Whispering_Jack

Johnson eyes Blues after Demon delisting

I've also deleted a few of these posts today. It's interesting that they are averaging around five viewings before they get knocked off which means the moderators are on the ball. Assuming one viewing is from the original poster and one from the moderator in question this is one of the advertising world's greatest exercises in futility but then I doubt that the perpetrators are rocket scientists.

The only player I think we're unsure of at this point in time is Chris Johnson. I believe all others are contracted or delisted. Rumours abound that CJ will not re-sign and that he will find a new home at Carlton where he will join another CJ as the (inter alia) environmental astrology officer for Visy. He will literally pay for peanuts.

Good idea. And in the interests of public safety I'm closing this thread and referring all desperadoes who might think Aaron Fiora is the answer to our prayers and the salvation of the Melbourne Football Club to this thread:- Pre-Season Draft, Should we pick up (insert delisted, hack player's name here)?

The hip surgery might explain why his performances during the National Championships appeared to be so hot and cold. An interesting prospect for pick 17 or 19.

Forecast: Rain. Wet weather thinking required and please bring boots with decent stops.

I think 45hotgod has a point here. I think we have to think hard about the most effective way of getting our message across and a handful of people picketing the AFL offices may not have the desired effect.

No problem. Always happy to share our thoughts about the Melbourne Football Club with fellow Demon fans and to read their thoughts. On the whole, we're happy with the overwhelming positive support we've received both here and over there on Demonology but I must say it was also a source of mild amusement to discover that Bluey, 'ology's tired old Szondy acolyte, is still producing the same brand of negative, divisive and destructive drivel that helped produce the sorry situation the club finds itself in today. I'm personally more optimistic than most about our overall prospects next year even though it certainly won't be easy. I really believe that our young team will develop and mature more rapidly under adversity than when things are handed to you on a silver platter. Of course, this is something that silvertails like Bluey who never get their hands dirty with hard work in their lifetimes (except when they wash mummy's Rolls) and petty little dictators like Demetriou wouldn't appreciate.

Sorry, I know how it must hurt.

I assume you're referring to Brent Crosswell but I think that might be a trifle unfair because he was a great at Carlton and good value at Melbourne. I have to think about that one and am open to suggestions. My initial reaction would be the Vinnie Catoggio but there might be a better one lurking around ... James Cook?

Oops, my bad. OK equal best

What's in it for them? A substantial part of the MCC's revenue comes from football. The MFC is programmed to play 10 of it's home games at the MCG. They don't need a lame duck team hosting those 10 games - they need a strong team that brings more bums on seats and therefore generates more $.

It seems to me that a crucial aspect of our fight for survival these days is the strengthening our relationship with the MCC. I'm just wondering how the talks on this are going or if they are anything is happening at all. Looking at the MCC's performances in District Cricket, you can certainly see that success breeds success in terms of premierships and test and state cricketers produced by the club. As things stand today, Melbourne sits on top of the ladder after five rounds after scoring 6/224 (Andrew Kent 54) to beat North Melbourne (6/197) [and let's just say that it would be nice for a repeat of that result in Round 1 of the AFL next year]. Here's the ladder after Round 5:- Pts (NRR) Melbourne 19 (0.995) Prahran 19 (0.726) Ringwood 18 (0.470) Camb Magpies 16 (0.337) ------------------------- Northcote 16 (-0.029) St Kilda 14 (0.298) Carlton 14 (0.135) Geelong 13 (0.760) Haw-MU 12 (-0.251) Melb Uni 9 (0.183) Essendon 9 (0.085) Fitz Donc 9 (-0.031) Richmond 9 (-0.238) Foot-Edge 8 (-0.257) Nth Melb 4 (-0.379) Frankston Pen 4 (-0.543) Dandenong 4 (-0.677) Casey-SM 0 (-1.578)

Could we also please ensure that the umpire doesn't send off our best player in the first quarter this time?

Have we organised the trophy yet? If not, I'm recommending a tankard.

Demonland is a supporters forum which is there for all supporters to let off steam from time to time (as I just did when I kicked the thread about the International Rules farce off the footy message board to the other sports board). That means they're allowed to get things off their chests even if they happen to be negative. However, I agree with what you say about the defeatist attitude of some supporters. The only way you ever win in any sport or any undertaking is if you go into it with a positive attitude.

As Mike Williamson once said - "I tipped this!" What I didn't tip was the bold faced hypocritical utterances from the AFL's apparatchik on the subject of the draw. Things like, "it's a good football draw for Melbourne" and the comment that Collingwood has only one less interstate trip than the average. A good football draw is the programme the AFL handed to Collingwood which plays each of last year's grand finallists once after playing Geelong once last year (at the G). And they never play the cats at Skilled Stadium where there is a genuine home ground advantage. As for Collingwood having to travel interstate one time less than the avergae club that might well be true but it happens every year. Why can't they play out of metropolitan Melbourne one time more than the average for once? When Ian Collins ran the Kremlin AFL he used to have a saying when questioned about irregularities in the draw that "what goes around, comes around". The problem was that when the time came around everyone forgot and we got the same line again and again but nothing ever came around. The current crowd don't even bother telling that lie any more.

Nah, not singing and not from the same sheet when it comes to the issue of breach of contract and, assuming what I've heard is true and correct, I'd back the football club on this one if it got to court (which it won't because, as Deeman pointed out, that option enriches only the lawyers and would not benefit either party). The conclusion therefore, is always going to be the same whichever way you look at it - it's not in the interests of either the MFC, Carroll, the AFL or the AFLPA that the contract remains on foot. In the end, all that matters is the size of the pay out cheque.

Beg to differ. AFL player contracts are pretty much standard these days and require players to uphold certain standards of conduct and behaviour. It's not a question of whether the club has a case against Carroll but more a question of the politics surrounding the matter. Nobody wants this to erupt into a costly legal proceeding, least of all the AFL which holds the key in respect to such matters as what happens with regard to Melbourne's TPP is Carroll is terminated. It's a minefield and the club has to navigate it carefully. The main thing is that in the end Carroll will not be at the MFC in 2009.

I know Ossie well from his involvement over the years with the Sandringham Dragons. He has been the main man with that club from its inception in the first year of the TAC Cup in 1992 when they were known as the Central Dragons (and later the Prahran Dragons). To hold one job in such a responsible position for so long is something rare in this game. He would also have a fairly deep knowledge of how young footballers think and act and I daresay he would have some inside knowledge on a youngster named Jack Watts.

gOLLY, your PM inbox is full. If you clear it out there's a message waiting.

I wouldn't be surprised if Hislop has been delisted by Essendon with the intention of redrafting him as a rookie. His career appears to have been derailed a bit after he suffered some injuries. Interestingly, Matt Burgan of afl.com.au had him slated to be selected with Melbourne's first selection in the 2006 National Draft:-

Let's not jump to any hasty conclusions about this or any player's off field proclivities. There's been a long discussion on Hislop on Bomber Blitz here. Judge for yourself whether you want him.

Why not think laterally and instead of fighting this Grand Prix thing, we should get together with the organisers and cross-promote both events with a racing theme for the game, special ticket deals and sponsorships, transport to Albert Park after the game etc. Don't we have something in common with the Grand Prix? I'm assuming that Ron Walker is still involved with the GP and he is also a Melbourne supporter? The club could do well out of this situation (and I still haven't given up the Ferrari sponsorship deal as well - it would make a good fit with the Ferrari colours matching our own alternate strip more or less).

Biff was good but he wasn't in Buddy's class. He would have been our best bet to stop him though because he was physically very strong and wasn't afraid to employ some roughhouse tactics. A strike or two (or even three) from Big Biff would have been enough to put him down for the count. Wouldn't work these days with video scrutiny and all that.