Keepin up with the Joneses

Last time I checked, turnover of $35,000,000 (don't quote me) for profit of $137,000 doesn't scream viable business, and even that's after some amazing people kicked in another 700 large, and some nice accounting (all above board Caro, F%^& off)

It's a different game now. Hawthorn has been brilliant in their strategy and are now a powerhouse on and off the field. We play 22 times a year, as long as I get to the g 10 or 12 times, I'm a happy man.

As long as my club isn't just 'viable' and can by into the arms race, I'm a happier man.

When we win #13, I'm going AWOL for a month!

No brainer in my opinion!

B Tapscott, Frawley, Garland

HB Watts, McDonald, Toumpas

C Blease, Viney, Grimes

HF Howe, Clark, Sylvia

F Byrnes, Dawes, Trengove

R Jamar, Jones, McKenzie

IC Pederson, Nicholson, Barry Sub Rodan

I'm actually pretty settled on this cept for the position of Barry, which could have been any of 10 other players.

No doubt, this might look silly by game time

Good, we need more Jack's!

Made the trip down to have a look this morning. Things of greatest note for mine.

Gawn is enormous across the chest. Looks like a monster; fitness pending, I could see him being first ruck by year's end.

I was taken by exactly how big Viney is. Was paired with Byrnes in the sprints in the 5th or 6th pair, and was the standout for mine, taking him easily each time. Even when he slipped at the start, and gave up 10m, he chased him down. Was hungry!

Dawes was more active than his injury report suggested, i would suggest he would be back with the main group as soon as next week.

Hogan did laps with Dawes and Gawn. and then kick to kick with Dawes... there is just something about him. looks commanding with the footy around him.

Aaron Davey was a shadow of his former self. I understand the contract situation, but it's sad to watch from my perspective.

Barry did some kick to kick lead work late in the piece and looks like a beautiful mover

All in All seems like a more balanced list already.

Disappointments,

1) Would have loved to have seen the new boys tear it up also, i guess we need to ease them in.

2) Watts and Sylvia seemed to be on slight restrictions compared to the rest of the group. Nothing to prevent ready for round 1, but these are 2 players I'd love to be tearing the track apart all pre season. Whenever expectations aren't meant, resritced pre seasons are always mentioned.

Welcome aboard Jimmy, Dean, Dean and Matt! Go Dees!

The number I always had on my back as a kid was #3, and absolutely no disrespect to Barty intended, but I can't wait to go to the MCG again and see a #3 for Melbourne tear a game apart again; whoever that may be... Perhaps Hogan the way things are tracking? Would have loved Dimitri to been given a shot, for no real reason at all

Problem is Visy will be loading wads of cash into cardboard boxes as we speak, and soon, Fev, won't be able to recall anything untoward from his villa in Sorento.

B Strauss McDonald Grimes

HB Watts Frawley Garland

C Blease Jones Trengrove

HF Sylvia Dawes Byrnes

F Howe Clark Pederson

R Jamar Viney McKenzie

IC Wines Tapscott Dunn

Super Sub: Rodan

Why do I always feel like someone is missing

I believe there are a few positives to come out of the past month.

a) Clean out of poor attitude and leadership. (Save for Jared Rivers to whom I wish nothing but success), we have been whipping boys for the whole league for 6 years, so we can sit and debate the merit of the clean out as much as we like, at least we are taking a different approach

B) Net games gained - raw numbers suggested we are a mile away for competing for place outside of the bottom 4 if we continue to go down the recruit 8 kids and hope they become stars, line again, we will field a team that averages 65 games experience for the next 4 years; just like we have the past 4 years.

c) We might have a chance of winning. We might not be challenging for top 4 next year, but at least we are bringing in experience that might give us a chance of teaching our 'young stars' how to win a game. For 6 years, we've been lucky to put 4 consecutive quarters together... I for one want to make my way to the G thinking we have a chance of pushing some teams

d) 24 yr old premiership structural key forwards with 76 games experience dont grow on trees. This time last year, the football world was questioning us sacrificing pick 12 for Mitch Clark... last time I checked, no-one has been regretting that decision.

e) All the focus wont be on Wines and Viney; It will be on the older talent that we've supposedly sold the farm for. And our new young talent can come in, and develop without the pressure of the burden of being the sole hope of a Demon revival.

Bring on 2013!

I too am sad to see Riv go!

for many years early on, I was convinced a fit Jared Rivers would propel us to success...

Will always remember his courage going back with the flight into packs, and hope he achieves his success at Geelong (right before we win 4 flags in a row)

Welcome aboard Jack Viney.

Was so excited called a meeting at work to announce it to everyone lol.

Hopefully tomorrow is as good as today!

Give JR the 3 years deal at $350k to stay at MFC. 4th in our B&F and we are happy he's going ???????

I understand everyone's feelings about JRs shortcomings, however I reckon hes worth the 3 years. Has always been a favourite; perhaps I'm just sentimental

Col is a brut when up and running, his biggest weakness is he is a dumb footballer. He rarely takes the right option, never kicks to our advantage and realistically never will. Athletic ability might put him in the best 10 players in the comp, but even that is generous. Football smarts; wont make top 100

long story short, trade now, because he will try and walk as RFA.

So over this, he will be Melbourne I can't believe that we have 2000 posts saying otherwise

It's fine, it's just we are making them think that we think that they think we know that they think we don't know what they think, and that we wont do what we might or might not do what they think we think we might do.

Everything will be fine... just fine.

As long as the elite midfield are sporting red and blue its a nice thought

Of course it is... hopefully soon

I was pumping Chunky's tyres on Ology for several seasons when many over there wanted him out of the place.

I imagine it was the same here,and tiresome it would have been to read the threads because it seemed pretty obvious that he had the right attitude and was the heart and soul of the team.

Sometimes he tried to do too much and his game suffered because of it.

Perhaps with a greater emphasis on players concentrating on their roles he's been able to stand out more, and clearly he's grown as a player as well.

I'm still going to be on the outer with him though I reckon, because now I'm going to point out where he needs to improve.....I dont reckon he 'hurts' the opposition enough with his game.

If he gets that together next year he's AFL elite

I think he will.

Imagine Jones in one of the elite midfields of the comp, where he didn't have to do it all himself?

True that, I mean he was the biggest low life in IKEA, and that says something!

I did push in front of him at the cash register at another store though. Serves the [censored] right *small victories*

Jaded, I think you will find Scully was going as hard as he could to push in front of you, based on what I've seen of his intensity for a contest, you were just too good!

Is it time to bump the 'Jones is part of our midfield problem' thread?

And yes, I have genuine bro-mance for Jonesy

too soon...

He's no Adam Maric, but...

wait, he's no Kelvin Lawrence, but...

wait, he's no Austin Woenamirri, but...

wait, he's no Aaron Davey, but..

bugger... welcome aboard Angus!!!!

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahaha

Once Bennell's knee exploded I think that pretty much erased any remaining doubt about what to do with him. And Jetta just doesn't do anywhere near enough to earn another contract if we are a fair dinkum football club. Doesn't have any particularly standout attribute and doesn't get enough of the ball at all.

Yeah, I like his tackling which I guess is the thing you're good at if you can't get the ball

I was going to post in detail, but then I realsed you left off two of the first to go: Bennell and Jetta. The general thrust of your thread is right though - there needs to be a great many list changes.

Felt sorry for Bennell with his knee. that's all lol.

And i like Nev, even though he's destined to prove me wrong.

Add them both to the list!

This year hurt. The following should never wear the red and blue again.

Rohan Bail

Clint Bartram

Matthew Bate

Aaron Davey

Lynden Dunn

Joel MacDonald

Brad Green - A year too early, but decision is already made; thanks for the memories Greeny!

Brent Moloney

Cale Morton

Ricky Petterd

Jake Spencer

Lucky to escape - Colin Garland.

+ anyone else the club deems to be toxic

I understand some have contracts... trade them for dim sims

Richmond delisted 13 a few years ago from memory? Be bold Dees, I don't know how much more I can take!

Rushing out with 10 minutes to go against the roos to find the queue that had formed at half time which included my chair only to find that the queue had moved and my chair with it. Then I frantically tried to find the queue and my chair. A very nice lady had moved my chair with her when they had been asked to move by MCG. Siren goes and masses of people surge out to push their way to the front of the queue. I found myself about 13th from front to about 200th. There were a lot of filthy people that night but it couldnt beat the thought that we were in the finals. Oh God to have that thrill again.

Best month of my life that September. Was too naive to understand at 19 years old, the pain that was to come. The Prelim was out of this world. Still think the umpires shagged us in the GF. And Sheedy was obviously worried about is, because the way that Essendon played that GF changed the tribunal rules forever

Pity it's only 2 years. I guess he'll have a clear pic of the club's outlook and be able to pull a much bigger paycheck then.

I Dont mind this approach, from all reports, he doesn't lack confidence, and if he's as good as he thinks he will be, why not play himself into a position to negotiate a better contract in 2 years time, more than likely with us.

Great news