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I reckon he's been gone since the ridiculous offer came last year.

It's the cost of posting something as a joke, that sounds exactly like the sort of thing he would say when serious.

Good news for Petracca https://twitter.com/cpetracca7/status/610969067088777217

Take the top 20 pick and run

I think that last bit hit the nail on the head. Billy Hartung for the hawks doesn't win much inside footy at all. And whilst he's tough and has a crack he could easily play most of the year (not sure about Sept) without winning a lot of contested footy and without making perfect decisions on where to run (he's got elite endurance and probably makes good decisions though). Coming in to Melbourne the last few years (or more) it wouldn't have been easy to just know where to run and you would have had to win contested ball as well because there just hasn't been enough free flowing footy. And to make things more difficult for Toump unlike Hartung or Brad Hill for the Hawks his fitness wasn't at it's best due to injury. Is it just me or has anyone else noticed Toumpas is striding out a lot better in his running now instead of shuffling? I think he's picking up the tempo and not running himself in to the ground and then when he needs to make an effort he's got more burst.

The jig.

Yes.....because how dare he be responsible for broken bones...concussions.... We have 3 hamstring injuries which is the average over all sides Stop looking for people to blame.

I think you miss understand the intention of the Integrity Officer's role at the AFL as it appears to be responsible for the removal of anyone who has any integrity from positions of power at the AFL. Otherwise I have no idea why they would have such a position because I am unable to see any indication of integrity in the leadership of the AFL. As all I can see is greed and self interest.

Hate to see Howe go - simply put and I find it strange that people think clubs should trade away good players . Names come up this year like Murphy Gibbs Yarran for example why? Why would you give away guys who can play? look what happened when they lost Betts Garlett Robinson Waite . A little bit of Rogue is required in a brutal sport , characters in a group setting giving the guys spark in their own way. Howe gives us a spark in a different way and from all reports is great around the club during the week. Seriously people here want Watts and Howe to go . unbelievable. Trade away guys who have stagnated perhaps after giving good service or who don't have the opportunity they deserve. Guys who are a work in progress and have the attributes ( attributes are not ours in spades ) stay and be part of our run at success.Good coaching and a culture that allows people to be themselves and contribute on match day will be something worthwhile and hopefully they can look back at their time at Melbourne as a great time.

the media? What about Demonland? Maybe 500 posts each commenting with their original thoughts that they reckon we should have had players behind the ball, and that our leaders are bad and we suck etc Meanwhile the biggest asset in the competition put on his first genuine display, Watts with one of his best games ever and a player we have been waiting 2.5 years for in the Toump finally arrived

Ahhhh so much negativity. I understand entirely your position Hemingway but implore you not to ignore the pleasures of life. By my nature I cannot dwell on the likely defeat. I still pick Melbourne in the local tipping, it does create much discussion, while removing me as a threat to those leading the comp. The local side was travelling well until a loss last week and travel to Dederang for a match they should win before meeting the undefeated ladder leader Kiewa the following week. I only get to home matches as I maintain a retail shop working Sat morning. Footy is like Dland a bit of a diversion from the more significant issues that are surrounding us all. I refuse to let it bother me as I know that with the cold misery of winter comes the joy of skiing, after that the flush of spring and another summer, and throughout it all, the warmth of human companionship. While I would like to see a premiership for the Dees in my lifetime I too despair but as indicated in other posts there is still much to look forward too. The refreshment that a new Viney and Stretch bring and the beauty of Watts on song. I can live for the isolated moments as they are a brief but enjoyable part of a glorious whole. Flower Neitz Schwartz Jacko etc all provided wonderful cameos but no ultimate prize. I do fear that the next generation must have some success or they will be lost especially with their shortening attention spans. I dont want to put messianic pressure on Hogan but he really is the most exciting prospect. His performances like Watts fill me with joy even in defeat. But we do need to diffuse the pressure on any individual through the team focus and perhaps we need another Barassi an individual who can take that burden while inspiring and allowing those around him to greater achievement. I do genuinely hope that the line in the sand I mentioned is being laid down. A statement from Howe, a resigned contract not just for the $$$$ followed up with a greater input immediately would help But if it all just a pipedream I will continue to support the club, team, players, as always Go Dees

You wouldn't take pick 13 for Howe? I would be looking to already have a deal sown up to on trade the pick but either way I'd definitely take pick 13 for him.

Howe has been a massive disappointment this year. In his prime we needed him to step and he's gone missing. One or two decent games and some absolute shockers. No doubt he would have been dropped had we any depth. I had thought he would play through the middle and on the wing by now. A first round pick for Howe? My god you'd jump at that! worth a second rounder at best but I guess he is probably our only over-rated player in the media/footy circles The thing that has changed is that I dont really care if he leaves or not. Based on his no-effort games this year

Don't agree with this. As an Insider its easy to get to the ball. Essentially watch your immediate matchups and run where the ball is. Outsiders have to learn where to run to. In order to be able to do this they have to learn to read the whole game and their team mates to know where they are going to kick to and to know where to run to so that you become an outside option. It's a much tougher gig. Doubly as hard in a team where they rarely play to a game plan or are slowly learning it so that it's very hard to read the play. I know that several players have complained about how impossible this has been in the past.

Hemingway and I remember the old days when we used to stand on the hill at the scoreboard end........I mean all the Melbourne supporters. Not now . Now there are no or few opposition fans at all. Where's the fun in that? I've been going down there nearly every year since 1963. I remember Russell Robertson kicking 5 goals there about a decade ago for a close win. They had a shot at goal from 50 at the very end of the game to win it. I just new they couldn't do it and I sprinted from my seat up to the back of the Grandstand behind the goals. I know there are those escape stairs there right up the back...as the Geelong player was lining up to kick there was dead silence except for me screaming at the top of my lungs...."he's gonna miss......you've lost it....go demons! .....cop that you miserable barnyards....(and he kicked and it didn't even score...) whereupon I yelled 'choked you weak...etc etc....At this point I could see thousands of angry faces had turned towards me ........ and I fled at top speed straight down those stairs ....the perfect escape! The 186 game.......I left.at half time ....at the train station I departed with a bus full of melbourne supporters....(no train) I want to go next week just to watch Jessie Hogan play......he's worth the price of admission....and as we all know we should sign him up for a long time......I mean here is our first gun forward for how long? I would pull out all strops and give him a Buddy Franklin deal asap. Hope for the future........Hogan, McDonald, Brayshaw, Petracca, Salem, Viney, Kent, Vandenburgh, Watts.......?i'm wondering if what Jack needs is both arms covered in Tatts...would that help?

On AFL 360 tonight Gerard and Slobbo asked each other "if you had the chance to pick any marquee player to build a team around who would it be?" Slobbo went with Fyfe. Gerard went with the Hulk. Jesse will be one of the highest paid youngsters on his next contract and I hope it's the MFC paying it. If we're still serving up paltry efforts in two years time I'd be very concerned.

Apologies if already mentioned elsewhere, but this reminded me of a couple of other things I saw at the game... 1. St Kilda defender spoils over the sideline and gives Jesse a little shove as he is running off. Jesse stopped dead, and gives the guy a "please tell me you did not just touch me?!" death stare! 2. Jesse crashes a pack after which a St Kilda guy stayed down hurt. As he is lying prone on the ground, the Hulkster runs over and gives him a good shove in the back, just to let him know about it! Love him!

Geoffrey Edelsten?

For a first year player, that's not a great idea and I'd be astonished if he were to play any sort of competitive footy this year. The fact that he's running now is great but he's still miles off being able to perform any high intensity high impact sport.. His muscles surrounding the knee including the calf, hamstring, quad and glute need a huge amount of conditioning before he plays a match. As stated by previous posters, it's great that he's running but he's still got a mountain to climb and we won't be seeing him this year. He's a first year player/kid.

He's good at getting the ball out of congestion to someone in space, and at finding space himself. Exactly where we need to improve as a team.

Pre-season starts now! Okay, jumping the gun a little, but if he's starting running now, that bodes well for being in full running form by the beginning of actual pre-season. Exciting stuff.

No it isn't. Theirs currently sits at 16 players. Their list also comprises their best 5 midfielders - Ablett, O'Meara, Bennell, Prestia, Swallow. Imagine our side without Jones, Vince, Viney, Tyson and Cross. GC have been decimated this season. The two are incomparable.

Close.. for accuracy I would suggest we put a soft tag on him.

I disagree big time with the people saying he wont live up to his draft position. If he played for the Saints on the weekend and had that game against us, half of Demonland would be calling him a future superstar and asking for the MFC to trade for him at years end. Toump will be a gun.

In : MCG Out: SkillStadium

He did it against Adelaide when they were flying, playing on one of the games best. He did it on Cotchin on a Friday night and kicked the clutch goal. Did against the Bulldogs who were going alright. And did it on the big stage against Collingwood playing on Pendlebury. I'm not saying he's our best player, I'm just saying your argument is the worst.

I love loyalty and has seeing players leave the club.The reality is that we need to make some hard but hopefully carefully considered decisions on a few players including Howe. We cannot continue with players who have been around for some years and have not been able to improve or play consistently hard footy. Intensity at the contest is imperative. We need to build a skilled team but with attitude. We need a team of hard nuts like the top clubs. Guys who hate to lose a contest. I like Howe, I like how we discovered him, I like his screamers and l like the anticipation of waiting for a screamer. However, there is the feeling of Frawley all over again. If we can gain a consistent ball winner, then Howe and others need to be looked at. We have got some great young kids but we need to continue to develop the team by bringing in players to add to the core of young kids.

I should have said I was kidding. Editing it with a smiley now

Have to agree Nasher a real Sophie's choice I think I would punt for option (A) as (b) is guaranteed.

Who said it would be offered?

Howe to Richmond Richmond's first round pick to Carlton Yarran to Melbourne Done! I hope anyway.

Not a fair comment. It's necessary for the players to get the basics right before they can progress as a side. Seeing as we still haven't mastered the base skills of football, why would he try to get too fancy?

I don't understand the hate for Jeremy Howe on here 2014 1st for short kicks 5th for kicks 2nd for marks 1st for contested marks 2nd for rebound 50's He is now playing in the forward line which is a much harder position and kicked 4 goals in the past 2 weeks People get so carried away with draft/trade and what we can get for him that's it's not funny He is 24 years of age has played 89 games and kicked 75 goals I hope he re-signs and continues to get more consistent........I've just returned from Bali.....Demonland never changes, I might have to go back

dpositive I have to admit that I am not the man that I used to be, so I will not be in attendance. I am afraid I am one of those supporters that deep into my life, I find the need to have the security and comfort of home, the MCG. In the good old days, I used to enjoy a picnic and bottle of red at the You Yangs or Corio Bay before the game. Sometimes arriving late into the first Q or 2nd Q. However, in those days we always gave ourselves a chance. Still there were many long sad trips home. Unfortunately I have become very damaged over the last 10 years, and not even a picnic can drag me down that highway to hell to a City where all its inhabitants seem to be in the place that I still call Kardinia Park. The fact that there are only limited invitations to opposition supporters does not help. I always like to see the presence of both lots of fans. Geelong have turned it into a private party where only card carrying members of the party can gain access and then proceed to purr at the sadomasochistic goings on. I take my cap off to Jazza and the others making their way down that highway to hell. You are the real patriots and have the satisfaction of saying "I was there" irrespective of the result.

I am going to copy and paste this comment into the next 'fan survey' the AFL does. 100% agree.

Glad to have it in the hands of PJ and Mahoney - they won't get taken down.

If we think we wasted a couple of years under the previous Football Department (or more, if you believe, as I do, that the Bailey era wasn't much chop), then Toumpas has really only had 18 months of proper management (meaning coaching and all the other stuff that makes a football team cohesive). Same with many other players, too.

Hey I loved Allen Jakovich

Absolutely right. At full pace too. A "don't argue" stops the tackler grabbing your body, but if they have the presence of mind to grab your arm, you're totally stuffed. Love the way Weller realised he was in deep trouble the moment Viney grabbed his arm and used it to pull him in closer. Then he really found out how much trouble he was in. And I can't wait for Dustin Martin to try the "don't argue" again on Viney.

Healy trolling Cats fans naming Selwood as an emergency. I like it.

Except for he was no 4 draft pick......

Thanks Chris. I told you I was naive!

More likely you'll see Terlich Get excited!

No.

Outside midfielder’s also generally take longer to adapt to senior AFL footy. There are a lot more physical contents and less time and space. Even more difficult when you are trying to slot into a battling midfield that’s not overly skilled to start with. Much smoother transition for an inside mid. Usually stronger and used to battling for contested ball. Old mate Wallace (on Future Stars) reckons the success rate for inside mids taken high in the draft is something like 85%. Can’t remember what the success rate for outside mids was concluded to be, but it was a reasonable drop off for that type of player (and a further drop off for kpp’s). As I’ve said elsewhere, the encouraging thing as far as Jimmy is concerned, is that the strengths that made him a standout as a junior, have slowly started to translate to his game in senior footy over the last month or so. Hard running, work ethic and very good disposal by foot. Development for him is continually using those strengths in game and mitigating the weaker areas of his game (disposal under pressure, defensive running, contested footy). Those weaknesses were there in his game as a junior and clearly targeted areas for development now. The majority of these kids don’t come in as the finished package and by rights should take some time. At the very least I’m seeing some improvement in his contested ball, it’s up to the coaches to help him really improve in the other areas. There’s a lot of emphasis on Wines (whose output has been fairly freakish) from the 2012 draft, but if you compare how Toumpas is tracking, relative to the other 2012 draftees, I’m comfortable with how Toumpas is going.

Does anyone else think that the clash jumper actually clashed more with the saints than our regular jumper? That red strip on the side looks very similar to the Saints red strip. Another weird decision by the AFL.

If you think that Brayshaw and even Viney are ahead of Vince on current output you are delusional and mistaking potential for performance.

Rumour flying around at work that a victorian team that isn't richmond or geelong has offered danger a buddy like deal.