Goodvibes

Put really simply, if it wasn't for Robbie, many of us who grew up in the late seventies and early eighties, may not have remained Melbourne fans. We could take very little pride in most things red and blue back then but we could be proud of Robbie.

I'd be really suprised if Melbourne picked him up but I can confirm that we've talked to him and shown a bit of interest.

My latest conspiracy theory is that Caroline Wilson is actually on the MFC payroll. She's been employed to finish off the outstanding work of our late President. Jim played a huge role in uniting a fractured club and Wilson's public attack on the Dees has seen many of us pull together with a shared enemy as our focus! Maybe Fan knew more than he was letting on when he said, "Keep up the good work Caro".

Small crumbing forward remains a need. Anthony Tipungwuti and Brian Coleman-Broome are the two I'd look at.

That's a really good call. I was lucky enough to hear Adrian Fletcher talking about stoppages over the weekend. He used Simon Black as an example of an elite player who still had things to learn. With the changes to the game even Simon Black can't last a whole game in the midfield so over the past couple of seasons the Lions have been playing him up forward rather than resting him on the bench. The coaching staff found (not unpredictably) that Black would be drawn out of position and into the contest. This was obviously an issue because the opposition would have an extra number behind the ball and be able to attack from half back with lots of space to run into. And as we know quick ball movement and long kicking into the forward 50 is what forwards love. Apparently Black has found this a really difficult lesson to learn.

The last time I got that feeling about a player from watching a highlight package it involved a boy from Dodges Ferry.

And the Taggert.

It's course, it's lowbrow. It appeals to the lowest common denominator. I love it!

Still there. Would love Garlett.

Apparently we've picked up a kid called Jack Viney at 26. Anyone know anything about him?

Get in!!

As soon as you start talking about us being factionalized and make references to grinding axes and bruised egos you must hold yourself up to a higher standard when you post about off-field footy matters. I actually agree with what your saying. I follow Melbourne because I'm interested in what happens on the football field. Football politics is of little interest to me. But if you're going to get on the front foot and talk about the need for all of us to be on the same page then do yourself a service and drop the personal digs. Those who are being genuinely using Demonland to be divisive (and I don't think Fan is) will disappear if they're not given airplay. Take your other sparring partner as a classic example. Talk footy and they've got nothing.

So you preach to us about unity and your abhorrence of those who stray from the party line but can't help but make a series of cheap shots when the poster in question has made it clear they've walked away. Nice work.

BP would re-draft Cook.

I'll know we're in business when our full forward is so well known throughout the AFL world that even his own supporters will start to spell his name correctly.

Questioning the validity is one thing. Telling someone to stop supporting the club they've served on a voluntary basis is another thing as is telling a moderator (awesome job that receives amazing amounts of thanks) to give up their position.

You obviously missed the last line of my post.

Democracy is only as strong as . . . . . . . Interesting to see how some to choose to deal with a dissenting voice. And ironically in a thread dedicated to questioning the quality of one of the most important instruments of a healthy democracy. If Demonland was a microcosm of democratic society, I think I'd be tempted to move to Bomberblitz or Tigerland. Surely everyone has the right to express a view on this forum that may well be contrary to the views of the masses. Congratulations to those in this thread who've played the ball. The rest may want to apply for the next cadetship at The Age.

I remember saying something very similar about Bate, Newton and Dunn about five years ago. You're right though. Their progress and development is critical. They all possess an asset that sets them apart from your run of the mill good average player. Now they need to work on their deficiencies, settle in a position and play some consistent week in week out footy in a well structured, well coached team.

I want us to find Matthew Whelan Mark II with one of our late picks. Lockdown small defender with solid kicking skills and a bit of mongrel is a piece of our premiership jigsaw puzzle that must be found at some point over the next couple of years.

I want Cleaver Greene.

I can't believe the positive response Dean Bailey's recent revelations have received on Demonland. Cleary he failed to follow the directives of the Board. It's pleasing to see the interest the Dodges Ferry Gazette now has in all things related to the Dees since Jeremy Howe's move to the big time. Their article yesterday takes a refreshing look at the tanking debate and also reveals that the club has been more active than we have been lead to believe: The Melbourne Demons have announced that they’ve launched their own internal investigations. The recent avalanche of media analysis centred on the 2009 season has prompted the club itself to re-visit tape of the second half of the season and they've discovered more evidence of strange moves coming from former coach Dean Bailey. After Port Adelaide defeated Melbourne by ten goals in round 3 of the season with Danyle Pearce one of the best on the ground with 28 disposals and a goal, the Dees coach incredibly decided to tag Pearce in the round 15 re-match keeping him to just 18 ineffective possessions in a turn-around 11 point victory. The win meant Melbourne moved to within just eight premiership points of eliminating their priority pick claims. With Carolyn Wilson's impeccably sourced and uncontested public claims that Melbourne management had directed Dean Bailey to lose football games, it is difficult to fathom why the coach would tag one of the opposition's most dangerous players and in the process place the much hyped priority pick in jeopardy. Melbourne investigators have also voiced internal concern regarding the accuracy of the team during their 20 - 7 - 127 to 9 - 10 - 64 demolition job of Fremantle in round 20. The final nail in Dean Bailey’s coffin appears to be the near 100% playing time given to game high goal kicker Russell Robertson in Melbourne’s round 14 victory over the West Coast Eagles. Robertson had kicked 4 wonderful goals and Bailey was seen to shift uncomfortably in his chair before refusing to reach for the phone to pull Robertson from the field. Melbourne officials are confident that these new revelations will provide their legal team with all the necessary evidence to ensure much of the payout given to Bailey upon his axing is returned. The club has received advice that confirms Bailey’s clear lack of adherence to the directives of the board breaks an important clause in his contract and it is expected Bailey’s payout refund will be welcomed by the current football department as they move quickly to bolster their ‘war chest’ with a big money move for recently delisted Bomber Kyle Reimers now expected.

Melbourne v Richmond 2009 - our tall timber that day included Newton, Warnock, Johnson, Martin and Miller. I can't believe we lost.

And we're away . . . .

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/opinion/tanks-but-thats-not-how-it-happened/story-fncqij35-1226506969336 Bev returns fire. Loving the reference to McLean's ironic move to Carlton. So this is what balanced media feels like.