Deeoldfart

All ex-Melbourne DFAs, have gone to their new 'home' with my very best wishes, but Jack undoubtedly heads that list. I can't think af any other sub -100 game player who is so universally liked. Thanks Jack, for carrying yourself so professionally and proudly as a Demon, through the toughest of times.

Like some others, I went very cool on footy after our gutless 'end of year fade-out'. Unlike previous years, my interest in the finals series was barely lukewarm, and it is only now, with the trade period gone and draft approaching, that my interest has been somewhat rekindled. But I always knew that my support for Melbourne will live as long as I do ....... it's in my DNA. A few days ago I renewed memberships for myself and five other family members. It will be their Christmas gift, and they can 'like it or lump it' but I am very confident that it will be the former.

How How much is too much? Two first rounders is definitely too much in my book.

Unbelievable goals, unbelievable memories (many from a very forgetable era). Thanks for all the hard wwork Ash.

He actually reminds me of @ProDee when he does that.

Not sure anyone is saying we couldn't use him Stretcher, or that he wouldn't be in our best 22. It's more about our team priorities right now, and whether he meets those needs. Personally, I'd prefer that we use up valuable list space and dollars on a player who is more likely to take us to the next level, such as a classy outside mid.or a goalkicking forward/ruck.

Zac Jones is a solid and still developing footballer with some upside, but I think our priorities lie elsewhere. Some outside class and a forward /ruck should be high on our 'want list', and I doubt that we would be interested in Zac, despite some sentimental attraction.

From where I sit on the outside, Tracc's 'attitude' seems to be exactly what's required from an emerging AFL star. He seems to have a fierce desire to succeed, both individually and as part of a team; he has the work ethic to match this desire, both on gameday and on the training track; he seems to have a positive approach to recovery (who will forget the video of his ACL rehab in the US?); he seems very popular amongst his team mates and to enjoy their company; and he seems to be a good listener and learner (I'm loving the way he has become a team player first while still retaining his individuality ...... especially evident this season imo). Sorry about the 'ramble', but there are both good (Viney) and bad (Sylvia) 'attitudes'. Tracc has the former!.

He probably thinks this is the honourable thing to do, and he will be lauded for it. A bit too late Jobe!

This is my take, but I'm sure it's been said thousands of times before on Demonland, and the fan sites of 16 other AFL clubs: The only appropriate course of action available to Watson, is to return his medal to the AFL. It seems however, that this is unlikely to happen, so surely the AFL must intervene. Without this, the good name of the Brownlow will forever be stained by the inclusion of Watson's name amongst the list of winners. This would be an enormous slur on the AFL and the competition itself. 'Charlie' would be devalued for all past and future winners. Surely the powers that be at the AFL must see this. If they are so naive as to let Watson retain his medal, they deserve to be pilloried by the media, and all lovers of Aussie Rules, for bringing the very integrity at the heart of our great game into disrepute.

Assuming that there are no perceived 'weak links' I reckon it will be important to keep most, if not all, of the current coaching team together for Goody's first year in the senior gig. Goody will obviously bring his stuff to the table, and that should be filtered throughout the panel, but a strong sense of stability will also be important if the transition is to be seamless.

According to the Fox commentary team, the Lions player who claimed he had touched it was already back in the centre waiting for a bounce to restart play when the 'behind' decision was announced. Go figure ........

Nice article. Spot on with the facts and adjectives. So glad Clarry is ours!

So many positives on here about Oliver (hard to disagree with any of it) but the greatest positive of all is that he didn't slip through our fingers. He's a Demon, and part of a developing midfield that oozes strength, determination and power. The sort of midfield that premierships are built around.

Obviously it's very early days, but I'd love to get a feel from fellow Demonlanders who have seen him, about how Ollie is shaping up at training. For example, how does he compare to Gus and Track 12 months ago ............yeah, I know I'm starved for a bit of post Christmas Melbourne footy news, but there's only so many times that you can watch the AGM interviews, or revisit the great training pics provided by 666.

Mine too 'bub, not 'prongs' but nails. The umps inspected them before every game to ensure that the stops weren't worn down with the nail heads protruding. You could inflict a nice flesh wound with a pair of well worn stops.

I'm a underwhelmed by Jake's more recent form, and very concerned by the 'sword of WADA' hanging over his head. None-the-less, I have confidence in Roos and the rest of the Football Dept. to make the right call. Where does that leave me on this issue? Buggered if I know what to make of it!

I'm not a great fan of Melksham as a player, but if all the 'noise' about him coming to Melbourne turns out to be true, I will trust that our current administration see something in him that I don't, and that he will be recruited on a deal that they regard as fair and reasonable to all. If he then fails to add value as a player, I will adopt a 'you win some / you lose some' attitude, and seek to move on quickly. However, I will be absolutely livid if he becomes a Demon, and is then rubbed out because of his involvement in the Essendon drugs scandal. That would be unforgivable imo.

Like you Mach, I'm surprised. At his best Myers is pretty good, but he is rarely on the park. Averages around 10 games a year over close to 8 seasons, and only one senior appearance so far in 2015. Maybe Goodwin likes what he has seen, and he certainly fits the bill as a Roos type mid (tall, good pace with a raking left foot). However, we'd need to be confident about his durability and positive about any Essendrug fallout, before I'd have any more than a passing interest in him. No doubt if the story about our interest is true, the good judges at the MFC will have these issues front and centre.

I guess it depends on where you are coming from Ron. I really like Garlo, and think he's been a very 'solid citizen' of the Melbourne Footy Club over some really tough times. Does that make him a quality player? ........ not by my preferred definition. In describing players as 'quality', I immediately think of match-winning qualities, and I just don't see them in Garlo. There are dozens of 'solid citizens' on every list (all teams needs them!), but without a healthy serve of players with match-winning qualities, teams are going nowhere in today's competition ........ and Melbourne has fewer match-winners than most. If Garlo leaves as a RFA, I will be among the first to acknowledge his good service, and to wish him well at his new club. I will also be looking forward to the prospect of adding potential match-winning qualities to our very meagre list. Of course there are no guarantees in recruiting, but we desperately need to do everything possible to raise the bar! In summary: "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got".

I really like Col Garland. He's been a very 'solid citizen' of our Club through an extremely tough era, and in my eyes, he's still a 'best 22' player. However, this is surely not the point. If we want to improve as a team we need to raise the bar! Inevitably, some of today's 'solid citizens' will need to make way for players who bring (or have clear potential to bring), more to the team. There's an important part of me that says we should remain loyal to 'solid citizens' like Col, and another part that screams for team success. For me, in this scenario, team success beats loyalty every day of the week!

I hope so Sir Paul. He has an excellent CV, and would be a fantastic addition to our midfield. If he is indeed contemplating a move south, the Dees would seem to be an obvious choice. Pick 5 would be fair and reasonable if we are satisfied that his knee will stand up.

I'd be very, very disappointed if that happened. I thought his family moved from WA to Melbourne when he was drafted.

Agree ..... nice story though!

Without fear, and manic at the ball and the man .... that encapsulates Jack Viney's football prowess for me