w00dy

very early call on Lucas. Would've liked to see him have another season at least, to see if he came on, but it would appear he won't get that opportunity. Clubs are said to be interested in him, what do we think we'll get for him? 2nd / 3rd round draft pick would be nice? I think we'd look to get a player instead of a pick for him however.

thoughts on his brother? was often named in the best at Casey, worth looking at as a rookie?

Keep, I see many similarities to Leigh brown at Collingwood, will surprise us all I think

I haven't seen much of him this year, and have heard he's gone backwards, but if we've got the cash I'd love to have him at the Dees.

he took 14 marks at centre half forward in a losing final against Freo in 2006 at Subi... That's the game I'll always remember... Congrats on a good career, I think we'd all be happy to achieve what he did in his career...

was reading his twitter the other night, full of ridiculous stuff you shouldn't be putting up there as an AFL footballer... his twitter has degenerated badly, I think it may have started with Dees supporters sinking the boot in after he walked out on the club and couldn't get a game... there were some pretty personal attacks on there, and this is where it has lead to... firstly, his profile picture: and some of his tweets (apologies for the language): Brock McLean ‏@dirty_14 Hope your bday is s**t RT @BenAndrews01: @dirty_14 it's my birthday In a few months time, I'm not really a fan of you at all, how bout a RT? Brock McLean ‏@dirty_14 Get it bleached mate, worked wonders for mine!! RT @mazza024:@dirty_14 hey brock I have a dirty ar****le , can I get a RT Brock McLean ‏@dirty_14 Get a penis pump RT @CJM2011: @dirty_14 hi mate, I have a little d**k, how about a sympathy RT #fankscobber

this topic still creates a lot of passion, even 15+ years after the event. could you imagine what demonland would've been like if it existed in its current form in 1996? chaos...

According to Tiger's book, on your first point, he himself didn't go outside and ensure that all members were allowed inside, he was informed (by MFC staff I assume) that all members that were eligible to vote and that had turned up, were allowed inside. On your second point, and as I previously stated, I find the choice of venue curious. As I said they looked at Melbourne Park in the first instance, but then chose Dallas Brooks Hall. The rationale provided in the book as I remember it was that the greatest turnout for a vote had been 30% of eligible members, that Dallas Brooks Hall was designed to handle 50% of eligible members, but that around 70% had turned up to vote. But it still seems strange to initially look to such a large venue, but to then choose a venue that is far smaller. For those on both sides of the debate, I recommend getting your hands on a copy of the book if you can, definitely worth reading and getting Tiger's perspective on things.

this is correct on Gutnick. Ridley mentions in the book that Joe was not at all involved in the club until he came forward at the prospect of the Merger. He had to sign up as a member in order to be involved, and a member of MFC staff had been put in contact with Joe one time previously, as he was told he may be able to help the club with sponsorship. However, Joe was not interested in sponsoring the club at that time. An inconsistency in the book however was the motives for the Merger. The MFC at the time was financially stable, however a consultants report which the club seemed to place far too much faith in, and treated as absolute gospel, was forecasting a large increase in the AFL salary cap in the coming years, and the club believed it would not be able to afford such large increases. This was the motivation for pursuing the merger. o while a cash injection was not required at the time, the ability to strongly grow the club's revenue was required. However what Joe brought in was cash, which was not what the MFC required at the time, and a common misconception amongst the public. The MFC sought the merger for the training facilities and larger supporter base that the merger would provide. What was also interesting is that Joe almost supported the pro-merger side according to the book. After Joe showed up on the scene, he met with Ian Ridley a number of times. After meeting with Ridley and Gary Lyon the day after the merger game against Hawthorn (and Melbourne's last for the season), Joe agreed to support the pro-merger team if the players came out in public support of the merger by signing a statement of support to be publicly released. Ridley and Lyon went to the pub where the players were having their post season beers, and gathered a group of around 15 senior players. While the majority of players were supportive, some were concerned such as Brett Lovett who wasn't confident of getting a game for the merged club. Ultimately it was decided ( at Ridley's insistence according to the book) that they players couldn't sign such a statement, and the board would proceed without Gutnick's support. A couple of points from what I've read in the book, Ridley claimed that no 'members' were locked out of the Dallas Brooks Hall, rather that these were supporters that were not members, and therefore not eligible to vote. Just because people were locked out, doesn't mean that they were members. He also mentioned that they wanted to book Melbourne Park (Rod Laver Arena) but that the Dali Llama had booked the venue for the night. It then does seem strange that if they couldn't get Melbourne Park, that they would chose a far smaller venue as their alternative. Can you elaborate on how the proxy vote was stacked? Are you referring to Bill Guest and his employees? Ridley also addresses this in his book, and was disappointed that it had happened, and that he was not aware of it happening until the story broke. Also he talked of how the vote was conducted by Arthur Andersen, and that this reputable firm wouldn't have risked their integrity by compromising the vote (I do note the irony of this statement looking back now) however I'd have to agree with him on this point. He also noted that the proxy votes had to be submitted by 7pm the day before the meeting, and that they received a heap of votes the following day, meaning that the pro-merger proposal had around 200 votes that couldn't be counted. Finally, the MFC board didn't see it as a 'takeover' either, but rather a favourable merger. However, the two of the most iconic things that define a footy club were in Melbourne's favour, that being the name and the colours.

I've just finished reading Ian Ridley's book recounting the process which saw this club come very close to becoming the Melbourne Hawks. It was a gift many years ago, but only just got around to reading it. Has anyone else here read it? I was to young to remember any details from the dramas of 1996. For those who do remember I'd be interested in your thoughts on that time, that night at the Dallas Brooks hall, and your thoughts if you have read the book. The thing that stands out to me, and this is also the opinion of Robbie Flower who wrote closing comments in the book, was that while the merger was the alternative that would most likely see the club achieve it's objectives, this benefit was not weighed up against the loss of identity that would've been involved. The middle ground didn't appear to be examined. Also the gospel belief that the salary cap would increase by so much without broader growth in club revenues was somewhat naive. The support of the players for the merger was a surprise, as was the sound financial footing the club was currently on when the proposal was considered. I thought it was cash but we were chasing their home ground and facilities. There are also many stories about how the vote was conducted, does anyone have any experiences they could share about this process?

watts out is ridiculous. Out: Sellar, Moloney, Green (inj), Bennell In: Martin, Couch, Petterd, Bartram I want to drop Jamar, but I think he's a better option than Sellar, so play Jamar as relief ruckman, with Martin playing as the number 1 ruck. At least he gives you something around the ground.

My favorite troll on twitter, sucks so many people in. I love the office banter about Rohan Connolly too.

eagles won the spoon the year before last, look at them now... while i keep hoping it will happen, and it just doesn't seem to for the dees, things can turn around quickly...

there was lots of this against the cats, and Mick Malthouse picked up on it. For example, tather than holding the structure and minding their man, if there was a 1 on 1 contest on the wing, our half back would leave his man to get to the contest, which the Geelong player would win, then get a a ball over the back to the man at half forward who is now free. Malthouse referred to it as trust in your teammates to play their role, to win the contest, and noticed that the trust wasn't there yet amongst our players. Our half back has to back his team mate to win that contest, mind his man or his space to ensure the next kick isn't an easy one for the opposition if they do win it... Seems simple footy, but hopefully something that shouldn't be too hard to fix...

Well maybe he'll play there for the scorps because he's not playing for the Dees this

Out: J. Macdonald, T. McDonald, L. Dunn, J. Sellar/M. Clark In: C. Sylvia, R. Petterd, J. Grimes, S. Martin Troy Davis very close, Couch not far away either.

where do we start... If I were coach I'd rank all the midfielders by the distance they run during the game, and drop those who ran the least distance. It's a lack of running from our midfield that's our problem, no spread, no getting to contests. While Bate may fumble, Morton may lack some efforts, these don't cost you a ten goal loss to Richmond. We need players that are willing to run hard, all day, for 4 quarters.

changes for next week. Take the GPS data of the players who played in the midfield, see how far they ran during the game, drop those who ran the least distance. I'd exclude Howe from this treatment, but something tells me he'd be at the top of the list, not the bottom...

I've never one to get stuck in to the players or the club, I've been optimistic and patient, but this pathetic display I'm watching right now, not sure I've been so down, disappointed, disgusted in the effort of the players.. All I want to see is them have a crack, don't even get that...

I went to Melbourne training here in Perth this morning, all 3 emergencies Davey, McDonald and Tynan were here... I assume they're all flying back after the game tomorrow.

the first time I've heard Neeld refer to the previous regime was in yesterday's press conference, where he stated: I am not going to go down a similar road and continue to put blind faith in players - no way, absolutely no way. And that’s fair enough. That’s not a threat. It’s not anything other than being honest, and that’s what the players were told. prior to him saying this, whenever he'd been asked about the past he'd indicated that he didn't care about what had happened before he arrived, and that he'd judge the players based on what he saw while at the club. This statement above though indicates that he feels players were getting a game on reputation in the past, they got a game on Saturday (as an opportunity to fit in with his side) this won't be happening any more, and expect some big names to be dropped this week... This is all consistent of what is said in the opening post, although I find it hard to believe Jamar is considered a problem. he also said before the game that being coach of the team this season will allow him to evaluate the players, and make some decision on players at the end of the season... this suggests that there some players he's not happy with... interesting times, lets see how this plays out over the coming weeks...

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/mcguires-jurrah-scoop-angers-demons-20120312-1uwi5.html more info on the club not knowing about the interview here... club not happy, apparently Rupert Betheras and Bruce Hearn McKinnon teed it up without the club's knowledge...

article overlooks one N. Jones you only need to look at the demonland bar at the top, his improved performance last year, and reports of him at training, i think he should be the favourite...

can't help you on that one sorry. One thing I should've mentioned in my report was that after reading all the reports of the pre-season thus far, I was a little surprised they weren't pushed harder on the fitness. Having said that I missed the first 45 mins, and given there were plenty of players still off on their break, perhaps this was a warm up for the next session where they'll be really pushed. But I saw on the news tonight at North Melbourne had a 2km time trial today to see how everyone returned from pre-season, perhaps something similar will take place on Friday, even perhaps a return to Princes Park...

I popped down to training this morning to have a look. I arrived at about 10:30 am so I assume the boys had already been training for about 45 minutes. I've been living in Perth the last couple of years so I've rarely seen the players up close and I had trouble recognising quite a few faces, but I'll do my best. There seemed to be quite a few players missing, including a number of senior players, who I assume were given a little extra time off over Christmas so the numbers were down on what you'd normally expect. When I arrived the main group were doing a half ground drill, which involved close to simulated match play. There would be a contested ball on the ground on the wing, usually just kicked along the ground by Brian Royal. The players would link up to clear the ball and kick to the leading forward, which pretty much every time was Mitch Clark. I only caught this drill for a couple of minutes before the players were called in by Jade Rawlings. The group then split up with forwards, mids and backs. I was quite surprised when the forward group were practicing something that you hear AFL players rarely practice, set shot goal kicking. The players were practicing from about 35m out or so on reasonable angles, I didn't notice too many missing. Watts and Howe were taking shots from the forward pocket. The mids were doing a contested ball drill, winning the loose ball on the ground on a wing and then hitting a short target by foot. While the backs were working on a kickout drill. Jamie Bennell (whilst I was watching this drill) would kick the ball out with other backman offering a target either short 20m out, or longer and wider on the half back flank, often with the receiver running with the flight of the ball. Finally, the main group finished off with some fitness. In 3 groups they would run a 3/4 lap, probably 300m, at good pace. Then have a walk recovery into the middle of the ground, before running some short sprint suicides over 20-30m, followed by a walk recovery back to where they started the lap. Sometimes these suicides would start with the players lying on the ground. They completed this circuit 3 times. In the first group we had the usual suspects, Trengove, Bail, Jones, T. McDonald, J. Macdonald. We also had Gysberts in this group, which was great to see given by all reports he was struggling at the start of pre-season. Struggling to remember many of the others, Watts was in the second group, Mitch Clark and Blease were in the 3rd group, with a lot of our new recruits. Clark was leading this group quite easily, whilst Blease was straggling at the back still, but was putting the work in. Players running laps included Spencer, Tapscott and Strauss. Strauss was working very hard, always with an eye on his watch, pushing really hard. As the pre-season update mentioned, he's put on plenty of bulk. Was surprising to see him running so hard after his injury. Tapscott was keeping a good steady pace, whilst Spencer not as quick as the others, was keeping his pace consistent and was running for quite a while. Lawrence and Cook were doing sprint work on their own under the eyes of the fitness staff, before doing some kick to kick amongst themselves later on. When the main group was doing the fitness at the end of the session, Bartram and Evans were just handballing to one another, however I think they may have done some of the other drills in the main group. Jurrah, equipped with cast was doing 100m sprints around the boundary line under the supervision of the fitness staff. As I said at the beginning, there were a number of senior players missing, who I assume were given a long break. From what I saw this group included ( I could've just missed some of these players) , Bate, Davey, Dunn, Frawley, Garland (thought I saw him around, but not sure), Green (thought I saw him, but not certain), Jamar (saw him on the sidelines in his gear, but not participating in training), Moloney, Morton, McKenzie, Petterd, Rivers, Sylvia. One thing that both I and my girlfriend noticed was that the Bull has one impressive rig on him ...