Sir Why You Little

Great Read Mr Whispering, Thanks for that. We have some excellent writers on this sight.

Involves us even more with the Great Club we all Love. What a Top Night was had by the sounds.

Good to hear things are Rolling away from the Media. We Don't need the Press Hassle each Day, Leave that to the Filth & Tigers!

Go Demons 5 weeks to go of this Long Hard Season will be shelved

2010 we will improve markedly.....DEMONS

well done you for taking them on!

Reminds me of a very funny day at Essendon-ist time we'd won there for yonks. I was with a group of Jewish friends[i'm not Jewish myself] and we were supporting the MFC quite loudly. A woman turned to us and said "can't youse get back into the synagogue where youse belong!"

One of my friends, instead of getting upset said , pointing to me-'hey, that's a bit rough on this bloke--he's one of yours!"Didn't hear from her again--in fact, they moved!

Ha!! That's Gold. I miss going to Windy Hill. Those Ferals were worse than collingwood supporters from my experience.

Hard Core Red Neck Ferals..Ahh 1990 when Darren Bennett went off out there . Great Days

We aren't talking about being the best. We're talking solely about winning. Or were.

Being The Best is the Same as Winning in my Book.

Great forum guys and happy to be on board.

I'd love for us to grab Scully and either Butcher or Trengrove in the draft but I have concerns with Scully.

I'm hearing rumblings that he is a mad Richmond supporter/member and wants to go there even if it means getting traded after 2 years. Now I know a kid will play anywhere he is picked and circumstances change once he fits in at a club. But is wise when you interview the kid and he says I want to play for Richmond and I'll go there after 2years to draft him?.....

Especially now the AFL is looking at free agency.

Norm Smith was a Fanatic Collingwood Supporter as a Kid, But once the Team started To Roll at Melbourne in the Mid Thirties, he knocked back a big offer to go to Collingwood. He had Found His Home.

With any new Recruit we Have to make them want to stay

It's an insult to the oldest football club on this planet and to DB and the football department to suggest we're tanking.

The three players out this week are all injured. Sylvia let his team down with an undisciplined act that should not have occurred given his past history. A week at Casey is not going to hurt him. It's all about managing your list, instilling discipline and nuturing your players for future success. Nothing to do with tanking whatsoever.

Tanking is a Word Andy Maher & Mark Robinson are besotted by, I don't buy it. As you say Responsible List Management with an eye Toward 2010 & Beyond.

Our Footy Dept is doing a mighty job right now. Just wait till we get those new Training Facilities up & Rolling.

GO YOU DEMONS

I don't think they have Big problems, but as I suggested to the surrounding Essendon barrackers around me @ Jurrahs first game, they're not as far ahead of us as they may think. I said about 1.5 seasons ahead, = 33 games per head of our young guns???

When they lose those senior players, they will come back to us a little, natural atrition & relative experience.

Like Carlton, I've predicted their rise amongst my friends, & Hawthorn as well, except for their early effort last year. But Carltons elite list players have got them to where they are now, (around a No 5/7 team) but they've plateud with a lack of depth quality, see St-kilda a few years back.

This is why it's best IMO to not rise the ladder too soon untill you have the bulk of the list talent to take you to top 4 with 3 years maturing.

If we get those 2 early picks this year plus another say 6 to 8 pick next year, I'd feel confidant that we'd be well on our way, as Hawthorn did.

We are well placed with the GC-17 & WS-18 actually helping us by holding back other teams from quickly renovating their lists that could shoot us down.

Making the most this year with the picks is crutial to our progress.

Go DEES.

Spot on Post Mate. Agree with all that....only 5 games to go...Wet Coke to Beat Essedon this weekend PLEASE o lord above PLEASE!

One form of tanking is not picking the best team to win. If we were picking the ebst team to win, Sylvia would be picked before Jetta

Its a win for 2010 & i will take that Gladly.

You can't complain that we didn't win a premiership because of the finals system.

Yes, the finals system from 1994 to 1999 was a rubbish system. All finishing 4th in 1998 meant was that unless the very unlikely happened, which was both 1st and 2nd losing, we would be playing in week two regardless of whether we beat the Crows or not. The Crows in 5th place were essentially in the same position other than the fact that they had to play the 4th placed team, Melbourne, away.

Regardless of the result, it was very likely that both teams would be playing in week two of the finals. So long as 1st defeated 8th and 2nd defeated 7th, teams 3 4 5 and 6 would all play the next week.

The only way the Crows would have been eliminated after week one was if both 1st and 2nd lost. Of all the seasons that this system was in place, never did 1st and 2nd both lose and only twice did either of them lose, Carlton 2nd in 1994 and Geelong 2nd in 1997.

So it was a rubbish system with too many logical flaws that I was happy to leave behind for the current system.

You can't say the AFL screwed us because the system was the system, good or bad. It applied to every team.

If we had played under the current system, we would have played North first week in a Qualifying Final which I would estimate we would have lost.

Adelaide would have beaten Essendon in their Elimination Final in Adelaide, which would then mean we would play Adelaide in a Semi at the MCG, which I believe we would have won.

We would have then played the winner of the Bulldogs v Sydney Qualifying Final in a Preliminary Final. If it were the Swans it would have been at the SCG, which would have been a tough task. Otherwise the Bulldogs at the MCG. Would we have beaten either of those sides? Maybe, we were playing some good footy, but we couldn't say certainly.

Then we would have encountered most likely North in the Grand Final, which considering we didn't beat them in a Prelim Final, it would be hard to suggest we would have beaten them on Grand Final day.

In short, we didn't win the flag in '98 because we weren't good enough.

Of all the seasons where we can look back and think about the one that got away, 1998 isn't one I think to often about.

Who am i to argue with the great Albert Einstein!! Hehe.

It's all Hypothetical i know, but 98 still irks me & always will. We Smashed those Crows & were not rewarded QED.

I can't think of one player at the moment on our list that shouldn't do penance @ Casey if they've let the club down. We are trying to create a new discipline & culture amongst the group & that should take precedence over wins actually, whilst we are still at the rebuilding phase @ this point in our rebuild/ladder position.

Totally Agree. All Players Should read the Early Chapters of "The Red Fox" when Senior selection was coveted, as it literally meant food for said player & Family was put on the Table

. The "Susso" pay didn't go that far.

Nothing is wrong with trying new players but its a fine line between list manegenment and tanking. Carlton in 07 crossed that line. I supose we find out over the next few weeks if melbourne have the curry to cross that line. I hope they do!

How does a Team actually "Cross that Line"...We have 40 odd Players on our list who are paid by the club.

As long as they are named in the Team on Thursday night, & run out onto the ground as per the list 30 mins before The Bounce.

The Coach can throw them around as he pleases. That is his Match Day Job.

The Media has coined this Cheating. IT IS NOT CHEATING.

It is in fact finding out the long term capabilities of your list, & also working out what the Team may be Lacking before a draft.

What is wrong with that?? I call it LONG TERM SMARTS, & always will.

Players don't tank and never will but the football department can. Thats still tanking last time i checked

What is Wrong with finding out whether a few young kids can Hack the Battle, near the end of the season when all is done, & the club is already planning out the next Pre season & season Proper?

Why do many People Perceive This as cheating? I call it knowing all the pieces on your chess board. Being Smart.

Cheating is Rorting the Salary Cap or Performance Enhancing Drugs.

Please do not put our Footy Dept in those Categories.

I think he has turned the corner.

So YM is right...

But he gave a bloke a roundhouse just for being a Selwood. Ok, maybe that is just cause but...

You're right WYL he should go back and give RR some company and earn back a little respect.

Best way to get a winning Culture into a club is to create Hunger amongst the players. I want Sylvia to play-BUT i Want Colin to EARN it & Thus not give it up.

Maybe from next year he can string 100 games in a row

Now that would be awesome.....

Agree. Essendon has the same story in 1999, losing the Prelim to Carlton by 1 point when they felt that they were the better team. If we were premiership material in 1998, we should have beaten North Melbourne. We didn't, so we weren't.

Not Argueing the point about who was best all year. My point is that the AFL tinkered with the Mcintyre System that year. Adelaide who finished 5th after Round 22 were beaten by melbourne by 10 Goals-Thus should have been eliminated from the Finals after that Game, but weren't.

They won the Flag fair & Square no doubt, but we Demons got shafted by the System that year no doubt.

The '98 Granny was a ripper though as i Detest Wayne (How Did he avoid Jail in America???) Carey!!!

Loved that Bad Kicking!

It's a Grand Old FLAG.

It's a High Flying FLAG....

It's the Emblem for me & For You......

Our Great Song gives us the answer. We exist to win the Ultimate yearly Prize, by doing that great History & Frienships are formed inside & outside the club.

But the Aim is always to win that Flag.

sylvia hasnt earned the rite to play seniors or not at all, are you some kind of dimwit, hes strung togother a few good games,and we he does play well hes a gun,but hes far from elite, players like flower dont play reserves.

Good Point. If Colin Sylvia has a Stellar 2010 season, then i will concede he does not play in the seconds before return. Until then he must Earn his spot in the Senior Side.

He & the Team must learn to Respect his position.

In Norm Smith's Day the Seconds did not get Paid. So once in the senior Side players rarely got dropped. Before During & after WW2 money was scarce. League Footballers were reasnoably paid. But the 2's got no more than an orange.

During that period Melbourne won 3 flags in a row. 39-40-41

agree considering we smashed adelaide in the 1st final how did that work i cant remember the ladder positions

We got shafted that's what Happened. Crows should have been booted out after Week 1

But that year the league had some hopeless final system in place, that was quickly changed.

But of course we copped it!!!! BASTARDS.

Absolute disgrace if true, and unfair on Colin who has turned his career around.

A week at Casey won't do colin any harm. Infact it should make him more hungry to play well in the seniors.

He Got Caught wacking someone, has missed 4 weeks so he should get a VFL run first off.

Hopefully he won't wack anyone next year, as he will remember the consequences.

Again, I have no doubt where your heart [and mine actually] lie.We just have different views as to the best method for the club to progress. Incidentally one other thing said last night, is that next year MFC will have the youngest list in the AFL.Read what you like into that, but it was said several times.

One other thing--has MFC repeatedly won dead rubbers at seasons end? Your memory may be better than mine, but I don't think so. In fact, to the contrary, so bad has morale been much of the time, that once we're out of finals calculations, we've been hopeless--lost a whole string of games to end the season. I recall that happening several times since 1987, when we became a force again after 23 years of no finals. 2007 is often mentioned, but we hardly finished off the season in a blaze of glory. Last year we finished with a bunch of huge losses which must affect players' beliefs at the start of the next season.

Yes Agreed, we have finished many seasons off Badly, i was talking more Generally of just the odd win here & there that seems to satisfy many people.

I don't like losing either, but i will put one thing to you...that is...Would you prefer to see the best young talent in this years Draft get picked up by West Coast (Who have been in 2 Grand Finals & a Preliminary in the past 4 years) because we won a couple of dead rubbers. Or would you prefer to take a little more Pain & see them in A Demon Jumper next year?

That is my whole point. I was totally in your camp until i read up on next years Draft Concessions to the GC17.

We must Load up on Young Talent in order to give ourselves a fighting chance within the next 4-5 years.

I Love our Song Donny. I want to Sing it in a Full MCG in september...

yeah, where are you sitting on Sunday--I want to make sure you're singing at the end, and waving your scarf if you haven't throttled yourself with it by then!

Why would I throttle myself Donny? We have some great Talent coming on, & hopefully we can pick up some class young talent in the Draft to speed up our midfield.

I am very optimistic about the Future actually.

But i couldn't care less about beating a crap side like Richmond in round 18 when it doesn't mean anything.

With the new team(s) coming in next year i want a good shot at the Draft picks before they all dry up for 5-6 years so that we give ourselves the best chance to win our 13th. Cup.

For over 40 years now i have watched The Demons win late season Dead Rubbers, & you know what.....They are Quickly forgotten.

Premierships & Finals are remembered forever Donny.

So don't question where my heart lies. I want The MFC to be number 1 in the AFL ok.

West Coast wouldn't win if the Bombers forfeited. They will not win again this year. See todays Sun.

I agree. Should be a Royal Commission investigation into that Stinking organization. I Hate WET COKE a lot!

I still miss Clinton.

I worked with Clinton. good man. Knew his stuff wasted on AW. I miss him too.......

Garbage survey IMO.

The AFL should ignore it, and I'm sure they will.

You can Bet they won't Ignore it, but i doubt they will act. The AFL does what it pleases & the faithful fan, like a dog just keep turning up year after ear.

http://www.heraldsunonline.com.au/ffsresul...ty_survey1.html

Points of interest.

- 4.3% of fans taking survey were Melbourne supporters. Most was Collingwood at 16.2%.

- Melbourne the least hated club at 0.6%. Collingwood the most hated club at 35.8%.

- Vic club most likely to move interstate, North Melbourne 74.5%, Melbourne second at 14.3%.

- Do teams tank to get draft picks? 73% said yes.

- Would you be happy for your club to tank for picks? 56% said no.

- Will your club play in the Grand Final within the next five years? 85% said yes.

- Will they be coaching their club next season? 57% said Bailey would be.

- Most glamourous WAG. Pia Miller, 14% second behind Twigley, 34%.

- Most preferred time to watch the football. Sunday afternoon fourth preferred 8%, behind most preferred Saturday afternnon 49%.

- Should clubs receive priority picks after a poor season? 62% said yes.

- Where should the proposed 18th AFL team come from? 92% said Tasmania.

- Are the concessions to the Gold Coast excessive? 68% said yes.

Will The AFL take the answers to this Survey into Consideration??

And the Answer is............NO. Of course the GC concessions are way to high, But the AFL want to Build a winner, quickly. Sod the Grass Root supporter.

Cold Days ahead.

So here's the last 11 seasons, number of players used by the premiership team, the wooden spooner and the Dees. Not sure what is tells us, but it is what it is.

2008 Hawthorn 31, Melbourne 39

2007 Geelong 31, Richmond 37, Melbourne 39

2006 - West Coast 34, Carlton 37, Melbourne 35

2005 - Sydney 32, Carlton 36, Melbourne 34

2004 - Port Adelaide 32, Richmond 39, Melbourne 34

2003 - Brisbane 32, Western Bulldogs 32, Melbourne 33

2002 - Brisbane 30, Carlton 39, Melbourne 32

2001 - Brisbane 35, Fremantle 37, Melbourne 34

2000 - Essendon 30, StKilda 38, Melbourne 35

1999 - North Melbourne 34, Collingwood 39, Melbourne 38

1998 - Adelaide 38, Bridbane 41, Melbourne 36

2000 says it all. Bombers had 5 less players to worry about. That's such a difference.

30 players & they lost only one game Phuk. Trully amazing. We had a good side that year. But 2001 didn't make the 8. What was going on????

Good decision. I'm also thinking this game should not be our greatest losing challenge to year end, given Rawlings desire. Still not sure if we can meet every disturbing West Coast Eagles challenge. They're proven experts at this caper over the last 2 years.

To play at St.Kilda"s level in 2-3 years we have got to make hard & Tough Decisions.

I hope The Club is united on this Front. Bailey must stay Like a Rock & Back his Judgements All the Way.

2 Years Ago Saint supporters wanted Lyons Blood. But for once that club stood Firm.

We must take the same attitude. Stuff Wet Coke. that win against Hawthorn will Hopefully Bite them Hard.