Rodney (Balls) Grinter

I've certainly been critical of the club playing the Weid over other players at times last year, when I didn't see him as being anything like ready and it costing us games. Still think we would have beaten Geelong and Richmond last year if Pedersen had played instead of the Weid. That said, it's more a criticism of our coaching and selection than anything directed at Weiderman so much. Like most big guys, I think this guy needs time to develop and establish his game. Tom Hawkins is the classic, but the more recient example I can think of is Tim O'Brian for Hawthorn. When we played Hawthorn for the first time in 2016, I thought O'Brain looked like a passenger in their side, failing to make much of an impact (ironically, asides from one late goal which helped sink us that day), but watching him last year, I think he started to look much more imposing as a player and gave me the impression (from the limited exposure I've had to him) that he looked like he might have a good future as an AFL player. O'Brain is 3 years older and longer in the system than Weid. If we can pick up guys with gammy hamstrings from GWS and keep them on our list for a few years on the basis of potential, then I think it's well worth continued perseverance and patience with the Weid.

Not alone Olisik. I also think there are times that he is too stationary, looking for options, trying to do to much with it, holding onto the footy for too long and gets caught. But I think we just have to cop that every now and then, as I think it happens to all players, even the best of them and Trac has the ability that most times he uses he uses it well or better than most with his vision and ability to hit up players in good positions. It's also something about the way he moves in those situations where he looks like he is just walking around players, looking like he'll get caught, but often evading them. Brett Lovett use to be a bit the same, but I think Trac has definitely got better leg speed.

Just saw this headline on the AFL website and freaked: 'I'm keen to play on': Tyson's tough blow

Personally didn't want to see us trade Jack Watts, but please lets not have this commentary everytime he plays well, poorly or indiferent. Good that this has happened in preseason so it doesn't take up discussion space during the season proper when I will only be interested in our current listed players and how the team is traveling towards the ultimate success - move on Watts lovers.

Watched a few replays of or better 2017 games over the summer and one thing which really stood out is how much pace Hannan has. Would have to be up there with the quicker players in the side. Certainly like his work inside the forward 50 arc, good mark, good positioning and both a good set shot and oppertunist goal sense. Another great signing by the club.

Agree. I personally think our midfield has been lacking one or two players that can really pack a punch moving the ball forward. I always thought Salem was slated as a future midfielder when we recruited him. I like his toughness, compeditiveness and his class with his disposal. Reminds me a bit of Jimmy Bartell in his prime. As much as I understand the need for players with quality foot skills down back, I've often thought Salem was wasted down there and he looked like he didn't really enjoy or was fully suited to the fully defense mindset down back. Besides, we have medium sized backline players to burn these days. We really do need players that can deliver well and find targets inside 50 as so often we have dominated time in forward half, only to miss targets and waste opportunities for quality shots on goal. I also think the club has taken a conservative approach, holding back some younger players from having big midfield time/roles too early in their career when they were physically and psychologically less developed. I think it's now time to throw guys like Salem, Brayshaw and Harmes in there and have them bust it up a bit and hopefully take some opposition midfields to pieces.

I think what was implied is that he wasn't expected to be rushed into the side as an 18yo and be one of the saviors of the team.

What is up with Frost? Fit, but not considered for JLT 1? In form and/or with some minor further improvement in his game I think he could be an important part of the team.

I'm not sure that JKH and Kent are really being talked about for selection at the moment (not that I'm writing them off either though). But I was really quite pleased with the performance of all our small-medium forwards yesterday. Pressure without and execution with ball were excellent I thought.

With the royal blue jumpers, it may even be possible to adjust the colour/contrast settings on your TV to turn them back closer to navy blue as if we have no clash jumper at all!

In all honesty, my era of becoming a serious MFC supporter immediately followed royal blue jumper era in 86/87 and I think the number 2 jumper I has was a bit of pre loved hand-me-down or op-shop special so it's hard for me to comment with authority, but my old man reckons that for the preceeding period of doom and gloom, wacko Jackson gave him the only reason to turn up to games, so perhaps there were a few with 25 on them. Before that big Carl Detterich had been a bit of a favorite in 10.

New jumpers look great, not so sure about the colour of the boots. ...though to paraphrase @old dee, so long as they are kicking goals and pin point passes to their team mates with them, I don't care what colour their boots are!

Most exciting news all day. Stuff about the new sponsor is great and important, but really doesn't do much to excite the passion in me as a supporter. Well done to the club for listening to it's membership/supporter base and making this happen and also for the AFL for finally comming to their senses as well. Right from the start of this ridiculous clash/away jumper policy the AFL brought in 10 - 15 years ago, it felt like a foreign (Americanised) sporting culture was being imposed on our code with the (selectively applied) predominantly white emphasis. I'm pragmatic enough to realize the need for a clash jumper of some description, but really the AFL should have thought long and hard before it let clubs like WC, Port and Freo adopt new jumper designs that clashed more heavily with existing teams jumpers than the jumpers approved for those teams when theyou first joined the comp, so much of this was the making of the AFL. The new 'Royal Blue' clash looks great compared to the white/Bali jumpers. It actually looks a few shades lighter than the original royal blue ones, though my royal blue one with the number 2 got pretty sun faded in the end.

Next one to be in Red and Blue (without any horrible white away/clash jumper rubbish).

If there is one thing I respect about Eddy McGuire (it's a stretch I know) it's how he has defended the integrity of Collingwoods jumper design. I also recall one of the most emotive moments in the proposed merger with Hawthorn was Don Scott ripping the Hawk off the MFC jumper. Come on Melbourne supporters - GET PASSIONATE. No more of this white jumper rubbish for the MFC.

Totally Old Dee. From 2007 to 2017, we lost more games than I care to think of and wore a plethera of putrid white/grey jumpers. We should consign both acts to the annals of history.

Thanks Morgan - us Demons supporters could use all the luck we can get.

Sorry cannot stand this stupid response. In what way is caring about the jumper we wear in conflict with us winning games or not? It's not like it's a mutually exclusive propersition. I can thint of a lot of things I care less about posted on Demonland (like Ty Vickory) and this time of year, few more that I care about than seeing our club properly address this issue. I mean obviously there is the draft, but until it happens, it's like throwing darts at a dart board. And even then, until those players that are drafted actually produce on the feild, it's more an act of navel gazing for us mere supporters. And it's not like directing some of the club's management staff to take this issue up with the AFL and get an appropriate outcome is distracting our playing group, coaching or recruiting staff. Getting a good outcome for our footy club could also help to recruit and retain more members. Beyond all, when our team wins, I want to see it happen in a jumper that actually looks like our teams, not some crappy half baked version that looks more like a Sydney jumper than a Melbourne one. Every Heart Beats True for the RED and BLUE

That's your opinion and whilst you may well end up being right, I hope you are wrong. I think both these guys have some potential and that it's the ability of coaches, medical staff and overall team culture to get more players to the point of producing the required level of output, whatever their inherent natural ability or past record. Being able to develop and grow the worst players on the list is a big part of what makes average teams good and good teams great. They are on our list for season 2018, so personally I'm not counting on any player being a lost cause until it's done and dusted. Last year our depth was severely tested in the middle to third quarter of the season. Just one of these guys had have been fit and available, it might have been the difference to us beating North or beating Carlton by a few more goals and we make finals last year, or perhaps hopefully the difference between finishing top four this year.

So West Coast have launched their 2018 jumpers, going back to their 'traditional' royal blue and surprise surprise, a yellow and royal blue clash jumper with no white. https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/west-coast-eagles-reveal-new-logo-and-jumpers-for-2018-afl-season-new-jumpers-for-saints-magpies/news-story/3e3e7101110249d44b60569046df28ff So are the MFC and AFL going to continue to serve up this rubbish that all clubs must have a predominantly white clash jumper and make our team run around in one for half a dozen+ games a year? Will MFC suporters continue to allow this?

I don't really disagree with any of this, like I think I aluded to, it's more of a romantic desire than something based in reality. He was bloody horrible against North, might as well have not been on the ground almost. I would say that Jack has good around football skills (a good strong mark and I'd suggest a pretty reliable if not close to an elite kick), is a hard inside type and good overall footy sense, but to have really elite footy smarts is where he would need to reinvent himself. I also reconise that is something probably more innate and instinctive that it's unlikely.

Not dismissing what you are saying here at all, but being slow hasn't held back some great AFL footballers in the past. I just wonder if someone can reinvent a role for him that rejuvenates his career. Not that I don't think that Goody and the MFC didn't try that, but whatever they did, it didn't come off. I don't think playing off a half back flank at AFL level really worked for Jack, I feel he's the sort of player that needs to be in the guts where the action is. ... I know I'm probably grasping at straws, but I'd just really like to think this guy still has a chance of becoming a sucessfull footballer again.

http://m.afl.com.au/news/2017-11-03/power-shock-delisted-demon-signs-on Super dodgy photo of him in his new Port jumper. Pumping out his guns with his fists cross armed, he looks stoned (I guess that's how they roll at Port) and the Port jumper really doesn't suit him (wish he still had a red and blue one on). But overall, I can't argue with the sentiment of others that have posted here in wishing this bloke all the best. Of all the players we have lost over to other AFL clubs the past ten years, I don't think there are are any that have gone with the same high praise and universal good will as Trenners.

I just hope this Balic is better than the last opertunity starved midfielder we picked up from Freo. I've had enough of recruiting recycled players that are champions for Casey.

Walker Texas Ranger - Leaver leaving for the money. Puss of Tex, he's no $cully $cum.