Deeoldfart

Played only a handful of games but had probably his best year in 2009. As 'bub said, he 'added a few more tricks to his portfolio' ....... another product of the Dean Bailey teaching academy? I'd like to think there is some of that, combined with the fact that he is now at an age where ruckmen are generally coming into their prime, and he is probably relishing carrying the #1 ruck mantle for the first time. Well done Rush ..... you have an important part to play at the MFC over the next few years. Just make sure you are on the park and not watching from the stands.

........................... and if LJ is happy, then so am I! Go Dees!

Congratulations to all the placegetters, but especially Flash who had his best year after 'average' form over the previous few seasons, and Beamer who has come back from several years in the injury doldrums. In a sense both resurrected their careers, and will hopefully go on and be leaders on and off the field during a very successful era for the Melbourne Football Club.

Rohan has a more mature body than the rest of last years draftees, and I expected (hoped?) he would be pushing harder for senior selection throughout the year. He now knows a lot more about what's expected at this level, and 2010 looms as a make or break year for this late draft pick.

If you like a bit of nostalgia and history of the Melbourne Footy Club, it's brilliant. I couldn't put it down!

Can't help but be excited after reading that!

There's a lot to like about the Jet (aggression at the man and ball, positioning, decision making) but there's also lots of room for improvement (rough around the edges in a lot of his work - especially kicking, and a bigger engine is an essential). All in all, a very promising debut year from a late draft pick. If he can become cleaner with his ball use and improve his stamina and acceleration, a regular midfield / changing small forward spot in our best 22 beckons. Not a particularly gifted footballer, but I have the feeling that he's the sort of bloke who has the determination to ensure he succeeds.

:

Great point She Devil. That confirms #48 in my mind.

That's encouraging! Thanks H.

Of course!

Agreed that your points are pretty sound ........................ and don't feel too embarassed about your oversight. I have memory lapses all the time, and so do the pollys. It must be the Canberra air!

Welcome to Demonland 'freakovich13', but I must say that threatening to rip up your membership in the second sentence of your debut post is not a particularly promising start. No doubt things will improve!! Good luck.

Daniel seems to have some real talent, and the Footy Dept. seem to like his potential. Sadly, his short career has been dogged by injury ........ and now another hip operation followed by another limited pre-season. I suppose the question has to be 'will he get another year on the rookie list?' The strong suggestion in this short summary is that he will. I hope so.

Solid as a rock and still improving. Another top five finish in the Bluey coming up, I think ................. and continued development will see him as a cornerstone of a very good defence for quite a few years.

Great year Aaron. I reckon you can start clearing some space in the trophy cabinet for a Bluey. As for next year, we are all hoping that the emergence of a few of your younger team-mates will give you a bit more time and space to ply your trade. The sky is the limit! ................. and thanks also for your outstanding work with your indigenous 'brothers'.

Bugger me! If half of those mentioned above deliver as predicted in 2010, we will play finals! It is indeed an exciting time to be a Melbourne member. The brightness of our prospects are hardly given a seconds thought by the football media and supporters of other teams, but with a half reasonable draw, and a reasonable run with injuries, I think we can surprise a many of them. My prediction (at least from the heart): the Dees to have a breakout year!!

A great PSD pickup. Seems to be a fast learner, and is developing great versatility for a player of his size. I expect him to be around the MFC for a long time.

Totally agree Nash. Geez, Trent was picked up as a late rookie ......... a punt on a 'speccie' that didn't work out ie. just like the vast majority of those selected at the tail end of the draft.

Junk!! Written by a nobody whose not prepared to put his / her name to it.

Not sure either ................ but just to keep you laughing, you can add Jay Viney to the list.

Yep. That's my reading of it. Barts may be added to the list if the rumours are correct. Delisting is obviously tough on the boys, but I expect they saw it coming .......... and I'm certainly glad that the MFC have made what some around here will undoubtedly see as the wrong decisions. Personally, I'm very pleased that TMac may have missed the chop. IMO he shows loads of promise. Good luck to Bucks and Valenti. I hope they get picked up by another club.

I'm as sentimental as anyone when it comes to my football team of almost 60 years, and I agree that family traditions are great. The Cordners, Hassa and Len Mannn and the Febeys are good examples at Melbourne. On the other hand, when they don't work out, family ties bring a bit of heightened expectation for a season or two, and then nothing more. I had great expectations for the great Robbie Flower's younger brother Tom (undoubtedly because I presumed it was in his genes), but he lasted three seasons, and played most of them in the seconds. My point is, draft Dylan Grimes by all means, but only if he is considered the best available at that pick. Sentimentality is a huge part of our game, but it has absolutely no part to play in draft selections.

Spot on HT. The AFL smacks of double standards in so many areas. One has to wonder what their response might have been if Fevola was a Demon or a Kangaroo.

Agree KoD. It will be very interesting to know when he is expected to join his teamates in full scale pre-season work.