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nah it was a fantastic post, i even double checked it before i posted it to make sure it was amazing

Neale Daniher will leave the eagles at some point ( early nextt year most likely ) due to an unspecified illness. Health problems force Daniher to leave WCE If I was a praying man id say one but in lieu of such I will wish you a speedy and full recovery. You might have an Essendon pedigree but youre always a Demon too. The very best to you Preacher .

"I want Jack to get back to being a natural footballer hunting the ball around the stoppages" (paraphrasing) Hellafriggingluya

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqc7CEE0ekE

http://m.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/dees-look-to-bulldogs-veteran-20130912-2tnmc.html Love this idea and all for it.! Im still but shocked they got rid of him as he was still playing some good footy! Fanatical trainer, experienced, tough and hard, ultimate professional, leader and a great role model as he is highly regarded for being a great family man. If Cross joins us (which i think he will) watch Viney and Toumpas improve hugely next year!

Hogan and Viney to collide and tear a hole in space/time.

Are some other clubs bringing the game into disrepute? We have an independent body set up to assess the merits of clubs being awarded PP's. Several clubs have written letters to the AFL and gone public in the media, with their opposition to the MFC gaining a PP. These actions are clearly designed to put pressure on the appointed body and to influence it, in it's deliberations. This IMO, is bringing the game into disrepute. I think it's time for a long and thorough investigation of this cartel of clubs and for appropriate penalties to be handed down if there are guilty findings.

What does the head coach do? Bailey had us playing as frontrunners, Neeld as norunners. Clearances and stoppage work is at the feet I the midfield coach but that is cattle. Midfield run and positioning is the head coach because today - everyone is a defender when you don't have the footy. Illustrating this point is Craig got us to average 20 UPs more than we did under Neeld and out opposition 20 UPs less. Craig made some changes, gae some confidence and it made an 80 UP differential into a 40 UP differential. And Royal was there for both. Criticizing assistant coaches I shake my head at - how would you know? How would you know?

Very short memory George. Evans played some pretty good footy this season before he was injured. looked to be a real find in an otherwise bleak season. has a future.

No, they are the same in principle. Poor ladder performance in 1 year at second last gives you pick 2. Poor performance over many years gives you a PP. The common theme is 'rewarding' poor performance in an attempt to equalise the comp. So if you are going to be hairy-chested and say we can be strong and succeed without a PP, you can be even more hairy-chested and say the same for the pick that comes from a low position on the ladder. Anyway, I'm just arguing against being hairy-chested. Take what we can get AND fix the culture. As long as we don't avoid fixing the culture just because we get a PP, then a PP can only help.

It would only create a point of conflict at the club, 2 people fighting for the same job. No matter how grounded Burns and Simpson are they will be looking for the edge and support will be split amongst the playing group. No more divisiveness at Melbourne thanks.

I have to think you're tongue in cheek here Redleg! Anyway I'm surprised that the clubs are trying to stop us getting pick 1. If pick 1 is Boyd and he is as good as everyone says why would the other clubs want that pick to go to GWS? They have a list of future stars whereas we have a list of below average AFL players. In the event we keep Boyd then we will be less threat to them than if GWS get him. But even more compelling is that Roos has a history of trading pick, unlike GWS. And we have very specific needs, unlike GWS. So if we were to get Boyd then other clubs rich in players like Sydney, Hawthorn, Geelong and Freo have a great opportunity to package something and get Boyd. I'm surprised the top clubs care. When you get to pick 14 or so you usually get your man and one pick isn't going to change that much. My feel is that a lot of this is pandering to their supporter bases. I mean if I was a Geelong supporter I wouldn't give a stuff that Melbourne got something - we're no threat and they know that the sooner we get better the better off the whole competition will be.

What part of my assessment isn't on the money ? Watts' talents and gifts as a footballer have never been in question. I've queried his appetite for contests and his will to influence games. I question his hunger and commitment to be the best he can. I'll back Roos to have a crack at making Watts the player he's capable of being. I'm not certain he'll succeed, but if Watts commits he'll at least become a very good player even he doesn't fulfill his talent. I give Watts a hard time because I know what he's capable of.

I read that initially as 'Now onto Syria.' So Roos was the reason they are giving up their Sarin.

He's a sensitive kid who is up to his neck in feelings, so he's probably more prone to confidence swings than most players. He is exactly the sort of player I'd expect to respond to a coach like Roos, who connects with his players better than most. Furthermore I imagine his hip troubles would play a huge impact in his present lack of core strength. I'm still very bullish Toumpas. He's skilled and clever, just needs confidence and body strength to go with it.

Hi everybody!

I think you can take it as read in these days of more relaxed trading rules (including delisted free agents) and tighter salary caps, the players who are being delisted by clubs this early in the piece are of absolutely no trade value.

Moloney is not a Melbourne player. You can both take the [censored] and misspell his name.

I can picture the press conference with Hogan, Frawley, Watts and Sylvia all announcing their contract extensions at the same time. Roos will talk about stability, culture and the long term view the club is taking and the consistency the succession plan will have in the careers of all young Melbourne players. It will be good vibes all round and carefully orchestrated in the lead in to trade week as we attempt to attract the likes of Swallow, Adams and co to join the club. Well that's how I'd do it anyway . . .

Best of luck to all players who to my knowledge gave their all, appear of decent character and achieved what most of us can only dream of and played at the highest level and more importantly for our great club. All wise decisions but this thread should not be one for bagging player.

Someone goes out of their way to provide some inside information and even though it isn't exactly groundbreaking you need to be a smartass about it?

Paul Roos was interviewed on 5AA this afternoon. Excellent interview - I guess no one is surprised. He went over some old ground but also introduced new material. Indicates that Jade Rawlings is staying on, and his son Tyler, is going through the list for him! If nothing else, Roos is so engaging, he will be an PR person for the club. http://www.fiveaa.com.au/audio_paul-roos-new-demons-coach_107462

Viney senior has made contact with Crossy. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/dees-look-to-bulldogs-veteran-20130912-2tnmc.html

If I take the players comments at face value, I hope Roos can provide each player and the group with the self belief, hope and spirit that has been shredded over the past 2-3 years.

Tom Mcdonald will become our Ted Richards. Roos will love him and develop him into a great footballer.

He's superior to Josh Caddy. Adams is actually able to find the footy where as even when Caddy was at Gold Coast and much hyped he struggled to find the footy. I am of the belief that Adams is a way better pickup

I believe the objection from the other clubs falls under the "don't give a sucker an even break" clause.

So following your line of thinking - with a percentage of 56% last year - Leigh Brown deserves to go but equally so does Rawlings ? Please advise if you want Todd Viney gone - he is in charge of player development and strategy - you must surely rate him the worst of all in the football department - considering we have had no strategy since his arrival and players development has gone backwards ? Edit - if we are to judge anyone in the club with the same insight displayed on here then after the last two years absolutely no one would survive.

lol The mistaken claim that you have been 'picked on' about is a dig at posters...the phantom posters that thought Couch was to become a star. And, as RR has intimated, you have taken many digs in your short time here.

If he bleached his hair he'd miss another 3 weeks with concussion. Mark Jamar wins a hitout, and it goes to one of our players more than 3 feet away and on the move. Jack Grimes kicks the ball forwards more than twice in a game. At least 50% hit a target. Sam Blease plays his 3rd game in a row... There's a zombie apocalypse, there's no food left, Tom Scully is NOT eaten by his father.

I was about to post that someone is going to link this and people are going to like it and I am going to die a little inside...

If they were both 22yo then it would be worth a look, but no.

Thanks for illustrating my point so verbosely. Whether we were frontrunners or norunners, there was no defensive pressure applied on the rebound. It is a salient point because whatever the game plan def. pressure is still required when they rebound, particularly given our opposition rebound all the time because our 'skills' produce non-stop turnovers. So whether (BR(x%) + Head Coach(y%)) failed to fix skills, or fix defensive zones, (BR(x%) + Head Coach(y%) still bloody failed.* *Fixed for Rhino's inevitable sook.

A statement like this has been begging for some time - congrats Choko - you are the first who could not resist the temptation!

I wonder why Rawlings has been spared? I have always had the impression that he was a class above the others, but it's a view that I have nothing to support other than perception from a long distance.

You have to be trolling... Surely?

Michael Evans

I have heard he is a very driven bloke but. Has put massive amount of expectations on himself and is very desperate to become a very good AFL which he will be. Works very hard on the track and is a very professional young player. It will all come to place for the toump and he will become a star for the MFC.

Oh, yeah, The Mighty Predictors torn down! I hate those guys. With their awful predictions and their non-existence - damn them!

I'm moving a new Demonland by-law that prohibits posters from taking the [censored] out of a player whose name you spell incorrectly.

I was sitting in the front row on the boundary and a pack formed right on the boundary line and Jack was sitting in the seat next to me waiting for the ball to come out.

Nathan Jones to stop skirting packs and start winning some hard ball every now and then.

Ill wait until the players play like a football club...

Oh dear, is this completely necessary?

Well, that's nice. Hi Clint!

NO Way. What happened to the no [censored] policy.

Lets start a thread for every delisted player. We need experience with a good upside in the 24 to 26 yo age group, no more pensioners for Melbourne.

Just made the scariest bet ever with a diehard Carlton Supporter: If Jack Watts stays at Melbourne he has to wear a Melbourne Jumper with Number 4 on the back to Melbourne vs Carlton next year. If Jack Watts leaves and goes to Carlton then I have to wear a Carlton jumper with number 14 on the back. Please Jack don't let me down!! I couldn't take having to wear that scummy jumper to the footy!!!

There are a few posters I would willing trade to get Didak on this site.

We could also throw in a pair of shorts that fit...