Leaderboard

Morning Demonlanders! Due to the heat i couldn't sleep and finished my first Demons video. Hope you all like it and it gets you fired up for 2013! CARN THE DEES!

One thing we all have to accept is that we don't know exactly what the AFL have. Everyone is speculating.

You miss the point entirely; Wilson has a grudge against Melbourne and its executives, her main goal seems to be to get rid of them and punish the club. Fan comes on here and applauds her for her writing and rightly cops a mouthful from true MFC supporters. She is viscous and vindictive with an obvious hatred for all things Melbourne; do you think we should tell her what a wonderful job she's doing? So what if she releases more information and releases it earlier; if it includes her own version of events and in the main turns out to be wrong will you condemn her afterwards? Will Fan? Anyway I think we all know where he stands and it looks like you stand firmly beside him and I would say that's not behind the MFC; shame on the both of you.

Is it too much for the following question to be asked of the AFL by the MFC? "Why after clearing us at the time, have you launched another investigation purely on the say so of a former disgruntled player, who never said we tanked, but rather that the club was experimenting and not making winning the be all and end all, yet not investigated other clubs whose coach, assistant coach and players have said their clubs tanked to get draft picks and certain players"? Next question, "why have you singled out the MFC alone, for this lengthy, costly, disruptive, heavy handed investigation"?

The investigation was surely into whether the Melbourne Football Club actually committed any breaches of the AFL's rules and not about the philosphy of its football department insofar as list management was concerned. In any event, all of the evidence to date indicates that MFC's list management was consistent with Demetriou's directives and what had been done before by other AFL clubs which had met the AFL's approval. The only guilty party here is the instigator who told the On the Couch panellists that he left because of the experimentation when he left because the club he went to offered him more money. I trust that the MFC makes this abundantly clear when it makes its submission to the AFL.

Conveniently ignoring the fact the majority of it is misinformation? The only question is: did she make it up, or is someone feeding her porkies to make her look silly..?

For the uninitiated, rono is the Tiger fan on Demonology long known for his support of Terry Wallace, the self-confessed tanker who the AFL had chosen to allow go unpunished despite publicly admitting he tanked. A Tiger fan like Ms. Wilson, one who apparently sticks to his guns "right or wrong" unlike the majority of you muppet Melbourne supporters who prefer to support their club.

Now the New Year had commenced I can't help but get involved in this discussion yet again. My main concern about all of this relates to 2 main points. 1. The integrity of the AFL investigation including the apparent questionable tactics employed by their incompetent investigators. This area must be exploited by MFC legal team. 2. The so-called rollover by ex- and current employees of the MFC. This star chamber stuff must be made public to identify WHO has accused the MFC. Identify those who are wanting to bring down this club..and do it so we all know who these nasty people are. If they were threatened by AFL investigators to dob in others...THIS must be made public. Otherwise name these people who are doing the damage to the club.

How is the big guy going all you people who get to training? I remember a game once we lost a few years ago by a small margin, may have even been the 1 point loss to the pies. Russian played a big game and they interviewed him after the game and he was devestated we lost, the bloke doing the interview kept saying "you had a huge game today, x amont of tap outs" and this kind of thing and the big Russian kept saying how he should have done more and he felt bad he couldnt help the team win Seems like the kind of bloke who could thrive under Neeld, big year?

To even get a slap with a wet lettuce you surely need to have done something wrong - still waiting for the evidence to be produced, not just alluded to by that miserable bitter Wilson. Punishment for what, pray tell? Tactics from the Stazi and KGB days. I agree, NOT ACCEPTABLE. We have been Les Miserables forfar too long - man the barricades and fight the bastards. Yeah - a great "journalistic" hyperbole. After all, up to 20 million Australians are sadistic serial killers, like maybe 5 or 10 ? I know that Vlad will never admit it, but his ex offsider has hashed this up so badly. Like a secret CIA / FBI Commie bashing exercise of the 1950s.

tbh mate i am not sure. I want this tanking issue smashed and buried. A suspended slap on the wrist would not do that. And it would give the AFL the upper hand on all dealing going forward. If this gets nasty we must fight it On & off the field.

Seriously that tattoo has to be fake. If it's real he needs some mental health expert to put him in a padded room asap.

well said RF. I feel pity on those who applaud Wilson's words on this topic. If she was a REAL Journalist she would be writing the same type of articles on Richmond & Carlton for starters in tandem with the MFC. But no. This is personal. I have worked with great journalist's and very ordinary ones in the past. There is no doubt Wilson has strong contacts, but here transcribing information to paper is always to personal. I do not want to know her opinion primarily. I want to know the facts. I already know her opinions of CS. It goes back to KB days, probably earlier. Wilson & Schwab. 2 huge power brokers of the RFC in the 60's & 70's All this from the CHIEF FOOTBALL WRITER!! Alf Brown is still the Chief.

You might have met one or two and they stuck out like the proverbial - in my experience MFC supporters were almost universally in favour of our 2009 strategy.

I'm with you, I won't be the least bit surprised. The Eagles' track record for actually developing young talent into solid footballers is in another stratosphere compared to ours.

I think 'threatened' is exactly right. The response of many to Fan's writing is desperate, breathless denial. Wailing about 'disunity' - as if one poster on one fan site is a threat to the club. Infantile, gutless, hand-wringing magical thinking. Fan is bang on when he says that Caro actually releases more information - more of it and earlier than everyone else on this topic. So what if it is leaks. WE still know more because of her. That her editorialising is pathetic makes it harder to sift the gold from the dross, but it is there. And that is what so much internet discussion misses; all or nothing thinking often ruins the ability to discuss anything. It's happened here.

The AFL ought to have a look at the Demons win / loss ratio over the last 5 years and see what sort of consistency there is there. We have had crap weak sides for a number of years our form in 2009 is pretty consistent with our form in 2012 when there were no priority draft picks were on the table. Not sure you can same the same level of consistency applied to other teams that after they received their priority picks made the top 4 and 8 in the next couple of years.

No way-it's really cool .WYL and Ben hur have made it slightly more political than intended ,but Ben and Stuie are whipping us into shape-keeping us focused ,and not letting us get away with digressions . There were a few jokes awhile ago that Stuie got miffed with but it's OK now . Stuie keeps repeating the joke that others used in an attempt to get a laugh now but we've cancelled jokes for 2013 because of Neeld and the new look . If we keep it serious here-the boys willdo the job on the ground . That seems to be the prevailing wisdom .

I think most of us acknowledge the importance of the midfield to a team's finals (and ultimately, premiership) aspirations as well as the fact that, in Melbourne's case, we've been well below par in that department for at least a decade. Our recruiting over the past couple of seasons has certainly been focussed on improving the quality and depth of our midfield players and, like BH, I'm hopeful that the infusion of a mixture of youth and experience into the midfield will help us improve dramatically in 2013. It's worth remembering that Jimmy T was the only top 10 draft pick who had experience last year playing against men (and he was an important member of a SANFL premiership team the year before). Likewise, Jack Viney. Accordingly, they should adapt to the complexity of the systems of play far more rapidly than many of their early choice counterparts from other clubs. But our recruiters in their wisdom have also concentrated on improving the potency of our attack which should be much stronger all round than it has been since the days when Neita and Robbo prowled the forward line with a young Aaron Davey at their feet. It's amazing in those circumstances, how your midfield grows in confidence and stature when they know that their forward movements are going to be honoured by players downfield who know what they're doing rather than inconsistent half-hearted performers who constantly get out-bodied or simply aren't in the right places so the ball gets shunted right back at or over the heads of the midfielders. It works both ways and likewise, an improved defensive unit should help our midfield as well. Suffice to say, I'm liking what the football department has been doing with our defence and I can see a few of our young emerging players finally coming good and giving us a defensive unit on par with many of the teams that currently scoff at the very mention of the word "Melbourne". You can rave about your midfields but I've always believed that defences win premierships and its no coincidence that the best defence in the competition won the flag in 2012 (Sydney - 1629 points against v Hawthorn - 1733 against). Jetta may well have been the icing on the cake but underneath they had the likes of Grundy, LRT, Richards, Shaw, Smith, Mattner and Johnson. I reckon we have the players who could match them among our list of defenders*. But the area where our midfield has the greatest capacity to improve is in the fact that the team now gathered together appears on the same page and willing to accept the tactics and strategies laid out by the football department. That's the area where I expect our midfield (and the team as a whole) to advance the most in 2013. It was obvious early last season that we had players not apparently willing to buy into what was laid out for them by the coach. Too many trying to play their own individual game. The midfield unit is supposed to be a team within a team - that's what I expect from them this year and if they play that way then the gulf between us and the top sides in this area will narrow considerably. * I like coming out with big statements early in the season.

Dean Bailey's forward spread and running patterns were outstanding - when they were on! It was the almost total absence of defensive structures around the ground that stuffed us around. Even really good defensive footballers like Chip found it tough to be defensive with no structure for support. 2013 will be a pleasure/pain year for mine. PLEASURE I don't reckon we will get beaten once by 10 goals. We will slowly become that team who is hard to beat. Most of our losses will be within 20 points. We will surprise lazy teams like Bombers, Tigers, St. Kilda and probably beat them Our skill level will finally rise. Blease, Toumpas, Watts, Clark, - these players are skillful and will be delivering into our forward 50. We get to see a spine of Frawley, McDonald, Jones, Dawes, Clark and a midfield including Trengove, McKenzie, Sylvia, Grimes, Viney, Toumpas etc... Our body size means we match it at the contest with Pies, Eagles, Hawks, Swans. PAIN Through inexperience and some brain-fades we will lose to teams we should beat - Brisbane, North Melbourne etc... Our skill level will hurt us when we think we are past the worst Our interstate record is appalling and I can't see this changing too much yet. GWS and Suns aside. 10 wins maximum for me this year.

The tired old football cliché of next year was in the air as the Melbourne Football Club entered 1973 with high hopes. Former Saint Carl Ditterich the star recruit had been lured to the club at the cost of $82,000 and there were the usual young hopefuls including a bespectacled callow wisp of a lad named Robert Flower waiting in the wings. The main loss was that of injury prone key forward Ross Dillon who crossed to Norwood (SA). As was becoming the norm, things simply didn't work out although, after a slow start the Demons were on six wins from eleven games and were a chance of making the final five after three consecutive victories. Alas, they won only one remaining game, finished a dismal 10th and Ian Ridley resigned with several players threatening to quit the club for what they considered poor treatment of the former coach. The matter was eventually smoothed over and the "rebel" players remained. Bob Skilton was appointed the new coach for 1974 - the first time since the 1930s and the days of Checker Hughes that the club had made an outside appointment for the senior coaching role. THE DETAIL Coach: Ian Ridley Captain: Stan Alves Finishing Position: 10th Best and Fairest: Carl Ditterich Leading Goalkicker: Ross Brewer (32) Best First Year Player: Robert Flower PREMIERSHIP SEASON ROUND BY ROUND 1 St. Kilda 9.12.66 - 14.14.98 Loss 2 Hawthorn 13.22.100 - 14.14.98 Win 3 Carlton 11.9.75 - 11.16.82 Loss 4 Fitzroy 13.16.94 - 13.9.87 Win 5 Richmond 13.13.91 - 16.14.110 Loss 6 Collingwood 10.16.76 - 15.10.100 Loss 7 South Melbourne 17.10.112 - 12.11.83 Win 8 Essendon 10.11.71 - 12.9.81 Loss 9 Footscray 10.14.74 - 9.14.68 Win 10 Geelong 20.19.139 - 11.15.81 Win 11 North Melbourne 13.12.90 - 12.9.81 Win 12 St. Kilda 6.18.54 - 11.14.80 Loss 13 Hawthorn 15.15.105 - 15.22.112 Loss 14 Fitzroy 19.20.134 - 14.13.97 Win 15 Carlton 12.9.81 - 18.14.122 Loss 16 Richmond 9.19.73 - 16.14.110 Loss 17 Collingwood 12.15.87 - 17.24.116 Loss 18 South Melbourne 11.12.78 - 12.14.86 Loss 19 Essendon 15.11.101 - 17.13.105 Loss 20 Footscray 10.13.73 - 17.8.110 Loss 21 Geelong 14.14.98 - 17.11.113 Loss 22 North Melbourne 9.12.66 - 11.5.71 Loss LADDER Collingwood 19 3 0 125.5% 76 Richmond 17 5 0 117.6% 68 Carlton 15 7 0 126.6% 60 Essendon 13 9 0 104.4% 52 St. Kilda 12 10 0 105.3% 48 North Melbourne 11 10 1 97.6% 46 Hawthorn 11 11 0 109.6% 44 Fitzroy 9 13 0 90.7% 36 Footscray 7 14 1 88.2% 30 Melbourne 7 15 0 91.8% 28 Geelong 6 16 0 78.4% 24 South Melbourne 4 18 0 79.0% 16 PLAYING LIST [Number, Player, Games, Goals] 2 Robert Flower 13 4 3 Trevor Rollinson 4 0 4 Tony Sullivan 21 0 5 John Clennett 8 3 6 Frank Davis 18 1 7 Graham Osborne 21 13 8 Peter Keenan 15 13 9 Stephen Kerley 18 2 10 Carl Ditterich 22 5 11 Greg Wells 21 20 12 Mike Collins 2 1 14 Barry Bourke 210 15 Stan Alves 22 29 17 Denis Clark 14 3 18 John Tilbrook 21 24 19 Ray Biffin 22 5 20 Shane McSpeerin 4 5 21 Graham Molloy 4 4 22 Henry Ritterman 9 5 23 Shane Fitzsimmons 14 2 24 Wayne Delmenico 7 1 26 Greg Parke 21 21 27 Ross Brewer 18 32 28 Tony Dullard 3 5 29 Noel Leary 7 0 30 Peter Williamson 7 2 33 Gary Hardeman 21 6 34 Mal Owens 3 0 35 Paul Callery 22 28 36 Glenn Swan 13 21 39 Peter Dilnot 4 3 40 John Cumming 4 0 42 John Morgan 4 0 43 Frank Giampaolo 3 4 45 Greg MacDonald 4 6 49 Ian McGuinness 2 0 54 Neil Chamberlain 3 3 BEST & FAIREST Seniors: Best and Fairest (Keith "Bluey" Truscott Memorial Trophy) - Carl Ditterich Runner-up Best and Fairest (Sid Anderson Memorial Trophy) - Greg Wells Third Best and Fairest (Ron Barassi Senior Memorial Trophy) - Barry Bourke Fourth Best and Fairest - Stan Alves Fifth Best and Fairest - Paul Callery Sixth Best and Fairest - Ray Biffin Best First Year Player - Robert Flower Reserves: Best and Fairest (Stan Brownbill Memorial Trophy) - Noel Leary Second Best and Fairest - John Cumming Outstanding Service Trophies - Wayne Delmenico, Ian McGuinness, Henry Ritterman Under 19s: Best and Fairest (Ray Reid Memorial Trophy) - Robert Meades Second Best and Fairest - Ray Potter Outstanding Service - Neil McMullin, James Ahern, Barry Lierich Under 17s: Best and Fairest - Shane Young Second Best and Fairest - Robert Santagada Outstanding Service - Glen Campbell, David Gough, Greg Pimm THE PASSING PARADE Legendary coach Norm Smith passed away in 1973. THE BOTTOM LINE A profit of $4,382 was announced, thanks mainly to a larger dividend from the VFL as a result of extra revenue due to a draw in the finals series. ANNUAL REPORT 1973 In presenting the Annual Report for season 1973, we record a drop from eighth to tenth position on the V.F.L. list. Since our last premiership win in 1964, the highest position we have occupied on the premiership ladder is seventh, and to find the team recording another disappointing year is both hurtful and discouraging. We won only seven matches this year after a reasonable beginning in winning six out of our first eleven matches. However, in winning one match in the last eleven games played, we failed to flatter in any degree. This dismal effort has saddened all connected with the club, but we are not sitting down in despair: we are trying to do something about it within the limits laid down by the rules. We need many more better players than were on our list in 1973, but this is easier said than done, because we are restricted to recruit within our metropolitan and country zoned areas, and are permitted to sign only two interstate players per year. We have exhaustively surveyed the country areas zoned to us by the V.F.L. and it does not appear to offer the quantity and the quality of players we require immediately. Undoubtedly there are a few youngsters who show promise and they will be encouraged, but the ready made players are not there. A similar picture is in evidence as far as our metropolitan zone is concerned, with the differ­ence being an increase in the number of good juniors available from our local district, but still no instant league players. Limited as we are in acquiring interstate ready made players, it would appear therefore that our greatest hope of progress lies with our local metropolitan junior players and they must be given the maximum assistance, and encouragement, to develop as senior players in the shortest possible time. We have been faced with the resignation of our Senior Coach, fan Ridley, and the Committee feels it better to advertise the Coaching positions of all our other eighteens and this we have done in an endeavour to find the best talent in this area. We must have the best coach available to spearhead our advance if we are to be as successful as we all would wish. More will be said about the service of Ian Ridley in a later part of the Report but it is quite obvious that the road ahead is going to be both lone and difficult. The Victorian Football League has always been a most highly competitive athletic competition and all league clubs approach their task in a dedicated manner backed with a planned business approach, and your Committee is doing this also. It is a simple matter to criticize committees and the people that comprise them and this will always be so. One can only assure our members that their committee is devoting hours of time and study to the running of our Club. The number of occasions that various sub­committees are called upon to meet throughout the year is most surprising and it is a job only for the enthusiast to undertake. As a consequence, the time they spend away from their families with no financial gain whatsoever is very considerable, and yet when success fails to arrive, they are immediately criticized. It would be a far better action for the critics to present themselves for election at this annual meeting rather than to criticise from afar and yet make no endeavour to undertake the work load that a Committeeman must undertake. For some years, our recruiting has been under the control of a member of Committee in Ken Carlon who would barely see one or two matches in Melbourne each season. Every other weekend he is touring our country areas viewing potential players in the country matches he attends. It is no fault of Ken's that at the present moment, there are very few real possibilities as players for 1974, in either the Goulburn Valley League, the Kyabram District League, the Waranga North Eastern League or the Riddell League. Our relations with these leagues are very good. Indeed, a letter of thanks received from the Waranga N.E. League at the conclusion of Season 1973, was lodged with the Victorian Country Football League as evidence of the most cordial co-operation that exists between that League and our Club and we are proud of this. But the fact still remains that the four leagues are not producing players quickly enough to immediately uplift our position. Our metropolitan zone presents the best possible source of talent and we were delighted in 1973 to have the City of Chelsea allotted to our metropolitan area and all the clubs contained in that city. It is our intention to increase even further our metropolitan recruiting staff so that we can cover the whole of our local zone even more thoroughly. The only problem that we have in relation to the interstate scene is in the selection of the two players that we are permitted to sign. The recommendations are very numerous and having regard to the priorities set down by our Match Committee, this position is at times, quite difficult. As evidence of our judgement in this regard, early in 1973 we signed Peter Carey of the Glenelg Football Club who is now hailed as the brightest youngster in Australian football. Whilst Glenelg cannot be expected to hand Carey to us on a plate, we are hopeful of securing his services in the not too distant future. On the administration side, we are taking steps to relieve the work load of our present Secretary, Mr. Jim Cardwell, and to use more fully the years he has with the Club before his retirement. To this end, we have advertised the position of Administrative Manager and we hope to have the services of this new official in January of 1974. Jim Cardwell can then return to recruiting and team managership and players' welfare with more time to attend to these problems and not be diverted by administrative matters which are ever increasing as football expands in the manner it is. In short, there is nothing more that this Club can do to try and obtain success. Our efforts are solely directed to this end. Your Club offers inducements to players that are in excess of those offered by other V.F.L. Clubs. The benefits and the privileges our players enjoy in many regards are second to none. Our winning Incentive Plan is generous, our Provident Fund equally so and yet we have the situation of this team winning only one of its last eleven encounters and this is not nearly enough. Ian Ridley continually appealed to the players to support him at the finish of the season and this they failed to do by not winning matches. Our new coach must face this task supported only by the faith of the people behind him and the hope that the players must and will support him. You can be quite certain that each and every player who will occupy a position on the final list of the Melbourne Football Club in 1974, will be dedicated and possess the required determination to materially improve our position. We can do no more than this. With the resignation of Ian Ridley as senior coach, your Commit­tee is actively canvassing the field for a suitable replacement. However, we are conscious that this will not be an easy task. Ian's record as a player is truly great. He joined the Club in 1954 and played 130 matches during which he kicked 302 goals. He played in five premiership teams for Melbourne and after he left the Club, won a premiership with Ringwood in the Eastern Suburban League. After acting as Assist­ant Secretary for some three years, in 1968, he was appointed as Coach of the Reserves and won two premierships in 1969 and 1970. It is unfortunate that Ian has seen fit to resign but it is our sincere wish that he should continue with our Club in some capacity and we are making strenuous efforts at this stage, to retain his services. Bernie Massey has acted as Reserve Eighteen Coach this year and, after an excellent beginning, the team slumped somewhat to finish in seventh position with nine wins, twelve losses and one drawn game. Bernie has proved himself to be a most conscientious coach and has also proved of great assistance to Ian Ridley. Bernie Massey's record as a player with Melbourne is well known and we are grateful for his continued support over what has been a far from easy year for him. Brian Gray was again coach of our Under Nineteen team for 1973 and proved satisfactory in this position. Our Under Nineteen's finished in sixth position, winning eleven games and losing eleven. This team, similar to the situation with our Reserve Eighteen team, was continually altered each Saturday by the demands made on them from the higher grade team because of injury and found difficulty in settling down as a permanent combination each Saturday. The brightest spot in the M.F.C. activities was the success of our under seventeen team which won a premiership within its competition. They defeated another local district team in St. Mary's, in a section of the Melbourne Boys' League. This made their third successive Premiership and the team was coached by Gordon Duff who has built up a wonderful record with this team. A proposal from the Hawthorn Foot­ball Club was put before the Victorian Football League, contemplating the formation of an under seventeen competition within the League. Our Club has supported this for a number of years and we sincerely trust that the other league clubs have enough commonsense to support this proposal. This year, we again conducted our Best and Fairest voting in public at the M.C.G. This proved to be even more successful than the original evening in 1972. From the outset of counting, it was obvious that Carl Ditterich would be the winner of our Best and Fairest award. Praise must be given to this great footballer and clubman. His play through­out the year was an example to all and we were very pleased with his performance in every respect. Carl faced many difficulties in trans­ferring from St. Kilda to Melbourne. The publicity at that time placed a tremendous load on him but he showed from the beginning the foot­ball we hoped he would produce. To win the Best and Fairest award as he did, was a fitting climax to a splendid season. Our runner-up Best and Fairest, Greg Wells, again enjoyed a splendid year in which he polled heavily in all major awards. Greg is a brilliant player but has yet to realize his true potential. It is to be hoped that he will be allowed to settle into a permanent position where it is certain, he will delight football followers for many years to come. Third Best and Fairest was won by Barry Bourke and his was truly an outstanding performance. When one considers the injuries which Barry had to struggle against throughout the entire season and the manner in which he overcame them, one can only express extreme gratitude to Barry for the long and dedicated service he has given the Melbourne Football Club. Unfortunately, at the conclusion of the season, he suffered an adverse medical report that will virtually compel him to hang up his boots and retire as a player. He will shortly enter hospital for surgical treatment which will force him to be immobilized in plaster for many weeks. We sincerely trust that he will be permitted to serve the Club in other capacities and we will not lose the support of this very valuable clubman. Our fourth Best and Fairest player, Stan Alves, had a year made difficult by his being appointed as Captain and with the added respon­sibilities of the position, Stan's form was a little below that of 1972 when he was the winner of our Best and Fairest trophy. Stan, however, displayed great team spirit and was always a very difficult player for his opponent. He well deserves his high place in our voting award. In Paul Callery and Ray Biffin, who were fifth and sixth Best and Fairest players respectively, we had two most valuable players. Paul, who for the second time in a row was fifth in our Best and Fairest voting, was a great favourite with all and thoroughly deserved this position. The same remarks can be expressed about Ray Biffin who is a most valuable member of the team. Our Best First Year player is Robert Flower who is probably the most brilliant youngster in the V.F.L. He deserves great praise for an unswerving display of courage and skill of the highest order. Our Club had another reasonably successful financial year but we again express the hope that when the gradual curtailment and easing of the financial strain in developing V.F.L Park at Mulgrave beings to take effect, all club finances will be immeasurably improved. It is high time that the clubs that comprise the V.F.L should gain more assistance from that body in our efforts to meet the increased payments to players that we are called upon to meet. CAPTAIN AND VICE-CAPTAIN Special thanks must be conveyed to Stan Alves and Gary Hardeman who were our leaders on the field. Stan, by his example and his great club spirit, led the team most successfully whilst Gary Hardeman, with his dashing play and his youthful approach, caused the players to gather behind both he and Stan and we are most grateful to them for their leadership. They are both fine young men and typical examples of the players that represent our Club. OUR COMMITTEE Dr. D. G. Duffy again presided as Chairman of the football club for season 1973, It is unfortunate that our progress was not as success­ful as it might have been because the time and effort that our Committee puts into its work for the football club deserves more success than has been enjoyed over the past few years. Football committees are invariably criticised when the team fails to perform but very often the reasons for this failure are beyond its control. During the year, certain changes were made in Committee and the Rev. P. K. Melville was elected as a replacement for Mr. F. V. (Checker) Hughes who retired. With the retirement of Mr. Hughes, our club was indeed the poorer. Checker, who has carried on almost since he first came to Melbourne in 1933 has been associated with our Committee for a long while and we were very sorry to see him retire. He will, however, continue to visit us and he was tendered a complimentary dinner by the Committees of the Melbourne Cricket Club and the Melbourne Football Club which was a great privilege for those members fortunate to be in attendance. Mr. Hughes's place on Committee has been taken by another old player, P. K. Melville. Ken, who was a magnificent vice-captain of our club, and a member of premiership teams, is a most welcome addition to our committee. He brings with him the youthfulness of approach and an experience of football that will be of great benefit. Representing M.F.C. Members: Messrs. G. A. Lenne, J. P. McGrath. Co-opted Official: Mr. G. M. Swan. The work of the respective chairmen of our sub-committees must be mentioned. These include Noel McMahen (Match Committee), G. W. Patterson (Business Committee), G. A. Lenne (Finance), K. Carlon (Recruiting), G. M. Swan (Organization and Entertainment), A. L. King (League Director), all these gentlemen deserve special mention. Our sub-committees meet constantly throughout the season, sometimes as often as twice weekly and great demands are made on their time. In the case of Mr. King as League Director, one who also controls our membership ticket sales as well as our final series reserved ticket sales, it is quite remarkable the time he devotes to football club affairs. We are sincerely grateful to all gentlemen who serve on our Committee. CONGRATULATIONS We are again pleased to report that the Hon. Sir Henry Bolte, K.C.M.G., again consented to act as our Number 1 ticket holder for 1973. Sir Henry Bolte has been in attendance on many occasions during the season and was supported as our Number 2 ticket holder by Cr. Allan Whalley as Lord Mayor of the City of Melbourne. We are very pleased to record the enthusiasm and support of these two distinguished gentlemen and are proud to have them associated with our Club. Our congratulations must also go to the Richmond Football Club, its Coach Tom Hafey and its hard working officials headed by President Al Boord and Secretary Allan Schwab. Richmond's outstanding per­formance in winning premierships in all sections that its teams competed, made it a wonderful year for that Club. Its performance in winning the V.F.L. senior Grand Final brought great credit to the members of the team. There were many who considered Carlton to be the most professional team in the V.F.L. Richmond dispelled this in the final series by the manner in which it set about its task. With dedication and skill, and led unswervingly by Tom Hafey, it set a standard that other clubs found impossible to reach and in a most decisive manner, proved itself to be the best team in the competition. The team reached even greater heights in Adelaide in the Australian Championships which were held the following week when in an outstanding performance, it overhauled a seven goal deficit to defeat Subiaco and become Australian Champions. Congratulations mi the success they enjoyed. Congratulations are conveyed to Keith Greig of North Melbourne for his win in this year's Brownlow Medal Count. It might also be in order to congratulate the whole of the North Melbourne Football Club for its rejuvenation. Congratulations must go to our interstate representatives in Greg Wells, Gary Hardeman and Paul Callery. They were most worthy players and represented our club with distinction. CHAIRMAN'S ADDENDUM The lack of team improvement in 1973 was as surprising as it was unexpected and so much the reverse of the reasonable expectations we confidently held at the opening of the season. In such circumstances, widespread criticism is to be expected from frustrated and disappointed supporters who naturally cast about for some clearly identifiable reason for such failure. The Committee, coach and players must all face, in some measure, the brunt of this storm which is not only a natural reaction but also serves as a stimulus to the administration to do something about the situation. If they are slow to do so they should be opposed at the ballot box. Success can only come from the endeavour of players on the field and the winning of games no other way. The committee of the club must acquire the right sort of players in sufficient numbers to do the job and insofar as we have not been successful in this direction, we are open to serious criticism by our supporters. The committee fully realises its responsibility and is already taking steps to review the entire structure and methods of operation in the Melbourne Football Club. We have appointed a deputy chairman who will provide greater supervision of sub-committee work and liaison between them. It is probable that the experimental reduction in match committee numbers will be scrapped and the five member committee reinstituted. The appointment of an administrative secretary will allow Mr. Jim Cardwell to move more fully into the team management and recruiting field where his proven talents will be of greater service to the club. We are looking more closely than ever at the possibility of recruit­ment from other clubs in the V.F.L. while continuing to develop our country and metropolitan zones. Our supporters can be assured that the Melbourne Football Club has been a very happy club for some years but this desirable situation has not resulted in success on the field nor has the provision of incentive payments been sufficient to lift the team higher up the ladder. There is only one answer to our problem and that is more and better players.

Why so? If any accusation is made, the club and by extension, its supporters have the right to know what was said and who said it, that's just the basic principle of any law, outside some third World Country that is. If someone accused you of committing a crime don't you think you have the right to know just who it was and what he said you did? The club are owed the right to face and question their accusers. Would you personally have any worry if the accusers are named? You have to make a choice, you either align your allegiance to your friend Bailey or to the MFC, you can't have it both ways; make a choice.

This is the chill room Comfy chairs and bananas.

We beat a lot of bad teams in 2010 and hung our hat on our performances against the pies. I also think a lot of the guys who played well in 2010 did so playing on their own terms. Whilst you have to have individual style I think Neeld's vision of team first football needed to happen. I hope 2013 can be a better year for the russian. The back up from Pedersen or even Clark at times (once he's back to full fitness) should help protect the Russian. However he lost his marking to a degree last year. Now he'll never be a huge contributor around the ground but if he can take a few grabs and get involved that way it makes him more than just a hit out man. I'm still not sold on Spencer but he should be at the stage where due to his size and AFL experience he'll be almost too good for the VFL so I hope he can push Jamar along. Same for Gawn in the second half of the year.

There is another question - what valid information does she miss and/or deliberately ignore? At the end of the day , this is what irks all of us. Would Connolly have even joked about losing games if he hadn't seen Carlton celebrating their victory in the Kreuzer Cup? Would the whole Melbourne investigation have been necessary if Wilson had picked up Libba's ( or Fev's) statement and started a media campaign to discredit Carlton for its list management practices? After all these years of struggle, the media still enjoys feeding on us as if we are the tall poppies of 1964.

go away.

Morton has the chance to make some on here eat their words..... He looks bigger, but not by much..... He will get a lot bigger and stronger...... and in two years he will dominate....... there will be people on here crying, then blaming the FD..... He has more skill than he is given credit for on here......

The truest thing I have read about her. No need to say much more either.

Inspiring stuff. Everytime I watch it, Chip's chase down really stirs the juices. It was just sheer determination and to me that should be shown over and over to the boys - see what can be achieved when you are determined to achieve. Some demonlanders should also take note - despite all the Clubs failings over the years as supporters we all should resolve to stay the journey. Be tenacious and firm in our support because it is going to get rocky over the next couple of weeks. Go Dees. Can't wait for Feb (even if it is only NAB Cup)

Yeah, Looks like hes got a tan and grown dreddies aswell.

The were good last year... til we beat them!

I fear Essendon will be pretty good this year.

Favourite part is the "revenge" part with the Snake/Hird bumps... I have high hopes for our toughness this year, miss those days where we had the confidence and muscle to be aggressive.

Contrary to what's said here, Morton's not useless. He just doesn't fit into Neeld's strategy. And that's okay. I wouldn't be surprised if he does well with WCE.

Smelling a bit of an anti CS and/or CC agenda in this post....

"Classy"must mean something else over there . I dont know who is fooling themselves more-the WC punter or the Dees guy who put on 5k to collect 75. I'm over sports betting . They have destroyed cricket , along with James Slitherland and co. Watch them influence , then ruin football.

Because the boss was away and the coffee boy wanted to show that he should be next in line to be the boss.

Sellers...

I agree with this but it's going to take a while. We can't expect too much of Dom Barry fresh out of school and weighing 65kg. Jetta was almost 21 years of age on debut and was 23 when he became a true star for the Swans.If we have a player with speed who you want to put in the same category for 2013 then Sam Blease might be your man.

I don't think people are scared of you by being on the Wilson ticket Fan. That is giving yourself too much kudos. Pity would be a more apt description. What she has reported could be written in one paragraph. The embelishment is what MFC supporters and many others take offence to. I wait for the lawyers to hear anything really interesting.

Because we don't have a Demon representative on the commission. no Red n Blue at all, just blue... if pats cap fits the Rick

"Because we are arbitrary and vindictive, not to mention inconsistent, and have shown on all issues that we make it up as we go along." "We are just as likely to find you guilty as not guilty -- we're finding our special coin right now -- and, if guilty, will invent a punishment that has no regard for precedent." "Although we can be scared off by big words and big statements and that stuff you came out about a former QC gave us pause for thought."

As mentioned previously, my very old dog has had a Dee's membership for many years. She sleeps on her Dees blanket and is Melbourne through and through. My new dog arrived at our house with his Collingwood football that has since mysteriously "disappeared". He is now also a proud Melbourne pet member. My husband bought a Melbourne membership to help the club out a few years back during the debt demolition days. Every year his membership renewal arrives and i just renew if for him.......he is a Collingwood supporter.

Yes there's a fair degree of 'inventiveness' about all of the reporting. About the only facts about all this to date are the constant and arbitrary overuse of words like "up to" "might" "could " "possible" "if " "belief" "potentially incriminating"

Would you mind staying on message .We are talking about the AFL investigation . Lettuce leaves ,bottles ,tightening up etc are not considered relevant . BTW- I like the way you spell tankiing-it's very Melbourne Football Club.Like Skiing.

I think you said what i said or wanted to say.(but in 200 words less - I gotta learn to be a little more concise )

Who's dumb BH? Fan is not an anonymous poster somewhere out there in the ether who can disappear if he turns out to be wrong. Many of us know him and he's gone to great lengths to suggest that Wilson is usually right on the button with her source material (which is often the case) and he's done so to the point where he will be the subject of much ridicule if proven wrong. So my money is on the fact that Fan reckons she's going to be proven right. Of course, Wilson's editorial was largely an opinion piece in which she made known her poisonous views on one particular club, fully aware that others (including her beloved Tigers) were also involved in the same activities and in respect of which the AFL was doing nothing. Her very strong agenda against the club and two officials who she named was made clear and, though she would never divulge her sources, I have a feeling that these will be known in the fullness of time. In any event, I wouldn't be proud of ever endorsing such a person, nor would I come back to gloat about it.

If our coach had tanked in that R22 game we could well have had the priority pick instead of Carltom, and may even have got Kruezer ourselves. Remind me, who was our coach? And where was he for the 2008 season?

I don't see how they can possibly sustain a charge of "bringing the game into disrepute". "Bottoming out" was normal behaviour consistent with the AFL's own incentives. Nothing remotely disreputable about moving players around - even if you are motivated by a desire to expose your weaknesses. The fans see an exciting game decided by a kick after the siren. Where is the "disrepute"? The AFL's best chance of pinging us may for breaching Regulation 19 .For this purpose it is beside the point whether you win or lose. The key question may revolve around Connolly's job description.On the face of it , his reported comments in the "vault" fall outside Reg 19 - because he was not a coach. However if his role included "mentoring or guiding coaches" - or lending "coaching assistance from time to time" - the AFL may try to argue that Reg 19 applies..... enter our lawyers! As noted above, I'm not sure that the word "tanking" is relevant to any of the AFL's options If the AFL's image has suffered through all this - then it has only been because of the ham-fisted way it has handled the situation.

I also heard CW has a story that she is releasing on the Wednesday that pies tanked on the understanding that the Dees encourage Sylvia to move to them in 2014.