rpfc

You are a classic Melbourne supporter because you are filled with bitterness and hand-wringing and a desire, more than a tendency, to blame all negative happenstance on the club and our 'lot in life.' It manifests itself in the romaniticisation of a past that was far from glorious. These years were failures - we played good football. But is that a decent measure? We made finals. But is that enough? We never capitalised on being top of the ladder after 18 rounds (2004), 3rd on the ladder after 13 rounds (2005), and a similar situation in 2006. If you would like to go back to the 90's to laud the heroes of that era then I would say that those players were given a number of years to reach their potential as a team and they didn't get to the promised land. The only thing that is destructive is the mindset that led you to write that previous post - bitter, disillusioned, overly negative, and cynical.

Precisely. We slashed Bruce's contract in half and that was still market in my eyes. He was in the right place at the right time for the contract he had and now he wants assurances that he will play AFL when he is 33. You can't shift policy and make allowances for that. He isn't and never was in Bailey's blueprint.

Yo do realise that we are a long way from where Collingwood and Geelong were? Collingwood got their star kids from tanking in 2005 with Swan coming in 2001. Their Bruce equivalent would be Buckley (not in talent). Geelong had amazing 200-2001 drafts. Their equivalent would be Graham. The 100 gamers that are still developing will be all our talent from 07-09 when they have 5 years under their belt. 2012-2014 would be when they start to hit their straps. And Bruce will be where? We are trying to win a flag - get out of the way.

It's hard to go from being top 3 most important players and getting paid like it, to the position he was in at the end of this year and 'only' get paid $300k. It most definitely is an 'only' for Cameron - he was on effing serious coin. I wonder if those that believe he was shafted by the club think $300k was not enough to offer him? Nah, we didn't show him enough love... Please, he was looking for an excuse to leave and win a granny and used the MFC as the boogeyman. He can do that, but don't expect any sympathy for the decision from me.

TB is excitable for sure, but screaming hypocrisy: How do you know it was a ridiculous contract? I will tell you one thing, Sheahan alluded to this in the Hun, Bruce has been on ridiculous coin for years.

Classic Melbourne supporter. 1st para - Negative 'self' reflection on fans view of former player. 2nd para - Complete dismantling of all promising young players that come to mind to fill the void of said former player. 3rd para - Negative view of future with a romantic fondness for the adequate teams of the recent past. Even though the club hasn't been higher than fifth since Green and Bruce were first year players (is that ironic considering the rubbishing the rookies of today received in the earlier para?) Last line - a flippant remark over the current state of the list, framing it in a negative light as pure blind optimism. That's so rich that MFCSS - you can almost smell it. rpfc - "Alleviating the symptoms of MFCSS since 2010" I think we need shock treatment...

Opportruction? I think my great uncle had that. Spread some Balsam Specific on and it was all good. Painful, but. Since being in Canberra I have now begun to put 'buts' at the end of sentences now. I think this is the end.

That's true. In fact, many reading this thread would like us to stop intimating that we will play finals next year - for it places a hex on the club!

Yes, it reveals naivete. The only thing that would happen in October is one of two things: players get lazy and unfit or they maintain some sort of conditioning(ie. they went for the periodic run). That's it.

A foil? Maybe, but we are looking to address a specific position arent we? Back-up ruck/FP - so that we can have a ruck to help Jamar and also not over-burden us with talls to take away from our running game. Another thing is: where do you put all these similar players. Petterd Watts Dunn Wonaeamirri Jurrah Green Sylvia, Bate, Tapscott Who does he push out? Anthony is purely a lead-up forward. He does it quite well. Not as well as Green though, and he will be there for the rest of his career. Assuming he doesn't have an aversion to one-year contracts...

Leave Newton alone! How the hell was he supposed to know he was still going to be on the list?! Seriously though, I can't believe I was arguing with posters about the guy's application... He doesn't do enough, and this PS is his last chance. Not a great start.

I would like a fade to blue... It kind of starts pink and fades to red. Notice left of Green and right of Chip... It's very good though.

You're all nuts...

It's funny because he is the only player in the AFL 'who can replace the spot left by Bruce' because he is eligible for the VL. But I would prefer to bring back Macca. If we want to fill the second vet role then it's between Macca and TJ.

Really good job. It's all Hankook though... Should be a shout out for the greatest anti-virus software in the world.

We weren't criticising them. We were illustrating how every club has these issues to contend with. All clubs have players they push out the door before they are ready to leave. Why? Because no-one wants to leave. They envision the Churchill quote and stay past their use-by.

I don't understand this sentence.

But they got a flag out of it, which is what has blinded agent orange. These things happen in a game no-one wants to leave. We are on our way to the promised land and there will be many sacrificed along the way to get there. But they can enjoy it as much as the rest of us. I only want the FD to be honest with all players - tell them the truth and they, and we, can make decisions accordingly.

2008 B+F and the 3 games in 2005 pre-Guerra. Those three games were great...

You sound like my grandma... There's always pruning to be done. If you want me to haul chicken manure, you can forget it!

That makes sense. He has the engine for it and the smarts to run the other way and make the 'star' he is on accountable the other way. That was Godfrey's great issue. Endurance and fight, but no brains and an awful kick.

An excuse for losing.

You can be sure of this. Our talent is 10 years younger than him and yet we are making allowances because he has been here so long. The pattern of the club until Bailey came in was one of unbelievable respect of the club's stalwarts. To the detriment of the club itself. The club should be bigger than the individual, but that is our lot in the AFL isn't it. We are Melbourne. We respect our players. We don't care about flags - we just want to treat our B+ players with respect and let them play on their terms for as long as they see fit. MFCSS I have evolved from the syndrome. Anyone else?

The games we can put into our talented youth next year is the worth of the season - not the 6th to 10th finish. But you still do need some leaders around the place. Although, having said that - I'm more of a rap for our leaders below the age of 21 then those older than that.

I tell you what is important. We have become younger for the 4th straight year. With Junior and Bruce leaving it means we easily cover the 40 years of experience we gather each year. Hard to expect immense things for a team that is still getting younger, still rebuilding.