Deeoldfart

Most players in all clubs lose form and get dropped from time to time over their careers, and by your reckoning it seems that that's they are all 'bloody useless'. Come on Stinga!!!

Great reply Redleg. Most teams have a good percentage of very serviceable footballers, and Brad Miller is just that for the MFC. He is a member of our leadership group, and there is obviously good reason for this ...... a fact that is all too conveniently overlooked by the 'Miller bashers' around here.

Strongly agree with that Swampy. Given the 'run-down' state of our playing list when Bailey arrived at the MFC two years ago, offering him a one year extension now would be akin to offering a new senior coach a one year gig. It just wouldn't happen, not even at Richmond! Few would argue that Bailey has done an excellent job transforming a dilapidated list into one that is now brim full of promise, but one that is clearly very young and inexperienced. He has consistently argued that getting game experience into our youngsters is the next priority, and he has urged supporters to understand that this is a pre-requisite for sustained success, and hopefully the premiership(s) that we all crave. This makes a great deal of sense to me. Bailey should now be given the opportnuty to get 50+ games into the youngsters who will form the nucleus of our team for years to come. Making premature judgements about his coaching ability based on his W/L record during a period of extensive individual player and team development would be irresponsible IMO.

1000 thanks for sharing with us Steamin.

Hard to argue with that. Football tregedies of the highest order!

Definitely the great RDB. I recall that it ripped my heart out at the time. Barass was probably the first of the big name players to change clubs in the former VFL. The pre-dawn of our game becoming professional?

Wishing all Demonlanders and MFC players and staff a healthy and prosperous 2010. The Demon is emerging from its slumber! We will be there in greater numbers than ever before to cheer him on!

Yes. Absolutely!

Agree 1000% with that ....................... and if it did happen at Melbourne, I hope (and believe!!) that it would be dealt with more expeditiously, and more appropriately, than it has at Carlton.

While I agree that if this sort of thing was going to happen, it couldn't happen to a more deserving club, it is none-the-less disappointing that it occurred at all. While I understand that 'boys will be boys', our game can do without this sort of publicity, and there has been far too much of it lately. I live in Canberra, where the media is continuously full of crap like this in connection with ARL clubs. The image of that competition has suffered enormously as a result, and I would hate to think that our game could be tarnished in a similar way.

I recall that at the time of Broady's passing, it felt like losing a family member ................. such can be the love of the Melbourne Football Club. RIP Broady.

Yep. The best thing about him was his nick-name ..... 'Cracka' TOA.

Seems like I am around your father's vintage GNF, and I can re-live those marvellous memories of the 50s and 60s as if they were yesterday. I have kids around your age, who like you, are passionate Demons fans, and have never seen a premiership, but your / their day will come in the next 5 or 6 years, as sure as our colours remain red & blue! Again like you, I have periodically felt that we were headed for glory in the last 40 odd years, only to have my hopes dashed like waves on a rocky shore ......... but this time is different, this time the feeling is palpable. We are approaching the dawn of a new era at the Melbourne Football Club.

I can only echo all of the sentiments expressed above. Demonland is an outstanding forum that helps keep me sain ... especially during the off-season.

B/S. It's Christmas and we have drafted well. He was definitely about to say 12!!

A very narrow and ill-considered perspective I'm afraid. Have a re-think Peanuts.

Great stuff! I might be old-fashioned, but I can't see anything but positives from this initiative ..... absolutely no negatives at all!

Did you sign up early to qualify for a calendar?

Definitely one calendar per member in this household.

Agree totally ....... in fact our overall list management has been outstanding IMO, including retaining the integrity of the MFC by re-drafting of Meesen and Newton as rookies.

I just love the tradition being brought to the fore at our Club. I can imagine that Scully and Trengove's hearts would have been bursting with pride as they were presented with the numbers of true legends in Barass, Dicko and Neita. Fabulous stuff.

That makes two of us, at least!

Pathetic! Like others I aborted it part way through and went to the radio.

You are certainly allowed to suggest that Bub, and if my memory serves me correctly, that was largely the flavour of your early posts about Jimmy and the new Board.

Excellent 'thread starter' Bub ....................... and I share your optimism for the future, despite the vagaries of accounting methods. I well recall your considerable early sceptimism about the Stynes regime, and congratulate you for acknowledging it, and becoming an avid Stynes supporter. Too many around here are never prepared to admit to an error of judgement ........ and we all make them from time to time!