Whispering_Jack

Every well run sporting organization is constantly conducting reviews of its activities. The scrutiny involved can only be good as long as such reviews are carried out in an honest and objective manner - if done in that way it can only lead to improvement and a better organization in the long run. Assuming that such a review is to take place at Melbourne, what areas need to be covered by the review eg the President, Board, Administrative Staff, Football Staff, Playing Group - including performance and achievement and what period should it cover? Should the review be internal as I understand would be taking place routinely in any event, or by way of an independent external review? What information would such a review be based upon? I would expect verified facts and not hearsay removed three times, guesswork or supposition as we sometimes see in online discussions, the social media or even today’s professional media, some of which is more concerned wit garnering clicks than providing information or opinion. Please keep the discussion respectful - remember, such a review involves real people, with reputations and livelihoods, not to mention the fact that, in this case, it’s about the club we support and this site is all about supporting this club and its players.

Here’s something I found in a Herald Sun online article that covers all AFL clubs with this being the part that deals with Melbourne. Of course, it’s very speculative and there’s a long way to go.

Fascinating to see how the media works and how the perspective of journalists changes depending on which club is under discussion. If you ask Bulldog fans and many Bombers supporters about Stringer and how he’s presented at his two clubs they might raise the subject of culture (of which there are a number of elements) differently to how Jon Ralph writes about it on p42 of yesterday’s Herald Sun: “Culture is a funny thing. Stringer didn't jump ship at the Western Bulldogs, he was pushed out through his own mishaps and controversies and found a home at the Dons. “He might be a lovable rogue, but he has often played hurt to his own detriment and reputation.” Could you imagine a player at Melbourne in the recent round of discussions about the club’s “culture” and with the same issues as having experienced “his own mishaps and controversies”, then described as “a lovable rogue”? Laughable.

I hear you. Here is the leader board after Round 1 18. Kate Hore 15. Blaithin Mackin 8. Lauren Pearce 7. Eliza McNamara 6. Maeve Chaplin Shelley Heath 3. Sinead Goldrick

The Eagles are a bit of a basket case given that list of prospective coaches. It’s not really awe inspiring.

This is the list of teams in order of the difficulty of their fixtures based on position at the end of the home and away series. If we recognise that the draw is supposed to reflect where the the teams finished at the end of 2023.

Are you suggesting him as a solution to our perceived cultural issues?

2024 RMC Coates Talent League Team of the Year squad revealed

Attendance figure now available and I’m surprised that the figure was below 4k given the stature of the game. The Demons have such a tough fixture this season - it seems almost unconscionable that the AFLW fixes the draw that way.

Carlton apparently have already signed him.

Despite only 10 touches, he was named in his team’s best players.

Looking at one Coates League team with which I have an affinity - the Sandringham Dragons which, in recent years has been a power house in the competition. Yesterday, they lined up this way against the Western Jets in their Wild Card game … … and gave them a belting. SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS 1.2.8 4.6.30 9.7.61 15.9.99 WESTERN JETS 2.2.14 2.2.14 3.5.23 3.5.23 GOALS SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS H Armstrong 4 B McKenzie M Reid N Sulzberger 3 L Ashcroft L Kennedy WESTERN JETS L Hicks T McGuane K Williams BEST SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS N Sulzberger L Ashcroft M Reid H Armstrong L Trainor L Voss. WESTERN JETS L Hicks N Asciak D Weeks T Burton R Pavlidis L Grego Take it from me that the Dragons will again produce a number of draftees in 2024 including at the pointy end where father/son Levi Ashcroft (30 disposals) is a likely #1 nomination even though the Tigers can’t pick him up. Reid (32 touches) and Trainor also top ten prospects.

6 Hore 5 Goldrick 4 B. Mackin 3 Pearce 2 McNamara 1 Hanks

Went out to dinner and am watching a delayed telecast on Kayo so I’m still catching up but how good was it to see someone running around in the red and blue with the number 5 on their back?

With Christian back in town I think Ms Roffey and the Melbourne Football Club should send all of the members a box of Debauve and Gallais Le Royale 54 chocolates for all of their suffering over the past three weeks (only the best will do)

There’s a new game in town. It’s called “put the words in Kate’s mouth”. Play on.

Good to see Collingwood get their comeuppance at the hands of the Swans.

Also from the supplement -

Yesterday’s Herald Sun had a supplement on the AFLW season start. These are the Demons in Lauren Woods’ Top 50 ~ 6 Kate Hore Shared top goalkicker of the league honours with teammate Eden Zanker and was named All-Australian captain after stepping into the role in the wake of Daisy Pearce’s exit. Big shoes to fill but Hore has made them her own with an ability to work over defenders. 16 Eden Zanker The sports turf specialist made grounds her own last season, forming a key pairing with skipper Kate Hore as the Demons' spearheads. So threatening aerially. 28 Tyla Hanks Has quietly become a dangerous midfielder. Wins the ball at the clearance, then punishes opposition sides with her use. 42 Tayla Harris When in full flight, her aerial marking ability up forward is the best in the game. Has battled shoulder and quad issues in recent weeks. After training as a defender in the pre-season, she could be remodelling her game. 46 Paxy Paxman One of the game's hardest-at-it players. Paxman's longevity as one of the best is seriously impressive.

I think you mean a souvlaki sub but otherwise this could be a continuation of some scuttlebutt I heard some time ago when his career started and he was the butt of some negative comments from some around the club. Judging by how he has played in the past two or three seasons and more so how he went on Friday night, I don’t think that applies any more.

A true champion is one who will go to any lengths to better his team’s performance and who always remembers his roots in the sport. Here are some photographs of Max at Casey Fields starting at the top with a photo of him at the three quarter time huddle with the Casey Scorpions Development Team (reserves) in his first game after recovering from ACL surgery in July 2010 (wearing # 77 if you’re in doubt). Fourteen years later, he’s a premiership captain, a one club player and on his way to his 7th All-Australian honour. A true leader.

This 190cm clearance beast has great appeal to me and looks the perfect man to fill a possible void we might have coming up in the club’s midfield. 2024 Coates Talent League: Round 19 POTW One major advantage is that he’s from the Dandenong Stingrays so that any travel to Casey Fields is unlikely to be a chore for him or any social media influencer partner that he might connect with at some time in the future.

This week’s 2024 Coates Talent League: Round 19 POTW

For Melbourne, the kickoff takes place on Saturday night at GMHBA Stadium against Geelong at 7.15pm. The club has been given a tough starting schedule as they take on preliminary finalists Geelong in round 1, followed by grand finalists Brisbane and North Melbourne. Demonland will be here to cover the 2024 campaign with previews, match reports and plenty of discussion about our favourite women’s team. Here’s an article from the Herald Sun ~ New look Demons searching for Cats redemption We also have a big season preview from Meggs coming up soon.