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Anybody else aware he's played about 7 games?? How bout we suspend judgement until he's got 20-30 under the belt.

A disappointing start to his career? You mean playing for the worst midfield in the AFL and struggling for a kick in his first handfull of games? You're right, rubbish. Should have delisted him already. FFS you lot are impatient!

During the standard post-match Press Conference, the hot question of Jack Watts was whether he wants to stay at the battling club and the young man answered in the affirmative, pointing out that after being apart of the poor form the club has produced he wants to be around his mates when it all turns around - hopefully sooner rather than later. The source of that question attempted to ask a rejoinder, and interim Head Coach Neil Craig interjected: "It is up to the Melbourne Footy Club to provide an environment for players like Jack who are coming out of contract to want to stay. That's part of our responsibility," said Craig in a matter of fact way that is a departure from the usual spiel about 'hoping' players stay for they are good players, and resting the world on their shoulders by intimating the club's future is tied to their presence. "It's the responsibility of the Melbourne Footy Club to get its act in order, to provide an environment, so that when people come to the MFC, whether it be a player or an employee, they have an absolute belief they will be able to be the best they can possibly be," Craig stated with thundering authority. Craig concluded his remarks by saying "that's just part of our responsibility, so that when it comes (players) signing or re-signing - it just becomes a no-brainer. We need to accept that responsibility." Whether the club embraces this notion is to be seen. It has long put its faith and hope into young players and placed the denouement of whichever rebuild - the first, second, or third - over the last few years in the hands of boys full of potential and promise - deposed President claimed the 18 year old prodigy Jesse Hogan, playing VFL currently, as the salvation from the despairs of earlier this season. Hopefully, the club listens to The Craig Principle and stops looking for salvation in its players, but looks to offer them an environment they know will get the most Demonic performance out of them. Then that hot question will never have to be asked. rpfc (Thought I would do some journalism; lots of journalist these days but not much journalism.)

A world where a negligent act gets penalised more harshly than an intentional act, regardless of the outcome, is one that is truly backwards in my view.

I'm staggered at the number of commentators that use the word 'deserved' in the context of the priority pick. Perhaps it's just a reflection of a complete lack of understanding and common sense. The priority pick is there to help a team that has consistently performed poorly. And guess what contributed to poor performance - that's right - insufficient talent, poor coaching, poor list management, poor recruiting, poor development, etc. So the comment that Melbourne doesn't deserve a priority pick because of past drafting mistakes is bordering on insanity. Past drafting mistakes would be one of the key factors that would result in poor performance which in turn leads to a priority pick. That is what the system is designed for! Agree that a PP won't solve all our problems, but I'd happily take it if we could get it. Draft well and you have yourself a 200 game star for your club. Lastly for those concerned about help from the AFL, don't worry about it! That's the system we are operating in. What about the leg up Collingwood gets from playing in prime time, 18 games in Melbourne and regular blockbusters. Does that not help sponsorship and membership which in turn generates dollars to be used on FD spending? The fact is we play in a compromised competition anyway, so if it's our turn to get a bit of a handout from the AFL, I won't feel any guilt whatsoever.

I think people need to remember why the club probably selected Toumpas in the first place. He is not a in and under player, he is a player that can win his own ball, but it is how he uses that is first class. We have a dearth of good ball users but he was one of the best in the draft, and was looked at as easily a top 3 pick. Give him time, and stop expecting him to be something that he wasn't recruited to be. We didn't need to pick Wines when we knew we had Viney at pick 26. If we grabbed Wines and Viney, then we'd have a heap of grunt but not much polish. Toumpas is the polish we need.

Wow. Lets pick on an 18yo in his first season who had a delayed preseason. Damn you jimmy toumpas for our 1-11 start to the season! It's all your fault! Seriously grow up. Ollie wines has had a pretty solid start to his career, but he is surrounded by boak, cassisi, wingard, kornes and Brett ebert. Toumpas has jones, daylight, Rodan, trengove, bail and Sylvia. Throw in first year players viney and Matt jones, as well as grimes being injured. How about we just take a step back and look at the good things he does. Kicks it beautifully, keeps his feet, runs to correct spots and leads. He has some incredible skills. Just give him the time to develop. He isn't a strong tackler yet, but again- 18yo and first 7 games. Add in that he is determined to improve and knows what he has to focus on, and you see the makings of a very good player. Just more of this saviour mentality from understandably frustrated supporters, however just have a deep breath.

I had a quiet giggle when he was directing Watts. You're at Melbourne kiddo. We don't lead!

"The MFC members voted for the merger". I am sick to death of this statement being made in the media. It is used to denigrate the club and members. The truth is that many MFC members were denied a vote on the issue, many were refused entry to the meeting and the vote, if one can call it that, was carried by proxy votes, kept in a safe, for a time they were needed to stack a vote. The people who provided thoses proxies, had absolutely no idea they would be used in a merger vote. They were obtained from people who were given free memberships and told to sign over proxies. To call that a proper vote, on the most contentious issue in the club's history, is nothing short of a disgrace and an insult to the members of the club at the time. I wish someone would make this perfectly clear to the media and get this stopped once and for all. We should not allow this denigration to continue.

The MRP couldn't find its arse with both hands and a torch.

posted this in the match day thread - My favorite moment of the game was 14:10 left in the 3rd theres a loose ball at centre half forward and Jimmy T charges in and puts his head over the ball with no fear, takes clean possession and is rewarded with the free kick for high contact Kicks it to Watts who gets a free then goals. This moment told me that Jimmy T is going to be a player and that he is far from just an outside receiver some on here perceive him as. And on a sidenote, anyone writing him off is a complete idiot, the kid had hip surgery last year and is coming off an interrupted preseason. Meaning hes never done a preseason in the AFL, and has played just 7 games. Get a grip you morons, hes going to be an absolute gun and is a leader too.

Always gotta laugh when online supporters complain about alleged lack of courage of AFL footballers. Squib is very easy to type except for the Q letter where your left pinky has to go backwards into a pack.

Someone get the stake ready! We are going to need fire, and lots of it!

I have to commend you for starting a POSITIVE thread about a new recruit, it doesn't happen often. You're spot on with your assessment I think and he'll be a very good player soon enough.

If Roos is a no go Wolf then Williams trumps both of the ones you have suggested as he has coached a team to the ultimate. Williams for mine if no Roos

Essentially, if you don't think the MFC should get any draft assistance - you don't believe anyone should get any draft assistance ever again.

Lol at supporters who don't want us to get a priority pick. I want all/any advantages we can get.

He's fed up, and he is doing something about it. Leader.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-06-24/mrp-full-statement-round-13 The MRP system is a joke. Simpkin intentionally hits Dawes in the head, and gets two weeks. Embley intentionally drops his knees into a defenceless player on the ground and gets one week. Spencer negligently (i.e. not even recklessly) bumps McEvoy in the head and he gets three weeks. Why? All incidents were assessed using the medical reports. MRP once again using the effect instead of the cause. The system is a farce.

Craig is tarnished by his association with Neeld. If he'd gone to say Richmond instead of joining us he'd be right up there in everyone's calculations for an experienced coach. He had a good record at the Crows but they were flat-track bulllies who couldn't deliver in the crunch. I'd favour others. He might be interested but then again he might not - I think it was a smart move saying that he could be because it keeps the players on their toes because he's not confirmed as a placeholder.

I remember years ago in Abletts first or second season he ducked his head when going for a mark in a final on the big stage. I remember it well as my Dad stated "he will never be as good as his old man he lacks courage'. Well he was very wrong about that and it goes to show one or two mistakes as a youngster has little bearing on how they will turn out. I think he will be a beauty in time.

Ross Lyon sounds like he's asleep half the time. He is the least passionate looking human being I have ever seen. He quite literally seems bored to death, and when I listen to him talk I often find myself drifting off to sleep. Ross Lyon is also a gun coach, and learnt from Roos. Don't mistake his demeanour in the media for what he really is. Roos would never move his entire family and sacrifice his personal life unless he was truly passionate about the idea of coaching us. Which is why, if he signs on, I'd be thrilled and not have a single worry in my mind that he's primed for the job. He also wouldn't be signed for anything less than 4-5 years IMO. If all that was motivating him was money, he'd have already signed on the dotted line.

Jesse Hogan traded, cue Demonland going into meltdown and internet exploding. Dawes is a good ordinary foward, and Clark is a star with dodgy feet. Wouldn't tade Hogan for anyone. In fact, would take him hostage, and chain him to a drain pipe at the MCG, releasing him on gameday only, just to stop him for leaving.

Dean Terlich is one of the few players who, when he see's a player in trouble or under pressure, runs as fast a possible to help out.....also why he has some turnovers because he is always in the most pressured situations. Dean also is one of the quickest thinkers in the team under pressure. The main point is the he is hunts the ball, and wants the ball....so few in the team do this, hence why we get smashed in the possesions each week. Genuine 150 + player.

was thrilled when we drafted toumpas, rated him equal pick 1 with whitfield, great to see him doing okay in a poor side which is never easy

Has been a positive in an awful year. While he hasn't dominated, he has shown some very impressive cameo's. Out of all our 'young' draftees he has shown the most IMO (except for Viney, maybe?) Considering 12 games ago, 9 months, he was playing in the WA colts and has had no senior experience, he has adapted well to the speed and physicality of the AFL. Obviously he needs consistency, but he is hard at the ball and man. Give him a full pre season who knows what he can be. Hopefully he will buck the trend and 'develop" rather than tease

Has pace too, something sorely lacking in our line-up.

A full pre-season to build up strength through his core and uninhibited hips will do him wonders

If Toumpas doesn't excite you, I don't know what does. Finally we have a young midfielder who is showing marked improvement, is clearly learning from his mistakes, and has skills that the rest of our side dream of.

Quality choice by the MFC recruiters IMO. Will be the goods and exciting to watch develop!

sellar was so impressive in his first year neeldy thought lets get pedo and gillies to top up our spud supplies

His post game interview is worth watching. Seems to know what his weakness is and said he is working on his contested footy. TBH I'm not worried about Toumps one bit.

Did anyone lose a scarf on Saturday. Found it in the carpark on the way home. It has about 20 different badges including "player sponser'. I will deliver it to the club this week when I have time. Given it wasnt discarded after particularly the Essendon and Gold Coast games, I presume it was lost accidently.

Read between the lines folks. 4 days after needing a coach the AFL starts to talk about the priority pick. We will get one as long as the incoming coach is named Eade, Roos or Williams and they ask for it. It's a marketing tool to entice a coach, and to start selling hope. It not only proves that the AFL is essentially running the club now, but also that they want us to succeed. If you don't think we warrant the pick then you haven't been sitting in the cold the last 12 weeks watching us play pitiful football. We should be lobbying for 3 priority picks. Who cares what the other clubs think. It's not called 'show friends' it's called 'show BUSINESS'.

It seems pretty clear to me... 1. The priority pick is for teams who have performed very badly 2. According to almost every commentator and 1/2 this board the current team is the worst team in the history of the game If this does not warrant (not deserve - you have to earn something to deserve it!) a priority pick then just scrap them altogether.

I couldn't give a flying fire truck about what the other 17 clubs think.

i had a listen to the rub on MMM this arvo and they pretty much thought that because we have picked badly in the past we dont deserve another. WE HAVE BEEN GARBAGE FOR 7 YEARS. essentially the theory is that we are SO BAD we dont deserve help to get better on field, even though the entire competition wants us to be better on field. go figure.

People need to understand, that getting a PP or other draft help, is not about deserving, previous drafting or anything else, other than recent performance. If you are crap you get help, no matter the reason. The AFL needs all teams to be at the least, competitive. Otherwise it costs the AFL and the clubs money.

Can't say I took much notice of anybody other than Hogan today. I walked from one end to the other at each break just to watch the big fella.

Take it from a South Australian, Neil Craig is a class act. And the coincidences regarding Neil Craig & the MFC abound. The game that probably "put the writing on the wall" for Neil Craig at the Crows was a 96-point defeat at the MCG against Melbourne in 2011. Neil Craig played 319 games of SANFL football (in an era when SANFL was arguably nearly as strong as VFL). He played 11 State of Origins (including state captain in 1984). I will list some of the players in the 1984 state side to give Demonlanders an idea of Craig's standing that he could be named captain of such players & to justify my statement about the SANFL competition in the 1980s: Michael Aish, Stephen Kernahan, Greg Phillips, Mark Williams, Garry McIntosh, and John Platten. Most of Craig's SANFL games were for Norwood (for two premierships) & Sturt. He also coached Norwood from 1991-95. Norwood wears red-&-blue. Norwood & Sturt's club songs are "The Grand Old Flag". I can add a personal note about Neil Craig. I understand that the Crows "19th man" slogan was Neil Craig's idea. As part of that, he asked the Melbourne office of the Crows in 2007 to invite the oldest Melbourne-based Adelaide Crows member to a game as the guest of the AFC. My family is very strange! I am an Adelaide-based MFC supporter & my Dad was a Melbourne-based AFC supporter. Anyway, my father, who was 89yo then, "won" the prize. I took him to the Melbourne-Adelaide game at the MCG in 2007 (which Melbourne won by 17 points) as guests of the AFC. It was the last outing that my father & I enjoyed together, and I thank Neil Craig for that experience. I provide these facts & reminisces about Neil Craig so Demonlanders can appreciate the football experience that Craig brings. And when he talks about "culture" at a football club, he knows & "is" exactly what the MFC needs. We are in good hands & I truly hope that he remains at MFC in some capacity in 2014.

Don't say that - you'll start 10 pages of debate about his kicking!

Casey vs the Northern blues is the televised game on the ABC next week. http://www.abc.net.au/tv/guide/abc1/201306/programs/SP1219V013D2013-06-29T130000.htm Looking forward to be able to see Hogan ripping it up!

Nathan Jones is 100 x the man Brent Moloney will ever be.

I have a bucket full of chicken entrails and many cups and mugs with tea leaves at the bottom. If anybody wants to read them-just ask.

How about we get both

I find it hard to argue with too, because it is so illogical that I can't get my head around how to reason through it.

Don't forget though, he's.a Flat track bully who can't play against top opposition! I thought they were playing the Cats. What b--s we have endured from the Neeld supporters about Moloney

stay tuned for my next prediction.

We haven't lost anything so far as Gys has done nothing....

Isn't Neil Craig the guy who was mentoring Mark Neeld?..... Hmmmmm....