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I don’t want to remember it

Wasn't it going to be the Melbourne Hawks? Dawks?

I would have walked had we merged . The thought of a shared history with the likes of Lethal and Dermie ........yuk ! I am sitting in a study with a framed NO MERGER sign overhead .

Two completely different players, both with critical skills for team success, developed, worked upon and displayed. Stynes gets my vote due to heart for the Club alone, if the hairs have to be split. Leoncelli was a big onfield improver, a critical ball carrier and distributor, a beautiful kick and fast as a road runner when it mattered. A nod for Stynes in an unmeasurable comparison.

A fitter than ever Nev Jetta sound like very good news. What a bloody top bloke Nev is as well helping others with their mental illness struggles. As someone who has lived with several people close to them with depression, I can empathize with the challenging situation this imposes on yourself as well.

At least Hardwick & Wallis had the decency to do it to a player looking at them. [censored] Michael Long just about decapitated poor Troy Simmonds who was bending over to pick up the ball. Hero Long decided to try and snap his neck off. Gutless. Weak. Dog Act. I rarely harbour a grudge on a personal level, but i cannot fathom how any decent human being could forgive that pr!ck. Hope the fat [censored] will one day get a taste of his own medicine.

Read his book mate, it's called "Urge to Merge"

Ridley was driving the Merger I remember the Phone calls from the Club...

You're not wrong. That really is vomit inducing.

You have to remember that it was an MFC lead merger where Hawks were the target club.It is reasonable to think we would have had the usual suspects leading the club and we would have been the basket case we are anyway. (MFCSS requires no other response.) What is interesting to speculate upon is what our membership numbers might now have been. I suspect about the same as Carlton 55-60k

They've ruined the sport as it is. They should be told to shut up. End of story. Mind you the incompetent custodians (the AFL) have stood idly by and let them turn the sport into an unholy mess. As for the 'leave the game alone' & 'let the game evolve' types, that horse has well and truly bolted. The coaches have redesigned the sport and have been allowed to do it The issue is not the rusted on types ... to them it's just footy. But those who have switched off or become disenfranchised are the real worry. I agree with Blight but I'd go even harder. 25 metres for the length of the kick (for a mark), rotations down to 10 or 15 per team (per match) and 16 a side. Now, I'm in the minority but that minority is growing. And that minority needs to be brought back to the sport, not criticised for their views. And I find it interesting that this pandemic has created an air of change with footy. About time I say.

Not really fair for Leoncelli to compete against Stynes.

Is this Ohio usa - David's jacket.?

Dave-o’s just itching for a merger.

The premiership clocks we had 87-91 , 94, 98-2006 we lacked the polish vs the premiership sides, though 94 I’d say our spine was the strongest with Lyon, Schwartz , Neitz , Stynes, Jackovich, Tingay , Lovell , but in 95 we were decimated with injuries & many never returned Bottom line in the last 30 yrs club hasn’t been able to sustain success long enough & improve the list enough in those premiership clocks, 2019 is just another example!

No one remembers the Hawthorn Demons, because it was the Melbourne Hawks. And, in all honesty, it was a Melbourne takeover. We wanted their social club and training facilities (prob players too) but it would have been the Melbourne Football Club and as Don Scott said, the Hawk would have disappeared from the jumper pretty quickly.

I've kept the literature we received from the club at the time, including a brochure with the new jumper designs and new theme song. There's also a proxy vote for the merge option, but not the other proxy. I sent that one in, but to no avail as it turns out. Horrible time in my supporting life and I said back then I'd rather finish bottom every year than merge and become The Dawks. It's funny to look at now, but apparently we had the players and Hawthorn had the money.

I see your point Wadda but even when I recognise the other choices in a race, I look away. Just like the footy, all the other horses are the enemy (place or win) ... for instance, if Super Seth runs a place but in the process blocks Santa Ana Lane's run, then Super Seth can go to hell!!! Haha ?

Best Bets: Caulfield Race 2 No.1 Twitchy Frank (W) $2.70 Caulfield Race 5 No 1 Iconoclasm (W) 5.00 Randwick Race 7 No 2 Santa Anna Lane (W) 6.00 A stunning 81/1 for your cup of coffee this week folks.......not sure i can drink that much coffee but happy to try !

Why is it arrogance? If the AFL season is to recommence in 2020, adequate warning needs to be given to clubs, players, umpires, venues, media partners and everyone else with a role to play. I fully expect any announcement would come with a qualifier that it's based on various assumptions and if circumstances change, the AFL reserves the right to delay once more. But arrogance? I don't see it. I just see careful planning and management.

Best Bet Caulfield Race 2 No.1 Twitchy Frank (W) $2.70

In a top class sprint race there's often any number of chances but the class usually prevails. Santa is drawn to do no work and just needs a bit of daylight to come storming home and win. And the horse is definitely looking for 1400m. If the race was over 1200m the no.1 barrier might be a hindrance. Pierata, Bivouac & Dreamforce are the dangers as I see it. Super Seth (JMac) the next best? Fierce Impact & Brandenburg have claims as well. The All Aged is a real good line up this time around. A good betting race. And I was wondering what Roy & HG were up to ... thanks for the heads-up Wadda.

not how i recall it. In fact he was the only one I really remember flying the flag.

Indeed. Your race has a number of amazing place chances including Super Seth at 5, Star of the Seas at 8 and Colin Sylvias Mother at 20 !! On a side note, have you had a chance to listen to Roy & HG on Grandstand at 12 noon Saturdays. Absolute top entertainment talking about all sports, when there is no sport. Classic.

This weekend's multi promises a bit of value Wadda! Best Bet Randwick Race 7 No.2 Santa Ana Lane (Win) $6.00

Best Bet: Caulfield Race 5 No 1 Iconoclasm (W) 5.00

@gOLLy Was it this game in 2004? Absolutely bucketed down in the last quarter:

Prymke’s injuries cost us big time. Very solid, under rated

Today sees Jim Stynes take on Andrew Leoncelli. You can either vote by going to our Facebook or Twitter pages or for convenience you can vote in the poll above. Underrated player draws shortest of straws. Jim Stynes: 264 Games 130 Goals 1991 Brownlow Medal 4 x Keith Bluey Truscott Trophy 2 x All Australian MFC Team of the Century AFL Hall of Fame MFC Hall of Fame Andrew Leoncelli: 146 Games 66 Goals Tournament Fixture:

sounds good to me. I'd add my usual hobby-horse: If a player is tackled and a team member of the tackled player then jumps on the initial 2, pay a free against that third player. They often tackle the oppo who does not have the ball, which is clearly a free kick under current rules (though never paid). But I'd suggets a free regardless of who they 'tackle' as long as it is clear they are not trying to help extract the ball.

Surely you realise that any official announcement from the AFL will only be made after consultation with the relevant state health authorities.. Anything else is just conjecture.

One of the best games ive ever seen us win alongside the 94 win against Carlton with my dad. I find that bitter sweet though, as its kind of embarrassing that these are the quintessential wins of my 30 years barracking, and no grand final wins etc Stunned to put it mildly, a fight broke out on the ponsford upper level after the siren. I assume it was a livid blue not used to having a finals win not served up on a silver platter and a gloating demon fan giving it to them after they prob gave it to them all 1dt half We had a ceiling that was well below EFC unless we learnt how to FLOOD them, which in retrospect, we shouldve done. We were beneath them as a collective and did not have enough football talent to negate any physicality they imposed. I mean with all due respect to our defense, but does: 26 Daniel Ward 27 Anthony Ingerson 44 Alistair Nicholson HB: 42 Peter Walsh 28 Matthew Collins 21 Steven Febey Look at all like a premiership defense? Honest battlers that give it their all, but were blown out of the water. I know our forwards didnt give much of a yelp, but they were simply matched up well with a competent defense. And our mids gave it their all too but we just could not stem the tide when they had too much strength on every line inspite of any thuggery Out gunned pure and simple, nothing to do with balls. You dont get to a GF without balls.

Melbourne doesn't like to play finals type footy, which is very aggressive footy. The Bombers came to play, and came to Win. And they brought their 'A' game with them, on the day. AGGRESSION. No on can blame them for giving everything they had, to win the game. And they did.

1. nope....dogs brekkie 2. good one 3. yep, except backwards pass in attacking 50 should be ok (imagine stuck on boundary line near behind post.) 4. good one, overdue 5. minor infractions should be the old 15m (maybe 25m) , 50m for more serious 6. drop nominated ruckmen rubbish .... still just 1 per team but anyone 7. stricter interpretation of holding the ball (reduce time) 8. quicker ball-up in scrimmages as it used to be (reduce ugly maul)

Cam Bruce stood up big for us in the last quarter of the QF as well "The rookie! The rookie!" I concur with the comments above, one of my favourite and most enjoyable days at the footy. We've beaten the Blues in some memorable games in my time, 88 PF, 94 QF and 2000 QF not to mention ruining their occasion in the last match at Princes Park I remember all the stunned Blues supporters around us that day as we rolled over them in the last quarter. When the siren went I was walking out up the aisle just yelling out "we're going to the Granny! We're going to the Granny!" which I knew we would after cementing the week off

He was the only one who even tried to fly the flag. Gave Hird a bodyslam from memory though was all a bit late.

This is the only photo of I could find of David Neitz wearing the Tooheys logo. It is from 1996.

I think we were Drake until 91, Snowy Mountain Water in 92, Pioneers Homes 93 Tooheys from 94-97. 94 had the distinctive diamond Tooheys Blue logo. I think it was the simple, rectangle one after that.

I looked it up and turns out he was from Tassie - a true Van Demon, but I never realised that. Lou Richards described him as "Biffin by name and biffin' by occupation"! One day at Moorabbin when it was blowing a gale to the Nepean Hwy end, Biff spent the entire game in the same goal square, playing as full-forward when we had the wind and as full-back when kicking against it. One of my all-time favourites.

Febey was a consistent, talented and skillful player who went under the radar for most of his long career. He played his role to perfection and made a huge contribution. Reminds me of Foulds of bombs who played 300 games just doing his job. Davey changed the nature of forward defensive play and showed some of the most exquisite skills ever seen. Just last week he shimmied and shook and kicked a long goal in the replay of the 2006 final against sinners. He also got us into the finals against doggies when he stalked a doggie and smothered a kick. From the throw in White got a free kick and goaled. That sets him above nearly all players in the red and blue. Davey for me. For the record this contest is grossly unfair to players like these two. Implement repechage system.

Over the last week there have been a lot of claims and counter claims: - players using 'mental health issues' to avoid testing. The implication is they don't actually have a mental health issue. This excuse was used by 16 players from one club according to Ross Stevenson from 3AW. This was rebuked by Eddie, AFLPA, AFL. - Grant Thomas was told (after his coaching finished at the Saints) that unbeknown to him, drug use was 'rife' among the players during his reign. Strongly rebuked by Nick Del Santo and Spider Everett. Now Nick Reiwoldt says: https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/a-free-for-all-riewoldt-lashes-players-over-afl-illicit-drug-policy-20190225-p50zzs.html “The AFL, by their own admission on their own website, what the policy is designed to do is to identify players with substance abuse issues and place support around them to protect their health and wellbeing...the vast majority of players don’t have substance abuse issues, they’re taking the [censored] because the system allows it. "It depends what your definition of out of control is. I would say it’s out of control.” Riewoldt called for players to be hit with a four-week ban on the first strike. “What I would say, if they’re serious about getting the number closer to zero, remove the safety net,” he said. “If players do have a legitimate substance abuse issue, then getting a suspension on their first detection is probably the least of their worries. They need to get their life together". How often do we hear of a player having an injury, personal issues, mental health issues or glandular fever and are out of the game for 4 weeks. Without casting dispersions on people with those issues, its hard not to think a '4 week suspension is being played out' for a second strike. I agree with Nick: first strike and 4 weeks suspension. No excuses for avoiding testing either. The AFL has said it will review its drug policy. Code for getting it out of the media. I certainly hope that the club with allegedly 16 players using 'mental health issues' isn't the demons. I reckon Mahoney and or Goodwin would get wind of it somehow and make sure the culprits are weeded out one way or another. So doubt it is us.

Good thing you didn't go with "best interstate player drafted by Melbourne". That would have been Darren Jaman.

Easily Febey over Davey, Febey Was great his whole career till injury meant he ended his run close to breaking the then games record. Davey was amazing early. but then faded over his career. He set the standard with his defensive pressure for the comp and then stopped doing that sort of pressure. Not sure if that was coach led. By the end it was obvious Davey was done in terms of being competitive, not so with Febey.

Febey for me and by quite a long way. Talented, tough and completely reliable over the course of his career. Davey IMHO was at his best in his first three-four years and even then was too easily tagged out of matches. I think when you weigh up his talent and physical attributes, he under achieved for what he was capable of.

Last touch rule should be like they do in AFLW. It is only a turnover if it comes off the foot of an opponent and does not include the i50 arks. It is probably what Blight meant. Works well and should be in AFL too. It was the rule previously.

1. SANFL have a good rule for this. Last touch unless it's a disputed ball, in which case, throw in. 2. or we could get umpires who know how far 15m is. When kicking, they think it's really short. When running with the ball, they think it's really long. They must get trained by fishermen. 4. let's try this one first and see if anything else is needed ... 3. ... such as backwards kicking. Man up if you don't like it.

Essendon knock back AFL assistance in bid to remain independent. Dons knock back cash injection would've made a better headline.

I know of 1 bloke who missed a finals series cause of "mental health" issues. Can't have the biggest name in the game tarred with the drug brush can we.

Over the last few years we have seen players traded from a number Clubs for reasons which appear strange given their obvious talent!