Lord Nev

Not sure I agree, but I get where you're coming from. I just don't buy the 'line in the sand' stuff with this club anymore. We've had more than enough of those and generally failed at them. I hope I'm wrong, but I feel like this year has exposed that our culture wasn't totally fixed and when tested (aka 'line in the sand') it doesn't stand up. I'm not blaming the results on that solely as there's clearly many other factors at work, but just the way we've gone about it as a club this year has been so cardboard and listless that it feels like we're back to the 'just show up and get a paycheck' type of culture. I know to some it might sound silly, and we don't talk about it much anymore, but I still can't shake the feeling that things turned somewhat with the cancelled camp.

Why?

We're irrelevant, that's why. The only scrutiny we've copped has pretty much been from former Dees in the media.

Legend! Really appreciated @kev martin! Geez I'm hoping we get in an actual goal kicking coach when we start the coaching reshuffle.

Yeah for sure, especially since exiting pokies. That's part of what I wanted to show there, but also I wanted to show how invested PJ seemed in the connections we've built with the NT, the community and the programs we've instigated there.

Sorry mate, but that's rubbish. There's been countless worse stagers in the game but none of them were booed with the continuity or ferocity over the same length of time as Goodes. That's just a cop out excuse. There was literally a handful of 'incidents', maybe less, where Goodes 'staged', yet somehow it's weaseled it's way into the story of why he 'brought it upon himself'.

“We at the Melbourne Football Club looked around and said ‘how good is playing a game of elite sport with a backdrop like this, which is the heart and soul of Australian history and heritage’, so we pushed a bit harder.” “Apart from it being a unique game in a unique setting, the whole purpose now is to give something back to the Aboriginal community around Alice Springs on the back of AFL football,” he said. “We understand our commitment and responsibility to give back, and this game will give us the opportunity to really make a difference.” Jackson: it’s an absolute privilege “We are extremely proud of this partnership, which is now in its seventh year,” Jackson said. “We see it as an important partnership for the whole of club, both on and off the field." “With the launch of the AFL Next Generation Academies earlier this year, we see our club aligned to the Alice Springs region." “Our alignment is deeper than playing matches in the Territory for premiership points; the Next Generation Academy will enable us to be actively involved in introducing children of all backgrounds to the game and provide aspirational pathways for players, coaches, umpires and administrators." Melbourne extends NT partnership He also said the Demons needed to take commercial considerations into account as they transitioned out of gaming, but effectively ruled out Melbourne playing in China, with the Suns set to stop playing in that game. Demons want bye after Darwin game

How would you feel if: a) We traded the pick. b) GC get a priority but have to trade it. They then trade it to WC for NicNat, then WC trade it for Kelly and Geelong end up with pick 2...

I would have thought they went off for operations because they needed them...

The young firecracker has signed a 1 year extension today according to Mitch Cleary.

The statistics that reveal ‘irrelevant’ Melbourne’s shocking demise

With pokies coming out, how do you propose we make up the millions we would lose in income though? And have you seen our record at the G mate? It's very poor. I would wager we're a better chance in NT than at the G.

I hope it does. IMO it makes so much sense from a financial point of view, but I love the link to the community and clubs up there even more, and totally agree the 'Heart Of The Nation' game has really started to become a feature. I love seeing all the blokes talk about their connection to the land and people, and seeing Gilly getting a bit emotional in the pregame is one of my favourite footy moments of 2019.

Didn't realize until today that the game in Alice on Sunday was the last of our current deal with the NT (and AFL). Pert would already have quite the full desk at the moment, and I think this will be an intriguing decision. PJ always seemed keen on it, both as an income generator and from a community interaction point of view, so I wonder if Pert will take the same approach (particularly given our exit from pokies). From memory, our record up there is not too bad (comparative to our overall performances), so I could see it continuing given all the circumstances. There's also the Redtails/Pinktails partnership and our academy link to take into consideration, on top of other programs we've either been part of or initiated. Both Mahoney and Pert have previously made comments about continuing our links up there, but that could always be separated from actually playing games I guess.

Yeah, it's bloody messy that's for sure. From the above article: "Essendon is in a similar scenario to Hawthorn and Melbourne under the new trade conditions. All three clubs drafted two players in the first round in 2015, but the Hawks and Demons haven't used one since and neither has one this year (2018). They can do as they wish with their first-round pick in the 2019 NAB AFL Trade Period, including offloading a future one, because they have used at least two in the preceding four-year period. However, like the Bombers, unless they trade in extra first-round selections this year or next, they will have to start using those picks in 2020 until they satisfy the four-year rolling requirement."

We have to use a pick either this year OR next year. We can trade this year's one as long as we use next year's one. It's a rolling 4 year period with the 'new' rule taking effect from 2020. It's a complicated messy situation, but the short story is we are allowed to trade a first round pick from either 2019 or 2020. Edit - Adding link that might help explain... https://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-11-02/trading-firstround-picks-afls-most-misunderstood-rule-explained

Fair enough mate, can understand that point of view for sure.

Again, his best mate, the president of the club, dying of cancer, asked him to do it. But sure, have a crack at him for trying to help the club he loves in that situation. FFS.

(We're not one of the 'trio' of clubs btw, but stil....)

I never said other players don't have "1% of the passion that he has". What I said was, Lyon seems to always get slammed by Dees fans for not being involved or not being down the club, but as I said, he's down at training more than most other players, and I think it's crazy a former captain and team of the century player cops it from our fans while there's hundreds of former players out there who get a free pass.

Sorry mate, which bit do you mean?

He's always said he doesn't have the skills to be a coach or administrator, why is it so many Dees fans get all upset at Lyon? Plenty of former captains of our club aren't involved, and I've seen Garry at training more than Neitz, McDonald, Grimes and Healy combined. He IS a fan and a past player, that's why he hurts like we do when the club is struggling so badly. I don't understand why he gets singled out for this kind of treatment from fans when there's plenty of former players out there who don't have 1% of the passion for the club that he does.

He reluctantly agreed to do a job that he had very openly said he wasn't qualified for because his dying best mate asked him to. Honestly, pull your head in. That's a horrible thing to criticize someone for.

Fair enough, I can understand that, maybe I'm being a bit harsh and using the '2019 disapointment' lens too much.

Yep, so because he didn't hit the target (Gus, Oliver and Viney are all miles below the AFL average for inside 50 retention) West Coast go the other way and kick a goal that levels the score. I get that it's a hard situation, but that's footy, and that's why we're failing.