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Whether he comes back or not, I think it's fantastic the club have stayed in touch with him and cared about his welfare.

Spoke to Flash at Jurrah's Book function and he told me his knee was stuffed. He said as he relied on his pace and evasive skills he would never be the same. That started his decline. This is the right move for Flash and he announces it in his way and that is good for him and the club. Hope he can stay around as a mentor and also as an assistant in coaching and recruiting. Congrats and well done on a great career, probably only curtailed by injury. One of our most popular players in his heyday. I am proud to say along with WJ, we were there at the start, having seen him play at Port Melbourne and pushing on Demonland, for us to take him. We were thrilled when the club did and loved watching him play, especially when he was at his peak. Enjoy your retirement Flash. Will get Life Membership, if he hasn't already.

When it comes to draft assistance - whether a club 'deserves' it is immaterial, irrelevant, and any other synonym you would like to put in there. We need one, the AFL needs us to have one, the rest is noise and bluster.

"Melbourne is already in talks with the 30-year-old to remain at the club in a mentoring role for the young players. "We want to keep him involved at the Melbourne football club. He has got a lot to offer the AFL and Melbourne football club going forward,'' football manager Josh Mahoney said." http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/melbourne-star-aaron-davey-announces-his-retirement-from-afl/story-fndv8pdq-1226700563164 I dont think as a club we handled this one wrong.

I know a bit about this one... We didn't push him, but he did need to be pushed.... if you know what I mean. His knees are shagged, and he has known for some time that this is his last year. His personal circumstances meant he was hoping it wasn't his final year. The reality is that this one was handled right. Thankfully.

Let's hope we handled this one ok... It's disappointing this was my initial reaction. I have had a good time watching him play and I wish him all the best. He might want to move into coaching, I guess we will see.

What a muppet. Anyone who says Melbourne doesn't deserve a priority pick because its terrible recent history is its own fault, just shows themself to be an absolute fool. For what other reason, other then your own mistakes, would you be consistently down the bottom of the ladder? I can't comprehend how these journos just can't grasp the concept that the priority pick is not about fairness or justice or what's deserved. How do these guys get jobs?

My problem with Watts' approach in the footy show interview - and I suspect he was acting on very poor advice from a manager who's probably not that clever - is that he's just announced to the industry that his decision is all about his own best interests, with absolutely no regard as to what might be in the club's best interests. Even if that is the case, and I suspect it is, a smarter operator wouldn't position himself that way in the circumstances. Such an approach really endears him to no one - MFC supporters or anyone else really. Especially given that the MFC is a struggling club and has always stood firmly behind him. Not a particularly clever approach. There's a reason why the likes of Cameron Ling and Brett Kirk engender so much respect amongst AFL supporters - and it's not because of their foot skills or draft camp stats. They are seen to be selfless players who displayed genuine leadership towards their respective clubs, supporters and fellow players. At all times. On and off the field.

I'm not normally prone to snobbery - the very working class conditions I grew up in virtually proclude it - but I consider the rank and file footy gossip mongers like Barrett to be beneath me and not worth wasting energy on by hating them.

The man is simply trying to stir up a bit of controversy. The reality is that what happened with Blease or Scully who were drafted 5 and 4 years ago respectively (and there have been extenuating circumstances in both cases with the AFL having had a strong hand in us losing the latter) isn't particularly relevant to the question of whether we're entitled to draft picks at the end of 2013 when we will have a virtually new administration, new coaches and a new start. There's a rule about draft assistance on the AFL's books and if we're not entitled to it then they might as well scrap the rule if a team that's had seven down years doesn't qualify. Besides which, if the AFL wants to see crowds of 13k at the MCG like last Sunday then I guess they can please themselves.

This quote from Jack in that interview really stood out for me: "As the year goes on you can go one of two ways. You can either sook about it and give up, or you keep fighting. For me it's an obvious answer." I just wish it was such an "obvious answer" for many of your team mates Jack!

Dean Kent goes OK for a first year player too.

Do we really have to turn this into another thread full of bickering... please everyone show a little respect! I would like to think Flash will get two full games to play out his career, as the MFC has nothing to lose by doing so, and there are others who can make way for young blood. Hopefully he will came back in some sort of mentoring/assistant coaching/development role - and by mentoring, I DO NOT mean mentoring our indigenous recruits, I mean all and sundry, as he has so much in the way of skills he can impart to our newer players.

Changed the role of the small forward in the AFL and is still in the top five best kicks in the league. Thank you Aaron and all the best!

Looks like Barrett has achieved his aim. Give demons supporters something to rant and rave about, extending his relevance. Give opposition supporters something to strongly agree with him on, as they fervently kick a club that is down in a display of gleeful schadenfreude. I wouldn't pay this moron any more mind.

Agree with others. It's not often you can leave AFL footy and lay legitimate claims to pioneering a new role. Like Barassi created the ruck-rover role, Davey became the defensive forward that spooked small backs. First time I saw him play was in a preseason practice match against either North or West Coast, may have been the latter, and I was immediately excited that we'd "found" one - albeit he'd been great at Port Melbourne. You're a Melbourne person forever now.

Viney is (easily) the best player of the three. Terlich has had the best year.

Head says no, heart says yes. In a god-awful year, the romance of the whole thing would be more appealing than ever.

Rather him on our list than Dan Nicholson.

I am glad he is getting it back together but jeez, he is a long way from the AFL right now. Really good to hear that we have helped him and that the boys visited him, but if he wants back in the AFL his footy needs to do some serious talking and his behaviour some seriousness.

I am actually stunned at people who say they don't want an advantage or assistance. Clubs will do anything to win and be successful, even taking drugs, yet some on here say they don't want something that will help. Yes a PP or mini draft pick doesn't guarantee success, but it will help. It could be traded for 2 reasonable mids, for example. Has anyone heard the Pies refusing to play 18 games at the G and instead requesting to play some games in Canberra and Darwin. Unbelievable.

A great player at his best. A good decision to go.

Quick, put him in a bubble and release him day one of pre-season. See you in 2014 you magnificent beast!

This quote from Neil Craig is the one that really stood out for me: “The element that has really impressed me about Jack is that he really cares about wearing the Melbourne jumper; playing for Melbourne is more than just playing AFL football and he has great passion to change the perceptions of the Melbourne Football Club."

I could get to wear my Air Jurrah T shirt again.

10 minute meeting and no call back? Sounds more rigorous than our previous appointments.

Houston, we may have a problem . . . .

Now Stuie, because I have a serious "man crush" on you I'll thicken the plot further. Two weeks ago I was told by a 40 year member of the MFC that Roos as coach was a "done deal''. The source is a sensible level headed bloke who has been reliable in the past. Make of it what you will but, for the moment, just keep it between us.

I think it was Footy Classified Monday where Hutchy said Roos was on $1.3m already, with all of his different jobs. He is on TV, a motivational speaker, a clomnist and does some lesser level coaching, that i know of. If that is true, he clearly doesn't need the money. If he is not 100% motivated to coach, end of story.

The MFC does and I want it.

Kid got injured. If he wasn't, 'commonsense' would have made him play.

I actually feel for him as I'm sure he would loved to have been involved in a finals tilt in his first VFL season - particularly considering that Casey's position is in no small part due to his contribution on the field... so, not good in my opinion.

The supporter base of this club has been beaten into submission. Not even the most optimistic supporter can see through the mess we are currently in. Can't blame some for saying they've heard it all before. Let the club prove to those supporters that they deserve their support. A good relationship has both parties give and take equally. I think that equation has been lopsided for almost a decade.

LJ interested in reviving his career with us? Club has been in constant contact with him during his travailles. Jurrah back playing footy after release from Alice Springs jail

7 of our home games were against interstate clubs. One of our home games was in Darwin. One of our home games was at Etihad. Only three of our MCG home games were against Victorian sides. One of those was the Bulldogs, the smallest of the Victorian sides. Of the big 5 Victorian clubs (Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Hawthorn, Richmond), we had home games against two of them, and a total number of games against them of 5. Of our 11 home games, 4 were on a Sunday at 1.10 (arguably the worst and least-enjoyed timeslot). It's all chicken-egg, though. These are part of the reason why our crowds are so low. They're also the result of sustained poor performance on the field. Get better on the field --> get more promising for AFL/Channel 7 --> get home games against bigger sides, in better timeslots --> get bigger crowds and TV audiences.

This whole Roos coaching saga has more twists and turns then a Breaking Bad episode

What a post. I disagreed with the first line. Wanted to point out the hypocrisy of the second line. And was revolted at the third line. Bravo.

Has said he's looking forward to playing the next two weeks. Mahoney has said they are talking about him being involved in some capacity next year

Just acknowledge his career. There's no need for all this "it was time" stuff. Be a supporter and remember the good times.

Thanks Flash.

Guys like Barrett exist because people click on their articles. It's irrelevant to modern Journalists whether the article is accurate or fair. It comes down to how many people view the article. If you read his crud your only empowering him. If he offends you refuse to read his articles irrespective if it relates to us or not. It always amuses me that people our outraged when he pens his dribble about us but lap up similar rubbish about other clubs.

Once again, the tags on this thread typify the messiah complex entrenched in the psyche of this club.

The only reason I can disagree with this article is because it is about my club. It is fairly logical and rational but would lead to the end of my footy club. Therefore I must protest.

Total carp. Scully left because the AFL created a cashed up monster with unrivalled powers to steal players. Take GWS out of the equation and Scully would probably still be here. Blease broke his leg just after we drafted him. Nonetheless, those decisions were made under a previous administration. It's not like those responsible for taking those players are saying 'hey, we stuffed up, can we have another go please?'. We're run by totally different people to those who were here in 2008-2009. And then he has a go at us for getting Viney under the 'convenient' father-son rule. Yep. It's 'convenient' when you're Melbourne, but it's par for the course when you're Geelong and you get Scarlett and Ablett. Father-son is a part of the competition, not sure how that is relevant at all to Barrett's insipid attempt at an argument. The AFL world would be a lot better without Damien Barrett.

If culture was just rubbish, why has Peter Jackson, our new President Bartlett, Neil Craig and others all focused on the need to have a better culture? If culture was just rubbish, why are clubs like Sydney and Geelong lauded for their success, with credit being given to the culture within the club? If culture was just rubbish, why is Paul Roos lauded as such a fantastic coach because of the way in which he set up a winning CULTURE at Sydney? If culture was just rubbish, why is Port's form turnaround often credited to an improvement in standards driven by cultural change? If culture was just rubbish, why is it's importance constantly referred to across the league???? Every club can have professional standards, but the culture is a big influencer in the achievement of those standards.

Confirmed in a tweet from Patrick Keene this morning... @AFL_PKeane: Melbourne's jack Viney is the round 21 #nabaflrisingstar after a team-high 28 possessions in Sunday's loss to the Dockers,1 goal & 5 tackles @AFL_PKeane: Viney, recruited under the father-son rule, has played 11 games in his debut season, averaging 18 touches per game. Well done Jack.

i love this one

Call Stephen dank and order some testosterone. While your at it bring a defibrilator to see if we can give a few others a pulse. Watching the Dees is like watching 20 weekend at Bernies...

I share Ben-Hur's view, though I also believe he has to be picked after his 51 disposal game in the VFL. Performance like that just has to be rewarded.

I'd be happy for him to just win the pill 30 plus times and handball it every single time to the nearest player wearing red and the blue, even if that player's sitting on the bench.