Dee Dee

Sounds like great fun, just like being back in the Young Libs all those years ago.

Yes, I'm quite impressed. And he would have been Dr Spooner's favourite player!

When young Max was picked in the squad for Friday night I felt a little concerned for the lad, as if we were throwing him to the wolves. But gee he went well, and what impressed me most of all was his very positive attitude. He's a rather skinny 18 year old, but he fitted in to the team beautifully. And when he kicked that goal his team mates were delighted. He's a good user of the ball, so In maybe 2 or 3 years we could have a really formidable ruck/forward on our hands.

I use a tbox to watch replays of AFL and find the quality be be adequate. The tbox in general is a pretty crappy device (I got it for free) but fine for bigpond movies. I have just purchased an Apple TV and a large Panasonic -last of the plasma- TV and will give the AFL app a go. Living in the country has many advantages but ADSL quality is not one of them!

Roos and Jackson were most impressive and informative. Bartlett rather low key leaving the evening in most part to the other two. Paul Roos came across as someone with maturity and a sense of humour. It's easy to see why the players apparently respect him so much. The coaching team he has assembled is certainly far more mature and experienced than what we have been used to of recent times, and they were introduced by Roos with details of there backgrounds. Many of them have worked with Roos in the past and know what they are expected to do, so, as Roos said, he doesn't have to start by coaching the coaches. Brad Miller is of course one of the new boys and when introduced was given a hearty "welcome back" round of applause by the congregation. And the crowd wasn't as large as previous years but still very decent. I had the feeling that Jackson and Roos were quite surprised. Also good to see some current and former MCC committee members in attendance, as they should be!

No, no, no, just lucky they got 'em when they did! Such luck we should have!

Adelaide -Not a real football team and I don't really care for them. Brisbane -A "sort of" real football team (thanks Fitzroy for the premierships). Carlton -A real football team for which I have little time. Collingwood -A real football team put on earth to be despised by sane minded and thoughtful people. Essendon -Refer "Collingwood" above. Fremantle -Not a real football team. Geelong -A real football team that got lucky. Gold Coast -Not a real football team. GWS -An abomination, and certainly not a real football team. Hawthorn -A real football team to be grudgingly admired whilst being loathed. North Melbourne -A real football team to be grudgingly admired whilst being pitied. Port Adelaide -A real football team to be admired. Richmond -A real football team to be loathed. St Kilda -A real football team to be pitied and laughed at. Sydney -A sort of real football team to be admired West Coast -The first and ultimate non football team. The franchise with the phony Yank name. Western Bulldogs -A real football team, I sincerely hope they stick around, we need the real teams to succeed.

I'm not sure about "superstar" but the kid certainly has ability and a great attitude. However I am hopeful that in 5 years he will be one of the better players for the MFC ( and not the Weagles)!!!!! As for Jones, as things stand with the team, he's better in than out!

Chris Grant!

I like the team you named and am glad to see young Kent in there. I was impressed with his efforts towards the end of last season and think he has a real future. My one worry with your and other teams is the inclusion of Michie. Is he a really good prospect? Remember we got him for next to nothing. And had he been that good surely Fremantle would have kept him. And yes I followed the trading and drafting thread and know the general background to the deal but even still would he be more worthy of a place in the 22 than (say) Evans. Following year after year of getting real steals that didn't work out I hope Michie, Tyson, Vince and Cross work out for us!

Peddling crap (as you vulgarly put it) I do not do! I like the writing of the Flanagan brothers and find it interesting that both Martin and Richard are attacked from time to time by Mr Bolt in blog and newspaper. I merely pointed out and quite correctly in my opinion that Mr Flanagan is a better writer than Mr Bolt! And, should you take time to read Martin Flanagan's essays in the Age you will I'm sure concur with me that his subject matter is wide and varied and often covers the same subject matter as Mr Bolt, but from a more humane perspective! What was it that Richard Flanagan said about Mr Bolt a couple of years ago? Something like "there are two objects on earth that can be seen from the moon, The Great Wall of China, and Andrew Bolt's enormous self pity"

Ah well there you go!Read Flanagan often enough and he does write about the human side of politics.He has an agenda like all good writers and that's more often than not to put a human face to that which Bolt and others of his ilk attempt to de-humanise!

Martin Flanagan comes across as a genuine human being, someone who's company one could enjoy in almost any situation. As a writer he is almost as good as his brother Richard ( that's high praise from me) and a squillion times better than Andrew Bolt.

I would be surprised if, by the latter part of next season Salem was not in our best 22. And from the glowing reports, Kennedy-Harris may well be in there as well. Of the other "others" it will be interesting to see the progress of Barry, while Hunt and Riley are more long term prospects So progress by some others should be a positive showing the team is moving in the right direction.

Correct, a fit Michael Evans will be a real asset to this team. And as for Dunn, I certainly would have him in the best 22 at present! In a one on one situation he is peerless.

While I agree with your argument WJ, remember when we the MFC experiment it's called tanking! However I look forward to seeing how Roos handles Fitzy next season as I have little faith in Dawes ever coming really fit again. Fitzy is fast and agile and with his diabetes under control I reckon he has a lot to offer. Other players I am interested in are Grimes (if he can remain injury free) playing out of the back line, and Howe who during the latter part of the year had little impact and looked like a fish out of water! What will Roos do with him?

Refer my post above. themeditationpodcast.com is worth a try.

Why not try it yourselves! It does work. www.themeditationpodcast.com

Just wondering if anyone can tell me how Dominic Barry's travelling? I haven't heard much about him, now into his second year so should be starting to develop a bit!

Agree, I log in to read about the Melbourne Football Club and instead read columns of nasty abuse! This forum is loosing its appeal. Vigorous debate: yes. Angry words: OK! But the abuse thrown out by some (one poster in particular) is demeaning, juvenile and completely off putting! Please mods no more personal abuse.

Interesting observation, especially the bit about play seeming to slow down etc. Many years ago Martin Flanagan wrote an excellent article on Robert Flower pointing out those same attributes! I'm not saying the kid's going to be the next Robby Flower but having seen a couple of his APS games I hold out hope that he may well be quite special! (And he's no di#k head - just the opposite.)

I had a look at a couple of Casey games last season and was impressed by Jesse Hogan chasing the ball around the middle and (occasionally) into the back half of the ground. He is a ball hunter and should be considered in any discussion surrounding our midfield. And please, I'm not saying that he will or should be in the midfield mix a la Watts but from what I saw last season, he appears to be the sort of player who will go in and lend a hand when he sees a need. For a big kid he's very agile!

Played school/ iner school footy (APS) for a couple of years. Then ran the boundary in the amateurs for a couple of years before heading OS.

I think he was captain of first 18 not of the school as I don't believe he was particular academic. And both Watts and Dawes were at Brighton Grammar as regular school boys and not on "general excellence" scholarships! I think both their fathers are old BGS boys.

The Daniel Cross to Melbourne thread on Bigfooty makes interesting reading! Many Doggies fans sad to see him go and like other supporters they reckon he'll be a good fit for us. In fact the general consensus seems to be that we made a good decision in recruiting him. The other interesting comment from the thread is the general feeling (not just Doggy fans) that this year we are not taking a scattergun approach to our recruiting and it is more professional in its approach. And this from a Bigfooty world skeptical of all things MFC!