furious d

For years we've had no competition for spots in our 22, as soon as we get some we want to trade blokes out. I'd be giving it at least another year before before I even considered it.

We still haven't received our last beginning of first round PP. The AFL bankrolled franchise took that off us with their massive salary cap advantage. The compo for that is Hogan who will be worth the wait hopefully. People conveniently forget this when saying we wasted our picks. Sure we picked badly a few times but the only PP we have received that hasn't been stolen by AFL largesse was I think Blease. 7 crappy years and the only thing extra we have to show for it atm is an early second round pick. We haven't been swimming in PP's and anyone who suggests we have is full of [censored] which accounts for 99% of the footy media.

Can anyone show me where AD is quoted saying we won't get a vote? No, because it never happened.

That's not exactly true H_T according to what I read. Pretty sure AD said we can have a vote but if it doesn't go the way the AFL wants PJ will most likely leave and we'll lose the money the league is providing to get us out of this mess. If the AFL are going to put $3mill into the club they want to know it's in good hands. So we can vote in whoever we want but the choice will be to either vote in the AFL's ticket or vote the club out of existence.

Massive news if it all comes off GNF, thanks for sharing.

According to EQ he'll play http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/clisby-to-debut-as-demons-begin-life-under-craig-20130619-2ojdt.html

I think Roos' comments should reassure anyone worried he is going to take up the role just for the cash. "In some ways it's the great coaching challenge, but you have got to be thinking like a coach to take it on if you are going to do that role." Sounds to me like he understands there's no point taking the job if his head and his heart aren't in it. He's a smart operator and wouldn't want to tarnish his reputation. Always had a lot of respect for Roos and he's my preferred choice by the length of Hwy 1. I actually think we're a reasonable chance to get him, maybe 50/50 atm. A month or 2 ago I wouldn't have given us a snowballs chance of securing him but now that the AFL are involved everything has changed, they usually get what they want. If Roosy does knock us back I'd be pretty happy with Chocko. As others have said he's tasted the ultimate at an under resourced club and in my opinion has a better track record in his relationships with his players than Eade, who is famous for peeling the paint off the walls with some of his sprays. I don't think there is any chance at all that Clarkson, Matthews or Worsfold will be in red and blue next year.

If Jeff is serious he needs to tell us who is on his ticket and guarantee us he wouldn't be seeking a merger or relocation. Calling on members to petition for an EGM, which has started on Facebook, before we have the facts is premature. We members are always kept in the dark and it's impossible to make a reasonable decision from there. I'm no fan of Jeff but I wouldn't rule out voting for his ticket, I need more information to make an informed decision. There also seem to be murmurings of another ticket being organised behind the scenes. Who is involved in that push? I agree with Jeff that the sooner this all comes to a head the better. A new board could have their strategies in place before the next off season arrives. I've stayed out of the discussion regarding Don stepping down because there hasn't been a credible replacement mooted. No point getting rid of the president until you have a replacement ready to go. Until the architects of these rival boards step into the light and lay out their plans and personnel we have nothing to base a decision on.

Just saw this on Facebook, thought some of you might enjoy it, I did. http://beingademonsfan.tumblr.com

I'm travelling this year, at least I don't have to bother finding accommodation with wi-fi for the weekends any more. I can tune this season out now. Thanks MFC, you've saved me some money.

I was too young to really appreciate Matthews but if he was better than the son of god he must of been one hell of a player. Ablett jr is the best I've seen.

Lost the internet for about 6 picks in the middle of the draft, not too bad for India, some days the power is out all arvo. Very weak back line but not unhappy with my picks. If anyone needs to trade backs for mids let me know and we can work something out.

Left Burma today IWAP, overnighter in Bangkok and off to India tomorrow. Might make a day or two of the Delhi test that starts on the 22nd, spewing I don't have my Dees jumper with me, always wanted to wear it at an International sporting event. Anyway Burma is fantastic, Bagan and Inle Lake were the highlights. Bagan has nearly 3000 pagodas in a few square km's and they are 1000+ years old. Another 1000 or so were knocked down in an Earthquake in the late 70's. Shwe Dagon Pagoda in Rangoon is awe inspiring. It's a massive complex and the original, which is now buried deep within the main pagoda, is over 2000 years old. Legend says it has a hair of the Buddha at it's heart. It's topped off with an 80ct diamond and the whole place is covered in gold, jade and gemstones. You literally walk off the poverty ridden streets of Rangoon into scene of wealth you can't imagine. I went twice and the second time was on a full moon festival. You couldn't move, it was a seething mass of humanity. If you're thinking of going I'd try to make it soon. The place is uninfluenced by the west atm but it won't stay that way for long. Hotels can be hard to find as they're not equipped to deal with the numbers flocking in since Aung San Suu Kyi gave the go ahead for tourists to return. Prices are fantastic except for hotels, supply and demand has pushed their prices up, but everything else is incredibly cheap. $2 for a 700ml bottle of the local whiskey, 40c for a pack of ciggies (found a brand called Red and Blue and stuck with them for the entire trip, just under the Red n Blue it says supremacy, if only), and you can fill your belly for under $2. Sorry everyone else for this little indulgence but I'm still buzzing from the trip, had a fantastic time.

I like this rule change, it was my preferred option when the sub came in. Do we really need a sub if this comes in? Subs are a pain the arz for supercoach purposes.

I didn't see any of the games or even hear any commentary, I'm in Burma where the internet is as slow as Brock McLean. Just from the stats it seems our problem is still spread. We did well in contested possessions but fell way behind in uncontested possessions. This is easier to fix than the opposite problem we had under Bailey, one step at a time. Loved reading the comments on Hogan, thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread. I've been to every game in Melbourne for the last 6 or 7 years except a few last year when I was feeling a bit over it and knowing I'd be away this year wanted to visit my folks more. They aren't getting any younger. I'm going to be relying on you guys this year so keep it up, cheers.

Signed on for another year too. Love it when a kid shows some loyalty early

Cheers other fd. Kicking more goals as a back than he did up forward.

Is Watts playing forward or back?

Sorry BD, it's on now but the AFL match centre went down for me at the 10 min mark of H1. I've got nothing

He must be the bloke the AFL match centre is calling "Undefined." I was wondering who that was.

ok it's started but I can't get radio or stream

Trying to get this going now. What time does it start? Conflicting info on the site, 1 spot says 6:45 the other says 7:45

I'm keen again, can't remember my score.

I'm keen. I'll be in Burma for all of Feb, can we have the draft later than that because the interwebs aren't so flash in that part of the world. Better to wait till late in the NAB Cup anyway, gives a formguide and less chance for more injuries before the season proper. No chance for me to do the admin as I'll be travelling all year. Should make for a pretty ordinary season for the eyeballs but I'm keen to keep my spot in the league, love the Ultimate Footy.

I'll tell you what's pathetic, the football we've delivered for the last half a decade. I've been a member for a lot of years, most of them a simple red and blue 11 game member, but when Jimmy started debt demolition I seriously increased my yearly spend on this footy club. I've waited 40 years for a flag and my patience is wearing very thin. Neeld has my complete support for his attempt to turnaround our culture, but if he gives up a year of hard work, a year where senior players were put in their place for the first time in my living memory to pick up a kid who does't meet the benchmarks Neeld himself has set, I'll walk. You can't espouse these high ideals and not back them up through action. The club has set benchmarks, they must now live by them, otherwise it's meaningless. I'll tell you something else that's pathetic, my support for this basket case of a club. It's all in the pursuit of some vain glory where I can brag about my club for a few months after we win a flag. The money I spend on this club could save 250+ human lives each and every year if I gave it to Medecines Sans Frontiers, but I really want to see a Melbourne player hold aloft a premiership cup in my life time. Now that is pathetic, vain, cruel, and selfish, but for now I'll keep doing it even though I can barely justify it to myself My support of this club isn't unconditional, I have a tipping point. There are plenty of places where my money can do actual good, not just prop up the salaries of a bunch of overpaid, spoilt, egomaniacs who think they're special because they can play a bit of footy. Our senior players have had an overinflated opinion of themselves for decades now. Hollywood Boulevarde in the 80's and early 90's, the constant milking of every last cent from the salary cap while conducting contract negotiations through the media by nearly all our half decent players. It's gone on for years and not 1 of these guys has been a star, we haven't had one of them since Robbie Flower, a bloke who knocked back much higher offers from other clubs to stay in red and blue. The players lost me a long time ago, I don't care about any of them. I care about the club, I care about the team as a whole, but individually these blokes mean nothing to me, flame away if that get's up your nose, I don't care what you think either. You should know bluster, you're full of it. 11000 posts and about 3 of them meaningful, the rest are just echo's between you and Jose trying to convince each other all is fine in the MFC universe. Sorry to disappoint but I live in the real world and I stand by what I said, draft Garlett and I walk.