Nasher

Who ever said Kent had 'star quality'?

Jeez I wish someone had told me that this is what a Melbourne supporter should do before I got rusted on. The only one of those even close to accurately describing me is 'white'.

Guess which muppet fell asleep at 3/4 time?

This should have been us getting annihilated by Sydney. ?????? Oh, are we not doing that now?

You guys are unbelievable. I'm seriously impressed at your ability to make this thread in to another one moaning about Melbourne.

I reckon it's been gripping. Turnovers galore and not much scoring, but it's absolutely intense.

Horribly soft free against Riewoldt. Before this started I was hoping for a Richmond out in straight sets outcome for the LOL Richmond factor, but now that we are here I am reminded about how much I bloody hate Geelong. Definitely no animosity for the Tiges. Hope they smash 'em.

It's just not how I expect the conversation to start. 1: "Trying" to trade a player: "hey other club, Jack Watts is up for sale, whattaya got?" 2: Using as part of a target: "hey other club, we're interested in [player/draft pick], what will it take? Oh, you're interested in Watts? Let us negotiate..." 3: Listening to other clubs: "hey other club, you're interested in Watts? Okay, here is our price..." I can see 2 and 3 happening. I can't see 1 happening (unless for other reasons as mentioned) but that is what the proposal is if the other side of the transaction isn't discussed.

I'd listen to offers from other clubs. I'm not sure whether clubs actively *try* to trade their own players out unless they have salary cap / behavioural / other off field related issues. To me that is a concept that exists in supporters minds only, and usually this question comes from a place of emotion rather than pragmatism. Not trying to be smart, I do just genuinely think it's a naff question. Perhaps the right question is, what would you accept in exchange for Jack Watts?

Depends. What's on offer? I'd trade him for a player that makes us better. I wouldn't just trade him for the sake of it. Edit: snap @Vogon Poetry

Was worried this would be about getting him as a player.

We had two players eligible: Weideman and OMac. Which one of them do you think should have been nominated?

If Jake signs for another year it will be the most bewildering decision I've ever seen - for BOTH parties. We need to develop a ruck, and Jake needs to make hay while the sun is shining. Having him parked at Casey helps neither him nor us now, I wouldn't have thought.

Whoopsie.

Steve has this view that if you're not attacking the club then you must be defending it. If you're not ranting and raving, you must be happy with how things are. I'm surprised anyone even bothers replying to him anymore tbh.

Again, maybe I'm being thick but I'm struggling with the idea that one player has responsibility for the outcome when the whole team was pus. Maybe Lewis' influence added 5 goals to our side but we still fell short - how would we know? I find it hard to be critical *or* appraising of his leadership when I wasn't on the field or in the coaches box. To me it's a leap too far to say "we lost, therefore Lewis failed to exert the required leadership". The Lewis effect is 100% guesswork. Maybe we're saying the same thing from opposite angles.

Great highlights reel on the MFC site: http://m.melbournefc.com.au/video/2017-08-30/michael-hibberd-all-australian-2017 Lots of examples of some absolutely fantastic field kicking in there, which was an element of his game I thought fell away at the end of year. Reckon there is a good chance he was cooked after his layoff and slow intro to the year - but his contested efforts and intercept marking remained top notch. Absolutely loved that goal in his first game. I definitely want more of that! I think he had won most of us over in his first 5 minutes in the jumper. Well done Hibbo, great season. Bring it again next year please!

Even the poster who made the "done deal" reference immediately followed it up with "but we will see". It is clearly not a done deal in any sense of the word, no matter how loose your interpretation is.

Exactly. Richmond literally couldn't give him away. And it's a bit stiff criticising the club over the initial draft, for a long time it looked like we'd get great value out of Trengove. Sometimes the club makes mistakes but others s*** just does happen. PS I am assuming this is referring to Dustin and not Jack, Stefan or Flanagan.

That sucks. I can imagine it would be really hard to balance your own excitement against your other half's bitter disappointment, but you'd hope he'd be a touch more sensitive. My wife isn't in to football at all - sometimes I think it would be cool if she was, but it's stories like this that make me grateful that she isn't. I doubt my family would be able to withstand both the adults getting worked up over it (because I definitely do!)

He gloated? Booooooo. I watched with my Collingwood supporting brother who was almost sheepish and apologetic about it.

Can any one player change that? The whole team fell in a heap in the first quarter. I expect him to be able to influence it, but of course that is completely immeasurable from the outer, not withstanding posters on here attempting to anyway.

I really hope@puntkickand @stevethemanjordancall in for chat :-)

I understand you're just taking the piss Steve, but the fact that you think I only talk things good and positive shows that you see things in black and white; a concern I've held about you for quite some time.

Hah - I recently bemoaned a long term mate's wedding on GF day, now I welcome the distraction. Footy can go eat a bag. Until next March, where I'll line up for another big fat serve.