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Every single night, before I go to bed, I tell my missus I love Nathan Jones more than her. She understands.

You guys are kidding yourselves in passing on Bennell because we are 'trying to build a strong culture'... How about we build a team first? We have missed out on players and top end talent who are constantly seeking to go to other clubs over ours because we aren't a destination club yet. Far from it actually. So when an A-grade midfielder, a bonafide star capable of kicking goals and winning matches is forced to being traded out for his club and would be 'HAPPY' to play at Melbourne, you TAKE that opportunity regardless of what he has done during the off season. Players have done much worse at clubs and still remain on their lists.. Just because Bennell got caught out and gets a bit hot-headed at times doesn't warrant a strict line through his name especially when we are a club that needs immediate talent! /endrant

The club has just announced that Mark Jamar will not be offered another contract for 2016. Thanks for the 14 years of service Mark. You'll always be a beloved figure at the club. I hope you get another opportunity elsewhere. http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2015-09-11/jamars-time-at-melbourne-comes-to-an-end

Well you may know more than him.I spoke to him recently and he is very confident of resuming his career next year.

Jack Vatts.

Did Gibbs hire you to protect him from shadows or something? Chill the [censored] out. The truth? There's no truth to the result being a joke, at all. It's down right disrespectful to Hogan is what it is. The truth is the best young forward in forever beat a very good young midfielder. Gibbs is [censored] that couldn't crush his own sour grapes.

Ian Ridley Memorial Trophy for club ambassador presented to Neville Jetta.

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2015-09-11/jones-to-undergo-neck-surgery I guess it sheds some light on what's been a slight 'down year' for him. (Makes me wonder about whether Garland has carried anything considering my criticism of his lack of spark and intensity all year). Unbelievable warrior though Jonesy, lucky to have him.

Breakdown of goals:- (Received from) Jones - 7 (7 kicks) Garlett - 6 (5 kicks, 1x HB) Vince - 4 (4 kicks) Michie - 2 (2 kicks) Brayshaw - 2 (2 kicks) Dawes - 2 (2 kicks) M.Jones - 1 (1 kick) Dunn - 1 (1 kick) Vandenberg - 1 (1 kick) Kennedy-Harris - 1 (1 kick) McDonald - 1 (1 kick) Howe - 1 (1 kick) Harmes - 1 (1 kick) Grimes - 1 (1 x HB) Watts - 1 (1 x HB) Free-kicks - 4 (2 x Frem, 2 x Nth) Hogan - 8 (self initiative/in-play) Total 44 goals

I don't get what the debate is about. The last several years have taught everyone a single lesson: hold your leaders to account. Questions should be asked of Paul Roos. Every year, regardless of performance. This year, we've seen different game plans implemented inconsistently. Players picking and choosing. Selection decisions that appear inconsistent. Players in favour and then out of favour. Leaders doing well and then stinking. All these things might well have good answers to them, but we are allowed to see them and it is our responsibility to question. If you are a supporter with blind faith, you are not a supporter. You are believer - a disciple. I have no time for blind faith. Same level of respect as blind drunk.

Jackson should put a request in for lols and to make a point. I'm serious. This is a ridiculous request.

I'll just have to back the club on this. If they're confident I'd love him. He's an elite talent. Imagine Peracca, Bennell and a rejuvenated Trengove in the team next year. That's how you start to make significant progress,

Absolutely. I reckon, on field, Bennell is exactly the type of elite midfielder Roos was praying to recruit this trade period for next year.

about as well as Frawley is playing tonight

Remember we were all debating whether the Dees should take Freeman or Salem? Good times

Sort of like what we did last year.There is one difference though, I hate Carlton.

I try not to take any pleasure at the expense of others misfortune. But seeing Carlton finish last is just... So good. They are a slimey, shady and downright dirty organisation. The longer they stay down the bottom the better. Back on topic. No, they should not get a priority pick.

No room for negativity here Norm. We all want (well most of us) Trenners to get back on the park. He deserves to IMO.

Won a final in 2013. They can get absolutely [censored].

Here's the thing for me. We need to improve the list as efficiently as we can. If we can trade out our first pick for starting 22 player and get a pick within the top 20 back out is a no brainer. We effectively get two for one and we need more than two players to improve. Yes a top 10 talent has a better chance of making it than a top 20 talent but i reckon we are splitting hairs - I'd rather 2 AFL quality starting players than one. When it comes to Bennell, on field he is everything we need. If Roos backs us in to keep him straight, perfect. I think our culture has come along way in 2 years. The cub is stable, the players are stable. They are good character if not strong leaders, but we do have some strong leaders coming through.

This off season is going to feel so painfully slow. Wish I could bring myself to not read it all.

Norm Smith Memorial Trophy - coaches award is awarded by Simon Goodwin to Jack Viney.

James McDonald Trophy (heart and soul award) - Junior couldn't make it so Nathan Jones presented it to Jack Viney.

Harold Ball Memorial Trophy for best young player presented by Brett Allison to Jesse Hogan ... I'm shocked

Watching Frawley spud it up brings a smile to my face.

Glad Garland is getting some recognition from the coaches early on. Had a good, consistent year. The calls for him to be let go are wide of the mark. Plays his role and does what the coaches ask.

I fee very sure that Trenners will play next year - but then, I've used a lot of illegal drugs in my time.

And it's not as if Cripps finished the season completely empty handed...

Was having a think about how young this team is as I keep asking my self the question of is the team as young as we actually think it is. I looked to answer this a few ways. The average age (as of April 1 2016) of the whole list (including rookies) as of round 23 2015 was 24.09. If we remove the Russian and Cross the average is then 23.6. If we further remove the players many on here are calling for (being Bail, McKenzie, Terlich, Howe, Fitz, Newton, Michie, Hunt, and M.Jones) then the average drop again to 23.4 That means 11 players gone in the turn over, much the same as the last two years. The I looked at my starting 22 for round 1. Obviously this depends on the trade period etc, as does the age profile. White Dunn Jetta Lamumba TMc Salem Vince Brayshaw Tyson Kent Hogan Petracca Garlett Frost Harmes Gawn Jones Viney Pederson Watts Stretch AvB Average age 23.9 I then noticed there weren't many that seemed old so I removed all over 25, there were only 7 players over 25 and the average age of the remaining 15 is only 21.4. That confirmed for me that we do have a great very young core of players that are coming through supported by only a few experienced heads. Sorry for boring you all.

Wow awesome effort Jack Viney! Misses 6 games and nearly takes out the bluey.. Amazing effort. Leadership group next year beckons.

Melbourne FC ✔ @melbournefc McDonald: One of the proudest days of my life was when I got to run out with my little brother for the first time. #bluey2015 #sizzle

Fascinating.

Honestly made me laugh out loud then Ethan. Thanks for that! Edit: Jack Vatts - it's still making me laugh. I need to go to bed...

Thanks for Brayshaw Chip

Angus Brayshaw > James Frawley

Loving the boos of Hodge. That dirty sniper deserves every one of them

Kali, I think you may be better off supporting the Pies - you like things Black and White.

Holy [censored], give it a rest mate. Drugs arent good or evil, they can be abused and they can be great - just like most things in life.

I have 5 jumpers with the number 40 on the back - sad day, time to pick a new number.

We haven't had too many All Australians to boast of in recent times which places him in pretty exclusive company. Cheers Russian. Good luck with the next chapter.

I'd let him go. For a number of reasons, but most of all - to me - I find that he hasn't led by example or improved since under Roos. People may look at him as a loyal servant, been through the tough times etc, and he has, but that doesn't cut it looking forward. Too many times he's turned it over, one of his immediate moves when he gets the ball is to go backwards. Same with Grimes to a degree. I found early on when he was a shining light, he did show emotion and the want to win. I don't see it with him now. He's reserved, his body language to me is poor at times. At times he offers no support to his teammates, is sometimes indecisive with the ball, the shoulders hunch and he walks away. Very little one percenters these days, when once he excelled in them. Maybe what's transpired over recent years has had an effect. Who knows? But I see other players ahead of him now down back. Blokes who have come in, who are keen to learn, keen to take the game on, and their disposal is efficient, they add another dimension, and offer positivity to the team.

They really are a pack of scumbags aren't they

Three previous number 2 draft picks.... Looks good on paper. I am praying Trengove can recapture some sort of form, and I really hope there are no further complications to the Petracca's injury. If we landed Bennell and the three of them all had huge pre-seasons without interruption, it'd be extremely exciting coming into next year. A midfield mix of Bennell, Viney, Brayshaw, Jones, Vandenberg, Petracca, Trengove and Tyson is pretty sexy. If we don't land a HB flanker this off-season with foot-skills and an ability to break lines, I'd love to see Vince be released from the midfield and start playing there. Salem and Vince off the flanks give us two players we can trust with the ball and who will actually provide attacking and pro-active ball movement. Whack Whitey in a pocket and you have a much more well balanced back-line than what we've been seeing recently.

That must be a joke right?

Just watching the replay of AFL 360 on the Melbourne website and from reading into Roos' political speak I would say Melbourne are very interested in Bennell.

You'll just have to trust that the rumours I heard are from people within the trade who should know. I am not saying it is signed sealed and delivered but progress has been made. As to my sources - I will have to remain stum.

Gary Hardeman was just 17 when he made his debut with Melbourne as a lightly built wingman/half forward - he grew into the role of a key defender and was quite brilliant when at his best in the early 70s. He and Greg Parke were the best of the recruits who came from what was supposedly a strong recruiting zone centred around the Bentleigh-McKinnon area which was in the 60s a growing metropolitan area, often compared with the neighbouring Waverley/Oakleigh area which the Tigers had as their zone. Unfortunately, (with the notable exception of Robbie who came from Murrumbeena and later Steve Smith from McKinnon) the area failed to produce the same steady flow of top players which Richmond got from its metro zone over the next two and a half decades until the drafts took over. The same can be said for our country zone, the Goulburn Valley region (ironically Garry Lyon was just about our last player from there and the best). I've always assumed that Gary Hardeman went to Sturt because of better financial opportunities but I really don't know if there was anything else behind the move. We were pretty much a rabble in the late 70s, much as we have been for the past decade.

Am I the only one that wants us to just move him on? Low ball him. He has far greater value to us on the trade table than on the field. His trade could help transform our midfield.

I think the Club believes our indigenous leadership is strong - both Jetta and Garlett are well respected off field. Hence the presence of the Krakouer brothers at training the other day. Whispers are strong that Bennell is Demon bound.