titan_uranus

This is probably just AD trying to show the world/NRL that AFL is still in a financially strong position and that we are the dominant sporting code in this country. Any expansion to 19/20 teams is 10 years off at least. If it was to happen, he's just confirming what we already know: that Tasmania is next in line after Gold Coast and Western Sydney, and that another club would go somewhere other than Melbourne. It's all dependent on GC17 and WS18 not being total and utter failures.

Insipid batting performance (and a not so good bowling performance either, save for McDonald) and we've been knocked out of the tournament in the worst possible way against the worst possible opponent. We lost 3 matches in the tournament. Have a look at the openers' (Quiney and Hodge) contributions in those losses: vs Wayamba: Quiney 0, Hodge 44 vs Cape Cobras: Quiney 0, Hodge 0 vs NSW: Quiney 0, Hodge 0 That's 3 ducks in 4 innings for our no. 1, and 4 ducks from our openers in the past 2 matches. Can't win with form like that. In contrast, Hughes and Warner are on fire.

Well done Davey. In fact, well done all those who won awards or finished top 10. And like WJ, I note Jamar's strong performance.

Wow. This is stunning Jaded. My favourite is the Vintage tee, but there isn't anything I don't like. Although CarnTheDees makes a good point re: the striped tee. The polo tops also look pretty snazzy.

Me too. I just wish, once a player gets a number, he sticks with it through his whole career. That aside, it's a nice gesture from Robbo, and if it's what Jurrah wanted, then it's good that he's got it.

I'll be bloody happy if the Melbourne-North Melbourne game next year is a good one. But, the odds are...

According to Cam Schwab on Twitter: @finn_bradshaw wanted to give the lads a full break asap so we could get them started early. 1st available date after they are all on deck.

On a related note, I received an email from the club today about a Megastore Sale, and the red clash strip (with the demon on the front) is reduced from $109 to $79. Does that mean we're phasing it out? I quite like it. Prefer wearing just red and blue as opposed to the white strip we've got.

Gee, I'm sorry I had a different opinion. This is a forum. It's made for discussion. I had a point of view, and it seems like close to everyone else had a different one. That's fine. There mighn't be a right or wrong one, but I'll admit that the way I said what I said made me sound like a snob. But for people to react like the above is just a little bit annoying to me. I'm not sure exactly how mozza knows I have, and will never, achieve anything in my life. Posting this might be a mistake. I guess DemonDefined will just come back and have another go at my username.

Doesn't offend me. Just pisses me off, if true. Knowing that the last game for 2010 will be a shocker, as Melbourne v North games usually are...sigh.

That's fair enough. Not sure how indicative our NAB cup campaign will be of our season proper though.

I think the Darwin deal means we don't play any more games in Canberra. Although, since it seems as though the Darwin deal is 2 games over 3 years, it's possible that the year where we don't go to Darwin we sell a game to Canberra. As for Round 22, I'm guessing it'll be us vs Richmond or North Melbourne or Fremantle or some other team that is expected to miss the finals.

Um... Who cares? It's the NAB cup. I couldn't care less about the NAB cup (unless we were serious premiership contenders, in which case I'd hope we try our hardest because of the financial bonus a team gets if they win the NAB cup and the Premiership).

Melbourne-North Melbourne games are invariably shockers. Never good games to watch.

Damn staight. Basically the only time it rained (and it poured) was when I was walking from Richmond station to Gate 2. Got soaked. Then got to the ground, opened my bag for the inspection, and saw the umbrella I forgot I had... Agree. That game, as a match of football (Melbourne aside) was horrible. About the complete opposite of how the game should be played. The fact that a team can be goalless until halfway throught the third quarter and still be in with a chance to win (though you have to say, if you've managed 1 goal in 3 quarters, kicking the 4 to get in front could be a tough ask) proves how unbelievably disgusting that match was. In terms of a spectacle, that was clearly the worst game I've seen live (possibly ever). But the worst experience I've had was the Richmond game. Actually hoping McMahon would kick that goal was just sickening.

OK, there are 2 ways to look at this. 1. Look at the 09 list, and fill in the gaps. We've lost Wheatley, Whelan, Robbo, McLean and Buckley. That's 5 spots. That's picks 1, 2, 11, 18 and either PSD 1 or 34. Valenti's delisting doesn't count because he was on the rookie list. 2. Use that URL there. I see 4 spots available (room for picks 1, 2, 11, 18). From my reckoning there should be a fifth, which is maybe on account of McDonald being a veteran (I don't know if that's right). The other 2 are rookie spots. They don't get filled from the ND. If we re-rookie McNamara, a process I don't fully understand, then we could use another pick at the ND. But as it stands, we can't. Either way, as it stands there's not enough room to be using 50. Or even 34 if we use PSD 1.

I think it's highly unlikely we'll be using pick 50. As it stands we need to free up another spot on the list just to use 34 (this is assuming we use PSD1).

Well I should hope so! As for your dislike of Warnock, I don't necessarily disagree that his kicking is a bit iffy, but he's a full-back, and his job is to first and foremost negate his opponent. He does this more often than not. He doesn't just spoil, he takes marks in front of packs, he gets back to help out, and, unlike some other defenders we've had over the years, he isn't shy to push up the ground either. Of course the opposition want the ball in his hands, he isn't Davey or Grimes, is he? But he's doing a fine job as a full back, and his 4th in last year's Bluey is a testament to that.

That was my point. With Brisbane declaring interest, Ball has to add another team to the potential destinations he might get by going into the ND. There's a complete lack of certainty and a large chance he'll end up somewhere he really doesn't want to be, or hasn't considered being. So this news could well make him rule out the ND, leaving a choice between PSD and St Kilda.

You know, he did play 4 games this year. Other than that, that's all pretty spot on I reckon. PJ is not the future, Spencer and Meesen we need to see more of, Martin at best will be a second ruck. I guess that means there's quite a bit riding on Spencer and Meesen in 2010.

This should hopefully help Ball understand the situation: it's St Kilda or Melbourne.

In terms of Season 2010, I certainly would prefer Bradshaw to Buckley. But if we were to take Bradshaw, he won't be on our list when we are good enough to win a flag. I would doubt that he wouldn't be made an offer from someone, somewhere. He'll be playing in 2010 for sure. There's some merit to this idea, but I reckon Bailey and co. aren't interested in bringing people of Bradshaw's age into the club. Given the choice between us and Carlton or Sydney, I doubt he'd choose us anyway. Which means we'd be taking someone who doesn't want to play for us.

I reckon we already are in business with Warnock. Some of his work this year was great.

Seemed to bowl well vs Bangalore last night, but T20 isn't much of an indicator with regards to Test cricket. I still think Krejza's a chance, if he sustains that kind of bowling through the Sheffield Shield.

It's not the egg-throwing. It's the fact that he's an AFL player who clearly hasn't thought about how this may have affected his career. And for the record, I've never thrown an egg in my life.