Sir Why You Little

We want players to develop toughness in their game (mind and body) not thuggery

2 of those you mentioned were ordinary footballers who resorted to thuggery

Yes i know, interested though as to which 2 Footballers you were reffering to as the thugs. I thought on their day they were all pretty good players when they concentrated on the Ball

while i agree that Cook will not be going anywhere some of us think that he is the best man for the job

pretty sure its aslo the same brian cook who played 4 games for the demons

one thing that is certain is that we MUST get the CEO selection right this time

Is that so? How interesting. That surely means we need to quietly remind him that he needs to come home on a reguliar basis. Every man has his price

How about we get 22 skillful and competent players who are tough at the ball and win the contested pill. That is what a tough nut is all about.

I do know why we are lauded MFC tough nuts. We dont have them. After Friday, we are as tough as poached egg. I cant think of one side that fears playing MFC beyond boosting their percentage significantly.

Totally agree. After the cats kicked the first goal last week we were as Soft as Hot Butter. All the more sad when many Senior players were involved. Has Anyone ever seen Jeff White Get Mad and thus Fired Up. No he was the Gentle Giant.

Maybe Rod Grinter, Laurie Fowler & Ray Biffin need to have a chat to the boys one night!

I question alot of things about Melbournes current playing list, but one of them isnt toughness.

I think we have a range of tough players. McDonald, Moloney, Whelan and Miller just examples. Not the toughest going around but I still think good enough to shake us of the 'weak' tag.

TJ, as good as he was, was soft & weak. He's gone.

Macca is a tough nut yes, Miller was a few years back (Fortunately that toughness is returning, Moloney can be but gets injured too often (Maybe his toughness gets him injured) but he must be more reguliar. Same with wheels, always liked him but he never strings loads of games. All the great sides had at least one tough nut per line-we must aim for that

PJ is playing!

Carroll i think will get shopped at the end of the year for a pack of chips! One of the only ones i can remember coming into the team for one week only to get ommited for the next.

I think Yze really deserves a spot, the guy has worked so hard at sandy and has been in great form.

Hopefully Newton can come in and show that defensive pressure he showed for sandy when he layed 9 tackles.

Maybe Adem should have thought about that a little bit more over the last couple of years & worked a lot Harder for the Melbourne side while he was given an armchair ride.

Play another kid & give adem a lap of honour.

The article confirms for me the simple fact he's not equiped with a body suited for sustained elite football. The next step ought to be obvious.

Sadly it was the First thing i thought when i read the Article. Col is forever going to be in & out of the side i fear. Hope I am Wrong. Midfielder with a weak Core doesn't sound good to me-Fragile more like it...

We got the better of them in 1990, although we didnt go on with it, going down to West Coast at Waverley in the finals. I've heard some of the players including Lyon, saying that was the year that got away. Bloody Filth won that year in October.

Yes Collingwood owe us Big time for that Flag, They were [censored] scared of Hawthorn that year. Got Belted. That Elimination Final against Hawthorn should have been the Blue Print for Our Club Going Forward. But We have just never been Tough enough Consistently. Thus the "soft" tag that has been thrown sporadically is fair game.

This Issue is Number 1 Priority on & off the Field i believe. This is our last chance.

WYL, I can see attributes in players like Nathan Jones, Brock McLean, Brad Miller, Matty Whelan to some degree, Lynden Dunn that with maturity have that hard edge ruthless mean streak in them that will lead the way...that Supreme Demon speaks of.

I Hope you are right. I don't understand why this problem wasn't addressed after the '87-'88 Hawthorn Finals Campaigns. They taught us a lesson particulairly '88, and we never fully heeded it.

A change of culture at the club is what has been needed for a long time.

In many ways the cause of all this happened in 1963(?) when Norm Smith called a particular umpire a "cheat" and was in return sued by the umpire. Instead of the MFC board giving Norm Smith their full support during this time he was told "you were on your own". Then at the end of 1964 instead of the MFC moving heaven and earth to keep Ron Barassi a Demon they let him go to Carlton for the "big bucks". So basically our champion player (somebody who embodied our heart and soul) was allowed to go and play for another club. To make matters worse the MFC sacked Norm Smith mid-season in 1965 and then reinstated him again about a week later. This already soured tense relations after the issue back in 1963 which I mentioned.

From those particular points onwards thing were on the slide for this club...

So basically the culture of the MFC was being rotted out as early as 1963. When the toffs and other big-wigs who were involved with the MFC become arrogant and selfish.

After the treatment of Norm Smith it flowed onto the playing group. Of course there were many other factors which lead to the decline of the MFC including the change of recruitment zones etc. But our culture of "winning at all costs" left in 1965 in my opinion. It has showed glimpses of coming back in the 80s and 90s and 2000s. The only problem is we don't have a "hard edge" on our players. We don't punish them enough if they lose and intill into them a sense of pride and passion when wearing the Demons jumper. The dark blue and red yoke jumper should mean EVERYTHING to a player who wears it.

When it comes to club culture you need tough and uncompromising people to instill a sense of toughness. This applies from the President right down to the boot studder. I think now with Jim Stynes we are SLOWLY starting to see this.

But we need to get rid of a lot of the older playing group (via trading or delisting) and start fresh. From now on we should only draft players who are not only very skillful but also have a "mean streak" and a sense of detemination about them. (When I talk about a mean streak I should mention players like Leigh Matthews, Paul Chapman, Wayne Carey, Dean Wallis, Josh Carr, and of course Ron Barassi.) If the players we draft are young and don't have a "mean streak" or a sense of ruthlessness or determination in them it is the job of the coaching staff AND the rest of the people involved in the MFC to instill this into our players.

It should be always remembered that WINNING is the ONLY option. While coming close (but losing) and putting in a good, hard, tough, effort is admirable it is still NOT good enough!

Once we have a sense of ruthlessness, toughness and determination instilled into our club, only then will we start to create a winning culture once again here at the Melbourne Football Club.

I agree with every word you say. This should be Faxed straight to Jim Stynes Office. I want the MFC to play like Rabid Demons again. Such a shame The Ox did the knee Pre-season 0f '95. Cost the Team and Balmey a Flag i believe..

The whole NRL is "sponsored" by its banker of last resort News Corp. The Storm have not paid their financial way at all. Smart recruiting is the smarts of the Football department not the CEO.

From what i can work out Waldron has quite a bit to do with Players and there Business Dealings. The Coach is there Long Term so & he is the best in the land so they must be doing something right.

I don't know the answer, i have heard him speak regulairly for the past 2 years. I Think he would run a tight Ship-worth considering.

That's a prime example of misreading the flag contention window and taking a long-term hit for a (dubious) short-term reward.

I'm not sure I'd be using Pickett as an example of a good decision.

We were never going to win a Flag in 2006 But it sure Toughened us up. Big Carl never got us a flag but the Players loved him being there, i spoke to Robbie Flower about that once..

I don't have a problem ex Premiership players in a very young side..

People seem to forget that Brown is either injured, or playing injured over 50% of games.

Who ever gets him MUST go for a performance based contract, and I doubt he'd go for it.

IMO, I reckon he'd be lucky to have 2 more years in him

Sure he has been Bashed around so it would have to be Performance Based. But his Knowledge & stature would be Great.Our young Kids would be stoked to see Brown in there for 2 years.

It's like Byron's 1st Year in 2006. Gave us some Grunt which we so do not have right now

We know where he's at - it's not a good place. You don't need to play someone at AFL level to see where he's at - you can do that at the lower level (where he's struggling).

He's being outperformed by Spencer, our rookie. Why does Meesen deserve a gig when Spencer's rucking better than him?

Performing at Sandy is enough of a challenge for Meesen atm. Once he's conquered that challenge, lets give him the AFL challenge.

Who was responsible for going so hard for him if he ids not up to it? I haven't had the chance to see him play so i take your word for it on his form.

But at this stage he has had 2 years at least at an AFL club(s) so his basic ability should be showing something by now.

I know big Guys take longer to Hit their prime but i don't like the sound of this one. Wish Simmonds had stuck around, would have been interesting. We lost a lot of Jeff when the Rules Changed in the Middle

If we had a Target Called Jonathon Brown at FF I strongly Believe our Midfield would certainly improve. Respect to a point. Kicking to a 3 time Premiership player has gotta give you confidence. J Brown would have to improve our "window" even if it's just what he teaches. Why all the negativity? If he is in the PSD you take Threepeat Teams don't happen everyday. Sadlky not even Nieta or Robbie Flower can Communicate that stuff...

We Have to get our CEO Position Sorted Quickly & Correctly. The Brain Drain Begins NOW.

Indeed - the reason I suggested that Spencer would be a better bet than Meesen if we were desperate to debut a ruckman...

Jamar and PJ are first-choice, with White to play if we've decided PJ's already done.

The MFC went Hard for Meeson Last year. Play Him on Saturday against Cox on the G. See where he's at. Give him a challenge. We are already on a hiding to nothing. Draft day is our next big on field assignment.

If Meeson plays well, his next Pre-season will be done with so much more confidence.

'Mo' is right 'why you little', I saw that Footy Show with David Gallop, and the Storm is a concern for the NRL.

All Clubs in the NRL are a concern right Now, that's my point. The Leagues Clubs aern't pulling the same money they were. (Pokies no smoking Laws etc.) The clubs are not membership driven like ours.

Sure melbourne Storm are Backed by News Ltd. The Money still has to be well Spent. The Storm are Sponsored by News Ltd. Good. That's why they are Hated. The Storm also Recriut well don't Forget, and that is not always money. That is Smarts

Good Read, but his "weak body" worries me, if he can't lift weights. If he is at the MFC next year he must play Top line Footy, otherwise he will be a liability.

He must also get the Lazy side of his Game sorted. He has been at AFL Level for 5 years..

In my opinion the most important person to recruit to the MFC is a new CEO

lets get the best not just the best available

the on field stuff will take care of itself

Absolutely-That Decision is Paramount. We must get the Best. Let's not forget what Happened last tuesday night Either. All Those Business people who dug Deep will want the Best CEO. They certainly will not want to waste Hard earned...Last Tuesday was very Important For the MFC.

Don't forget when assessing Waldron's "form", you have to take into account that the Storm are backed by News Ltd. They are still not standing on their own two feet. 10 years they have been in the competition. They have played in their last two grand finals, they are a one team town and have just on 10,000 members. And that number has not increased significantly in that last two years.

Whilst the Storm players might be happy, do you think the NRL are happy with the clubs and Waldron's progress?

He may sound alright on SEN on Friday's with KB, and he may seem he doesn't pull any punches, but being CEO of the Melbournefc is a whole new ball game when you don't have the financial backing like the Storm does with News Ltd.

I am well aware of all that. The Storm are doing a hell of a lot better than the other NRL clubs in Sydney & Brisbane i assure you. Having News Ltd. Breathing down your neck would not be easy. Waldron would have to be right on the ball. We need someone like him To Push Melbourne out into the world more. We have been to Cocooned for too long IMO

No I am not actually. Iam just responding to others, who think this is actually a possibility.

If he doesn't come to suitable terms with Brisbane, he will leave. Brown Knows his worth & also would be well aware that this could be his last Contract. This story aint over

SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHh

The AFL might be reading, and knowing our luck, this year would be the year they launch a new initiative!

Take our number 1 draft pick + Priority and leave quietly.

Hush now

Hehe They won't change it this year. We will score well this year hopefully (Fingers & Toes crossed) It's just that i grew up watching Footy when the wooden spoon was just so not done. Bottom teams had epic Battles at this time of year. I want that Back again. But Fuhrer Demetrio just doesn't care. He is Just like KB (never Wrong)

I agree we are entering Tough economic times and business will be tight with$$$. But i Believe as Stynesy is such a good "People" person, His network of people is big make no mistake on that. What he has done with REACH is Brilliant. If he can bring the same Principles to the MFC then I still think Sponsors will come on board. It's all about being innovative. Jim's good at that.

GYPR aren't going that flash. Actually most advertising agencies aren't going that flash. I see a lot of tightening belts from clients rather then splashing.

Correct. Australia makes very few adverts now compared to what it did in the 70's & 80's on TV. Radio is a little better, But the Boom Days are long gone.

He would teach our Forward line & club in General so much. At Present we have no "Walk up" Leaders. If he is available in the PSD at a workable price-Grab Him. Don't worry about egg on face, this is a ruthless business. Time for Melbourne to get Tough. I wouldn't swap Draft Picks for him But PDSD is a totally different matter.

I too thought Brisbane would have stitched him up by now-Interesting times are ahead