rolling fog

I was sitting on Level 2 of the members and chose to go down to the standing areas of Level 1 for the final quarter to see the 'vibe' of supporters first hand. After the final siren, several groups of MFC and non-MFC supporters went over to the race. I explicitly heard one group say "lets go over to the race and get on 360 this week" - THIS MADE MY STOMACH TURN - for all the reasons already stated here, which don't need to be rehashed. Secondly, I recognised a few people hanging over the race jeering the players of from the TV footage as ex-schoolmates of mine who I know for a fact are neither MFC or Essendon supporters!!! If the media chose to concentrate on this ugly side or our current circumstance (which admittedly it's hard not to) it's only going to get worse and uglier! Did anyone else see the scuffle that broke out in the members just after the players had walked off? I'm not 100% sure if it was between MFC supporters and/or Essendon supporters, so I'd rather not cast false aspersions. That said, when MCC members are coming to blows with one another something is not right!!

Whateley has Schwab in his sights

Well Caro needs to sell papers tomorrow and if that means picking a fight with someone so be it. No point picking a fight with someone (MFC) who is nice, polite and probably won't get too offended by it.

Does the fact that we weren't the arrow, and obviously didn't warrant it in Caro's eyes at least, speak to the overarching theme in some threads of increasing irrelevance in the competition??

Good call. To hear the passion, angst and desire to set things straight in Ox's voice on SEN on Sunday night when he called in is something which seems devoid from the public image of MFC at present. Please correct me if I'm wrong (I hope I am), but I didn't hear Garry calling in to the MMM post-game analysis or even the North vs Collingwood pre-game where they were discussing the MFC vs Port match.

I would love for Nick to point out any fair weather supporters still present at the ground to be able to boo the players off... By definition Nick, they weren't at the ground doing the boo-ing!!!

It's a poisoned chalice for Lyon to get involved in the club full-time. Lets say he turned the club around (James Hird-esque), while those diehard MFC supporters, many of whom populate this forum and many like it and lets face it are currently in the minority of Dees fans, would laud Lyon because we see what we see and feel what we feel at the moment, and as it stands it will take a superhuman effort. Yet those Dees fans maybe more on the periphery of the supporter base and those in the wider football community would view Lyon as just meeting expectations and having achieved what he was sent there to do, not for the superhuman effort it currently is. Now, if he didn't manage to pull off said turnaround, his standing in the media and currency as a "football analyst" is greatly diminished and he would be somewhat on the outer from his own club after going in to fix something that may, especially by his view of the culture and current board/administration structure, is not readily fixable. No wonder he's called THE LONE WOLF.

I would love to know what Schwab and McLardy think the MFC will look like in 10-20 years time? The Ox said on SEN tonight, "today was the worst performance from the MFC since 2003". Did any of us think that 10 years later we'd be in exact same place?

+1

By now we've surely figured out Thomas' game plan here. Release an opinion on Sunday/Monday to try and get some traction going to into Footy Classified on Monday night...otherwise how does he remain relevant? Neeld was handed a rabble, and that was all before the events of the last ~month. Sadly I think the rubbish, such as this from Thomas, is set to continue throughout the the season. Particularly around gauging each week's performance with being able to suitably honour Jimmy's memory. If Neeld can see his way through the next ~6 months, and he will, he will be able to see off anything. From here on he, and henceforth the club, will be stronger.

Petterd to start! Discuss...

6. Moloney 5. Sylvia 4. Martin 3. Tapscott 2. Trengove 1. Grimes Indeed Doggo, you beat me to it!

Firstly, I'm quite proud to be a supporter and member of a club which is seemingly never in the headlines for the wrong reasons and I hope it stays that way. Furthermore, we (the greater MFC organisation) is not a halfway house. But, that said and that which ha sbeen said here previously, there are things which are bigger than football. I would like to think, although I'm not holding out much hope, that Fev has had a true wake up call and he can shone some light on the cruel mistress that is a professional football career and that it can be taken away in the blink of an eye, nothing lasts forever. Most importantly though, it must not come at the sacrifice of young 18-25 y.o. developing tal forwards.

Scull would be a big loss, theres no denying that. However, yes, I agree that we could adapt. I think it's important to acknowledge that this isn't a one way street that we need to convince Scull to stay at a club with genuine finals and premiership prospects over the next 3-5 years. Put another way, would Scully leaving MFC close/delay/diminish his premiership window? I know this is all very presumptuous and he is still very young but GWS aren't an entirely known quantity yet, well not until NAB cup anyway.

It's a case of 1000+ journalists accredited by the AFL to cover football and there being no football to cover. I sincerely hope this doesn't deteriorate into the Ablett vs Thompson vs Costa vs Cook vs GFC Members farce of 2011. I for one am proud to be a member of a club which doesn't waste column inches in such a way, just as we never see Davey or Green getting their drink on in down town Hong Kong - a bit OT, I know, sorry .

Yeah I always get the same feeling...but if it had to be anyone non-MFC I'm glad its crawf - he's probably my favourite non-mfc player. A great player and a top bloke

Yeah totally agree. I don't think this will end well.

Yeah doggy was there, great to see all those guys there...the end of that late 90's group fostered by daniher...ahh the memories

you can't get anything of real substance unless you have fox sports or don't mind staying up to watch footy classified.

Yze (1)(2)(5) Bruce and Green trade bait

*contested ball *opposition pressure, namely offensive pressure auzzie wozzie is really getting the job done atm!

Oh what a champion and true clubman. Anything for the return of the days of Stynes, Viney, Neita, Stinger, Cells etc. etc. Queens B'Day farewell for sure

Hes on $415,000 per season according to dreamteam. White is the second highest paid ruckman in the league, after cox, on 430k while Yze is somehow on approx. 320k. I know these fugures aren't bonafide but still, they are indicative of their presumed value

'Crackers' Keenan said on the radio this morning that he believed that Gardner is going to step down sometime next week to make way for a wealthy, or has considerable backing from somewhere, past player. He wasn't too specific and thats all I caught, anyone heard anything further? or to the contrary?

Jolly's not going anywhere