Stigga

I know Rohan Bail won't be down until next week but does anyone know when the rest of the draftees will be first attending training at Casey?

How Embarrassing.

Force of habit. Apologies to Scwabby!

A good read WJ. In fact, all of it was good. Jimmy and Craig Cameron's messages I thought were fantastic. Yes its all words and promises but it was a positive and a realistic assessment of where we are at as a club and what needs to be done. Craig Camerons's message about our connections and roots with the MCG were right on the mark, as was Jimmy's note that the relationship between the MFC and the MCC and AFL has never been better.

Shane Valenti to be the next Scott West.

I like the cut of your jib.

Revisted youtube footage of Schoemakers, Lynch and Strauss.

For me, Strauss was the most impressive. Holds his feet, good centre of gravity good, skills and carries the ball well, reminds me a little bit of a Marc Murphy/Brock McLean type of footballer.

Not to mention that three times he kicked it to Watts for three goals in the footage I saw.

I don't think you are wrong. I believe it is an assistance fund or a concession by the AFL in order to maintain balance and somewhat maintain a level playing field amongst the clubs - in some shape or form when a club(s) seeks assistance, but the club(s) in question must prove their 'business model' to support their need or show the AFL their business plan as such to seek approval of this 'assistance fund'.

Correct. The attempts to show a viable enitity and business models in the past have been neglegeble. Glossed over by far-fetched attempts at advancing the club through China and the Bubbledome and quite possibly the exploration of Mars.

The club warrants the assistance at this point in time more than ever as the club is evidently making a concerted effort to right the wrongs of the past and proove to the afl that the MFC is a productive, positive, proud and passionate entity.

Read: "We strongly suggested the MFC do not officially announce the pick early & we dangled the Special Assistance Payout over their head like the Sword of Damocles, so we're confident they'll do what we say.."

Exactly. We are in no position to demand anything. The aim of course is to one day be able to.

This is how I think it will go:

1 Melb- Watts

2 WC- Natainui

3 Fre- Rich

4 PA- Hartlett

5 Ess- Yarran

6 Carl-Sidebottom

7 Bris- Ziebell

8 Rich- Vickery

9 North- Hurley

10 Adel- Johnstone

11 Coll- Swift

12 Syd- McKernan

13 St.K- Blease

14 WB- Cordy

15 Geel- R. O'Keefe

16 Haw- Davis

17 Melb- Trengrove

18 WC- Hill

19 Melb-Suban

Either way the Press release should be issued in Siberia on New Years Eve.

I think you'll find it will happen in early January. Not that I think it will provoke much reaction anyway. Those who have beaten done on us all year would be exhausted by this stage in time.

It will be known on Thursday night at the function that has been mentioned on this thread. The club will not make a public announcement but it will be well-known by Friday who it will be.

Mate thats a good point ive mentioned it to mates aswell.

When were doin good hes on board but last year on the footy show he never mentioned anythingg about him being

involved with the dees. Quite disapointing.

You wouldn't have the slightest clue what he does behind the scenes. He doesn't have to proove to anyone what he is doing. If he says he's involved with the club then he's involved with the club.

This is what the Mates of Melbourne invite says:

FWIW, the photograph that goes with it is a picture of Nick Nat handballing to Jack Watts.

Very cryptic. Can't remember a draft for the MFC filled with more suspense.

http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tab...px?newsId=69982

Great News!

MFC Press release -

Can't find it anywhere.

DDDOOOGGGAAAA!!!!

....at times when there were injuries and lack of other ruck options at Sandy.

Speaking of which I wonder how Spencer will go next season. I know of a lot of neutral observers who rate his progress and believe he could turn into a player.

i just hope that we dont pick up roughead with our pick 17 or 19. he is a standard ruckman.

I take the view that you can never have enough good midfielders.

In fairness to Jones its his fourth season coming up while McLean is in his sixth season. Injuries aside, McLean should be coming into the prime of his career and I am interested to see what that delivers in the coming years.

Brock stood up this year and showed us a glimpse of what he is capable of. Unfortunatley a broken ankle cut that short as he was gathering momentum week by week.

Jones was tagged heavily with little protection. Some don't but I rate Jones' footskills and general disposal. Yes he had many glaring clangers this season (which are the ones we remember the most) but I put these down to immense pressure form the opposition, especially taggers coupled with a severe lack of protection in the middle and exhaustion as one of our few ball winners, especially the further the season went on this was glaringly evident.

This is why I cannot understand some of the crap C. Morton recieves. Maybe he has gone under the radar a bit but seriously what an incredible season for a first year 18yo from across the other side of the country. 18yo's MAKE CLANGERS UNLESS YOU ARE C. JUDD. Seriously, Morton was our main ball carrier for much of the year, or course he's going to make errors for exactly the same reasons that N. Jones does. Opposition pressure in this day and age is nigh on impossible to fully comprehend from the stands. I can't remember an 18yo making a bigger impact for this club from the get go. Imagine if he played for Geelong. he would have had all the time, space and protection in the world and would have run rings around his opponents.

http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tab...px?newsId=69888

article was going well until the last paragraph

Stating the obvious. All things must be considered and it would have been remiss of them not to weigh up NicNat.

I would be totally surprised if we did not select Watts. All signs have pointed to yes. He has inferred he wants to complete year 12 in Melbourne and focus his efforts on it. The club has already been in direct contact with the family. He decides to nominate when 3 interstate clubs have picks after a Melbourne team when he didn't have to nominate until next year. NN has inferred that it would be preferable to stay in WA.

1 + 1 = 2.

Actually i would be flabbergasted if we didn't pick Watts. NN is not a markerters dream, the number one pick is. In fact, i think more supporters would excited about Watts than NicNat. Plus, regardless of who you are, I think its folly to pick someone who can't kick a football.

Demons Strengthen Senior Management Team

The Melbourne Football Club is pleased to announce two key appointments to the Club’s Senior Management team.

John Poulakakis will join the Club in the role of Chief Commercial Officer, with Matthew Green in the role of Chief Operations Officer.

Hawthorn are on record stating that they do not select players that cannot kick.

We need to follow that path.

No surprise - something that's been mooted on these Boards for a while now.

For those who can remember, I believe Schwab expressed similar sentiments regarding the MCG back when he was appointed CEO.

I wonder why the previous administration never pushed this.

This might be a silly idea but how about the creation of a 'celebrity' supporter group. There are quite a few well-known celebrities that support the MFC. It could be called:

'STARS OF MELBOURNE'

Not simply celebrites giving money to the club, but rather a kind of Coterie group. They could hold events, dinners, entertainment nights etc where people could pay to attend. It could almost act as a kind of a business networking venture to sponsors or anyone inclined to become involved with the club. At the very least such a group would be very much in the public sphere and would raise our profile.

Just a thought.

why does he say "i know it sounds stupid but I am looking forward to round 1"??

what's stupid about that?

Yes, inferring that what he is saying is totally superficial as it is a given that he is looking forward to round 1.

I get what you're saying, but we need to mentally get past that.

Focusing on what could've been or what other clubs are doing is not going to bring our club back from the brink.

No more defeatist attitude. No more looking in the rearview mirror. No more 'if only's.

I'd rather what happened with us than:

Tambling over Franklin

Fiora over Pavlich

Ouch.