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Debut him this week then. Watt could go wrong.

Man sends photos of *blank* gets sacked. Man oversees pharmacalogocal experimental environment gets years paid holiday in france.

What would have happened if it was Murphy? An in house fine. Lesson: don't do the wrong thing if you are dispensable.

Don't be too quick to dismiss going after him. Very good, solid, strong and tough fleet footed defender would add a whole lot to our defence. Said no one ever.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/lost-for-words-afls-first-female-coach-peta-searle-20140602-zrulm.html This is an extraordinary earthquake in football culture, and I think a really big step forward for the game, as it demonstrates innovation in a very reactionary culture. I for one choose to believe that this is based on merit alone and has nothing to do with the Saints recent off field shenanigans, although I'm sure it will be alluded to (and I only mention it from a devils advocate POV). Having worked with some brilliant and brave women in traditionally male only enterprises, I don't see any reason why Searle can't be an ace coach, anyone who is able to make their dream come true against adversity is worthy of great respect. edit: the references were included as support for the merit of having Searle as coach, with such high female participation either as audiences or otherwise compared to the other codes, it seems to me to be a natural evolution to have a woman coaching. by the by, my father (who was a fantastic kick of the football) was taught by my grandmother, not my grandfather. ABS : http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/[email protected]/Lookup/4156.0.55.001Feature+Article1May%202009 The Australian: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/columnists/afl-a-universal-favourite-thats-a-force-for-good/story-fn8qlm5e-1226483479334# Impact of this across community engagement is strong. The AFL claims 42 per cent of its national television audience is female and 35 per cent of its club memberships.

Maybe he is feeling in a far better place now mentally , and wishes to thank the footy world for their support, and / or to help raise awareness of the issues. .

He was a bit stiff i reckon .

In my 60 years of following this great club I cannot recall any player improving as much as Cam Pedersen has in such a short time. Loving it.

Below is where (if) Melbourne players rank in the Top 50 players in the categories of kicks, handballs etc: Total Disposals N Jones - 10th D Tyson - 37th Kicks: B Vince - 4th N Jones - 18th Handballs: D Cross - 9th N Jones - 20th D Tyson - 33rd Marks: J Frawley - 10th L Dunn & D Tyson - 18th Frees for: No prizes for guessing who No. 1 is N Jones - 4th D Cross - 18th J Viney - 39th Frees against: D Tyson - 21st L Dunn - 42nd D Cross - 42nd Tackles: D Cross - 12th R Bail - 29th N Jones - 38th J Viney - 49th Goals: Nil (Dawes 57th) Behinds: Frawley - 28th Vince and Pedersen - 48th Hitouts: M Jamar - 14th Spencil - 23rd C Pedersen - 34th Interestingly D Cross 57th

Was Ben Hur the one who went to training in Lycra?

This is all a big misuderstanding. The photos were of Bootsma's head, the two are easily confused.

sending it to jeannie was probably not a good idea but all jokes aside, the implication was that this was just the last straw in a protracted saga

Pretty cocksure isn't he?

The reason Gawn was ineffective, particularly with his marking, is that he's making NO advantage of his height. He had a very odd method of dropping his body against his opponent, thinking he was keeping him off the ball, but just making it easier to spoil over the top. He doesn't trust his body strength yet, and becomes too passive on account. Stand tall and reach skywards Maxy. They can't get to you that way.

he's really honest. george stone sounds like a massive influence at the club.

Pedersen's transformation wasn't even just between last year and this; he looked hopeless as recently as about round 3. He was working hard by all reports, but just wasn't impacting games and definitely wasn't the dependable one grab player he has become. Now that he's found a bit of belief, he's become a whole different beast. I wonder how much Dawes' leading by example has made. I had this thought in the game where Dawes and Pedersen both laid a truckload of tackles (vs Adelaide perhaps?), Pedersen seemed to have upped the ante on the pressure stakes once Dawes rejoined the side. That he was able to continue it with Dawes out was a big positive.

Played a straight bat. No mean feat given how much he moved his hands. Still, the interview will not send the club into free fall, or prompt a tanking investigation.

I am told he has not ruled out playing AFL next year, and if he does he is a delisted free agent and will nominate Melbourne. I am told he is not considering playing for any other team. Don't get excited this is still a long shot.

As I said earlier, I would think it's part of the exit package for him in not only paying him but giving him opportunities to earn, like the ad he did when he first came over. Also, maybe he wants to share his experience to help others with similar problems? He doesn't have to disappear forever now.

Could have picked a better show to do it.

What do we do with Grimes. Simple. Coach him and improve him - just as we're doing for the other 43 players on the list. The pack mentality around "Grimes can't play" is seriously misplaced. For those wanting Grimes dropped and traded I'd suggest you rethink your position because it's not going to happen.

C & B move on, QB game, going to give good account of ourselves hopefully

Yeah, that was interesting. It makes sense but it is up to him to have the discipline to get off at the right times. The interview? It was a fine, benign discussion on his misguided treatment over the first few years as a Demon. He was honest but not controversial - it was a good end to that period of his career. And as Gerard said - there looks to be a 5 year period coming up that he should find more reward.

Rubbish.We have a female trainer at our football who is also a qualified in doing physio. She knows her stuff commands respect and we absolutely respect the work she puts in to getting us ready for week after week. I would have no worry in the world if a woman was my assistant coach. If she knows the game then half the blokes in the footy club then why wouldn't she get the respect from the boys.

I like the fact that the emblem has 156 years of history in it. Stripping it back to me is disrespectful to that history. Remember the previous emblem. Cold sterile. No more than a business card. At least this latest emblem is alive.

May I have some of that pie too. I bagged Pederson, I was wrong. The transformation to Pederson has been spectacular, congrats to Pedo and the coaching staff. I really admire the MFC at the moment, we are on the way.

He was very, very physical against the Tiges.....some of the opposing players really felt his impact. I remember last year when he dumped Scully. Fantastic!

Ouch. I think Rohan has a few more tools than Blease. Came into the league with terrific raw potential, but plenty to learn. He didn't have a lot of exposed form but showed a big leap, excellent pace, plenty of energy and really bolted over the course of the championships. From then till now I can't see whether he's developed significantly, but injuries have knocked him about a fair bit.

Exactly! Who cares if it's 2:10 or 3:20? Haven't looked forward to a Queens Bday match this much in a long time. I have a good feeling.

Elliot is a freak, will probably stand on Dunn's head at some stage. Too bad Howe will be standing on Elliot's head at the same moment with the ball clinched to his chest.

No, I'm not referring to this week's game, but a time in the not too distant future when we're nearer the top of the ladder and the Queens Birthday game will once again be the genuine match of the round blockbuster it's been in years gone by. I don't need the media to validate what I'm thinking but it was nice to hear the 6PR radio guys talking about next week's game tonight, saying it's now shaping up as a really good contest and that Melbourne are in with a serious chance. I long for the day when we come into the QB game with an 8-2 or 9-1 record and the 'G is jammed with 80,000 fans, at least half of them in the mighty red and blue. The sooner that day arrives, the stronger our grip gets on retaining this important fixture, and the greater the chance we have of securing similar top-billing games in the future.

Not a big fan of the current emblem I think a large amount of that is due to the management that produced it. But to be honest it is not something I get hot and bothered about. It is to me like the Clash jumper No big deal IMO When we are a top four side I will concentrate on these small annoyances.

A second team is like a friend of your sister that you used to kiss when you were 12 yo. You still like her and dont want to upset her now that shes turned ugly.So you just pretend to like her {when they beat a team we all hate}and show happiness when she does get a{win a game} boyfriend.

Any time a forward pants' the defender it is usually because he is taking lead up marks because the midfield is not putting enough pressure on the ball coming or, ( as we saw with Rivers a couple of years back), the ball is coming in too easily and the defender is isolated. Kick the ball to Cloke when his opponent is isolated and all you need to do is kick to a 60% advantage position and the defender is in trouble.

Correct, they have about six dot points (corporate speak) that specify the musts of their role One thing Cam has to do is come of the edge of the square at centre bounces, and nullify the clearance if it comes out of the back if he can, and yes he does love crunching the midfielders, they rotate it so there are always a couple of marking forwards if we get the clearance

That's unfair. I distinctly remember when Cameron Cloke left Collingwood and joined Carlton the average IQ of both clubs improved.

Let us know when you find the Big Banana WJ. As Big Apples just don't cut it in this thread.

I'd replace the footy with the trident and then remove the footy and southern cross altogether.

shouldn't have done it.

Couldn't disagree with this point more. Watts has always handled himself well in the media, not so well tonight, but he certainly didn't say anything stupid. Just lots of ums and ahs.

Have you seen the size of him Biff? The only thing you could beat him at is Scrabble, and even Enyaw could do that.

The only reason to get LeCras would be if our premiership window is in the next 2 years - which it's not. Our focus should be on disaffected youngsters from GWS or the Suns.

Maybe the old stations choked on the big pile of shyte they tried to feed everyone. "The longest amateur night in history" is nearly finished-not a moment too soon. Hope they all rot in the new entertainment economy-no talent -no eat.

Concise and true, rather than the five or six pages of 'heroes' spouting off I nearly broke my hand on the table when he turned it over, but all the work off the ball and his putting his body in harms way, and marshalling the defence compensates for the mistakes He will fix these up

I wouldn't say no necessarily, but Patton strikes me as a bit of an old world player. The sort that would have been amazing in the '90s. Stick him in the goal square and he'd deliver. But, he's still young and if he learnt off Dawes, well, Dawes is pretty much the perfect player to model his game on.

Hate the build-up? Well, I guess that's your bad luck. You think Geelong and Hawthorn supporters don't get pumped for Easter Monday? Or Anzac Day for Pies and Dons? Dreamtime etc Outside of finals, these are the premier fixtures of the draw. Why you wouldn't want to retain it, and get a fair and equitable draw thrown in for good measure, is beyond me. That's what the good sides demand and get.

I hate the build up for this game. Cannot stand it. We all rah-rah and then some Collingwood nuffie says 'they'll be up for this; it's their Grand Final.' Like we play in a different effing league! Well, not anymore. It's just another game, another chance to improve, another chance to get a win. I would gladly throw this game to whoever if we had a fair and equitable draw. So I hope the Bandwagoners see a good show - we need them to jump on board. But it's just another game to me. The Grand Final is our Grand Final.

Out: Our Grand Final In: Just another H&A game where we try to suffocate our opposition to prove we are a real side, and come away with four points. I would love to hear Nathan Jones or Chris Dawes say words to this effect during the week, and nip that noxious crap in the bud before it begins. I can already hear the Collingwood supporters, players and coaches belittling us now and making excuses, and it hasn't even started yet.

We've got one of the best taggers in the game but no-one has woken up to him yet because he doesn't use the usual tagger tactics he just puts his body in a gets the ball ahead of his opponent. Daniel Cross is having a great season.