Rodney (Balls) Grinter

It will take some getting use to being in that position again.

I remember when I was a kid, the only way to find out the results of the draft for most meer mortals was the paper the next day. Use to love going through it in The Age at grandma's place when I went around on the weekend. Then few years back when they first started televising the draft it was a day time production and I recalled making sure I was home from work early so I could watch it all live on TV (those also being the days when the MFC had numerous picks in the first round). Soon realized that the more old school way of finding out who we picked was much more entertaining.

Meer details. Who watches the cricket anyway, we're crap. Tell them to go play at the Junction Oval.

Pure gold. Love the Coodabeens. "...He's daggy but he is cool, didn't go to no private school..." "...if he wasn't drafted by the Dees he'd still be driving a pizza van..." Maxy is definitely my kind of bloke. Should be more AFL footballers like him.

We have an oval already right in the middle of Yarra Park. It's called the MCG. It's our home ground. That's where we should train.

I haven't read the article ( probably can't get through the pay wall anyway ), but if Labor are not supporting it, is that actually the same as them opposing it? Or could they still be leaving themselves open to the position of letting normal development appovals process take it's course without ditect state government interference? i.e. are they taking a more neutral position and their lack of support could be read more that they are not proposing to contribute funds towards construction like various governments have for things like Kadinia Park and the Western/Whitten Oval redevelopments?

Queensland actually, but there are alot of similarities in parts of both states!

Agreed, but it does concern me that all these delisted free agent type signings are creating a backdoor to bypass the draft. Are their salery and football department type caps in the state leagues? It's good that we have been able to capitalise on this opportunity, but in the long run, I worry that the wealthy clubs of the AFL will be able to afford to support more of the better players remaining at state league level in order to later cherry pick the best ones at the expense of clubs like the MFC.

Agree, we haven't really been tested too much injury wise over the past two seasons. The one period when we really were around the mid way point of 2017 when we lost Jones, Viney eventually (probably playing when he shouldn't have), one or two others and our season really slumped at that point. With good depth we can rest more players when they really need it and even those one or two extra wins that it might win us in a season could be the difference between finishing 4th instead of 6th etc.

Yes RTG, it does kind of sound like a very Essendrug kind of rule, perhaps the could sign up Steven Dank to their strength and conditioning/high performance team under the basis of a delisted free agent for their football department.

At least this mob have Fritsch in, but I recon Vanders is definitely best 22 material, probably ahead of Hannan and/or Kolodjashnij on form at this point. Love the bash and crash that Vanders brings and I don't think we could have too much of that (just think of those powerful Lions sides in the early 2000s). You'd certainly like to think that Kolodjashnij, Hunt or Frost would have Lewis's spot by the end of the season though. Not a slight on Lewis as I thought he was very good last year, but you'd hope any of those young guys could drive themselves to force Lewis out of the side through hard work, their respective athletic ability and maturing as footballers. There is also a sense that Lewis would have failed his role as a mentor if we can't stand on our own without the experience he brings. Will be a fascinating season for the MFC. Just hope we don't get any crippling injuries. A few years like Richmond had injury wise would be great.

Have been re-watching some of our games again lately and the rundown tackles, big marks, spoils and run out of defense Frosty gave us were awsome. He really provided some drive at a time Oscar was fading a bit. With some of the dash and precision forward passing that Frosty executed late season, not only Oscar, but Hunt should also be worried about their spots in the side. Great to have such depth and options back there.

When we played in 88, it had been as long for us since our last flag as what it has been for Carlton now. Hope that those role have been reversed in another 31 years with us having several more flags on the clubroom walls and Carlton yet to win another.

Great interview and was really impressed with the respectful and selfless approach evidently taken by Jennings from listening to the interview. Selfless in the sense that he was looking at things from an industry/sport wide perspective and that by going with Chad Corns, I'm guessing he was really hoping for it not to become (or be seen as) a situation where it wasn't just one club going into these comunities to exploit them of telant without contributing something of substance to the community. It was clear that Jennings got a lot out of the experience from a cultural learning perspective and what was not said is that it was probably in some sence a cultural exchange as I'm sure the local community would have learnt some things from Jennings as well. In more of a selfish sence I'd be interested to know if Jennings learnt something from the indigenous coaching fraternity on tactics. From what I understand, they play the game somewhat differently to how it is played at AFL level and would be interesting if there is something from that which could be applied to gain a compeditive advantage.

That's where at least as things sit now, the interstate teams have some certainty. The game is at the G and they can plan towards attending it there if they think they will make it. I wonder if the AFL and it's sponsors could even help soften the blow for the average punter by having an option to charter planes and/or pre-purchase seats on planes so that members could buy Grand Final tickets with plane tickets included at a fixed flat price, rather than inflated last minute prices. The lesser stadium capacity at interstate venues is also a huge issue. Huge loss of income for the league as they couldn't pre allocate as many tickets to the corporates etc. As I understand it, there were also very limited seats available for MFC members/supporters at Perth Stadium that fateful final this year and we're that a grand final and I missed out, then I'd absolutely spew.

Did a quick Google search to confirm the abbreviation of the term and this thread from mid 2011 came up. Practically premonish at the time. I guess it was probably Watts being referred to, but it could also somewhat apply to the end result we achieved with Trengove although I'don't say it was more his foot and our medical team's management of it than the player himself being the dud. Personally I managed to get through the bad years with a generally positive attitude having thought we were a sneaky chance of making finals in 2016, being moderately confident that we would beat Collingwood in 2017 and maintaining the faith most of 2018 (that Sydney loss shook me a bit), but still thinking we could knock of at least one of WC or GWS to finally play finals this year. However, strangely I think I may be fighting off a late onset of MFCSS of late. It's not really the Jessy leaving thing (disappointing in a way, but it is and I'm over it for now and getting May does help offset the loss to an extent), but more a feeling that as good as what we have built to this point is looking, there is still so much work to do and thateverything could still fall apart badly from here.

No, no, no. The song goes "ONE day in September..." After waiting soo long, don't let them strip us of the dignity we deserve with the have success that is within our reach. Don't let the accountants ruin our game and the glory we rightfully deserve in our due course.

Why would he be happy? Looking at the top photo, looks like he has just got dressed in his new employers uniform and is about to start his shift down at your friendly local supermarket. Bit of a demotion.

Glad to hear that Josh is not only thinking about the first flag, but then going back to back after that!

I liked Buggy and was somewhat sad to see him go. I wish good luck to him finding a spot on another AFL list - BUT CARLTON??!! You are better than that Tommy.

Really?

If anything I'd lean towards keeping the two co-captains we have, mostly out of respect for Jones. Even if he were to drop down the list in terms of his onfeild performance, I think his on-feild leadership qualities would be worthwhile keeping him jointly at the helm. Having said that, his onfeild leadership has never been obviously brilliant to the naked eye of the average supporter (including myself), in the same way as someone who more clearly plays 'the onfeild general' type of role like a Hodge or even perhaps Lewis type of player (though I think Lewis has actually credited O Mac as playing that role dowm back for us). The one invaluable leadership quality I think Jones does have in spades is the 'never say die' lead by example aspect and it's clear he has the respect of the playing group, which is hugely important. As a small asides, a few of my favorite moments of our finals victories this year we're watching Viney and Jones walking side by side, leading the team down the internal passageways of the G and into the rooms in victory. Was great to see the reward for Jones and Jack Viney looked every bit comfortable and in his rightful place along side Jones as captain of a victorious MFC. I could handle watching alot more moments like that in the next few years. Whilst I think a lot of people could struggle to know when to let go of the captancy, I get the impression that Jones will probably concede the role himself when the time is right. Will probably make it easier knowing that he has a ready made replacement to take on the role in his own right, waiting in the wings with Jack.

It's quite possible that we could be struggling mid-year for a number of reasons other than the coach, but he will enviably bear the brunt of scrutiny. Just listen to PJ's podcast and he is also quite conscious that there could be some speed bumps still to encounter on the road to ultimate sucess. Would also agree that alot of the noise would just be media driven fugazi (as Goodwin would put it), but it might not be helpful to have all that around if we are say for instance trying to resign existing and/or trying to attract other players to join the team and/or it as much as the club would say that the noise was being ignored, it would still be somewhat there as a distraction none the less. As I stated in my original post, it sounds like the club are working on an extension to Goody's contract, and based on everything the man himself has outwardly projected to date, I don't have huge concerns, will just be glad when it's in the bag.

Agree with what you are all saying, but I don't think it's wise to think that Goodwin's comittment to the job he has with us is unshakeable and unchangeable if circumstances change. Let's say we are struggling mid way through the season, Goodwin remains unsigned beyond 2019 and there are noises that maybe he isn't the guy. It might be harder for Goodwin to resist a return to Adelaide if he was not contracted beyond the year with Melbourne and he might weigh up his families finacial stability above any sense of pride of commitment to his present playing group. Real or not even just the media speculation could create a sense of instability within the club. I think the sense of stability within the club over the past 4 years has been a key driver of our sucess. Just my take - Goodwin has shown enough to provide better certainty and stability for all by providing him with at least a 2 - 3 year contract extension now.

That's the impression I get too, but if say an Essendon, Adelaide or Port were to have another horror start to the year, sack their coach and start throwing big bags of money around, it might introduce a risk (particularly with the Adelaide clubs - we all know about the 'go home' factor). Sounds like they are trying to get his contract extension sorted before the season proper, which would be good, otherwise I see potential for it to create an unwanted distraction for our season as it goes on. Last thing we would want is to be half way through a season and heading for finals with speculation about will the coach be there next year.