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She is one hell of a woman. Jimmy met his match when he married her. Just saw her on A Current Affair. She is intelligent, articulate, self effacing, brutally honest and attractive to boot. She is naturally doing it tough as are the children and I personally wish them all the best from all of us. She shared her husband's last months with the MFC and deserves our thanks for that.

Let me get this straight. You want to pay back Brock McLean for saying we intentionally lost games, and your plan for doing this is to intentionally lose a game? That'll show 'em!

I stopped listening to Neeld early in the season. I don't care what a losing coach says. I did read today he said there were good signs in the GWS game. Reinforced why I don't listen to him. Haven't written him off. Just want to see on-field do the talking.

CRIKEY! Bump and a half. I thought this thread/topic was dead and buried. Happy Resurrection Day to you.

Surely robbo's Herald sun could run a double page spread and use stats on Buddy's "Hamstring" injury and late withdrawls and then quote a anonymous source that says he has received his third strike. Robbo could then promote it on 360 as a major article backed up by rock solid evidence. Or do they just make up [censored] for articles on our club?

There has been significant improvement this year. If you look at the stats that Neeld wants us to improve, things like clearances and contested possessions, we are well up on last year and are actually quite competitive compared to the top sides. We've had more inside 50's than in previous years, and by and large have been preventing sides from getting those massive scoring runs that used to destroy us. A number of our younger players have improved drastically, which is a great sign. We now have a decent rebounding back pocket in Nicholson to offset Bartram (should he still be playing), Watts is showing signs of being dominant in the HBF role, and the move to recruit Clark looks like it may have been genius. All in all good signs. Regarding our abysmal ladder position, I defy any side to do better with the injury run we've had. The bombers have been farcical as their injuries mounted, despite supposedly having a better list. We have played almost half a season without a single specialist forward in the side. Before that we had 1. No side can be judged on their results when they've had a year like we have. If we want an accurate gauge of how the side is going, we'll have to wait until next year and hope that we manage to keep a few more players on the park.

Don't want sound like a wet blanket, but why even bother starting these sort of threads?

We already have a Goddard...his name is Jack Watts!

Goddard has lost his edge at 28. Gets lots of the ball but has less impact than he used to. Picking up possessions on his terms and playing easy football. Idont want him but he would fit into the senior player culture at MFC very well though.

To put things into perspective, below is a comment on Melbourne’s draftees made by an opposition club recruiter after draft day each year. Going by this some good picks, some bad at the time, some wrong opinions at the time some correct. Some too early to tell. Pick 36. I was actually a fan of Taggert. I thought he would make a great rookie. Good size, good speed and a great kick. He just never worked hard enough. Some nice cameos at times throughout the year but I always wanted him to do more and he rarely did. 1/4 here and 1/4 there. I think Curran or Lockyer was a better pick for you guys. Pick 52. Big, big fan of Josh. I had him at 29. Kind of kid you would go to war with. Gives his all every minute of every game. Good pick at 52. Pick 54. Sellars Hasn't fired a shot since being drafted. Great kid but no intensity and needs a heart transplant. Not sure he has the attitude and/or desire to succeed in the AFL. Might be a late bloomer but couldn't get a kick in stampede in the SANFL in 2011. At the end of the 2010 season after Jai had played as a bottom age (17yr old) at the Falcons I would have signed him on the spot. He had a great year and I thought he might get picked up by the Gold Coast Suns. He got an invite to the 2010 Draft Camp but struggled to impress. This year he had more down than good. I had really high hopes he would dominate but instead he beat up on the weak teams and got pantsed by the better ones. His biggest problem was his complete lack of intensity. He marks well, kicks nicely off either foot and moves like an onballer but he often looks afraid of his shadow. At times I wanted to go out to the huddle and slap him around the face and tell him to grow some balls. He frustrated the hell out of me. As the season went on he seemed to get softer and softer. I saw 1 game where he kicked 5 goals and dominated a very weak Bendigo but the next week he had about 3 touches playing at CHF vs a top 4 team. So I guess that is why he fell so far. Unless he finds some anger he will get smashed in the VFL. 12. Cook - Ripper kid. Very polite and well spoken. Has a nice country feel to his manner. Ex AIS lad so he can play. Hampered with injuries most of last year and for some of this so since his AIS days he has been playing catchup. Lovely mark and nice kick. He has suffered from some migraines this year and it is thought that is because he gets very nervous before a game. The longer the season went the more I tended to drop off him simply because he was having any impact in games I thought he should have been dominating. He not ovferly intense and not overly aggressive. Bit like Jack Watts in that way. Can play and if he reaches his potential was worth 12 but I have a few question marks on his mental toughness. Howe - Never seen play. Davis - I like Troy. Thought he would have made a good late pick or rookie. Deceptively quick for his size. Great intensity and makes his opponent earn every possession. Kicks the ball well. Always runs hard and straight. Will need time but should be good. McDonald - I am so-so on Tom. Thought more of a rookie. Bit unco and ungainly at times and needs some think music when making decisions. Not overly footy smart and can often get were the ball isn't. Flashes in and out of games. I would have thought Litherland, Alex Johnson, Ledger, McInnes and Delaney were better options, who all came after him. Trengove and Scully are wonderful players. Easily the standouts from all concerned. My personal opinon is that Lucas is far more accomplished player than Gysberts and your guys should have taken him. He is quicker, more agile and has a far greater running capacity. Both are about the same height. Gysberts probably stronger overhead but Lucas is no slouch as a marking player. Gysberts is neat and tidy and I had him rated at 22 but he struggles defensively. Lucas is a gut runner with some zip whereas Gysberts tends to be 1 paced. Teams seem to let him get on his own abit and he can sneak forward to kick a goal. He is good in close tending to feed the ball out of congestion by hand. I just worry about his running ability to work back and forth at speed. Tapscott at 18 was a good get. I had him at 17. Brilliant kick. Strong hands. Needs to up his workrate to get his hands on it more often but if he gets it anywhere around 50 he is a good chance of kicking a goal. Like most kids needs to work on his defensive game. Strong body. Good pick at 18. Big Max was the pick of the ruckman so another good get. 208cm (?) is one big lad and he might still be growing. Up until he did his knee he was showing plenty. Very raw but he is competitive and plays with good vigor. Should be good in about 3 or 4 years. Fitzpatrick???????? Not a fan. He has very good speed and agility for his size but his foot skills are shocking and he is lazy. His marking is hit and miss. He is getting over Chronic Fatigue as a 15yr old but he has been playing on that for the past 3 years. I haven't spoke to him but my bosses went to Sth Africa with him as part of the AIS U18 tour a few years back and they said he was the biggest whinger and complainer they had every heard. They also said he is one of the most arrogant kids they have ever met. They wouldn't have drafted him with 100 picks. I think at pick #50 James Craig from SA or Josh Donaldson from WA would have been a better option Watts did very, very well at DC. Don't get me wrong he has some talent but he also currently plays alot like the basketballer he is. He's not a big fan of the physical contact he gets and will get at AFL. He will need 3 good pre-seasons before you start to see the best of him. He needs to quickly develop some real aggression in him to worry the better defenders. At the moment he is easily worried off the ball but obviously some size and strength will help that but he has to get angry on the bad men of the AFL will destroy him. Blease - 17 yr old. Very quick, lovely mover, likes to run and carry. Decent kick and gets some good distance. Can get down on himself if beaten. Needs alot of size and strength. He should light up the 'G' flying down the wing ala Robbie Flower. We had him at 15. Strauss- I love this kid. One of the best kicks in the TAC. Deceptively quick. Moves within himself but hard to tackle. Great balance and footy smarts. Should be a talented onballer or HBF who sets up play. Alot like Heath Scotland. We had him at 24. Bennell and Bail I have never seen play and I know nothing about them. Jetta is a small forward/goal sneak. Interested pick really. He's okay but not super quick for his height. I'm not sure he has enough speed and tricks for h is size. Might struggle at 1st. He was outside our 60 and not really under consideration. I was a fan of Frawley but not at 15. I had him at 34 and my boss at 24. I rated him but his kicking worried us both. He is okay when he has time to steady but in the AFL we were worried he wouldn't have that time. He can play short or tall with his pace. I would have taken Sellar and Mitch Brown before him as a tall. He has more pace but I think the other two would give more versatility. Pettard at 30. I'm not a fan of Pettard and had him at 44. My boss liked him and had him at 22. So going by his judgment and you have done well to get him at 30 I think he is slow and lacks penetration with his kicking. Our main concern was he fumbles alot under pressure. He has a few tickets on himself which should get knocked out fairly quickly. Garland at 46 was a good get. I was hoping he would make it through to us. I had him at 30 and the boss at 37. He a nice mover, lovely kick and footy smart. Once he puts on some size he will be exciting to watch. My only worry would be his commitment. He's a very introverted kid who had to be talked into playing for Tassie in the Under 18 Champs. Once he played he made plenty sit up and take notice. Weetra at 62 I know nothing about him. I have never seen him play but the SA recruiter was gob smacked when his name was called. He didn't rate him at all.

Have to admit, I'm getting a little bit tired of the average age/games defense. He mentions it every presser. The average age of our playing list is 22 yrs 342 days. Adelaide is next in line at 23 yrs 44 days and averaging 5 less games, and they're going okay... I realise it comes into the big picture but the incessant referral to it is grating on me.

100% keep Dunn.... offers 3 very important things to a list. 1. Versatillity 2. Long kicking 3. He gets under the skin of the opposition (every side needs one)

Some of the posters on here can't give it up.....you have to remember if the glass was half full for some of them they would spill it..it was a scrappy game on Saturday but we won, and don't really care we stopped a team from scoring a goal for over a quarter of play.......and no we wouldn't have lost if the clock had kept going because it couldn't...really...you want to play for three hours just to prove a point?

dont mind joal macdonal i think he has been good for us. adds experience and hardness.

Just in case we missed something in the last 8?

Good call. Clark, Watts and Jones to me are our three biggest shining lights of the year. Clark is an out-and-out star. People scoff when I say he was in AA form, but he was. The problem is that people who don't support MFC don't watch MFC games unless their club is beating playing us. If you'd watched his whole year, you'd see that he was ripping defenders to shreds with leading, contested marking and goal-kicking that should have had him in AA contention. We can finally structure a forward line around someone, and Clark is a perfect FF to lead us in coming years. Could not be happier with that move from Neeld. Jones has stepped up this year. It's still a bit sad that he's our best mid, which tells you why we lag behind other clubs, but personally he has lifted his game to another level. His contested ball work is great, his kicking is way better than it used to be, he tackles hard, and he's developed leadership qualities. Kicks goals, too. I'd like to see him eradicate the Superman stuff which pops up most weeks, but he's helping carry one of the worst midfields on his shoulders. I've never seen a single player cop as much ridiculously unwarranted crap as Watts. If he was anyone else, or had been picked anywhere else, he'd be far more highly rated. He's made so many positive steps this year, improving his contested work and marking, getting far more involved in matches, and settling in to a position he's more suited to than FF. With Clark in the forward line, we can afford to play Watts back, and that frees up players like Grimes to move up the ground. Watts is going to be a great player for us.

If you're as tired as I am of the negativity and pessimism of some on this forum join me in focusing on the positives from this year. New coach with a single-minded approach to changing the culture and ensuring that those who can't or don't want to play at elite level are gone. The continued improvement of Nathan Jones. Good signs from some of our younger brigade: Howe, Grimes, Blease, etc. An aggressive approach to the trade period and a determination to get the right people on the bus. Feel free to add others. Whingers and pessimists can use any of the 50 or so other threads.

Now, we've been disgusting this year. This post is not an attempt to dilute or draw attention from that fact. It's not to hide or to say "it's ok, another team has been rubbish too," but honestly - the Bulldogs have been utterly atrocious to the point of the T word. At Round 12: The Dogs were 5 and 6 with a percentage of 88.83 (843 for/949 against). We were 1 and 10 with a percentage of 55.92 (699 for/1250 against). Currently: The Dogs are 5 and 15 with a percentage of 68.15 We are 4 and 16 with a percentage of 69.81 In this period we've gone 3 and 6. They've gone 0 and 9. Now, obviously the draw comes into this, but it's the consistent effort (or lack of) that I'm alluding to. The Dogs' percentage in this time has been 51 (563 for/1117 against). Ours has been 90 (760 for/840 against). Of particular note is the Dogs effort in the second halves of matches. During this period, the Dogs have scored 228 in the 9 second halves they've played. They've conceded 636. Their second halves percentage in this period is nothing short of a pathetic 35.8. This adds to the fact that, at round 8, they were 4-4 with a percentage of 95.19. Now - I'm not one to bring draft picks into things... But haven't they activated their compensation pick this year?

in breaking news Dean Bailey has been sacked!

After looking at his head, he hasn't ducked enough.

Bart: "Do you think he was involved in the Kennedy assasination somehow?" Homer "I do, Now"

lol... like we have a choice whether we lose or not...

I'm sure we have more important things to worry about.

And some hungry Jacks.

I thought you were talking about Sylvia..

In my mind, Lynden Dunn stays - for a number of reasons. It appears Neeld is a fan and has finally allowed him to settle into a new position of which he is making a pretty good fist. He is providing some great rebound off the half backline and has also become a worthy designated kicker after a behind. I don't think I've yet see him stuff this up which has been a long term issue for us, and has a booming kick as an extra weapon. If we use the moneyball theory of recruiting, then he sits in our midst as the sort of cheaper option we would be looking to trade for anyway. He is a strong body, resilient from injury and can play a role (or several). With the salary cap squeeze, he is a cheap option to maintain while still stockpiling hopefully better talent at the other end of the spectrum. Every club needs lower grade handy depth players and he is that at the very least. As someone said earlier, there is a bottom six at every club, whether it's best 22 botton six or bottom six on the list and if Dunn is part of either list then he is worth more to us than he would be of value at the trade table. I also think the fact he has been on the list for 8 years is irrelevant. He is responding to the demands of the new coaching panel and has adapted probably better than all of our other senior core players, a core of which can't be totally decimated as there needs to be a list balance of age and experience with something good to offer. I would bracket him with Jared Rivers to a large extent in terms of this and while both are on the the "contracts on hold" list, as moneyball options we already own them and if both are embracing the new way, then this should be rewarded after the club conducts its due diligence with free agency. On the flipside they are obviously not unexpendable and they also may choose to ply their trade elsewhere, but I would keep both and would be surprised if they are not in Melbourne jumpers next year. There are many others before them whose form is simply not worthy of a place on the list. Good form should be rewarded, while poor form and/or an inability to comply with the new way will pave the way for a walk out the door - and there are many others more deserving of that fate than Jared Rivers and Lynden Dunn.

In all seriousness my optimism starts the minute this season finishes. Then changes can start in earnest. Thats where my optimism lays, in that some real tinkering with this team will begin. Yes theres been some encouraging signs. Trenners is starting to play like he used to. Am I the only one that sees that as a bit odd. Its been quite interesting seeing half a team take on various others and not get totally wiped. Surely this means they are starting to get something understood out there. This in turns encourages me for when we get an "A" side actually playing then maybe, just maybe we might be able to compete. Im optimistic theres a major cleanout looming, that some real trading will be embarked upon, that we'll actually recruit some kids who can truly ruly play this bloody game. Im optimistic that the FD actually have a plan invoked that will start working and showing it next season. im optimistic, I have to be optimisitc as optimism is our only hook to hang a hat on invariably. Im optimisitc, Im a Melbourne supporter , thats what we are, optimistic, year after bloody year.

One last shot despite the battle being lost? I'm really tired of the constant negativity. Give it up. Give the guy a chance. Get some long distance goggles and try to see the bigger picture.

Mark my words, Jetta has the capabilities to be an AFL premiership player. We would be foolish to de-list him. Watch how quickly another team jumps on him if we do.

lol @ these posters trying to think through reasons why we shouldn't have drafted Jack Darling.

Im over Dunn. 8 years of tease but little demonstrable talent. I know what he gives and he aint good enough. The only thing saving him is there is a logjam of similar NQR players that have to go. Its his only saving grace. In 8 years Dunn has not nailed a position fwd,midfield or back. Its an indictment in such a poor team. And better record than Stef Martin up forward is setting the bar incredibly low. As for squibbing, Dunn has always ducked his head going for contest marks.

He's also the same height as Dunstall and Lloyd.

There's a part of me (not sure how serious) that in part blames Dunn for 186. 110 or so down before half time, Dunn decides to dust up Chapman. We were getting pounded but I feel like Geelong would've eased up as often happens in thrashings and the game would've petered out into a measly 160 odd point loss. But no - not after Dunn gave them even more ammunition to annihilate us with. In fact that's it- he should go just for that alone.

And Cloke is a FA, so he'd cost us no picks or trades, in theory. But that's a lot of $ for one player. Would make him in the top half doz highest paid players, I'd think. How bout Montagna and Sewell, instead, as FAs? $550k p/a each (or similar rated FA mids). Would they be better than Cloke for $1.1?

He's got man flu, my missus tells me. Pretty common at the moment. She know all about these things, thankfully. My best sauce.

He has no idea. But you will see resignings happen again this week. I never thought he would go!!!!!!! I personally believe it will be Carlscum. Strong connections with a M.Malthouse should he take the reins. Although same can be said with the ex Filth officials we will have working for us both now and in the new year! keep your eyes on the last bit.

I'm not fazed over Dunn. If he stays it'll be as the 40th-ish player, if he goes we won't lose out too much. A shame - on mum's wall at the family home, she still has a paper cut-out from the day after we rolled the Cats at the G on a Friday night intimating that he'd be our replacement for David Neitz. How far away any thought such as that seems.

He does this every contract year, has half a season of decent footy. I said these exact words the last time he earned a 'reprieve' (read contract): The only reason there are so many people touting his form of late is because he is coming from such a low base. With that said, he may stay, but he, like about 10 others, will be waiting until mid-October. And even then, he will have to want to stay.

Part of the blame does lie with the recruiters. But not as much as most people, you included, think. I believe in the fair trial system, so no, I will not give up. More to the point, though, you just made all that crap up about West Coast telling clubs Darling was dangerous so he'd be left for them. That is straight out of a novel.

But that won't happen. And who else is out there. He can bomb them from 65. I don't take too much from his 2012. All is not right. A change could be just the thing. Yes it is a gamble. But Clark needs help.

This is the biggest load of conspiracy theory hogwash to grace the planet since someone tried to blame 9/11 on George Bush. Look at your own signature. 'I believe in Neeld'. To do what? Coach, right? Coaching involves a lot of things. One of them is to take talent and nurture it, and get the best out of your players. Bailey failed royally at that, and that is the reason we are in the position we are in. If Jack Darling was as good as you say he was, and was not lacking in the problems you said he was, then someone would have taken him. He wasn't a stand out target at the time. Yes, now he's clearly better than Cook. But at the time, there were enough issues (which weren't perpetuated by West Coast, you fool, they were facts) to suggest he wasn't going to be worth our trouble. Right. So what would you like our recruiters to do this year? They can't time travel, so they have to do their best with the material presented to them. Right? Do you understand that? So based on that, my argument is that I want to see our recruiters do the best they can on the evidence available to them. What happens after is obviously in part due to their decisions, but if they make reasonable and informed decisions now, I want to see our coaches and development teams do their best job to get the best out of the players. That's not happening at Melbourne, and looking back at draft day and going 'well, we could have done this or that' isn't fair.

This doesn't look good maybe they have put buddy on ice till finals or buddy took it upon himself to do it

Who gives a sh!t what he says in the media. This is the most overrated variable of coaching acumen going around. I'm only concerned about the conversations he has with individuals and the playing group as a whole.

Because our attitude and performances were really great last year. Do some people forget how dispicable our entire football department was ??? Both on and off field ..... I must say I don't enjoy reading Demonland as much these days

Cloke plays for Collingwood.

I think the inprovement is in the intangibles. The FD has had some time to bed down and get some of its programs happening. Results may take until into the new year. The greatest improvement from where I sit is the notion that the FD will now have a very clear indication of who stays and who goes Knowledge has improved. Next stop, the playing list.

I want to go on record, I just don't want Cloke, not for peanuts, he will be far too bloody old when we are in contention, if we get there at all. get a couple of guys younger that will fit in !!

why feel sorry for him? he has chased money his whole professional career, all in the name of funding the Mormon church. he is the one who decided to leave the storm for bigger money at the broncos and despite being the second highest paid player there decided to ditch the game he grew up loving and playing to chase even more money, this time in a code that was completely foreign to him. mercenaries such as folau deserve every inch of scrutiny they bring onto themselves