Deeoldfart

I understand what you are saying od, but evaluating how we are tracking by playing against strong opposition, and winning, are not mutually exclusive. I'm greedy and want both! A win is indeed a win, but more meaningful (and satisfying) against better opposition.

Pity about that. I was hoping for close to their best 22, to provide a strong benchmark as to how we are tracking.

A gut-wrenching story, and it's an absolute credit to Steven that he was prepared to tell it to the football world! So far so good with the happy ending. Stay in control Febes, just like you did on the HBF!

Sorry SF!

AFL site reporting that Trac joined in full training this morning. From what I'v read about him he will be an outstanding addition forward set-up. (Even more) exciting times just around the corner!

What do you expect Redleg? Surely you realize that we are only Melbourne! You know ........ the very best of easy targets!

Club confident on Brayshaw A little bit of reassurance and a bit more time to worry:

The quality of the opposition and timing of this match are a 'perfect fit' for our team at this point. It's now time to test the pre-season 'form' against real opposition, and to ensure that the early 'hype' is delivered on the field in spades. Please don't disappoint us boys!!

100% reasonable and sensible decision by Jesse, his management and the MFC. I would wager that there wouldn't be a single sound-minded Demonlander who wouldn't make the same decision if faced with the same predicament.

In a word: Trentracclarriehulk.

I know it's only a practice match with a glorified title, but for me, a NAB Challenge win on the weekend is important. First, it will be a strong indicator that at least some of the key elements that we will all be looking at (game style, ball movement, our recruits and developing players, etc) are coming together as we (and our coaching staff) hope. Second, it will reinforce the genuine confidence and excitement that has been expressed by our playing group leading into the season proper. This is especially so because we will go in as underdogs against Port. And finally, a win should give our membership coffers a nice pre-season boost.

I think we played (and won) at Shittihad Stadium in the final H&A round of 2015, even though it was a home game for us. Even more reason to give us a chance in R.1 2016 I reckon.

I was away from home on Friday .... in the middle of the bush with no mobile or internet coverage. So the obvious thing to do was to eat lunch on the run and drive the 30 odd Ks to where I could get reception, and some feedback on how the Intraclub went ...... and of course Demonland didn't let me down. Many thanks to those who provided reports, and nurtured my dreams for for 2016 (at least for another week)! Go Dees!!

................... but player managers are only interested in the first part of that equation, and my gut feeling is that they probably have too much influence, particularly where youngsters are concerned.

Even in my worst nightmares that doesn't happen! Unless we have a hellish run with injuries, I am very confident we will finish with somewhere between 9 and 12 wins for the season, and the bookies will be far more positive about our prospects for 2017 and beyond.

So many knowledgeable Demonlanders predicting (probably) half the players on our list to have breakout years. My (not so bold) prediction is that if a hand-full of these predictions come to fruition early in the season, Melbourne Footy Club memberships will break through the 40K barrier, and maybe push 45K. That would be a decent breakout year in anyone's language, and not entirely beyond the realms of possibility imo. For what it's worth, I really like the look of Kent and Salem for 2016. Both of them have the traits to be 'game breakers'! Just hope the footy Gods keep them injury free.

IMO, giving him a new contract, and excellent medical and rehab. support, is a pretty decent show of loyalty on the part of our Club.

On form to date, there's probably not too much to argue with about the bolded statement, except I would add that Bugg does a very solid job week-in week-out. I'm very happy to have a player with those credentials recruited to Melbourne, especially as Paul Roos has a second to none record of turning "good ordinary players" into "quintessential excellent role players". Players of this ilk played a significant part in winning a Flag for Sydney. Time will tell, but I'll back Roos on this one.

I'll be watching Jayden with a great deal of interest in 2016. His speed and X factor will be a great addition to our lineup if he can make the grade, and clearly our coaches saw enough in 2015 to warrant a new contract, despite him having had very limited game time since he was drafted. He has a year to prove his worth, but I have to admit that the 'then and now' photographs on another thread, and some of the recent training reports, have me a bit excited. A tantalizing prospect!

The key point Goodvibes, is that many of us are in a similar positive place right now, about our beloved Demons ...... and I get the the strong feeling that our excitement is built on substance, rather than the false hope that has buoyed many of us at this time of year for far to long.

I'm not sure about having a crack at fellow posters for expressing their views Goodvibes, but I reckon the bolded part of your post is 'spot on'. Hopefully all Demonlanders will be 100% aligned to that view by the end of 2016.

I know exactly what you are saying Demon Ox, but I'm very much reassured by this interview: Day 9 pre-season camp: Brendan McCartney In my experience McCartney says it as he sees it (ie. without media spin), and if this interview reflects his normal approach, 2016 promises to be a very enjoyable season.

I understand where you are coming from rjay, but I reckon Jack will take the extra formal responsibility in his stride ........ thrive on it in fact! No need to hold him back imo.

I can understand where you are coming from mauriesy, but I see two types of handball: the first is the is 'old' Melbourne 'get out of trouble' handball ............ otherwise known as the 'absolve yourself of responsibility and put a team-mate under the pump' handball; the second is the 'new' Melbourne 'put the team to advantage' creative handball. I know these have been a rare events at Melbourne in the past decade, but I'm banking on them being a feature of our game style from 2016 and beyond. Surely the thread title is referring to the second type of handball, and should be left as it is (lol).

As I see it (admittedly through a slightly alcoholic haze), the Roos legacy will be measured in both the short and longer terms. The short-term is well on track, and gets a bold tick from me. There is still one full season to go, but right now I could hardly be happier with the apparent transformation of our playing list, the quality of our coaching panel, the seemingly dramatic improvement in our culture and our (first time ever) professional approach to player development. Our Club is no longer the laughing stock of the competition that it was when Roos agreed to take on what at that time was the ultimate coaching challenge in the AFL. There has been a quantum leap forward imo, and I can't think of anyone who would have done a better job as Senior Coach in those circumstances than Paul Roos. He is exactly what our Club needed at the time! In 2017, responsibility for the longer term will fall to Goodwin, but I have every confidence that the key planks of the Roos influence will be embedded in 'the way we do things' for a long time to come, and that with a pinch of good fortune, it could lead to the success that we all crave. Roos (and his compatriot Peter Jackson) will deserve enormous credit should that occur during the Goodwin tenure as our senior coach.