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No, I don't think we'll win by that much.

Absolutely sh it house that i had to scroll down the bottom of the forum list to find a thread about this man. Above it were all the threads about trading, the state of our club, player worth, if Roosy is a good coach or not, blah blah [censored] blah. Push those aside for a second and let's focus on this bloke, a man who (like Flower) has been a shining light amongst the darkness of the past 7 years. Has been an absolute pleasure watching this (still) playing LEGEND of the MFC give his all for us week after week. Idiots may query his captain capabilities, but no-one can query his heart, and the blood he sheds weak after week which is nothing but red and blue. I for one stand up and applaud you. You can truly call yourself an actual Melbourne DEMON, one who will be remembered for everything that is right about this club. Congratulations on 200 games!

I never post but I feel I have to reply to the criticism of Roos. The general public and media can be excused as they don't know the facts, but the MFC supporters really frustrate me as they should know better. The ultimate responsibility for player development and recruiting rests with the coach. If you disagree with that then you should stop reading now. In the two years that Neeld was coach, he brought 17 players on to MFC List. Viney was father/son so he gets no credit for him. He also gets no credit for Hogan as any coach would have traded for him in the same circumstances. Players, apart from Talls, start to hit their peak in year 3 and 4 so lets look at the players Neeld brought in that are in year 3 and 4 now. From the 15 players(excluding Viney/Hogan) Neeld brought in, five remain on MFC list and only Dawes gets a regular game. From player development he gets a 0 out of 10 and the same goes for recruiting. There are no players he brought in that will develop into regular senior players(yes I have made a call on Toumpas) When Roos took over he had no emerging players on the list, a low win/loss and 50% percentage. Under his two years he has brought in 19 players. I believe three players Clisby(gone) Riley and Hunt will not make it. Of the 16 players some are already regulars (Cross, Tyson, Vince,Salem,Garlett, Lumumba,Brayshaw) and ten will become regular senior players. That's 16 out of 19(you may argue the number is lower) but its way more than the 1 from 15 under Neeld. Of the 19 players Roos brought in, this week will make it 16 that have played at least one game. You must remember where we were and how far we have come before going off at Roos. In 2017 the new coach will have emerging 3 and 4 year old players which is vital for further success. Roos did not have that luxury.

Come Sunday night I will have on my dressing gown of negativity and my mittens of despair Deal with it Roosy

I'm starting to get a bit tired of hypotheticals regards this footy club. I hope winning regularly puts an end to it.

I love the criticism of Bail and Jones. Here are two blokes that have got the absolute best out of themselves and played AFL - unlike any of you clowns. And they are the least of out problems - they display an excellent attitude and willingness every time they play. The one thing we all hate - blokes not trying - is NEVER their crime. This criticism is pathetic. You should be thinking about garland, dunn, nate jones, lamumba, dawes, howe - people with years on them and far more skill who regularly "don't turn up" get beaten by their opponents or have no impact on games. Who set the tone - or fail to - game after game after game. Matt Jones and Ro Bail actually perform regardless of their dodgy "leaders"...they are let down only by a lack of natural skill. Criticism of them is a low act. Get some effin perspective.

DETERMINED AND DASHING DEES WILL BE TOO HOT FOR DIVING DOCKERS AT DOMAIN by Positive Peter from Perth The writing is on the wall for the Dockers. After plunging to defeat against North Melbourne last Sunday at Etihad Stadium, they are odds on (in my book anyway) to suffer another loss to the plucky Demons who will cross the Nullarbor with every reason to feel confident about their prospects knowing that thousands of their own long-suffering negative supporters have been left behind whining and moaning in Melbourne. With very few supporters in Perth, the Dees will be able to lift the "veil of negativity" and play the style of free-flowing running football that the modern game requires without the worrisome and pessimistic vibes of supporters in the stands who have stunted the team's performances since coach Paul Roos took over the coaching reins almost two years ago. The hard working Melbourne board and its coaching panel are entitled to expect positivity to course through and through the veins of every player who runs out onto the hallowed turf of Domain Stadium unburdened by the pressure of thousands of critical pairs of eyes of the fans left behind in Victoria. Max Gawn will cut Aaron Sandilands down to size in the ruck duels and his dominance there and around the ground should lead the way for the Demon midfield to destroy those hesitant worry warts in the Docker on ball division which will be quaking in their collective boots knowing that their star player and Brownlow favourite Nat Fyfe has been ruled out of this game because of a "leg injury". Leg injury, my foot. The bloke's supposed to have inflammation in his fibula in his left leg, a condition known as periostitis but my spies tell me he took one look at the vision of Melbourne's midfield in full flight against Carlton at the MCG last Sunday and quickly bailed out knowing that there was absolutely no chance that he could possibly poll any votes against that lot. After all, he's no Patrick Cripps is he? The Demons should be first to the ball at every contest. There will be no fumbling and no turnovers. Jack Watts will barge his way through packs to win the footy, Chris Dawes will mark everything in sight and every inside fifty pass will hit Jess Hogan on the tit as he gives Fred Fanning's long standing goal kicking record a fair shake. By about 7.00pm AEST the commentators on the Fox Footy Channel will be delving into the record books to ascertain whether they have just witnessed the biggest upset in the history of the game. And don't think Sunday's inevitable victory of Fremantle will be the end of the matter for the dazzling Dees. They will go on to bigger and brighter things to wrap up the season by finally winning successive AFL home and away games for the first time since Methuselah was a boy and simultaneously break their Etihad Stadium hoodoo by teaching the GWS Giants a lesson on how to play football under a roof in front of a non existent crowd because, like their counterparts from Sydney's western suburbs, those negative nellies are unlikely to turn up to the game either. After that, I fully expect them to go further onwards and upwards with a 2016 season that will make the Western Bulldogs' turnaround of this year look like small pickings because I'm one of those people who (like the Doggies' coach and former Demon player, Luke Beveridge) doesn't place modest objectives on my team. I have loftier ideals. And I'm positive about that! THE GAME Fremantle v Melbourne at Domain Stadium Sunday 30th August, 2015 at 4.40pm (AEST) HEAD TO HEAD Overall: Fremantle 20 wins Melbourne 13 14 wins At Domain Stadium: Fremantle 10 wins Melbourne 3 4 wins Last Five meetings: Fremantle 5 4 wins Melbourne 0 1 wins The Coaches: Lyon 2 wins Roos 0 1 wins * since I have no doubt that the Dees will whip the Dockers within an inch of their lives, I already have credited them with the win in advance in the above stats. Why muck around after all? MEDIA TV - Fox Footy Channel, live at 4.30pm (AEST) Radio - SEN, ABC, ABC Grandstand THE BETTING Fremantle $1.07 to win Melbourne $8.50 to win LAST TIME THEY MET Fremantle 18.10.118 defeated Melbourne 6.14.50 at the MCG, Round 5, 2015 The Dockers toyed with the Demons and never really gave them a look in. Nat Fyfe picked up his inevitable three Brownlow votes with consumate ease and Chris Mayne booted four against the hapless Dees who only had one player, Daniel Cross (21) who could manage more than twenty touches. FREMANTLE B: Lee Spurr, Luke McPharlin, Tendai Mzungu HB: Cameron Sutcliffe, Michael Johnson, Garrick Ibbotson C: Michael Barlow, Stephen Hill, Nick Suban HF: Danyle Pearce, Matthew Pavlich, Matt de Boer F: Jonathon Griffin, Chris Mayne, Michael Walters FOLL: Aaron Sandilands, David Mundy, Lachie Neale I/C: Zac Dawson, Ed Langdon, Clancee Pearce, Tommy Sheridan EMG: Paul Duffield, Alex Pearce, Matt Taberner IN: Ed Langdon, Matthew Pavlich, Clancee Pearce OUT: Hayden Crozier (omitted), Nat Fyfe (leg), Alex Pearce (omitted) MELBOURNE B: Colin Garland, Lynden Dunn, Jeremy Howe HB: Neville Jetta, Tom McDonald, Christian Salem C: Matt Jones, Bernie Vince, Daniel Cross HF: Viv Michie, Jesse Hogan, Alex Neal-Bullen F: Jeff Garlett, Jake Spencer, Oscar McDonald FOLL: Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Jack Viney I/C: Jack Grimes, Ben Newton, Billy Stretch, Jack Watts EMG: Rohan Bail, James Harmes, Aidan Riley IN: Neville Jetta, Matt Jones, Oscar McDonald, Jake Spencer OUT: Angus Brayshaw (rested), Chris Dawes (ankle), James Harmes (omitted), Heritier Lumumba (ankle) NEW: Oscar McDonald (19, North Ballarat) What more can I say? The Demons are so confident of a win that they decided to rest young guns Angus Brayshaw and James Harmes this week and gave Oscar McDonald a debut game in the penultimate round in much the same way as they did with older brother Tom some four years ago. Even the selection moves are oozing positivity! It wasn't all that many moons ago that a different Melbourne turned up at the airport in Perth ready to do battle with Fremantle at the same ground (although it was called something else at the time). It was around the middle of the last decade when they were actually ranked more highly than any other Victorian club in the AFL. Back then, the Demons had a dip but the Dockers were committed, on song and on the way up. Conversely and unbeknown to them, the visitors from interstate were on the wrong side of their then coach's premiership clock which had not only stopped ticking but was about to break a spring and stop working altogether. Co-incidentally, some of the major players in the club's more recent past were aligned to the Dockers but were brought back home to help the Dees when they went into decline. Sadly, that didn't help. In the interim it's no secret that Melbourne has struggled in the west. The team has lost its last 15 games at Domain Stadium and their last six against Fremantle have been by an average of 68 points. However, we know that the tide must turn one day and what better day than now? The Dockers have been unconvincing in recent weeks, having lost their last two matches and now must finish off the home and away season without playmaker Nat Fyfe who dominated when these teams last met at the MCG earlier in the season. Teams always lift for milestone games and I expect Melbourne to lift for its courageous captain Nathan Jones who will notch up his 200th in this match. It's no coincidence that the team's performances have slipped in synch with a decline in the skipper's form over the past few weeks when he didn't look quite right but those who attended the club's training session at Domain reckon both he and Bernie Vince look to be in tip top shape for this one. Their return to form and the absence of Fyfe could swing this one in the Dees' favour. I already alluded to big Max Gawn earlier but there is really only one man in the competition who can stare eye to eye into the face of Docker ruckman Aaron Sandilands and that man is Max who I tip will topple him in an intriguing contest between the two tallest men in the AFL. I also believe the Demons will be primed to win the key position battles with Tom McDonald and Jesse Hogan forming the new breed of dominant key position players of the future joined by T Mac's younger bit slightly taller brother Oscar making his long-awaited debut. Make no mistake - the Dockers are in a state of panic about this game. The best indication of that is the fact that they rushed Matthew Pavlich back prematurely when he really should be sitting in the stand resting with Nat! The pundits are giving the Dees no chance in this game but I'm predicting a shock (but not for me) result in a game that will push the Dockers further into decline. Melbourne by 29 points.

In the Hogan v Hawkins contest going on in my head, Hawkin's pretty quiet game tonight (1 goal, no contested marks midway through the fourth) means that the 'win' on both stats is within Jesse's reach. I almost don't care about the game result on sunday, just get it to Hogan every chance there is and let him finish the season No. 1 for contested marks and top 10 for goal tally. Then again, that's probably our best chance of winning, too!

Most of our players don't get the ball enough to rank as poorly as they should.

Apologies for the length of the reply, I realise that in an age where the medium is the message, few may feel the inclination to read this, but I didn't have the time to write a shorter response... I’ve been a bit perplexed at the criticisms of Paul Roos over the last few months. I hope the recent storm in a teacup is not an end to the relative harmony and unity since his appointment and a return to yet another perpetuating cycle of denunciations and recriminations that have been the cornerstone of MFC politics that have existed since the aborted merger. One of the obvious obstacles for Roos to overcome is the expectation that many though the club would be ‘fixed’ after his tenure. I like Paul Gardner and I appreciate his views, but I’m not sure what they add to the debate other than static. I think most of us would have accepted that 7 wins was a modest target, but the rub is that ‘most’ of us aren’t intimately involved in the Footy Department and the process of ‘rebuilding’, so such observations made in isolation are nothing more than more bullets to fire at a coach already under siege. ( if you’re not part of the solution you’re part of the problem) Self-fulfilling prophecies versus realistic appraisals of capablilities – it’s a matter of perspective. Yesterday’s man, outdated game plan, not emotionally invested in the club, process over passion etc. Personally I think Roos is a really strong level-headed character who just says it like it is, but he’s in an unenviable position of being damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t in terms of the statements that he makes about the club and its culture. He has to deal with what I would call the MFC single loop negativity spiral. Football has often been equated to religion, and certainly there are a lot of similar connotations in terms of faith, salvation. ceremony etc. The problem that exists is its history of false prophets. In my lifetime I’ve seen high priced recruiting failures, failed premiership windows, aborted mergers, tanking fiascos. The veil of negativity that Roos talks about is actually a fog of negativity that has settled on the club, its players (body language and performance) and its supporters (DL meltdowns for example). As a long time follower of the Dees I now expect us to lose the very few games we are favourites to win, because in recent years this has become the norm and the norm influences the expectation. Being a Melbourne supporter is a maniacal obsession where the high’s (such as beating Geelong) are irrationally high and the lows (losing to GWS last year and Essendon/Carlton this year) are unbearably low for having believed in the false dawn the highs had previously offered. Like most religions we’re left with only two spiritual alternatives, become godless or convert to another religion. Neither holds much appeal for most, so we lapse until we once again we receive a new Messiah. Roo’s has slipped from the pedestal of being the Messiah (only the Messiah would claim not to be the Messiah) to having feet of clay (he’s a witch- burn him!). He’s subjected to scrutiny and criticism, which in terms of process is both fair and reasonable in terms of accountability, but in terms of outcome I think has left him bewildered and unable to accept to the unhealthy cynicism of the average Melbourne supporter. I for one didn’t take offence to his comments, but the club will not find a solution to its cultural woes until it addresses the two interrelated parts of the problem. The first is the playing list. This is about realised talent and the unrealised potential which contribute to both individual perceptions and wider expectations. The discontinuity here is that such perceptions and expectations are shaped by both bias and incomplete information – do we really know how ‘bad’ bad is and how much still needs to be done in relation to addressing bad habits? The other aspect of the playing list is the actual player attitudes and culture. Any cultural change is long and difficult, it requires clear direction and strong leadership and the playing culture itself is simply a sub-set of the larger MFC culture. Players are affected by supporters attitudes and beliefs and this is what Roos was hinting at. Poor performances result in hyper-negativity from supporters that conditions the playing group to a ‘siege mentality’ where it’s everyman for themselves. Many have argued that it’s the coaches’ responsibility to break this cycle and get the players to play better. I would argue that this isn’t about ‘motivating’ players on game day, this is about reprogramming an entire football club. The second part of the equation is the single loop negativity spiral. Supporters are both impatient for improvement and unreasonable in many of their expectations* (shaped by their impatience) and thus unsatisfied with the performance of the club, this fuels a reaction by the club in responding to the negativity of its support base in terms of trying to placate and attract new members (because poor clubs don’t win premierships) with the promise of better. Inevitably we move from one coach to the next, from one game plan to the next and from one ‘great white hope’ to the next and arrive back to where we started. Little is done to address the root causes of the issue. There is a simple answer for this, but simple is not always easy – nor is it simplistic. Breaking the single loop model isn’t just contingent on the club, nor is it just about the supporters, it’s about both working towards the same end. The club has to start winning games again and as supporters we need to be far more circumspect in the way we treat the club we ‘support’ and its representatives. I deplore and Barry Braveheart glib observations and bile directed at the players on this site, there’s nothing to be gained by it. It only perpetuates the endless negative cycle of ‘the club is stuffed and here’s why’. I believe the club is improving and some may disagree, but I see that we are beginning to get the necessary skill sets and knowledge into running our football operations and we are starting to identify and recruit talent better. All of these things take time (which we want to speed up) the club is developing and doing is working towards establishing a better culture, there is more to be done, just as there is more ‘supporters’ can do in supporting rather than attacking the club. Just as success breeds success, positivity breeds positivity and negativity, negativity (think of a shark that eating itself). Most organisations relish constructive criticism, no one begrudges people from having opinions, but destructive criticism is never welcome, is seldom useful and rarely makes the perpetrator feel better about themselves. As far as possible and within the bounds of reasonableness we should aim to be positive about the club (especially when they aren't performing to expectations like last weekend). In the words of Robert Louis Stevenson ‘Share your courage and keep your fears to yourself’ – lest you look like a lightweight. It’s not all about me after all, as REM says ‘Everybody Hurts’ - including believe it or not the coaches and the players.

Get excited dee fans. http://m.heraldsun.com.au/subscribe/news/1/index.html?sourceCode=HSWEB_WRE170_a&mode=premium&dest=http://m.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/carlton-must-show-patrick-cripps-the-money-now/story-fnp04d70-1227503299461&memtype=registered

Isn't that a good thing? No longer leaking like a sieve to anyone who will listen.

Counterfactual history- is there any point to it?

The fact we dont lose by 80 points plus every week is a good indication of our improvement

Yeah, and then they'll all get on Demonland and reply to their own posts.

I like the positivity of this post. Those seven words make all the difference.

Grimes has been all class the way he has firstly accepted his time in the seconds and then fought back to a point where he will probably retain his place. I can't understand the criticism of his recent form - especially last week where he was easily amongst our best. His disposal efficiency is actually quite respectable but the odd clanger sticks in the mind and devalues his overall game. Would love to see Jack and Trenners become regulars again, they still have a lot to offer.

Cameron Ling continues to cement himself as the most annoying colour commentator on television right now. His only rival for that spot is Ian Healy. He just spouts dribble over and over again and never shuts up. I used to enjoy his comments when he was a boundary rider as he could only contribute rarely. How I wish they put him back there. As much as I hate to give credit to the Filth it's great to see them smashing the Cats and knocking them well and truly out of the finals race.

Not as yet. Second drill length of the ground quick transition hitting up a leading target from the wing handball to player running past, run and carry and kick to leading forward. Ball movement very sharp, good skills on show. Goodwin running the show, Roos unsighted, answering more emails perhaps?

I laid out a tenner on this as well. It might be all of the positive vibes that has got me feeling like we are a sneaky chance. This is what you do to me Demonland. You have got my hopes up now.

I walked away from my seat just before halftime last week. I had to regain my equilibrium somehow so i blotted out of my mind the scenes I was watching a minute earlier.I walked past a rubbish bin and half hanging out of it was a Melbourne FC lanyard which I presume was attached to a membership ticket. I tipped the whole thing in the bin because the sight of the bloody thing tossed away but partly visible like that was too much to bear. Frankly it was the tipping point in a. hoorible day

Yes I'm having a similar problem. DC I get a lot of zeros, still waiting for a number.... still waiting....... running low on ink, Cecil get some more ink.....That is a lot of zeros, what was the question?

negative: i tried to calculate the odds of us winning and my calculator blew up positive: i'm going to buy a better calculator

Don't get me wrong, not standing up for Neeld, no one was happier when he was sent packing. But you're calling your post "the facts", when a lot of it is opinion: "He also gets no credit for Hogan as any coach would have traded for him in the same circumstances." "Riley and Hunt will not make it" "ten will become regular senior players" What about Stretch? Is he included in those numbers when he's a "father/son so he gets no credit for him". Neeld was around 2 years, Roos has been around about the same, but you're comparing 3-4 year development? I like the sentiment in your post, and I agree our development appears better, but there's not really many "facts" in there.

Just because Viney was a father/son pick doesn't mean he shouldn't be counted. A decision was still needed as to whether to use a draft selection on him. And I can't see why Hogan is being excluded. By not including Viney and Hogan you seem to be using selective data when there is no need to. The premise you make seems sound, even with Viney and Hogan added to Neeld's score. But in defence of Neeld, he was also trying to correct the recruiting and development failings of the administration that preceded him. He might have failed, but at least he tried.

The draft is an ass. These kids are too young when they're drafted and that's the reason why things will often not work out ... nothing is going to change unless they change the system. Getting "better" recruiters won't make an ounce of difference either when we're talking about top end draft picks. The number of top juniors (who are usually picked in the top 5 or top 10) who don't make the grade backs up my point. I'd say at least half of these "top" juniors don't get to play 100 games and most (80-90%) never attain true A grade status. Yet there's an assumption here and elsewhere that a top end draft pick should be an automatic A grader. Either all the recruiters are basically incompetent or the system is a bad one. Take your pick but logic and common sense should find one leaning heavily towards the latter explanation. We pluck these teenage kids out of high school and continue to place totally unrealistic expectations on them. Many base their opinion on the number attached to these kids and that number is often altogether inaccurate. It's grossly unfair. .

And 25 + 28 = 53. Accidental too?

Frosty was the guest speaker in the Premium Members room some 5 weeks ago and said then he planned to be back in time to play finals for Casey.

The one things Roos has that Neeld doesn't is the ability to manage people and the players. Neeld lost the players almost before they played a game for him because he came in with far too large a sledgehammer, Roos isn't that Naive and still has the players (I think?) I am not sure we would still actually be a club if Neeld was still coach.

I think we've improved dramatically under Roos. Let's use the the Carlton losses of 2012, 2013 and 2015 as an excellent case study: Under Neeld we lost to Carlton by 54 points in 2012 and 61 points in 2013. However, under Roos we put in a dramatic improvement and lost by an honourable and courageous 23 points. Now if that's not improvement, I don't know what is.

Nice article from Col Garland on Jones' 200th: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2015-08-28/garland-pays-tribute-to-200gamer-jones

Just for completeness, can you tell me what the following do? (and apologies, I didn't stop reading) Football Department - Paul Roos - Senior Coach - Todd Viney - Manager Player Personnel - Josh Mahoney - Manager Football Operations - Simon Goodwin - Senior Assistant Coach - Ben Mathews - Midfield Coach - Jade Rawlings - Backline Coach - Daniel McPherson - Forward line Coach - Brendan McCartney - Devlopment and Strategy Coach - Brett Allison - Head of Development - Brad Miller - Development Coach - Shannon Byrnes - Welfare and Development Coach - Justin Plapp - Casey Scorpions Coach - Jason Taylor - National Recruting Manager - Kelly O’Donnell - Pro scouting - Tim Lamb - National Recruiting Officer - David Misson - Elite Performance Manager - Robert Jackson - Strength & Conditioning Manager - Charles Allen - Load Manager - Alex Sakadjian - Sport Science Co-ordinator & Rehabilitation Coach Now if you're talking about the Westminster system of "ultimate responsibility" then it's not Roos but probably McLardy/Bartlett. If you think the coach knows more about draftees than the recruiting manager you live in an alternate universe. It's a team effort Miracle. Your premise is wrong but you've nailed it with your conclusion. Roos is a better coach than Neeld and we are in a better spot than we were 2 years ago. Congrats. The question of course is "are we where we should be"? If you can show me the "facts" about that I'd appreciate it.

Come on now, they give people that know nothing about footy (or statistics) a chance to look like they know something!

Here here! To many supporters on here are to quick to jump on Rooses back. I think as supporters we need to forget about how long it has been since we played finals. As hard as it is we need to act as if this is our 1st rebuild not 3rd. If you do that you can definitely see we are developing well with Roos as our coach. We get blinded and angry as supporters because we have gone through this so often as a club in the past 8 years but Its time to let our past go and look towards the future. The future is bright for the MFC!

Agee, he misses too many easy shots on goal and wastes the ball. There is nothing wrong with the mechanics of his kicking though and he is a long kick. I would expect him to get a lot better and more consistent with experience.

But we'd be looking at what Toumpas was doing at another club and thinking how lucky we were to dodge that bullet.

Final bench for mine Newton, Riley, Watts with Stretch as the sub. Would love to see Riley smash a few in close.

Wandered passed for a coffee and quick look for about an hour this morning. Boys hit the track at warmed up at about 10-10:15. Absent: Trengove, Lumumba, Vanders, Bail, Frost, Kent, Fitzpatrick, Howe, Hunt Dawes came out late with a huge compression stocking on his right leg to above the knee. Did some work with a staff member on the next door oval. Jetta and Tyson trained fully from what I saw. I'd love to know where Frost is at. Missing from the injury report. No news is usually bad news. Petracca was doing plenty of sprint and take off work under the watchful eye of about 4 staff. Then jogged a lap and slotted through a torp on the run from the boundary about 40 out. Had a kick to kick with one of the staff members then kicked the ball up, had it knocked on, gather and kick a goal. Pedersen did most of the non contact parts of training, marking and kicking with only a moderate amount of taping on the wrist. I'd save if there was something left to play for he'd be ramping it up to play soon. Training as usual divided in to about 3 or 4 interchanging groups for the most part. None of Macca, Rawlings or Goodwin are backwards in giving some criticism. But I don't get a negative vibe. Rucks (Gawn, Jamar, Spencer, King) doing a lot of work with Stafford. So much of the focus there is on following up the tap. Macca presided over a drill where 4 players formed a square and kicked a footy around either 2 or 3 token defenders. Good crisp kicking for most part. Goodwin took a mainly midfield group and pretty much formed 2 lines 20m apart running up the corridor inside 50. He'd have Pedo lob a kick in and then call out either the blue or yellow team to handball the ball around under pretty strong tackling pressure before handballing or kicking a goal. Riley's tackling was fierce. JKH with a nice tackle as well. Someone fumbled and was then tackled hard and Ben Matthews was loudly encouraging with a statement along the lines of 'fumble kill'. The notion being to cause fumbles and capitalise on them and conversely to avoid fumbles. The last drill I saw involved set up the kick out zone and then attempting quick movement from a kick in. One series of play so a pinpoint kick out followed by a series of sharp handballs, a switch kick followed by another handball to Newton who hit up Jetta back in the corridor at CHF before the inside 50 kick. Goodwin was pumped and yelling to Rawlings "that's good ball movement". The take aways from the session was that: - Goodwin has a major role at trainings - We are training skills under pressure - The coaching staff notice the terrible things from the weekend - uncompetitive contested ball effort, lack of communication in set ups and are doing drills to improve them

Because he has two knocks to the head in a space of 3 weeksHealth becomes priority first and i am glad the club is taking a safe approach

Expand on the attitude comment please

A true club legend. Probably will make the 300 which will be a great effort. Love his commitment, durability and consistency. His performances have been under rated because he has had to do it alone. There has been no one else in the midfield to support him and he takes the hardest tag each week. Hopefully the improvement in Tyson, Vanders, Brayshaw, ANB, Petracca, Viney and the reappearance of Trenners will free him up to play with the flair that he is capable of. Congratulations Chunk you are a star.

Can we call him Junior? It's good to have a Junior Mac back in red and blue! Surprised at the selection, but good luck to him. Couldn't ask for much more of a baptism of fire, away match to the top of the table. Will be interesting to see who makes way for him, Brayshaw and Harmes are out but not really a direct swap for either.

Shannon Byrnes ?

Go easy on Judy willya. Rapt for Oscar. The boy must really have come on since he started in development league (I think).

That has a distinct negative tone to it WJ. Would like to re phrase please.

does anyone else just laugh/cry when they read things along the lines of them 'fixing problems' at training you've been training and playing for your whole life you were a talented junior and a highly paid professional now as your coaches we are now going to introduce you to concepts such as shepherding, not handballing to a stationary teammate under pressure and putting your body on the line in contests now that they have been clued in on these basics we should see a much better side I suppose if only we had told them about this stuff earlier

Roosy should just show the pile of emails to the players. We pay the wages...

If he was doing his job he wouldn't get the emails.

Forgot my password. I figured it was obvious enough.