Choko

Spot on. And in fact it's worse than that. He symbolises what is wrong with this footy club. He hasn't improved in his years at the club, and he keeps getting a game despite not having a work ethic. Every game he plays is a scar on the club. Attitude before ability.

Watching our insipid performance again today, it got me thinking about which teams we are ahead of on the "premiership clock". For example, Essendon are now running a young side and have been down for about the same time as us, yet still can put 4 good quarters together and be impressive. That's not something we are even near. So my questions are: - When do you think our premiership window is? - Which teams are behind/ahead of us? I think we will next be vying for a premiership in 2012, with a hope of low top 8 finish in 2011. I think we are ahead of Freo, Richmond and North (who I don't think can win one without re-starting) and Syd. Ess, Carl, WCE, Adel are in my view ahead of us. I question whether we are ahead of Gold Coast.

Yes, Cam got the ball in the last quarter. He also got it in the first three. He used it well all day too. Getting the ball in the last quarter is also a reflection of a good attitude, pride and fitness. Cam was easily our best.

Will be an interesting game. I think we will know more after their game vs the Dogs tomorrow. If they win or are competitive, they are probably turning the corner. If the Dogs play with them, it could be a fun day next week!

To anyone who has held anything more than hopes for him, you are deluded. The guy has never proven anything at senior level. Unfortunately, he has always done just enough every now and again to demonstrate that he has the skills to be anything. However, he is a total waste of space because he is a stupid footballer (always the guy who isn't in the right position in the zone, that free kick/50m/goal to start Port today when we were competing well). Mostly, he just doesn't care. He plays like he thinks he has achieved something. Well Colin, you are a nothing footballer. Worse than that. You have ability and a poor attitude, and you let down your mates. To those who say persevere, you are accepting total and utter crap. Colin spits in your face. The guy does not play like he cares. Where a guy isn't dominant, you persevere with if they bleed for you - like Junior, who don't have half the ability of Colin, but are 100 times better footballers (or Powell is another that comes to mind). If we had any balls as a club, we would have traded him when we traded Travis. We should only play him again this year if he earns his spot from 3 consecutive good efforts at Casey. End of year, we should trade him for pick whatever.

Coming from the guy that lauds Sylvia.

It's not that it's one mistake, it's that it shows a complete lack of knowledge of footy. If he has been in the inner sanctum, then how doesn't he know who Bate is (if that's who he meant?).

PS The Sylvia omission is hardly a big deal. The guy isn't a star... so far he's shown he's just another player who has to do what it takes to earn a spot. Which he hasn't done. My greater concern is the crappy form of Newton, who has rightly not been named anywhere near the side. He might have straightened us up a bit if he was on his game.

Although it is clear that clubs like North and the Dogs are getting ripped off by Eatyourhat Stadium, I think they are massive whingers. They both chose to move from the MCG to the inferior stadium down the road. They willingly signed agreements and knew full well what the deal was. Now Brayshaw says it's the "single biggest issue". Well, if it's the single biggest issue, then you have been the single most negligent Board agreeing to move in the first place. A poor deal at the MCG is different, because of the history of the stadium and the different relationship it has to clubs. But really, if you don't like it, don't agree to it.

If by fair you mean a fairly huge disappointment or fairly pathetic attitude or have a fair crack, then I agree. The guy is a waste of talent. I can't stand seeing him play, knowing how good he could be if his work ethic and attitude matched his ability. Sylvia is the great white hope that never delivered. We should have seen what he was worth on the trade market last year. Let's hope he turns his career around, but there is no evidence to suggest that he will.

Brilliant game. These are the moments to savour in crap years. The unps were doing us no favours at all, we seemed gone, and then we won by the best margin of all! Watching that video, what stands out is the tenacity at the contest. It's amazing how many times the Lions got first hands, only to be tackled, smothered, intercepted or run down. Shows how much footy is played between the ears, and how the simplest things are the most important.

Biggest problem we have with sponsors is a lack of profile and lack of exposure. Like it or not, Cousins gives us exposure. FFS, Emirates and Lexus haven't jumped off Collingwood after Didak's misadventures. The other thing is , Ben Cousins is responsible for Ben Cousins. The WCE may bear some responsibility for perpetuating a culture or sweeping the problem under the carpet, but at the end of the day, the buck stops with the player and most people accept that. If I were North Melb, I would ask Mazda for an assurance that no-one in their organisation is on drugs, lest Mazda ruin NM's image.

I agree with RR re the "facts", but having said that, I was never impressed with Anthony Rock, and I know that a lot of the players felt similarly. Danners made it very hard for a new assistant bc he acted extremely autocratically, but Rock failed to impart a vision of a way he wanted the midfield to play, and I think for a development point of view, he tried but failed.

I think the Cousins saga is another example of clubs thinking too much and forgetting that their skill is kicking a football and not rocket science. There is so much "holier-than-thou" crap being spat out. Yes, there are sponsors, etc... but I promise you, what sponsors like most is being associated with winners. Who now thinks less of Hungry Jack's because Ben Cousins took non-performance enhancing drugs? It's just crap. If a club doesn't want to take Cousins for football reasons (his hammies, his age, no need for a midfielder) then fair enough. But for crying out loud, the guy had (or has) a drug problem. Hmm, let me see.... a guy earning a 7 figure income, living in a fishbowl where everyone wants a piece of him, young and social.... takes "recreational" drugs. Stop the press!!! There are people with drug problems in your workplace, your life and your community. In fact, there are AFL players who have been twice guilty of drug use whose names we don't know who could be "outed" any time. Some of them are very successful footballers. The reality is, the AFL never used to test for these drugs. There is no allegation of performance enhancing drugs being used. It's a personal problem that has become a PR issue. 3 urine tests per week is a ridiculous condition. It's pretty simple really. If the guy relapses, he is sacked and never plays again. The club holds a press conference and says "we tried, and most fair-minded Aussies would agree that a guy deserves a chance. Unfortunately, despite all our educational and rehabilitation efforts, Ben Cousins needs to look within himself. This is a personal issue, and we have no further comment. We would like to thank our sponsors, who always ride the bumps with us. We have donated 50K on behalf of INSERT SPONSOR towards drug rehab, an issue we both feel is a massive issue for young Australians". For the record, I would love the MFC to have the balls to pick Ben Cousins up. There is no-one of note to pick up in the PSD anyway, and at least Ben Cousins will enhance our midfield, has a work ethic the young guys will worship, and we will be in the papers. I know we won't, though.

I really think the club has made a mistake. A guy that uses the ball well off the half back line and reads the play reasonably well. Daniher hated CJ, and DB also didn't like him. Neither coach used him properly and let him develop confidence and momentum. He will never be a star, so in a sense it's no great loss, but he is a better footballer than lesser players on our list, and I think would have provided value if allowed to settle into a position. I know he is the one that asked to be delisted, but I still think that's a result of the way he has been treated. It's a shame.

Mate, you totally miss the point. On your (il)logic, it would make more business sense that the AFL f*cks us off out of the competition, because we are costing it money and hey, it would make the best business sense. The Kangas should be axed as well, and all games should be played at Telstra Dome on week nights in order to sell expensive tickets to the elite, and garner the most out of the TV dollar. That's what I would do if it's a pure business decision. But it's not, and we should not accept that it is. We have been playing QB for 10 years. Yes, it's a great game to get, but that doesn't mean you go thanking the AFL for it. Have some pride. So because we are struggling, we "deserve" to be shafted with the draw, the corporate dollar, crowds? Vicious circle? Not to mention, the AFL was set up by the clubs, for the clubs. It is totally false to create a fixture based around anything other than equity. Yes, there are some compromises, but as others have said, the notion that you "earn" a better draw based on your performance the previous year or your pulling power means that the weak get weaker. Every bone in our MFC bodies should be outraged.

I'm sorry, but Schwab's comments are p!ss poor in my view. I know the maxim "don't bite the hand that feeds you...", but seriously, try "get some intestinal fortitude". Yes, we are happy with 13 games at the 'G. BUT... We should not be grateful for QB, and I don't care what political games we are playing, we should not say we are grateful for it as if it's some huge favour. We should bloody well get QB because it is Melb v Coll's day. We got a good crowd last year and we continue to draw a big crowd to the game that has been Melb v Coll for many years. In addition, we got screwed on Sundays, we are the only side to sell a home game and play the away side in an environment more favourable to it than to us, and we have the corporate nightmare in an environment where we are trying to attract a sponsor. Schwab's comment that we have to earn the right to an equitable fixture is totally misconceived. Though that is the way the AFL acts, we should be slamming them for trying to drive us into perpetual welfare. How can we earn the right when we cannot compete on an even footing bc we cannot garner the corporate or supporter dollar due to an unfavourable fixture? It's just nonsense. And this earning rubbish - if Collingwood had a crap year, do you think they would have to re-earn the right not to be shafted? Cameron Schwab, show some spine and stand up for us.

I would love to pick him up in the PSD.

Somebody call the police - Essendon has absolutely stolen Prismall. Amazing.

Having been at the B & F last night (great function) and chatting to some club officials in the know (who had flown bac from Canberra to attend the B & F), I can say with a fair degree of certainty that at this moment we will take Jack Watts. I can't imagine what could change that (maybe interviews), but yeh, Watts is 99%.

If we could nab Farren Ray at a good price, we would be stupid not to look at it.

Happy to be corrected, btu I don't believe he was the forward coach. I think he was a goalkicking and forward assistant - no match day or strategy role, just more mentoring for some of their forwards. I'm not saying I do or don't like the idea, just think you have over-stated his role.

Yeh, I agree. He was out of contract so it's not like we would have offered him a heap of $$$. And if White goes elsewhere, it will be on close to minimum wage. I wonder if Collingwood will take him. I could see them taking him for sure.

Thanks for all the messages everyone. The chef has asked me to remind people to please book if you are intending to attend, because we are putting on a special menu. 9867 5853. Go dees!

I understand White wanting to go round again, but I think it would be sad to see Yze do anything other than retire. Players are sometimes the worst judges of their own capacity. I would not like to see Yze running around for a side next year (altho I reckon the Kangas would take him).