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put your hand up for the job - your years of medical and fitness training will be an asset to the club.

Clark? The same Clark that was physically fit to train, but then had setbacks as he suffered new soft tissue injuries, as a result of lack of conditioning? Who missed more time due to mental health issues? Not sure what on earth makes you think any of that Misson's fault, or that he somehow didn't do his job properly. Trengove? The same Trengove who had scans that showed nothing? I bet you think they should have just sidelined him indefinitely, without evidence or justification. Seriously, THINK for once.

I agree the monopolisation of ANZAC Day by Pies/Bombers is a joke - a lot of kids these days don't even know that games were played on the day before 1995 or that clubs other than these two were involved. Melbourne played the Bombers in 1992 and the Pies in 1991 on ANZAC Day from memory. People make the argument that these clubs "deserve" it because of "all they have done for the day" which is such utter nonsense. In reality it was a perfect storm that came together in 1995 that resulted in a sellout MCG crowd (first time this had happened for a looong time) and a drawn game. The article is spot on on a number of fronts but I don't like the way it equates volume of deaths in war to a clubs rights to the day. It's not a point scoring contest and to do so diminishes the real message of ANZAC Day, that war is futile. Not that the more lives you sacrifice the more honorable you are. In light of the arguments about footy on Good Friday I find it amazing that no one bats an eyelid at footy on ANZAC Day. ANZAC Day has a much greater argument to be footy free and full of solemnity than Good Friday does even if I hate the way it has been co-opted by the ultra-nationalists into a day to glorify war and a reason to revel in blind patriotism. I am opposed to the military as anything other than a "defense" force, I hate patriotism and ultra-nationalism and jingoism and chest-thumping makes me cringe. But if we were to respect ANZAC Day as the day of rememberance it should be and not a day to celebrate war and nationalism I would be all for it.

That would be an outright joke. If there is an issue so bad that it can't be diagnosed, you don't say "4-5" weeks, you say "indefinite". That is, lasting for an unknown time. That would be inline with the injury's actual definition. If he ends up going from "round 1 chance" to "round 4-5" to "round 10-11" to "out for the season", it will be a true insult to the fans. At this stage had they said "indefinite" from the start and at this stage he'd reached 4-5 weeks, we'd all be a little more optimistic. But now we just see a predicted return date that doesn't actually change week-to-week: it's been 4-6 weeks since round 1. Oh God...426...*head, desk*

PATTON

didn't realise misson was the club doctor as well

For those calling for Salem to play next week, take a step back and have a think about how many draft picks we've blooded too early over the years in hope that they'll magically be the ones to lift our side on their own. Remember how it worked out? Of course there was some terrible drafting, but we know from watching strong clubs that developing young players at a level below is paramount to their improvement, belief and self confidence. We are one of the worst clubs within the AFL with one of the weakest lists. We have arguably the worst leadership and we all know about the environment and culture of the joint pre Roos/Jackson. With that in mind, who thinks we should take reactionary approach this week and blood another first year player (who's had barely half an AFL pre-season), based off the form of ONE very good game and one decent game the week before? I will be absolutely stunned if Salem is picked this week against one of the strongest clubs in the competition when they're just hitting form.. A carpenter doesn't start building houses until he's served his apprenticeship, especially when his co-workers are not fantastic carpenters themselves... Whilst there are different case studies, (JKH for example), Salem is a different player, has had a limited pre-season and plays a completely different position. He will and should continue to develop at VFL the right way to be given the best chance to succeed at the top level.

Hey, if you really think that way, then why not turn up yourself and tell him straight to his face?

Dees name new leaders as Jamar return looms All 3 are very welcome additions.

Maybe the progress is that last year if 90% didn't play well we wouldn't have gone near an 8 point margain (which we didn't). Why do people keep accusing those that aren't stomping up and down about losses of accepting them? Having a balanced view isn't accepting losses.

Apparently Buddy took out 3 cars. Police are saying its just his natural arc.....

Who wouldn't have a sore back with 50 years worth of hopes and dreams on their shoulders

I think it is unwise for Melbourne supporters to bemoan the Collingwood-Essendon ANZAC Day 'tradition'. It has more going for it than the Collingwood-Melbourne Queen's Birthday 'tradition'. Be careful what you wish for.

Outrage! Loud noises!

That WC game and the dearth of tall players for a month really hurt. Took the steam out, a real punch to the membership gut... Come out and beat Sydney and it is restored however...

Surprised about Dunn - pleasantly, as I have been all year. A good recognition of effort. The other two just being put where they obviously belong.

Bodan Bobicech (spelling?!) must be sacked!

Surely we don't need to go round in circles with this again? Most people are not complaining that our players get injured, only that the club sets false expectations on when they will return.

They're so worried about what the fans will think. I'd rather know the truth than be held at bay temporarily.

Considering Vlad has gone to great efforts to keep the MFC sustainable and functioning, I wouldn't be so quick to wish of his demise. But yes, ANZAC Day game is a joke/.

St Kilda beat Essendon. Gold Coast are expected to challenge for finals. GWS have a ridiculous amount of talent. Carlton played finals last year. Come back out of the wardrobe Caspian...

I am comfortable with the direction of the club and have faith the guys in charge know what needs to be done. My only concern is how long they are sticking around for. The performance of the team has been light years ahead of last season with the exception of round 2. However I'm a rusted on tragic who renews each October so I'm not one of the target audience.

They wanted a damaging forward.

Come on - you surely aren't implying that Jesse is a scheming slimy little piece of something one may step in on a nature strip, are you?

me either - but after 4 quarters I end up with the worst indigestion of all time.

GWS and Gold Coast are un-Australian for not providing any troops.

Mission is the Elite Performance Manager one person in a team of people who manage players injuries. Here's a Link of staff at MFC I am sure there are a whole heap of others who may have some influence on injury management of our players. Of course you can always continue scapegoat Misson and blame him for all our injury woes it seems that's that your usual MO. I reckon the Medical Staff only give their best guesstimates on certain injuries because contrary to popular belief Medical Science is not infallible. The club would rely on its Club Doctors to advise of possible rehab and recovery times but they can get it wrong as has been shown previously. I don't think the club is purposely setting false expectations they are just providing the best advice at the time. Things change as they have want to do.

Can you imagine the meltdown from "the medical experts" on this board if Chris Judd was a demon ? Judd's ankle injury and its recovery kept getting extended and extended as it didnt respond to treatment in the timeframe indicated.Then it appeared Judd's injury miraculously recovered and he was rushed to get him back for last weeks game and then he did a hammy in the first minutes he was on !!! The supporters here would be calling for every medical practitioner in a 50 km radius to be sacked.

A few reasons: 1) You can not play well and still be competitive. In the past when the team hasn't played well, they've been blown away regardless of the opposition. We were actually the better team in the second half. How often has a Melbourne side IMPROVED as the game wore on? I can think of a couple of games in all of Neeld's tenure where that was the case. Generally we just progressively got worse. 2) It is not one game in isolation. The week before it was 90% of the team who got a pass mark or better. I am looking at improvements over the 5 rounds. I agree with Steve to the extent that the list needs another turn over, but there are some who just had an off day. T Mac being a prime example. 3) The margin simply can't be dismissed. Even perpetual moaners like WYL say that the score is what matters. 8 points against a side that, like it or not, is seen as a finals contender, is an improvement. If 5 or 6 players lift another gear, we win that game. Inconsistencies come when you're a crap side. We are still a crap side. But we are now an improving side, which was not the case this time last year.

I don't buy into shoulda wouldas. The final margin was 8 points. Both sides were wayward with their chances . It wasn't an acceptable performance, and I was filthy for the large part, but the fact that 90% of the team didn't play well yet probably should've won it is inarguably progress. Last year the bundle would have been well and truly dropped in the second half and it would have been a 10+ goal defeat. WYL is doing his usual routine of sky is falling, hope is lost, nothing is gained. Side with that if you like, by all means. The bloke doesn't even watch the damn games, yet comes on here to spread his doom and gloom afterward. It's pathetic and turning a blind eye to the progress being made, which thankfully most supporters can acknowledge. I also didn't say GC were any good on the day, I said that calling them "Ablett and a bunch of kids" is idiotic and exhibits extreme naivety about the quality of their team.

While this article is a fantastic insight into the history of the ANZACs, I'm not sure I agree with its conclusion that ANZAC Day football should only involve whatever club "sacrificed" the most in World War I. By this article's logic, every club should play on Anzac Day because that would maximise the representation of clubmen who died in the war. Even if you admit to the impracticalities of putting every club on the same day--ignoring of course that this is how the game was marketed in the days before and after the War--simply using World War I as the metric for the team you consider "most deserving" would disrespect all the other Diggers who have sacrificed all or part of their lives for this country. There have been many wars since our landing at Gallipoli, and they deserve to be remembered too. The fact is that it is now tradition for Collingwood and Essendon to play on ANZAC Day. Sometimes you need to respect tradition, regardless of the motivations behind that tradition's inception. Otherwise it will be open season for everyone who feels they have a claim to some part of our culture--whether it be ANZAC Day or Good Friday or anything else for that matter--to co-opt it in order to serve their own interests.

Its Cale. I can tell by how quickly he moved to avoid any impact.

Crapus muchus.

Wow, who would have thought that athletes playing a contact sport could get injured. Must be the medical staffs fault. we better sack them all!

I looked at the injury list this morning for all clubs and we are actually doing much better than most other clubs. I don't give any credit to Misson and his team for this. I give all the credit to luck. We are lucky that our players havent been injured in a high collision sport called Aussie Rules football and the ones that have been injured have, in the main, recovered and are playing.

You suggest that not playing well is definitive and absolute. How can you not see the difference between not playing well last year and not playing well this year. Prime example - I do not think that Pederson played well on Sunday but he pretty much kept at it and having a go - compare this to last year where Pederson did not play well and was a dispirited waste of space on the ground. We did not do enough of the right things for long enough on Sunday, not enough players played well, yet the team kept plugging away. At what stage did we "plug away " last year ? edit - I do not consider Sunday's effort and output acceptable. I do consider that there are improvements on last year -the two aren't mutually exclusive.

I don't see why the club doesn't campaign harder for an ANZAC night clash against Sydney at the SCG.

That depends on how productive your other 6 hours are and whether they compensate for the 2 hours you stuffed up. There is no doubt in anyones mind that the 2nd quarter was very poor. We shouldn't accept losing and no AFL player goes out onto the ground to lose. But you have an expectation the Lada will be turned into a porsche overnight. I'll ask you this. Do you support Roos and agree with what he is saying - in particular do you agree when he said that we are coming from a long way back and there will be some steps forwards but be prepared for some steps back as well ? ( paraphrasing). Thats exactly what we saw on Sunday. The difference for me was that as poorly as we played in the 2nd quarter the players didnt throw in the towel ( as previous ) and the effort of most was still there until the end of the game. ( unfortunately in many cases, the execution wasn't) I hate losing with a passion but am I seeing any rays of light so far this year ? Absolutely. Have there been times this year when it has clouded over and obscured any rays of light ? Absolutely. I am not disillusioned at the moment like I was for the last two years. I am not despairing because I can see areas of improvement. Do I want to see us win every game going forward ? Absolutely, but I have to temper this with realism and for now whilst I hate losing I will continue to embrace the forward momentum from last year.

so typical to see the AFL let the disgusting essendon drug cheats continue to play on this day what a disgrace

I'm on both sides.. Of course Roos will continue to spin off the same little 'positives' or 'wins'. That is after all all he can focus on and regurgitate to the media etc. But Jesus Christ I'm sick to death of hearing it. Even from him. That game was woeful on our behalf. No matter how many little positives or wins people pick out. I'm just genuinely sick and tired of watching the skill level of so many of our players. Roos surely knows he's got a lot of work to do with the list. Bring in more talent. Move on the deadwood. There's my positive. Knowing that there'll certainly be some players gone by seasons end.

Ive had a look at the replay after being at the game and viewed the majority of Wattsys 'incidents' with an open mind. He is a different player and is always trying to outhink the opposition and also keeps the umpire in mind when trying to create. Rather than take posession cop a tackle to draw a player he will try and beat his man/draw a free kick and on the weekend on a bad day and probably did short circiut as mentioned in the title of this thread. I think he cops a lot of criticicsim because people cant see what he is thinking and attempting, not the average Jack. Roosy will work with him on this Im sure. He is not soft. He tackles hard when he has to go ( who can tackle ablett? ) the thought process, he sees opportunity where others are on auto pilot. Hardly a reason to evict and banish. He gets open so often but we dont kick it to him. And then we do use him put it up on his head for an easy spoil.He also presents and keeps presenting and should be used every time. He needs to work on his game and fitness like any other player. Jack on a bad day still seemed to have positive influence on the game . how often does a player win a one on one against him? It' s all about stopping Jack or Jack not winning contests isnt it?

On the contrary, how about we look at the bigger picture, not just next week?

Haha this is why I love Demonland - biggest over reaction i've seen in a while (week or 2 anyway) Blokes in the media and is trying to be impartial - got flogged for the Neeld appointment publically and we wonder why he seems to not care.... Melbourne are [censored] - they have been [censored] for a while and we still are in the bottom 4... Bagging the club don't mean you hate the place it means you have an opinion - harden up lads and ladies

I'm tipping that if Hogan has the ball and 3 Collingwood players come at him, the cleaning crew will be wiping their remains off the interchange bench.

Quite a few times on Sunday Dawes and Frawley got in each other's way. That's to be expected when they're not used to playing together at the same end of the ground. And it's a practical example of why teams take a while to gel. If Frawley stays forward (and I hope he does), he and Dawes will get a better understanding and there will be fewer instances of each getting in the other's way. And for what it's worth I'd rather they got in each other's way rather than neither being anywhere near the ball.

This from the MFC website seems pertinent: Roos said it was a positive that his side was still able to remain in the hunt, without doing a lot of things right. “The positive is that we were only eight points down and we didn’t really have a lot of good players to be honest,” he said. “So that’s positive from one sense, but frustrating in another sense. I find it hard to disagree with these sentiments, and I reckon most around here would see it the same way.

If you're the type of player that doesn't like watching other teams for "superstitious reasons", you can right well F off! How the hell are you supposed to scout your opponent and truly understand how a team plays if you're only going to watch, say, a few minutes before you play them?

I wonder if that's Jordan Gysberts of Cale Morton driving?

Our first 12 games last year lead to 11 losses. The margins were 79, 148, 94, 28, 61, 60, 34, 90, 95, 83, 35. We've lost 3 games this year by margins smaller than every single one of those save for one (28). If you can't see improvement and greater positives in this team at the moment then I reckon the rocks in your head have rocks in their head.

If you don't like what you saw yesterday, what did you think of the last few years? God strike me, we are turning the screw to being relevant again and people want to blow up the place because Watts hugged a tackle and Dawes/Frawley kicked terribly. You go watch tomorrow's game but don't for a second think that we aren't better than we have been: Roos promised us some progress and a defined game plan by Rd 5 and I have seen it. If people want to keep their warm bitter blindness they can, and they can go watch someone else. Sick and tired of these jumping expectations of posters. Have a coherent, consistent opinion.