beelzebub

Its the business end of things.. Time to cease the waffle and play serious ball ( npi ) . CCI think is stacking our deck. If we get him its a win of sorts..If we coerce others into their plan B desision aloowing us a better than expected selection (s) at those given picks then that is also a major win. Were watching big boys playing poker for keeps. Conolly dint say categorically we WOULD take him only that he would be considered and aken regardless if that was our choice. Splitting hairs possibly but the meaning is there between the words ;

only if either of Meesen or Newton go

lol.....we've come a long way if we are !!

Seems you know all about it... what was that word...oh yes glib <_< Somewhere in amongst this was a discussion about players...til hijacked by the irrelevancies youre so fond of noting. Shall we continue with the attending the ball ? Hmm or you want to further your emmitance of platitudes ? back to regular programming: Rumour has it Thorpe may indeed carry an injury. This reduces his lustre. In this light MFc may wel ljust be keeping its options open regarding him. why commit if you dont need to. In fairness to Mac i dont think he was totally fit for some games last season but seemed quite Ok this year. I think he adds a dimension to the backline. Weve yet to see who will actually nominate for the PSD...there may well yet be a surprise or two.

We are going to struggle to entertain fitting any of our existing Aussie fans into any of these sattelite venues let alone any guests. Most TV going out , unlike the Olympics will be purely Socer games into suitable timeslots for their receptive countries...they arent going to give a toss about AFL In all likelyhood most inbound visitors will be here simply to attend the various games and maybe some local scenery etc . They are soocer mad...you seriously think theres anything to gain from a few watching a game at a dinky little venue. You going to allocate them to cars and teach them goal honking technique too Do I think the 'qwuirky game" would rate a moments notice to an international audience dedicated to the World Cup....not one bit !!....and would I want it showcased in that manner anyway ? No a few weeks =12 Still I'll wait...breath-holding not withstanding ...for any compromises To be honest I just dont see the need for it here. if youre a soccer fan you might...Im not

The difference with the US situation and baseball was there was still many town/cities avaialble in which either game could be held without too much disruption. We cant really do that here. The Age 20/11/09 ""Under FIFA regulations no major competitions can take place in any city hosting World Cup matches for the duration of the tournament. Grounds being used for matches have to be clean of all existing advertising and not used for the four weeks leading up to the competition matches. Although the AFL is pushing for a number of compromises, key soccer sources told The Age that FIFA would not relax any guidelines."" Arguably thats not in stone yet. Am happy to compromise as indeed would I Imagine the AFL and NRL and yet at the same time as David Smorgon puts it "Why would you give a free handpass to your biggest competitor?" How is this International exposure generated exactly...by whom and at whom? Casey? Im sure FIFA would regard that as being in the same city.. Youre looking to hold games (AFL ) at SHell... Aurora ..Bendigo. So where and how did FIFA compromise ?? I dont think its quite a compromise at all

HT...the problem I see is that after gaining two top mids...we will probably need another type at 11...even if Bastinac was there and tempting.

Actually I am a VERY BIG picture sort of guy...and its this vision that daunts me. Hoopla is on the ball ( oval one of course ) So biggest is best ??...Do I ..or should anyone really care what "they " all want. How grand to simply dismiss all the effects to our game and others positions as simply ... unwarranted. For a flash in the pan occurrence you and many will want a total abdication of our governance.. Some others step in and tell us what we can and cant do? There will be very little benefit for our code in all this and quite frankly I dont care a lot about the others. It matters not that theres a huge TV audience as FIFA takes most of that. These arent your typical potential tourists by the way. Most of the audience will never visit our shores as a result. Harking back to your big picture...I can se Rugby and Soccer benefiting immensely form new facilites.. why should I want that as an AFL supporter ?

Im happy to compromise..The AFL is happy to compromise. is FIFA ?? ..aparently not...whose the petulant 5 yo ...huh ??

I find it hard to believe that after 151 years, people don't think soccer is strong enough to sustain one shared season brought about by the world's biggest event. The myopia is mind boggling.

im happy to say Im selfish.... Im just not GREEEEEEDY !!!!!!!!!!!! FIFA is. how is the MCG unavailable..well my friend.. do some reading.. There is exclusion form all grounds for a month....so the poor littel grass leaves arent hurt!! time to prepare all stadia...remove all advertising ( thats not FIFA ) Im not the one unwilling to work in..... FIFA is. Bet your bottom dollar any stadia upgrades wont be articualry to Footy's benefit either....will be those funny rectangular places...gee that helps us How precious is FIFA ??

oh diddums.... This is akin to Ford building Holden a plant and going away from the market for 3months ! Selfish... looking after self... you bet. Want to watch the World Cup....fire up your telly or take a trip.. This is an AFL country.. i see no reason to allow others to dictate to us ..about our past-times. id have no qualms but for the exclusion. So youd place soccer above footy ?? Youd be happy if that particular years season all but disintegrated ?

youre not getting it are you....it CANT run a season in conjunction with the Cup.. It would have to run it at a time other than the effective 12 week exclusion.. There are insufficient venues to hold this game in its current form except where it currently is. Thats why it is that way. Consider the impact to clubs....its membership..its revenues..its sponsors. Cant just say well play footy at other times as that then impacts cricket etc..This is full of knock on effects. Whilst the AFL officialy says its in favour..I hope it does everything in its power to scuttle it. The NRL has declared war..I would have thought the AFL to do so too. strange really. In the end the Gov is going to have to spend Billions.. Billions to compensate everyone...and for what...some minority sporting group !! Every other sporting event has managed to survive whilst Melbourne plays footy.. or works with it.. FIFA is irrelevent in this country.

World Cup loses it cheer "THE AFL has painted the dramatic scenario of a season laid to waste by a soccer World Cup in Australia, with the MCG unavailable for up to 12 weeks. " 3 months with no footy in Melbourne ? No thankyou. I dont care to hear all the bleatings from the devotees of the "world game" i really dont. I couldnt care less if soccer fell over in this country. Yes theres room for many codes to co-exist..but I dont see the AFL preventing any other game from happening . It plays its game on its merits and allows others too.. alls fair in loive and war but to eliminate Football ( real Football ) from Melbourne at its rightful time is beyond bearing. Vote NO to Soccer World Cup in OZ This is Melbourne... we have traditions. Even two world wars couldnt bring this game to a halt and yet some trumped up clowns want to take our "right' away. I dont think so. Traditionally the world cup is played and hosted by nations whose premier football code is soccer so its hardly an intrusion. This is Australia and its Premier code Is Australian Rules Football. If the world Cup doesnt think it can stack up against it in fair competition...then that says it all. I'll be letting my local member know what I think of this ...I invite you to do likewise

the boy is gone....here cometh the man

I suppose the notion here is that..and possibly my fault in alluding they were chalk and chalk.. I agree two differing style of player. Thats probably what the club is looking for..either on one hand variety..or alternatively a change up( or simply change ) in style of play from the back line. With Grimes we revisited the effects of poise , decision and skillful delivery off the half back line. maybe the club is looking to bolster this. JMac would reinforce this style ...more so that Rivers. ( my opinion...granted ) Hes not here yet..* JM ) and so we havent seen he and Riv play together..and so on. might be illuminating Id be one ; we'll never know...unfortunately Bell wont play again in R and B ( H and A ) unless half the team falls over. Cheney will get more chances Junior will I still believe play more of a cameo role this next ( and last ) season well the MFC is all but shtumm on everyone ( as it ought to be ) seems a lot of smoke generated about his coming though...we'll know eventually...

didnt take it as a shot.. but can see I needed to clarify..

Temel has garnered a bit of favour amongst some clubs followings. His attitude and potential could indeed fill a gap ona development type list for teams needing forward stock. I reiterate ..actual taking order may reflect the differing clubs' positions rather than any linear type ajudication. There arent a great many decent forwards or rucks etc in the first 40 ( or so ) Some players might find their value revalued upwards if they fill a need as compared to the greater amount of mids. the third round starts at strangely enough 34... hes not our cup of tea..but might be someone elses

Agree wholeheartedly. why wouldnt you. Back to the ...backs.. Seemed more stressed and stretched without Colin. without doub the stongest part of the ground for us this year, but not without concerns. See your point re best pick amongst picks for PSd

down up..this way that way.... taken with a later pick... further up the queue etc. yes my thinking is that some recycleds will come into play sometime into the second round and this will delay the taking of some kids. Some might just apear when we didnt think they still be around ( at 34 and 50 )

Meanwhile back to Joel .. I find it interesting that the club ( as we a re given to understand ) is to use its PSD pick on a back. werent we pretty sound in this dept ?? I do agree that all things can always be better. But do we read into thsi that the FD concedes there are problems with fitness/form etc of the existing defenders. Possibly Macdonald represents not only added 'oomph' but badlyneeded insurance. We saw how we faltered when Garland took crook. Curious again were looking ( assuming ) at a back and not a forward as a definite pick up

As it happens i wasnt convinced at all about garland.. he was all over the place and couldnt nail a game to save his life. But he did "get it" and until cruelled was showing much promise. warnock I thought always had the makings...just a typical slow developer of a key player.. Frawley was another similar to garland. None of this is relevent to Rivers as he went through all of this ..played wel..very well..plateaud..got inured... hasnt got back to his beter form yet. If inded he will. Called for neithers blood but wondered , as did many , when theywould evolve. Frawley probably the greatest of step ups.. Good for Chip look Im happy ..tickled pink if he (Rivers ) did ( return to bestform ). Couldnt care less for myself but the club would benefit a great deal from an 'on song' Rivers. More power to it.Eating words whilst unpalatable is hardly worth worrying over. I havent not acknowledged his injuries etc.. The reality is they have had a major impact. 6 years in the system for a couple of good ones..sorry..is that good ?

we have seen thse guys , Frawley Warnock and Garland come on. We canexpect they will continue along this path for some. Down on Rivers ? maybe an unfawning unblinkered perusal of his form.. ? The problem with any fan site is its not popular..indeed almost sacrosanct to go against the flow. hes adequate at present..not brilliant.. not even outstanding.. Hes a third up that just about does his job. Gee thats a lot to get excited and carried away with. ( NOT!! ) At teh dreaded 192 he plays a good 187. He ought to be cpable of more...but reality shows otherwise. Dont make excuses for his injuries..if thats what theyare..thats what theyare.. If this impedes his effectiveness then surely just see it as it is..dont harp on about what was..or might be. I can remeber anarticle manyyears ago heralding Miller and Rivers as our brilliant bookends.. one CHF the other CHB...ironically both are as good as each other..still.. Boith handy without being stellar. Apparently being somehwere between medicocre and adequate is sufficient for some. Well Im here to tell you it wont be for the MFC slection committee. For a number of years due to injury and design it wasnt that hard to get a gig at the mighty Dees...thats all about to change. I oftentake note of what other teams followers say...well they arent all drongos and no one has got very excited about jared for many a season..including the last. Be blinkered.be content... be easily sated. premierships arent won with that. Hell if jared turns it up and puts inblinders..I'll be amongst the first to congratulate him..Id did with Frosty..then he went al blacmange on us again. Many here thought Jared outght to be traded ..I did. Hes here, all well and good. I would like results.. not feely feely goodness that amounts to yet another season of dissapointment. Happy to be made to eat crow.. bring on 010..lets see

Amazing really...you look at a couple of those assemblies and truly wonder how we didnt get a bit closer to the silverware.. On their day.. we were peerless

wouldnt you love to have Swarta and Neeta back now ..ah well Sort of highlights what we so really need...that part of the spine