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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.

This is one of my rare posts to say happy birthday to Maximus Gawn.25 years young today!

I'm up bush with no reception walking around and found a spot. Dallas KC Seattle

As in players or club members? If club members then quite a few, the board and the majority of the older staff/volunteers are basically all old Springvale people. Super nice and welcoming group of people. I highly recommend, if you get the chance, to go down to one of their pre game lunches then talking to the members afterwards, really is a great club to be around, which I guess is why I get very defensive and almost angry when I see people arguing *cough picket cough* to try and sever the tie between this 2 great teams, when people don't even know what they're talking about.

Yeah going to be some good games this week with playoff implications.. So unless the Redskins win then GB & Detriot both make it regardless of who wins their battle ? So they'll be playing for the North title & seeding... As for the Falcons you'd think with a #2 seed on the line, final regular season game in the Dome they'd take care of buisness against the Saints but these are the situations they usually drop a game they should win. I'm never confident taking on Brees but if we can get the W, take a bye week & reload for the divisonal week... I'll be excited (not to mention I wont have to watch a wildcard playoff game in my mrs family tiny cabin on holidays with all her family crowded around & me losing my s#it)

You do know that pedo had a major shoulder reco in the off season? Might explain him not being in tip top shape

You really shouldn't comment/argue on things when you have no idea what you're talking about man. Maybe next year get down to a couple of VFL games, talk to the players and the club members and you'll see for yourself exactly why the Casey and Melbourne alignment is a great benefit to both clubs.

i·ro·ny (ī′rə-nē, ī′ər-) n. pl. i·ro·nies 1. a. The use of words to express something different from and often opposite to their literal meaning. b. An expression or utterance marked by a deliberate contrast between apparent and intended meaning:

And "can cook"..... She goes alright.

She sounds like a keeper!!

Google : buy AFL team flag $94.95

This seems like as good a place as any to post this. A glorious victory and a very neat passage of play.

I'm guessing McQueen has Stuie but his 'just another puff piece with no real substance' comment is accurate. Most Demonlanders would have far more knowledge of our players, their failings and areas where they could improve than nearly any paid commentator. Remember when Buckley moved Howe into defence and it was almost universally hailed by the media as some brilliant and new left field move? How could they not of known that he had played his best footy for us as a back? Honestly as paid professionals, how could they not know? Because like any casual observers they only knew him as a bloke who could take a speccy and thought he must play forward. They know the bare essentials. Most commentators would know about 'Big Maxy' Gawn, 'Captain courageous' Nathan Jones, 'Parents used to complain when he played against their kids' Jack Viney and the 'Rising Star winner Jesse Hogan (who, by the way, is going into his fifth pre-season not his fourth). And that is about it. I bet very few scribes would know Billy Stretch's jumber number or what sort of season he had without looking it up. I bet most here do including you Stuie

You've never heard of Adelaide Premiership Captain, Mark Bickley?

I think you're right, Tiger.

Brent Crosswell, dubbed, "Tiger" because he called everyone by that name because he couldn't remember their names. Someone correct me if I'm wrong!

Is that the " near" canal or the other one ?????

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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?

of course

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.

Not sure if the alleged debt claim amounted to us being in the same financial mess we were in when CS took over because when he left, we were substantially better off in terms of net assets.

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.

Went to my girlfriend's place yesterday afternoon, during the exchanging of presents I unwrapped a copy of "The big book of AFL", I was instructed to turn to the section about the MFC, in which I found return flights from Sydney to Melbourne for the round 2 game which is our first home game against Carlton. I already have flights booked for the QB weekend. This means a minimum of 3 trips from the bunker to the G this year as we will be playing finals. Cant bloody wait.

I used to live in Sorry Hills. My ex wife still lives there. It suits her. I hate Kennett. He is the embodiment of evil. I've seen WD play a few times over the years. One time was in the Phil Manning Band at the Pacific Hotel at Lorne early/mid 80s.

Given he got 2 Brownlow votes in the first game this year and that he is best 22 not on potential (my view)...I think we were a lesser team without him in it in 2016. ...and I don't think he will learn the lessons he needs to learn now at Casey. He now needs to learn his craft with the big boys, he's streets ahead of his VFL opposition. Giving him a rest when needed of course is not silly.