rpfc

I agree that we have an affliction of being far too easily pleased with, not mediocrity, but a level of performance that is ultimately sub-optimal. I don't attach the past to the present to the extent you do. Bailey's reign didn't suffer a continuation of this decades long anemic culture that you are certain has pervaded the club. He had built his own house on a sandy foundation with his own anemic culture - kids coddled, senior players given leadership roles not deserved or earned, etc. The mistakes of those at the club are theirs and not the unavoidable happen-stance of a decades long culture issues. Brad Green's issues are his, and were completely avoidable if proper decisions were made. As for the current culture affecting the kids - I don't know. Maybe it is best that we had this year, so that those kids can take charge of the culture before it takes charge of them. Needless, to say it worries me, but if we can keep the impressive yougsters we all talk about - I am confident we can outgrow our contentedness with suboptimal performances and results. I would at this point like to say that our culture issues are a major reason I would like to keep Tom Scully. I think that players like him are valuable on the field, but invaluable off of it.

It was a playful understatement...

Another Massive Bump. Looking back at this I can see some worth in what OD and RF say about our culture - namely it's shizen. But I stand by the OP - our senior players weren't ready for 2011...

Massive Bump. Expectations... Probably didn't get there?

That's like saying George W should be judged on decisions he made except for that rather large one he made in 2003... The Geelong game happened, outlier or not, it should stand with all the other losses and wins.

I would wait too. Who will we miss out on, by waiting? No-one I would be dying to get. Go after MM and then poach some assistants. Or if you miss out on MM or AC, go and get a good assistant and then poach some assistants.

I try not to read anything into the promotional stuff. Members card 2002? Scott Thompson, Darren Jolly, Brad Miller. Those three players have played for four clubs other than Melbourne.

All understandable views. But there will be people still willing, and I say... Take their money, Dees. Spend it wisely.

That question is for those that are saying that the worst thing in all of this is Ricky talking to the umpire. Including yourself who said: If Patrick can threaten rape in the heat of the moment, why can't Ricky answer a question form an umpire truthfully in the heat of the moment?

Should they be paying us then? Clubs fundraise. If you don't want to give, you don't have to.

I get the impulse to hold off, but as I said - the marketing dept can't have its diary run by the onfield results of the team. Especially this team...

Sure we need to stay with tactical trends - that's what assistant coaches are for... We need someone to come in and alter our 'easily pleased' culture and tell the senior players that they are no such thing and that they better get behind the young leadership group or we will move you on. I can only see this being done by a particular type of personality. And being an experienced coach would help. Being the previous years premiership coach would also help. Malthouse has to chased. And Clarkson. Then Eade. Then ?

How is threatening to rape your mother 'calling you a name'? And I will ask for the third time - how can McGinnity be allowed to threaten to rape a loved one in the heat of the moment, but Ricky shouldn't be allowed to answer a question from an umpire truthfully in the heat of the moment?

Trying to respect women, that is what this is all about. This is why he has got a week. The lesson here is try not to bring in sexual assault of loved ones into the sledging of a player...

If McGininity is allowed to claim a desire to rape Ricky's mother in the heat of the moment, surely Ricky is allowed to answer a question from an umpire truthfully in the heat of the moment?

I understand distinctions, BB. What I am saying is that there is a reason that derogatory language toward women is now outlawed. And it isn't just because 47% of AFL fans are women. I believe that claiming to rape someone close to the player is beyond sledging, and it's a distinction I would make in the rules.

And you are the one giving abstract replies like 'have a closer look' as a reason for the differences between the unknown and unseeable fruit...

The PC brigade. The nanny state. Jeez... Basic argument - I am ok with sledging, but at some point sledging has to have boundaries. Race is one. It wasn't many years ago. And I think that claiming to rape someone should also be over that boundary. We have women goal umpires, there is a woman referee in the NBA, in the AFL league I play in the ACT - we have women field umpires (one less this year after a member of my team said a word to her that men shouldn't say to women...). I don't think it is onerous on our oh-so-important sledging culture to have some boundaries imposed on it.

Until when? We get beaten by the Tigers? Will that be a better time? I know the impulse, Rogue, but at some point you have to say 'screw it, we cannot change the form of the 22 losers out on the field - let's just do our jobs.'

And PA. I think I50 are important aswell.

He will have to be considered. In october. After Clarkson and Malthouse have said no.

It shouldn't have been said, it got to a person of authority, and at that stage it was inevitable that he would get the suspension and fine. If a person can claim they will rape someone's mum in the heat of the moment I guess one can also be forgiven for answering a question from the umpire truthfully in the heat of the moment...

Ok, a few things: - the club is not getting all its money from fundraising, just a portion of it. - all clubs fundraise - the marketing dept cannot be blamed for sending out these while we have been shite - the reason we want to pay 100% now is because we would like to give Jack Trengove an extra $100k now so that we can spend that $100k in 2014 to lure an out-and-out gun during FA, or keep Watts after he plays a blinding 2013. It's called being proactive in your payments - it's very clever. - we will see how Cam Schwab is doing with other revenue streams, hopefully, shortly

Still, it'll be better than being a NQR comedian...

...yeah, at this present time, with your history of writing off players far too early and then changing your mind without a hint, obviously, of self reflection. We have the makings of a strong backline, forwardline, and midfield with ten players having the chance to become the stars we need. I don't see the need to be so negative on our group - they will bounce back in 2012 and you will see some players emerge.