Jarka

This really needs more love, unfortunately 2012 is yet another transition year.

From what I know (not much actually) is that Billy Stretch has a fair amount of potential, but obviously has a fair way to go. Making the state team is a good sign, but let's not get carried away just yet.

At this stage I'd love to get Martin, imo he is everything we need. Fast and skilled, he would compliment the rest of our midfield group so well. On the other hand I'm not sold on Hogan, the kid is massive, but how much of his dominance is due to his size/strength advantage? Pick 3 for the 1st u/17 pick. This will be the best offer GWS gets, allowing us to grab Viney with our second rounder and either Toumpas or Grundy with pick 4. Add to that a very decent mid first round pick.

Looks good, remind me to be more kind to nasher in the future...

No, I just understand our problems more. Who have we got to play as a key forward with Clark out? Dunn has never played that KPF role, ever. We don't have anyone else in the team apart from Rivers and Garland, time and time again I saw both of them work hard and make great leads, only to see the ball fly over their heads. Poor delivery into the forward line. Dunn was back there because we lost McDonald and Sellar, I agree he was ordinary but we really didn't have a choice. We lost this game because of turnovers.

Our structures are fine, we lost today basic of basic skill errors. Poor kicking and decision making. It's [censored] heartbreaking.

WTF is Dunn still in the backline? He doesn't put any pressure on his opponent at all, ffs!!

Watching this team play is [censored] heartbreaking.

I can't believe you just compared him to Cox. Fair enough, let's look at the whole story and compare them at the same age. http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_player_compare?tid1=12&pid1=2751&tid2=19&pid2=100&type=A&fid1=O&fid2=O Give him time for what?

Is this the worse ruck combination in the history of the AFL? I'm struggling to think of any others.

The most likely outcome is that we have to take Viney at 3, and honestly if it happens I'll be very happy with that selection. He is arguably the best inside mid in the draft but his appetite for the contest stands out which makes him great value. I'd prefer us to keep pick 4 and draft one of the other talented mids, happy for us to trade our mid round pick for an experienced player or part of a deal to get one of the mini draft picks though. It will be very interesting to see what GWS and GCS do with regards to Viney. I believe that GCS really need a player like Viney, their inside mids aren't as strong as GWS who imo would be pretty desperate to get Grundy. I reckon our best chance of getting Viney with our second rounder would be for GCS to finish last and GWS 2nd last. Whitfield is the standout first pick (apparently ) and it would be unlikely that they'd give him up for Viney and I couldn't imagine GWS going for a mid whilst Grundy was available, they really need a talented young ruck on their list. I think it's possible that they won't bid on him but imo it's unlikely. If I was them I'd force Melbourne's hand. *Assumptions - that all three clubs end in the same position as now and the AFL don't grant either club a 'before the first round PP' for poor performance.

This would be a great move for the MFC, but I would never ever even consider doing it. Jack Viney is a kid with an enormous appetite to succeed, kids as motivated as he is are bloody, get him into the team asap so he can develop at he's natural rate. Playing for Casey for another season would do nothing to help his career develop.

Sure it would be great but if I was GCS then I'd bid for him, they need a player like Viney desperately. Really though, why get worked up over something you have no control of? My preference is that we leap frog about 3 teams in front of us so it won't be an issue.

Go forward with the view that we'll take him with our first pick, he's easily the best inside/impact mid in the draft so @ three he's still represents great value. If he slips through to the 2nd round it's a bonus (but highly unlikely imho).

Oh ok, my apologies. I've heard that from others. Absolutely there were people locked out, a big line of very unhappy demon fans singing the theme song.

This is a forum discussing the MFC, if people want to discuss the past then how does it harm you in any way at all? As you have seen people are still highly emotional about it, they need to vent their anger ans hatred about feeling betrayed (Hitler comparison's aside). You clearly don't want to hear about it so don't open the thread. Simple solution, everyone's happy.

I know abou the 'Guest' proxy cheating. He purchased memberships for all his staff then submitted proxy voyes on their behalf. No idea if they even knew they had a membership, pathetic stuff and in my opinion at the very least it's against the spirit of a sporting club, and very close to being illegal (can any solicitors assist here, unless you're going to charge me per minute...). Now, about the lockout. I've previously explained what I believed to have taken place, but I want to go into more depth with your opinion. So, what you're saying is that there were people at the doors asking people how they were going to vote and not allowing them in whilst letting the pro-mergers through? Because this is what you're saying.

Mate, you compared him to Hitler, do you honestly believe that? Seriously? I was there that night and I believe he made the incorrect conclusion and was wrong for seeking a merger....but....this 'night of hatred' stuff is wrong. It wasn't like that. Everytime he took the mike he was constantlly abused and shouted down. He had to raise his voice so people could hear him. Do you not remember that happening? Do you seriosuly have such selective memory that you've forgotten all of that? I agree that the level of abuse that night was disgusting and revolting, but it came from the floor. Ridley and co did not abuse or swear once, the whole night, but the rock apes sitting in front of them kept it up all night. If you were one of the rock apes then that explains why you compared him to Hitler. Seriously

Wow. Just wow.

How the [censored] could anyone predict what Scully was going to do? Seriously?!

My apologies for inflaming the discussion, I just couldn't let Tiger Ridley's rep be tarnished with nonsense.

I was there and I remember the first question and the response from the 'mob'. If you want to twist your memory to suit your personal vendetta against Ridley then that's your decision but don't make false public accusations. What you said is incorrect, Ridley did not do what you accused him of doing, you've either remembered it wrong or it's a blantant lie. Ridley never at any stage simply ignored a query or a statement from the floor that came via the mike. By the way, you're about the 10th person I've come across who claims ti 'have asked the first question' on that night and it amuses me that you've created a new login for that post. Which is your regular username? Dallas Brooks Hall has a limit on how many people it can hold. This is a fact, and can very easily verified. You have no arguments from me regarding the choice of venue and allowing 'fair access' to all of the members, however that's a completely different argument and has nothing to do with my statement. I completely agree that the club did not do everything properly back then, from memory Guest being the source of many. Edit: Choko, you're entitled to your opinion and I won't try to change it. My opinion is that Ridley made a terrible error in judgement but only because he didn't have all the facts about the future. I still believe that if the AFL now has the same policies as back then, then our club would no longer exist.

Sorry, that's crap. I remember Ridley answering all questions asked of him. The most likely scenario was that you couldn't hear him because the mob abused and shouted him down everytime he opened his mouth. Look, Ridley's proposal was destined to fail right from the begining, but I won't stand by and let his character by smeared by childish rubbish. I was there, I saw all the Q&A and what you suggested simply did not take place. Now, if you've got the nuggets use your real username and not an alias so we can see who you are. What complete and utter tripe.

This post needs more love

I was there that night at Dallas Brooks Hall and I'll always remember it. Yes, they did close the doors but only because the place was full, legally they had no choice. I was sitting upstairs on the balcony overlooking the action taking place below me. The hatred and abuse directed towards Ridley, White and co was really disgusting. I understand that people are emotionally tied to the club but the reaction was ugly and way over the top. Argue your opinion, don't make revolting personal attacks. The only thing that Ridley got wrong and didn't predict was the AFL's change in attitude towards the smaller Victorian clubs. At the time the attitude from the VFL/AFL was 'sink or swim', the handouts wasn't anywhere near the same level as we see today. Also the TV deals wasn't anywhere near the same level. I felt for Ridley because he was a club great and gave wonderful service over many decades. Gutnick is interesting. Many people say that he saved the club with his money, this isn't really true. Melbourne wasn't in debt when Gutnick became president. What he did was to provide us with a higher media exposure because of his wealth and background, which was absolutely invaluable at the time. However this was offset by the massive infighting that followed him everywhere, for various reasons the club was incredibly instable during his time. Two more interesting points about Gutnick. Firstly, he didn't end up giving all the money to the club that he had promised and secondly (the most startling) was that every single board member he brought to the club ended up turning against him. No matter what your opinion of him was/is, sadly it took the club about a decade to recover from the trail of destruction left behind after his (and those he brought to the club) reign in power. It's a real pity that it ended like it did, he could have made the club an absolute powerhouse.