sylvinator

I too hold high hopes for all those players... but i think by now we would have learnt that being a top20 pick doesn't mean you'll be a good player, let alone a great player. Dunn- pick 14- can't even make the best 22 in the youngest and arguably worst team in the competition Bate- pick15ish- looks great sometimes... ussually plays ordinary Jones- pick14- good trier but lacks polish to be considered a great player. Sneaks into our best 22 at the moment Sylvia- pick 3- hardly makes our team it seems atm

If this is not true then it's a disgrace. If it is true, then extremely unfortunate. Silver lining (as long as Col Completely recovers): We know Col can play at the highest level. He is our most promising star. We still have 4 key defenders, and this gives the chance for Martin and Frawley to really prove themselves because unlike Col, these 2 stilll need alot of work on their game. Gives opportunities to others who we are unsure are up to standard.... Col will come back and continue to be a star no doubt, perhaps this could help improvement of Frawley and Martin

Actually getting up to 45,000 is not as rediculous as it sounds. Most likely 2009 membership figures= 32,000. This is after 3 of the worst years in the history of our club. Hardly a time new supporters are going to come on board. If we won a premiership in 5 years time it is safe to assume that with onfield success will come more supporters, including half-assed supporters who only buy memberships when we are a good side. Thus, with big onfield success, we would probably have 38-40,000 members. Now look at Hawthorn- they have 8000 Tassie members that they created out of thin air in the space of 10 years by creating a relationship with the region. If we have onfield success, and develop a good relatinoship with the growing Casey community, we too could have an extra 8,000 members from building a relationship with a specific region. If we win a premiership in the next 5-7 years and Casey move goes smoothly, I wouldn't be surprised if we hit 45-50,000 members in 2019

While I haven't heard the official signing of the 30 year deal yet, i'm sure this will happen because otherwise JS wouldn't be saying things like this: Jimmy quoted for saying: "This year MFC will have training summer training base in Casey and regularly during the season. Looking into the future the plan is to have a summer training campus at Casey, a winter training campus at Olympic park preccinct, and our admin at MCG." That plan sounds perfect. No more junction oval without footy posts over the summer and moving from ground to ground with a crappy field and crappy weights room

He also introduced the Mates of Melbourne initiative, plus a couple of others that slipped my mind. The last thing we need to do off-field is get rid of any remainder debt. Once we do this, if we can regularly perform atleast break even each year we are CRUISING. All the criticism MFC gets about its off-field - we have no money- debt free - we have no members- wrong! - we have no home- hello Casey, MCG and Olympic park preccinct! - no passion- WRONG! There is nothing any clubs will have on us any more. Then we can just worry about on-field!!! JS u beauty

One of the major criticisms of MFC in past is that 1) we have no passion- clearly dispelled post debt-demolition and last season 2) we have no money- ok, for now we're still struggling, but with new sponsors and potentially a new stadium deal, we look ok for the future 3) no members- 30,000 members? possibly more than Stkilda, Bullies and North, not far behind Tiggies... 4) NO HOME!!! From footy record: "Where will the club be based in the future: Casey Fields or the new Olympic Park Stadium?" JS- "Casey will be a training base that we will use during the season on a regular basis. We see that as a summer base, and our main winter training centre will be the Plympic Park campus. We see it as us having a campus at Casey, a campus at Olympic Park and our home being the MCF" So it seems that (4) is answered as well. If what JS is saying is true, that sounds awesome. But I haven't heard any confirmation that we have signed the 30 year Casey agreement nor on how the olympic park thing is going. Does anyone have any updates or official confirmation? If this happened would go a long way to dispelling all criticisms of MFC Also, any confirmation on MCC realignment?

In - Maric, Sylvia Out - Jetta, Bennell These players should play 10 games this season, but really should be playing at Casey to develop any deficiencies in their game and play 100% game time. Especially Bennel. He looks promising, but clearly hasn't got a perfect game. He won't improve those deficiencies playing 40 mins in the seniors getting 10 possies. He needs 100% game time at Casey. Considering how poor our forward line looks, Sylvia and Maric are two important additions that makes us much more dangerous

agreed. Classic kneejerk reaction. pathetic really. At his best Miller is a strong marking, hard working CHF who provides a good target and provides good leadership. Today just wasn't his day

Almost all these criticisms are related to forward line, our forward structure and how we enter the forward 50. The fact is that at this point in time we simply do not have quality forwards players. We don't have the cattle up front to kick lots of goals. Pettard isn't a true forward, Bate isn't a fullforward, Miller was never a big goalkicker and Jetta is a first gamer. Therefore, these criticisms aren't really Bailey's fault. He's not a miracle worker, he cannot turn average forward players into superstars over the summer. These problems will be addressed when Watts, Sylvia, Maric and Robbo are added to the forward line later in the year and into the future.

None of North Melbourne's Midfield or bench are capable of playing forward so these 6 are the only forward threats) in that list- 2 big men, 4 smalls. Hale- Warnock Petrie- Frawley Rivers playing as floating general, cutting across packs, spoiling and taking marks--- essentially the hodge role Garland- to play on a small forward, probably Thomas Bartram- Campbell Cheney- Ed Lower Green and B.Harvey probably won't play that much as true defender or forward respectively. Conclusion----- we can't play 5 tall defenders. Simply too many. We only need 4 max, with Garland basically being used as a small forward. Sorry Martin, you would be playing in almost every other afl side this weekend, its just we have awesome tall backman atm

Just heard on the radio. 'Sylvia has served his 1 match suspention... simply didn't make the cut... will be playing vfl this week.' I think this is a terrible decision. He stayed out late FFS. he's a young guy, he wasn't getting drunk, he wasn't taking drugs, he was just out late. OK, so he served a one-match suspention, but why punish him more than neccesary? Completely out of proportion punishment for the crime. Sylvia is in our best 18, full stop! No doubt. He has had a full preseason and was looking to fire this year. If anyone can justify that Sylvia isn't in our 22 is wrong

Something will be worked out in favour of the clubs. Most likely it would involve giving the clubs a better deal, while extending the contract by another 10 years. win-win

If the first offer they were able to come back with was for an extra $900,000 per season, then onewould expect the final agreement to be more than that. Surely to MCG will eventually budge, because lets face it, they aren't relying on cricket crowds for their revenue. AFL needs MCG as much as MCG needs AFL. This should eventually means ATLEAST an extra $1m for the demons per season. Perhaps this could mean we can make operating profits without the assistance of the afl. If we could do this it would get a lot of clubs off our backs. Plus, one of the conditions for getting afl assistance is to only use 92.5% of the salary cap. that's ok for now, but we'll never win a premiership only using 92.5%!!! Good news keep coming in!!!

Does anyone have details on the amount for the 1 year sponsorship?

We might actually break even this year!!!

This is awesome Hankook= 2.1m over 3 years Kaspersky= 3m over 3 years. Total- around 5.1m over 3 years (confirmed on the club website!) That $1.7m a year sponsorship for next 3 years!!! That's more than Primus, more than Bulldogs major sponsor, and we don't have to worry about major sponsors in this tough economic time for another 3 years. GREAT WORK JIMMY. With the sponsors out of the way, our membership bound for 30,000, our debt down to only $2m we only have 2 more announcements to come 1. Need to confirm a long term relationship with Casey, including a great summer training base with a fullsized footy oval (goodbye Junction oval forever!). This deal will also include a relatnioship with a fast-growing community, which can only be good for future membership. 2. Confirm the move to realign the MCC and MFC. This will benefit us financially, will confirm the MCG as our true homebase forever, and will no doubt go a long way in removing any thought of us relocating or merging. Once these are done the only thing left is to improve onfield performance, which will only further increase future membership, and remove the remaining debt. $2m is a big obstacle but I have faith we can do it!

I think it is safe to assume that Hankook sponsor is bigger than this sponsorship because they are only back sponsors, while Hankook are front guernsey sponsors. So probably around $4m. Which would mean our sponsorship deal is up there with most other major sponsors for other clubs. Good news and means we have 1 less problem to worry about for the next 3 year!

I almost completely agree with this team... except.... - IN- Newton, OUT- Jetta - The unlucky ones are Frawley, Bartram, Jetta, Cheney, Bennel, Bail. Any one of these could I can't figure out exactly how, but Frawley has been terrific all pre-season and must somehow get a rnd1 spot. The whole pre-season Bailey has talked up Frawley and Bartram as the standouts. Therefore they will no doubt get a spot on the team. For who i'm not sure.

current forward line= dump on a stick future forward line= very promising Small forwards---- Davey, Wonaemirri, Maric, Jetta medium forwards---- Bate, Sylvia, Jurrah Tall forwards----- Watts, Miller flankers who can float forward---- Green, Pettard, (Dunn?) Obviously if Watts becomes a star that could make our forward line. One superstar can make a forward line, just look at Pavlich. Plus we won't be a one-man forward line like freo. Bit of patience is neeeded. We're not gonna score big scores this year, but at least these players are on our list

can anyone list the players who won't be playing in this game and a short explanation of why and when they expect to return????

rumours floating around demonology and the radio that Gary Lyon has pulled some strings and that MFC will be announcing their major sponsor in front of the football world on the opening footy show thursday night. If true it is a clever way of giving our new sponsor exposure and getting some positive press for MFC!

Meesan is on our list as a ruckman... we may as well play him. Otherwise what is the point even having him on the list if not to play him when our first choice ruckman is injured. And who knows, you never know whether a player is truely a flop until you see them at AFL level. At least playing Meesan at afl level will allow us, as supporters, to make a definitive and proper judgment as to whether he is up to afl level or not.

my predicted round 1 line up: Cheney, Warnock, Rivers Garland, Martin. Grimes Green, Mclean, Morton Pettard, Bate, Davey Wonaemirri, Miller, Sylvia PJ, McDonald, Bruce Int: Buckley, Frawley, Jones, Dunn, Moloney, Bartram, Meesan (i know i know but literally no other ruckman on list) NOTE- - Wheatley or Whelan would replace Cheney however not sure if either will be ready for round 1 - Bell and Newton the 2 obvious absentees bc they both suck - Backline is not too tal, because Garland can play on small, fast and agile forwards. So essentially Warnock and Martin to take the big boys, Rivers the floater general Hodgesk player, Grimes and Cheney the running smalls and Garland to take the dangerous smallish forward. Frawley on the bench to act as flexible backup, either as halfback flanker or big defender. Injury list- Jamar, Wheatley, Whelan, Robertson, Maric--- all of which i hope will get plenty of game time this year.

I'm happy hearing the rumours but for once I actually want to see MFC confirm these things. If we accomplish the following it will go a long way to ensuring our future: 1) Confirm a dual major sponsorship hopefully for the next 4 years 2) Confirm a partnership with Casey (possibly very long term i.e. 30 yrs) which will involve a permanent summer training base with 1st class facilities and a relationship with the growing Casey community. The permanent training base is crucial, especially since Casey has a full size footy field! 3) Realign MFC as a section of the MCC If we can confirm these 3 things, we will finnally have a home, the MCC will give us credibility that the MCG is our true home and we are a crucial part of MCG/AFL history and the sponsorship will help us stay afloat financially. GET IT DONE MFC! QUESTIONS- The whole bubbledome/ Olympic park training stuff really confuses me still. Is this still on the radar and what would it ideally involve? Another issue i don't get is where we'll be training during the season proper? Can anyone answer these 2 questions?

Our forward line is hopeless now... true... but people can take solice that the answers to our forward line woes are actually already on our list!!! in 2010 onwards our forward line will look like this: Sylvia, Miller, Wonaemirri Maric, Watts, Bate Add: Jetta and Davey running through, PJ coming down as a resting ruck and perhaps Robbo making a return and that is a versatile and potentially powerful forward line. Talls: Miller, Watts, PJ Medium: Sylvia, Bate, Robbo Smalls: Wonaemirri, Maric, Davey, Jetta That's not bad. Obviously if Watts becomes a superstar it becomes a GREAT forward line. IMO our main problem is our midfield, because except for Strauss and Blease, non of our midfield answers are on our list yet. we need to draft them in the future