Ollie fan

I'm glad You were able to predict that Petty, Fritsch, Brown and Melksham would all be injured, that we would kick horribly for goal, that Brayshaw would be smashed in a shocking incident and that JVR would be suspended for the second final, because without all of these occurrences happening we would NOT have exited in straight sets. Nostradamus: move over!!

Well, after a few weeks of total, well, boredom on this site, haven't things hotted up quickly in this thread? For some years, IMV people have rated out list really highly -as they should - but have forgotten that a couple of other teams had good lists as well. I think ours stacks up against anyone's. McQualter will be a great addition. Our forward line has dramatically improved thanks to some more recruiting brilliance. I am immensely confident. And to be honest, I would hate to go into a football season with anything but confidence and optimism.

The lack of development of his body, especially compared to eg Taj W, makes me wonder if he really understands what is required.

Petracca has improved every year and has come back to training looking extraordinary. With him, Viney, Sparrow and (we hope) Gus, our midfield will be fine. Max is still going strong and we might blood some backup this year. Our defence is the best in the league although I agree, May is getting on, unfortunately. Our forward line is immensely improved on paper at least and if Fritta is fit and firing, and if we can get Petty back relatively soon, I see us having a great year. And if Clarry is in there, and I hope for his sake as much as ours that he is, we will be almost unbeatable IMV.

I believe that if he can overcome his problems, he will be BETTER than before - in which case, other teams: LOOK OUT!!

I person to call for transparency and accountability in the selection of light-bulb-changers.

It was the early 60s, Melbourne were a great team and my best friend at school and all his family barracked for them - so i did too. Went to the footy with his mother and family for a few years; the my mate stopped going and i completely lost touch with him, but kept in touch with his mum for about 50 years (until she passed away).

I expect -and hope - it will be Goodwin's. He is the senior coach. I expect him to listen to advice but then make the decisions. If it were any other way, the tail would be wagging the dog.

Think i saw Rivers

Thanks

Can anyone tell me when preseason training starts? I can't wait for it to begin, so that we can move out of this horrible couple of months that we have had.

Well, I really like it. It is a winnable game, it gets one away game out of our system, we get the huge publicity of being the open game, and as it is on a Thursday we will probably get an 8 day break after it. Now we just have to win it.

Always liked him. Despite everything, as a player he oozed class. If he were starting with us now, with our excellent player development, he would become a champion if he committed himself.

Unfortunately that's true. I will never understand why Lever didn't kick sideways to Rivers who was on his own and burn up another 10-20 seconds with a bit of waxing it.

I absolutely love your optimism, but here and on other threads.

I suspect I am part of that groundswell. The thing is: I support Melbourne and its players. I have no desire to bring them down, abuse them, or to make ill-founded allegations.

I have no idea how channel 9 came to be there but a guess would be: someone saw them all, recognised them, and notified the media, probably earning a dollar in the process. Do you have any better info?

Binman, I normally have a great deal of time for your posts but you are in the chorus of critics here, and i think it is all wrong. As you say yourself, he does no promotional stuff - in other words, he is NOT media-savvy. He was caught on a golf course in an unguarded moment and after all, what he said was, he is happy to play for the Dees! He is a young man from the absolute back blocks of South Australia, not used to picking his words or to having his words picked over. One thing is for sure: if he is foolish enough to read the vitriol being poured on him here, he will be out the door ASAP. I say: support him, make him feel valued and welcomed, and he may well end up a great ten-year player for us.

This thread is so hard on him for some unguarded comments in an unplanned interview. In which he said he was staying at Melbourne. He was on the golf course!! He is a young bloke and not someone who is regularly interviewed. He said he is staying and I believe he meant it. Give him a break. Let's just hope he comes out fit and firing and adds the final piece to our forward line!

Can't Melksham play that role?

Stewart Loewe was a shocking kick for goal but after years of dreadful kicking, he really worked on it and became accurate although lacking distance.

Well, it should. JVR was tremendous for a player in his first AFL season. He wasn't even intimidated by being asked to do some ruck work. He reminded me of a young Dermie, with a bit of swagger and a lot of ability. And Petty is tall, can take a one-grabber, is an accurate kick and understands forwards play from the other side of The fence. Add in Fritta and Kossie, and our defensive forwards - it should frighten the opposition.

Thanks for the info

BTW WCW, how is Fritta going. Is he completely in the clear now?

Then that is my bad. But Petty is still better than Gunston who couldn't get a game at the end of the year.