TonyMelb

The inital post is spot on in regard to Cam Bruce. He consistently shirks going in for the hard ball when needed. This is the issue which stands in way of him being Captain of the club. May have increased since his major shoulder injury but he has always been an outside player. The other criticism is his poor disposal and non passing to younger players in forward line over last 12 months. I think both Cam andmost of the commentaors have got sucked in by him racking up lots of possessions each game (ala Joel Bowden). He is named in the best players for MFC almost every week based on high total possessions but being at the game he is not in our best players and has little influence on the performance of the side (tagging aspects aside) for the number of times he gets the ball. Brad Green also a bit influenced by number of disposals rather than effective disposals. Compare that with for instance the influence Nathan Jones had on the Game against Port on Sunday. Cam is a very good player and very important contributer to the team. What is being noted is that he would be a super star if he stepped up in regard to the hard ball and that as one of the leadership group he needs to.

Terrific Article in todays Age on Flash and his brother and Mum. Rings very true as Aaron has shown maturity and level headedness from the time he first came to MFC. A class act off as well as on the field. Lizzie will be justifyably proud of both sons. My boys, Matt, Ooze (No 13) and Anthony very proud of him too. http://realfooty.com.au/news/news/the-dave...113.html?page=2

SEN again today persisted with a phone poll on Byron's tackle - over 80% viewed it as fair. Byron is fully entitled to regard him self as being unfairly treated! This beating up of a tacle into some histeria is cloes to if not already bias or prejudice againt him personally ( & possibly racially underneath). One caller to SEN tried to blame Byron for deliberatle causing Keneally injury the wek before. Commentators have lot to answer for this!! Watson demonstrated his limitations as football commentator! Compare that with the Pt Adelaide comments including Chocco Williams who said straight away Byron would never try to hurt one of his former teammates. The underlying issue arising here is there is clearly a very different standard being applied to Byron - several good tackles by him have gone unrewarded - one 2 weeks ago was glaring - and by contrast the umpires ping him for holding the ball almost immediatley. Bearing in mind that Goodes gets let off for a hit behind play and Hall gets let off to play in a GF compared with Byron getting 6 weeks (significantly more than any other suspension in recent times) a strong case for a claim is building up if he ever wants to make one. I am sue all Byron wants to do is play good and tough footy like he did a lot of last year and lets hope (a) he can and (B) he is allowed to so we can enjoy watching him and others show what MFC is actually capable of!

Hope not an issue with Newton. He looked very promising in Sandy's win at TBO sunday week ago. I heard ND say we'd tried 34 players & had no one else to try (think was in response to Wallace saying going to have youth policy. Also was a bit odd give Farwley and Buckley not debut yet and Frawley was annointed for round 1??? More importantly was MFC does need to do now is look closely at the list and start getting games into the players wh are going to take MFC forward in 2008 and beyond with some of our more senior players. Coaches need to stage the moving out of those who wont be there going forward. (early nominees include Bizz and Brad Miller). Should be trying Feguson ( took some good high marks for Sandy) Danny Hughes, Newton, Neaves as well as the new guys & get something out of the year by finding out who can make the grade.

Our congratulations also Ricky!! Thouroughly deserved. Has shown poise and guts and good jugdgement in both games & was in top possessions all day (and actually did something constructive with the possessions!).

from where we were in the old red seats part of the ground Brad Miller was clearly our worst player by a long long way in the first 3 qtrs! He had no more than 3 possessions until last 20 min of the game and his 3 last qtr goals made up for total lack of effort and refusal to chase at all earlier in the game. Dunny by comparison ran his guts out! Basic problem with Miller is he does not have the football smarts needed to KPP compared with Dunn so long term its a no brainer! His late take up of AFL is part of the reason and for not great kicking but no reason for his disinterested effort in 1st 3 qtrs today. Everyone in our area in despair. So no way he played well or gave an acceptable effort.

Only MFC related people worth considering are : Mark Williams (Sandy) for obvious reasons, Brett Lovett ( as noted proving very good coach at VFL level and possibly Todd Viney (depending on what his role at Hawthorn is). MFC can not afford an unsuccessful coaching appointment or experiment with untried person. we have been in the winlderness far too long and MUST grasp the opporunity which the good young list we have provides! If Leigh Matthews is EVER appointed coach of Demons I and my family will cease with MFC!! Matthews cowardly king hits against our players disqualified him forever. If Blight was appointed we should expect AFL to take MFC over (as well as Kangaroos)! Would be financially irresponsible.

True MFC people dont have to resort to personal abuse! This applies equally to new and seasoned posters -- Jibes such as telling people to go back to primary school or talk of another club's supporters eating their own are the sort of unwelcome filth you are complaining of DMajik. So like the players the posters need to lift their game too. When the MFC is playing as poorly as they have so far this year no one is exempt from criticism BUT equally we mustnt turn on each other personally!! Our collective voice as true passionate Demone people is needed to have a positive influence on the MFC during this year. We MUST make sure that some sound decisions are made so that the MFC gets on right track and goes forward both on and off the field!

COACH!! But maybe Im wrong and only imagined seeing my kids holding the Premiership Cup at TBO (AGAIN!) last year????

Ever thought about where a side gets is confidence and strong winning attitude from??? Hint: its not the F word!! Its the C.... word! (sshh dont dare say it out loud though) ............................

This is a key point! players think that number of possessions is measure of how well they pay!! Cam Bruce gets lots of possessions each week but is one of our more ineffectual players compared with impact he should have. His and Brad Green's poor disposal - bad delivery and poor options- is why they are not serious contenders to lead the MFC. Bruce does not pass when should especially to younger players even if in great position. Brad's hand ball on wing on Monday after 4 bounces was shocking! (remember the richmond game last year - J Bowden had 30+ possessions on wet night BUT Robbo was BOG!!) Bruce is not hard at the ball and regularly does not go in when is his turn. From what I saw Nathan Jones did a lot more. Lack of leadership from ALL our senior players is a major problem!! Brock and Nathan Jones etc should not be being called upon so early in their careers to lead but non of our 100 plus game players are leading out on the field!! The big issues raised are entirely valid and the concerns we all have as true MFC people are very real! None of our senior players has played anywhere near their capability so far this year - when all should have been firing at start of this year looking to press for solid top 4 finish! Clearly something is not right! The players and the coaches are responsible and MUST be held accountable this year! The next 4 weeks will be a test for all of us! We should all take note of who performs during this period when our depth will be tested!

All of this deomstrates clearly that "game plan" is totally wrong!!! The run and carry style did not work last night or against the Hawks! It does not use our players strengths or skills. Ball handling was poor and unsure!. Players were either not ready or disintrested. Perhaps they dont believe in it either???? I agree I thought Jamars tap work was OK. Major failing was TOTAL lack of any adjustment or reaction when flow of play went against us. Same issue in year 10 ! NO planBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB

The performance last night was a repeat of the NAB game against Hawks and in both cases our handball happy gamestyle has made the other side look impressive! Saints played OK but were not great but they at least handled the ball surely. The MFC version of run and carry has an a familar look - a la Neil Balme style and will have the same result as his last year if not changed. If ND concedeswas dumb football then who is responsible for that???? The coaches! Grant Thomas on SEN said 2 salient things -1. Demons were disciplined -(clearly followed drills they were taught!) but wasnt working and 2. amazed at total lack of reaction or adjustment to way Ross Lyon (who may have been coacging his first AFL game???) wanted the game to be played!!! MFC could improve both its on field perfomance and off field financial perfomance by sacking all the coaches which would save $1.5 to $2m in wages and remove negative impact on playing group..Win win!!! instead of MFC buildiong upon the foundation of last year and a style that won 12 games at the G, which is what you would expect the team has gone backwards. Worse start than last year. Capitulated early, many looked underdone and wouldnt chase! And this morning the papers have Cam Bruce in the best player. WTF???? by the stats in the screen he had 6 kicks early in last qtr. Maybe I was at a different game? Looking at the brighter side I am about to take my boys to the Junior members footy clinic! last one was after 2nd drubbing by Carlton last year. Its being held in the Melb Aquatic centre - basketball courts. Should suit us fine as is indoors and so a lot more handball and less kicking!!! Thankfully for MFC a lot of us have already paid our 2007 memberships. last night effort would not have convinced any doubters to pay up. :angry:

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/bomb...4761601025.html Report in todays Age EFC taking photos of spies at training. Maybe will encourage lots of rival fans to put on some dark glasses and go to bummers training to keep them busy taking pics of the crowd & distract them from training . B)

Totally agree that for MFC to finish in top 4 and have a realistic crack at a flag we need him in top form. We hope Adem is given the opportunity and plays a blinder on Friday night. with many others! It is a pity this is the only news story on the Dees leading up to the first game of the season!

Your thoughts are all much appreciated & I will pass on to his family. The MFC are also supportive which is also much appreciated. It is why the MFC is a great club - full of genuine people. These events (have been a few over the last few weeks) remind us how valuable life is.

Geoff Kennard was one of the 3 men killed in the Burnley tunnel accident last Friday. I have known him for more than 25 years. He was an avid Demon supporter and also an MCC member and we spent many many hours in the old Bull Ring and watching the Dees and also the cricket. He was one of natures true gentlemen and he and his wife Jenny two of the nicest people I have ever met. Devoted to family and loved his sport. a Good friend. I will be thinking of him on Friday night at the G. RIP

Nope its not that! I have telstra mobile and optus home phone so is not 3! If I knew which house was Matty Lloyd's I could have stuffed them in his mail box last night!! Wouldnt be seen with their mail in daylight!!! I like the idea of sending mail back to bummers without stamp !!

This is to be welcomed as MFC is a special case as there is very little MFC can give by way of added value to a full MCC member. As noted in the media if half the MCC members who are Demon supporters take out the special memberships we would have 35,000 members - a true indications of MFC supporter base. This finally recognises that a large number of die hard MFC supporters can see all there games from the MCC members without paying the MFC anything. Contrast to Adelaide members who get seats for both Adelaide and Pt Adelaide games ( I admit questionable value except for maybe 2 weeks when the Dees play there) & they have a waiting list like MCCs Need to note that it was the AFL which killed off the old membership for MCC/MFC members which was at $40 a few years ago. Wouldnt count them in membership numbers. (Perhaps that was because of the large number of family pets who were paid up Hawk members!!). There are also more MCC members who are paid up MFC members than the stats quoted show because they only seem to look at those who buy an MFC/MCC membership. This ignores those of us who have other MFC memberships like Redlegs etc as well as full MCC membership.

I have received an Invitation from Matthew Lloyd to sign up membership of Essendon FC!! Any one else get one? Addressed to me by name as a "keen Bomber supporter", I find that insulting as I hate them particularly after 2000 GF!! How the hell did my name get on a Bomber mailing list??? I know I have nearly ran Lloydy over a couple of times - he was a bit slow and kept walking in front of my car while in rehab! My friends who support the EFC would not even give them my name a a joke as I am 2nd generation lifelong Demons supporter. ##### rude !!! I have to get me name off that list ASAP. Dont want to be linked to one of the cellar dwellers. I am also letting MFC know. Maybe Bombers having snagged Mel Michael are going poaching other clubs members???

If last night's effort was not rubbish - 199 handballs of which about 80% were to person flat footed in worse position! - then your comments aren't rubbish eaither! How do you come up with first comment??? Not rubbish, "just wasnt meant to work at TD'!! HELLO!! the game was at TD! Why the perfomance was bad last night is that we saw excessive handballing instead of kicking the ball to a teammate in space and with some system. If that is the way the boys start playing in NAB then may flow on into the season proper! At the game I was at the plan certainly did not work nicely and several very costly turnovers resulted! Would also not have encouraged any one waivering about paying a membership to rush in and sign up. Our boys are a lot better than that.

We want to again thank all those who contributed to yet another terrific family day on Sunday! In particular the volunteers who worked tirelessly and the players who obliged in the sweltering heat evry request for signature photos & a chat with every fan. Also a special mention to the players partners and their increasing band of little demons who stayed on through the heat all day. All the boys were relaxed and looked fit and ready to go!! Good reason to look forward to a big year! ONLY 5 more sleeps till FOOTY is back!

our congratulations and best wishes to both Biz and Jen. She has been seen at key club occasions for quite awhile & is a great person. She did an excellent job of helping Biz prop up one end of the bar at the TBO after Sandy's three in a row GF win!!!