hemingway

Gee that's an impressive line-up or a very worrying one. A large staff overhead particarly given the salaries at the top end. You would think unsustainable in the long term without increased growth in new revenue streams and continued support from the AFL Also underlines how important it is to have success in the near future. How does Melbourne's staff list stack up against others? I assume salaries are competitive with others. It's interesting as my perception was that Jackson had got rid of a lot of staff and reduced salary costs. I know it's a professional business but you do wonder whether all these people are necessary and whether best practice is another name for keeping up with the Joneses. I wonder if there is a better way? It seems that less successful clubs look at successful clubs and try and copy their practices on and off the field. In other words there is not much creative thought or attempt to do anything radically different . However it's catch 22 in a way. Have clubs overcomplicated the whole deal in order to be seen to have a professional operation? Is it necessary to have all these people to become a successful club on the field? You wonder what the mininum and maximum numbers are to be successful. What you do know is that you need good people in all positions to be successful. Just late night musings. Just hope we start winning games on a regular basis.

Please No. This is becoming tragic. And I don't mean Jack Watts

Pretty ridiculous thread. Achieves nothing

Although we were badly beaten in the end, the hammering on the scoreboard came in the last Q. There are 60 + losses all the time and it is not all about Melbourne. Despite the disappointment with our individual and team performance I can't help think that this may have been a 100 + points loss in previous years. Perhaps not a good way to see it, but an indication that we have improved.

Yep I agree Dees however it has always surprised me how so called professional clubs can be so unprofessional at times in their management of player issues and health.

I must be getting soft or my views seriously out of date but the hits from both Hodge and Lewis should receive lengthy suspensions. Not much better than the infamous Barry Hall king hit. Both Hodge and Lewis deserve 6 to 10 week suspensions. Both hits could have killed or seriously maimed their victims. Both could be charged with assault. I don't get it.

Yes Nut, this is true. An acquaintance of mine, an ex-AFL great and media commentator who as you expect is well informed, also thought Toumpas was the pick over Wines. The word was that Toumpas was "a beauty." He felt that we would get Wines. He said that Toumpas had the interest of all clubs including his old club.

If Gaff is available I would try and get him.

Irrespective of the debate, it may be in Jack's best interest to walk away from the game at season end. The pressure on him must be enormous and must be affecting his life and his well-being. Irrespective of the circumstances, no-one deserves the attention and public ridicule that he goes through from week to week. At the end of the day, he is a decent human being that does not deserve it.

we must get anyone who will improve our list as long as the player can find the ball, has run, has excellent disposal skills and who has grunt.

Has always had the mental toughness, commitment and willingness for the contest. Now has the confidence, improving skills, consistency and tactical brain to go with the toughness. Becoming a great player. Just love how this guy plays the game. My favourite player. The key to this guy is that he has played well in all games, win or lose. That is the competitive beast and pride in personal performance. Also shows what can happen if you have an appetite for the contest from Day 1,

Usually the threads are high jacked as a result of adjectives or the language used rather than the content of the thread. And clearly, personal asides based on posters view of the personality of other posters and their biases more often than not get in the way. Most accept differing views or opinions, but how those views are expressed become the point of argument. Although I suppose for many posters that is the point of interest! I think that most of us would have accepted at the start of the season, indeed even after the Richmond match, that we will not have a good idea of the progress of the team until second half of season. Even end of season, as views seem to differ almost from week to week based on match results. Unfortunately, this is going to be influenced by injuries as much as form.

From elation to depression in a week. From praise and optimism to criticism and negativity. From feeling that "we are back" to "nothing has changed". From feeling tantalized with what's to come to a return of the sadness which has typified the last decade. From feeling that we are watching "the new Demons" to feeling that we are watching "the same old Demons". From feeling proud to feeling humiliated. From feeling that we have more depth and talent to feeling that we have misread the early signs. From feeling that we are on the rise to feeling that we are being left behind. From feeling that Roos has weaved his magic to feeling that Roos has lost his aura. From feeling impatient for more success to feeling fearful of more crippling losses. What a difference a week makes. Will it get better or will it get worse? I hate this feeling. Well we are prepared for the next 2 weeks. Let's take it one week at a time!

Well said ProDee. However, is that a Freudian slip hoping for some sublime tiptoeing around the forward line? Perhaps some subtle humour? Anyway, beautifully written.

Irrespective of the line up on Sunday, we need to start giving match time to either Spencer or Gawn. Either they develop or we trade for a ready to go ruckman, but either way its a priority

In regard to Bernie, I seem to remember that with the Crows he was predominantly an outside player and also with us in 2014. This year he has become an inside player without losing his ability to hurt the opposition on the outside. He has become a complete player with both sides to his game. I assume this change is the work of Roos in turning Bernie into such as asset this season.

An acquaintance of mine knows Colin very well. He has told me over a number of years, that he is a lovely bloke, considerate and respectful of others. This is consistent with other comments about meeting him at off field events. He has decided to retire which is probably a sensible decision. His career at Freo did not work out. In this case, the irony is that he went from a very poor football club to a very good one. He may not have worked hard enough, however, he was up against it when you look at Freo's list. At Melbourne we seem to have turned the corner and we are seeing some guys who were getting games who are now struggling because of the improved list. However, for many years Col was a loyal Melbourne man during the desperate years of failure of the club on and off the field. He like many others over the years failed to live up to his potential. Perhaps as others say he was a lazy footballer or to put it more kindly, did not work hard enough. However, he is not on his Pat Malone. There were many others in that stable of underachievement. However, does that make if okay to pass snide or contemptuous comments about him. He has already achieved more than most on the sporting field. He has failings like anyone. What satisfaction is there in pointing these out. I don't get it. Would some of the posters on this site make these criticisms to his face. I suspect not. We should congratulate him on his footy career and wish him well.

. I seem to have heard that before

BBB, love your optimism, its so good to have youngsters on this site with such a fresh optimistic view of life.

we need a quote from guru bob and we need a new topic to rattle on about.

in a sense i was talking in generalities and principles although I did highlight Howe given the discussion. but the two points you make are undoubtedly valid.

Clearly there is a need for clubs to trade when necessary. However, I have always thought that a club just like any employer needs to be very careful as to who they trade, how they trade and do so understanding the wider ripply effect on the players remaining. They should be judicious and respectful at all times. Many players and their managers might have become greedy and expedient but the clubs should behave professionally and maintain the high moral ground irrespective of the circumstances. We need to build a team for the next 5 years. Some level of attrition and new blood is necessary for success but a club needs to be careful over the turnover rate and the players it trades. Dismissal, redundancies and in this case trades, will always impact those remaining and affect their morale and attitude to their own future. Howe is a good player and at times with his marking ability can be inspirational or at least a team lifter. I suspect that he is well liked by his team mates. I would be very careful at trading Howe irrespective of the trade. If he was adding no value to the team it might be a different matter but at the moment he adds value. Perhaps Shiel or Treloar may provide justification to trade, however, unless Howe wants to go or decides to go for the money in the contract negotiations I would not favour a trade. So from a Club position my starting point would be that "we want to keep you." If he wants out, that is another matter.

great find, and was up with our best against the Suns. Super impressive with good skills, run, and cool under pressure. None of the old Demon traits. Looks like he is straight off the production line with no defects. As others have said, our recent recruiting has been second to none.

Agree guys, I would hope that the club would strongly protest and not offer a limp objection designed to maintain harmony with the AFL. You know the usual diplomatic response, all front but no substance. Do I think that the AFL would care? No. Do I think the AFL media department would care? No. It will have served it's purpose by attracting attention. You know how it goes, emphasize the good and the bad and not think about the consequences. Journalistic standards or responsibility? Forget it. Call me cynical. Afraid so. Any respect for the AFL and the media? Afraid not. As someone else has said on here, what other footballers have been highlighted in this way for their mistakes? It's a little like our own supporters highlighting mistakes of Jacks and not others. It is one thing for a commentator to roll the video as part of an analysis of the game or to highlight one mistake but for the AFL to put this up is poor form.

To be honest Lucifer, I would be happy to see the back of Hird. He is the one who really deserves the fall from grace and public humiliation. Having said that I cannot condone the players who went along with it. The judgement that the players are innocent participants is disgraceful. Try telling that to a professional cyclist operating under the strict rules of the international cycling federation.