wisedog

I don't think any team sets out to lose a game. Well not beyond shrewd list management. Whether we attain those picks legitimately or not, I hate hoping for anything less than a victory each week, and for that reason I wish the system as it is wasn't in place. If you read the post again, I don't say remove priority picks altogether, I said first round priority picks. In my opinion they create too great an incentive to lose.

When you have people hoping their side wins less than 4 games at Round 3 of the season, something is definitely wrong with the system. I really wish the AFL didn't create this dilemma for supporters. They should remove first round priority picks altogether.

Better listen to longsuffering then... I guess we've been lucky.

Big jump from $4.50 to $29.00 isn't it? To be honest, I think you'd be pretty safe getting her in with a kids ticket for the next couple of years... My old man still buys one for my sister when she goes to the footy, and shes 18.

Nice write up. Like the new 'Fan's Eye View' section too. Had to laugh at Yze's comment...

We were definitely up there from 2004 to 2006 and there was definitely a case for topping up the list with experienced players to pry open that premiership window for another year. Clubs have to decide whether they have a real chance, or if they should sacrifice 3-4 years to rebuild. It's not an easy decision, and one that Melbourne with our poor finances and low supporter base can't take lightly. Maybe he should have realized after the 2003 season that the list just wasn't up to it, but I think it was worth a shot.

Hope you all got on Mitch Robinson. 94k and just scored 109 SC points. Luckily, I had him as an emergency for Sylvia...

Didn't see much of him during the pre-season but the Herald Sun says his form was disappointing. They had a pretty decent form guide today.

This came from a book called 'The Australians', published sometime in the 60's. I had to scan it over 2 pages and edit out the fold, so the quality isn't great, but I think it really captures the essence of our former glory. "I had forgotten, until I went back to a Grand Final on the Melbourne Cricket Ground, what it was really like - That unbelievable roar of over 100,000 screaming zealots baying for blood and bruises, the toss and tumult of partisan colours, the streamers, the hats, the emblems, banners, frenzy, hysteria. No other sporting event in Australia draws a crowd as big of committed as this. Big, brawny and bruising, it is a game played on an immense elliptical field and even giants are sprinters..."

maybe he just got a hair cut...

haha fair call, but there's not a lot of value around the 200k mark. I have Gumbleton as well, but if Thompson from Port gets elevated off the rookie list, he could be a steal at 96k.

There's only a 16k difference between Grimes and Petterd in SC. I'll make that trade. But it's a shame. I was really looking forward to seeing him out there. Hopefully it's just a few weeks.

I remember before the start of 2008, our back line looked in a similar state of disarray. Carrol was holding down the key post, Rivers was injured, and we were having to play Miller back to plug a hole... I thought if only one of Garland, Frawley or Warnock could take that next step... But I half expected to see a couple on the scrap heap. The transformation has been far above what we could have hoped for, and the shining light of a horror season. It's fast shaping up to be one of the most formidable back lines in the AFL. So at the start of another season, I'm thinking if only one of Bate, Newton, Dunn, Sylvia, Miller or even Jurrah can take that next step as well. I wonder, with an injury free Rivers on the park, does that give us the flexibility to try one of back line talls in the forward line? Because I just can't see how Martin, Frawley, Warnock, Garland and Rivers can fit into the same side in their current roles. (If we're lucky enough to have that dilemma).

I really don't know all that much about the issue, but both stadium deals seem very unfair. I just don't see how we can attract 20,000 people to the MCG, and still lose money (I can't remember what the break-even figure is). What annoys me is that a team like Melbourne Victory would have a smaller average crowd than North Melbourne, but they're allowed to thrive. Opposition supporters scoff at us when our crowds sink to 20 k, but in comparison to codes around Australia and around the world, that's still many, many people.

2003 looks like a very weak draft year. Most clubs would have their share of disappointment with their first round picks. 1 Adam Cooney 2 Andrew Walker 3 Colin Sylvia 4 Farren Ray 5 Brock McLean 6 Kepler Bradley 7 Kane Tenace 8 Raphael Clarke 9 David Trotter 10 Ryley Dunn Looking over the top 10, we probably did as well as we could have. At least it's not a Tambling/Franklin scenario... From that list, 2 have been delisted, and 4 others are hanging on by the skin of their teeth. All I can say is that Mclean was an inspired choice at 5. I don't remember a lot of talk about him, but at the time I was disappointed we didn't pick Tenace. Sylvia is a frustrating player, but even after 4 years, I still think he's one of the most exciting prospects on our list. 2009 will be a telling year.

Of course, it would never come close to the status of the premiership, but I think it deserves more recognition than it gets. I think there used to be a trophy for the combined winner of the Seniors, Reserves and under 19's leagues.

I don't know why minor premiers aren't being rewarded now. There should really be some kind of trophy on offer. At the moment, there's only one piece of silverware worth winning.

I like the idea, but I really don't think the International Rules series is held in high enough regard to sacrifice the pre-season tournament. No one gets all that excited about the NAB Cup, except to see the new recruits in action. But clubs use it to experiment with different game plans, blood young players and get used to playing as a team before the season proper. I'm not sure it would be wise to interfere with this preparation. An idea I had was that the pre-season tournament could be for the players aged 23 and under from each club. At least they’d be competing for something worth-while; to see which club has the best young list. But again, I don’t think it could work for the same reasons above. EDIT: Sorry mate. I misread the proposed layout of the competition. I thought you meant replace the pre-season with an international rules tournament.

It'll be fine mate. I don't know who's who anyway.

There was such an outcry last year, I think it can only really be the red and blue jumper. If we were having a better season, it may not have been as severe a response. I was adamant on keeping the team colours, but I really like the white design. I'd be happy to see a combination of both. Hopefully that's being considered as an option.

I've always found Hobart to be quite a vibrant place, and big enough to have the vibe of a bigger town. I don't think it would be all that different to a player getting drafted to Adelaide or Geelong, and it's only an hour flight from Melbourne. Many of these kids have grown up in a country towns, and I think Hobart would be a big enough jump for many of them. They still get to live the dream. An issue I'm not clear on is where the team would be based. Launceston is closer, but Hobart has the greater population. Either way a sizable part of the state would be disappointed.

Because it plays out like an AFL season. Each week you play off against someone in the league and move up or down on the ladder. Another league will probably open up. From memory we had three last year.

I've heard worse... and that would be the West Coast Eagles theme song. At least the tune is a bit more traditional than the recent interstate offerings. Lose the drum beat, and as Stylus said, bring in some proper brass instruments.

I've been lurking a bit on Demonology recently and the moderating seems fairly relaxed compared to demonland. Maybe you'd feel more at home over there.

http://bigpondvideo.com/AFL/62956 Some browsers struggle with the Bigpond site, but that's the last 5 minutes of the game.