Dee Dee

I'm remembering back to 1992 and the North Melbourne team of that year under Wayne Schimmelbusch. He won 7 and lost 15 with a team full of talent. Schimma was replaced the following year as coach by Denis Pagan and they won 13 games! And (as they say) the rest is history! It's year four of the great re-build and I want results! No! Not a premiership or a top four finish but 10 or more wins at least.

When Healy left Melbourne for the Swans I believe the MCC committee may have vetoed his membership of the MCC. While he is now an MCC member (got it a couple of years ago)I still think he holds it against us (the MFC).

I do not think things will change at all. Although Sheahan is/was a Geelong supporter he will now (I hope) get behind the MFC because it is a sporting section of the MCC. Most of the MCC committee are card carrying supporters of the MFC. And one of them, namely Steve Smith played over 200 games in the red and blue!

I met Troy at the AGM and I must say that I was very impressed by his friendliness and maturity. He told me that after a blood test doctors had found a problem (and for the life of me I can't remember what)and he was undergoing treatment. However from what I remember of the conversation the problem wasn't too serious and Troy didn't seem very concerned. Again, he seemed like a really decent kid - seems to be a theme at Melbourne - draft decent types.

But we are missing his missus

Very sad news indeed. I was privileged to see Doc play on quite a few occasions down at the junction oval and on the MCG. He was one of the best football players I have ever seen. He was very short for a KPP but was blessed by the good lord with a jynormous bum which proved to be a mobile roadblock to opposing players. He is immortalised on the MCC tapestry hanging on the wall outside the longroom.

A few months ago I saw figures showing that the world cup viewing audience was in fact doctored (may have been on Crikey or even in the Green Guide) and that the Summer Olympics had a far greater viewing audience - more than twice that of the world Cup. Stands to reason really! How many nations compete in the Soccer World Cup? 32! How many in the Summer Olympics? Just about every nation on earth!

Old BGS boy: should get on well with Watts and Warnock!

Do you per chance mean Roman Catholics?

The two best fullbacks I can remember are Chris Langford and Steve Silvagni. Silvagni was occasionally used up forward with some success while (if I remember correctly), Langford was a stay at home fullback - please correct me if I'm wrong. And I think the Bombers have used Fletcher up forward from time to time, again with some success. If Frawley does develop further I could see no reason why he couldn't be used up forward on occasion if the situation warranted such a move and the backline was reasonably secure. It never hurts to have the option available!

As a long time MCC member I only go into the dining room for special functions (for example the 2010 Melbourne Football Club AGM). Otherwise I steer well clear of the room, reason, it's too damn expensive! If I do purchase anything to eat in the members area then I head for the little cafe at the back of the dining room, still too expensive but more convivial. My advice: save the money you would have spent on "fine" dining in the members and use it to purchase shares in Spotless Group Ltd. They're the ones who do most of the catering at the "G" so they're the ones raking in the profits from your meals.

I Remember the game out at Arctic Park. And if I do remember the game correctly, Alan Johnson playing in the back pocket, drifted up the ground to kick the winning goal late in the last term. Wet Toast were still new to the competition at that time but you could see they had some very special players in the team and it wasn't long before they became a force. They beat us in the finals at the same venue a couple of years later.

Jurrah looks like he could be an elite ruck rover (if such a description is still valid)! Think Adam Goodes! And as for the forward line - don't forget Jack Fitzpatrick (they speak well of him at Casey).

Of all the Victorian clubs Essendon is (I think) the only one to have stayed out of financial trouble over the past 20 or so years. They have been successful on and off the field. However yes, in this particular instance they have been quite silly and right now they are a bit of a joke. But it does happen to all clubs eventually - It's even happened to us in the past! But schadenfreude is pleasant isn't it!

6: Sylvia 5: Jordie McKenzie - the kid tried and tried and tried and then he tried some more 4: L Dunn 3: Frawley 2: Jurrah 1: Molloney And then there was Brucey and Junior and Scully and Greeny all playing well. (and then there were Morton and Newton!!!!!!!)

Toasted [censored]! Would that be a variation on Spotted [censored]?

Discussion on Bigfooty about him. It's claimed he favours going to Essadon having followed them as a kid.

I've rated them a B. All in all it's been quite a good year on the field and a very good year off it (in fact with debt demolition and the stability of the administration I'd give the off field performance an "A"). Watching Trengove, Scully, McKenzie, Bail, Gisberts, Watts all debut (or sort of in the case of Bail and Watts)has added spice to the football viewing experience. And the maturing of Frawley, Grimes, Garland et al has been exhilarating. The only real disappointments were those losses to North and Wet Toast. Let's hope next year we don't do an "Essendon"!!!!!!!!!

The AFL is full of ex APS and AGS school kids. Without naming names (just too many) Brighton Grammar, Caulfield Grammar, Scotch, Wesley, Geelong College and Grammar, Carey, PEGS, Yarra Valley Grammar, Trinity Grammar etc. etc. are all well represented at AFL level. I think intensity is a personal thing! That Scotch College "chap" Campbell Brown goes OK I think!

There's a Jim Stynes room in the Olympic Stand right next to the members stand. The MFC and MCC both use it regularly for functions.

Woops he wasn't. My apologies but I went by promo last night! Shall check further next time!

Saw a preview of the Marngrook Footy Show on Ch 44 last night, mentioned President Stynes as special guest! Marngrook Footy Show Thursday nights at 7.30 pm on Ch 44 digital or 31 analog.

IMHO Brad Green is currently one of the 50 best players in the AFL and deserves to be in any such list. As for Frawley, he may be nudging top 50 this year but he has the potential to be top 15 in a year or three's time. And IMHO Jack Grimes is also as close as one can get to top 50. And I base that on not just his football playing (game day) ability but on his general levelheadedness. Grimes, from what I have read and observed appears to be that relatively rare beast - a real leader of men. And that from a young man who is effectively in his second year of AFL level football with 26 games played.

6: Frawley 5: Sylvia 4: Bartram 3: Bruce 2: Green 1: Jamar

Reported over on 'ology. He's apparently on the show this Thursday 7.30 pm. I've only started watching the show recently, that is since ch 31 went digital and I can receive it (ch 44 digital). If you haven't seen the show have a look, it's very entertaining and fun and a hell of a lot more "adult" than the 9.30 program same night on 9 (sorry Garry but that's how I see it)!!!Gilbert McAdam, Ronnie Burns and others are very good and as I said good fun.