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DA, it seems that the answer to your question is "no".

No they don't.

The exciting thing for me is that a lot of our elite young talent is maturing quickly. Hogan in his second year is capable of taking on any key defender in the league. Brayshaw, Oliver and Salem have adjusted very quickly to the pace of senior football over the past three years. You suspect Petracca will do the same. vandenBerg is a mature aged recruit. There's quality football left in Jones and Vince and Garlett, Jetta and Garland should be in their prime now. McDonald, Viney, Tyson, Kent, Gawn and Bugg are nearing their prime. Watts is giving every indication he might have just become a player. It would be great to think our current core can have a crack while Vince and in particular Jones are still playing meaningful football. And there's nothing like being a top 4 team to keep a veteran hungry in their twilight years. I genuinely believe we're a second key tall forward (Weideman?) and a couple of quality outside runners (Stretch hopefully) away from being a very well balanced, combative combination. The addition of Prestia at the end of the year would certainly fast-track the process.

I'm hoping we can add Goddard to the 'Jack Viney made me cry thread.'

I've read this four times and still have not the faintest idea what it means.

How prosaic. What a downer. Can't you do better than that? "The gif brings the viewer face to face with their own preconceived hierarchy of cultural values and assumptions of worth." "The gif imaginatively propels its viewer forward into the seemingly infinite progression of possible reproductions that the OP engenders, whilst simultaneously pulling them backwards in a quest for the original source or referent that underlines the thread's oeuvre." Something we can sink our teeth into.

We delisted him last year.

Mod's. please.

The Sheedy jacket waving thing is so cringe inducing .. wow. Tomorrow we play not just for the Melbourne Football CLub, but for every sporting team not named Essendon. In the name of clean sport we must annihilate them.

Good article on Kennedy. http://m.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/melbourne-recruit-ben-kennedy-discusses-move-from-collingwood-20160328-gns7aw.html?&utm_source=social&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=nc&eid=socialn:twi-14omn0023-optim-nnn:nonpaid-27/06/2014-social_traffic-all-organicpost-nnn-age-o&campaign_code=nocode&promote_channel=social_twitter

Un-ignore Stuie. Scrap that, I'll pull out a tooth. We can't lose tomorrow. We're starting to get some recognition, if we lose we're not back to square one in the eyes of the media and the football world, we're behind it.

For those that don't know. Mony Python - The Argument sketch A man walks into an office. Man: (Michael Palin) Ah. I'd like to have an argument, please. Receptionist: Certainly sir. Have you been here before? Man: No, this is my first time. Receptionist: I see. Well, do you want to have the full argument, or were you thinking of taking a course? Man: Well, what would be the cost? Receptionist: Well, It's one pound for a five minute argument, but only eight pounds for a course of ten. Man: Well, I think it's probably best if I start with the one and then see how it goes from there, okay? Receptionist: Fine. I'll see who's free at the moment. (Pause) Receptionist: Mr. DeBakey's free, but he's a little bit conciliatory. Ahh yes, Try Mr. Barnard; room 12. Man: Thank you. (Walks down the hall. Opens door.) Angry man: WHADDAYOU WANT? Man: Well, Well, I was told outside that... Angry man: DON'T GIVE ME THAT, YOU SNOTTY-FACED HEAP OF PARROT DROPPINGS! Man: What? A: SHUT YOUR FESTERING GOB, YOU [censored]! YOUR TYPE MAKES ME PUKE! YOU VACUOUS TOFFEE-NOSED MALODOROUS PERVERT!!! M: Yes, but I came here for an argument!! A: OH! Oh! I'm sorry! This is abuse! M: Oh! Oh I see! A: Aha! No, you want room 12A, next door. M: Oh...Sorry... A: Not at all! A: (under his breath) stupid git. (The man goes into room 12A. Another man is sitting behind a desk.) Man: Is this the right room for an argument? Other Man:(John Cleese) I've told you once. Man: No you haven't! Other Man: Yes I have. M: When? O: Just now. M: No you didn't! O: Yes I did! M: You didn't! O: I did! M: You didn't! O: I'm telling you, I did! M: You did not! O: Oh I'm sorry, is this a five minute argument, or the full half hour? M: Ah! (taking out his wallet and paying) Just the five minutes. O: Just the five minutes. Thank you. O: Anyway, I did. M: You most certainly did not! O: Now let's get one thing quite clear: I most definitely told you! M: Oh no you didn't! O: Oh yes I did! M: Oh no you didn't! O: Oh yes I did! M: Oh no you didn't! O: Oh yes I did! M: Oh no you didn't! O: Oh yes I did! M: Oh no you didn't! O: Oh yes I did! M: Oh no you didn't! O: Oh yes I did! M: No you DIDN'T! O: Oh yes I did! M: No you DIDN'T! O: Oh yes I did! M: No you DIDN'T! O: Oh yes I did! M: Oh look, this isn't an argument! (pause) O: Yes it is! M: No it isn't! (pause) M: It's just contradiction! O: No it isn't! M: It IS! O: It is NOT! M: You just contradicted me! O: No I didn't! M: You DID! O: No no no! M: You did just then! O: Nonsense! M: (exasperated) Oh, this is futile!! (pause) O: No it isn't! M: Yes it is! (pause) M: I came here for a good argument! O: AH, no you didn't, you came here for an argument! M: An argument isn't just contradiction. O: Well! it CAN be! M: No it can't! M: An argument is a connected series of statements intended to establish a proposition. O: No it isn't! M: Yes it is! 'tisn't just contradiction. O: Look, if I *argue* with you, I must take up a contrary position! M: Yes but it isn't just saying 'no it isn't'. O: Yes it is! M: No it isn't! O: Yes it is! M: No it isn't! O: Yes it is! M: No it ISN'T! Argument is an intellectual process. Contradiction is just the automatic gainsaying of anything the other person says. O: It is NOT! M: It is! O: Not at all! M: It is! (The Arguer hits a bell on his desk and stops.) O: Thank you, that's it. M: (stunned) What? O: That's it. Good morning. M: But I was just getting interested! O: I'm sorry, the five minutes is up. M: That was never five minutes just now!! O: I'm afraid it was. M: (leading on) No it wasn't..... O: I'm sorry, I'm not allowed to argue any more. M: WHAT?? O: If you want me to go on arguing, you'll have to pay for another five minutes. M: But that was never five minutes just now! Oh Come on! Oh this is... This is ridiculous! O: I told you... I told you, I'm not allowed to argue unless you PAY! M: Oh all right. (takes out his wallet and pays again.) There you are. O: Thank you. M: (clears throat) Well... O: Well WHAT? M: That was never five minutes just now. O: I told you, I'm not allowed to argue unless you've paid! M: Well I just paid! O: No you didn't! M: I DID!!! O: YOU didn't! M: I DID!!! O: YOU didn't! M: I DID!!! O: YOU didn't! M: I DID!!! O: YOU didn't! M: I don't want to argue about it! O: Well I'm very sorry but you didn't pay! M: Ah hah! Well if I didn't pay, why are you arguing??? Ah HAAAAAAHHH! Gotcha! O: No you haven't! M: Yes I have! If you're arguing, I must have paid. O: Not necessarily. I *could* be arguing in my spare time. M: I've had enough of this! O: No you haven't. M: Oh shut up! (Man leaves the office)

That's just contradiction, an argument is a connected series of statements intended to establish a proposition.....

Some years ago I asked Todd Viney who he compared Jack to. Selwood and Hodge game style was the answer. Not bad.....

I don't like the cockiness of some supporters and hope the players aren't thinking the same way. This will be the big effort by Essendon this year, first game at the G, in front of the masses, showing their support of their club and their players should give the really big effort. I have seen so many games end in disappointment for us. We need to play at our best in every game, otherwise we will suffer. For me the win is paramount, if that happens, a big one would be great.

I'm trying to find the bio stats for the 2008 Hawthorn premiership team. Could be an interesting comparison to us now. Remember, Hawthorn were not expected to win that one and most of the experts believed at the time, they were still at least a couple of years away. BELIEF is the key

If they really want to honour the Bombers players they'll start the walk strongly, surprising many with their pace and strong teamwork. About halfway through, however, a large number will need to succumb to hamstring and other assorted soft tissue injuries before finally deteriorating into a rabble - failing to reach the ground despite their early positive signs.

The only thing that club should be waving in the air is the records of what injections were given to the 34 players and resignation letters from anyone involved.

6 more years? Try 6 months! DEMONS!!

Assuming sufficient quality in the list, I think 6 years is pessimistic. Here's a calculation of the total number of games played by each club's list at the start of this season. I just added up the number of games played by every player in each club's list (source Age 2016 Footy guide). Here's the data: North Melbourne 3993 Fremantle 3393 Hawthorn 3377 West Coast 3092 Geelong 2944 Port Adelaide 2942 Collingwood 2791 Richmond 2769 Sydney 2601 Essendon 2573 Western Bulldogs 2556 Adelaide 2500 Carlton 2450 St Kilda 2432 GWS 2415 Gold Coast 2405 Melbourne 2268 Brisbane 2009 So Melbourne is the second-least experienced team at the start of 2016. The teams that would appear to be close to premiership contention (Sydney upwards) have at least 2600 (maybe Bulldogs at 2556). The favourites this year have around 3000+. How long does it take to get to that level? Each year you can add 22 x 22 = 484 games experience to the list, minus delistings and retirements (we're not liklely to have too many players retire that soon). Players delisted generally don't have many games under their belt. You can also bring in experience through FA and trades. Melbourne's figure also includes Melksham. So say you can add 300-400 games experience every year to the list. In two years Melbourne could have a total list experience of 2800-3000 games. That's enough to be in contention. As I said before, this assumes a certain amount of list quality. But experience is a necessity, just look at the top 5-6 teams on the table. BTW, amazing how old North Melbourne are, although Harvey skews the list)

The fact is, if we can't convert more inside 50's into shots on goal/goals then we will find ourselves in a dog fight. I have absolutely no concerns over our side at the contest, but it's what happens after we win the ball that continues to concern. We simply don't have the footskills accross the board to be really damaging going forward but our players can definitely be smarter and I think that's what I'm most looking forward to seeing. As a poster previously said, we're kidding ourselves if we think the answer isbanging it long to a pack situation where Hogan is a one in 10 chance of marking it. Last week we were ranked 18th for inside 50 conversions and we nearly lost the game because of it. '4-quarter effort' can mean a variety of things. I don't think our effort at the contest dropped off last week. We were always on top. But our 'effort' going forward wasn't where it needs to be. Effort includes smarts, discipline and decision making. That particular side of our game remains a work in progress and will improve over time when we start adding some class and outside run. But this weekend is the perfect game to try and execute this side of our game and if we do it well we should have them on toast.

We should win easily. Reality is that the Bombers are fielding half a VFL team. Better teams should beat the Bombers by 100 plus points. That is the standard we have to set.

Interested in seeing Lumumba now that we have team that will run and spread. I reckon half of his problem in past years is that he gets the ball and takes off, realises there is no-one to kick it to down field and then he doubles back running around in a circle. With our new game plan and belief in the ball carrier he may well do some exciting things and be back to his best.

... adopt a baby kitten from the animal shelter.

A rush on microwave sales predicted in Richmond tomorrow.

Someone (at AFL.com.au) hasn't done their homework. http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-04-01/the-round-two-bogeymen-who-will-haunt-your-side-this-week

Did he fail or did he have one hand tied behind his back. I still think of those thumping victories against the Lions and the Swans under this watch. At the time, Roos was of the view that we would soon have the best list in the AFL. So what happened? I'll leave you all to ponder that.

Thanks for bringing me down on April fools day.

Jack Watts' output for MFC has been disappointing, but MFC input to Jack Watts has been more disappointing. He has needed guidance to realise his talent. Could he have landed at a more dysfunctional club than ours? It would have been fascinating to see if he started at Hawthorn, Geelong, Sydney or West Coast. It seems as though we've got our development in order now and we have a competitive list so Jack now has a level playing field.

I want to see vandenBerg get more of a run through the middle. At one stage last week we had Jones, Viney and Kennedy at a centre bounce, shortest midfield ever.

But Spalding caused Dunstall's brain damage that we still have to endure on Fox Footy.

I'm more referring to effort in contests (ground and air). Performance follows effort. The efforts he's shown in 2016 have superceded anything previously (7 years). Beyond dispute I would have thought. And a minimum requirement henceforth.

2 games in and a tigs member has already given up.

Cotchin has to be the most ineffectual captain going around. 38 disposals! Remember the damaging one? Me either. And zero tackles. Does metres gained count if you go sideways? I really like Menadue and De Goey, but let me get back to laughing at Richmond. Collingwood were a hilarious supporting act too. Welcome back football.

F ck...!

this should be worth a ban..

Now I want to know what the original said

I'm exactly the same. My productivity for the week halves after a Dees win.

"From you" seems to be your default response. I rarely, if ever have generalised and had a crack at everyone on here. You do it every time you post, and it's pathetic. It is only footy, try just talking about it, instead of being a white knight, creep of a bloke.

Hawthorn

four eight goal quarters please

I said post game last week that Viney has already Hodge and Selwood coverd in the toughness category. Hodge is a sniping dog and Selwood is a cheat with his constant ducking. Watch this weekend of Viney going head first into a contest and coming out with ball in hand.

Final eight this year, Top four next year and grand final in 2018 (with an outside chance next year as well). We are on our way to becoming a power Club again and will win successive Premierships with the list that we are putting together!

I think that's a gross simplification of Bailey's strategy. He also had thoughts on ball movement, leadership and the importance of kicking. I'm not sure he sat down in his job interview and said I'll "just get a group of youngsters together and get games into them as a group". I'm probably sounding like a broken record for anyone who has read my posts over the years but I'm amazed at the black and white thinking that so many on here apply to football. Even more so it appears, when reflecting on the past.

Really smart selection decisions. We were too task up forward last week and Frost out with Brayshaw in balances that. Brayshaw into the center rotation and Harmes and Kent pick up the forward rotation minutes. H adds extra run down back and can push mid as well. OMac was quiet anyway and isn't needed for back ups. Pedo can still swing back if we need another tall and the forward line week still function. I can't remember the last time we genuinely had players capable of being considered "best 22" kept out of the side due to form of the 22. Yeah our injury list is low but we have at least 7 players capable of stepping into the current 22 Dunn, Grimes, Dawes, Trengove, Petracca, Stretch, ANB, plus Frost and Omac.

Essendon will think this is one of the few games they have a chance. Expect to see Woosha's plans to stop Gawn & Viney at stoppages. They will expect us to bomb it to Hogan at every chance, and will do the same as GWS and crowd his area, trying to turn over the ball in their d50 and to get out the back of our press. We need to anticipate that they'll pull out all stops, legal or not, to stop our 3 most effective players and try to tie us up and make us play stupid like we did in Q2 & Q3 last week, thinking that the way to win is to exploit our marking power up forward. We could find ourselves halfway thru the third quarter within a goal of each other and wondering what the hell's going on. Unless we've worked out how to win the ball at stoppages without Gawn & Viney, or to lower our eyes and kick into space when going inside f50. But if we go the whole game without bothering to work out their tactics, it could be line ball.

Still terrified of losing.

I kinda feel like that hashtag won't quite catch.

Not sure where to put this but as it relates to last Sat this thread will do. http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/melbourne-demons-president-glen-bartlett-reflects-on-a-tumultuous-24-hours-leading-into-round-1/news-story/4268c29c3f4daaf6efab55ce51f8e52e Its a highly personal story that details the heart wrenching and heartwarming drama that our President and his family endured when his 19 year old son Josh went into cardiac arrest last Friday. After a harrowing week with his health, the next 24 hours were a parent's worst nightmare. Our President with Josh's permission attended the GWS game. Josh was having surgery when the ball was bounced. Shortly after the final siren Glen Bartlett received the call that his son had survived the surgery. It seems the medical team were in overdrive to save Josh. He now has a long road to recovery. Josh must be a quite incredible young man and obviously a Dees supporter. A quote from the article: " Following 35 hours in an induced coma, all he wanted to do was find out the footy score after he woke up." Very moving. It is an amazing story of hanging in there no matter how tough things are. It feels trite to say I wish him well as I don't know him. But I feel inspired by the story. And I hope he makes a full and speedy recovery. It was good to see Jack V in their with him this week. Hope Josh Barlett's experience inspires our team to give it everything they have.