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The best question was when I think King it was asked him if he was worth the money. That got Roosy thinking. He was quite diplomatic of course and pretty much said he was hired to do a job and he's done it. He didn't want to heap too much pressure on Goodwin for next year, that's what the youth comment was about. He said the 1st half was better than he thought. 2nd half terrible. I agree. 1st quarter was super sloppy but it was all our mistakes, 2nd quarter we dominated and should've put more on the scoreboard. Second half we held on. I think Roos has done a fantastic job. He's taken a lot of the heat, promoted the club and hopefully helped put the entire football department and club on the right track. That said, I'm looking forward to having a coach who's all in, doesn't have a brand to protect and isn't some form of consultant. 4 more weeks to really have a free swing at getting a couple of wins to send Roosy out on a high.

whilst roos might label himself as 'coach of the footy dept.' i think his role is far more widespread than that - he and pj have been leaders of the club as a whole and completely changed our standing within the football community. the job they have done is beyond stellar. we have got better year on year since their arrival and i remain hopeful that roos remains involved with the club in some capacity, be it in a football admin role or as women's coach or coaching adviser or some such. we have come a long, long way from the dark years under neeld and schwab.

I reckon Dunstall seems like a good bloke and is usually complimentary of Melbourne. His comment was "I can see why Melbourne supporters go to the snow" after yet another mistake. It was funny and completely warranted given the way we were playing. Agree that King is an absolute [censored] who talks shite.

I share your uneasy feelling, hemingway. Maybe it is intuition. Maybe it is things like: A few times posters have said players respect Roos but really 'love' Goodwin. The Goodwin 'Love' without the respect can quickly evaporate. As 'Swooper' alludes to Goodwin has big shoes to fill when it comes to Respect. Goodwin has openly talked about being really good mates with Melksham and Hibbered. I'm not sure having the coach's mates on a team is ideal for team harmony especially if a perception of 'favourites' evolves re contracts, team selections etc. That they are reported as getting 4 yr contracts when our homegrown (excellent) players get only 2 or 3 (except Jones/Viney) makes me wonder. People seem to think that Goodwin will be a Hinkley, Pyke or Beveridge and we will automatically climb the ladder. Goodwin is very inexperienced compared to those guys: 4 years at a dodgy club and 2 years with Roos'; never coached his own team at any level; has no runs on the board. Last but not least - Roos has not followed the Longmire handover pattern. Is it Roos' ego to make him coach out the season? Or does he have some doubts about Goodwin? Roos has given Goodwin no public profile whatsoever. A mystery? We have a very inexperienced team with limited on-field leadership and again will have a rookie coach. I look forward to 'Goodwin bringing his own strengths' as 'Swooper' notes. For our sake, I sure hope man management, team building and coaching is among them. But I can't shake that uneasy feeling. The one thing that gives me some comfort is that Macca is there.

It is interesting how we all see and hear different things. I think Dunstall actually has a soft spot for us. The only thing I think everyone has agreed on is Dwayne Russell and Greg Denham are flogs of the highest order - that opinion has universal acceptance.

Thought he gave a really good interview - definitely more open than usual. Topics covered where: Gold coast game - Vince admitted it was his worst game for the club. Said it was a frustrating sort of game but not as bad as some commentators thought. Watts - Watts and Nathan Jones are the two players he's proud of the most. Basically said the same thing as yesterday around the plaudits he's receiving now. Watts' goal kicking - Says Watts is brilliant technically and has a lot of confidence when he has the ball in his hand. Jesse Hogan's goal kicking - Says after he improves and gets better with time, people will forget about his funny run up and say it's just his style. Roos' Legacy - says he's done exactly what he was brought in to do. Rebuild the football department and get them ready for finals. PJ said the FD was below AFL standard. Finals - Says the team is close but wouldn't commit to an approximate year as to when we will play. 2014 - Substantiated the claim that he looked at the players between the eyes after round 2 loss to WCE and just said that Melbourne supporters just want effort and the scoreboard will tick over. i think they were the main points. Talked the team up a fair bit including all the young talent.

He's a very smart footballer who I think can become a successful AFL player. Like others, I reckon he'll benefit from a full preseason.

Totally agree with these comments. I must admit, I would feel much more comfortable if we had Roos at the helm over the next few years, despite criticism of his game plan or match day coaching. I just think his overall impact on the footy club and footy department has been profound. He is a person of exceptional character and high values. His tempered and positive views and thinking has been really important when we have had reasons to doubt and worry. For some reason, I have an uneasy feeling about Goodwin. I know, irrational and without cause, but there you are.

Bugger! that will make it hard for him to get up speed. How does he avoid falling on his arse every time he kicks? I am surprised he has made it to this level.

There was plenty of well-deserved love for Jack Watts after the Gold Coast game, but in the last five minutes Nev Jetta was left 1 on 2 inside defending 50. He spoiled the ball against a much taller opponent and then ran down the other guy who had collected the spill. Best part was that even as he did this great thing, it had an air of 'yes, he'll handle this'. Big chunks of respect for him, a hugely valuable player.

Delisted free agent, give them nothing

Would expect he will have an opportunity under Goodwin. His clean disposal would be a nice change to the ankle kicks , wide kicks, missed one metre handballs, missed tackles we have come to know and not love. He does the basics properly .

Hibberd, Melksham, Lumumba, Wagner, White, Hunt, Salem, etc. I'm not sure we need another HBF. The only circumstances under which I would want Hibberd are (a) if Lumumba retires / is delisted at year end and (b) Hibberd comes as a free agent. Anything else would detract from our ability to add talent where we desperately need it, ie midfield and key position.

I want him for nothing. Essendon has dug their own grave and they can GGF.

This is guaranteed to be a failure for both parties.

Obviously this is a joke....As Nunawading gets belted by 250+ points every week. Jokes aside, good on Terlich for fronting up the last 2 years knowing his careers over & has been a solid contributor to Casey lately... Hopefully he continues his form into the finals

His VFL form has generally been very good, his AFL form average but not terrible. I do wonder if we're not giving him more AFL opportunity due to him having a diminished tank at this stage? Might be a similar concept to what they're doing with Oliver, just getting some miles into his legs, building his fitness. Obviously not saying his ceiling is as high as Oliver, but you would think either a 1 year contract or re-rookie would be worth it in that scenario.

Rance is NQR. No doorknockers.

Our first round pick in ANY draft should be completely out of the question for Hibberd, but that's exactly what dodo will demand. Give them nothing.

Footy is funny, if Tom Lynch kicks the winning goal I guarantee they wouldn't have said all those nice things about our list.

Really don't see that happening. At the very least, it would have to involve a number of other picks and/or players. Hibberd is simply not worth a first round pick, regardless of where we finish in 2017.

its a classic Richmond move. They should be starting a full rebuild, their list is trash. Instead they are chasing players the think will get them to the next level.. a level that is unattainable for them. I hope they overpay for Prestia with a couple of first rounders or similar.. would set them back years.

It's all about the coin. Prestia knows he is probably on borrowed time with his knees and Richmond will be throwing panic cash his way, and good on him if he takes it. Sets him up for the future. We are obviously focused on getting Hibberd into the club, and no doubt we have our eyes on others as well. Prestia isn't the answer for Richmond, though. Recruiting him makes little sense to me.

This. He is a great kick, just sometimes makes the wrong decision. One poor decision doesn't make him a bad kick.

I'm not sure posters appreciate how much Goody is doing this year, 1. Roosy spoke to Goody about him taking the box and Roosy on the bench, goody declined. 2. Goodwin takes 90% of trainings and meetings now, he is doing all the recruiting and list management stuff he's effectively the senior coach. Roosy is really just the match day coach and a senior assistant at the minute and that's why i am really comfy with where we're at with Goody

Two timer!

I would still suggest that at his worst, he is a very good depth player. When you look at our injury list, it is in fact very small. At the end of the season, you don't cut everyone on the list who isn't best 22. At this stage, Jack isn't in the best 22 according to the coaches and selectors, he is however a consistent and high level contributor at Casey. I would be very surprised if we didn't retain him. (not to mention sad and disappointed)

That club is a basket case. I love it.

Have to disagree re Dunstall. I think he genuinely wants to see Melbourne on the up. Some of the snow comments were quite funny. "Stamp my lift ticket!" actually made me laugh out loud. He was ultimately trying to be empathetic to supporters. Out of 2017 and 2018, I'm leaning more towards 2018, pending on who gets picked up in the off season.

I'd like Salem to get a kick.

Our left footers are typical that the have no right foot but uncharacteristically aren't much good with the left either.

Jack Watts made a similar comment in his Press Conference today. When asked if he's spending more time reading the papers these days, his response was something to the effect of "Absolutely not! When the media are building up the positives, they go way over the top, and when they are attacking your lows, they again exaggerate the reality"

I said the same thing to my dad and sister listening to the radio on the way back to the car yesterday - one kick changes the commentary so much, proves how stupid and micro-focused the media are.

Correct. Bernie Vince nearly cost us a game yesterday with the worst kick execution and decision making I've seen in a long time. Vince has almost 10 years on TMac. Yes his kicking is suspect, but FCS he is a brilliant defender and saves 100% more goals than he gives away.

He also said that T Mac will stay

Didn't get asked about Hogan's contract once. Not once. Why? WHHHHHHYYYYY? OMG, he's definitely leaving and the media know it!!!! Sorry, couldn't help myself. Was a pretty straight bat from Roosy. Said that Bernie apologised to him after the game and said 'that was the worst game I've ever played'. Roos just laughed. Otherwise just spoke about the list and the way forward. Mentioned they spoke as a group to all the 1st and 2nd year players and told them that they needed to commit to getting better - both as a club and as individual players. Very interestingly they said that 3 games into his coaching career he apparently gave the players an absolute bake about where they are at and how the footy world perceived the players. They then showed the players from Rnd 3 2014 versus this week. Only 6 players remained.

From what I've seen, and others can correct me or add more to it, he is a very good running defender who is a beautiful kick of the footy and more than holds his own in a one on one situation. At 27 he is hitting his prime and he will be an excellent addition to our half back line, potentially releasing the likes of Hunt and Salem to play more through the wings and midfield.

Both Oscar and Frost have really come on the last 3 weeks.

Not only am I condescending, but I am also a curmudgeon, prone to pedantry and worst of all - a lickspittle - that still doesn't make me wrong.

So if we get Hibberd then we have Melksham and him as our new players for 2017 which doesn't quite add an exciting dimension to the team. Essendon achieved very little in the years they played with them so I don't see their additions to the list moving us forward in leaps and bounds. We definitely need more.

Dunstall is another in a long line of puncey Hawthorn twats that offers snide media jibes directed at Melbourne supporters. As I said on one of the Facebook pages, most of Hawthorn's supporters used to follow Melbourne until it got all too hard during the 70s and 80s and then they jumped ship. So they have just as many toffs as us and their major sponsor is Audi FFS! Yet, we're the ones that are off to the snow the whole time. Dunstall used to be measured and tried to compliment Melbourne and now he can't conceal his resentment. Perhaps he sees that we're coming?

I really enjoy Brown's commentary, because he's almost always very complimentary about us. And thanks for the run down everyone. Couldn't watch again tonight as it conflicted with The Kettering Incident. I agree with Brown. Dunstall can't help but show his contempt for Melbourne. Made another 'off to the snow' comment yesterday on air, I'm told. And King is a sheep and A grade [censored], who lacks insight for a guy that spends his entire week watching footy reels and trying to work out what's going on.

Just wanted to give some more love to Nev. He's been solid all season. Really rate and appreciate his efforts this year and reakly happy he's remaining a dee beyond 2016. I'll be watching with real interest where he finishes in the b&f.

A documentary following up the Iron Curtain athletes of the '70's would be fascinating. What the long term health effects were. What the rate of early deaths were etc. What was actually taken & what the doping regime was - from childhood ? Doubt it could ever happen though - I'd expect few records survived. Now we're probably just left with a few old ladies scratching their balls

Absolutely love him. Me and my mate joke about how he's never made a mistake. He's so clean. Kicked it out on the full yesterday, that could be one mistake, but I'm going to blame whoever he was kicking to for not being able to jump high enough. Exactly the the sort of player we need to, so his development is coming along nicely. Will be another big improver after a good preseason.

The backpedaling begins: http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/brett-deledio-says-richmond-teammate-alex-rance-deserves-longer-offseason-break/news-story/8685cc3e6a4bbfaedb482dcf367716d4 "ALEX Rance’s extra-long off-season break last summer will be a one-off... The Tigers have denied Rance’s extended annual leave request last year was a source of friction among the players this season" Deledio "...was adamant Rance deserved the extra off-season privilege due to his excellent on-field form in recent seasons". This is the most bizarre comment to come from a club. Since when is one player singled out and rewarded for individual excellent on-field form. Reiwoldt who has far more individual honours would have every right to sing: What about me! Rance won't leave but he may have to learn that 'Team' does not include an 'i'!!

He said he had received a lot of complimentary texts from Dees fans after yesterday's games and that he thought Melbourne fans would be rapt about the win. Somebody needs to text him the link to Demonland. He also said Goodwin noted the players looked a bit flat at training during the week and thus the subpar performance wasn't totally unexpected. I found that interesting.

Not surprising, really. I think we always had him in the bag, the challenge now is how we get him without Essendrug demanding three first round picks and Max Gawn as part of the trade.

Yep ... there's an old adage in footy that rings true ... "You called for it, you get it" A player making position is effectively calling for the ball and that recipient player has to take into account that the disposal coming in his direction may not be perfect. So often we see a recipient player give up on the play and not make a contest and that's half the problem. The pleasing part of that 50/50 yesterday was that Frost (?) didn't give up on the play. Frost played a really good game regardless. Also, players calling for the ball should be on the move and preferably moving at pace ... the player disposing of the ball then has an easier target. It's basic footy '101' Tom is obviously under instruction to set up the play from the backline and the coaches would be taking into account that he (and others) are going to make the odd error in that process. The team is a work in progress and so are many of our players. We could go back to kicking it down the line looking for a stoppage (2012/13) ... we'd then be screaming about how ineffective our transition out of defence would be. It's a risk/reward situation and I'm quite happy to go with it.

You people are having a laugh. He played a great game on one of the best forwards in the comp. Give it a rest McDonald haters. We need to get him signed, and if he doesn't, it is a disaster for our list going forward... unless you think Jetta should be our CHB next year!