hemingway

Although I understand arguments about the origins of this game and the historical significance of the MFC-MCG, times and circumstances change. The MCG is no longer solely our home ground. It has not been this way for a long time. All the other clubs that play their home games at the MCG regard the ground as their home ground and supporters feel a connection to it. What is fair and reasonable today? There may be other issues associated with the fixture at large, but for most Melbourne supporters this is an iconic match and probably the biggest home game for the year. It is mid season and a measuring point not only for the annual comparison with the Pies but also our overall performance at this time of the year. We need Collingwood's agreement to continue with the QB match. So on the face of it, it seems reasonable that the home ground status and revenue returns alternate each year.

I like the idea of Fritsch going back. He has been a regular this season, and we know he has the goods, He has proved himself. He has been a regular part of this winning team. On the upside, he reads the play well from an intercept viewpoint, has a great spring, and can take clean marks when needed. He is also a beautiful direct kick. And he seems to have a cool head. I would feel more confident with the ball in Fritsch's hands than any of the other options. On the downside, he has a light frame not suitable to any push or shove by opponents. So he could be out positioned by a strong forward. Yes, its a bit of robbing Peter to pay Paul, but we need to limit our turnovers down back, and at the same time, we have better options to replace Fritsch up forward or on the wing than options to replace Lever down back. Both Frost and Hunt could be risky. Not regulars, and prone to a rush of blood and high turnovers. Frosty has the height and spring but is one directional and Hunt although good at ground level does not have the height or spring against taller opponents.

Another "happening"" that reflects well on the Club and the player. Deal done quietly and quickly, not allowing rumour mongers to spin their web of deceit. Honesty and goodwill on both sides.

Yes, agree. In terms of rest, Max is my biggest concern. He is doing an enormous amount of work around the ground, all game. He has the bruising encounters of ruck work but is doing an enormous amount of running and contested ball work. Thought Goodwin may have rested him toward the end of the game.

Great analysis and summary Lucifer. Always value added I have never been more excited by our footy team. Watching the Pies last night suggest we are really going to have go up a notch to knock them off. They have a terrific ruckman, sound defence, impressive mid-field, and, like us, multiple options up forward. They are a really mobile and well balanced side with a mixture of talented youth and experience. And they appear to have hit form for the QB match. However, beyond QB our depth is going to be tested. We will need our fringe players to step up and become more than fill-in players. They need to take the opportunity and become at minimum, very good players. We need to hope that our key players are not afflicted by serious injury. Also, my concern is that given the intensity of each week, we are going to have more tired and sore boys as the season progresses. They were looking a pretty tired bunch on Saturday, which made their win and the way they won even more impressive. The challenge is to try and get the balance right between winning games but having a fresh and close to full list come finals.

Very disappointing for Jake. Naturally he will be replaced but he is something special. You could call it the X factor or simply team lifting. He is dynamic. My sense of watching the warmup was that he was also very much a leader taking charge of some of the drills. That will be missed.

I know what you mean. Went to the game and even though I watched Oliver intently, he took my breath away. Literally magical. How does he get into space, find the ball, and dispose of the ball by hand in a few seconds? Has anyone seen another player with his unique skills? Flower was sublime and we will not see his like again, but this kid is unbelievable.

Oliver and Hogan are something to behold. Their work rate was something to behold. Absolute stars and match winners. Oh I almost forgot. They actually play with Melbourne!

Spot on

There are two possibilities : That ABLA (no, not my favourite Carlton restaurant but the banana brigade), is no more than a front for the marketing of Bananas. It has nothing to do with love, it is about profit. Better put, the organisation is a loosely knit brigade of profiteers. One rumour doing the rounds is that the head of this shell organisation is one of the Rakes of Melbourne's legal society. Apparently, there is also a well known entrepreneur (lets just call him Milo) who is making megabucks by shifting bananas around the country. The second possibility is that the organisation simply consists of a bunch of neurotic banana lovers who have become self important , obsessed, a little paranoid but with delusions of grandeur, and, who increasingly exhibit a strong authoritarian streak. They are not prepared to accept difference but are endeavoring to squash support for all other fruit and squash all opposition and dissent to their belief that the banana reigns supreme. It is about colour, body shape, taste and image. It is about deep seated prejudice. These people want all bananas to look the same. The bad bananas never make it to the supermarket shelf. They are simply eliminated along the way so folks only see the perfect banana. Indeed, when have you seen a misshaped banana in the supermarket? However, I am concerned about legal action and indeed much worse as sometimes legal action is accompanied by threats to the person. The fruiterers from the Footscray fruit and vegie market know all about the stand over merchants. It is possible that true banana lovers are being mislead and influenced by the propaganda from undesirables that have infiltrated ABLA. Apparently, secret banana parties are being held in the suburbs, where bananas are worshiped, devoured and often misused in all sorts of unmentionable ways, except to say that there are rituals with sado-masochistic overtones which have only recently emerged following the involvement of an undesirable character from Romsey. As everyone seems to be apologizing these days (politicians, heads of public sector organisations, police, footballers, banks, actors, film producers, and anyone else who gets caught out), I will take the opportunity to "say sorry"" and offer my apologies to the banana brigade and ABLA.

No perhaps not your Honour, but it’s definitely weird, perverse and even kinky. I see no evidence to suggest that the banana is superior to other fruit. It’s a fit up job, to keep up the morale of the banana or the banana industry. Perhaps even the consumer. With the greatest respect to the banana fanatics, it has got a little passé even tiresome to those with a broader and a more holistic view of the fruit industry. However, I do appreciate that it has Freudian significance but personally I detect a feeling of inadequacy from all the banana lovers.

Lacking imagination or creative writing skills. Sadly, the art of conversation is dying. Particularly, the art of making conversation over nothing. The on-going conversation over bananas being a case in point. As a good criminal barrister knows, you don’t need facts or evidence just very good imagination and the capacity to [censored] for days.

Gee Kent, Vanders and McKenna must be on borrowed time. How much longer do you persevere with players who have lost so much training and match time? Particularly when you could free up space on your list, but presumably the moment of truth will arrive at season end. Kent has been in and out, but never seems to be able to string more than a few games without injury, and the others are almost forgotten men.

Taylor has done well. He must be a very good judge and have good instincts. An organisation that recruits well has thorough and clear processes and a transparent approach between recruitment staff and management. Its about matching needs and culture, skill sets etc. Going the extra yard to ensure the match is right and using common sense and instinct. In Melbourne's case, it appears that there is alignment between recruiting staff and the coaching group, delivering clarity around team needs and what type of player will fill those needs. Like lots of things going on in the club, there appears to be a unified approach on all things. This reflects well on the overall management of the club. A well managed club is going to have the right people in the right jobs and have a unified approach on all things including recruitment. A poorly managed club is the opposite. .

A great thread. Really interesting to read your knowledgeable opinions.

He is something else. He now looks happy, and happy to be playing his role. The consummate team player. That’s the big difference. Is it just age, developing maturity, the change in game plan, team success, mentoring, coaching, coming to terms with where he is at in life?? But he has become a star but one that has his ego in check who is playing a team role.

I know a past Bulldogs player who spoke of Crossy in glowing terms and felt he was a huge loss to the Dogs. He thought that we would benefit, but was livid that the Dogs were prepared to let him go. He talked about Crossy's professionalism and his influence on his team mates particularly the Bulldog pups.

Absolutely. We should not care about the media or what supporters from other clubs think or say. This is about our club and our supporters. It is about how we feel. It is for us to enjoy. We are already feeling pride in our club. Its a good feeling. We don't need anyone else telling us how they feel or what they are think. We need to enjoy our success and manage our expectations because just as night follows day, we will have our disappointments. Its about adding a new chapter to the history of this great club, the oldest club going around. Its about giving this club new life and future success when some of us will be looking down from red and blue heaven. My goodness, we have all walked through the Valley of Death, and it has taken many years to walk to the light of the new horizon. Future success will spawn a whole generation of young supporters who will be as passionate as we are. We want supporters to feel pride in their club, a sense of expectation each week, and be able to dream of the ultimate prize. We have restored faith and new hope that the future is bright. Its exciting. The holy grail is now possible. However, its a fragile thing and needs to be appreciated here and now.

I like it.

I would settle for creamy middles !

Okay Wise, I guess you must have deserved your moniker. i just can't stop worrying though. I will try and embrace Yin and Yang, increase my medication, and ease back on the intake of my favourite indulgences.

The question is "have we peaked too early ? "" Surely, they will have to come off their current form soon? And what will that look like? Still winning games but by smaller margins or some "shock losses." Just hope we can maintain our form until QB. I would hate to go down to the Woods. Imagine how Eddie and the Army will be if they knock us off? Is that something that we can entertain in the current heady days of success. I am beginning to worry.

Earl, no doubt you have plenty of "initiatives" in the pipeline. When do you plan to launch your ""products" ?

Perhaps for quiet reflection in order to maintain some balance and to remember our past. In order to go forward we have to remember where we have come from. Not to be consumed by it but it allows us to appreciate our success that much more.

Despite the talk about resting players, just can't see how you can make any changes to this winning side. Individually and collectively they are on fire. Not a bad player. Any changes can only be for soreness or injury. Gee, there are going to be a lot of impatient guys at Casey who must be wondering if they will ever get a look in. How do you keep them happy and motivated?