caddypgt

Righto ... cheers.

Does the Veteran's list only apply to players that have been at the club for X years? Or is X years of service in the AFL applicable?

Even if he was on annual leave, I guarantee that it would be a working holiday.

I note, with interest and a level of intrigue, that Cameron S. has tweeted from China today ... in Chenzhen (which I assume means Shenzhen). One of China's financial hubs ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shenzhen

Champagne comedy there!

Oh, I see what you did there ... clever :-)

Came for the intrigue; stayed for the gafaw gafaw dig at Essenscum.

His short/mid passes DO NOT MISS. Good hands, kicks plenty of goals, and is lightening quick ... get him.

Also, I suspect MFC don't want to be paying any of his salary next year; I suspect that is another reason why they are pushing the "he's contracted for next year" line; ie. he's contracted and we want him, so if you are really desperate, you can have him with the right picks coming our way AND you should pay his ENTIRE remaining contract.

Nobody on the current list. Do the picks we got in return for players traded by us count? Jack Grimes was who we got out of trading Travis Johnstone to Brisbane. And we can not forget Jordy Gysberts for Brock McLean. John Meesen (as far as I can recall) is the last AFL experienced player to come to us via a trade.

Yes ... a board member regardless of type, not just of our club but any club ... must be dyed in the wool for that club.

Not really. It is just filling your coaching panel with people you already know can do the job you need them to. You need people who are receptive and conducive to your management style. People unknown to you can be good also, like a fresh pair of eyes and an intelligent counter if needed. Trust however takes time to build, and until it is built, sometimes the lack of it can slow the output and hinder the achievement of team goals. So ... put in people you know so you can avoid the trust building issue.

I would imagine that the recent trend of rising membership figures at the MFC might take a hit in 2012 given the year we have had, promising much and delivering little. The last few NAB Cup's have been dominated by teams that have gone deep in the home and away finals. That aside. Melbourne's attitude in recent years has been to give the new kids a taste in the pre-season comp. I posit that this year, we need to give the pre-season comp a serious shake because: 1) the club needs to generate some positivity amongst the membership base - give cause for marginals and potential newbies reason to sign - it should provide a good early kick to the membership tally early when in the past the game day rallying generally begins after some initial early season success on or after round 1, 2) the club can definitely do with the (albeit small) financial rewards attached to winning or placing in the NAB Cup, 3) any silverware is always a good start to the year particularly since our cabinets haven't been opened for a while. Thoughts?

Is Chris Dawes still out of contract? If so, I would be beginning to detach the kitchen sink ...

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/neeld-to-coach-demons-20110916-1ke3i.html Although I am pretty happy with the appointment, I found the bit in Pierik and Caro's article a bit alarming. Quote "Neeld will have the job of not only improving the on-field performance of a team that this week lost midfield defector Tom Scully to Greater Western Sydney but will also need to unify a fractured football department." Understand that there are problems there; but this sounds like he is to play a conciliatory role. I am hoping this means that he can keep whomever he wants, clean out the rest and build from there.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/ross-lyon-to-coach-fremantle-20110915-1kbmh.html

Possibly. But that is on the premise that leaving for GWS is the poor decision.

Not about being wronged by Scully, purely about the MFC winning in this deal too. I don't care if its Scully we are talking about or any other player. I want my club to get at least equal benefit in any deal. I posit that this whole situation with Scully has left a sour taste in many mouths. Even some apologists out there.

I'm for MFC to win. If MFC wins and he does too, great. In my opinion, him signing with us, contingent on what is alleged and what we know, he is the only one that will win.

Read the word "Allegedly". But let's be honest ... anyone's best guess is not going to be out by more than 100K.

I agree - and it won't happen. It is kind of my way of saying ... just go, better for all of us.

If, by some miraculous turn of events, he decides to stay; I think he will have to pay to win back the respect and repay the faith of EVERY stakeholder at the club, a la: "ok MFC, you guys have had faith in me, I have stuffed you around all season. This decision probably has weighed on the playing group in matches throughout 2011. No one thinks I am worth what I have been offered, even the smaller offer from you. But, as an olive branch, I will accept from the MFC a contract reduced to two thirds of what you offered to help win back some good will with fans and repay your faith and patience." That will go a long way to winning back fans. Accepting our offer as it allegedly stands (and as remote a chance that is) will cause much angst from fans toward him AND the club.

Based on recent history; if the powers-that-be (players, footy dept or some combination of both) at one of either Geelong or Collingwood had to rate our list and select our captain, who would they appoint? I personally think it would be somewhere between a James Frawley or a Nathan Jones. Not the prettiest or the most skilled, but they put in - week in week out. They play with passion, and more often than not, they win their position. Sounds like a Maxwell, Harley or (to a lesser extent) Ling type appointment. Not sure what either would be like vocally amongst the group though.

It is a dicey one. Say you work for the government; you are one these guys who visit homes knocking door to door (most probably through a sub-contractor arrangement) to replace existing light bulbs with energy efficient ones. In getting to the next door you need to knock on, you have to walk on the footpath past a residential construction site. A tradesman is operating an angle grinder on this site, and while performing this duty, a stray metal filing flies off the cutting blade and hits you, rendering you blind in one eye, with a big medical bill and your injuries are permanent and severely impair your ability to earn a living. Who is responsible for your safety? (after yourself of course).