Damo

Why is it so hard for posters to write clearly?

Galvanise your thoughts and keep it simple.

Streams of consciousness (look it up) that include complete changes of opinion, combined with bad grammar, does the site and readers almost palpable harm.

If some people tried to cross the road the way they post, they wouldnt live long.

yeah i want a really good nickname for him, but i also wouldnt mind a good one for pettard because that does not role off my toungue either

Hoist

I think it lacks balance for some to be over critical of our players, Carroll and Davey come to mind, while being highly protective of the clubs decisions, profits and policy making.

I can understand that many posters are identifiable by in-house personnel, board members and Coterie and this may put them in a invidious position.

So therefor I accept they are flying a flag. One that they may quietly bemoan doesnt include a Demon.

IMO We would have been trying to recruit Nathan Carroll if we didnt have him.

And Aaron Davey (off topic, I realise) is the only MFC player to be discussed as possibly playing in the Interstate Match.

I think it will be hard for Valenti to get a gig, given the type of players we have drafted and the current list. Sampi has also now probably missed out. I would imagine a ruckman and four KPP's will be the go in the PSD/Rookie drafts.

I would have thought that had we picked Masten then Valenti would have had less chance.

With Morton coming aboard, another potential Nathan Jones is quite possible.

Sure we have a few of his type but when Jones played at sandy I thought Valenti was as good.

I would like to see him given a go.

Morton has to get 3 as he is looming as a Gary Lyon.

Id like Michael Newton to get Number 10.

They will get to keep their jumper and the "kangaroos" tag.

Aren't they also guaranteed a certain amount of Melbourne games as well?

The main loss seems to be that supporters wont be able to see their team train.

Anyone out there trying to find where the Dees train, BTW?

I think they should try to get five or six away games at the MCG where the Roos supporters seemed happy to watch them play before Telstra arrived.

If I was a Roos supporter and we kept 6/8 games at the G, 10 games on Free-to-Air each season, complemented by reasonable plane tickets, unlimited funds to pursue players and create A-Class facilities, I would look at it favourably.

But Im not.

Maybe the Roos make their hard core supporters very welcome at training and we just dont get it.

I am a bit bemused.

I thought he was a pretty good player....

I wonder how much he wants?

One would think DB might have a pretty good idea what he is like.

DB was on the radio saying MFC will not be considering Ben Cousins in the Pre-season draft.

There is a big difference between being de-listed and deciding you dont want to be in that club/town any longer.

Ryley Dunn was delisted.

Ash Sampi has walked out.

Even if he isnt picked up by us he adds to the tapestry that looks like a richer PSD than we have seen for a few years.

Ashley Sampi is now available.

He is 23 years old and may be worth rehabilitating.

We need a leader now. Neiter is lucky to hang onto his spot.

Brock is not yet ready.

If it is to be Brock, so be it, but the worst thing is that nothing happens.

Neitz = Nothing. IMO he should have retired.

No news on the captaincy and no strongly worded claim on the presidents position as well....

Whats going on?

When does training start?

Rolling, That is the best clash strip Ive yet seen.

A good,if scary, read Jack.

My concern is that Melbourne is too unspecific as a location.

Would it be better if we were to identify with a specific area such as Bentliegh, Oakliegh, Sunbury, Sandringham or Caulfield?

If we keep to being "just" Melbourne, will we find Local Governments getting behind other clubs more ready to brand a suburb as their own?

I think the club should try harder to visit primary schools in the above areas and promote harder.

My son had AusKick for the first time this year in Carnegie and his jumper was one of few Demons.

There was one visit to the Junction Oval which many didnt attend. A visual presence is what is needed.

I shudder to think what it would be like in Pascoe Vale or Kew.

A good friend is now a retired Preps teacher. She shamelessly tried to persuade her preps kids to go for the cats at Carnegie PS.

She believes he got them young and they stayed. This illistrates to me that there is not enough positive pressure in those areas we could win.

We need to fiercely retain traditional ties. And we arent.

I believe we need to take it off Neiter. If he was giving it up we would know by now.

I think we should punt on Green or Bruce and make them live up to the promise.

I cant split them but my gut goes for Green.

Then it is up to brock to wrench it off the incumbent. If he does it in one year, good on him.

I believe Bailey has to influence this issue, in conjuction with the player leadership group.

Rip the scab off it and do it soon.

I will support his input and final decision.

It is best for Nieter, the leadership group and the supporters.

What is more of a pull: 'Demons' or 'Melbourne'?

The fortunate happenstance of our name is what will save the 'Demons.'

So, ironically, if we wish to remain the 'Demons' we have to stop marketing ourselves as the 'Demons.'

And away jumpers...meh.

Not sure what your game is pal, but you seem to be overly dismissive of anyone who thinks our Demons brand and Red and Blue logo are to be protected. Any time the issue arises your new moniker pops up putting the kibosh on those against it.

You wouldnt by any chance have a stake in the new marketing, would you?

Collard is interesting - second round pick in last year's draft and delisted already.

I thought he was supposed to be a bargain if he went that late.

I recall he was touted as a 1st rounder.

At last we are seeing some possible quality around our picks.

I would hope we would punt on another tall Forward like Riley Dunn.

Im still hurting from getting Jamie Shanahan at our number one when Shannon Grant who went at two said he wouldnt want to go to Melbourne. So we took Shanahan.

Maybe the Admen running the club would like to call us the Yarras.

For those not old enough... When I was a kid in the sixties to be called a Yarra meant you were a soft dikhead.

This is actually correct. From 2008, in an official sense, we will not be the Melbourne Demons. We will be MELBOURNEfc.

Thats not to say we are not the Demons. Its just our branding will not have Demons attached.

Junior merchandising will still use 'Ronald Deeman' etc - and we are still the 'Dees', but the Demon head logo is gone.

That is hugely disappointing.

Im sure the Bombers wouldnt give up their emblem so easily.

I cant believe it isnt a marketing ploy to dis-associate MFC from the Demons.

There will be a huge backlash I reckon if this soft idea is going ahead.

Very worried about this.

Geez we'll be adding Peter Giles and Roger Ellingworth to the coaching panel next week at this rate! How many 80's Melbourne old boys can we fit into the offices?

I can give you the tip that for his 80 odd games he was more often than not in the best players with Chris Connelly, Robbie, Alan Johnson Peter Moore. He was core. But we really were shite during his time.

FWIW Jack Dyer would always mention him in dispatches on WOS.

Which means he still could be (Vetoed)

I thought it was quite instructive that he told a tale from his early days at Freo that convinced him about ALWAYS taking the best player available in the draft.

Dont worry about filling holes or worrying about players going home.

Hmm. He was there when we recruited Luke Molan, maybe he was outvoted at the time.

CAC is about to talk to Dwayne and Tony on 3AW.

May be worth a listen!

The load shifts a little off Simon Black, now that TJ is there.

Black nearly won the Brownlow without much notice or recognition of an outstanding year.

I think he may be a good bet next year.

But J.Brown may very well pinch Lots of votes off both.

It Maybe that the Lions could be having a good year.

Im happy with the trades but it seems to me that Dean Bailey believes we will be last or second last next year.

If that is the case Im still supporting the Demons who must be rebuilding, and Bailey who is reported to make tough calls.

It is silly to huff and puff at posters who can see where we are headed for a year or two.

Plus Its OK to highlight players that CAN be core to a side that will win more than say eight games next year, but you have to look at who we may be better than: And most other also-ran teams look to be on the rise.

Richmond

Essendon

Carlton

Brisbane

So if we arent making the eight, and it looks like we may be third last, would you want to be last and get next years Kreuzer?

IMO I think most independent judges will have us 16th or 15th behind Essendon.