Gator

No worries. You're not the first to misread the tone of a conversation. Easy to do.

That's not what she said at all. She said Melbourne gets frustrated as he seems to waver after he's visited home, but when asked whether she thinks he'll stay or go she replies "I actually couldn't call it to be honest, I couldn't call it". It is incredible to me that people cannot accurately pass on what they hear. And it happens continually.

I think you'll find that the Dogs just pipped us for least experienced with 60 games.

You're reading far too much into things. You're looking for smoke and mirrors. Before the season is over clubs virtually never concede anything in the media, He'll be a Dee.

I'll judge it in context at the time. I wouldn't swap our list for either of theirs, but that's not to say we're immune to a loss - even next year. Geelong will finish top 4 and Collingwood and Carlton beat them in consecutive weeks this year. I have great faith in the midfield we're developing and loving the new ball movement. But no, I don't share your concern about "certain clubs". It's merely a reflection of where we're at in our young development cycle.

The sky is falling. Hate to break the news to you, but we haven't been very good.

You think you needed to give me a sample of Saints games when I know we haven't beaten them since 2006 ? Since good ol Brock sorry Brick McLean had that great second half which resulted in Thomas' sacking. You needed to list those losses for me ? Look mate, you're concerned and I'm not. We have the youngest and most inexperienced team in the competition that has come from 2 wins and 54% in 2013 to 10 wins and over 100%. Losses to the Saints and Carlton mean nothing to me, They're irrelevant. Especially any loss prior to 2015. But knock yourself out and have a pity party. Just don't bother inviting me.

What a pointless exercise. Hope it didn't take long. You do realise that we've been Fitzroyesque during this period. You do realise that most of our current players didn't play in most of those games. For example, you do realise that just two players that lined up yesterday played in "186" ? Two. You do realise that our game-plan and ball movement is completely different to Roos' first two years ? You do realise it will be further honed again during the off-season and that our quality young mids will have another preseason under their belt. Highlighting losses dating back to 2010 is one of the more pointless things I've seen. Worrying about losses to Carlton, Essendon and St.Kilda is sweating the small stuff. In fact, it's irrelevant. Melbourne lost to Hawthorn by 105 points last year and won this year. That's far more relevant than any loss you've just listed.

Do you think Essendon have some ingenious game-plan that Melbourne can't crack, or perhaps they just had a bad day ? And seemingly we now can't beat Carlton because of yesterday ? I do find it amusing when people come up with absolutes based on such a small sample size. If I were you I wouldn't fret over Carlton or Essendon and the likelihood of future success over them. Clearly the Saints are a different issue. But it's not completely surprising that a very young side has had trouble against a more seasoned side that still has grand final players in good form, i.e. Riewoldt, Montagna, Fisher, Dempster and Gilbert. But yes, we need more outside speed and class against St.Kilda and other clubs. No-one denies we're a work in progress. Hogan, Viney, Tyson, Oliver, Brayshaw, Petracca, Gawn, the McDonalds, Salem, Hunt, Stretch, Frost, Weideman and Kent are a core group of 15 x '24 and under' that just about any club in the league would salivate over. Hopefully Melksham and Hibberd can add to the group. Outside speed is often the last piece of the puzzle. Maybe it's Hunt, or maybe it will come through the trade draft. And none of our future inside grunt are close to reaching their peak. Does everyone forget that we had 66 inside 50's to the Eagle's 37 four weeks ago or do they only see an 'L' in the win/loss column ? I'm super excited by where this group can go, but it will take another 3 years to develop the maturity to challenge. And in that time there will be performances that leave you scratching your head. I'm surprised people are surprised.

So what ? I thought we would. Carlton are rubbish. Do you get every tip right ?

Victim mentality is alive and well.

So F/S rules were out of reach of other clubs ? State and Federal governments helped fund their redevelopments. Nothing new there. Grounds all over Australia receive government funding. This all makes them a charity case ? Got it.

Supporters ride too high after a great win and too low after a poor loss. Their season sways too much over isolated games. It was a poor loss by a very young team that is still learning the caper. I'm annoyed, the players would be annoyed and so too would the coaches, but they also understand where we presently fit in the world of AFL. The result was borne out of the fact that the team has been the youngest and least experienced more often than any other club this year. We fielded the youngest team we have since 2011 on the weekend. 18 of our 22 had not played 100 games. Carlton had 9 that had played 100+. In this context 2016 has been phenomenal. 2013 - 2 wins and 54%, 2014 - 4 wins, 2015 - 7 wins, 2016 - 10 wins and 103% with the youngest and least experienced team in the competition. The Melbourne Football Club is perfectly placed to have a crack at a flag over the next 3-5 years and the weekend's results don't change that one iota.

Yes. What has this got to do with your comment to me: " Sounds like you think MFC is a charity case. Do you barrack for Melbourne"

It would have been nice and in no way do I think Roos thought he was compromising a win, but for me it would have been small fry in the bigger picture.

They have been. The AFL recruited our CEO, determined who could and couldn't be on our Board and provided significant amounts of money when we were at our lowest ebb at the time of appointing Roos. One can be fully cognisant of history while supporting a team. Only a nong would think it's mutually exclusive.

I know it's part of an apprenticeship, but I think you're overly excited about playing finals and just making up the numbers. Half the competition play finals. Ordinary sides play finals. How have those 3 straight years of finals helped Richmond ? I think it's a blessing in disguise to not play finals this year. There will be a drive over summer that will hold this group in good stead for 2017.

You barrack for Melbourne, right ?

Still very young

Thanks for suggesting that. Love his no bs approach. As you say, he's a very intelligent young guy.

Why would you cop flak ? Everyone is entitled to an opinion. Incredibly inane as it is.

Frost is still very young in "games played" terns and has some incredible attributes. I think he can improve his decision making. Next year is "make or break" for Salem ? Way too early to say that. I've seen enough to be very confident he'll be a long term important player. Stretch is also very young. He's either still a teenager or just turned 20. I'd reserve judgment for at least another year. We have deficiencies to address, but it is a young and very exciting list.

44.19 shows he can kick. Clearly, yes clearly, he's in bad goal-kicking form. But to ignore all aspects of a CHF's game is stupid.

Michie does everything in slow motion. Unless he has time and space, which is often not the case at AFL level, he's useless.

I've noticed you draw some interesting conclusions. Special