harry

A lot of the youngsters haven't experienced the AAMI hoodoo as such. Therefore I don't think it applies to them. To me, the hoodoo was a hoodoo because we were quite good, but we always got belted at AAMI. Whereas now we get belted everywhere, so you can't really blame last year's losses at AAMI on the ground itself if you know what I mean? Perhaps now we are experiencing a football hoodoo? Anyway, I predict the dees to win by 26. Newton to kick 11.

The thing about Meesen is he's only 22. So while he's apparently been pants so far at Melbourne, maybe he'll mature/develop etc. Let's hope so.

I wonder if they'll get flayed in the media for getting under 20K? Or is that just something that's reserved for Melbourne?

I reckon we'll win the next 3 and be in the 8 in 3 weeks time. Then we've got Geelong. Then we'll find out where we're really at.

I'm no legal expert, but that's bloody mind-boggling. How can taking drugs and punching the sh!t out of someone not be a breach of bail? How can bail be granted again? I know they can't take the assault into account because it hasn't been proven yet, but he admitted to taking drugs. Surely this bloke's a danger to society?

"Moronic" was a description of your post, not you.

You're breaking my heart HB. Did you read my post?

That's mind-boggling. What a complete w#nker! I hate the stereotype that our supporters are apathetic. I hate it even more when our fans buy into it and think it's true. It's not! To prove this, I've constructed a list of things our fans have done recently for our club which PROVES we're the best supporters in the world! Enjoy: - Signed up in record numbers in a season that was our worst for 25 years. Look likely to break that record the following season when are likely to play only slightly better. - Sourced a major sponsor for the club (Kapersky Software - for those that don't know the story, this company was introduced to the club by a Melbourne supporting employee). - Raised more money than any other clubs' supporters in the history of the game, in the space of a month (debt demolition - 2008). - Despite being comfortably the worst side last year, we finished nowhere the bottom in the 'attendance ladder'. - Drowned out the final siren at the MCG for probably the first time ever (vs Brisbane 2008). The roaring of the red and blue hoardes as Green kicked a 'goal' (was actually after the siren) was so loud the siren couldn't even be heard in the commentary box! There are heaps more that I think are true but can't really prove so I've left them off (e.g. most knowledgeable). Whilst I would never suggest we have a large quantity of supporters, the QUALITY of our support is unrivalled. Never more so yesterday when our fans protected a player's father from marauding thugs. So who cares what the BTs of this world think. It takes guts and heart to support this club and our supporters have this in spades. It's about time we all realised this and then maybe people outside the club will notice it as well.

Fair point. Just because I've never seen it doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Of course, being a massive soccer fan, I am aware that it happens A LOT. But I still have two problems with that mention in the Sun article. Firstly, I saw it. It looked like a brawl. They could've said it looked like a 'pub' brawl or a 'street' brawl, but no, they felt compelled to say it looked like a 'soccer' brawl. So, even whilst covering an event that tarnishes the reputation of Aussie Rules, they try and tarnish the reputation of soccer. Doesn't sound like much in isolation, but they do it all the time. For example, making a big thing of 3 fans getting ejected from Docklands during a soccer game whilst literally the night before 120 odd people got ejected from the G during a one dayer. This builds up an unfair stereotype above and beyond what is actually accurate, negatively affecting soccer and the people who watch it. My second problem is that the really horrible trouble at soccer matches (and the examples you cited) occur overseas. By saying that it looked like a 'soccer' brawl transfers that image to the local game and stunts its growth. And even though, as you correctly point out, just because I haven't seen it doesn't mean it hasn't happened, I would highly doubt that anything as vicious as what happened yesterday has occurred in the short history of the A League or at matches involving the Socceroos.

I'm generally of the opinion that if the other person reverts to name calling, you've won the argument...

I was sitting next to the cheer squad at the Punt Rd end. I thought they looked great and were bloody noisy to be honest! It was terrific in the first quarter! They also kept the 'Melbourne' chant going all day, even when we were clearly going to lose. Hopefully they can get back to the glory days of the red seat area in the old Olympic Stand.

I'd suggest that was his son. Myself and my dad came out of the Punt Rd end and were about 30 or 40 metres away. From where we were it just looked like a typical blue. Obviously had no idea it was Jones' dad or that he was in fact trying to prevent violence and protect people until when we got home. I guess we only caught the end of it. The worst thing was how completely distraught and terrified his son was. That was a pretty shocking image that haunted me all night. I don't think it's right to talk about 'typical Collingwood filth' and stuff like that. Incidents like yesterday's have nothing to do with football. The vast majority of their fans are just normal people. Unfortunately for everyone, a troublemaking minority does surround their club and attend their games. Actually, now that I think I about it, the first proper fist fight between men I ever saw was when I was about 7 or 8 at a Collingwood game. I love how the Herald Sun article quoted an "anonymous" witness who said it looked like a "typical soccer brawl". They always want to have a crack at soccer. I've never seen anything like that an A-League match. Or, indeed, any of the games I went to in England.

hahahahahaha Moronic. I'm pretty sure keeping Harvey to 16 possies last week will keep Bartram in the team. And I think McLean's probably done enough over the years to have a couple of quiet ones without getting dropped. It's good that you've dropped Bate and not brought in another reasonably sized forward. And, you're going to drop Johnson for a bloke that gets about 8 possies in the magoos. That fact that you posted at 5:04pm means you probably weren't at the game. Perhaps you should get along to the matches and support the club before you start dropping blokes who've donated 10K.

Martin Flanagan's the best sports journalist in the country. What's more, he's writing a whole series of stories on Melbourne throughout the season. To think that some people can only focus on 'Jacegate' when's he's giving us the media exposure we've always craved is unbelievable.

Well, I'll take you're word for it. I could've sworn on the scoreboard it had Wells as having 13 possies about half way through the last quarter. Anyway, the main point of my statement (as you acknowledged) was to say that talking about whether or not we should be 'persisting' with Buckley is absolutely ridiculous. It's pretty reactionary stuff and is the kind of thing you expect from filth and tigers supporters, not Melbourne supporters who I've always considered to be more educated in the game than most.

I reckon Green should play close to goal as well. However, you suggested we should get rid of Miller. That would be ridiculous at this point in time as he's the only key position forward we have, limited as he is.

Don't know what game you guys were watching. Pretty sure he had more of the ball than Wells (Wells also didn't kick a goal). He showed a couple of flashes of brilliance. Anyway, regardless of how he played today, he's going to be a gun. Talk of 'persisting' with him or not is unbelievable to me.

Moronic idea. He's no Wayne Carey but he's a good ordinary footballer. Comfortably our best key position forward at this point in time.

First of all, congratulations on seeing the mighty demons at the home of football for the first time. Your life will never be the same again! It's one of life's greatest pleasures to see the red and blue run out onto the MCG. Secondly, outside the members, particularly as it's not a Melbourne home game, there won't really be any areas that are majority demons in general admin. A few people have given you options regarding the second level of the southern and stuff but you need to know someone with those memberships, which I assume you don't. The only area I can think of in general admin is right behind the Melbourne cheersquad which I reckon will be at the city end. Otherwise, perhaps where the old Olympic stand used to be might be a little less 'filthy' than other parts of the ground. Thirdly, I reckon consider sitting right in amongst the filth. You've never been to the G before, and sitting in amongst them is quite an experience. They're absolute flogs who won't say a word all day till they know they're going to win, then they'll get into you and hold you personally responsible for your team's loss. And, to be honest, we are probably going to lose but at least that will be character building. And I tell you what, if we do win, it will be the greatest day of your life watching all the filth turn on their players and each other and trudge out of the ground half way through the last! I went to Melbourne's last game at Victoria Park in 91 as a 6 year old. My Dad flat out refused to take me cos they were top and we were 10th and Vic Park is a dump, but my uncle would. So we went, I couldn't see half the ground cos it was all standing room. Anyway, Jacko kicked 7 or 8 and gave the filth the finger after every goal and in the last ten seconds Chopper Lovell kicked the sealer from fifty. Waving my demons flag as the filth streamed out either side of me is one of my finest football memories!!! I can't wait for Sunday! GIVE EM HELL DEES!

I love the ad. It's just a pity the dees players don't have a sponsor on their backs! Slightly off topic, for those of you from Sydney on this thread. One of my NRL supporting mates from Sydney said they'd rather NSW win the origin than their NRL team win the premiership. Is this a view commonly held?

Would love to beat the filth...

9 Teams will not Survive in this city unless some are on welfare & that will never bring a flag. This gets bandied around a bit and I don't reckon it's true. Firstly, I don't think the AFL wants to get rid of clubs in Melbourne. Ideally, they would want to keep as many teams as possible as more teams means more games which means more tv money as well as a host of other sources of income. For example, if North folded there would be one less game, which would take an eigth off the tv deal. There would be hundreds of thousands of north fans not buying merchandise, going to games etc. Secondly, one less team in Melbourne doesn't make it easier for the other struggling Melbourne clubs. Say, there are 200,000 North supporters in Melbourne. If North folds, those 200,000 don't just divide themselves up into the other clubs. The vast majority will just stop going, or at least stop going as much. The market doesn't become easier, it just shrinks. Okay, so the sponsorship market is easier, but when (worldwide economic catastrophe aside) have clubs found it hard to get sponsorships. Also, the market for young kids choosing a team is easier. But, there will also be less kids interested in footy, because their parents aren't taking them to North games. Finally, the single biggest obstacle in the way of struggling clubs (including ours) are stadium deals. You can talk about sponsorships, memberships and debt demolitions until the cows come home, but attendances are the biggest earner for all clubs and historically these have been adversely affected by the current agreement. It seems like this is finally being rectified and, if it does, it will go a long way to securing the future of 9 clubs in Melbourne. Sorry for the long post. But I'm a bit of a romantic and would hate to see the roos die because people never challenged the attitude "9 clubs in Melbourne aren't sustainable".

Felt dirty just reading a scum website... How could they give our backline 3/10 and our midfield 6/10? Would have to be the other way around I would've thought. Still, to be fair, I would have no idea how to rate their midfield and backline. Ultimately though, who cares?

30,011. Dees by 19.

I'm pretty sure bails has two years left on his contract. I reckon he's doing a good job. Obviously we were rubbish last year, but he comes from Port with the reputation of being a good developer of players. I could definitely see improvement in individual players last year. Hopefully that continues this year. I'd reckon we'd have to lose every game for him to get sacked.