hemingway

He is a beauty. Has there been anyone else cross over from another club towards the end of his career who has given so much to his new club?

Super impressed with that interview with the twins. A really refreshing interview. Their enthusiasm and passion for the MFC and its future was palpable. No guarded comments or footy speak, just full on enthusiasm. Two very genuine boys with no tickets. What you see with these boys you get. No bull merde.

You just have to wonder how much longer Little/EFC will hang on to James. If they were winning and playing good footy it would help Hird and the pro Hird forces. However, I can't see the Essendon faithful and more importantly the Board putting up with a continuation of recent performances. They need to show something to save dear old James. If they continue to play poorly, I reckon he may be gone at season end.

Yep I am happy to accept Jesse as he is. There is no perfect model and everyone has their individual differences. What works for one does not work for another. Jesse has definitely worked on his kicking yet it still has some kinks but it seems to work. Peter Hudson had an unconventional action but was deadly accurate.

Agree Adam, as a developing team we are going to continue the swings and roundabouts. Look at other teams and we can see that with a few exceptions it is very difficult to maintain consistency in regard to effort and intensity from week to week. Hopefully we can manage more wins this season but we should expect losses and in some cases bad loses. We should enjoy the wins when they come and appreciate our improved competitiveness. We all have more hope this season than we have had for many, with good reason when you look at our list and emerging young guns. We should not treat losses as disasters and evidence that we are going nowhere. In fact as the media comments have suggested Paul Roos and others (including supporters) should stop referring to the past. I am concerned only with the current and future. My judgement on our progress will made at season end.

Curry you are a desperado. Just sit back, relax and enjoy curry & beer this weekend. I love the bye, I feel so much more relaxed coming into this weekend. I wish we could have bi-weekly games. This would avoid my weekly mood swings.

I reckon you are right about this. Well at least the bit about making a contest and bringing it to ground. Despite his deficiencies, I like Dawes in the side. He does lead up the ground, does provide a target and takes defenders with him. I also like his defensive skills and aggression at the opponent.

. The last sentence is key and why we should be encouraged. We have stability and a group of coaches that are going to make a difference. My sense is that there are no big egos and the coaches are working well together under the watchful eye of PR

Agree rpfc. he is a guy of great character. That's why he is worth persevering with.

Just so grateful we got Brayshaw. It would have been just too painful to see another Wines slip by us. i am simply astounded at the way he has played this year. a first year player who plays with such intensity, dash and footy smarts. We don't have to worry about whether he will develop over the next few years. He has already arrived. Everything seems to come so naturally. A future star and leader is in our midst.

Love this honesty. Absolutely so true. Last night at our family dinner, I was happy. The family were a bit shocked to see me transform from my normally morose depressive state into the life of the party. Ernest, why are you laughing, joking and being so nice ? Oh no reason I say, just trying to be sociable as I look at my phone to absorb the wonder of this miracle. The mood swings are part of being a Melbourne supporter, however, I could get to like the upswings.

I like the way that many of our emerging young guns are saying that it is exciting being part of an emerging young group of talented players. There is a palpable feeling that they do feel part of something that is building. Jesse Hogan has made these comments and Billy Stretch and the Hyphen also. It seems a genuine thing and not just talk. It can only be good that these guys see a great future and want to be part of it.

Smashing teams is a fair wish for all demon fans, but happy to settle for playing footy like we did against the Cats. Keep doing what we did on Sunday and wins will come. However, with our developing team there will be ups and downs, Seeing the group of talented young kids come through is going to be exciting and a reward for the disappointment of the last 10 years.

Bernie is an excitement machine. Great skills but plays for the team. He inspires his team mates and is a team lifter at important times. Damn good looking as well. Best pick-up that I can remember.

Not to many gracious losers in the coaching ranks these days, in particular the Scott Brothers although the list could go on. Roosy being one exception.

Well Jazza you get all the benefit from being there along with other faithful diehards. What a memorable day and you can say....I was there.. it will live in your footy memory bank for ever. A little like that famous day at the Western Oval in 1987. Days like Sunday are few and far between made all the better in being there. Nothing could be sweeter.

Wow indeed, that is one hell of a record. Sometimes I prefer that the stats guys don't post as our stats always provide a reality check against any optimism creeping in. Our stats on anything never come up well. In this case I knew it was bad but not that bad. Another precursor to a depressing weekend of footy. Please let it not be more than 100p. The Geelong faithful must be looking forward to this weekend. Good luck to the diehards making the trip.

Keep Cross in any capacity, player or non playing. We know what he represents and his presence in any capacity has to be good. Ex Bullies champion was absolutely livid when they gave up Cross. He told me that he was not only a top class guy, very popular with all, the example he set for the younger guys was invaluable.

At our home ground could be a contest but Geelong own that bloody ground. Even in the good old says we had trouble. We need a full strength side in form to make a contest.

Hmm, a big unit indeed. He has entirely transformed his body shape and muscle definition. It must be all those weights and protein shakes. Its great to see footballers like Stefan with an entirely natural body build.

Shows the positive side of the game and the humanity of the players. A good story.

Fair comment Mono you would expect PJ to have it all covered but still have to worry about the ethics and decision of someone to have the injections and think it was OK, for them to be administered to all the players at the time. We were getting fairly desperate to appoint an Ass Coach successor to Roos. Time will tell whether the Dees have it covered or whether it was terrible bad mistake.

As pointed out by Dees2014, we took a risk with Goodwin. In fact given that he admitted taking injections, we were taking a big risk. Possibly a very unwise decision given the circumstances. It was said that the club was happy with his admissions on interview but still seemed a surprising decision to give him the job given the circumstances. Goodwin condoned the program and took some of the injections himself, very much "whatever it takes." Brings into doubt his thinking and decision making.

Hats off to all the optimists. You keep me .........er...... optimistic. Well, perhaps when you speak I can see a crack in the door.....that's how the light comes in (apologies Leonard)

spot on mo.