layzie

Sample size isn't the biggest out there, we're all from different eras and have different memories and views but here goes.. 1. Goodwin - Need I say more? 2. Daniher - We mostly hear how good a coach he was since his illness but Neale was the bridge coach for taking us into the professional era. Top 4 first season, Grand Final in his 3rd. Made finals 6 times out of 10 years, fewer coaches than you think were doing that at the time. We had sub-par facilities yet we were competitive for the most part. Several players who didn't realise it at the time have come out since and realised how much of an impact he had not only on their football but their life. 3. Northey - Very early in my footy memory but it was so obvious Swooper was a big deal. Great communicator and really embedded the 'us against them' mentality. We were a laughing stock when he came and that attitude was just what we needed. 4. Roos - Inherited one of the biggest basket cases known to man. It looked like he might have needed to full 5 years to fix that mess but there's no doubt he built the foundation. 5. Balme. Like Flaubert I was younger at the time and thought he was nothing on Daniher but looking back I think he made his mark. That 94 team is still one of my favourites and we played some very attractive footy. Injuries cut us down, the merger was a huge distraction and I won't forget the disgusting treatment of him in Rd 4 97 by the president of that time. The players loved him, maybe to a fault, but he was a true clubman who backed his guys. Initially I would have slipped Bailey in place of Balme, he had a plan and didn't waver from it even when the wind was squarely in his face. He stuck with youth policy and forward planning but unfortunately went too far with that. A horrible, horrible way for it to end. I still wonder if we could have snuck in for finals had 186 just been a routine 5 goal defeat down there.

I think it would mean he is keeping that option open at this stage but isn't totally sure. He's loving current life at MFC and is thinking short to medium term which is perfectly fine for a guy who we need to remember is still only 20 y.o. Whether we like it or not there is the business and agent side of this too. Why would you agree to lock your client in long term right now when his stock is only going to go up? Not to mention the new CBA and TV rights deal coming up. I would be absolutely stoked if he signed for 2 - 3 years. He might decide to go back eventually but he also might decide Melb is the place for him.

Could bye week come early this year maybe? Beats postponing all over the place.

Oops, thought this was actual news..

Definitely a good theory but yeah, my clubs seemed to coincide with their fortunes haha

The Champions League doesn’t disappoint does it! Villareal were so brave yesterday battling back from 2-0 down before Liverpool got it together and pulled away. I do wonder how Villareal would have gone had they had a decent keeper though.. And then this morning! My goodness, I was about to shut it off and get on with things at the 87th minute but bam Rodrygo brace to get Real to extra time. Then 5 minutes after the restart Dias lunged in on Benzema and Los Blancos hit the lead with the penalty. They are proving to be the comeback kings and I’m very weary of facing them in the final. Hopefully it’s a beauty.

I'd rather leave anything to do with the 80s up to 87 back where it belongs. Even this alternative royal blue jumper gives me night terrors occasionally.

Around this time I started supporting Liverpool and from that exact moment onwards very much went in the opposite direction haha. Still won about 6 major trophies in the next 25 years and the last 5 years have been very happy so no complaints at all!

Just don't get too hooked otherwise your head will be in the phone more than the game. Very easy to do! Although probably easier in the dark days haha.

A much deserved reward for a great coach and bloke.

Unfortunately Rutten is going to get some blowtorch treatment coming his way and mostly not deserved. After round 2 in 2021 when they were smashed by Port he copped it for coaching from the boundary then 6 months later some other guy goes and wins a flag doing just that. By the way, that guy was also getting minced by the media in pre season. It sucks but that's just the nature of the industry. I would certainly hope these guys are getting all the help and support they possibly can.

Apart from Oscar Allen which under 23 players at WC jump off the page as great potential for the future? None! I don't even know if they have a 50 gamer under the age of 23 excluding Allen which is a massive, massive concern. They're in big trouble and I can't see why in the blue hell anyone would want to go there right now.

Respect your view, I think when it comes to the two moments I see it just a bit differently in that I really appreciate Tom's laser like focus and not letting anything around him faze that. On both occasions he's made a decision and carried through with it 100%. I think it's an exceptional quality to have, whether he was right or wrong on Sat.

Whether you agreed with his decision to mark on the line or not the one thing I loved was his decisiveness in the moment. He knew what he was going to do in the moment and didn't waver. You'll often see guys in two minds in that situation and they end up bobbling it but Tommy has laser focus and stays in the moment. On the fence with whether he stays in or not, I think being able to shift the Saints backline around a bit with his endurance would be handy but will leave this to the experts.

Yeah the GWS game for me too. We were off, still could have pinched it but wasted chances. Hunty got pinged three times for ball in the last. I think after this game was where we decided on the perfect mix for our forward line as that day we were pretty light on in targets and just bombing to Fritsch and T-mac all the time. We got Benny in and I thought his presence alone gave backlines something to think about.

Last week he finally graduated from the famous 4-6 academy to 3 - 4 weeks.

Couldn't agree more, so proud to be part of a club that is setting the tone.

She's a fine Dee!

I'm sick of talking about the sub and all the crappy situations it causes like the Shiel on. It's annoying.

I could see us kicking the tyres the same way we did with Cerra but I'm not sure if it's worth a full shout.

And let's be honest, he's had 3 seasons and gets banged up a lot of the time. I know he's been amazing in big games but he's really still in the 'potential' category. I actually read Dez Bryant was calling for him to retract the trade request because he's probably not going to find a better offense fit than Kyle's scheme. Don't know, could be a week 4 trade for cut price the way it's going.

From 8 to 20 6 WRs were taken! Very receiver hungry teams there. We won't mention anything about how badly that stuffed up trying to get a trade for Samuel..

Great to see Aussie Daniel Faalele taken by the Ravens in the 4th round. Out of the University of Minnesota he's 206cm and 174kg! The heaviest in the league! Rugby background and also basketball I believe. He was first brought over to the states when the University of Michigan ran a 'satellite camp' here in Melb. Good to see these pathways are opening up for the Aussies!

Yep, we're on level peggings. As for the members paying for an empty seat. This is a slight peeve for me, I certainly don't pay $650 for the trident membership to attend 4 games a year. I was saying this to another DLer: If you live within 10 - 15 kms of the G, are a member and are free on Gameday then I believe you go to the game. These are the rules I put on myself at least.

No for sure we can't and I'm totally with you but at the same time I've also been used to years of home games where teams like Hawthorn and Collingwood would regularly outnumber us fan wise. It has been surprising to see the post COVID habits of the other clubs. Regarding our lack of attendance the answers can only come from the people who haven't been attending as I've been to all but the Easter game and I'm assuming you've been a regular attendee as well.