hemingway

You have not mentioned my favourite Wagner. Richard was very versatile and able to play a variety of roles. His skills were sublime, his intensity and commitment renowned, and he was able to perform on the big stage when it counted. Unfortunately, he was a bit of a prima donna who had a habit of rubbing up his team mates the wrong way. So he was not a great team player as he always demanded the ball and did not like team mates getting in his way. He also attracted some undesirable fans including a bloke called Adolf and his cheer squad. But when he played, he was sublime.

Another good decision by Goody and a reflection of his values, relationship with the players and his work ethic. He is looking better and better as time goes on. Its one thing to be proud of your club but its always a good sign when you are proud of your coach.

No need to get Cranky Franky. Happy to bow to greater knowledge but I was only interested in getting some comments. I was referring to his 2016 season when he played half a dozen or more senior games. He lacked polish but seemed to be a goer. At that time the club must have thought that he was half decent. And he has been retained on the list. By the way I simply said that I liked what I saw, nothing about being great.

AF, it matters little that you were on record as being negative about this guy. The fact is that you had lots of friends. Many informed Demon fans were dubious about Melksham and there were many Bomber supporters who told us that we had picked up a dud. Also since coming over to MFC, Jake has had his moments and played some very poor games. I remember sitting in the stands at the beginning of last season and cursing him as he appeared so slow and appeared to lack effort and intensity. Lets face it, he had been in the system a long time and had a less than stellar career. He got better as the season progressed and blossomed in the second half. It is the second half of the season that really turned around opinion on his footy and his impact on games. It shows how coaches influence the careers of players. Giving a player the right support, encouragement and the confidence can make or break careers. At times, it appeared that Goodwin was gifting him games. Another one in that category was Neal-Bullen. However, Goodwin got it right on both counts. Let's face it, sometimes people surprise us. Too often we pass judgement prematurely or unfairly on others. We get it wrong. We would live in a much better world if there were more people who were prepared to say "I/we got it wrong". Imagine if we had Governments, political leaders and community leaders with the honesty and guts to say we were wrong. Imagine the improvement to personal relationships if admitting to wrong opinions and wrong doing was the rule rather than the exception.

Yes, I get that. I like boxing but your point about brain damage is significant. It was probably safer in the days of bare knuckle bouts. Modern boxing gloves protect the hands but allow for heavier and more frequent punching. In short, greater brain damage. Brain damage that has consequences for the boxer and their families, and to society in regard to health and medical costs.

I would also add his brother Josh. Contrary to many on this site, I liked what I saw with Josh. Thought he showed promise but lost his way last season. A little rough around the edges but had a manic attack on the ball and opponent.

Remember seeing him play against the Dees in his first season (I think) and thought he was one hell of a tough and aggressive kid. Not only no backward steps but a provocative in your face kid. Also remember thinking how like Essendon and how unlike any young Melbourne player. Of course, I disliked him immediately as a total prat. Now it's very nice to see him in the face of our opponents. In a team with others who are no longer the hunted but are now the hunters.

I respectfully disagree. From day one he showed he had the guts and determination, and also showed flashes of what he could become.had However, he lacked the consistency and polish. He was rough around the edges. Last seasons efforts showed to me that he has what it takes and the class to be something special. He developed consistency and confidence to take the game on, taking himself from a fringe player at best to a team player with the individual skills to influence games.

Always thought Ron was an oldie, well middle-aged although he does at time exhibit the naive, enthusiastic and emotional responses of youth. Thought crossed my mind that it could be the second or third, but the Maldives does suggest youthful spontaneity and a desire to please. The unforgettable honeymoon that becomes forgettable if like a candle, the initial bright flame of love slowly flickers before being extinguished by boredom or unfaithfulness.

Sorry to interrupt the Tiger Beers and playing Twister with your loved one...........but correction, I meant wife not new wife. When I use the word wife I usually use the plural.

A class act. Hard to measure Daisy's contribution to the Club but it has been huge. Has brought so much not only to Women's footy but the whole club. Total respect from all. Now a proud Mum with two little Demons. She gets everything right. A girl and a boy. Perfect.

Ron, I think you must be the best lover on Demonland. Now adding a new wife to your list of other loves. Keep loving Ron, it must be in your DNA. Your last sentence does suggest honeymoon euphoria. After all my marriages and liaisons, I can tell you, it does wear off.

If the intent is to mould a closely bonded team, with the players playing for one another and the coach, and doing all those team things in a game, I would choose...........................

Needs to be split up due to age, demographic, religious or non religious beliefs, behaviour, manner of speech, intelligence, education, social class, residential address, special interests, gender, alcohol and illicit drug preferences, etc.

What do you think that is down to, DS ? Weights or a special diet?

Sam has footy smarts. He does a lot of right things instinctively. Must be in the genes.

For that he would get the Medal of Bravery (BM).

We fell along way short of the best clubs. But this was the case across the board. We did not have the staff, coaches, admin and committed young players that we have today. Whats that word again? Culture? As we have seen, you need to have a committed and professional club from top to bottom.

Yep, well played Misso. I liked the way how from the very start, he said it would take several years for the fitness and conditioning program to be effective. There were going to be no short-cuts. Honest and real.

Done his job (well), but a good time for change. Good move for Misso and the Dees.

UFC is beyond description. Lots of people want to ban boxing but it is child's play compared to UFC. It staggers me that it has not been banned.

Much of life is meaningless. It ceases to become meaningless when we die. In the meantime, whilst we remain on this mortal coil, we exercise choice. We accept some things, reject others. Increasingly, I find sport in all its forms, meaningless, particularly those sports or derivations of a game that are invented and marketable purely to milk more revenue. The culture and history of a sport becomes meaningless because the new thing is just something invented by marketing executives and administrators who see $ signs in front of their eyes. They are dominated by thinking purely of markets, growth and money (in the pockets of all those involved in the game, namely, administrators, players, media and advertisers). Sport is now seen as entertainment. Sport (and footy) in its purest form no longer exists. In footy, we see rule changes every season to make the game more marketable. Do we really need it or want it ? No, but we are going to get it anyway. Do we need the latest TV or iphone? Do we need Big Bash or AFLX? Probably not, but we will get it anyway and folks have to exercise choice to buy or not to buy. Some manifestations of a sport or game are good. Women's footy for example. Worth watching, worth supporting and important for gender balance. All consumers can do is to exercise their power through choice. Avoid the sport (product) completely or choose what product or form of the sport that you like and wish to follow. The sports I don't like, I don't attend, watch or read about. Or I take less interest in. Just like you will read one book but not another based on your personal likes and biases.

Fair enough. Buttifant is probably the best in the business so I respect his expert comments. We will be able to measure or assess the impact as the season progresses. Many of our injured players have been doing a lot of running and participating in drills. It may not be ideal but they will have some level of preparation, even guys like Lever. I am more encouraged by the fact that we seem to be taking a cautious approach with our players and giving them the best opportunity to get their bodies right for the arduous season ahead.

Or alternately ......................"the late start to the pre-season, combined with our rehab program .............contributed to having a strong list to choose from and our great finish late season."" Is the glass half empty or half full? Given the long and intense season, I see our late start being beneficial to the back half of the season. Hopefully our days of promising starts, injuries and fade-out mid season are over. Our aim is to peak come finals time not early to mid season.

Agreed. Leave it be for this season. Review at season end. To be successful, clubs need to make hard decisions but also behave in a respectful and decent way, understanding the importance of each individual contribution. Jones contribution has been significant. His performance off-field has greatly improved. He is good for marketing and improves the image of the club. He brings honesty and respectability to the club. He has history and a record of loyalty and achievement He stands for the Club. He bleeds for the Club. Bit like Smithy's famous comment..."Tony, I am Melbourne" Jones will play this season and play in the 22. We are a young team with a very young co-captain. Dumping Jones this season, serves no purpose, no purpose at all. Although different circumstances, I hope we have learnt the lessons of James McDonald. Jones is Melbourne and deserves another year.