so called top players had the same work ethic. Agree with others that half the third quarter aside, it was a better effort than last week.

And 3/4 of our side out. Go Dees

I dont blame supporters/members for being totally [censored] off with what has transpired over the past six years and in particular the past 2 years. Particularly when members/supporters dug deep to eradicate $5.5million of debt. They deserve better than what the Club has served up on and off the field. I will stick fat but I have less confidence about the Club getting it right than I ever have. I amused by posters that they are "happy" or satisfied we are on the right track. How would they know? At best its a cry of hope. Regardless I think the Club should be preparing for a big fall off in members and possibly sponsors. This Club has burnt people's spirit and they will walk, The only sponsor that suits MFC is Coles......"Down, down and staying down"

thought he showed some real signs roday. how about the way he put those saints players on there ass then went back with the flight of the ball and put his body on the line which resulted in a goal. i think people forget this bloke hasn't done a full pre season for 2 years and it makes a BIG difference just ask steven motlop who is now showing benefits of what a full pre season can do to you. hope he stays in the steam for the reast of the year. should give him confidence going into next year. i also think Neeld is a big fan of this bloke too.

I'm really not sure where the negativity is coming from today. We dominated for large periods of that game and apart for the third quarter looked like we could go toe to toe with them. Obviously the fact that our entire forward line is out injured is causing some issues in terms of not scoring from f50 entries, but the fact is that we broke even on forward 50 entries. We also matched them in clearances and contested possession, both of which are focuses for the team this year. On top of that, we've seen drastic improvement in a number of players. If we'd had a couple of legitimate forwards in the side (say Clark and Jurrah) we'd have been able to capitalise on the possession and kick a score. A couple of specifics to note: I have often noticed that collingwood players all have a very similar blocky body shape, obviously due to the way their fitness staff train them. Today I was somewhat impressed to see that many of our younger brigade are beginning to look like this as well. I think this is a good sign that they are getting their bodies into the sort of condition Neeld wants them in to be able to play the way he intends. We've clearly witnessed a couple of our youngsters coming of age in the last few weeks. Spencer seems to have figured out how to play AFL, and today was truly competitive, and of course, Blease is looking like he may be the answer to our crumbing forward dilemma. We also got to see what Jetta does best, although not enough of it, and Grimes is showing himself to be a massive ball-magnet in the midfield. All in all, while it would have been nice to snatch a win today, I can't really complain. We came to play and if not for a lack of legitimate forwards would probably have stolen it.

I couldn't believe that we wore a clash strip that clashed. I appreciate that we were expected to wear one because it wasn't our home game, but why didn't a Melbourne official say this is ludicrous and that our normal jumper is far more appropriate ? And if they did, why weren't they listened to ? I'm hating the AFL more and more every day.

No. Don't get rid of anymore quality players. We need some quality to stay here if we are going to go anywhere.

Sylvia and a swap of first round picks to Port for Boak? Yes please, where do I sign?

Watch the interview with him on deetv post match - he aint goin' anywhere!

Really pleased with Blease's progress, he will sign soon enough. A goal kicking midfielder. Great strike rate. Other parts of his game including his engine will come.

i reckon Dunn might have found a spot in the backline. keep for one year. as much as i dont mind bate i think he will go along woth macdonald who i love his effort and guts.

Left out Nev Jetta too. Saw some real signs from him today.

jake killed ben mcevoy today and the commentators were pumping him, even mick malthouse had good wraps for him! 28 hitouts with his 10 disposals is a good effort from spencil. just one thing to he has already had more tackles then Jamar this year so what does that tell you. should be given a 2 year contract and apperently thats under way now as we speak. keep it up jake!

Certainly not my point of view, I think he's looking like he feels part of the group now, no longer a fringe player.

I watched Neeld today addressing the team and he looked about as frustrated and bewildered as we were.

I think Dunn has been ok this year as well. He is versatile and can play in several positions. He was on Milne for a while and didn't concede a goal. I know many on here don't like him but he is not our worst.

One really bad quarter (the third) cost us. Once upon a time that would have opened the floodgates, but we worked back into it, which is a positive. Didn't mind some of the younger brigade today, starting to look like they could be players: Blease, McDonald (except for a couple of brain fades), Jetta, Strauss, and not to forget Jake Spencer, who did some nice things around the ground. Decent game from some of the mid-tier players as well, Joel Mac and Dunn didn't disgrace themselves, and it was great seeing Rivers down back again. Odd, I got more out of today's loss than last week's win.

Good on spencer and blease for having a dip Sylvia should have a look at Spencer's efforts and take note

Had 8 tackles today and worked hard. Not a great game but on todays performance you would trade about 15 players if you want to trade him.

Radio just said Melbourne running at 91% efficiency by foot!!?!

Wasn't that in 2005?

You should get out more often.

Just go and watch Tom McDonald, Grimes, Trengove, Strauss, Blease, Tappy and Howey. Focus on the future mate. A day at the G, some beers, a pie. Come on! It'll be fun. Go with a positive attitude and you'll be surprised at what you see in the boys.

I don't feel duped as my expectations haven't been massively high since 2007. I can accept that we're crap & hope that some day we'll turn it around. I have been angry that we seem to have effed up just about every high draft choice that we've had. That we've failed in many aspects of player development. That we thought that copying & pasting Hawthorn's list mgmt, Geelong's gameplan & gifting games to kids come hell or high water was some kind of panacea for success. That there has been barely anybody from our club that hasn't been tainted with some form of incompetence the past 7 seasons. That we've had some shocking luck along the way too. That we still display pathetic skill level & go ages throughout games without scoring. 186. There are reasons for all of that though & I still have hopes we can turn it around. Duped would imply being mislead or letdown, yet I don't think we were ever promised a rose garden. We were promised pain now, gain later - if we're still in the same [censored] position come 2015 I'll feel duped.

We won't make the finals now

Fair enough. We disagree entirely. Watching our absolutely shite team in the last few years, Rivers is one of the few who (1) consistenty beats his player and (2) busts his chops, no matter what, against a constant stream of I-50s. He is a touch slow, I'll admit, but he is probably the best reader of the play in our team, and far better than a below average player who deserves to be swept out this year, as you are suggesting.

Your research further defeats your argument. MM retired players, got rid of untried youth, players with only a couple years experience and experienced players. All things Neeld is about to do.

I say; "excuse me David King, I have stuff to do and you're holding me up.."

Get well soon you beautiful man you.

Gieschen is hopeless. He's borderline incompetent. Maybe he's outright incompetent. He's just invented a new rule out of thin air: the "blindsided" rule. Last year he invented the "natural arc" rule for when kicking. Gieschen has championed this concept of "interpreting" the rules, when he should be going the other way. The idea that rules need "interpreting" is bulls---. If they need interpreting, they're poorly written. What hope do the umps have in consistently applying the rules when the top bloke doesn't seem to know what day it is?