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Watching the Heritier Lumumba interview on the Club website gives me great confidence in the strategy of our recruiting department. Considering the fact that most Demon supporters had no idea that we were likely to get any compensation for Mitch Clark's departure, to get somebody of the calibre of HL is a masterstroke. I think that the recruitment of HL was inspired and I suspect that he will 'walk the walk' rather than just 'talk the talk'. I am feeling very comfortable with HL (and his attitude) inserted into our back half and feel that a combination of him and Frost will more than compensate for the loss of Frawley (and Brayshaw as steak knives completes the picture). Welcome to the MFC Heritier Lumumba! http://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/2014-12-31/heritier-lumumba-interview

For mine, our best forward half would be: Petracca Hogan. Gartlett Gawn. Dawes. Howe Watts should be on the wing. Brayshaw in the midfield. Immeasurably better front half than this year.

Excellent interview. What I am most looking forward to is that feeling of excitement, sitting at the MCG and watching him get the ball and take off. No "oh my God I might make a mistake so I'll kick it backwards and be safe". HL and Garlett are exactly what the team needs to be competitive (and Hogan) and they are exactly what we need as spectators to restore going to the footy as the pleasure that has been absent for so long. Bit excited about next season.

My missus never drank beer until she found one with her name written all over it. The Beez Neez. For once I didn't argue

This place is fine, I really think some of you are spoilt - go and have a look at Bigfooty or any other sports related forum - this place is a beacon compared to those places.

I think a lot of the people who just look in, then move on, would be checking for any interesting fragments of information and training reports. But seriously, with the snarky, surly, personal tone that so many threads here degenerate into, it's not exactly a surprise that people think "Nah, I'm not going to get into that." I'd endorse a 'mod rule' that authorised a simple blanking/deleting of any comment that includes sniping lines like "Where you even at the same game? / You clearly have no idea about football / what would you know / only an idiot would" and so on. People would be perfectly welcome to repost their point, of course. In fact, a brief period of summertime enforcement would reset the tone quickly, ready to welcome passing strangers as the season gets closer. All that said, things do improve this time of year, everyone is in a better mood after the draft!

Guys, have a happy and healthy new year and go dees.

I'm safe as houses, don't do any medical stuff (its high risk procedures like intubation that gets ex pat staff sick) and I'd sooner cut a leg off than wash a dead body (which is chief method of transmission here for locals). The numbers are not going to be disastrous, like the worst case scenario going around 3 months ago, but we haven't broken the transmission chain yet, still undocumented/untracked infections so probably take a year to get zero, been described as a bumpy tail off. There is a danger of it becoming endemic, so we can't take the foot off the pedal yet, so we work xmas, NYD etc which is a bit of a bore. What I do is build stuff, move stuff, and run a few ops for the WFP Logistics Cluster (got to play with the UK navy which was a hill of fun - best time work wise in last 8 years (at least up there with young maronite christian ladies (colleagues) belly dancing on our dinner table in Lebanon). So if Dr's need a place to live in the bush we build it, food needed in affected areas we get it there, organize all the logs for the NGO's and partners and a few other bits and pieces. What I can't get my head around is the orphans, team found a 9mth old baby trying to suckle on her dead mum, we sent UNICEF a message to collect kid were told they'd sent a care team up the next day (baby was with two older siblings <9yo). Anyway turned out they lied, baby died without care about a week later, only found this out because i'd returned to this village. Angry doesn't describe it, keeps me fired up. Can't really load all the pics easily on this site, and it's about footy anyway, PM if you want a link to my pictures - they are happy no sad shots.

And all four are upgrading our culture and on-field performance (albeit that Byrnes will be doing it as a playing coach at Casey)!

Just block Satyr's training reports for non-paid up members. That should do it.

Sounds like he's in good place personally & that can only reflect positively in his football. I'm looking forward to his dashing runs through the middle of the MCG.

I just read this on the AFL website. (What the coaches want in 2015) Interesting little grab. MELBOURNE Paul Roos To be the least-working, highest-paid coach in the game. I was already planning to make myself redundant by the end of 2016 when 'Goody' (Simon Goodwin) takes over, but why wait that long? I can do it now under the guise of "man-management", "empowerment" and "delegation". 'Goody' needs more hands-on experience, and 'Macca' (Brendan McCartney) is hell-bent on helping us get to the finals before the Bulldogs, so I might take my hands off the wheel completely and put on the cruise control. I like the way McCartney is thinking!

That's a big call. As a small forward in a horrible team he went at pretty much a goal a game this year, which if he hadn't of been injured all pre season and been ready to play more games sadly would of won our goal kicking. He has good pace, a quality left boot and most importantly know how to snag an opportunistic goal. Building a tank to go into the middle, has the solid build already. I'm leaning the other way, I think he could move into top 5-10 in the bnf next year.

We can whizz them down to Bridie O'reilly's for some guiness and some crap food then take them to hear a tinny fyfe band or just put on a Sinead oconnor album. Problem solved.

He's quick for his height and big arse, but nothing special. He has got solid skills as you guys have seen from the highlights, I always think he looks a bit rushed but, more often than not, they hit the target. His vision and dynamism is what set him apart from the many fit plodders at the few NEAFL games I went to. I won't go out on a limb, it's tough to make the grade and he might only get this year to do it, such is life on the Rookie List - a lot can go right, and a lot can go wrong. I hope he is asked to compete with the bottom four midfielders for a spot in the rotation (M Jones, Salem, Bail, Newton, Michie, Riley, McKenzie, and the kids from this draft) rather than asked to play another role. He is a pure, 'go and get it' mid in NEAFL and that is why he was drafted, let's see how he goes.

What does the "number killed" have to do with #illridewithyou? The originator had done this to offer some support (more moral than physical) based on her encounter with a woman who was afraid to wear her headscarf as she was concerned she would become a target of misguided anger. The originator did not set this up as a campaign, but rather it grew organically as a result of enough other like minded people adopting the hashtag in a show of support. It only became a "campaign" after the press got onto it and a few "celebrities" got on board. The original idea was a good one and it is a fact that it is generally women wearing the islamic headwear that are targeted as they are easily identified. I would think that the reason the Cronulla riots were raised above was because it showed that events such as the siege and its subsequent deaths can have violent repercussions and that it is often innocent people who are the victims purely because of some misguided sense of outrage.

Demonlanders are an interesting lot. There will always be a group that maintain that we should have picked Natanui (9th in the West Coast B&F for 2014) rather than Watts (10th in the Demons B&F for 2014). Similarly there are those that say we should have picked Wines (a Jack Viney clone) rather than Toumpas (an elite outside playmaker). When Roos gets us cranked up both these players will play valuable outside roles, particularly now that we have Brayshaw and Petracca coming on stream in the midfield. Have faith in Roos!

I'm a Melbourne supporter, so I drink wine.

For me there are 19 auto-selects, and I've been tossing up who should get the last 3 spots out of JKH, Kent, Bail, Frost (more dependent on KP spots) M.Jones, Reilly, Salem, Toumpas, Terlich, McKenzie, Mitchie, Brayshaw and Petracca. I've just watched the last match of the year and been reminded that Kent kicked 3 and had a big hand in several others, being highly effective with few touches - he's a definite starter for mine.Looks a belter of a pickup for us at no.48 in the draft

I think he'll play wing and be a stronger, faster and more penetrating (but not more accurate) version of Matt Jones. He'll cover the backline better as well and probably rotate between wing and half back. I am hoping he can run the members wing and pump it in to good forwards. The important thing is we play well enough to have forwards capable of staying deep in the forward line. Worst comes to worst I think Lumumba and Dawes will at least be on the same page. A link up player and CHF on the same page sounds like a nice combination.

To the Gat with Biff, that's where.

Whats wrong with BBO'S ??

Fair enough. Point taken but it was not the contrasting view that I was commenting on. That is what I enjoy and look for here. It was the rabbit bit and as you point out it was an analogy. Cheers.

How to attract members in two steps: Advertise. Get members to wear demonland caps to games or something. Stop the trolling BS. The mods need to do their jobs and keep threads on track. Every thread I read winds up being derailed by the same few posters reenacting the same tired arguments. You'd be amazed how much these two things would do to improve the place.

I think you are right 'Al', Cross will play. Although it's now his ability to stop opposition guns and get the ball himself that see's him play a number of positions and often keeps him out of centre bounces. Cross has been a really good get.

Cross is a gun, his ability to win the ball at stoppages is crucial for us. Yes we've drafted well but they're not there yet. This might be his last year but if fit he must play, I'd have him ahead of Viney at the centre bounces, most likely a different story next year.

There's probably more than a few Supercoach players who visit sites like this looking for info on players in their team or potential trade ins.

At least they're committed to the club and looking forward to being part of its future. Unlike some others in recent times ...

Win games

I like the man, and the way he plays. But the Interview was pretty standard from a player who has just joined a new club. Look at the past players we have recruited. Vince. same Byrnes...same Cross....same almost word for word.

Quite excited to get H into our backline. Sure a lot of the time he runs and then bombs it, but that isn't a bad thing for us, as we currently turn the ball over in the mid-field or half-back line. Heretier will at least kick it over the midfield and hopefully up to our forward line, allowing our defenders more time to reset and better defend the incoming turnover. Better to turn it over 100m away from goal than 50-60m!

Non members who view these pages should not hesitate about joining us. They fit the profile of all D'Landers. If you take a look at the date. NYE. and they are on the computer they don't have a life outside football. WELCOME TO D"LAND!

Is this the world's hottest bikini? Jobs done.

To hear no bull dust from a player is refreshing and to hear Harry say our training is on par with collingwood gives me great confidence that were on the right track and it will come down to players ability rather then having an excuse for not being as fit as other teams. Exciting times ahead.

I agree - a great addition to the list. Hope he's included in the leadership group.

Good points CBD. Also that the guy saw much potential in our path forward and wanted to use his experience and leadership to help us improve speaks volumes. He wants to be at our Club! Look forward to seeing him on the park from Rd 1.

I'm sorry Ethan but Red Death and Swan never have and never will taste good. Now a few Nice bottles of Redback and or Little Creatures under the patio whilst cooking a BBQ makes for a nice evening during the summer months

Or it could be Watson dropped and Agar comes in, keep the 3 quicks and add a 2nd spinner. I just hope Harris is fit to play he looked sore at the end. Can't believe the negativity in the reporting from the Age this morning. Saying a soft declaration, not enough over, why gift Marsh a 100. I thought for a match played in that flat a wicket to have a contest into day 5 was a great achievement. They forgot to mention the rain delays causing list time.

So the Rams have released who they play next year. With the 2014 regular season complete, the Rams 2015 home and away opponents are all locked in. While the full schedule with weeks and times will not be available until a later date, below are the teams the Rams will play next season. All teams in the NFC West will face the AFC and NFC North next season. The Rams will also face the Redskins and Buccaneers based on divisional finish within the NFC. HOME Detroit Lions (11-5, 2nd place NFC North) Chicago Bears (5-11, 4th place NFC North) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-14, 4th place NFC South) Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5, 1st place AFC North) Cleveland Browns (7-9, 4th place AFC North) Seattle Seahawks (12-4, 1st place NFC West) Arizona Cardinals (11-5, 2nd place NFC West) San Francisco 49ers (8-8, 3rd place, NFC West) AWAY Green Bay Packers (12-4, 1st place NFC North) Minnesota Vikings (7-9, 3rd place NFC North) Washington Redskins (4-12, 4th place NFC East) Cincinnati Bengals (10-5-1, 2nd place AFC North) Baltimore Ravens (10-6, 3rd place AFC North) Seattle Seahawks (12-4, 1st place NFC West) Arizona Cardinals (11-5, 2nd place NFC West) San Francisco 49ers (8-8, 3rd place, NFC West)

They're idiots and deserve everything they get after re-signing him following his 12 month suspension. All I can say is they better not go crying poor to the AFL after this is all said and done.

There are some who regard the draft as flawed to a large extent ... these kids are 17/18 years old when evaluated and I would argue that at that age, it's impossible to evaluate these kids with any sort of real accuracy ... if we went through any draft prior to 2007 we'd find that the true order bears no resemblance to the original order decided upon by the recruiters. I'm by no means excusing Watts as a footballer but if we didn't have a draft, there's no way he would attract the criticism that he does. Judging a footballer (a kid) because of his draft number is unfair in my opinion. Judging Watts as just another recruit is perfectly acceptable ... the trouble is that it's difficult for people here to ignore the draft number when appraising any player.

I remember taking my young cousin to a footy clinic run by the MFC, and Troy was in charge of his age group's session. He was so kind and caring with the kids and you could just tell that he was a ripping bloke. I only ever spoke to him the once, but I can't help but think about him every year at this time. His final act was the most noble thing that anyone could do-- he sacrificed his life for somebody that he loved. RIP Troy. Gone but never forgotten.

Troys parents are wonderful people and despite living interstate are thoroughly supportive of the Club. They attend the B&F every year which must be a difficult event as it would bring back memories of a very cherished son and the circumstances of his passing.

Where does Watts fit? I thought he would be ahead of Fitzy, Gawn and Pedo for a spot in the front 6.

You are really overrating him if you put him up there with Tyson, he's shown nothing to indicate he will get to the same level.

I see the 2015 team as an improvement on the 2014 team. If not, we are [censored]!

You have to think we'll play a little bit different with the help of :

I can't fathom how Neeld reckons we were travelling well in the pre-season. We were bog ordinary. Didn't we lose all the games we were involved in? I saw us play the Suns up at Southport and we were made to look second rate by them. Thrashed in the midfield and shaky in defence. I think the bloke is out of his depth and reckon he'll be gone by round 7. We'll lose to one or both of GWS and the Suns and that will be that.

If anyone needs to get a grip, it's you Satyriconhome. It's not the most important thing to do, it's one of my home truths, so you can save your sanctimonious bullsh!t for someone else.

It's not so much the beards that annoy people it's the perception they give that they are pi55 farting around with beard competitions when they should be switched on not and playing like retards. How about having a disposal efficiency competition? Or a second effort competition?