Chook

Because then nobody will. And that would be worse than anything.

Arise, Sir Cale!

So I guess the real question is not whether we should have picked up Kevin Sheedy, but how on Earth we overlooked Yze Magic as coach.

I just get the feeling I'm going to be on this forum in 20 years time answering the same question that you guys are answering for me. To quote a certain former Melbourne coach with bad knees "Footy sucks sometimes, doesn't it?" But I guess it doesn't matter, I will always support the team I love. Should old acquaintance be forgot, I will keep my eye on the Red and the Blue.

The thing about Carroll is that with all the goals being kicked against us, he's getting a lot of practice. That's got to be a good thing, right? Right?

Yeah, I sort of never really cottoned on to Dean Bailey. He speaks really well, but obviously hasn't done well on game day. It's going to be an interesting year, isn't it?

I wish he would. But, to be honest, he didn't to too bad a job today in the role that he was given.

I'm only 18 and thus have no real experience in the matter, so, how 'bout it?

But back on topic, I was watching the game on Foxtel today (I saw myself in the crowd, by the way) and every time 'Buddy' touched the ball or kicked a goal, he threw his hands up in the air and smiled, quite obviously thinking "I'm so good, God doesn't even deserve to polish my shoes." Total jerk. I bet he picked on everybody when he was at school. Seriously, fantastic player; bloody turd of a guy.

Mate that is a bloody fantastic idea! I mean, at the very least, how many MCC members are uncles, aunts or grand-parents of young Melbourne Football Club supporters with nowhere near enough money to buy a membership or go to the games. I would love to see this initiative undertaken by the Demons and the MCC.

6. Brent Maloney 5. Nathan Jones 4. Paul Johnson 3. Brock McLean 2. Paul Wheatley 1. Brad Green

Were you happy when we made the Grand Final in 2000? Or when we were top of the ladder in 2004? What about after that win against the Bulldogs in 2005 to get us into the finals? If you didn't care then, then don't become a member. But if you did, please support the Club now, when we need it the most. It's people like you that must support the Demons when we're down.

I'm a Demon, and it doesn't matter how we play, I'll always be there.

Robbo got four possessions, but kicked three goals. I'd call that dangerous, wouldn't you?

McLean was in our top 3 possession getters, even after having very little game time last year. Keep him in.

Behind the goals, with the cheer squad, as I always have and always will.

Are you serious? Just because we don't win a practice match? What if our players felt the same way? Jones goes to himself "Boy, I don't think Robbo chased as hard as he should have just then, I'd better not do it either." If we're crap now, how quickly do you think we as a club would disappear if the players took the same stance as you and "a few others?" Fair dinkum, mate. Melbourne supporter indeed!

"The MFC Rocks My World and a Premiership's on the Way"

Sorry to nitpick, but isn't every year a birthday year?

Checkmate! Seriously, though. Aside from Carlton's performance a few years ago, it seems that a good performance in the NAB Cup portends a solid year ahead. I believe this is due to the winning culture and match fitness that taking games seriously creates. Thus, I would love to see a full-strength Melbourne try its arse off to upstage the Cats at Skilled in a few weeks time, particularly given our poor year in '07.

(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction - The Stones

Yeah, isn't it fantastic to see the love that AFL engenders between its followers.

Wow. If this is true, then we could even expect the West Coast Eagles to tumble out of the Eight next year and - even more amazingly - Carlton to re-enter it. Who would have guessed that at the start of this year? Not me, that's for sure.

Thanks for those numbers. You're right, I probably overshot the mark for a few of those clubs. What the exact numbers are now isn't really relevant, though, I don't think. The question still remains - if other clubs (particularly the Demons' fellow Victorian teams) shore up their membership numbers, but the Dees don't to the same extent, will we still be around in ten or 15 years? I for one hope to Hell that we do. I also agree with Belzebub that membership numbers aren't even that important (though I still believe that they are indicative of off-field success - whether current or future). In short, I wasn't really arguing anything - I was merely restating, I guess, the whole purpose of this thread, which is to determine whether Melbourne supporters think that the Kangaroos' proposed relocation to the Gold Coast is positive or negative for a Club whose greatest assets (I believe) are its age, name and links with the MCG.

I don't think so. After all, Neale Daniher got us to a Grand Final from a pretty poor position in the Final Eight, which shows he could coach in Finals. The fact is that there are never simple reasons or easily identifiable people responsible for success or failure - and to search for excuses rather than answers is one of the reasons why some teams don't succeed.