Goodvibes

Melbourne fans need to harden up about Etihad. It's oval shaped, has grass on it and is located in the CBD.

I'd be very keen. Sign me up.

He was always going to tire in the second half. Humiliated is a bit strong. Leuenberger is a genuine star.

Gawn breaking even with Leuenberger but he's going to struggle to hang in there for the full game. So important to kick the first goal of the second half. Fitzpatrick is a genuine revelation. Viney is justifying the hype.

I hate Game Day threads. They make me sad.

As opposed to cowering in the corner like they usually do?

Do you want to get the right man or do you want to have something to discuss on Demonland? We can't talk to Eade, Williams or Ratten until the season is finished anyway. We've just announced the construction of a selection panel. Buckle up. We've got a couple of months of this ahead.

Following Melbourne has never felt like a choice to me. It's just something I've always done. I've moved beyond questioning my passion to simply accepting it's part of who I am. I no longer question what the gaps are in my life that the MFC helps paper over. I know it consumes too much of my time and thoughts and emotional energy but the flipside has been an incredibly enjoyable association and unlike a weekly lotto participant or a gambling addict I feel like I have a legitimate chance of seeing my team enjoy the ultimate success. The fact we haven't won a premiership in my lifetime isn't something I look at as a sad cross to bare anymore. I don't see my support of this team as a character flaw. In fact quite the opposite. I refuse to develop a loser mentality. How often in life do you commit to something as much and for as long as we commit to this club? How many supporters can claim our level of unrewarded passion? I've openly considered life after a MFC premiership. Would our lives lose a little meaning? It's ridiculous. I genuinely believe, however, that a John Northey-like 'character' has been forged in each of us by following this football club day in day out - the kind of character you wouldn't see in a Hawthorn or Essendon supporter. Coaching and getting involved at a club, community and school level has also been healthy because I've been able to enjoy the game at a time when enjoying watching the Dees has been close to impossible. It's helped fill a gap in the gap filler until we become competitive again.

I'm an expert in doublespeak. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8keZbZL2ero Roos is ours.

McKenzie, Viney, Rodan, Magner, Couch in the midfield. 10 goal quarter. Hmmmmmm

I wasn't listing a best 22 or a future 22 but simply one deliberately loaded with a plethora of skilled, mobile talls if for no other reason than to see what it looks like on paper. Would love to see what it would look like on a footy field too!

Definitely bending rpfc. But it's just a bit of fun. But also interesting to consider what the game might look like in 5 or 10 years. The MFC have been so reactive over the years in terms of the trends of the game. It would be great to be seen as an innovator and a trend setter. The mobility and the depth of mobility in our tall department is genuinely unique. Why not try to exploit that?

Next people will be saying we should trade Hogan. Sorry forgot that was Tuesday's idea. Looking forward to Jack Viney's day in the sun.

FB: Terlich - Frawley - Garland CHB: Grimes - McDonald - Clisby C: Watts - Viney - Fitzpatrick CHF: Howe - Dawes - Sylvia FF: Hogan - Clark - Blease FOLL: Gawn - FA Pickup - N Jones INT: Trengove - Kent - Toumpas - ND Pick 2 Something like this?

It's nice to have had a few weeks with minimal changes. Continuity and stability is so important.

I actually think that's a really interesting thought. Could a team carry Clark, Gawn, Fitzpatrick, Watts, Dawes, Hogan, McDonald, Frawley plus Garland and Howe? Could they all be on the field at once? It would be nice to be ahead of the game for once in terms of the next big trend in footy. A plethora of mobile talls with big engines and good skills may well be it. A couple of big inside midfielders like Kennedy and Watson would be interesting in combination with the above key position players as well.

It's a shame that a thread about one our few positives to emerge this year has been trashed by ego-driven point scoring. It's really quite pathetic. Fitzpatrick can really play. He's gone from speculative pick to health concern to uncoordinated longshot to improver with a chance to someone who now believes they belong. His deficiencies are less obvious and his strengths are on display to the point where his speed and athleticism are highlighted as elite within the competition for someone his size. He works hard without the ball and his leads are well timed and his decision making outside of 50 seems sound. He's gone from a probably delist to being a genuine possibility as a starting player in a forwardline that most thought would be dominated by Clark, Dawes and Hogan. The emergence of Fitzpatrick and the improved form of Watts is giving us some incredible flexibility but no doubt a few headaches for those whose responsibility it is to manage our list. Who is that by the way?

I'm pretty happy with our defence going forward. A 22 year old Matty Whelan wouldn't go astray though. Mids mids mids and a quality small forward. Too much to ask?

How about Ambassador of Quan?

I also like what Fitzpatrick adds defensively. For a tall he has great close down speed and a real willingness to chase. Combine him with Dawes who came with a great reputation for working hard without the ball at Collingwood and Hogan who has shown a real appetite for tackling and harassing on the rare occasions he hasn't clunked it at Casey and we have the makings of a disciplined hardworking forwardline. Now we just need to find a Rioli and a 2004/2005 Aaron Davey.

He'd make a good sub.

Nice work Redleg. You can cross that one off your list and move on to Caro and Denham.

If we see signs of sustained effort, the ability to control periods of the game and maintain possession against Sydney and Geelong I'll be happy. Kicking a respectable score would also be a pretty good indication that our structures are holding up to the inevitable pressure of a seasoned opponent. Seeing Watts, Toumpas, Terlich and Clisby continue to show confidence at this level against two of the best teams going around and I'll also be more inclined to believe OUT Neeld IN Craig has succeeded in re-programming the players in a positive way.

Really important point. Sunday will give us a really good indication of how successfully we're striking a balance between the defensive aspects of the game and our willingness to take risks and move the ball quickly. And hopefully we'll win a bit of contested footy.

And at a time when we're trying to get more people to the 'G' taking away one of our most exciting players could make us even more passé than before. I acknowledge that winning games with an improved midfield will drag supporters back but Howe is still young and has a lot to learn. I really rate Taylor Adams and hope we make a real play for him but Howe's flexibility will be important down the track and c'mon who doesn't love going to the footy knowing that Howe more than likely is going to stand on someone's head and claim the mark of the round? GWS screwed us with Scully let's offer Adams way more than he is worth and grab him in the Pre-season Draft. Adams, Pick 2 mid and a B+/A- grade free agent midfielder would be a dream result.