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"The motivation has always been there to stay loyal and ride out the storm, because I feel the reward on the other side of that, having been through the things I’ve been through will, one, make me a better person and better player, (and) two, it would be far more rewarding than having been able to take an easier option (and) chase success somewhere else," he said Terrific interview http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-06-23/nathan-jones-reveals-why-he-didnt-bail-on-demons Jones: "The motivation has always been there to stay loyal and ride out the storm, because I feel the reward on the other side of that, having been through the things I’ve been through will, one, make me a better person and better player, (and) two, it would be far more rewarding than having been able to take an easier option (and) chase success somewhere else," Lots of champions have missed out on a flag but there would be few that have played their whole career at a traumatised club. In that respect, no-one deserves to hold up the premiership cup more than Jonesy! Integrity plus. The team is driven and talented and as he says it is in their hands.

Look at this monumental achievement that flew completely under the radar - a month ago Nathan Jones became the all time leading disposal winner in the history of the Melbourne Football Club, overtaking Greg Wells. Heres the top 10 - Number Player 1 5332 Nathan Jones 2 5222 Greg Wells 3 5094 Robert Flower 4 4985 Jim Stynes 5 4939 Adem Yze 6 4636 Todd Viney 7 4483 James McDonald 8 4394 Steven Febey 9 4346 Brett Lovett 10 4299 Stan Alves

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-06-23/dees-lock-in-classy-defender-salem-for-two-more-years Let the breakout season continue.

Shittius Hottius.

I usually tend to err on the side of "anyone is tradeable", but in this case I think player welfare is an overriding factor. I really don't think Angus needs the stress of a trade added to an already stressful life period. Besides, we've already invested heavily in him as a player. We should allow that investment to play out now. I wouldn't entertain the idea unless he came to the club and said he really wanted to go.

Jones staying when every other FA went running during those dark days earned him in a special place in the hearts of the Melbourne faithful. It's hard to imagine the club without him.

We have our outs, but prior to the season if you'd said we'd be playing West Coast with no Naitanui (and his main backup in Lycett), Kennedy, LeCras (injury and form), Masten (form), and Wellingham (form) I'd have been pretty pleased. Shuey, Priddis, Mitchell, Gaff, Sheed, Yeo, Hill, Jetta v Viney, Oliver, Tyson, Lewis, Petracca, Salem, Stretch, Vince, Hannan, ANB, Harmes. We have better depth and pace running through the midfield, but need to be spot on with pressure. I'll make one observation re Gaff. He is slow and an outside seagull of the highest order. I have him in my Dreamteam and gee he opts for the easy outside ball. And he's so slow. Priddis, Mitchell, Gaff, Sheed are all very slow. It's annoying not having Watts and Jones, but I firmly believe we can win this if we bring our pressure game.

Why should we, of all clubs, listen to the man that ruined our lives in the late 80's? Bleaughhhhhhh

Worth noting that the Hibbert deal also gave us pick 59 (which became pick 46 after academy/FS bids were matched). And guess who we selected with that pick? Your Honour, I present to you....... Mitch Hannan

Keep the cups of pretzels away from Goddard!

Here's Richie Benaud's 8 Rules of commentary that the AFL boys club might want to have a look at some day, in between patting each other on the back... Never ask for a statement. Remember the value of a pause. There are no teams in the world called 'we' or 'they'. Avoid cliches and banalities, such as 'he's hit that to the boundary', 'he won't want to get out now', 'of course', 'as you can see on the screen'. The Titanic was a tragedy, the Ethiopian drought a disaster, and neither bears any relation to a dropped catch. Put your brain into gear before opening your mouth. Concentrate fiercely at all times. Above all, don't take yourself too seriously, and have fun.

Take that you salary cap rorting, drug cheating, dodgy player compensating, data hiding, arse covering, Mark Neeld hiring, feminist impersonating [censored] of a club!!!! Did I miss anything?

Daisy is too good for this network. She's all class and asks great, relevant questions that aren't sycophantic.

I think fans underestimate just how good Salem is. He has so many attributes it's scary how good this guy will be. Strong mark, elite kick, hard to beat 1 on 1, tough at it, tackles well. Apart from glaring speed, this guy is quite the package.

Hmmm, pick 18 for Gus in a heartbeat. Really? Gus is a pick 3 talent who is in his third year and has suffered concussion issues. Unless his concussion issues dramatically reduce his value (and lets for the moment assume they don't) he is just as valuable now if not more so than when we drafted him. Firstly he has demonstrated he can play good AFL football (we know all too well that early picks, even the first 3, can fail). His first year was very impressive. Secondly he has now got (3) preseasons under his belt, his body has matured and he's a lot closer to producing quality football than a first round draft pick. We've added significant IP and body development to him - why would we sell him for less than we paid? Roos and Hawthorn have shown that first rounders - particularly later ones - are very overrated. If Brayshaw is traded it won't be for a draft pick it will be for a player we want and who is more value to us than Brayshaw. And Brayshaw's good so we are talking a quality footballer. If his concussion issues are a significant deterrent to others the selling price won't compensate us and he'll stay. I like him but if he was part of a trade that got us closer to a flag I'd deal. It has to be someone of Whitfield or Kelly's ilk, anything less is just nonsense.

Due to an 'oversight' I missed the MFC interstate member allocation of seats but thankfully I've got my mates Eagles members seats for tomorrow night so I'm desperately hoping we win. Sitting right in the thick of the some of the worst supporters in the league, challenging every single free kick they get and roaring like a demented fool at every goal we kick (I'll wait until we're in the clear) will be so thouroughly therapeutic. I'm pumped and feeling very confident that our best footy is clearly better than the Eagles.

I do feel quite sorry for the bummers. IN A PIG'S EAR !!!!!! Hahahahahahaha Essendon. GAGF !!!!!!!

Those poor returning heroes. ?

You've just muted the entire channel 7 commentary box

Channel 7 - PLEASE stop showing that angle of the Bomber coach's box - having terrible flashbacks seeing Neeld in a coach's box!!!

He'll have a statue at the MCG one day. What he says is spot on, I have no doubt that James Frawley doesn't enjoy his premiership as much as a player like Jones would (if he won one at Melbourne).

Prior to the first bounce against Pt Adelaide in the preseason last year, his trade value was a top 3 pick, and even then he would have been considered 'untouchable'. Some terrible luck, underdone preparation and concussion this year has seen his trade 'value' plummet. Luck can change, fitness can improve and there's every chance he can move on from his concussion issues. There's no way we'd get anywhere near his value in return and there's every chance he'll still become the player he showed he could be.

These questions always make me cringe a bit to be honest. We don't have a Burgoyne, or a Hodge, we have an entirely different set of players with different individual characteristics.

Your wish is my command. Excuse the analogue quality. I'm not Fox.

If I hear once more about how much the poor players (the ones who signed false ASADA declarations) have been through I will seriously throw my whisky bottle through the TV.

Only on Demonland!

NO NO NO and I repeat NO

Had a lot of the guru's on here moaning that it was massive overs by memory. He's having a ripper season.

Just to let everyone know my dog likes to play fetch.

I would love to see the [censored] scumbags who tag REAL art like this smashed around the head with a cricket bat. Nobody gives AF about your stupid tags, but even non-art lovers can appreciate quality work. Start spray painting your back fence and leave real art alone. Dick heads

Billy Stretch is gonna be a 200 game player for the club. Has already shown himself to play good footy AFL level, and odds are that whatever hes been working on with Casey will make him a better player. Hes a very hard working kid. glad hes back in the team.

If anyone wonders what Billy's been working on to round out his game since last in the seniors I reckon the clues are in Plapps player review and the general stats. Billy Stretch: Billy had 24 disposals, including 17 contested possessions, eight tackles and 14 clearances. Looking at those numbers alone – it gives you a really clear understanding of where Billy’s strengths are. His work in and around the stoppages were really good. His contested work really tested the opposition and when he had the ball, it was a real highlight. Billy’s ability to take us forward was also a real positive. I thought he was the pick of the players. - See more at: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-06-22/vfl-player-review-round-nine#sthash.D8c4e2Wg.dpuf

Lol Goddard had one job, he had to just do the kick out and he completely [censored] it and gets smothered

Death to Windy Hill Produce the Paperwork you cheats

The commentary is ruining what promises to be a gleeful evening of at least one team I hate being beaten. Ling explains what you just saw with your own eyes with absolutely no insight. It's only 'special' comments because he sounds special when he talks.

I'm actually seeing a lot of parallels to Brayshaw with Salem. Salem had some very promising games early in his career including the clutch goal vs Essendon but then got injuries and external medical issues that were proving difficult for him and the club to manage. But we got there and now he's proving to be a very valuable player off half back and all the difficulties he endured are paying dividends. There were even calls on here to use him as trade bait. Brayshaw is going through a difficult period in his life, we've supported him this far and as someone else said to put him up as trade bait will only put further pressure on the bloke. We were patient with Salem, let's be patient with Gus.

Good article on Hibberd's non season and transition to the Dee's. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/footy-mattered-to-me-more-than-i-thought-michael-hibberd-on-being-back-from-the-ban-20170622-gww7ac.html

now that salem has signed i guess kelly is just waiting for hunt to sign before he makes his move

It's the nose.

I'm just not enjoying this topic of discussion. His 2015 season was fantastic and he's suffered injury since. A fit Brayshaw offers skill, outside run and contested ball. Getting him fit and confident should be the only consideration for the MFC. Particularly when we've got he likes of Vince, Lewis and Jones fast approaching the end of their careers.

Nev Jetta had a lot of concussion issues and seems to have overcome them. And he crashes as much as the best of them! I was reading an article about concussions which suggested younger people were generally more susceptible. Hoping as he matures it becomes less of an issue. Time will tell though.

Not a fan of any team with wings

I think anyone who gets too invested in anything posted by anonymous people with anonymous sources on a footy forum only has themselves to blame. I enjoy reading them but take them for what they are - hearsay. It is the same for players that are coming to the club and leaving the club. Until it is in black and white from the club that something has happened all these type of post are are entertainment which may may even raise the hopes a little ( or dash them a little) but I certainly don't take them as gospel truth ( for whats its worth I don't the gospel truth as truth either but that's a whole different argument)

A Hibberd kicking ass story while pleasing to MFC supporters, is also infuriating for Bombers supporters... hee hee hee pick 29!

Please, please, please MQ, if we kick away near the end yell PERCENTAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's easy his name is petracca

Great mate, thanks for sharing.