furious d

Everybody throw some salt over your shoulder, knock on wood, cross fingers, knees and toes and anything else you can think of. Please,please please never mention those 3 when talking about us getting an exciting KPP forward. I prefer exciting forwards who aren't crippled by injury. Now excuse me, I've gotta get the salt.

So bad decision making can rule some out but a percieved upside is enough to put Naita into #1. Still seems dodgy to me, but who the hell am I? Nobody would be the one and only answer

Hopefully not. I for one would have been disappointed with an unconditional 2 year offer. He's had a long time and delivered little. HE'S GONE, GET OVER IT, HE WAS CRAP ANYWAY!

He claims not to rate bad decision makers but puts Niknat at #1, seems a little strange. From what I've heard it's his biggest problem and not just when he has the ball.

Jeez Monty, I must've missed that earlier in the year (spent a month working in NSW). I hadn't been at all bothered by this whole CJ thing until now. If we offered the ungrateful little [censored] 2 years and he still left there's a few CJ lovers on here that owe the club an apololgy. Now I want to see McLean run straight through the little weed. Bring on round 21, better book a hospital bed for the traitor in advance.

If the club had offered CJ 2 years I would've have been [censored] off! To often we've caved in at the negotiation table, it's what got us into this mess in the first place. We need to base contracts on our expectations. I'm yet to hear how long Dunn's new contract is but I hope he's only got one year as well. We can't afford to continue as the ordinary footballers benevolent fund. I don't begrudge CJ his right to seek security elsewhere, it's a tough business, but the club did the right thing and if other fringe players walk out in future so be it. If we matched Carltank and had CJ running around at Casey for 2 years everyone here would be [censored] at the club. They were prepared to offer him 2 years, he's their problem now.

Cheers Davis333, but that still leaves a few questions. Dunn and Moloney are out of contract according to that, does anyone know how long they re-signed for? The players whose contracts expire at the end of 2009 can be split into 3 groups. Last years draftees: Morton, Grimes, Maric, Cheney and McNamara. Considering the last 2 were bottom age I wouldn't expect any of those guys to be delisted Middle age players: Bell, Davey, Jamar, McLean, Miller, Meesen and Sylvia Older players: McDonald, Robertson, Whelan That list claims Bell and Meesen are out of contract at the end of this year but in the Melbourne list 2009 thread in the drafting and trading section people are saying both are contracted until Oct 2010. This needs clarifacation as they are 2 prime candidates to be delisted at years end if they don't improve this year. Davey, McLean, Sylvia and probably Miller are all safe unless Watts and Jurrah develop very quickly into kpf's. If PJ, Spencer or Meesen can't dislodge Jamar from #1 ruck he'll stay also. The older players are all possible retirements but none are certain and will depend on injuries, form and willingness to continue. Not a lot of wriggle room imo, unless all 3 older players retire

Can anyone tell me whose contracts expire at years end? It seems from what I've read on other threads that almost everyone is contracted till the end of 2010. If this is the case it's an extreme case of list mismanagement. Please someone say it aint so.

I was livid when I heard those comments as well but I think they were the rocket up the ying yang the club needed. Demetriou and co seem to have been pretty helpful to the new admin and it's no secret they were pretty unimpressed by Gardner and co. I'm wrapt with the focus on our history that Jimma, Connols and Schwabby have brought to the fore. We have the most impressive history of probably any club of any code in the world. It's about time we embraced it. For the first time in my life I really think we're heading in the right direction. Involving members, facing up to our problems and reembracing our history, now for a premiership. As far as standing for nothing, I think trying to lose the demon was what they on about. If we're not the Demons what the hell are we, Melbourne FC doesn't cut it. Make the demon more evil, I'd like our logo to inspire fear, as all great teams do.

Cheers Trident, my apoligies to all also, we're all dees fans here. My first post was made 3 quarters cut and probably set the tone and for that I'm sorry. Still I'm not sure how we can take a cool mill off the mcc and then play games at Casey. The AFL is waving it's big stick at the mcc, they know where the majority of their income comes from and it certainly aint the cricket. I still see it as possible that a deal could be negotiated that would see us turn a profit on smaller crowds at the G. Maybe only opening the bottom level for such games. Anyway todays news shows we have the MCC on board to an extent and Demetroiu and co deserve a thanks also

You ignored the other options TWIT!!! Option 3. Melbourne plays in front of 10,000 at Casey after a few years and becomes laughing stock of AFL. Option 4. An inner suburban boutique stadium is built to house the smaller clubs low drawing matches.

I think you people are delusional but there seems to be a few of you so perhaps I'm wrong. But if we're playing home games at Casey in front of 10,000 people don't any of you dare get on here and bad mouth members for not showing up. Like always happens when we have small crowds at the g. I know at least 5 members who won't be going to home games out there. None of the group I go to the g with every week will travel that far, I've asked them. Not all footy fans are as commited as you lot. You may not like it but I'm afraid its a fact. If we do end up playing home games at Casey I hope for the sake of the club you're right, but I think once the novelty wears off we'll struggle to pull crowds out there.

I did miss the IMO, apologies. I stand by my description of where Casey is. Surrounded by paddocks is the description I've heard. Do you think there'll still be minimal traffic to the area once it's built up. I doubt it. As for attendances, they were pretty good a few years back when we were playing good footy. This problem is not confined to us. All the smaller Melbourne clubs struggle when they're down the bottom of the ladder. Hawthorn was struggling a few short years ago and wil again IMO. "I won't be travelling an extra hour" If you're going to quote me please do so accurately. Yes I won't be spending 4 hours on the road to watch a 3 hour game of football, how selfish of me. Real commitment when you live 15 minutes away. As for the stadium. The AFL knows Melbourne clubs are being screwed by their stadium deals. 18 clubs would mean 2 stadia in Melbourne will struggle to cope. Makes commercial sense to build another. Will North, the doggies, and saints want to play out in Casey, I doubt it. Admittedly the MCC land in South Yarra is a pipedream of mine, but someone on here mentioned they had heard the idea somewhere before around the club so it's not just my pipedream. This land must be costing the MCC much more than it's making. Suburban cricket is hardly a major drawcard. Get on google earth, check out the location and size of it, rates must be susbstantial. I think it could be a win win for the afl and mcc to build a boutique stadium there for 16-20 games a year. The idea would be to get all Essendon-esque cosy with the mcc, the club already seems to be trying to. The land would cost the mcc nothing, they already own it. They're in the stadium business, we need to convince them of the merits. The fact is the mcc make plenty out of football, a lot more than they make out of cricket. The afl has recently told them as much and is pushing for US to recieve a better deal. For me the move to playing at Casey would be an absolute last resort. All inner city options should be explored first. Imagine if this did go ahead and we were committed to 30 years of 4 games a year at Casey, SUICIDE.

Perspective? I've got nothing against the place, as I've said I think training and getting involved with the community out there is a good idea, playing games on the other hand is a bad idea. As Fatty pointed out thwe arguements for playing at CF are exactly the same arguements that led to the creation of Waverly and we all know how that ended. A boutique stadium is a great idea and could guarentee the survival of all Melbourne clubs, but it needs to be central. Isolating lots of supporters by moving to any fringe area in Melbourne won't work. The AFL should build it's own stadium and us, the roos, saints and doggies could play a few games a year there, even the Hawks but I think they're already destined for Hobart.

No what does that matter

Nice holier than thou attitude Trident. Explain to me where you got this "package deal" idea, first I've heard of it. I've got no problem with training out there and forming links with the community, but other than NAB cup games I don't want us to play out there because I BELIEVE we'd all be looking back in 20 years saying "what a monumental cockup" For your information smartarz I was at every game at the G last year, and the debt demo luncheon (not for the bargain basement $500 either), don't question my commitment just because I disagree with you. Luckily for me Schwabby has been stressing the importance of our relationship with the G so I don't think the club is planning on this imaginary made up plan you lot have "Its clear to me you can see the benefits. You just don't care". It would simply be too much effort for a couple of games a year." You arrogant tool. I work 60 hours a week, sometimes with an extra 3 hours travel a day on top, and my parents in the country whinge constantly about never seeing me in winter. There's only so many hours in a week Trident and yes I couldn't be shagged driving 2 hours each way to the footy. I'd seriously consider not getting a membership and getting foxtel instesd and I don't think I'd be alone

No Monty the other option is to get a better deal out of the MCC. Last year at the Freo game they closed the upper levels to save costs, this and a better deal (Collingwood has a better deal than us) could see us making profits at home. The AFL is aware that the smaller drawing clubs are getting screwed by the MCC and Docklands and are finally helping us to obtain a better deal. Give this a chance before you throw our history and identity out the window. If we play 3-4 games a year at Casey along with our obligatory AFL bullyboy home game at Docklands/ Canberra or Gold Coast that's pretty much HALF our home games away from the G. Not good enough, Why not become the Hobart or Darwin Demons if we can't survive at the G. It mightn't be chockablock with traffic out there yet but it sure as hell will be when 100,000 or how ever many people move in. If a 20,000 seat stadium is to be built it MUST be reasonably central. I've mentioned the MCC ovals in South Yarra before, not far from the station and much easier for EVERYONE to get to. Casey is a great initiative as a training base, mostly for summer, but anyone who thinks we should play premiership matches out there is kidding themselves

WE made the G what it is Clint. Where you there last QB when the filth cheer squad held up their "get off our ground" sign? You may want to surrender OUR ground to them, I DON'T! And if we p off to Casey that'll be exactly what we're doing. 40 minutes from which eastern suburb? Richmond or Dandenong? I DON'T BARRACK FOR CASEY, I'M MELBOURNE! Why not play home games in Bendigo, could it be you don't live out that way. It's already an effort to get to the G, I won't be travelling an extra hour. If 20,000 go to games out there it'll hardly be traffic free. This would limit our future supporter base rather than improve it. We'd be turning our back on over half the city. I have a sneaking suspicion that those who support playing way the f out there live out that way already. The revised plan for Melbournes urban sprawl makes Werribee to Deer Park the biggest growth corridor by far but I don't hear anyone wanting to head out there, why not? I couldn't give a RA if Casey has the best facilities in the world, it's in the middle of butt fuch nowhere, that's why it's surrounded by open space. I support training out there and trying to connect with the community but if we play games out there we're turning our back on our history, our brand and a fair whack of our supporters.

I can't believe people are keen for us to play real matches way out there. I'd be incredibly disappointed if that ever happens. The only way I'd ever contemplate supporting it is if it was to force the MCC's hand for a better deal, and then only short term, hope it doesn't come to that.

DEMONS MAY REDRAFT DISGRUNTLED DEFENDER If we're really after best available it's obviously Cuz, not CJ. If we redraft that ungrateful little [censored] I'll be writing the club and asking for a membership refund. Most disappointing thing I've heard come out of the club since the new admin came in.

Recruiting has improved but it's still not an exact science. People have memories like goldfish around here. Flash was a rookie a few short years ago, he's now the face of our marketing. Steph Martin has me as excited as any of last years pickups, still fools claim if you weren't picked in the national draft, you're no good. Bail has been passed over 6 or 9 times in drafts and yet because he was picked in the ND this year he's ahead of everybody who wasn't . Meesen was a top 10 pick ( I think) a few years ago. As Jack Watts said, right now he's on even footing with everyone else drafted this year, it's what happens after you make a list that matters.

I got the SMS at the end of the first round, I was watching the draft on my phone at work and it cut the video, after much cursing got it back on just in time to hear Sammy Bleases name called, phew. I still don't get emails even though I've given the club my email address several times. They did emeil my debt demolition luncheon invite to me but seem to have lost it again. The other thing that's struck me lately is that we have finally embraced our impressive history. The new admin seems to push it at every opportunity, such as #4 for Jack and the link to Norm Smith, then Barass, who recruited Jimma, who is pres when we get Jack. Maybe I should thank Vlad for the "stand for nothing" Firecracker he gave the last admin, Jimma seems to have taken it on board. A few non dee mates have said Jack has big boots to fill with that number. Holland, Ellis, Grigic, not exactly stars. But now the #4 means something, because we've reembraced our history, love it Jim, keep up the great work.

We had plenty of injuries last year. I don't think our young fellas would have got as many games if our experienced players were on the park. Martin probably wouldn't have played if Riv was fit, etc. I'm not against playing the kids, I just hope we don't have to rely on them like last year. 2 injury plauged seasons in a row is enough for me. I'm also a bit surprised that everyone seems to want to see all this years draftees play but noone has mentioned Cheney or McNamara. Both were bottom age pickups last year and will have 2 preseasons under their belt this season. I'd be hoping they step up before this years later picks who have more time on their side.

It's only difficult because you rate 3 kids who haven't played a game ahead of Green. I hope our draftees come on too but I don't expect them all to be automatic selections this year. Why aren't Cheney and McNamara in there 5 players with a combined experienc of 1 game in your best 22 is a little unrealistic me thinks. Hope you're right but I doubt it.

Some people, myself included, don't like selling themselves, it's called humility. You'd reject him because he was photographed in a hammock? Why not burn him at the stake? What have you ever done? SFA would be my guess. I can't believe people want to hang the kid simply because he was overlooked in the draft. As others have said he may not turn out to be best available, a star or even someone our recruiters look at, but ignorant fools publicly critisizing a 17 year old kid for nothing more than missing out on being drafted should have a good hard look at themselves. :angry: