Deeoldfart

Precisely! .... and undeniable 'undeeniable'.

Exactly Pringle, and I think that's what has many of us pretty excited.

I havn't felt like this about the Melbourne Football Club since 1994, and even that very good team didn't have the depth of playing talent that we seem to have garnered over the last couple of years. Of course, we still have to fully realise the potential on our list, but I have a feeling that we will look back on the recruitment of Bails, and the drafts of '07 and '08, as pivotal to the re-birth of the Melbourne Football Club as a genuine power in the AFL. Similarly, the arrival of Jimma and his new Board are starting to make inroads into the off-field stuff that is critical to success and longevity. We need to remember that all clubs have made an enormous leap forward in the last decade, but I'm very confident that we are catching the pack, and that there is genuine cause for optimism around the Melbourne Footy Club. Go Demons!

Sorry bjgc, but I can't possibly agree with that view.

Me too!! Keep up the good work Snakey.

I'd spell it 'Killa' Watts and I really like 'Bluey' Blease.

Hard to disagree with your logic Phoenix, but another PSD selection with Stef Martin's potential would be handy.

Fantastic article .... moist eyes and all. Go Dees!!

Totally agree. TJ would be a good example who we are all familiar with!

Sensational idea, and hearty congratulations to the Club for acting so promptly to the Summit initiative. I'll be a contributor.

Yep. I guess I was counting my chickens a bit too! It's easy to get carried away with 'prospects' at this time of year.

Agree. I've heard that he's come along in leaps and bounds (so to speak), since we rookied him last year. I guess it's still possible to elevate him to the final spot on our main list, and bypass the PSD, if it's thought that he might press for selection in '09. Alternately, we could elevate him around mid season under the new arrangements that will apply next season.

Astute and thoughtful post DD.

A great day for the Demons indeed!! .... it could just be the watershed we have been craving for far too long. I'm rapidly growing in confidence that the MFC is becoming a great learning environment for young footballers with the right attitude, and I'm sure our recruiting and coaching staff will have made their selections with this in mind. Only time will tell whether they have made the right choices, but I reckon the journey will be exciting.

Delighted that Sam now a Demon. I commented after the U18 Champoinships that he looked special, and from what I have seen and read since, he has a lot of the key attributes needed to become a top flite AFL player.

Ditto! Thanks guys.

Many thanks for your informative and timely post Haydo.

Sure are Mousey. Mine arrived in Canberra today, and if you havn't already received yours I reckon you should get it in tomorrow's post (I seem to recall that you live in the Sunshins state). Great read, the best ever of our mags IMO.

It's so refreshing to feel and enjoy the positivity for the future of the Melbourne Football Club coming through some of these posts (probably for the first time since I joined the hallowed company on this site almost 12 months ago). It's perfectly natural for Demon tragics like most of us to feel some off-season optimism, but this doesn't seem like 'blind' optimism. Thanks to 'Bub and 'Tower in particular for painting the picture, but maintaining the balance.

I'm also firmly in the Brock camp for the reasons that you have outlined Pates. A few months ago I would have said Greeny, but I now think its time to change the guard. Brock has served his pennance, and I now think he is the standout candidate to deliver the type of on and off-field example and leadership that our youngsters will look up to and thrive on into the future.

................also needs to play smarter IMO (ie. not just train that way). Here's hoping that Scott West can help in this regard.

Totally agree Monta.

Shane Crawford??? Paul Salmon???

Quite a few are saying that Spencer has a lot of potential. If he continues his development we may need to elevate him from the rookie list sooner rather than later. He's a Qld. boy and one or both of the Qld. teams may try to entice him back to the Sunshine State if he looks like making it at the top level.

Stinga was a sensational wingman for us until he fell through a glass door (stone cold sober) and did some very serious damage to his thigh buttock area. Never really recovered from that. Sydney took a punt on him a couple of seasons later, but I'm pretty certain he never played a senior game for them. Last I heard (a few years back) he was working as a green keeper at one of the prominent Melbourne golf courses. He did his apprenticeship as a greenkeeper while he was playing for the Dees.