Nasher

Heh, pretty handy when you meet most of your teammates for the first time in the GF. Is Joel Smith playing, or is he in this afternoon?

Yes, clearly, but all in the view that it would be work that he would continue when he became senior coach, or stuff Roos (or other assistants) would be doing if Goodwin wasn't there. I took it as a role with a high degree of redundancy; I accept that I am just assuming though. Who was our senior assistant in year 1 of Roos' tenure, before Goodwin was hired?

Goodwin's role was coach in waiting, is that a vacancy that would generally be filled?

Hi Peter. I wouldn't say your numbers were close to the Wiz or Betts. You kicked quite a few more goals. adc if you could relay please.

It's a stark contrast for me compared to last night, I'm so disinterested that I can barely keep focused. Will give Adelaide the third quarter to pique my interest, but will turn off after that if they don't.

I've always thought that anyone who said that is definitely doing it wrong.

Who do we.. err.. they play next week?

Do you feel dirty now?

You, me and the rest I reckon. How good has this been?

Mid through third quarter, just heard Bruce refer to Puopolo as Puopolo, rather than Poppy, for the first time.

Whew! How good was that last 5 minutes? Don't often find myself barracking like a lunatic in neutral games, but my heart is fully committed to a Bulldogs win.

Yep. And I looked on the team sheet and I can't see a player whose name is "Poppy". FFS Bruce. We know you're in love with Hawthorn, but how about maintaining a modicum of professionalism and calling players by their actual names?

Hah, glad I'm not the only one who thought this.

Mo, as always, you've moved the goal posts. You are the one that used Marchbank as an example of players not wanting to come here. I give you a lengthy list of AFL quality players that did want to come here, but they don't count because they're not A graders. Guess what - neither is Marchbank. He chose Carlton because they'd have made the best deal for money, game time, and will have convinced him they can easily get the deal done with GWS. If you want to let your insecurities believe it's because nobody loves the MFC, knock yourself out. I won't buy it because there's no evidence of it.

Or maybe we're just not chasing these players as hard as other clubs are. And it seems silly to bemoan players not asking to be traded to Melbourne when we've seen Lumumba, Melksham and now seemingly Hibberd ask to be traded to Melbourne in the last few years. They're not under 22 but they're clearly the players we have had discussions with. We've also seen Vince, Frost and Tyson traded in. We can't be involved in every trade. If the MFC is not mentioned in certain trades, I take that to mean that Mahoney and team have identified other priorities. We seem to get the players we chase, there is no evidence that we are being snubbed.

Yes, indirectly. Gave up pick 3 (Scully compo) and 14, and received MD pick #2 (Hogan), ND pick #20 (on-traded as part of Dawes deal) and Dom Barry.

Why does that hurt? I thought that would go without saying for anyone under the age of 50.

From what I can ascertain, the changes are: In: Salem, J.Smith, Wilson, Collis, Moncrieff Out: Terlich (susp). I would expect the final teams to be just Salem for Terlich, unless they decide to play Smith for one of the Casey players (Morris/Munro/McInernie) but that to me seems unlikely.

The motivation for my six year old was just that I was doing it. He's been watching with me (on TV) probably for a couple of years, and I'm pretty sure it was just to spend time with me. It's probably only just now that he's developing a taste for it on his own, kicking a footy with mates at school and talking about playing. I wouldn't take little tackers to the footy in the dead of winter unless they were really champing at the bit to go, too many mood turners in that environment as you've seen for yourself, which will sour the experience for everyone and will really shape their perception. My advice would be not to force it, and when he does decide to tag along make it fun. Get excited if the game is exciting and he'll follow your lead. If the game sucks, or we're getting flogged or whatever, find some other way to make it fun ("ah well, we lost by 120 points again, let's get ice cream instead"). It also may be that he's just not be in to it. As I said, my eldest two kids (a girl and a boy) don't give a rats about it at all, and I truly don't feel like I've lost anything for it, which would come as a surprise to 2009 issue me. Take an interest in whatever interests them instead.

Agreed. I've got to wonder if PJ just threw that in for a laugh; I can't see any other motivation. Who hasn't on occasion got some kicks from throwing a hand grenade at someone known to be volatile? I have visions of PJ sitting in his office just having a chuckle after hearing Ed's comments.

That's the way I see it too. If we find ourselves using the word 'punt' when it comes to recruiting a player, I become instantly skeptical.

Goodwin in his first press conference as senior coach as we speak. https://twitter.com/melbournefc Melbourne FC ‏@melbournefc 2m2 minutes ago Goodwin: The NAB Challenge gave me confidence about being a senior coach. I've got a real sense of energy about the role.

He'd be feeling relieved and excited and nervous I'd think. Moving on from this sorry saga starts today. Good luck to him. People have their views on him as a player, but for me, I've erased all past views and biases, go in with an open mind and am looking forward to seeing what he can add.

So, since this post, said 1 year old son is now 8 and claims to follow Hawthorn (vomit), but his interest is very close to zero so I let it slide. I've also added two more boys to the mix (6 and 4) who have taken quite an interest and brainwashing has been well established, both definite Melbourne supporters. My 10 year old daughter openly admits zero interest and rolls her eyes and scoffs whenever it is on. As for the wife, she still hasn't made it to the 'G yet, but she went with me to see MFC play North at Blundstone this year, which she enjoyed, and is far more tolerant of my footy watching on weekends, mostly because I've learned to tone down my behaviour significantly due to influence it was having on my children. I think everyone in my family was grateful that we finally won a few games this year.

I know you're only kidding, but I think you've forgotten that Martin was utterly hopeless as a forward and that's why he was traded in the first place.