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I have said this for months and nothing has changed. If MC plays again it will only be with the MFC. He has been training for sometime under a MFC derived program. He does still desire to play again but this is far from certain. There will be a serious meeting with his manager in October if positive then with MFC pre 31st October.

I've been living overseas for years. It makes it easier to follow Melbourne, insulated from the pain by vast swathes of distance. Nonetheless, I have always and will always love this club. That's why I want to acknowledge everyone involved with DL -admin and members/posters- for making this site happen and keeping a connection open for all of us who can't witness the misery in person. (My subscription will be on its way soon.) As we hit the final round, and head towards a (hopefully) happier cricket season, I'm sure I'm not alone in thanking you all for being the weird bunch of argumentative and passionate sadomasochists that keep the spirit of this club alive. That's pretty much it. Cheers, keep up the good fight, Go Dees and (just for good measure) [censored] Collingwood.

Sylvia

a post from GrandNewFlag always calms the soul

All jokes aside, the sight of Clark and Hogan in the team next year, would do wonders for the rest of the team and the supporters.

Please God just one year before I join you can I enjoy the thought of playing actual games in September and not thinking about drafting and the next season training? Please it is not too much to ask surely!

I'd let him goto Freo if he wished. Of course i'd expect Fyfe in return.

They are certainly relentless. Amazing that they continue to pour shiite over everybody that they think has wronged them and then on the other hand want to keep open the option of negotiating a lesser penalty for being co-operative. They can't see the conflict or absurdity of their position: we dont know what the players took we know the players took nothing illegal we sacked Dean Robinson for overseeing an illegal regime we ran a pharmacological experiment it was Demtrious fault that we self reported we never should have self reported we didn't self report I hope they get hit with a massive sledgehammer. They deserve it.

I posted this in another thread last night in regard to Mitch Clark His manager Colin Young was on the radio tonight to respond to the rumours that have been circling Mitch Clark is in Melbourne and has just sold his house The plan was to return to Perth (not for football) but his partner is studying to be a surgeon Categorically put to bed any contact with the WA based clubs Mitch is in good spirits and after spending 6-8 weeks doing nothing thought it was time for him to get fit again, so has been boxing training for a while Melbourne clubs have been in contact with Young asking about Mitch's health and if he will return to football At this stage Clark has no intention of playing AFL footy next year. Young believes if Clark did have thoughts about playing again he would make contact with Melbourne, but he(Young) thinks Melbourne have moved on with their future plans Clark remains in contact with the Demons players and played golf with them recently Young meets with Mitch every 3 weeks and next week is just another meeting Clark still has a manager because he is under contract to Young till October 31st 2014 That is a quick snapshot of what came out of the managers mouth, BUT I IN NO WAY TRUST MANAGERS

Just thinking about how long we have been calling out for a true A-Grade Player at the top of his game and really believe we have one right now in Nathan Jones. The bloke is as tough as they come, an uncompromising gut-runner and leads from the front. His stats go alright too: 3rd in the league for total disposals 1st in the league for effective disposals 4th in the league for total clearance Also, top 20 in the league for: Kicks, Handballs, Tackles, Contested Possessions and Uncontested Possessions I only wish he would start to get the media attention he deserves. I know on other footy forums he is always ranked #1 by opposition supports as the most under-rated player in the league. Make sure you lap this bloke up fellow demons supports, he's an absolute champion and future legend

On what possible evidence do make that assertion? Effing ridiculous you [censored].

I had an interesting phone call this morning. Melbourne United Team rang me to ask if I was going to pay my membership for this season. When I said No that I have never been a member before they said but you were a member last year. To which I answered that I was a member of the TIGERS NBL team but as that entity no longer existed I could no longer be a member. And I had no intention of joining a new team, the Tigers no longer existed so my interest in the NBL had been extinguished. After a little bit of light banter the person admitted this was a common story. It will be interesting to see how this re branding of the Tigers goes. I suspect that they will struggle I have been a member/ supporter for 30 years but I have little interest. It ain't the Tigers!

having motions and posting at the same time. very impressive od

Thanks Sati.......For all your info at training through out the year.......I look forward to reading about Pre Season training

Gee I thought it was a training thread, no it's just OD coughing up bile. It was a beautiful sunny morning, so yes I went, this afternoon to be spent typing on here and burning whatever bridges I have left at my employer, today is my last day here. Hogan, Jayden Hunt, Jack Grimes, JKH and Tapscott were the only ones training who I think will not be picked this Saturday, Nicholson and McKenzie were training with the group. Missing is easier, and I am bound to forget some, so ask, Blease, Strauss, Georgiou, Evans, Garland, Spencer, Trengove, King, Toumpas, Clisby, Terlich, Harmes, actually I have used the club website so if they are not listed above they were training. Looks like Bail, Riley and Terlich got one year contracts, could only get to Roh Bail to confirm. Roos had a long chat to the group towards the end, gathered it was one last pep talk along the lines of it is Etihad and Norths, but it is the last game, let's have a real crack. Pates' really needs to see more of Hogan to realise that's how he runs (not a thing of beauty), he was doing laps with Jayden Hunt who has a classic running style and had no problems keeping pace. The drills were ok, a couple of missed targets, but then again.

all explained here

I reckon I have approx a decade PSD Any chance?

The way MFC dealt with Mitch Clark was all for his best interests, any club that even considered trying to hijack him would be of extremely poor character, if the shoe was on the other foot & the MFC did this i would be embarrassed

Does it matter what the rule is? AFL will just make something up.

Christian Salem has had the misfortune of being drafted into one of the worst teams of the last 2 decades He was seriously ill (losing almost 10 kgs) which severely impacted his preseason, his first AFL preseason mind you He has been the sub in many of his games When on the field he has usually played on a HHF or in a FP, in a team with very few inside 50 entries and a high turnover rate He is already in the top 5 or so best kicks in the team He is a competitor He can win his own ball He hates losing Of all the players on our list, Christian gives me the greatest confidence of getting the best out of himself and improving the position of this club. Our lack of success and diabolical drafting puts unfair expectations on young kids just starting to find their way. The kid has played 12 games, many of which as the sub. Lets focus our energy on some of the supposed leaders whose continual lack of output put more pressure on young players like Christian. I had to watch the GWS game on TV, I saw Mumford run through Salem and knock him to the ground and out of the screen. I was surprised to see that straight after, Christian sprinting back into screen to the next contest and lay a strong tackle. We have a player. A very good young player.

The good bits of the game are on youtube.... PART 1 PART 2 enjoy

Dear Lord you know how to make people smile. rpfc, it's available through the AFLPA here. Clauses 17 and 19 look relevant.

No probs Nashre...

No problem.

Bazingo! I just knew godwin's law would crop up sooner or later in this thread

For what it's worth I'll give my two cents on training. My main reason for going was to see Jesse Hogan and how he was progressing. He seemed good, although there's something about the way he jogs that seems weird. I'm not a bio-mechanic but it just appears he slumps to one side. Anyway on actual training, Fitzy for me today seemed really up and about, perhaps they've had a chat to him about 2015 and he's got a little confidence on the back of WC game. Nate Jones and Tyson w're stand outs in the skills department. They did a few match sim drills where they had to translation from the backline. Pretty scrappy at times. I really hope we are able to recruit some players with skill.

Agree, same as Cross give him a year and see how it goes. I would have a 34 yo O'Keefe in my team before the three signings we had this week.

Frawley's last training session.

You're a Melbourne supporter, of course you can handle it, we are all gluttons for punishment. I have already paid my membership donation for next year. I can't get enough of it. GIVE ME PAIN

That probably has more to do with the fact that our players can't put the ball where it should be put.

I think we need to delist more than 15 over the next two to three years, but that is the timeframe where the returns should be quality. If you draft and recruit well... And jnrmac - 23 Primary List spots in the last two years and 6 Rookie List spots. Of the new players: 4 have already left, 10 are kids, 6 of the mature age players are best 22, and the other 8 are depth players (Clisby represents twice so it is 28 unique individuals). 12 of the 28 won't amount to much. Cross will be gone in a year. Hunt, Harmes, King, and Barry have not shown much at any level of footy. So 17 of the 28 might not be here in 14 months time... Quality of changes, not quantity...

Another ridiculous thread. I've been extremely impressed with what I've seen thus far from this kid. He's still only that too - a kid. In my view, this is a pick we nailed. Along with Tyson, Vince and JKH. Finally.

Yep, let's run them into the ground before season 2015 even starts.

But he is still on our list, as I have told everyone for 2 months .

The culture of this club of expecting first year players to be impacting regularly week after week is a significant factor in why we're stagnant on the bottom. That's how it's damaging. You said he needs to do more. No, he doesn't. Grimes, Garland, Howe, Frawley, Jamar, Watts, they 'need' to do more. Salem is a first year player. They don't 'need' to do anything other than show a future, and that's exactly what Salem has done. He has shown an appetite for the contest, a willingness to work hard, and skill with ball in hand. Everyone is entitled to an opinion but you should be prepared to be called out on it, especially when it's as bad as this one.

Yep, Really surprised how so many people can't see talent. Salem's got good skills, does the little things well, clean, WINS contests and from an outside perspective, work ethic looks solid. Even opposition fans recognize Salem as a talented prospect.

They should take a leaf out of our book... the players rest, but they still play.

The two faced attitude of Essendon staggers me. How dare they come out and bad mouth the ex head of ASADA, imagine if ASADA had bad mouthed Hirds evidence. Not sure of her background but not many people other than cops and crooks spend much time in the witness box and not everyone in good at it. That odes not mean her evidence was incorrect or poor. I will say it again the Club is morally bankrupt and deserves our contempt.

thought you were going to say "that's eddie mcguire" lol

I wonder if I can claim my Membership as a charitable donation. I'm contributing to those less fortunate then others and they're definitely not a profitable organisation...

you dont have to be fl0gging them in order for them to stat light work early. Retains the conditioning and reinforces a mindset..I say More of it !!

another case of we should have never done what we really didn't do

Interesting that in his darkest period he has stayed in Melbourne not returned to Perth. So not sure why so many people are concerned about him only playing for a WA team. He's still here. Interesting he tweeted about doing a recovery session at StKilda. Would suggest he's training pretty hard to need a recovery session. If he continues to train hard and the body holds up, it will be interesting to see if this helps him overcome one of the reported triggers for his depression and retirement which was his body continually failing. Perhaps if he was interested in giving it a go we could take him on as a rookie. He would not be under any of the pressure that was one of the other triggers for his depression. He could come back in without any pressure and see how he went. It would be worth the gamble for MFC if he was just taking up a rookie spot. Wouldn't think it would be worth the gamble to keep him on the list. One can but dream.

You'd think so. But we all know deep, deep down inside that we aren't really trying to convince him to think, but rather to remind others that he can't.

I'd say that if it is codswallop, it is carefully selected codswallop aimed at protecting his client from unwanted attention and speculation.

if M Clark plays for any team other than MFC i will need the number to Mantheorapy, Man does not have a way of dealing with this.

The bolded bit looks (to me) like utter bullshyte from the manager. I doubt Melbourne would 'move on' and drop any hope of bringing him back to the MFC, should he opt to return to footy. Codswallop Mr Young

You've said it before and been pulled apart about it before. How many times will it take? Let's try a few more, this time from the last couple of drafts. Because apparently Hill, Pendlebury, Gibbs et al just isn't convincing. Josh Kelly.184cm 74kg James Aish 184cm 74kg Jack Billings 185cm 76kg Lachie Whitfield 187cm 75kg Troy Menzel 187cm 78kg Will Hoskin-Elliot 186cm 75kg Luke Dahlhaus 189cm 76kg Nobody is saying that every kid under 80kg is going to magically be a star, but it is completely NOT a basis for writing a player off. I hate myself for getting sucked into this, but the case is just so open-and-shut that I can't let go of the hope that even Picket Fence will get his addled mind around it on day.

Olisik, you're taking a very narrow view of what 'impact' in fact means in AFL.What I mean to say is, one can have an impact or influence the game/a passage of play without even touching the ball, which Salem has done during games this year and I'd argue is one of the reasons he has been getting games rather than getting high possession numbers.. Salem is about the only first year player since N Jones who actually seems to block with intent, tackle hard, chase hard and smother with intent whilst also being able to hurt the opposition with the ball. Do you remember the essendon game where he had two or three smothers in the last quarter, one of which resulted directly in a Jack Watts goal? Are you telling me that is not 'impacting' a game? For someone who has so much skill and silk, to have these 'off the ball' or 'defensive' attributes already visible is nothing but a blessing. The least of my concern is the number of possessions he has accumulated off the back of a limited pre-season, playing in a forwardline who rarely get decent delivery and in one of the hardest positions on the ground to accumulate possessions as so many have already pointed out. You've got to wake up a bit.

Actually the problem is that we don't cover the ground well enough in open space. We struggle to get into attacking positions due to our lack of line breaking run. The disposal efficiency reflects that we are rarely in a position to take risks with our disposal, and instead are choosing low risk options due to them occurring in defensive positions. It's also why we bemoan our poor disposal, because when we do stuff it up it happens in a bad position. Stats tell a number of potential stories, but you just have to look a bit harder to find the right one.