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The final set of photos for preseason 2013. This is it, over and out for this year unless there is a special event that warrants the dusting off of the shutter button. Hope that I have brought some joy to the faithful during this very low profile onfield preseason (especially in relation to the football media). Oh, and buy the way: GO Dees! Enjoy ==> http://six6six.smugmug.com/Other/Training-26-3-2013/28610498_D7r4Dk

Old Dee you really do need to switch that machine off that translates everything that you read and hear about MFC into doom and gloom, you seem to be on your Pat Malone with that summation of the interviewWhat do you want him to say "we will win 15 games this year and make finals", imagine what your reaction would be if we didn't

I'm not sure why anyone would be basing their season expectations from a lightweight SEN interview. If you want Neeld's view of the coming season you're far better off watching his 11 minute speech at the commencement dinner. http://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/2013-03-25/mark-neeld-speech-commencement-dinner

I don't agree - I thought Neeld was realistic, the last thing the MFC needs now is trumpet blowing. It's completely understandable that the coach will look at other things than just the scoreline this year. He has to (a) bring the existing players up to scratch (b) bring new players into the system and © blood the first year players, whilst all the time trying to turn around the stagnation that has been reeking for years. Yes, it will be tough watching at times this year, but these are the hard yards that need to be done for a bigger pay-off further down the line.

There's a massive Demon fan i know. Goes by the name "BIG POPPA". He's been following the Demons since just after the last GF. In other words a pretty long time. Almost Old Dee territory! Note i said "almost" Old Dee! He doesn't post on here but watches the goings on once in a while pre season and spasmodically through the season. He reckons Demonland needs an injection of peptides into the mix on here as it's a little too dour and negative of late leading into the season (in general, not in all posts obviously). Big Poppa asked me to remind everyone on here of the following re how we might go in the opening round........ The year was 1994. In our lead up practice matches we crapped out losing to the Pies in the final practice match of that year, only kicking a total of 4 goals for the entire match. One week later, the opening round 1994, no one gave us a a chance against the cats, however we had other ideas...... http://finalsiren.com/MatchDetails.asp?GameID=1415&Code=7f3417889685e53b6349381e472a5518 In addition, we made the finals that year, beating Carlton in one of the best finals i've seen us play and thrashing the Doggies coming into the preliminary, but running into a pept up.....sorry...pumped up West Coast in Perth. I remember speaking to one offical at the club the year after that finals series and he claimed many within the club believed we had missed one of our biggest chances to snatch a GF since 64. However we did see a real star for the club absolutely shine during the early part of that series, and what an impact this young bloke had..... I for one plan to give the boys everything i got on Sunday. It's time for the Phoenix to finally emerge from the fire....It's time to start winning. Lets start by kicking the Power's ass back over the border where it belongs! CARN THE MIGHTY DEMONS!.

I thought it was a good interview. Just enough information to titillate, but not enough to set expectations too high. Neeldy is getting better in the media each time I hear him.

We still need to Bunker down was the impression i got. Things were obviously so bad 2 years ago.... I shake my head that it was let to get so bad....

Ok I'll update again after training today: FB: Garland Frawley Terlich HB: Watts McDonald Dunn C: M. Jones Jones Grimes HF: Sylvia Dawes Blease FF: Howe Clark Byrnes Foll: Jamar McKenzie Rodan Int: Sellar, Jetta, Viney Sub: Toumpas Emer: Tapscott, Gillies, Pedersen I think we play Clark even underdone and try to stretch their defense it also gives us another target with Sellar and Dawes. Big Mitch can play mainly FF as long as the club are confident on Dawes. I don't like debuting guys as the sub but I think with Toumpas he'd be a really great addition to come in when the heat is out of the game a bit. I wanted to play Kent somewhere as well but I don't want too many debutantes. I don't really know what the plans are with the 6th and 7th defender but I've gone with Terlich and Jetta off the bench but the club could just name a 6th defender and use Grimes in a rotation. A lot of spots pick themselves and we don't so much have a selection headache from too many good players but a selection headache due to too many we aren't sure about.

Yeah, but Watts doesn't have a bunch of selectors that want to bear his children like NicNat does, so it'll balance out.

Just watched the first episode of "the Coach's Office" for 2013 on MFC web site I know what MN's problem is. He has a bloody Apple computer. There is no way back from there!

I agree - let's get rid of the bugler.

FFS Add binman to the poll. And roundhouse kick as the striking option.

From someone (me) who has been king hit from behind in a public place, I don't take any offence to the thread. I think it needs to be taken in the spirit of fun that it's mean't to be. It's given me a few good laughs, one of RR's better efforts.

Oh dear God. Spare us the PC wet blanket, Mr. Literal.

This is Sunday mass!!!

Where was he aiming to kick it?

There's a BBQ happening there as well?

"I'm trading you to West Coast for pick 88 which we aren't going to use on anyone."

In under a hundred hours we'll be discussing the potential of our team to succeed this year based on watching players playing footy on a footy field in a competition with four premiership points up for grab. It will make a refreshing change from analysing and over-analysing the tone and subtext of every comment made by members of the MFC football department in the media.

There was no error, dpositive was 100% correct.. If a low base player improves 100%, it will be quite impossible for any mid-high player to also improve 100, thus the low base player is most improved.

Suns over StKilda in the upset of the round.

Hoping that Lynden Dunn has a great 100th Game this Sunday it has been a long time coming for the very much maligned young man, a lot has changed since he joined MFC as a bottom age 17 year old. He will probably never be the super star that everyone hoped for when drafted but if his dedication to training and his never give in attitude to improve and be a better footballer count for anything in football now days he is and continues to be a part of the team trying to make the MFC a better club and a place others want to be part of.

Yes Young Dee. I was just making a small joke about trying to explain your way out of an error

Our new forward set up could be of great benefit for Howe. With the main defenders looking elsewhere I think he can do some serious damage.

It was a joke deeZee Read as I Hope he is not Gone. Using Gawn as a play on words

Why would you waste Clark in the ruck after seeing him in the fwd 50 last year, Spencer is still growing into the role, Gawn needs to get games under his belt, and Fitzy has had chronic fatigue, diabetes and is still growing but he is more than able to start competing in the ruck, Neelds says so....and then we have Jamar, Pedersen, Sellar......why are we already looking at changing????? some posters astound me

Let's not go rewriting history. He was taken at pick 50, for crying out loud. And it's not as if world-beaters were drafted after him, really.

I'd enjoy it is the coach came out and said 'Melbourne 2013 would consistently beat Melbourne 2012'. Because that's all you can really say, a few days out from the start of the season.

Can we please change the title of this thread? The word "hate" is far too strong and can be found in the phrase "hate crime." "Less fond" my be less offensive to some viewers.

Thanks 666. Great work over the pre season.

surely mitch will play even if he shouldn't, just his presence makes us better, and this is a must win

For those of you who haven't seen it yet, be sure to watch the short video of the Ox on the MFC website as he reminisces about his time at the MFC, and what the Club means to him. Great stuff! Just SO pleased to see him back on board. And, he will be delivering the match ball to the middle of the MCG to start the game on Sunday. Very deserving, and a nice touch!! Well done David and well done MFC! Go Dees!!

Hair departed long ago Chippy, so I do have a number of hats. Not that I would enjoy having to eat one. I was standing there today thinking this is better than most games I have been to over the last 5 years. 90% of the players look like champions, we never lose a game and I walk back to my car In a good mood.

Please everyone get down there and scream your lungs out, no bloody excuses. I don't care if it's a bit cold or you are too tight to pay for a train ticket and a meat pie. I don't care if you are worried we will lose. I don't care if the missus is up in your grill about doing some other meaningless crap. It has been a rough 6 seasons on the trot, but who knows, we could be turning a corner. What we expect from them is 110% so we have to give it also. The side needs to know there are people out there backing them, and that their efforts are appreciated. Oh and if you haven't signed up do that right effing now.

Dean Kent has been cleared by the VFL tribunal after being reported at Casey on the weekend.

I think its more a case of we don't have to choose between which kid we throw to the wolves. We can still throw them but we have the option of playing Sellar, Terlich, Magner, Couch, Matt Jones, et al over playing all the toddlers because all we had were toddlers.

Love is blind McQueen!

Couldn't happen to a nicer team ...

I remember hardtack. It was a good night.

This year is already 3 times better than last. This is great news. I'm finally getting excited . Misson partly accomplished.

awesome news. Would be good to see him in rnd 1 given his performances in the nab cup, but i wouldn't be surprised if he isn't. i do think he'll turn out to be a steal in the long run though given where we got him in the draft.

Lucky you, a wife with only one fault.

Excuse my ignorance - while I can see some are 'naturals', why is kicking the one skill which can't be improved by coaching? Genuine question.

I still want to punch Mike Fitzpatrick. He is part of the Carlton push to the 'G, i am betting. Take him out now. Problem solved.

All this "punchable in the head" stuff I find a little bit distasteful...is it possible that we can have an option to "burn at the stake"?

how come mike sheahan didn't make the grade?

This has to have set a new standard in training reports... thanks for the running commentary guys!

Saw a tweet I liked from someone going by the handle of "Lion Turf" (a Demonlander?): Mark Neeld's full speech @ MFC Commencement Dinner should have been: "I think the time for talk is over." And then leave the stage.

Venom at Gollum's pyjama party

Never imply led zeppelin play crap ever again. Kind regards.