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Living in Sydney, I generally look out for Ben Hur's posts, particularly his training reports and his observations on new players to the club. Prior to the season commencing, it's pretty hard to get a handle on the new recruits from afar. And, in this regard, I find Ben Hur's posts to be very insightful. I don't, however, quite get the disdain for MFC supporters. It's footy - we're not dealing with sub particle physics after all. There is absolutely nothing intellectual about it. Most of my mates don't even follow AFL, let alone the Demons, so this is a little MFC community for me - and, with the exception of Stingray (who only signed up last week), I don't actually know any of you. That said, I know if the Dees actually managed to achieve the unthinkable and win a flag, it's with the real MFC supporters I'd want to share the glory with (ie, the Demonlanders) - not my friends, many of whom are very cool, intellectual, interesting individuals. In short, it matters not how intelligent the supporters are - it's the shared interest, the common bond/passion that I find addictive when it comes to footy. After all, why else support a club?! I cannot imagine casually strolling out of the G, having just won a flag, and not wanting to bear hug every other Demons supporter I see. The thought of not wanting to interact with, or talk to, any of them because I find them ignorant or stupid seems quite strange to me. What a soulless experience that would be. From my perspective, I have other interests, outside of footy, that fulfil my intellectual needs - and that's why one of my pet hates on this site are the constant references by certain posters to the perceived intelligence of other supporters. Given the subject of discussion (ie, footy), I find the continual references to lack of intellect to be ironic in the extreme.

I will give Misson credit when we can play 4 qtrs of footy.

ABC commentators acknowledged during the VFL finals series that Casey really missed Fitzpatrick's ability to break games open with his speed and athleticism. He came third in the Casey BF and won their goalkicking. Fitzy has shown more at that level than most on our list. He knows he is under the pump to perform as he is in the last year of his contract. Let's judge him at the tail-end of the year.

On topic, it's great to hear that Mitch is playing this weekend. His Lisfranc can be a career killer, so he's now in the clear. For those of you worried about repeat injury, Lisfranc dislocations don't recur with any greater incidence in previous sufferers. I expect to see him round 1. Good work to Mark Blackney his surgeon, and the rehab team.....particularly the physios. I might be biased, haha.

I love it when someone says they won't be back and then they come back to edit their own post.

Well a new season is almost here and I am very excited.......Improving players....new players to watch Votes to be got in the Brownlow and the Bluey........Goals to be kicked....Good games to watch and poor ones Umpires to be yelled at and things to be thrown at the TV......Crap to be taken from the media....arguements to be had with fellow D'landers Supercoach points to be gained I love this time of the year....It may not last long but I love it while the hope is still there..... I wish the players and the supporters all the best for this brand new season.....

If we can replace our Etihad home game with a Darwin match this is a real winner I reckon.

Yes, I saw Ben Graham tell a story about that on TV once. Supposedly Aaron Lord drilled a kick to Ablett on the lead, then after Ablett kicked the goal he turned to Graham and asked, "who is he?". Not knowing the names of some of your teammates is unimagineable to me. What a fascinating and possibly terrifying place his brain must be.

Good question. Going 360 would imply some change in thinking only to arrive back at the same thought. But alas my analogy was only in jest and poking mild fun at a poster who said 360 when i assumed they really meant 180. To answer the question my opinion has remained the same about Jack's prospects since mid last year when he moved to the back half. An inspired move on Neelds behalf and one that has allowed him to play to his strengths (vision, great disposal skills, courage to take intercept marks, reading of the play, ability to run and carry etc) in a way playing forward wasn't. As i've said before i reckon opposing teams will soon enough be regularly playing a defensive forward on him to try and limit his influence. For what its worth i reckon he will eventually become a modern day utility. He'll largely play of the half back flank, spend some time on the wing and a bit in the midfield, push up the ground for a goal or two like he did in the first NAB game and occasionally play up forward (where by the time he completely fills out by say 25 or so he will be amazingly difficult to match up on).

I've gone completely 360 on Watts in the last 10 months. Mid last year i thought to myself - he's gonna be a star, will be close to our most important player in 2013, will push for AA selection in 2013 and by 2016 will be a AA regular. I still think that.

We must never Tip Toe around the big clubs. Do that and we die. We fight for the players we need.

I work with dozens of footy fans and not one of them has any depth of understanding at all. Reality is that most people don't have the time or inclination to become students of the game. Supporter forums are just a microcosm of that.

Having lived in Northern China (Dalian) and Hong Kong from 2004-2006, i can say that the game can only appeal to city centric folk. China may be big on land and people but in the cities space is at a premium. Plus the Chinese aren't big on contact sports (not including martial arts) I started a small group of students (i was teaching English at the time in Dalian) where we would go to the local artificial football pitch and they would teach me how to play football and i would teach them how to play AFL. Usually we'd end up playing best of 5 from the corner flag, They would curl it into the net and i would banana kick it in. We did get a few onlookers who would jump in, hold the ball and roost it as far as they could. Must say the highlght was playing kick to kick in Tiananmen Square, had a couple hundred onlookers until one of the Canadians who were travelling with our group shanked one and hit a bloke on the head! Next thing, a Tarago full of soldiers in uniform were over questioning what happened! I'm sure i've got the photos somewhere at home... Good times!

Indeed. I was excited before the Lions game last year. This year my excitement is well tempered.

So you have the same opinion as before?

The career killer is that it never stands up to the demands of weight bearing.....running, jumping, landing. That is, that it never gets this far.

Every time I think I'm out, they wool me back in!!!

Alpacacino?

Dear Mitch, You have only be with us for a very short time and in that time you have earned our respect with the way you play the game. You are skillful and have no fear. I only write this because you are the most valuable player for Melbourne. I just ask you to get through the game and try not to attempt to kill yourself in a marking contest. Too many times last year I thought you were dead. Love always Cowboy From Hell.

This bit was interesting:"The sponsorship deal, believed to be worth $200,000-$300,000 a season, could be worth millions of dollars when combined with home games in the Territory." It all helps, and the heat and travel is hardly going to have too much of a negative impact on us where we are at the moment... if anything it may harden us up, which is not necessarily a bad thing.

Sorry guys this is just sad news to me. Playing two games up there knowing how debilitating it is on the players shows how hard it is for us and how desperate we are. Our financial plight directly impacts our football department in a massive way. I keep putting money into this club but have to watch us do this ? And comparing this to hawthorn is not a reality. There isn't the time spent traveling and sapping heat in tassie. No footy side would ever want to do this unless it was the last straw. Good for us ? You are dreaming.

Now hang on.. who did we shipped off that you would put in the too hard basket? hope your not talking about morton gysberts or moloney. What you just said is the opposite to what neeld is building. A strong culture with a no [censored] policy! and you wanna recruit this muppet!? you have lost the plot stuie.. after seeing this [censored] carry on after Nathan Jones in the NAB cup i hope he stuffs up again and given the ass!

This is going to be the most anxiously awaited VFL game in my living memory. Best wishes to the boys in the hope they get through unscathed - and Mitch kicks a bag.

I have done a complete 720 on Watts - I always thought he'd be good and Im dizzy thinking about it.

What makes you think Neeld's job is under any sort of threat? He has been given a job to do and he's doing it. Unless we go seriously backwards this year, Neeld is as safe as houses. I suspect that eight or nine wins will see him offered a contract extension. The season hasn't even started and you're putting the curse on him. FFS! GO DEES!

Thoroughly enjoyed the draft, had the normal wins with getting wanted players but also watched many times others taken just before my picks, Range Rover did it to me on about 4 occasions! H_T as well LOL As for trades, if the offer came along for Ivan Maric I'd definitely consider it. Would have to be a quality mid or defender to get a deal over the line

Egan and particularly Croad had fractures. Croad's was a Lisfranc dislocation WITH a fracture of the metatarsals. Disaster!!! And he had warning signs of stress leading into the GF, but the decision was to inject him up and take the risk. It ended badly. Not sure whether Egan was navicular or other.

Which just goes to prove that small things amuse small minds.

There is a rumour, unsubstantiated of course, that we are about to announce another sponsor, I reckon they might be saving for Commencement Dinner, so as Nutbean says, put your hairshirts away, we are doing ok.......unsubstantiated meaning I was told something but I can't confirm it

I love my club, but that we have one sponsor left with our form onfield for the last 5 years, our form off-field up until recently and all the negative media publicity is a major miracle in itself. That we can turn a profit with all that has gone before us even with the help of the AFL and still invest in the FD and facilities ranks up there with the Big J walking on water. I wouldn't condemn our financial people - I would beatify them.

I have some excitement this year because coaches and players are on the line in 2013. Improve and they will be fine. Another year like last year and they could be in a world of pain. The choice is theirs..There is nothing wrong with demmanding improvement as a supporter base after last years disgrace. I am hoping Mark Neeld feels the same.

This just in...Jack Watts blamed for supporter having the same view on Jack Watts as he did 12 months ago.

Judging Nab cup form is tough but a lot seem to think it means absolutely zilch. I believe it can have a hugely positive effect on a cub. Especially cellar dwellers who have been starved of success for so long.Yes there are games in which sides will play a more inexperienced side or be down on rotations or they'll be pipped in a close one. But competitiveness, a show of improvement in implementing game plan, the proof of development in younger players. These things are a must. For the MFC, a club who have craved success for so long, it would do absolute wonders for us if we were to one day win the Nab cup GF or at least play off in it. The positivity, morale, membership drive, sense of arrival etc etc. It would do more than many think. I am sure. So please, for all those saying it means nothing, please stop. For the MFC it would mean a lot.. We need that feeling back. We need that winning culture. We must win round 1, and not by a couple of goals. We need a serious injection of life. Go dees.

i dont understand why the club isn't more aggressive with memberships. I haven't seen anything on tv, heard anything on the radio or seen anything in the newspaper! why are there no ads in the paper rallying the troops for round 1, asking people to upgrade their seats etc. Why doesn't the club offer new memberships such as an interstate 3 game package? charge em $1500 bucks to see us play interstate, put em in a hotel, fly em up, tour of the facilities, lunch at the game after game festivities etc. I know we don't have a great track record for attracting sponsors but an airline and hotel chain could be a start to sponsor the people that purchase these memberships leaving the money to go to the club. it would also mean more support at interstate games instead of the 50 people behind the goals... i would love to see us play at all stadiums in australia but it can cost around $1500 for just one game interstate..... offer the same membership to interstate supporters to come to the "G" would this be possible or do we need the big clubs to offer it first and then follow suit? thoughts

I think we're all waiting until round 1. If we get to 3 PM on Sunday the 31st and Chris Dawes, Jack Trengove, Sam Blease and Mitch Clark are all lining up for us, then I think everyone on Demonland will be itching to give Misson his due credit. But until then, we're all just holding our collective praise.

I couldn't care less about Eddie and his feelings. The pies have the same salary cap as us so they can't poach all our players. Snaring Thomas helps on field and off as well.

WGAF what she thinks. I am well over her. Most people I talk to are as well. The number of sackings she has 'called for' since July last year is around 16 and rising. Number sacked: 0. She is a [censored] and most dislike her intensely.

If Mitch plays Round 1, Port are in for a hiding. He makes EVERY player walk 10 feet taller.

I'm not sure why there's such doom and gloom when one considers we were the spooner last year outside of the two fledgling clubs. Have some perspective. There's no point talking about what we thought was going to happen as we prognosticated back in 2010, it's the here and now that is the benchmark as we look to the future. In a couple of years time our spine will read: Frawley, McDonald, Viney, Clark and Hogan. Other clubs will be hard-pressed to better it. Imagine if you're a midfielder, or flanker and had a rampaging Hogan, Clark, Dawes and Howe wanting you to get the ball into the forward-line quickly ? Conversely, imagine not having them there. Do you think you'd be mucking around, going sideways trying to find a clean avenue, so that you could hit up someone just inside 50 ? And then the dreaded turnover happens and the defenders are caught out of position. That's how we've played because we haven't had the confidence, or urgency to get it in there quickly since Neitz left. The difference in mind-set and urgency is stark and it does effect how you play. The confidence that lifts a team by knowing there's big strong targets is immense. Trengove is also really important. Many supporters hardly factor him after his disappointing 2012, but he's a key for me. If he can progress to be the player we all envisaged then an emerging midfield of Trengove, Viney, Toumpas, Jones, and Blease together with Kent, Barry, Matt Jones and another top 10 midfielder from this year's draft means there's cause for optimism. Especially if we can lure a Rischitelli type, as mentioned by 55 and another poster. As a Melbourne supporter I acknowledge that what I'm espousing is just more "next year" stuff. I get that. But I also get that that's our reality. The Swans built a premiership list within the space of 7 years without access to great draft picks. I maintain that we have a core 12-14 players that are very capable of developing into premiership players. I'll manage my expectations for 2013, but I'm very bullish about the next 5 years.

Absolutely think that Watts should be locked up ASAP. I'm not of the school of thought that it should happen to secure a bargain, as I believe he should be fairly paid for what he brings to the table, but the distraction that these things can cause throughout a season is too big a burden to bear, as we've all seen this before and it ain't pretty, haha. I definitely think he will prove himself this year. Whilst not expecting a breakout, I believe that it will be a year where he does enough to silence most of the doubters (albeit the most voracious of them will probably never be swayed regardless of whatever he may do). Come on Killa,show us what you're made of!

Can you believe Mitch has only played half a season with us and we already hold him in the highest regard out of any player at the club? Imagine after a (fingers crossed) full career with the Dees.

If the club starts procrastinating on the issue there are other biig clubs out there who would be mighty keen.

True, but it's speculative. You would obviously have to balance potential saving and risk and there are so many variables involved in list management. So really, I just agree with your last sentence.

i've grown used to it, have been copping it since i was probably 12 (17 now), doesn't stop me, never will. Just waiting to have my turn when we rise

How can you not have something in common with the people in this place. There is a wide spectrum of posters ranging from slagging off every player to forgiving all of them and convincing themselves that Simon Godfrey kicked the ball like Gary Ablett but in the main we all share the same highs and lows...shared the same euphoria of winning and same "sads" at a loss. There are few on here who have described that indescribable feeling of the walk out of the Whitten oval in 1987 after the realisation we had made the finals. How can you not share something with someone who has the same euphoria from something as simple as walking back to a freakin car !!!!

Good thread Rangey The thing I like most is that it focuses in on a group other than one particular player. It has the effect of sharing the blame or giving out accolades across a number of players. We may not all have the same 9 as you but for the sake of argument it's a good concept. We could drag this thread out every now and again for a bit of a report card. A third of the way through the season could be a good time or perhaps after every 6 games. Was thinking about Watts and how best we can use him ... his disposal is top notch and when he wants to, he reads the play very well. It's fairly obvious that the best description for him is the word 'Utility'. As a loose man in the backline, he can be ultra important for us but I'd like to see the coaching dept. use him for all the centre bounces. There are effectively only 6 players going for the ball and often these 6 players are your more skillful types who read the play well. The chances of getting smashed at a centre bounce is a lot less than people may realise. He could drift back as soon as the ball is cleared out of the middle. It also gets him into the cauldron which can have the effect of 'livening' a player up The reason I'm mentioning him is that our clearance work is well below par both with getting the pill and our execution when we do get it. McKenzie should not start in the middle. He should start because he's our best tagger but not for centre bounces. We're effectively one man down when he starts for centre bounces. We need our best clearance players with the most skill in for the centre bounces. McKenzie can tag in all the other areas of the ground and for all the other ball ups and throw ins. He is still a vital part of our set up I believe, as you cannot let the opposition's best on-baller run amuck. So I'd rotate Jones, Watts, Rodan, Blease and Sylvia for centre bounces with Watts being the mainstay. Probably Jones as well but I can't see why we can't use Jones off a wing sometimes (at centre bounces). Viney, Grimes, Trengove, Toumpas and the rest need to get better at their ball winning ability and disposal. In the cases of Viney and Toumpas a lot will depend on how quickly they come on. Viney could easily slot in with the other 5. I'm specifically talking about the centre bounces only - of which there might only be 30 a game.

No doubt about the paternity of Watson's new baby. The kid was due around the time of the fourth test but got out early.

I just don't particularly think people skills were there forte. I think we're still coming to grips with how KOTD we were to have had the likes of McGrath, Waugh and Gilchrist - not even to mention Ponting and a couple of handy openers in Langer and Hayden. They made the two aforementioned captains look much better than they actually were in my opinion.

If we were to draw a parallel to the MFC, then Doherty is James Magner. Available, mature, plays a role, will bust a gut, but ultimately no good. He certainly doesn't belong in the "talented youngster" group at 30.

No doubt to tell us all that cricketers should just play and not have to worry about all that professionalism stuff. I wouldn't expect anything less. Am I the only one who couldn't GAF what the players think on issues like this one?