Rhino Richards

Agree with your thoughts melbman. The leadership team was selected by the players based on advised leadership criteria. Its not only there to keep others on side but also to keep the voted leadership members holding up the standard. McLean stuffed up and got dumped. As a footballer, I think Yze is finished. However, while I would not accept him in the leadership group (far from it), his appointment puts an onus him to be a leader to the best of his ability. Same with Robbo. And I think subject to any major breach of rules, the Club may get more out of them in it than not part of the group and free to be selfish players they are. I dont see the current selection of leaders as an end point but it does recognise how starved of leaders we are and that our future leaders are not ready atm. We are left with questionable group of leaders but I think a concept on the right track. But appointment to the leadership group is and never was a meal ticket to a free game.

or football nous.

Did you see these games? Did he play out the full match? Is he extending himself in these games? How is pulling up from them? Is able to train fully atm?

Truth is that he has shown himself time and time again that he cant win a contest in the F50. Hence he has to get cheap touches up on the centre wing. Sandy. Despite him having more leadership nous than most, he is just an ordinary footballer.

Since when have injury lists been reliable. Clearly he isn't playing because he isn't fit.

Agree. What explanation does it require for some? DB has stated he will only play players when they are fully fit. Frustrating as it is.

Good points Nasher and Bob. It wont soothe the masses though.

Confirmed. :D If you want to check the facts MFC pulled away from the MCC thirty years ago. The MCC is and has been a broader interest group than just MFC. For the record, the MCC contribute approx. $1m directly to MFC that they do not do so for other clubs. Your comments are just tears of bitterness. Get over it. Gouga, that comment wont suit those who would like to repititious spout that our Marketing dept are crap.

No. Now Damian Gaspar has expressed an interest to return........

Being skilled in the AFL means being able to play contested competitive football to a high level better than the next player. Any player who plays AFL is not soft so I dont see the necessary emphasis on the HARD. Godfrey was hard. He just wasn't up to AFL standard.

Great post Graz. I would certainly make communication skills requirement No 6.

Absolutely right.

Another crap self serving article. Why do journalists perpetuate the myth that our problem is that we are financially reliant on the AFL? It enforces the incorrect implication that we get more money than other Clubs and that when we get funduing its charity and when other Clubs get it its charity. Why cant they actually state the facts that we are more reliant than other Clubs on AFL funding? Also what a miserable assessment of MFC caring for players in hard times. Its a sad story about Terry Smith and the fine work done by ex teammates. But did Jake Niall ever sit back and think about the impact, affect and response by MFC after the untimely death of Troy Broadbridge. I for one thought the Club and all those involved handled the matter magnificently. A pathetic implication. BTW, David Neitz is our Glenn Archer type. Not as big an icon. But for all the bumpf on the shinboner spirit (and journos like to pedal), unlike them, our greatest player is not up on criminal assault with a drug problem and a penchant for duffing his teammate's wifes and girlfriends.

Congratulations to the Sandy players appointed to the leadership Group. They should however leave a few spaces for the inclusion of the couple of the MFC leadership group that should find the going in VFL more to their standard.

Agree with that Diablo. Gotta love those inspiring doom and gloom merchants that revel in the "end is nigh" melodramas after 1 round. It was always going to be a tough year but lets not slash our wrists.

Before we get excited they were fit and ran overside that stopped in its tracks. There is no doubt Knights has been working on a game plan all pre season. He got a wonderful gift from North Melb when they decided to stop dead in the tracks in the last quarter. I would like to see Essendon and how they play under a bit of pressure.

I doubt you will ever hear anything new or revealing by the average AFL media hacks. As for changing the jumper? Right.

I understand that Sheedy's presentation and initial interview at MFC for the coaching role was lacklustre relative to other candidates. I doubt whether Sheedy was really interested in the job and secondly has been that focussed on the Essendon coaching job for some time. Its hard to change a Club's culture and fortunes when your heart is not in it. Believe me, MFC needs a coach that is dedicated and focussed and who has some career skin in this. Bailey does. As time has shown Sheedy could turn a quid without coaching.

Spot on Franky. Injury lists lack integrity and accuracy.

Frankly, Moloney would be happy to play footy again after the horror stretch he's had. At the time of the trade it was a hard decision for Geelong. Circumstances and the winning of the premiership has warranted the decision a good one. However, it could have easily gone pear shaped if there side had not come together and Moloney and others were not blighted with injury at MFC. Given the situation, Moloney could still offer MFC a fair bit if he is fit.

Correction. It will make him tall with some weight. The ruckman issue is a separate matter and no certainty. Thanks for the comments on Grimes. There is definitely a position or five for him when he returns.

The actual result is an embarrassment but the prospect of a significant loss first up was not out of realms with a young side with a couple of players missing , new coach and game plan. If you think a new game plan can be learnt and properly executed (particularly by a young side) within the space of a pre season you are dreaming. Totally agree. The other players particularly some of our senior leadership team owe him big time. Its a pity some of them are so long in the tooth in their bad habits they wont change.

Do you actually know what the conditioning program is for each player and the team? The common sense of your post DR will be lost on the many "experts" who think "they know" when they have not got a clue and try to camouflage it with dressed up speculation.

What's the problem with it? He wasn't pi$$ing on St Kilda Police Station.

You just went and proved Bob's point.