Redleg

Sorry to have mentioned the umpires, but if you read the last line of my post you will understand how I felt at the time and to an extent, even now.

It was actually Tony Campbell, number 40. He blazed away from 50 when Robbie was alone in the goal square calling for the pass. Incorrect goal called against us. Not one free paid to us in the 25 minutes of the last quarter that they showed on Footy Flashbacks to about 8 for the Hawks. One or two blatant ones missed as called by Bobby Skilton and his co-commentator. Newport had his head ripped off and Kennedy stopped and started to put his hands up on the mark for the free kick. It was not paid and while the Melbourne crowd booed the Hawks went down and kicked the goal to put them 3 points down. Eishold marks the ball in the goalsquare, one metre out and is dragged away by his opponent after taking the mark and the umpire puts him towards the boundary line where he was dragged to. It was a certain goal from where he marked it. The Stynes 15 metre penalty happened some time after the siren had started blowing but the umpire didn't acknowledge it. If he had, the penalty would not have occurred as everybody would have gone to the goalsquare to stop the kick. I disliked umpires for the next 10-15 years as a result of this game. It was my worst day at the football.

Saw the side on vision and it was clearly a goal.

How would sponsors react to a wave of preseason publicity due to Melbourne drafting the most exciting talent in years, Natanui. Then forcing a couple of trades through use of the number 1 PSD pick and ultimately taking a player with it and then adding a raft of young players taken in the draft at 17, 18 and later picks plus Rookies. Jack Grimes declaring his fitness and Rivers, Newton, Morton and Dunn announcing their gain of 5-8 K's of muscle. Throw in Board changes, a new summer training base at Casey Fields and the new stadium getting closer to completion. I think we would all be on cloud nine with anticipation.

Just imagine how much better you will feel at Xmas time if we have added ruckman Natanui, another key ruckman and maybe a forward from another club plus 2 more draft players at picks 17 and 18 and a lot more drafted players including rookies. Our whole makeup will have changed over one summer. The preseason would then be full of anticipation and excitement. Carlton went nuts over Judd and Kreuzer. Natanui is far more hyped than Kreuzer ever was and a raft of new players would be better than Judd.

The bench looks great for rotation of the midfielders. Presume Moloney and Morton at least will start on the bench.

He asked "where" not "what" Barry.

Ditto.

It appears to give some credit to the free agency discussion that the Players Association has been raising. Therefore if a player is not signed up by the deadline he can nominate and be drafted in the National Draft ahead of the Pre Season Draft.

I know you weren't having a dig, I just wanted to let everyone know of WJ's talent.

You were right, its three with a guilty plea.

Don't worry about my resume, one of our own is responsible for the career of probably the greatest finals player to have played the game, with respect to Ablett and Dermie. Whispering Jack saw something in Wayne Johnston while with Prahran, after he had been sacked by the Blues twice before ever playing a senior game. An attempt to get him to Melbourne, which through a chain of circumstances, saw the Blues reluctantly give him another chance and the rest as they say is history.

Is Neita not a long term injury?

I have had this argument over Valenti with people for a year now. I pushed for his drafting as I did with Martin. I remember pushing a delisted Freo midget several years ago and an indiginous player at Port Melbourne a few years ago. All I got was that there was something wrong with them. The Freo player was Bell and the Port Melbourne lad was Aaron Davey. For the last year I have been told that Valenti is too small, to slow too whatever. All I see is him playing well each week. He may not be any good at senior level but he has earned a go to find out. I am sick of the negatives. Try him and in a few games we will know if he is up to it or not. Unlike many others in the seniors he can pass a ball by hand and foot.

Oh dear!

The setup is clearly wrong. As players run with the ball they look up see no options and look back to handball or kick sideways or behind them. We kicked out long three times today, straight down the middle and guess what, we kicked three goals. Gotta hate that basic football, where you get it into the forward line as quick as possible.

That explains why we can't dispose of the ball early in the game and have won three last quarters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jake Spencer "Played his second senior game for the Club. He has competed really hard for us – he is a tough kid and we like his hardness. On the weekend, his ruck work at centre bounces was exceptional and his following up work at ground level was just as pleasing. He only had six possessions, but his ruckwork was a real highlight." This was Andy Lovell's assessment of his game last week. Keep on improving Jake we need you.

Thought the same myself. Would have made a real statement. If he kept his elbows tucked in, it would have been legal, as Judd was just about to take possession of the ball. It also would have thrilled every Melbourne fan and inspired his team mates.

Lets not discuss moving, merging etc but rather how this club is to be saved. The AFL says we are a meaningless brand and we must address that. I will put my thoughts in point form for convenience. 1. We must build our membership. A membership of 30000 plus, is a significant one in this city and that should be the minimum aim. To get there, every and I repeat every member from last year (10000) who hasn't re-signed should be rung, visited or spoken to, to ensure they take out membership. The players and directors should be involved in this activity. All Melbourne members should be asked to find another supporter to sign on as a member. 2. All Directors should pledge to find a sponsor of at least $50000.00 or raise that amount in any way they see fit, raffle, function, begging whatever. 3. All members should make it their business to attend as many games as possible and invite other family, friends or supporters to attend with them to convert new members and to boost attendances. 4. When at games Melbourne people should use their voices to cheer the team and show disapproval at poor umpiring to give us some presence and lift the players with support like the Pies do. 5. The Board should search for a "Ron Walker type" who is a wealthy, intelligent, well connected person to lead the club. 6. Each board member should re-examine their own position and contribution and place their seat in the hands of the new President to either keep them on the Board or be replaced by a better credentialled candidate. 7. The new Board should be workers who are there for the club and have special skills that can assist the club. 8. The new CEO should be given full support and should have at least 1-2 Directors and maybe even an injured player with him every time he makes a pitch for Sponsorship. 9. The Coach should be given full support by the Board and told to do whatever is needed to get a good side as soon as possible on the ground playing good hard football. 10. The members should accept pain while the footy department rebuilds the list/team. 11. Lovers of the MFC should get behind the club now, when they are needed most and stop the crap " we are finished talk" and instead look positively to the future, when our club will be successful both on and off the ground. The above will all help to re-establish the meaningful brand that the AFL speaks about. Feel free to add your own suggestions.

I was deciding whether to say anything but I will. Change your first line last word to "HIM". Jamar is one of the worst footballers to have pulled on a Melbourne jumper. He set the scene with his gimme miss and then when he was in the ruck they got the ball"every" time. As long as we play him and a skipper who has watched the game pass him by ( slow, can't hold or get to marks, doesn't kick goals and can't put any defensive pressure on ) we have no hope of winning a game. None.

NO, no no no no,no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't bet on it. This organization ( the AFL ) is not about history, tradition or sentimentality, it is about MONEY. It is all about MONEY. Every year a team is under threat and it appears to be us at the moment. Meanwhile North is deflecting knowing that their very existence depends on it. Before the Price Fixer ( as Patrick Smith refers to him ) took over, it was Carlton and before them Hawthorn and before them Collingwood ( pre Eddie ). We will have to hang tough, find ways to increase Membership ( firstly by performing better on the field ) increase the financial stream especially through non-football avenues and lastly and importantly tell the AFL to "get stuffed", that we are the oldest club in the AFL and part of the reason why Demetriou gets $1.5 Million a year and we aren't going anywhere. End of story.

This is my reply to the thread on "marketing at the MFC". "They say a fish rots from the head down and I am starting to smell rotten fish. " Funny!!!!!!!!

Yours is clearly not an isolated example of an opportunity lost. They say a fish rots from the head down and I am starting to smell rotten fish.