beelzebub

2007 has gone...we're into '08 ..didnt ya know !!

8 Tassie Johnson.. probably a bit too far back huh !! lol was Yeatsies too.. so that dispels sorta

I know its very early...and with starvation of success its al ltoo eassy to clasp at straws; but you really get the sense that this guy is fair dinkum and not just trotting out al lthe old tired proverbial cliches !! cant wait tfor the trade and draft to see where we're heading oh yeah...something about some finals first...bugger..lol

a bit like... well its end of season.. and here's ya tickets to the trip.. some are return..and Heath.. a word with ya mate !!!

thanks for the effort Krazy all good stuff.. :-)

Part of the team Melbourne objective and benefits is vastly reduced overheads due to shared resouces. Yes we pay a pittance at moment for our facilities.. given the facilities thats ALL you'd pay surely !!!! You want to go forward...you invest ..simple as that. The MFC board wil no doubt make a few furphies.. bound to... any organisation will hit fouls as well as homers. But if you dont make a concerted effort to address shortcomings ( and incomings..lol ) then you are dead in the water.. all over red rover !! The board has seen some semblance of opportunity and I will imagine have done some looking into it before committing...and well are rolling the dice. nothing ventured , nothing gained I dont think the board seeteh Chinese experiment being tehe be al and save all solution.. .just part of set of endeavours and initiatives.

anything Bailey does will be aimed at beyond next year. White and Neeta are more than likely non starters in 09, so no point getting too carried away building an attack around players who wont be there !! is it ??

I think you'l lfind the Chinese initiative is aimed far beyond the thousands of Chinese students here. its aimed at....CHINA !! you know that place with more than a handful of people ...lol MFC have tours lined up for commercially orientated types. They are looking forward to th exhibition game to be played at some stage in China..in Shaghai I think. The Chinese are sport mad ( spectating etc as well) if you could even get a little bit, of a little bit, of a little bit of the Chinese market for following sports of foreign codes etc ...then you are looking at a sizable number. The city of Melbourne has a reasonable profile in China ..as big if not bigger than Sydneys actually. If the club can piggy back this in some manner, well it could generate a bit of interest and a bit of moula !! :-)

its a balance of the ledger thing isnt it ? What do we have. We have a number of midfielders and on ballers, probably a couple too many hff/hbf's if all fit. ( granted..if all fit ) but we have a bit of depth at the so-so level. Other teams may perhaps see a better fit for some than we do. What do we need ( like yesterday ) A proper Ruck ( in todays climate white is more a ruck follower in the old mould, just not big enough for the centre bounces anymore ) ..and we need a full back. ( sorry I rate Carroll as a backman..just not as full back ) We need a ruck more urgently ( by a smidge ) answer...trade..scheme, kidnap...Im not really all that fussed

fortunately that was then and this is now

but..Chris isnt coaching !!

I must admit this is indeed intriguing. A few of us we re discussing this a few years back on this forum. funny thing was most thought it a joke.. but its not. I dont know who it is ( from MFC ) thats reading all this.. but you're more than welcome to continue to nick our ideas !! hehehe. I still reckon there is somethig to be had with a sort of "International" membership. All sorts of things you could include. A sshowbag of sorts. The usual stuff..( probably made in China...lol ) Scarf / Hat.. that sort of thing. maybe even a cheapy ball.?? Give them a voucher for one or two home games should they get to our shores. Give them a decent discount on some Offical goodies.. Seats, tops...trackies etc. . This needs to be aimed at the new markets...These being China.. Japan ( never a wackier sporting nation to be had !! ). Africa needs to be looked at.. but in a more sponsoring manner. There are only 21 Million in Oz...there are f'n Billions out there !!!!. The internet can bring target audiences and potential markets to your doorstep. Melbourne has a Unique Brand.... we are Melbourne ))))))) no one else ever can be. This is our leverage going forward. With the Melbourne consortium coming online its really looking exciting. love to know what the club is cooking up. Keep up the efforts MFC !!

Congrats Jonesy... ya didnt get the choccies but at least some due recognition. Thanks and look forward to a stellar 2008

going to be very interesting to see what the total football dept line up will look like for 08

well..... you can be. As it happens Ive had a shoulder reconstruction. albeit Ive never played any sport at an eleite level I still play at a very physical level, if only a gerry !! lol. .I sense its as good as it ever was.. though I always know it feels a little different tfrom the other. ( make sense ? ). I dont favour it. Id be inclined to think with proepr recovery and management this type of injury is the least to caus eongoing.. say compared to hammies..and groind.. ( with or withour OP )

well its the 64 dollar question really.. is more like ... who's coming into the field ? bit hard to answer without knowing who might be available. i'l lget back to this after a better look around

i agreee..Sampi is a headache in the making

im not sure what figure re trade is valid. But given our almost ineptness lastt year Id settle for one or two. Actually I dont think we are that far off a very competitive team for next year..and the following year with more tweaking...well.. look out Its not the number of gaps in our line up..just the importance of a couple. For mine the only two roles we can fil one way or another at a top AFL level are our Ruck..and fullback.. they to me is where we trade and draft. . If we give up an on baller here.. a mid fileder there.. etc etc. then so be it..we can probably cover them.

Its always amused me..and many others no doubt, that some just dont ( or wont ) grasp the idea of trading. Whether its lollies, swap cards or players..you have to GIVE in order to GET !!.. The very nature of trade is you are offering something you are prepared to do without in order to get somethng you need. Some seem to forget this basic premise.. What dont we want. we dont want players who for one reason or another cant fulfil their promise or potential. we need players who can fill roles we are undermanned in. its not rocket science. but too many will then attach sentimentality to it all. they will waffel on about loyalty and this bloke gives his heart for the jumper... yada yada yada..Blah blah BLAHHHH !! To them.. please take note.. it doesnt matter !! its all about balance. Its all about 'compelteness' of a team.There..Ive said it..TEAM !! its good that X Y or Z plays with passion and attachment , but at the end of the day, its a job. They will do it for another club, they will do it in order to continue plying their trade and being involved in a competition they enjoy. If you can trade a half useful somethig together with a 'please stand in queue here number' for another but more useful player..well why wouldnt you??

unfortunately for Beamer his true value may never be realised due to his niggling OP.. Theres a reasonable argument to be had that he's worth trading. Some wont like it.. such is life

I know we say it at the end of every season..especially the ones where we feel we've undreachieved that wqe can't wait for the next season. In some ways its been a cliche born out of the optimism of the unknown. But with the goings on at the MFC and the announcements of out new leaders I genuinely feel an air of change, for the better. Hopefully we will pick up one or two in the drafts and trades to compliment and strengthen the list. Congratulations Gardner Harris and Co .. many of us harboured doubts that we would get a 'good' result but I think the MFC have done very well out of a professionally run process. Goals and objectives were set. The process was managed well and transparently with an outcome beyond even possibly that which the club had hoped for. This bodes well. Cant wait for season 08.. whens the office open for next years memberships !! :) I really think the change has started... ( either that or my knee is just acting up for nothing lol ) GO DEES !! exciting isnt it

welcome home Chris !! well there we have it folks.. The Bald and the Bountiful !!

if nothing else it shows that Bailey wants 'things' to happen.. and no time like the present.. Talk about hitting the ground running Im neither this way nor that with Connolly being footy manager.. but given the interest in him around to do this role his must have some ability. I just really like the can do approach of this bloke

CAC has proved his ability to find a smokey... me thinks Gardner just joined those ranks !! Sounds like a totally diferent beast to Neale in many respects. Am looking very much forward to seeing some of his work. The NAB cup will be a 1000 times more interesting for a change. The coming draft and psd will be also and wil give a hint as to any new directions he may be taking us. its going to be quite a different look and feel to the team next year I sense. TFFT :D

nice try..Riewoldt..etc.. Riewoldt can actually kick.. he has the yips now and then.. Bruces kicking abilities has been in steadi decline . It is not a good analogy, but nice defelction. Nick is a foward who can play up.. Bruce is never a forward, he's an on baller..