Roost It

I would suspect that both of them will play a key role in Bailey's plan. Talented kids who are being trained to be Demons!

All true but somehow I think maybe DB's got bigger plans for Dunn. This kid can play. I reckon the coach is teaching him to be tough and accountable before swinging him up forward again.

True to a point, but i think you' ll find that alot of our supporters are old and we don't have enough kids coming up to replace them. I'm all for energising the current supporters but you might need a defribulator (I think this is the correct spelling) to do this.

Richmond have been woeful for the best part of 25 years but the tiger still roars

Sure. But it's government that will need to commit to Casey and as a growth corridor this is a real possibiltiy. I'm talking about training all year there and playing one or two games a year so as to try and involve us with a community who may just one day down the track end up with kids supporting the local team - Melbourne. I just can't see how playing games elsewhere brings us anymore supporters. Nor can I see the point in being part of 2 training facilities.

We can [censored] all we like about MCC members, supporters not going to games and small crowds. The fact is not enough people barrack for Melbourne. Here's why !. Barrassi left and stole the club's heart which went to Carlton along with a good whack of our supporters and their children and their children's children. 2. Those who stayed left a little later when we sacked Norm Smith. 2. As game became corporatised we were left out in the cold due to poor administration by our club. 3. Then we talked merger with North Melbourne. 4. Finally, as our beloved Demon lay battered and bruised on the floor those in charge of our club tried to merge it with Hawthorn. We voted YES to this, maybe not everyone but as a club we voted to end our club, we voted to become the The Dorks. F___k me, that night at Dallas Brooks Hall was the possibly the final nail in the coffin for this club. 5. All this left us with a handful of passionate but seeemingly dispirited supporters and and old crew of MCC supporters too embarrased to help this club because let's face it, it doesn't help itself! I really hope this is going to change and I'm out there talking up the changes that have occured but this is it, we need to be seen helping ourselves and in the process gathering more supporters. I like the sound of Casey and I'm a huge fan of Jim Stynes and Dean Bailey impresses me more and more, so here's hoping. Oh and I've signed my lady up as a full member and she's loving it!

The suggestions of Casey fields are fraught with risk and uncertainty. I just cannot see the AFL supporting games at another Melbourne based venue besides MCG, Dome (and Kardinia Park at a stretch) which requires significant development to get it into AFL standard venue for football located in the outskirts of the city with limited public transport for a Club whose supporters dont turn up to games (particularly its "home" MCG) and who cannot readily secure an alliance with the resident club to run a VFL team. I can barely see Vlad holding a straight face on this one. He may as well re build the stands at Waverley and have games there. Yes, there is some risk involved and yes it does need AFL support. But the growth corridor argument is a sound one, 3rd only to West Sydney and Gold Coast. The Bulldogs secured $25 Million to redevelop from the government. What's to say the same applies to Casey fields. Money for a the community benefit thus helping to tie us with the community. How far short of AFL standard is it anyway if NAB cup matches can be played there? What I'm saying is that we need more supporters for the long term and I'm not sure how playing games in Canberra is going to give us anymore paid up supprters. I don't think it's helped North or the Dogs except maybe some short term money. You're right in saying that our current MCG supporters aren't going to travel there, I mean they don't travel to the Dome. This is why we need new supporters. We need a community and I think Casey gives us that. Yes it will take time but it just might work.

The MFC needs to convince the AFL that Casey Fields is worth investing in. The capacity realsitically only needs to be around 15,000 to begin with.Even 1 game could be played in the next fewyears against an interstate club, as it has held an NAB cup match before. As the team improves and if we can generate enough support hopefully we can draw 20 - 25,000. The bottom line for this club is we need more supporters payiny to see us play in Melbourne! Playing in Canberra might just weaken our club even more. Maybe OK for a few years but we have to get the AFL to back us into Casey. If they will help then It's probably the best option for this club. Also, I'm really not sure about the Olympic Park area. What do we get from it besides being closer to the MCG. I'm not sure how we can afford to run 1 training facility let alone 2. Maybe it's best we concentrate on Casey and really develop a connection to that community. It's time to bite the bullet, draw in some corporate dollars(I think Jim's on to this), get supporters to chip in some more money and stay right here in Melbourne. The only way to survive is to draw in more support right here in our home, Melbourne. This is going to be really tough to do but the Casey option sounds like our best hope.

The MFC coaching staff are excited by the enormous upside in Cale. Let's hope he can put the weight on. Always in the right spot - Looks alot like an Adam Goodes type of player. Tall, athletic, good hands, finds space, reads the play, he will kick it beautifully again, 3-4 years time he'll be a very, very good player. Just remember this team is going to take time, 3 - 4 years of development and maybe, just maybe the footy gods will allow us what they denied have for so long denied us.

All true, but he needs to take up an official role, make one up, I don't care, I just want to see him take the next step for this club. This is not because I don't think he does anything, it's to add the symbolism to his actions.

Brock is however a Volvo and not a Porsche.

Forget sponsors, Forget the AFL, Forget first round draft picks, Forget white knights with bags full of cash, Forget Branding, Forget all of it. The only way to get this club up and running is to find it's heart. Last seen 1964 Turned up in late 1980's only to be pronouced dead in 1996. 2008 - Is that what I think it is? Can anyone else hear that?

From where I stand very few people have doubts about Stynes capabilities. "Underwhelmed by Jimmy" - Have you met him - Are you serious? These people are exactly the opposite. They're so overwhelmed by the new board's mix of passion and professionalism that they're leaving the running of the club to them. He'll bring the money. The wealthy Demon fans haven't given money in the past because no-one who's run this club in the last 40 years has drawn there confidence. People don't give large amounts of money to clubs if they don't believe in a club's management. I reckon we'll be pleasantly surprised by what comes next. Now go and get you mates to sign up!!

Please explain

Neither Bate nor Morton will miss.

Are you the mysterious eleventh new board member!

Well said. Unfortunately with sponsors to woo and rifts to heal this club (No doubt with some pressure from the AFL) couldn't afford to have anything other than a seemless handover. The members have been left out of the process but thankfully Stynes seems to have put together some good people, so tonight we'll hear his plan and tommorow we'll load up on Demon Love and see if we can't all help to get this club rolling again. I feel much more at ease with this group than the last 3 administrations. To some extent Gardner has stabilised a club left reeling after the yes vote on merger night (Jeez that hurt). And hopefully after the weekends fantastic celebrations the club can really unite. I'm really confident it can. It no longer has a choice.

Patience Grasshopper, He will deliver in spades. There has been alot of improvement in a very short time. We would have beaten both Tassie and Collingwood had the gods been on our side. My thought is they have bigger plans for this team. DB has the force well and truly on his side. As for 7 out of 10 - take away the genuine chances for the ultimate prize and I think you'll find ND failed.

My initial thread never criticised Garry for his work, nor doubted his passion for the club. This club is being kicked around and I realise he is doing some behind the scenes work and his media is great for the club, but no one can tell me that the club and it's supporters wouldn't get a massive boost if someone of he sighned up on Thursday night. To say he doesn't owe the club anything is rubbish as well. We all owe this club! This is more than just business. The reason this club is so low is because it had it's heart ripped out in 1965. Garry's worth is that heart. I know that's a big call but it just might be true.

You apply the word meciocre to Dean Bailey - are you serious or do you just want an argument?

I know it's early days and we're on the bottom but this club has moved miles in the right direction since they told Sheeds, Thanks but no thanks and appointed Dean Bailey. This guy has come down to a club in tatters in almost everyway. Old stars, average attitudes, training facilities worse than some school footy clubs have, no money, and a game plan that wasn't ever going to win us a premiership. How many people have written this club off as a bad joke. From the guy in the street to the media to good old Andy at headquarters, EVERYONE! But has he shown any regard or concern for the rubbish they spout. NO, he's gone about doing what he does and that's building a side from the backline UP. He's gotta a plan, and it's coming along quicker than almost anyone thought possible. He's turning us into a tough, hard at it side. He'll add some pace as the skills improve and don't worry about the forward line or recruiting stars. He's a coach that teaches kids how to play footy, and play footy well. I have no doubt there's guys on our list he's already working on to take over the forward line. This is his first year and these kids are young. With sound drafting and DB gaining more experience it won't take as long until we earn some real respect, the kind of respect that Saturday night showed was part of this club.

A Great Demon over many years. I remember his first game against Richmond in 95 when they were flying and we were struggling. A beautiful sunny day and he showed alot and I reckon he's delivered in spades. (Chopper Lovell BOG) These days though, I'm not excited by guys of his age. His only part in our future is guiding the young ones and I don't see that as one of his strengths. (espcially looking at those last two kicks)

Spot On. Take Geelong and Sydney as examples. This club cannot afford to tank and I doubt the word exists in Dean Bailey's vocab. Looking at our young guys today he's got plenty to work with. If a few things fell our way today we would of rolled them. We're going to get good picks regardless. Winning is everything. Espcially at a club that has accepted mediocrity as long as we have.

Dare say the club could do with a shot across the bow. We are in some serious [censored]. 4 Mill plus in debt, another million or so to lose this year. In the current climate this club needs to generate some serious interest and soon. Celebrating our past is great but to mine I'm more concerned with the present and the future. The existing board have not generated the hard edge this club so desperately needs. Can Stynes? I don't know but I doubt Garry Lyon would be so heavily backing a dud. It seems as though Stynes has done his research and by the sounds of it gathered a good team. Looking forward to more details. Now lets go [censored] some Pies!

I think Dean Dailey and Chris Connolly are the men for this.