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The youngest team in the comp hit the wall in round 22. It wasn't a "consistency" issue. In 2013 we lost 11 games by 60 points or more. We did this once in 2016. We won more quarters than the Saints and finished with a higher percentage. We'll be fitter, stronger and more experienced in 2017. We will get good very quickly.

Let me tell you something Stewart my present job is working for ABC ME channel 3. But the kids don't watch TV. They watch online through the website. Nearly one million kids are registered on the ABC ME Website. Kids do use websites and social media. Mand we need lots of kids to sign up as members. We have lost generations of them to other clubs. Now if we have information on there that is 2 years out of date, kids will just laugh and go elsewhere. Now please go away Stewart...

1 Jesse Hogan 2 Nathan Jones 3 Christian Salem 4 Jack Watts 5 Christian Petracca 6 Jordan Lewis 7 Jack Viney 9 Jack Trengove 10 Angus Brayshaw 11 Max Gawn 12 Dom Tyson 13 Clayton Oliver 15 Billy Stretch 16 Dean Kent 17 Sam Frost 18 Jake Melksham 19 Mitch Hannan 20 Colin Garland 21 Cameron Pedersen 22 Aaron Vandenberg 23 Bernie Vince 24 Jay Kennedy-Harris 25 Tom McDonald 26 Sam Weideman 27 Liam Hulett 28 Oscar McDonald 29 Jayden Hunt 30 Alex Neal-Bullen 32 Tomas Bugg 33 Jake Spencer 34 Mitchell King 35 Ben Kennedy 36 Jeff Garlett 37 Dion Johnstone 39 Neville Jetta 42 Josh Wagner 43 James Harm 41 Mitch White 44 Joel Smith 48 Corey Maynard Saty, maybe I am missing something, but and this was taken off the club site today, could you point out Hibberd, McKenna and the new rookies for me.

If they need a break from constant whining supporters then id advise them to look for another job. Every single club in the AFL would have to deal with whining supporters. Some have the right to, some don't. Its the way all sporting organizations are. Also don't know if you have notice but this is a football forum and last i look we are entitled to voice an opinion on coaches, players, staff etc.. What i will point out is that in the last 3 months no one from here has denigrate the club or players. In fact the optimism on here has been great to read. And lastly.. Pot... Kettle.. Black...

Stu, as the new year approaches I'll give you a chance to redeem yourself and will remove the yellow lines that follow you around. As I said in the post you quoted they were cooked by round 22, i.e. the Carlton game. I was fortunate enough to attend a club function post season where a very senior footy person within the club said all the signs were there in the second half of the Port game that the young players were spent (notwithstanding the victory). Subsequently, they were worried about the final two games. Those fears were realised as the long year caught up with them. Just one 10 goal+ thrashing (when we were cooked), good percentage, 10 wins and a healthy number of quarters won. In one win we fielded 3 teenagers. I accept your point that inconsistency follows young teams who will naturally develop weary bodies. Any team that doesn't make the 8 has degrees of inconsistency, but overall the consistency factor was as good as any "reasonable" supporter could hope for from such a young group. As this new gameplan becomes second nature their performances will be stronger and more consistent. I'm confident this will be the case in 2017.

Ffs the usual suspects any chance we can go into 2017 without the mods having to intervene with the same people derailing threads

With so much happening on the AFL front I can't understand why it is so quiet around here. Maybe everyone is getting ready for BBO's hedonistic New Years Eve Party, held in the family dungeon in Romsey. Oops, I think I let the cat out of the bag.

You'll get to know that is his way of doing things drunkn, just nod and smile and walk away.

Mebourne has signed a 30 year deal with the City of Casey. Casey had brought Springvale to Casey Fields to 1) bring a VFL team to the area to promote its ongoing football development in the region and 2) revive Springvale from fininacial trouble. Melbourne therefore aligned with Casey to honour there deal with the City. Melbourne has since then lifted Casey to great heights in the VFL for its own development as well as for the good of the region. Now they have strengthened this partnership by renaming Casey from the Scorpions to the Demons, but they recognise the history in which Casey aka Springvale has come from. It would be very rude of them to ignore this history and the Club recognises this, which is why they have made sure the Casey Demons will still honour the Scorpions. Just because it is a VFA club doesn't make it any less special then an VFL/AFL club. In the history of the game, the VFA and VFL/AFL are extremely important in remember where the game came from. So why wouldon't the MFC honour the clubs past?

No they do not control every aspect, there is a balance of control over everything that is done. To make it simple, Melbourne do not have the resources or funding to field a standalone VFL side so they need the assistance of Casey, Casey do not have the resources or funding to field a standalone VFL side so they need the assistance of Melbourne. Without each other they would both be in trouble.

It's actually called presentation. It is all important. Every bit of it if we are to become a force again kids just laugh if a site has not been updated. We need a heap of kids to jump on board

We will play finals in 2017. Bickley missed the key issue. Max Gawn must remain fit for the entire season. It's actually that simple.

Yes it was. They're young, so they were inconsistent. Beat Hawthorn then lose to Carlton, what else would you call that? "We'll be fitter, stronger and more experienced in 2017." Translates to: We'll be more consistent.

Heard yesterday via a Saints person, that they believed Fyfe was going to Carlton. Same as I was told by a Carlton person a few weeks ago. Saints person said Lewis was considered a great get by us, by the other clubs.

Fyfe is a heavyset player who has twice broken his leg. I am not convinced he will be as good as he was.

Because Melbourne singed a business deal with the City of Casey? That's why there's pre season games there, AFLW games there as well as the Melbourne Academy. And why would they when Casey and Melb are working so well together? Cmon dude you've got to at least read the stuff I've said before you reply.

A fair assessment - we must learn to - win games that we should - not fold under pressure - answer pressure with pressure - follow but a single piece of Mark Neeld's wish list, being the hardest team to play against. We have only seen it in flashes, v Hawks, and v Cats 2015 - if repeated we can go places.

Let's also hope CP5 passed on any family games of basketball.

I think Pedo is consistently underrated by many here. He is a solid mark and always provides a contest. His last quarter in the win against Hawthorn was very good - it illustrates what he can do. Whilst he is clearly on borrowed time given the future development of Weideman, he is still a very effective option. Contracts are no longer given to list cloggers by this club.

Tall forwards will be Hogan, Watts and Weideman...Watts to do the relief ruck.

Another self-proclaimed 'expert' that I've never heard of and just another puff piece with no real substance. The clear differentiator for me is that we finally have some real depth within the list for the first time in yonks! Nearly 44 blokes who could come in to the team and play a role on game day and not look out of place - and, they're all competing for a spot in the firsts. When Roos and Jackson came on board four (4) years ago we barely had half a dozen best 22 locks and the rest were mediocre VFL players at best. We are a team at long last and one that wants success for one another. The individuality that plagued the list in years gone by has been replaced with a team firs culture. We look to have nailed the draft first rounds at long last and have found some great value in later picks. Taylor has been a steal. For all of the apparent rogering we get from the Pies with ordinarily trades, I think we're a long way in front with the recruiting method Taylor has brought to the club. First class. The development team is second to none and quite frankly I think the additions of Chaplin (who had an offer to stay at Punt Rd), Egan and Rooke point to and underline the quality of the environment Roos and co have put in place. People want to come to the club because they can see the raw talent on the list and want to be a part of developing it, pushing it hard and seeing it unleash on the field. Misson and Rob Jackson have done a tremendous job, there can't be any question about their commitment to the playing group and driving of standards. I have no concerns at all that Goodwin will not measure up. There's no apparent ego which is commonly seen across the AFL senior coaching a ranks. He's humble, assured and a footy nerd. I think he'll be a tactical genius on game day. The boys love him - what more could you want. My point is, is that there is so much more beneath the surface that has/is/will enable the team to out-perform what the supposed guru sports writers can only see above the surface. They see win/loss and factor in natural progression or regression and out pops the puff from their PC's. You, me and the majority of posters and readers of this forum know that there's a very different feel to this club right now. We live and breathe the club every day and know when things have turned a corner. I think we've turned a hair-pin corner and will ascend much faster than Mr Bicks thinks. Ed: have since learnt the articles author is Mark Bickley. Makes no diff to my post.

I remember Oscar Clavarino from WA vs Vic Country terrible haircut with a long pony tail which actually made him standout as someone you remember and recognise when he goes near the ball and track his movement. Have to say (and it will be in my match post of the U18 champs somewhere)the boy was a very good defender. Read the play well and was brave backing into contests. I seem to recall him leaving his opponent on occasion to go third man up or drop in front of a player to intercept. Will be interested to see how he goes this season

But if we are being honest after Bails rebuild Neeld brought us to absolute rock bottom. I look at us entering our 4th year of a major rebuild and most of the blocks are in place. The cement just needs to mature and strengthen

Agree higher than Sisykilder, but expecting even higher up the ladder.

Then I would think Cripps maybe headed back home...can't see them paying big $$$'s for Fyfe and holding him (Cripps) without a real shot at a premiership on offer. ...and lets face it they don't have a real shot in the foreseeable future.

We will finish higher than St Kilda in 2017. Their old brigade has kept them competitive, but like all great warriors age will catch up with them and 2017 could be a fall from grace for the saints vets. I'm confident we will take 8th spot.

This thread appears to be weather affected. It has shrunk. Funny that.

I know someone who has done marketing for the Hawks and Norf. Plenty of young people look at their website, so I'm told.

You're an expert on the "kids" are you SWYL? That would not even look at the website mate. Social media is all they care about, and the MFC's is ok. But sure, email Goody and tell him we can't become a "force" until the website has more recent headshots...

BANG!!

Haha hows the back peddling from this bloke. Personally i dont give two shits whether you speak to players. Stop trying to put yourself in a pedestal because you 'speak to players'. Your nothing but and old human being like majority of normal society. They don't see you as a friend. Your just a typical die hard supporter that they have to put up with from time to time. And guess what Saty, there are people who actually 'worry' like my step son who went to do a favourite footy player project on Bernie Vince only to realize that it hadn't been updated since pre season 2015. They have a simple job to do and hasn't been done for nearly 2 years. Poor.

One thing I didn't touch on was that save for the Essendon game in round 2 and the final two games of the year I thought mentally we were good for such a young team. I think the physical effort was good, which is the real sign of a team's mental consistency. Good and experienced teams have the Essendon type games too, like Geelong did in round 4 when Essendon were ahead in the third, the difference is they know how to eke out a victory in circumstances they put down to "one of those days". Unlike Abe, I'm very comfortable we have a mentally strong hard-nosed group developing within our midst.

[snip]Bernie Vince, Nev Jetta, Angus Brayshaw and Max Gawn are just a few to name that their profile pics haven't been updated since Pre season 2015. For example Bernie Vince is a number of players whos player description haven't been updated since last year. For all of this year they didn't bother to write up that he was the 2015 best and fairest winner. [censored] poor from a professional organization.

Fyfe and Danger possess some superstar qualities but kicking for goal isn't one of them. This game over the years has witnessed so many "saviours" that excel in so many areas of the game except for the one that arguably counts the most.

Don't disagree with his critique about us losing games we shouldn't. Who would. Though in some ways i reckon our failure to beat Carlton might in the end be a blessing in disguise as it provides a fire that should burn. But Hogan under the pump? Becasue he only kicked 3 goals in the lat six games? Please. That's nonsense, though to be fair to Bickley even some Demons fans underestimate Hogan (as evidenced by various poster on DL), And who will help Hogan up forward? Maybe Watts?

I think we already have our third tall forward and that is Watts. To my mind he is a perfect fit in that role. He is versatile and reads the play well in both attack and defence. He can run all day, take a mark and has great delivery by foot and hand. he is the hardest in the team for the opposition to get a matchup on. What we need to be looking at is a second forward to work close with Hogan. Hogan is very mobile and a good one on one mark. I personally have a question mark over his possessions when he gets them up the ground as he seems to take an age to make a decision on what to do. That part of his game does not seem to be instinctive as yet. At this stage I would be looking at Pedersen to step up along side Hogan, in the early stages of the season at least. It may well be a case of selecting horses for courses as we have a number of other options. Tim Smith is an interesting addition to the forwards as I think, from the little I have seen of him that he could add an element of defensive pressure that would be a step up. He also can take a mark and kick a goal. There will be teams we will play where that defensive pressure will be a real advantage. Weeds will get a run or 4 in the team and I think he will perform well. I liked what I saw in the Hawthorn game and I like that we do not need to rush him and push him to perform. We are giving him a chance to develop at the right pace. Will Hulett get a run there in 2017? They might give him a taste if they have the opportunity and he is showing something. With the additions and development of players in the middle I think we will get better and more frequent delivery into the forward 50 and we have to make sure we get the structures right at the pointy end to ensure we get the rewards.

What Bickley has written is fair enough for an outsider..Rounds 22 & 23 of this year are still what we are being judged on even with a wiff of finals Clubs will still expect to Roll us with the right pressure at this stage. It depends how hungry our list is

Gawn is in NZ. He has run, been to the gym and kicked a ball everyday including Xmas day, he is careful about what he eats and drinks too. His professionalism impresses me.

looking forward to a Goodwin Good win !! and many of them

Ravens Texans Seahawks Thanks again for running it Macca, looking forward to the post season comp!

What do you mean the club doesn't owe Springvale/Casey zilch?! Maybe if MFC went alone and made a solo VFL team the yes, but taking over a club with over 100 years of history doesn't mean you can just do whatever you want with them. And the Club has made it very clear it has a great relationship with Casey and respects the history of Springvale. Not only that but the Casey/Melb alignment has never worked so well and it's doing wonders for the eastern suburbs and young footy development. Why on earth do they need a standalone team when the one they have now is working so god damn well? I'll never understand this argument.

Draft and development is the only way to build a dynasty. We have invested heavily in these areas and it is just about to pay off. If we can pick up some high end talent and maintain the payment balance in our group over the next few years then fine, but time and time again clubs have tried to pay for a superstar and ended up killing the goose that lays the golden egg. I don't think we want or need to do that.

Paul Roos was our saviour.

Ha. I once pulled up next to the [censored] at the lights at the corner of malvern and orrong roads.... drive off up the road and its traffic and parking chaos so where does the messiah park? The bus stop. He parked at the bus stop. I hope he got a ticket.

and a happy 25th of december to all demonlanders the 2017 season can't come quick enough

Merry Xmas guys and a happy and safe New Year to you all. Go Dees.

Chadstone is Hell