Ron Burgundy

I was already frustrated that Sylvia wasn't playing in round one (good decision by the club IMO though). This is horrendous.

Excellent post, fire engine. I'm surprised you didn't highlight Gary Rohan or Steele Sidebottom though - both great players.

I suspect because the new football department recognised that Bate was a good, honest, hard at it "footballer" - a rare commodity on our list, and they didn't want to see him traded. IMO we have picked too many good "athletes" rather than good "footballers" in recent times. For instance, I reckon we'd have Zaharakis or Shuey on our list rather than Strauss, and Darling rather than Cook, had the current football department been in charge at the relevant time. Pure speculation of course, but it seems to me that they now like decent, hard at it "footballers". I often feel that Bailey (whom I like and respect) and Prendergast got too clever about it all and seemed almost determined not to select the obvious choices.

You serious?! Are you really saying it is not possible to assess the quality of our list? I reckon the new football department can, and has, and I don't reckon they think it is quite as good as many of the cheerleaders on this site think it is. And that's why they've decided to get the best VFL players they can to bolster the list. A simply damning indictment on our recruiting over the past few years, given the number of top 20 picks we had over that period of time.

I have no doubt the list would look radically different had the current football department personnel been in charge from 2007. We have wasted many great picks IMO. As they say to young surgeons, if you hear hooves beating, think horses not zebras. In much the same way, the club seems to have ignored several obvious choices over the years and gambled on slightly left field players - a risky and potentially reckless strategy in the circumstances.

I'm really surprised to have read some of the negativity about the night here - not necessarily on this thread, but on other threads. I flew down from Sydney to attend the function and was fortunate enough to speak to Cameron on the night. Without wishing to sound like a complete sycophant, I was very impressed with Cameron and the views he expressed about where the club is at (practical and realistic) and his clear vision for where the club will be in the future (again, practical and realistic). In short, I thought the function was absolutely top tier. It was very well organised and had an appropriate focus on our history without being overly sentimental in a cliched or saccharin way. A few things I took out of the night: 1. Mark Neeld is a super impressive bloke. This guy will transform the club. Of that, I am absolutely convinced. I simply cannot believe Collingwood allowed a situation to occur such that we were able to grab him. He'll create a dynasty at the MFC, although we need to give him time - it's not his fault we've been spinning our wheels for the past few years, and it's not yet a list he's built or had an opportunity to develop. 2. This off season has been the most significant period for the club in decades. Securing the likes of Neeld, Craig, Misson, Rawlings, Brown, Mitch Clark and others has literally transformed this club. We now have real momentum. 3. The point of differentiation that the MFC enjoys relative to all other clubs (perhaps excluding Geelong) is our history. It's not IMO backward looking to celebrate it and try and imbue the significance of our history and the contributions of players past in our current players. 4. To illustrate this, the evening focused on Harold Ball - a story which is sad in the extreme. Obviously a good natured, impressive country kid who shone as a young player in the 1940 finals series - particularly in the semi final against Essendon and then the grand final against Richmond - he elected to enlist in the army as an ambulance officer (a decision influenced it seems by the club doctor). In short, he wanted to help other Aussies. His life ended terribly when he was captured by the Japanese, tortured horribly and then executed. For me at least, prior to hearing this account, Harold Ball was just a name. But to hear his story and then see former club legends hold this guy's blazer and talk about his life was truly meaningful. I can't imagine any of the players didn't discover some respect for the blazer after hearing this account. In short, it's possible that, prior to the night, many players and supporters thought the blazer presentation would be the reincarnation of some lame 'old school' tradition - however, I don't believe many people left the function with that mindset. 5. The club is committed to making our list the most aerobically fit in the competition. This was good to hear, and with Neil Craig and Dave Misson overseeing it, I've no doubt it will be achieved. Our players will not be losing games due to lack of fitness in the years to come. 6. I'm not convinced our recruiting in the past few years is as good as it could have been. Time will tell though, and I expect Neeld will get the most out of what he's been given. I'm also pleased that the contributions of players such as Bartram and Bate seem to be appreciated once again - the current focus appears to reward effort and dedication more than mere natural ability, which is sure to create a good football culture at the club. As I said, a really good night - positive and unifying for the club and its past and current players.

Russian has the ability to take strong contested marks in ANY pack. In fact, I reckon he's one of the best contested marks in the league. Despite what C-F-H says above, I also think his set shot kicking is reasonable. It's not fantastic, but it's not that bad either.

Neeld and Craig hardly strike me as people who would oppose tertiary education. After all, Neeld is a former school teacher. That article seems only to put the case against their proposal. I would like to know the methodology underlying the proposal - I'm sure it's not as irresponsible as The Age/AFL characterised it as in that article/their response to it.

I heard that too. If true, Eddie McGuire is an unethical, headline seeking, scumbag.

Unlike Watts and Scully, Strauss before Zaharakis seemed a genuine surprise to most posters on this forum (and Demonology) at the time.

Apologies. It was a fairly undisciplined post by me. Like everyone else though, I am genuinely interested to read any updates on his progress.

Anyone seriously still maintain he was a better pick than Jack Darling? That said, I sincerely hope he comes good. But, from the sidelines, it's pretty disappointing that he's not managed a single game in this year's NAB Cup if he's not injured. It also concerns me that few, if any, here are talking about him knocking down the door for selection in the seniors in 2012.

I expect Malthouse and Neeld would talk a lot. And, not unsurprisingly, Malthouse's views on Watts seem to mirror Neeld's initial impressions of him. And before everyone puts the knife into Malthouse, I understand he was very supportive of Mark Neeld in his application for the MFC gig and that he thought the Dees would be a great place for Neeld to end up. Personally, I'm strongly of the view that Mark Neeld is the best thing that's happened to the Dees for many years. And, at least in part, that is due to Mick Malthouse. So, he can keep tearing strips off us - our performances in recent years don't deserve anything better than that IMO. If we're going to succeed as a club, it's by facing facts - not by burying our head in the sand. On field, we've been soft - and this needs to change. Success won't otherwise come to us, and Malthouse simply seems to be pointing this out. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Mick would love to see the Dees flourish this year under Mark Neeld. And that's not going to happen without players like Jack Watts developing a killer focus and ambition on wanting to succeed.

I am so relieved we managed to land Mitch Clark. Without him, and Neeld's other new hard, mature-age recruits (not to forget Neeld himself and his new assistants), we would definitely be looking at another 2011 this year. And the Hawks' Matt Suckling, a low end rookie draft pick, is the type of player I think we have been hoping Jamie Bennell would/will become. Buddy Franklin is also the arsiest player I have ever watched play the game.

It was also reported that the dispute seems to involve 'two sides' of Jurrah's family. The policeman interviewed refused to confirm whether it related to an episode (I think last year) where a man was stabbed to death. He also confirmed that the victim had very serious lacerations to his head that would involve emergency reconstructive surgery in either Alice Springs or Darwin later today.

What exactly has he been charged with? On ABC's Radio National, a reporter just said the biographer of Liam's book and an MFC representative (not named) would be flying to Alice Springs today in order to pick up Liam and fly back with him to Melbourne immediately.

I have absolutely no concerns about Watts. I think he'll be a bloody good player for us. And comparing him with number one draft picks from other drafts is plainly ridiculous. Those players weren't ever in the mix with the pick we used on Watts. Comparing Watts to the likes of Nik Nat or Hurley is IMO more relevant. Why? Because we could actually have picked those players in that year. It might be that the sands have now shifted, but MOST clubs would've picked Watts had they had our number one pick in 2008. Surely comparisons with other number one draft picks is more relevant to ascertaining how good the respective draft years were.

Not only will he be in the team, he'll probably be in the votes in round one too.

Mark Neeld is the recruit of the century. I've had a fair bit to drink, but I reckon we could be top 4 this year.

http://www.heraldsun...f-1226076710819 Bastinac - 16 June 2011: Similarly, he suspects his mate at Melbourne, Scully, 20, also knows where his future lies. He is just not saying. "He's probably got his mind made up and knows what he's going to do," Bastinac, 19, said. "I do feel for him a little bit, but knowing him well I know it's not going to get to him at all. "He will definitely make the right decision for him and the footy club." Fine upstanding young pen pals these two. In fairness, Bastinac was 50% correct though - Scully did ultimately make the 'right decision for him'.

"After long-term injuries, midfielder Jordie McKenzie (achilles) and defender James Strauss (leg) are now only two weeks away from playing." I find this simply incredible. It looked like a horrible break at the time. This is really good news.

Clark aside, he was the best take out from last night IMO. Simply top pick up - especially as a rookie.

I expect this will be a very, very hard decision for the club to make. Personally, I love Nicholson's pace. Equally Magner is a hard at it ball magnet, which we need. On the basis of last night's performance, definitely Magner. In terms of overall team needs, probably Magner too. But Nicholson brings a lot too.

My main take out from the night is what a pick Aaron Hall is likely to be. Was he on our radar? What pick did the Suns pick him up with? Super impressive first game.

I am unabashedly a huge fan of Neeld. I was very impressed with the first 10 minutes of the Suns game - especially for the bruise free approach to which you refer. Beyond that, I found last night's performance very frustrating. Some good signs, but our inability to win and then retain possession for big chunks of the games was annoying. That said, I felt that we would've won both games in the regular season. In short, I don't think too much can be read into either of those games. Magner and Nicholson looked good too IMO, as of course did Howe. And Mitch Clark is just what this list needed.