Demonland

Hey guys, This isn't up for further discussion. The banner is finalised for the coming year. The players chosen are not all there for theit ability. Some are there for "branding" or "popularity". Others are there or not there due to availability of high resolution images or the "poses" they are in. Others are there or not there as a result of being there or not being there before. Next year others will get a chance, some will stay and some will go. If everyone got their say we'd have 30 players on the banner.

The young Demon utility's career was on a steeply upward curve until a knee injury struck him down before the mid point of the season. He recovered to play again in the final match but we're looking for better things from him with an injury-free 2012. Games MFC 2011 8 MFC Total 18 Goals MFC 2011 1 MFC Total 5 Games CSFC 2011 3 Goals CSFC 2011 1 Games CSFC Reserves 2011 1 Goals CSFC Reserves 2011 2

We've had so many threads started about Mr. Unmentionable that it's impossible to locate one specific post about him. I tried it and almost destroyed the search engine.

Thread of the year from a moderator's point of view. It's been going for a little over 3 hours and 10 posts have been deleted. The Scully family is developing an interesting reputation in these parts.

Broke into the Demon line up late in the season after a number of impressive performances as a key position player capable of holding down a position in defence or in attack. Games MFC 2011 2 MFC Total 2 Goals MFC 2011 0 MFC Total 0 Games CSFC 2011 17 Goals CSFC 2011 2

My 3 year olds arrived today.

Davis suffered from thyroid issues through the pre season but came back and performed well as a tall defender at Casey in his first year on the list and this should hold him in good stead looking forward to the future. Games CSFC 2011 14 Goals CSFC 2011 0 Games CSFC Reserves 2011 4 Goals CSFC Reserves 2011 0

Manson kicks 10, Fev 8 (5 in the last quarter) to guide the Waratahs to a 15 goal win over the Wanderers. Daniel Morlop reported. That makes 18 goals in 2 weeks for the Kimberley Kid.

After a good start to the season following on from last year's All Australian honours, Jamar suffered a posterior cruciate ligament injury in the big win over Adelaide. Games MFC 2011 15 MFC Total 110 Goals MFC 2011 4 MFC Total 14 Club Champion 154 votes (7th).

Jetta's year was plagued by injuries including a broken hand and a shoulder that required surgery. In between he started showing his undoubted talent and his hardness at the football. With a full pre season under his belt he could be a revelation in the midfield. Games MFC 2011 9 MFC Total 30 Goals MFC 2011 5 MFC Total 18 Games CSFC 2011 8 Goals CSFC 2011 7

THE LOW RENT PUB by Whispering Jack In the old days, long before the draft and salary caps, club recruiters would travel the length and breadth of the land trying to find players to enhance their club lists. Often they would have to use their wits to beat opponents to their man. Legendary club secretary Jim Cardwell mastered the recruiting art at Melbourne in the early 1950s when he skillfully assembled the side that was to win six premierships in the decade 1955-1964. In later years he maintained that much of his success depended on perseverance and sheer determination never to give in when chasing his targeted player. Until last week it was thought the Cardwell spirit had long departed the Melbourne Football Club. Others with a more professional approach and more money to spend took away Jim's mantle as the prince of recruiters and it was left to other clubs to score the major recruiting coups. More recently, those with the patronage of wealthy entrepreneurs or the power of the AFL bolstering new franchises prevailed when it came to snaring the prize signings of the competition. Things changed on the Wednesday of trade week when the Demons moved in cloak and dagger style to wrest Brisbane Lion ruckman/forward Mitch Clark away from his intended club Fremantle. The story was told this morning on radio station SEN by new Demons' coach Mark Neeld. The Melbourne recruiters were discussing how the Lions and the Dockers were unable to do a deal on Clark and a decision was made to go after him. Thanks to some of Chris Connolly's contacts, Clark's management was contacted and permission obtained from Brisbane to speak with their player. Following an initial telephone conversation it was decided to pursue him. Neeld, his new assistant coach Jade Rawlings and club CEO Cameron Schwab were off to Brisbane in hunt of their quarry on the 8 o'clock flight. When they arrived, there was no accommodation to be found and the trio settled on a shabby one roomer in a low rent pub near the airport. Here they were - a high power AFL club delegation of three trying to recruit a power forward. It was the Belgian Beer Festival and Schwab's personal assistant could find only room at $91.00 for the night in horrendous conditions. "When we got up in the morning we thought we can't meet Mitch Clark in this place so we got up and Jade Rawlings got us to the Stamford Plaza, we walked into the buffet breakfast and got a little room to the side. We acted as if we stayed there and no-one asked any questions," said Neeld. They met Mitch and his partner at the swank Stamford where they had the run of the place from 8 o'clock until well into the afternoon even using offices and going off at one stage to buy new clothes. The group finally left the Stamford at 3.30pm when they felt they had overstayed their welcome, finished up at the Marriott and caught up with Mitch again. At this stage they thought they were a real chance. The deputation met Clark again the following day and at one stage Fremantle's Chris Bond interrupted their meeting. They met their man again before returning to Melbourne on the Friday night feeling they were still in the running. It should be pointed out that by the Saturday morning, the football world believed that Clark was off to Dockerland having repeated his preference to return to his home town Perth. However, Melbourne persevered through phone contact with Mitch and then "at 10 o'clock, he said 'OK you won't leave me alone. You've persisted, you've done this and that, I'll come and play for you,'". Neeld says the result in the end was worth the effort. When he came to the club and went through the list, clearly a power forward was one of the gaps. "Mitch fitted the bill, his age (24) was critical and ... we're going to have him for that period of his career ... we did what we believe every Melbourne supporter would have wanted us to do." Neeld believes that Clark's presence will help the way the club is going to move the ball in the forward and there will be a ripple effect in that it will help the other forwards like Jack Watts and Liam Jurrah with the roles they will have to play and with the opponents who will have to go to them. "There are a whole range of options that we didn't have a week ago." Melbourne takes on the Brisbane Lions in round one next year at the MCG. For their return match, I suspect those extra options won't extend to the team's accommodation near the airport.

THE LOW RENT PUB by Whispering Jack In the old days, long before the draft and salary caps, club recruiters would travel the length and breadth of the land trying to find players to enhance their club lists. Often they would have to use their wits to beat opponents to their man. Legendary club secretary Jim Cardwell mastered the recruiting art at Melbourne in the early 1950s when he skillfully assembled the side that was to win six premierships in the decade 1955-1964. In later years he maintained that much of his success depended on perseverance and sheer determination never to give in when chasing his targeted player. Until last week it was thought the Cardwell spirit had long departed the Melbourne Football Club. Others with a more professional approach and more money to spend took away Jim's mantle as the prince of recruiters and it was left to other clubs to score the major recruiting coups. More recently, those with the patronage of wealthy entrepreneurs or the power of the AFL bolstering new franchises prevailed when it came to snaring the prize signings of the competition. Things changed on the Wednesday of trade week when the Demons moved in cloak and dagger style to wrest Brisbane Lion ruckman/forward Mitch Clark away from his intended club Fremantle. The story was told this morning on radio station SEN by new Demons' coach Mark Neeld. The Melbourne recruiters were discussing how the Lions and the Dockers were unable to do a deal on Clark and a decision was made to go after him. Thanks to some of Chris Connolly's contacts, Clark's management was contacted and permission obtained from Brisbane to speak with their player. Following an initial telephone conversation it was decided to pursue him. Neeld, his new assistant coach Jade Rawlings and club CEO Cameron Schwab were off to Brisbane in hunt of their quarry on the 8 o'clock flight. When they arrived, there was no accommodation to be found and the trio settled on a shabby one roomer in a low rent pub near the airport. Here they were - a high power AFL club delegation of three trying to recruit a power forward. It was the Belgian Beer Festival and Schwab's personal assistant could find only room at $91.00 for the night in horrendous conditions. "When we got up in the morning we thought we can't meet Mitch Clark in this place so we got up and Jade Rawlings got us to the Stamford Plaza, we walked into the buffet breakfast and got a little room to the side. We acted as if we stayed there and no-one asked any questions," said Neeld. They met Mitch and his partner at the swank Stamford where they had the run of the place from 8 o'clock until well into the afternoon even using offices and going off at one stage to buy new clothes. The group finally left the Stamford at 3.30pm when they felt they had overstayed their welcome, finished up at the Marriott and caught up with Mitch again. At this stage they thought they were a real chance. The deputation met Clark again the following day and at one stage Fremantle's Chris Bond interrupted their meeting. They met their man again before returning to Melbourne on the Friday night feeling they were still in the running. It should be pointed out that by the Saturday morning, the football world believed that Clark was off to Dockerland having repeated his preference to return to his home town Perth. However, Melbourne persevered through phone contact with Mitch and then "at 10 o'clock, he said 'OK you won't leave me alone. You've persisted, you've done this and that, I'll come and play for you,'". Neeld says the result in the end was worth the effort. When he came to the club and went through the list, clearly a power forward was one of the gaps. "Mitch fitted the bill, his age (24) was critical and ... we're going to have him for that period of his career ... we did what we believe every Melbourne supporter would have wanted us to do." Neeld believes that Clark's presence will help the way the club is going to move the ball in the forward and there will be a ripple effect in that it will help the other forwards like Jack Watts and Liam Jurrah with the roles they will have to play and with the opponents who will have to go to them. "There are a whole range of options that we didn't have a week ago." Melbourne takes on the Brisbane Lions in round one next year at the MCG. For their return match, I suspect those extra options won't extend to the team's accommodation near the airport.

An exciting find for the club, the high marking Howe showed many dimensions to his game. He proved to be not only good around goal, but also played some good football when played further afield with his excellent foot skills and decision making. Games MFC 2011 13 MFC Total 13 Goals MFC 2011 18 MFC Total 18 Games CSFC 2011 5 Goals CSFC 2011 8 Games CSFC Reserves 2011 1 Goals CSFC Reserves 2011 2

Gawn was not expected to play much senior footy if at all but a combination of injuries to other ruckmen and his own outstanding form at Casey saw him play four AFL games this year. Another pre season and some hard work in the gym and on the track could see him rise to regular status at the top level. Games MFC 2011 4 MFC Total 4 Goals MFC 2011 1 MFC Total 1 Games CSFC 2011 13 Goals CSFC 2011 4 Games CSFC Reserves 2011 1 Goals CSFC Reserves 2011 1

My 8 week olds arrived and the nearly 3 year olds didn't. I guess I didn't get away with it.

Davey had a poor season. He was often tagged heavily and he suffered a knee injury that kept him out for half a season and from which he never really recovered. His frustration told on him late in the season when he was uncharacteristically involved in an incident which saw him incur a week's suspension for striking. Games MFC 2011 11 MFC Total 150 Goals MFC 2011 5 MFC Total 152 Games CSFC 2011 1 Goals CSFC 2011 0

Was outstanding in his early games but his form tapered off after he incurred a hamstring injury. Impresses with his strength, attack on the football and his maturity Games MFC 2011 15 MFC Total 15 Goals MFC 2011 2 MFC Total 2 Games CSFC 2011 5 Goals CSFC 2011 0 MFC Rebounds from 50 43 (5th)

Fixed thanks & apologies to Stef.

Another failed Sportsnewsfirst scoop.

One of the club's big improvers in 2011, Martin came back from off season hip surgery to play a major role as the second ruckman to Mark Jamar. Moreover, when the Russian and Jake Spencer were both injured on the same weekend in late April, Martin competently took over the mantle of the team's main man in the ruck and he did it well. Games MFC 2011 21 MFC Total 50 Goals MFC 2011 10 MFC Total 16 Games CSFC 2011 1 Goals CSFC 2011 0 MFC Kicks 225 (4th), Marks 96 (5th), Contested Marks 18 (5th), Inside 50s 58 (4th) Club Champion 147 votes (8th).

Austin's head wasn't in the right place this year as he mourned the loss of his father Matthew and of his mentor Maurice Rioli. He came back late in the season at Casey reserves and suffered an ankle injury that required surgery. Games MFC 2011 5 MFC Total 31 Goals MFC 2011 5 MFC Total 37 Games CSFC 2011 2 Goals CSFC 2011 0 Games CSFC Reserves 2011 1 Goals CSFC Reserves 2011 0

No comment. Games MFC 2011 10 MFC Total 31 Goals MFC 2011 1 MFC Total 6 Games CSFC 2011 1 Goals CSFC 2011 1