Goodvibes

That's a great call. The role you talk about is becoming more and more important with each year. Dunn has shown he has the strength and mental toughness to play a negating role and he certainly possesses good 'footy smarts' when he has the pill and can certainly kick a goal when forward. Hodge, Gilbee, Kenelly, Milburn, Goddard, McLeod, Scotland; there's plenty of jobs for him. He certainly needs a position and this appears to be his best shot. With game time and confidence the offensive side of his game would hopeful grow and evolve.

Who?

I’ve never really made New Year’s resolutions but in an attempt to bring some semblance of balance to my life, I’ve decided to alter my approach to the way in which I support my football team. Earlier in 2008 it seemed to me that the Melbourne Football Club had turned us into a psych ward (my first collective noun creation) of ‘Depressive Pessimists’? Despite my username, I’m exploring alternative footballing medicines. Blind optimism certainly invites disappointment and highlighting positives assists in the breeding of denial. Whilst I wasn’t ready to jump on the bandwagon and join in the carnivorous banquet that some of my fellow Demonlanders enjoyed early last year – you know the one, where David Neitz was the entrée, Dean Bailey the main course and a string of second and third year players the desert, I’ve decided that a more circumspect approach to 2009 is in order. I’ve always been interested in what makes people the way they are but have spent little time studying psychology. Followers of all football teams have to deal with broad brushstroke generalisations and clichés that provide a shallow representation of their shared character as a supporter group. The upper-crust successful view of Melbourne supporters born in the 50’s and 60’s seems to have been replaced by a fresh perception on our approach to support – one that emphasises frailty and unfaithfulness. I’ve decided it’s far too simplistic to divide the Melbourne faithful into the two large groups; the ‘optimists’ and the ‘pessimists’. A low profile poster on another site has comically used the expression ‘Strawberry Fields’ to describe the former and others have questioned the commitment and passion of the latter. I’d like to think that my traditional approach to all things football has been unconditionally positive. Whilst driven, like most around here, by the prospect of a MFC premiership, some of my fellow posters have rightly promoted the importance of enjoying ‘the journey’. This approach to supporting the Dees has helped me remain positive over the years, but sadly the journey has become less enjoyable as other demands and the growing frustration of my new wife have left me questioning the emotional time I continue to invest in a team that seemingly provides so little. As I write these very words, I’m fully aware of the selfishness of this mentality, but who here has never personalised the ongoing failure of this team and club we all purport to support? Those who are quickly lambasted for their negativity may well be a step ahead of the rest of us in terms of getting a handle on their obsession. Perhaps they’re not ‘depressive pessimists’ but instead ‘defensive pessimists’. Whilst recently whacking the google (http://www.googlewhacking.com), I discovered that ‘Defensive Pessimism’ is “a strategy used by anxious people to help them manage their anxiety so that they can keep their focus away from emotions, to work with peace and enhance their productivity. Such people usually lower their expectations to help prepare themselves for the worst, then they mentally play through all the bad things possible.” I’ve decided that this ‘Defensive Pessimism’ could be worth a shot. I really, really like the idea of being able to work in a state of peace and enhance my productivity during the times in the year when Melbourne is not playing football. What bliss it must be for those who can travel through an entire day of work without a single thought about the Melbourne Football Club. A couple of very wise posters on this forum have often suggested that things are never quite as good or as bad as they seem. Traditionally I would have supported this view but now see it as dangerous as it tempts me to ignore the footballing evidence provided by a season that featured 3 wins and 19 losses and instead consider the mouth-watering prospect of a handful of 17 and 18 year olds who will surely be crushed by the burgeoning weight of impatient expectation. ‘Defensive Pessimism’ is my saviour. So here goes. Watts and Morton will fail to adjust to the physical rigours of senior football, Blease will be snapped like a twig the minute he runs onto the MCG, Jetta, Bennell and Jurrah will struggle to adjust to a foreign lifestyle and Bail will find himself out of his division as he adjusts to life away from the AFLQ. Furthermore, I’m no longer dismissing our diabolical run with injuries over the past couple of seasons as pure bad luck, it’s clear proof of the difference between the ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’, Our facilities are poor and our staff dwarfed by the bigger clubs. Our injury curse will continue. McLean, Rivers, Grimes and Sylvia will again struggle to get on the park and our season will be derailed before it’s allowed to get on track. It’s clear that there’s not a sponsor in sight that wants to be associated with a team and a club that the media enjoy taking cheap pot-shots at, highlighting our every deficiency and falling back on easy clichés and ignorant misrepresentations. Our new board will soon run out of ideas and the faithful will be reluctant to dig deep again to pull the club out of the mire. The last 10 boards have failed to come up with a sustainable operation plan, why should this board be any different? The Casey experiment? New training and administrative facilities? All doomed to fail! Well there you go. I’m feeling less anxious already. It’s amazing, I’m seeing clearly for the first time. Emotion is the root of football supporting evil. It’s easy my friends; take the emotion out of football. It’s a business afterall, that’s what they keep telling us. If you’re feeling a little anxious about the footballing year ahead, don’t despair. Instead, I encourage you to adopt my new footballing doctrine – Defensive Pessimism.

You picked that up too? Cool.

Good call - clearly the boy knows how to shepherd well although I'm a little worried about the right to left swing his non-preffered kicks take.

Are we any chance of drafting Bennell's brother John to our rookie list?

Bail represented QLD at u/18 level in 2006 . Brad Miller's dad coached the same group when they were at u/16 level two years earlier. I don't think Bail was a member of that squad though. I'm sure he'd know about him. I wonder if Miller's dad has any links with our recruiting staff up here in QLD.

Peter Matera anyone?

Was that at Ferny Grove mousey? I'm just interested because I live up the road! I saw an article in the local rag about him a few months ago talking him up as a possible AFL draftee and I must confess my first instinct was to think, "don't get your hopes up". Shows how wrong I generally am!

Surely this is the one optimistic day of the year where we can come on Demonland and avoid crap like this!

The kid is a jet. Won the Rising Star up here ahead of Dayne Beams (now at Collingwood pick 29). Didn't think he'd get drafted but a very interesting selection. Definitely a trend here. I've seen him a few times and he is very tidy. The danger of course is that he looks quite skilled compared to the other blokes on the paddock and up here the skills (even in the top division of the AFLQ) are pretty average.

I'll be the second. Who?

Would it then be too much to ask for Strauss to be available at 35 and Jarrad Redden at 51?

I can't quite understand how Hill going to Freo at 3 can influence Lynch going to St Kilda at 13 and Blease sliding to 16.

Now there's the starting point for a very interesting thread.

I guess he sounds ok.

You mean like Brent Moloney does or Daniel Ward used to?

I heard he doesn't like playing on Sundays.

Now your case is growing in merit.

"debt-ridden Melbourne" The media are becoming boring.

So how about that Ryan O'Keefe . . . .

I'd definitely take him. The u23 approach to trading makes a lot of sense but the view that anyone over the age of 27 is surplus to requirements is becoming a little frustrating. The "they won't be around when we challenge for a premiership" approach doesn't sit well with me. Players like Green and O'Keefe have both proven to have sound bodies and can potentially player for another 4 - 5 seasons. Players with their finishing skills can fulfill a role well into their 30's. If Melbourne progresses at a similar rate to Hawthorn, these guys might just have a chance of finishing their careers with a flag. Both are excellent role models and provide much needed leadership. I'm glad Green has stayed and would welcome O'Keefe with open arms particular at a time when the PSD offers little to excite. He is essentially a free hit. Will he end up with us? Probably not. But jeez we're due to land a fish sometime soon.

That was very funny.

Surely the conservative thing for a new board to do would be to avoid the negative publicity of another sacking and keep McNamee at the club.

Great stuff - I love it. But I don't want him.