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I like it. Roos is here to identify and fix a rotten culture. I'm sure that he is aware that in the years before his arrival we were the type of amateurish organisation that would allow young talent like CP and JH to do as they please. This created a lazy, unaccountable culture and of course a failure of a club. He is sending a message loud and clear that the MFC needs to be run by the professional standards of its competitors - now, and after he is gone.

I ran over the Jim Stynes bridge during the Run 4 the Kids 16km event this morning. I touched the plaque as I passed it as a sign of respect. I had no idea it was 4 years today when I did that.

It's actually very disappointing to see that this thread has turned into another $hitfight and pi$$ing contest from some regular offenders I am sitting here patiently, like many on here, just waiting for the day that Jack gets back to doing what he loves most.... Playing Football! I will no longer be reading this thread as it has turned into another boring battle of bone heads...

Tomorrows toilet paper The thoughts of someone who has trouble putting 3 words together...

I watched training yesterday and Pettacca in particular do some pretty freakish things. He took a couple of really great contested marks against Garland. He just totally out-bodied him. I saw Jonesy's reaction. He was standing on the boundary and grabbed the teammate next to him and pointed with excitement at what he just witnessed. I seriously can't wait. Excitement is growing!!! Gary Ablett Snr? ?

Dunn is a hardened 28 y/o, 160 gamer and one of the first picked when fit. OMac is a skinny kid who did little to impress in the NAB Challenge. With some luck, he'll replace Dunn 2-3 years down the track but there's not a hope in hell he gets picked ahead of Dunn next week.

Here is another outstanding article by Martin Flanagan, this time about Big Max. Big Max a true Demon believer There are too many wonderful parts to quote them all but these especially caught my eye: - He is just beginning his career in earnest, but what he does have in common with Stynes is a certain sinewy strength and unqualified commitment. Of his time at Melbourne, Big Max says: "First, I fell in love with the club." He was sidelined by a knee reconstruction for the whole of 2009. "I watched a lot. I became a supporter. Then I became a real big supporter." -"I just want to see this club be great again." And these made me laugh: -"As a sledger, I'm gaining confidence. I was poor to begin with." - He's had three coaches...Roos? "He brought excellence to the club." He was a great player at Fitzroy, I remark. "Yes," says Big Max. "He's told us." Clearly Stynes had a big impact on how Max feels about the mfc. ditto Jr Mac as his first captain. Also Interesting to read the transformation in Nat Jones - The captaincy has sat well with him - he is set to go to new heights this year. Think he would be very proud to captain his young band of merry men. Great read.

Who's writing him off? The "sheep" are just saying that it's highly improbable that he'll play round 1 based on his NAB Cup performance. And the "sheep" were factually refuting Redleg's claim that he must be a lock for round 1 because he didn't play for Casey yesterday.

Presumably old chap you mean "in front of whom"? Answer : in front of whomever his form warrants. Absolutely nobody knows what his form will be in the pressure of an AFL / VFL match, but I am getting sick and tired of people saying that he has no hope at all. Surely he deserves to be shown respect for his hard work and efforts, and bast wishes, not the incessant negativity by some on this forum.

I ventured out to Windmill city Casey today and FWIW Here is my appriasal. Gus Ready for round 1 moved easily definetely a class above and looks ok to go Lamumba Did what he usually does , but he does have a habit of reducking back into trouble which surfaces in whatever level he plays. Not quite sure if he did enough to warrant recall White is a very interesting footballer for mine, he knows how to position himself to get the ball and reads play veryu well, got a lot of it but some possesions were for him a little wasted, Got pinged hangin on to one too long Stretch Also got some nice possesions but I just think he might be too light for the rigours of AFL just yet Dunny Also ready for recall, played his usual game for mine Hullet First time I saw him and he is a bloody lump of a lad, Liked his endeavour and willingness to mix it with the big boys Weeds Well I'm gonna get crucified for saying this but he reminds me a lot of "JUICE" Newton the way he moves and some of the same types of manerisms.He is raw but I was very impressed early with his positioning and willingness to run the lines and present. Took some very good grabs When he develops a stronger body he will definately be a very very good prospect for the MFC in future. I was watching him closely and one aspect which did peev me of is the Penchant that Casey coaches do have for rotations of talls. I know just a praccy match but this guy needs game time and exposure. Terlich Racked up possesions but for me he just doesn't cut it! Possesions don't hurt you and wastage can be an issue. Oscar Mac Michie , both OK Thats about it!

Your posts have such an objectionable (and excitable) tone, nonetheless... As others have mentioned, James Hird was dogged by the same injury and missed plenty of football, but here's some more detail from a 1999 article: - In 1999 he missed 20 weeks because of a recurring stress fracture in his right foot - since Hird's fabulous 1996 season _ which culminated in his third best-and-fairest award at Windy Hill and a Brownlow Medal _ injury has forced him to miss two entire seasons - Out of a possible 66 games, Hird has played in just 22 and none since shattering the navicular bone in his right foot in round two this season - Who can forget the vision of Hird fighting back tears after limping from the MCG to sit on the bench on the first Thursday in April this year (1999). It may have been April Fool's Day but it was no joke that Hird had broken down with a recurrence of a foot stress fracture - In his 110th game, the 26-year-old was as shattered as the small bone in the instep of his right foot as he watched his team-mates power over the top of the Kangaroos in the round- two clash - Hird has had his share of injuries since his debut, but the stress fractures, caused by a heavy work load, have proved disastrous - in round 10 1997 he received a stress fracture in his right foot that prematurely ended his season - further scans in February 1999 showed the fracture had continued to widen. The bone eventually shattered early in the April 1 night match against the Kangaroos at the MCG - New and radical surgery was performed, this time involving metal screws to hold the bone together, a bone graft and the use of a synthetic protein to speed up healing. Melbourne orthopaedic surgeon Julian Feller injected Osteogenic Protein-1 into the navicular bone to promote regeneration and growth of skeletal tissue Summing up - from 1997 through to the 1999 season Hird had recurring issues with the navicular bone in his right foot. Sound familiar (except for the foot) ? Finally clear of pain and injury Hird resumed round 1 in 2000. He went on to captain a premiership, play another 143 games, kick 156 goals, make 3 All Australian teams, 3 Anzac Medals, and 2 more Best & Fairests. Unlike (some) others, I'm convinced Trengove looked like he was running in quicksand due to his then undiagnosed foot, but someone like Weber could perhaps shed more light on the likelihood of that. Trengove may not fulfill his once undoubted potential, but Hird shows that it's entirely possible. Trengove will embark on his comeback at a younger age than Hird. http://www.examiner.com.au/story/643652/hird-the-news-about-james/ Btw, I don't expect any of this information to resonate with you, as I'm aware of how you roll. I've done it more for others who may be interested.

Hi Demonlanders, I really love our recent re-branding and marketing strategy. So today I made up some mock flag designs, one to target our connection with the city and another to target the Chinese community who call Melbourne home, would love to see something like this at the G!

think it was a deliberate message to all the boys to not get ahead of them selves and stay focused and professional classic technique of singling out talented players (but in a somewhat positive way) we've all seen the positive and optimistic attitude this pre-season but roosy wants to keep it in check

No disrespect Bob but i think you're a bit wide of the mark here as is David King. As RPFC intimates Goodwin is responsible for elements of the game plan related to ball movement and has been since he arrived. Last year he took a lot of the training sessions and it would appear this year has taken the bulk of them. The only real differences so far this year is that they are implementing a more aggressive ball movement (which has been characterized as Goodwin's game plan when in reality is no doubt a collective call) and he took the reins in the NAB games. In terms of communication i can't see anything changing this year at all and i'm not sure what you mean by Roos becoming the main communicator. Goodwin will continue to communicate his strategic messages at training and in reality there is little communication from the head coach to players during a game other than brief motivational speeches (which Roos is a master of) and reinforcing areas to focus on. The rest of the time the line coaches (including Goodwin) are communicating with the players. I vehemently disagree that Goodwin should take over on game day (as i've said i think you'll find Goodwin has already largely taken over training). Roos is the head coach, and should be the game day coach with Goodwin as his head assistant. Yes Roos is focused on defense however i think you - and for that matter King - do him a grave disservice to suggest he is beyond adapting his approach to a modern strategy. I don't mind commentators criticizing the demons but King is paid to analyse football and his suggestion Roos should step down and hand over the reigns is, in my view typical of his simplistic and surprisingly ill informed analysis.

Sweet and sour pork.

Good work, mate, but I'm not convinced the first one works as well as it could. The Melbourne skyline is just not iconic enough. I'd actually have the MCG as the backing behind 'THIS IS MELBOURNE'. As for the Chinese one, not totally convinced it's culturally appropriate, but anyway.

Mate, you have no idea what you're talking about... MFC were the ones who threw that trade out there because they desperately wanted Jake Lever, knew they'd have to give up something significant to get a pick like that. i don't think it's fair to say Jack wasn't/ isn't loyal and this isn't a reflection of a good leader. multiple "great" captains have considered moves to other clubs.

You never really have a point Stuie-you just try in vain to score them.

When the Swans won the flag under Roos in 05 it was with Ross Lyon in charge of the ball movement and the game plan. Hence the bringing of the same plan to the Saints in 07. I happen to know that Nathan Bassett was in charge of ball movement at the bombers in 2014/2015. I am sure there are similar arrangements at most clubs. Goodwin driving the evolution to a more attacking style of play isn't antithetical to being an 'assistant coach' and it isn't a submission of the head coach. The Game Plan (c) doesn't change on a whim, and it won't change when Roos gets back in the box. Goodwin gets another year to learn under one of the calmest and most even coaches in modern times - a trait that is only becoming more important in today's game. Great! Now let's get on with it.

Ozzy Osbourne use to get it after biting off heads of bats.

Are you sure that was his choice, or something he was prepared to do reluctantly? I don't know what happened behind the scenes, but if the club offered him up and preferred not to give him a contract, then he may have agreed to go because of limited options. We may have decided that we could get Laverde with 12 or some other player and that it was better, than keeping a seriously injured player. Until we know the facts surrounding the mooted deal, it is all speculation and we shouldn't be suggesting that he was walking out on us.

Kinda getting getting sick of this garbage that's being trotted out about the attacking plan being all Goodies doing, and only due to him being in the box. It as if the senior coach has completely left the building.... No the plan from the minute Roos entered that it was all about turning lover the list, shoring up the defence then the coming phase is starting the attack build. It is going to plan. That we appear to have some competence to follow Roos is brilliant, but all part of the plan. The coaching over Summer and the praccy matches is a group effort and for numpties like King to trot out this crap, just looks like cheap shots at Roos for the sake of it

That's what they said about a young skinny kid that rocked up to training. They gave him No2, and the rest is history. When I 1st saw Petracca in the flesh and I made mention in a training report, that he was built like a brick outhouse ,,, etc Now for a few comparsions. A.Jakovich 187cm 98 kgs Some noting how big Hulett is already 194 cm 94 kgs Petracca 186 cm 94 kgs And the best tree trunk legs ever, Brad Hardie 181 cms 88 kgs It all comes down to what the player thinks or plays best at whatever weight he prefers. I won't be expecting Petracca to be pushed off the ball too easy. In fact I hope he comes up and runs through a skinny runt who;s name we no longer mention around here. If Petracca lives up to the hype and stays fit. There will be more than one player running off for a change of shorts in what we hope will be a long and successful career in the red and blue.

I could only stay until three quarter time, so it was a bit of a shame that I missed a nail biter. My opinion on how the boys went: Weideman was a presence up forward, marking or jumping into packs to create a contest. He was obviously a bit nervous with the set shot, which is a shame because his routine is very nice. H played well- got plenty of it from half back and wing, and only went on one of his crazy runs out of defence before being pinged for holding the ball. His overlap run and willingness to create was noticeable. I didn't think Mitchell White or ANB had good days. ANB looked off the pace. Apparently White got a bit of it but from what I saw he didn’t use it well. The same goes for Terlich. An example from the 3rd quarter: Terlich gets the ball on half back flank and runs towards the grandstand side wing. The forwards lead to him, he gets ready to kick, then dummies, stops, weaves, etc. Forwards have now stopped leading, he runs a couple more steps and kicks a nice high one off his left. It goes over everyone and is mopped up by Port at their half back. Either trying to do too much or not having an instinctive footy brain, I don’t know, but it is frustrating. Brayshaw was great, Michie and Stretch were good. In some ways Stretch was generally the opposite of Terlich, creating with evasive runs, but then kicking to his teammates’ advantage. Dunn was good in defence, he generally used it well but did manage to fluff a couple of rebounding efforts with poor decision making. Hulett presented well, but couldn’t hold his marks today. Granted, conditions weren’t ideal. Oscar was quiet, he did his bit in defence but didn’t do much on the rebound. Smith is still learning- I hope he has a thick skin because he has to put up with Dunn screaming at him the whole game. The two Kings competed well in the ruck and went forward for parts but didn’t really contribute there. In the 2nd quarter Casey gave away 6 free kicks in their defensive 50- Stretch, White, Lumumba, and Hutchins (2) all holding the ball (they were all there too), and Oscar put the kick-in out on the full. If Port were able to kick a bit straighter, the game could have been over at half time. Most of the MFC coaches were there (I think I saw everyone except Roos). Players that were there: M. Jones, Tom Mc, Gawn, and Tyson. I stay in one spot so there were probably others there too.

Even after all these years, James McDonald is still being mentioned as an influence on the club. Boy was giving him the boot a mistake or what.

Anyway you [censored]! We now have a respectable sheila on this thread. Mable is from Peru or somewhere so I want all you [censored] to cut out the [censored] vulgarity and behave. Especially you [censored] lawyer [censored]. And as for that pervert from Hopping dicks - ban him. Get rid of that shitty writer too. And Earl Hood, well nothing personal but just stick to Conchita. DC and Biffen are also [censored] - as is Moonie. And [censored] the choir boy too. I wont insult od because I live in hope of a free Pino. Good night!!

I have just wasted several minutes of my life*, minutes that I will never recover, in the now obviously naïve belief that, given the thread title, I would find some up to date news about Jack's progress towards, hopefully, playing again for MFC. Of course I should have known better. It is time for the moderators to get a large red Texta and delete those thoroughly boring personal feuds *and a few more composing this rant.

Look to some of the NBA chinese new year designs for inspiration. They have some really well done designs and if we can keep spreading our supporter base to this kind of diversity we may even gain a bigger Chinese following. I know if I lived in a foreign nation who didn't speak English as their first language and there was a supporter base who accomodated I would be more inclined to lean towards them. Kind of amazing that it hasn't been done in our marketing department in recent years to be honest, I feel like that the Asian community in Melbourne is a massive untapped rescource.

Calling it a "ring of steel" flatters chain link fences.

Thought he would be more knowledgeable to comment on the top 10 pub crawls in Melbourne

It doesn't.

Saw this on FB and recalled that the MFC did once play good footy... may we be blessed again this year!

Dead set, David King is having a laugh. Does he honestly think Simon Goodwin is doing his own thing, and Roosy is going to take back over this week and flick a switch and change the game plan? Idiot.

I 100% agree and to my mind King's comments in that Fox analysis just shows up how [censored] poor and shallow so much so called analysis is in the footy media. It really annoys me. I mean, please as if Goodwin has been a silver bullet and Roos is an out of touch dinosaur still wedded to outdated defense first strategies. For Pete's sake Roos came up with the succession plan and no doubt was instrumental in selecting Goodwin - and one assumes that a key factor was Goodwin's strategic philosophy. Where is the kudos for Roos for having the courage to give Goodwin the head coach role during the NAB games. Given they made their expectation of winning all 3 games very clear it takes a pretty self confident and assured man to do that (let Goodwin coach) as such simplistic comments as those made by King were pretty likely to be made. And as you say Ros has always made it clear that the critical step is getting the defense right before moving to the attack - a point made by one of the commentators in tha saints game who said the critical feature of the Hawks reign is averaging over 100 points and conceding less than 86 on average. We have sorted the second part of that equation. Now for the first part.

You left out their most important midfielders in Mumford and Ward. Mumford was the difference in our 1st meeting last year. Unless Gawn can break even, the height of their midfield becomes a moot point. And aside from Kelly, I wouldn't say that the rest are not strong bodied.

Not a hope in hell!

What is there to get? He's only been in full training with the group for 2 weeks.

When will the AFL and it's clubs realise that we aren't Americans............We don't need to be entertained every minute of a trip to the footy. If I want to listen to a entertainer I will go to a concert........If I want to sing I will go to a karioki bar or have a shower and sing my heart out. I hate being yelled at, at the footy with loud adds and latest odds I can tell the score by just looking at the score board, don't need to be told at the breaks ...I like to read the Record and talk to my family before a game or even better watch the seconds and try to pick out our next big player. In a few years I wouldn't be surprised if we all have to stand for the American National anthem. The football is all the entertainment I need.

You're confusing Petracca with Toumpas.

Coup, whilst I agree with your Hell's Bells appraisal, I just have to point out something. Summer of 69 isn't Bon Jovi.....it is by Bryan Adams.

AFL supporters have bad goldfish syndrome, if we play bad against GWS in round one it will be doom a gloom again but if we string a few wins together the past 10 year will be forgotten in a blink of an eye.

Yep you may well be right about OMac. I agree btw on Dunn being our glue down back. Criminally underrated player

It was The Sun newspaper which, under the front-page headline "The Truth", made the explosive - but entirely false - claims that Liverpool supporters had urinated on Police and pick-pocketed the dead as the tragedy unfolded. More than 25 years on, Merseysiders still refuse to buy that paper. The boycott was immortalised in this song by Billy Bragg, Scousers Never Buy The Sun.

Pre-Game Warm Up: Gus - No strapping on knee. Looked relaxed Stretch - Focussed & fit ANB - Right knee strapped. Probably just the norm for bloke with those earlier knee cap issues. Dunn - "is it home time yet?" Weid - A very deliberate & steady approach to goal. Very rhythmic & pure. Technique will hold him in good stead. Hulett - As we all probably know by now - Kid's & brick. Also a pretty sound & fluent technique for goal. Good penetration on the leg. Game time- 1stQ First bounce, first touch, bork & centre clearance from Gus into F50. First score - Stretch looking damaging heading into F50 with the delivery to the Weid. 35out, 45degree angle - Poster. First goal of the game - who else? Gus. Out of a stoppage from deep in our F50, gather from the tap, another Bork then a left snap thru the sticks. Off to the bench sir 5mins later - Gus back on. H with the pick up & gather from a pack just outside D50, feeds Gus with the hands who strides thru the middle. Quick long waited handball to a casey bloke who delivers chest high to the leading Weid. Great passage, great separation & lead from Weid. Know's where to run as a forward. 40m out, directly in front - Behind. Just. Weid with 0.2. Looks the good tho. Siren sounds. That's Quarter time. 3.3.21 - Casey 1.0.6 - Port

I'm quite comfortable with the idea of Richmond looking like a cringeworthy laughing stock. Knock yourselves out!

Imagine if he played on Jack Watts.

Excellent piece again WJ. I think the loyal Club supporter phenomenon is a mighty rich and probably untapped source of stories, so it's good to see a play such as this drawing interest. In fact, from an Australian perspective, we haven't even come close to drawing on our obsession with sport as a source for art and drama. Thankfully we don't have anything so tragic as Hillsborough or the Manchester United plane crash as inspiration, but there are so many extraordinary stories out there that speak our identity, it's a shame we haven't yet exploited them.

This is a genuinely awful idea from Richmond, Bingle, the AFL, the MCG and anyone else involved. The "match-day experience" is one of the biggest things going wrong with the sport at the moment.