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Yeah, disgraceful. I'm producing a documentary series on the Sudanese community in Melbourne at the moment. It's the same sort of stuff. People want to say consistently that Australia isn't a racist country, but I'm not even sure some people realise when they're being racist.

Roos was on SEN last night and many current thread topics came up. Too many to post to individually so here is an overview of the topics. Disclaimer: as Roos is apt to talk in riddles this is not ‘verbatim’ and is my take on what he said. Season so far – preseason goal was to reduce the gap between our best and our worst; to be more consistent and they are pretty happy with that. (I would have liked someone on the panel to follow up with a few with more questions). TMc contract – Said all players are different; he seems committed to the club and is confident TMc will stay. When asked about player Managers he didn’t discuss TMc directly. Said players are now more likely to put feelers out to see what they can get at other clubs. Can’t say whether ‘feelers’ are player or manager driven. Went on to say that it takes roughly a 20% premium to entice a player to leave a club. Club's can’t pay players 20% premium or breach salary cap. Said MFC do not want to pay overs as has happened in the past. Then said good (I guess he means successful) clubs play unders. We want to pay fair market value, not overs. (Not surprised by this as he and Mahoney have said similar before and I guess OOC players are hearing this message inside the club as well). JV and QB game: Cleared by medicos, will wait and see how training goes this morning. (Probably decided by now). Garlett omission – Not dropped due to the highly publicised ‘incident’. Said he had been a bit off and there are areas he needs to work on (didn’t say what they were). Hopes he can get back (like Kennedy) as he is an important part of our team. (I assume Roos means next week vs Swans). Hibberd – ‘Pregnant pause’! ...Ahhhh...! Caught by surprise! Mumbled about yeah he goes to list management meetings, Michael has been discussed but didn’t know at what level it has got to. (My take on this last bit is that it is a work in progress). When pushed about Hibberd being ‘a good fit’ he said something like ‘…he clearly comes from…Goody has seen him play…’ Not sure what was said off microphone but Rohan Connolly (an Ess supporter) piped up with ‘…Roosy, hands off – he is a required player…’ Sounded to me like Hibberd could well be at the Dees next year! Transition to Goodwin: Said Goody is fantastic! The goal was to put a good coaching team around him and this has been achieved. He then said Goody will get terrific experience like he did in the NAB cup. (Not sure if he meant next year but wouldn’t be surprised if Goodwin coaches some games in his own right later in the season). Looks forward to following the Dees progress over the coming years.l Form your own views: The Coaches Box (from the 43 minute mark) http://www.sen.com.au/audio#Prtja1lQ8DsKXwFW.97

Tabener & Crozier are duds, no thanks...

Unbelieveable, everybody was rapt when Jeff signed 2 weeks ago, 2 poor weeks and people are whinging about his contract already, Would have you put a performance based deal infront of him after what he's done in the last couple of seasons, i bet 2 weeks ago you wouldn't have even considered it.

Only if Richmond do a medical on him first.

Hard to say. Losses to Essendon, St Kilda, and Port Adelaide have certainly put us in a position where us supporters still have no faith on which Melbourne will turn up on match day. Collingwood, Carlton, St Kilda again, Freo, and Gold Coast are the only winnable games I see for the remainder of the year, best case scenario 10 wins for the season. now, 10 wins is 3 games better than last year but I would still say we are a year behind schedule where the club wants to be...by this year PJ wanted 50,000 members and to be looking at finals. We are at 38,600 and are looking to come in around 10/11th at best. I would love to see a couple upsets of course but the team hasn't really given us fans any faith or beleif that that might be the case. Right now I feel the club isn't out of the woods as to if this rebuild or whatever you want to call it these days is a success, granted we have a very young and inexperienced side and by the looks of your young talent, it is only a matter of time, anything could happen so I still wait here with bated breath as to what happens to the club in terms of on field success over the next 18 months.

Dermie says everything with the arrogance of an omniscient deity. That's why it's so funny when he's so often wrong.

And thanks to you and the other unsung members of the Demon Army who man the sausage sizzles at training and the telephones on Tuesday nights.

AFL agreed to an AFLPA clause in 2014 (as a result of the Ess saga but can apply to any player) that if a player has a grievance they need to go to the AFL Grievance Tribunal and if he can prove breach of contract will become a Delisted FA. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/afl/afl-news/doping-saga-banned-dons-will-have-to-go-grievance-tribunal-to-quit-club-20160416-go7woe.html?deviceType=text Gil says: "Players with contracts for next year, and testing them, that actually wouldn't be a decision for the AFL. It's a legal assessment about whether there is an opportunity to do it and they would go to grievance first...They will all be decisions for lawyers, not for me. It's all speculation until it's tested". Therein lies the catch! It is up to the player to prove breach of contract. With the WADA and Worksafe decisions it looks cut and dried. But who knows? The question is: will Hibberd be prepared to put himself through that process; risk incurring the on-going public wrath of the many pro Ess media commentators, supporters and EFC officialdom? Especially after Ess made a fine example of Hal Hunter and showed how nasty they can be when someone takes them to court. They also played hard ball when Ryder wanted out. Also, will either party take an adverse AFL Grievance Tribunal decision to appeal? Unless another Ess banned player also goes to the Grievance Tribunal, I think MFC will want to spare Hibberd the angst and uncertainty and trade for him.

Really??? That's your offering?

I'd keep Hogan at all costs. He is our franchise player.

Not a chance. If a trade had to happen, which it wouldn't because he'll remain at Melbourne, Fyfe or Lachie Neale have to come into it. We wouldn't give Hogan away for a pick and two spuds.

TV.

It might defuse some of the bickering since it doesn't give the poster of the 'disliked' post any words which he feels obliged to rebut.

There's no spot for him in the 22. Who would he replace? And don't say one of our speedy half forwards, because he doesn't have the pace or the nouse. He's had 98 chances and has only shown he's not good enough. I'm sorry. He seems like a lovely, professional bloke, but his inability to break into the side only says good things about the direction of our playing list.

Well then they'll have to come up with something pretty bloody good, as Fyfe or Neale are the only players on their list who we would be interested in. And John - Hogan has shown far more than just 'potential'. He's easily one of, if not the, best young tall forward in the comp. They don't grow on trees.

Told you they would.

Not to mention his little addition to the Goodes saga.

God I hate all the fawning over this mob, after all the [censored] concessions they've received. It's farcical the way they've been handed that list at the expense of struggling clubs. And look at all the first round draft picks they have this year thanks to last year's trade period!

From what I've heard about Eddie McGuire as a person and the whole Nicky Winmar history, wouldn't surprise me if it was Collingwood.

I'm hoping Nev Jetta was the single indigenous player that felt he inspired the culture of his club. I hear he's brilliant internally.

Umpires have screwed the Suns, massively. 2 free kicks to 3/4 time. that is not a typo... 2 free kicks. Umpire was in the perfect position to witness that human skidmark Vickery, clearly push in the back and then drop the ball before the Tiggers got a momentum shifting goal. These maggots are destroying this sport

To think that Gold Coast could have drafted Hogan instead.

Is that a joke?

Game telecast runs into their news

How many byes do they have in the VFL? Time to just have a proper reserves comp it stifles development and team selection.

Why? Jones was very good before injury this year. I'm not saying he's a gun, or he's the future, but he was definitely best 22 based on his form before injury this year. Similar with Harmes, he showed enough before his slump the last couple of weeks.

webmaster / mods ---- 'dislike' / thumbs down button desperately needed

Burgo.......the new whipping boy.

Would love him, but would potentially miss 16-22 weeks a year through injury - like every other year! So that's a no

Burgo also says "so could you sorta, talk us through that" in every question in every interview. Good old Burgo - clearly loves the dees. U can tell he's amped when he does post-game interviews after a win.

Went to training today, with the lad. Feeling the love - a few things in particular struck me: - Skills have improved considerably over the past year or so: much quicker and more accurate. - There is a fantastic camaraderie amongst this group - they seem incredibly tight. - Clayton Oliver is a beast - silky smooth and tough as they come. He could be one of the most inspired signings for years. - Jack Watts looks more and more assured and self-confident. He's clearly a leader amongst the group. - So glad to have Bernardo Vincenzo (as he's known in our house) at the MFC. The new smiling assassin. - Always impressed at the interraction between players and supporters at our club. Christian Petracca was straight over to the kids after the training session, signing shirts and high fiving. Noticed that Dunny seemed a bit on the outer - running laps by himself, but not in the buzz of things.

Pfffttttt

You know you have lost the argument when you use DE stats ha ha

Those trade scenarios were pre bans. Very different circumstances.

Ten wins will be a solid launching pad for 2017. Nine is the bare minimum for me, but I'm hoping for 10. Monday is vitally important.

I wonder which one Jetta will match up on?

Port Melbourne for mine. Good ground, great (winning) culture/history and have our name In there, use our song and similar colours. And arguably the best coach In the VFL, who has AFL pedigree and would know the Importance/value of running a similar method/structure and style of play that closely resembles that being run at seniors level. No brainer for mine. Might be a riot by the old Borough faithful at the mere mention however.

Let's find out..... So that's one Hibberd and a Hurley to go thanks !!?

Hahahahahaha I was the same. While an Avs fan, as a neutral I am really enjoying the series. Would be good to see the Sharks get up as they have not won a championship, but the Crosby/Malkin/Kessel Pens are a good side to watch. The goals the Sharks have scored under the armpit of Murray have been ridiculous! They are so damned skilled. Bring on tomorrow, game 6 flowing into the Dees game.

How good was game five first period goals. Ive always liked Ice Hockey but never really followed it to any degree. Sat on the couch yesterday and Foxtel were showing the games in the Stanley cup so far, watching it a s a neutral I was surprised when I watched the Sharks win in OT in game three and I jumped up and fist pumped the air. To my wife's dismay I may have a new sport to get hooked on... Ha ha

can't say I have Steve but given your keen interest in muscle you could always give NOS a go. Might be cheaper out that way!

Not looking for excuses. Collingwood were much better. Anything is possible in a one off game. Could care less about the result. At the risk of repeating myself, it's mainly about development, or the lack thereof, on this putrid ground. Would be much better had we played at Collingwood, lost, and Casey players developing under AFL conditions. This game was a complete waste of team for all the AFL aligned players. No doubt, for example, Aish was good. He will never get suitable conditions for him like this again in the AFL. Cloke was similarly Ok as everyone came back to his pace. No doubt the Collingwood brains trust will be aware of this. Feel like I'm wasting my breath. Yes, If it satisfies you, Collingwood were better on the day although, in the big picture, irrelevant.

I think it's as simple as Jeffy just doesn't play well in the wet. He likes to use his pace to run on top of the ground so when his main weapon is taken from him he struggles a bit

Finally about to see North fall off the cliff now they have to start facing actual competition every week.

Didn't you get enough attention last time you put up this comment?

I don't think it's the sulks so much as the mud. The whole ground is mud and his pace is virtually useless in these conditions. The one time I saw him get into some space the kick fell short and was marked by one of the guys running after him. He gave up one chase that I noticed, but has also caused quite a few turnovers that his teammates haven't been able to score from. The big issue though is that he's hardly touched the ball. He can't pick it up in the mud.

Thanks all those Demonlanders for coming down to training despite what was going to be a wet and blustery day. We made a nice amount of money which will go to the Demon Army to continue their great work - hopefully some more "heads". Great to see so many kids there. Yes Nev was swamped but not the last to leave - H was still doing laps. Very funny listening to Watts and Dawes sledge Petracca. Fantastic camaraderie

I agree - we've got too many [censored] Jacks - lets even it up with more Michaels

Ripping article by Matt Burgan. http://m.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-06-08/tracking-trengoves-return-to-the-afl