furious d

But it's still in Adelaide, and therefore irrelevant

The AFL can't afford to wait in the Gold Coast. Titans (NRL) are already there, ALeague won't be far off. The GC is not just a tourist town anymore, it's the fastest growing city in the land and has considerable and growing industries. If they don't get in soon they may miss the boat. This is empire building and the league will underwrite whatever form of club ends up there for the forseeable future. I could stomach relocation, but not a merger. If North ends up merged into a gold coast sharks a few years down the track it would be an absolute disaster. Brisbane doesn't own Fitzroy's history in the same way that Sydney owns South Melbourne's. It is much better for us for if North go (and the Bullies to parramatta or wherever)

I would much rather relocate than fold. My mothers family has a large committed South Melbourne background and they celebrated the swans flag as long ang hard as I intend to celebrate ours this year This is not a Fitzroy situation, it's more like South. Relocation is different to being swallowed whole. Make no mistake, if North fold in the future the same fans hailing Brayshaw now will be baying for his blood. AND RIGHTLY SO! The difference between us and North is they've had success and still remain a basketcase, our finances are not as parlous, sans success. Personally I think we could be a premiership or two from reeinvigorating a latent supporter base. I could be wrong but I still remember the drought breaking finals of 87. 90,000+ at the "g", 80,000 dees fans, plenty of them young. The AFL's offer was very tempting and they needed it to happen quick. If they ceded to the request for another year it would have been a festering sore till next post season, and completely unacceptable (would have taken attention away from OUR 150th). I've always admired North's spirit and wish them well, but can't help feeling they've risked death here. Surely they've shot themselves in the foot as far as their few games up there each year. Will we have to see out their contract for them, like in Canberra last year. If we do it will be the last straw for me and all sympathy for their plight will be lost. As for the future, within 15, probably 10 years only 10 clubs will survive in melbourne. Within 30, probably 20 years it's unlikely more than 8 clubs will survive here. We certainly can't afford another 40 years like the last. If you know any dees fans who aren't members, get up 'em. If you have any young relatives, let the brainwashing begin, bribery is completely acceptable (already started on my 1 year old neice). I've lived overseas for extended periods, in places where results were hard to come by (pre internet for you young folk). My interest, desire, love, passion and emotion for this club never waned in the slightest. Those saying they would rather cease to exist than relocate are not truly considering the consequences. Who would you support? What would you do with your winter? I'd love the Broome Demons, or the Upper Congupna West Demons for that matter, till the day I die before I'd ever consider another club. We still have time, but not a lot. North and Western have positioned themselves for relocation by adopting those non specific titles, but Brayshaw and co stepped in to thwart it (last season). We have positioned ourselves to remain in Melbourne (thankfully), which shows our board is up for the fight. Hawthorn, St. Kilda, Us and to a lesser extent Richmond (if they continue as the basketcase they've been for 20 years they'll be in trouble soon) will be fighting to be the other 2 surviving clubs. Despite Kennet's arrogance I believe we are better placed than the Hobart hawks. That leaves a race between us, the saints and the tiges for success.

The furious one is furious! Up until Feb, I expect nothing less than blind optimism. Of course we'll be premiers, and you'd have to be a fool or collingwood supporter to suggest otherwise(oh hang on they're the same thing)

Agressive Miller was in our top 10. The new age soft version would struggle to make our top 30. I don't care if he gets rubbed out for half of the season for doing things nobody would've blinked an eye about 10 years ago. 11 decent games a year would be a vast improvement on his last 2 years, and the young fellas can pick up the slack. I like Brad and have resisted bagging him because he was effectively castrated by Danners. Would love to see him bust some packs apart this year.