furious d

Almost poetic that's it's close to a fifty fifty split betwen land/ology and Mt Theo, shows how proud all of us are of Liam. Fantastic of you to organize this on your hols fork but please let us know how to pay soon as my hols started 4 hours ago, and by Tuesday I'll be uncontactable for nearly a week. Don't want to be named and shamed :D

Fiddy more from me, and well done fork.

Put 50 on the Eagles for the spoon at 12 to 1 a week ago. If they manage to outtank us its $600 for debt demolition.

jk- jk- jooka- jookaaah. Damn, wasn't gonna go to this 'cause I hate Ekithump. No choice now :D

While gathering together a list that's balanced in a positional sense over the next three years or so, we also need to adress the imbalances in age and experience. This is what's hurting us right now. I don't see our window opening until 2014 but it's not impossible we could snaffle one a year early. At the beginning of this season we had 6 players aged 26+. No player was 26 y.o then Wheatley 27, Green 28, Bruce 29, Whelan 29, Robertson 30 and McDonald 32. Wheatley is yet to play. Green has been good not great and missed 4 with a broken jaw. Bruce has been Bruce, getting plenty of it but not hurting the opposition enough. Whelan and McDonald seem to be struggling and Robbo has been horrible since he came back. Could Bails please explain to Robbo that football is a game best played on one's feet, please stop diving and just contest ffs. I haven't been through any other lists but I defy anyone to find a list with less output from it's over 26's. Apart from Green and the much maligned Bruce, who should be around for a while yet, we're not getting much at all. I'm not trying to bag these guys, just stating the obvious. They've been great servants but they need to find something or move on at years end. Last week all these blokes played except Wheat. When that happens our average age is boosted by 4 players being 29+, but it leaves us with 1 26-28 y.o. The problem I see in 2014 will again be in the 26-28 bracket, today's 22-24 y.o's. That's 22- Bartram, Bate, Buckley, Dunn, Jones and Newton. 23- Martin, Meesen and Valenti*, and 24- Bell, McLean, Sylvia and Hughes. McLean Sylvia and Martin are the only certainties to be in our top 26 players in 2014 imo. The 22 y.o's are the biggest concern for me. All except Buckley are either treading water or have gone backwards under Bailey, and he's barely set foot on a footy field all year. We really need 6-8 of these blokes still around and being consistent contributors, not fringe players, in 2014.

We've got a grand total of 7 games from players who were 26-28y.o at the start of the season. Any club is going to struggle with that level of input from senior players still in their prime. I think there's enough talent in our 21 and unders and 24 to 26 y.o's to have a rounded list by 2013/14 but I worry about our 22-23 y.o's. That's Bartram, Bate, Buckley, Dunn, Jones, Newton, Martin, Meesen and Valenti. Martin and probably Jones are the only ones certain to be around. They'll be 25-26 in 2013. Improvement in them and at least 2 of others is crucial to our hopes in a few years.

The biggest problem with our list atm is it's imbalance. At the beginning of this season we didn't have one player aged 26. The only 27 year old was Wheatley and he hasn't played a game yet, and Green, who missed 4 weeks with a broken jaw, was the only 28 year old. No team will succeed with such slim pickings between 26-28. When thinking about trading we have to make sure we don't repeat that situation 4 years from now. I think we need to realistically aim at 2014 as it will take that long to work the imbalance out of our list. With that in mind here's a list of our players ages at Apr 1 2010 and 2014 in brackets. I've underlined the untouchables IMO. 19 at 1/4/10 (23 in 2014) Bennell Blease Maric McNamara Strauss Watts Healey* McKenzie* I'd expect Blease, Maric and Strauss to make it and McKenzie has impressed me but largely unknown quantities at this stage. 20 at 1/4/10 (24) Cheney Grimes Jetta Morton Spencer* Zomer* Grimes and Morton are class and Cheney, Jetta and Spencer could make it but Zomer may Struggle 21 at 1/4/10 (25) Bail Frawley Garland Jurrah Petterd Wonnaemirri Wonna should come on but injuries this year still leave question marks, Ricky could end up at GC and Jurrah and Bail are still speculative. All in all I think we're tracking ok with these age group as we probably need 12 of these blokes to make it at least. It's the next 3 age brackets where we have to be careful. 22 at 1/4/10 (26) Bartram Bate Buckley Dunn Jones Newton Nothing but question marks here for me. I'd expect maybe 3 of these blokes here by 2014. 23 at 1/4/10 (27) Martin Meesen Valenti* I don't think Valenti's good enough, Meesen still has reasonable question marks. 24 at 1/4/10 (28) Bell McLean Sylvia Hughes* Trading Brock or Col will leave us compromised in the 26-28 age bracket again in 4 years time. 6 blokes at this stage of their career would be a bare minimum in my opinion and we'll only just get there. 25 at 1/4/10 (29) Johnson, Rivers, Warnock 26 at 1/4/10 (30) Davey, Jamar, miller, Moloney Rivers Warnock, Davey and Moloney should be retained as long as their bodies allow and Jamar, Johnson and Miller should stay until younger blood forces them out. Currently I wouldn't trade anyone older than Stef Martin as I think we'll need what's left of them in 2014. The obvious place to look for potential trades is the 22 year old bracket and I think Jones is the one who'd attract most interest, you'd probably get a nibble or two for Bate as well but then we'll struggle to find enough of them to keep. I wouldn't be trading anyone at present. Jmac, Robbo, Bruce Wheels, Green, Wheat, Miller, 2 of our current ruckmen, Bell Newton and probably 2 of Bartram, Bate, Buckley and Dunn should all be gone by 2014 and a few more will have become apparent by the latter years of this plan. Ideally we should be looking to turnover 3 to 4 players a year during this period. The good thing is we can build the list over this period of time without losing too much of value through natural attrition

Just noticed it at the bottom of the free QB events story. Bidding closes on the 11th, $150 reserve. Only 1 bid so far and it's for the big russians #40, but still $30 shy of the reserve Disappointed to see that of the 30 listed guernseys there's no #4, does this mean no debut for the messiah. If he did play I reckon his jumper would attract serious interest. They listed Wheat, Wonna and Meesen's jumpers even though they've got as much chance of playing as me on Monday, but couldn't squeeze Addam Maric's #19 into the 30 listed.

Already got Tuesday off :D Huge day, hope they give out flags again. The sea of red heading up Birrarung Marr looked awesome last year.

According to Demonland on the gameday thread CC said at a function last night that Jack is up with Cale in the elite level at the beep test. It's third hand info but I'd trust the sauces. Strength would seem to be the issue with him playing forward. With our lack of options up there at present it'd be hard to protect him from the bigger defenders. They'd probably go to him before Robbo, Miller or Bate. His engine and agility allow him to play up the ground a bit while he puts on some muscle.

This time last year Rich and Natanui were considered a lock for pick 1 and 2, then Jack Watts tore up the championships to jump ahead of both. Will anyone repeat the feat this year and go past Butcher and/or Scully? I'm nowhere near as confident we'll finish last or get that all important PP as I was 4 weeks ago but I still can't see us ending up with a pick lower than 3. Until we've won 5, whether people like it or not, there'll be plenty of speculation about picks 1 and 2 around here, and it will only get worse the further we go into the year. Bring it on I say. If we haven't notched that fifth win I might have to organise a day off work on July 1st and head down to Ekithump Stadium. It was tempting last year with pick 1, but with 1 and 2 I'd have to go down for a look. ROUND 1 Saturday May 23 Queensland vs NSW/ACT at Visy Park 11:15am Tasmania vs Northern Territory at Visy Park 2pm Saturday May 30 Western Australia vs South Australia at Subiaco 2:20pm (C/R to Frem vs Rich) Sunday May 31 Victoria Country vs Victoria Metro at Skilled Stadium 1:30pm ROUND 2 Friday June 5 Northern Territory vs Western Australia at TIO Stadium 6pm Saturday June 6 NSW/ACT vs Victoria Metro at Rouse Hill 10am Queensland vs South Australia at Rouse Hill 12:30pm Sunday June 7 Tasmania vs Victoria Country at Bellerive 11:30am ROUND 3 Saturday June 13 Western Australia vs Victoria Metro at Subiaco 11am Sunday June 14 South Australia vs Victoria Country at AAMI Stadium 1:10pm (C/R Adel vs NM) Saturday June 20 NSW/ACT vs Northern Territory at ANZ Stadium 4:10pm (C/R Syd vs Coll) Tasmania vs Queensland at Aurora Stadium 11am ROUND 4 Friday June 26 NSW/ACT vs South Australia at Visy Park 3pm Saturday June 27 Victoria Country vs Northern Territory at Casey Fields 11am Victoria Metro vs Queensland at Casey Fields 1pm Tasmania vs Western Australia at Casey Fields 3pm ROUND 5 Wednesday July 1 Tasmania vs NSW/ACT at Etihad Stadium 9:35am Queensland vs Northern Territory at Etihad Stadium 11:40am Victoria Country vs Western Australia at Etihad Stadium 1:45pm Victoria Metro vs South Australia at Etihad Stadium 3:50pm

We are no chance of finals this year but we have found the perfect time to find some form. Hawthorn and St Kilda in the next 2 weeks and credible performances will see our respect gaining. Finish that off with a win on QB and even the uneducated fan will be starting to take notice. By rd 14-15 we could be looking to send anyone with niggles off for surgery I watched the second half at a pub full of bulldog fans in the Western suburbs after work. The doggies around me were surprised at how good we were and I heard it said more than once that our young list had a good future. A group of old ladies pulled me aside to let me know how impressed they were with our kids and to offer their luck for our future. We're starting to shake the laughing stock tag, the long journey back to respect has begun. Right now our season is progressing beautifully. The improvement is there for everyone to see, the gameplan is emerging and it looks fantastic when its clicking. I'm gaining confidence in our handball. Some of the handball and run out of defence in the last few weeks has been bold and breathtaking. They are playing very attractive football but blowing it with turnovers, something that will improve in time. If we can continue like this and win only 4 I for one will be ecstatic. If we win more than 4 so be it, keep improving at this rate and it may take some supreme list management to keep us below 5 wins. No matter what happens the only way from here is up, go dee's!

I thought it meant Scott Clayton believes that Cale could potentially be the best player in the comp by 2014. No offence to Mike but thats even bigger wraps.

I haven't seen a post calling for Aaron to be played in the forward line for at least six weeks now, that's as good an indicator as any of how well he's been going. He's finally delivering consistently and beating his tag, he's shown maturity this year and hasn't let a tag get under his skin like he has in the past. It's only been 6 weeks though and the challenge for Flash is to mainain his form week in week out. If he can do that into next year when we start winning games he'll be considered among the games true elites. It's a big ask, he's set the bar pretty high in the last month and a half, he's been absolutely sensational. I think having Wonna, Jurrah, Benny and the Jet has forced Aaron to realise he's a leader and needs to set an example. He's responded admirably to the added responsibility. It's been a long time since we've had a genuine star. It's not outside the realm of possibility that we could have 2, 3, even 4 within 2 or 3 years. Long way to go but exciting times ahead.

These commentators are hopeless, does anyone know where I can find our players numbers? The Casey site only lists theirs.

Funny thing is, it's what Jeff said AFTER he was issued a please explain for his original comments regarding umpires, and noone seems to remember that. It amazes me you've all been sucked in by his populist explination. His comments on radio were that the umpires were precious and bigger than the game. Seems a strange way of saying there are too many rule changes. I agree with most of the points raised in his explination but it had absolutely no relevance to his statements.

I'll do something I don't think I've ever done before and back the ump's on this one. They wear microphones because the broadcasters who pay the AFL millions every year want them to. If you don't want to hear them tell 7, 10 and Fox. I don't mind hearing what they have to say when nobody's got any idea what a free was paid for. Sometimes the replay even shows they were right and something happened off the ball. All the other rubbish the oaf spouts is clearly the fault of the AFL, so why call the ump's precious and bigger than the game? It was a completely misdirected attack and IMO he only said it to divert attention from Hobart's poor start to the year. And to be offended by the umps calling players by their nicknames, who's precious? Malthouse and the talkin horse on the other hand are just whinging whining scumbags who think if the playing field isn't stacked in their favour it's just not fair. Petulant pussbags who are never to be agreed with or acknowledged in other fashion than with utter contempt. The umpires should deal with this the same way they dealt with that fevered ego Grant Thomas and give Jeffrey and the Filth something to really moan about, until they realise it's in their best interests to STFU or better yet put their tails between their legs and apologise.

Cale could do more of a preseason because he wasn't at school all day. As for playing in the backline, I'd imagine it's Bailey imparting a lesson on accountability. Patience young padawans, Yoda knows what he's doing

25% of the population getting to see the other 4 games on tv is a hell of a lot better than the 0% that used to when 7 had footy to themselves. There's never been more footy on free to air telly than there is now. There's plenty of things to sheet blame on Kerry Packer for, but this isn't one of them

I couldn't give a pass mark for 4 wins. It's only 1 more than we managed last year and we were atrocious. If we're in games and not getting hammered we should be able to manage 6-8 wins and a % above at least 80. Bails will need at least that much improvement to gain a tick in the eyes of the media and general footy public. I wouldn't be unhappy with 4 wins and that's the biggest problem with priority picks, but it's a necessary evil to keep clubs from extended runs at the bottom. Unless they want to be there to milk the system and buy a champion like Carlton in 2007. The only way I'll end up disappointed is if we end up on 5 wins, no man's land. While development is more important than results this year, I think if we have one we'll have both

Mick the serial whinger Malthouse was banging on about the head being sacrosanct last year. Now his captain is rubbed out for 4 weeks for breaking a rookies jaw and the filthy hypocrite has the gall to appeal. Made your bed Malthouse, now lie in it.

I agree, and you'd have to be blind not to, that our disposal was way below AFL standard last year. But I think a large part of the problem was noone presenting upfield. Early in the year , before I'd resigned myself to just how bad we were, I was constantly screaming "move" as the targets upfield wandered around aimlessly. It improved a bit as the year went on but not to the extent necessary. Buckley's run was a prime example. He'd get the ball, take on the opposition, look up, nothing. It's harder to have good decision making when your options are limited. How often did we hanball or shortpass to a stationary target only to see an instant tackle laid and a turnover enforced? When we were playing good footy we seemed to run in waves and having 3 or 4 options made it easier to find a good one. It's another chicken and egg arguement I suppose. Did we stop running because our disposal was so poor we were afraid of being hurt on the turnover, which we were often. Or was our disposal so poor because we had 50/50 options at best to kick it to most of the time.

20 more in 5 and a half hours, cool!

Couldn't disagree more Monty, the club is obviously working hard at reestablishing our relationship with the MCC. I'd much rather we went down that path first. If we can get cheap rent and train at gosh's paddock during the season it may be as cheap as Casey. At this stage that should be our goal with Casey as a summer training venue. MCC members who are dees fans need to make their voice heard, if they vote as a block they could have a real effect. We need to show the MCC that we could be good for them. Having a functioning football club living and breathing inside the G, with it's history on display can only help the tours the G has. We need to go home.

Got invited to a new app yesterday. It's a Melbourne Football Club site where you can brawl with fans of other clubs and cheer the dees. Our rivalry in a sidebar is against the old enemy and they are caning us with 1784 fans to 370. We are third last just ahead of Brissie and the dockers. Get on board everyone and pump up our numbers, it's embarassing. http://apps.facebook.com/melbourneafc/core/start See ya's there