Mel Bourne

I’m not sure stating somebody’s age and the amount of games they’ve played constitutes a strong argument for retirement (Dustin Fletcher). We saw some pretty wonderful passages of play from Eddie Betts this season. I believe he’s still got that incredible capacity to make all the difference when scores are level with a couple of minutes to go.

I can’t help but feel that if Gus wants to stay, he’ll also want to redeem this year’s season. I cant imagine a player going from a season like he had in ‘18 to the one he just had, and thinking there was nothing to prove. Everybody around him would have been so stoked about being 3rd in the Brownlow that year, and the silence around him this year would have been deafening. He knows what he has to do next year, and if he wants to do it the MFC then by all means let him.

This particular thread is about as depressing as Melbourne's fan base gets. That some are sitting around lamenting how hard done by we are by getting pick three instead of two in a national draft is one of the more acute examples of self-pity I've seen, not only from the MFC supporter-base, but from any supporters of the game full-stop. This is a club that neither needs nor deserves a handout. This is a club that made the preliminary finals last year. And this is the team that defeated Hawthorn in a semi-final less than a year ago... B: Neville Jetta, Oscar McDonald, Jordan Lewis HB: Christian Salem, Sam Frost, Michael Hibberd ? Dom Tyson, Jack Viney, James Harmes HF: Jake Melksham, Tom McDonald, Angus Brayshaw F: Sam Weideman, Aaron vandenBerg, Alex Neal-Bullen Foll: Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Clayton Oliver I/C: Christian Petracca, Charlie Spargo, Mitch Hannan, Bayley Fritsch Ok, so we no longer have... Jordan Lewis or Dom Tyson. AVB and Weid are obviously out of action for now, but not necessarily for next season by any stretch. Of the players on that list who may have peaked I'd suggest Nathan Jones, Michael Hibberd and Neville Jetta (I say this with no joy at all). But we now have Stephen May, Jake Lever and a handful of young players with genuine potential. And we may even pick up somebody like Ed Langdon or another upper-tier name. We also have a relatively intact team with minimal surgeries to undergo, in the lead up to the pre-season. If the club freakin-well APPLIES ITSELF, there is no need whatsoever to feel any need to poor scorn on anybody else for denying us a helping hand. Yes, yes, yes, the AFL can be pretty reprehensible in it's mission to expand the league. But I think it's good to establish more clubs around the country (I hope Tasmania somehow gets a literal guernsey one day), and to make the game a comprehensively national one. But the fact is that the Gold Coast really properly suck and they need all the help they can get. Is this the case with Melbourne? Hell no!! We are better than this. And we can prove it next year.

I am most happy to say in the same breath that Walker is a pretender, and our forward line is dismal.

I’d rather Tony Modra then that pretender.

We’re not going to delist a captain, so if he chooses to stay, he stays. If after the trade period he is still considered in our B22, he plays. If not, he becomes a depth player. The captaincy is probably the most dubious aspect of his career right now. Not necessarily whether he remains in the team or not.

Hmmmm, that’s some juicy gossip Why? I mean, apart from the reasons I am.

Agree. I have high hopes for him. I hope he proves you wrong Joeboy.

I guess because, despite the impressive stat, he doesn’t do things considered “elite” once he disposes of the possession. Unless you consider constantly putting your teammates under pressure with quick, Bruce Lee-style handball deliveries elite.

De-list Frost? No way.

Bugger it. Bring Jacko home too.

I actually feel really sorry for ANB. Without even looking at the forum, I can tell he’s going to take some nasty heat from a few posters here.

Jake Lever is an average footballer but at least he was expensive.

I’ll just be happy to see the game finish without any serious injuries.

Further to this, if Max does play and sustains a serious hamstring injury, Goodwin gets the sack immediately.

Insanity. Rest the f$&@ out of Gawn (and Lever).

Somebody please explain the benefits of having co-captains to me.

No. Sadly they are a collective anomaly. Hence the existence of this thread. Many posters have pointed out in various threads, that our captains stand out in the league as being the most wanting in the skills department.

Is it just a coincidence then that most of the posters here are suggesting our most talented player be captain?

Sorry but that’s nonsense. Nobody gets considered for a captaincy/leadership role before exhibiting a degree of proficiency that sets them apart from the pack.

Agreed. There’s a very solid argument to let Max off the hook. Particularly if he doesn’t want the job. I’m friends with a recently-retired AFL captain, and he dodged and weaved the responsibility as long as he possibly could - it’s not as relished an opportunity as a lot of people believe. Melksham, then. And don’t get me wrong; I’m not a Lever-basher by any stretch (I guess I’m a be-Lever?). Very hopeful. Same goes with May. But I just haven’t seen anything from either of them (at this club) yet, that justifies such an expeditious rise to the top.

Please, no more co-captains. A completely unnecessary practice that brings nothing tangible except the threat of factions.

Why Lever for a leadership role? Because he was so expensive? Sorry, but there’s no way he’s earned a vice-captaincy. I feel the same way about May. Though I’m hopeful both players end up being highly-prized assets for the MFC, people seem to think their ascendancy is complete because they show glimpses of top-tier form. Far from it, they both need to have a consistent season next year to be even considered for such a role, otherwise the title is just cheapened. Gawn for captain. Vice captaincy should fall to either: Melksham, Salem, Petracca or Fritsch. In other words, players who have demonstrated both the necessary skill AND commitment to the club. Guys who have paid their dues. (Clarry was a consideration for my mind as vice-captain, right up until that pretty disappointing display last Friday).

Ah, I see. Well it’s time for me to whack on my favourite broken record then... Let’s ask Adem Yze to be our new coach.