hoopla

We hear a lot of promises about our future home - but nothing tangible. I'd like to see Bubbledome/Olympic Park plans with our name on it - and I'd like to see plans at Casey with our name on it.. And then there is the redevelopment of the Southern Stand at the G.When's that happening - and is that prospect going to be used to explain more temporary accommodation? These concepts have been bandied around for a long time now - the concepts were developed by the previous committee.Yet our pre-season is at the Junction Oval yet again. Carlton showed Bradshaw, Brock and Co a half finished gym. What will we show Luke Ball? As I've asked on another thread why aren't we promoting the Red & Blue Foundation to fund the equipment our new gyms are going to require? I'll be very disappointed if we don't get some firm information in the Annual Report.

We won 4 this year despite all the "positional experiments" So you'd expect 7-8 this year ... and 10 can put you in the mix for the 8. The 8 means nothing ... its the top 4 that counts - and that's years away There's a lot more to being captain - than simply displaying passion. Beamer is no more than a contender right now

It will take a while - but we have to show tangible progress this year. Otherwise doubters will start questioning the coach, the media will start stirring the pot, the players will lose confidence................ and unlike this year we won't have a priority pick to look forward to

Well said!!

I agree.... in this last uncomprised draft you'd like to think we could add at least 6 to our list plus 3-4 rookies. Its beginning to as though we are going to waste a rookies position on Daniel Hughes again - so we're only going to a have a couple of rookie positions available as well

I thought everything was going to be in the one place. Perhaps that is pending building works out at Casey. As long as we have to use the Junction Oval for weights etc, we have crap facilities..... hardly the sort of facilities that will attract Luke Ball

Yeah .. Buckley's ability to break the lines gave him an upside Anyway, it's looking more and more like Bartram is going to stay. I hope that's because this really is a very thin draft!

I'd certainly be far more comfortable about it if it was a dig at Carlton - as long as he doesn't get himself reported when we play them! At the end of the day I guess I believe that Brock has always been about promoting Brock - and I don't like seeing him in the headlines. The majority of supporters did seem to love it - so I'll just shut up!

Thanks for that. It is a bit of fun - but posting it now does create the impression that it is current. Anyway pre-season did start at the Junction Oval ... so my question is the same - why aren't we out at Casey?

Don't understand why we would be making a video at the Junction Oval - without any mention of Casey or Olympic Park. I thought the Casey deal was done. Why aren't we out there now?

Agree - Buckley has twice the upside Bartram has I'm getting concerned that we are not going to use Pick 34- and that Bartram is going to stay on the list. If Barts is in our top 22 in 2012, we won't be playing finals footy

I hope I don't get attacked for this - but I don't reckon Beamer should have a had a crack at Brock. Brock's gone. Don't give him the satisfaction of knowing that we care enough to highlight his departure in a public forum. Beamer has the passion to be key member of the leadership group - but has he got the judgment to represent the club as its captain ? Perhaps he has ... and perhaps he will develop it. Flash's speech was gracious and sincere - and he is passionate about the MFC. He's got to be a strong contender..... and I wouldn't write off Greeny who is clearly a a good on-field general

Don't know where you get that from Darren. If I was we'd be promoting the Red and Blue Foundation - and Barts would have been delisted weeks ago

Half way through last season I thought Junior was finished. He was clearly struggling with the pace of the game and injury. But at season's end he was playing good footy - I reckon a lot of his votes would have been in the last few games. On that form - he definitely warranted another season. He'd have to fall way badly not be in our Best 22... quite apart from his value as a leader

No - unfortunately the credit has to go to John Phillips, the former Vice Chair. The idea was picked up by a small sporting body I am involved with - so I know how it works. Foundation funds must be spent on sporting equipment - so that donations could be applied to Casey facilities as well as Olympic Park facilities. Money contributed to the Foundation won't directly reduce current debt, but it will reduce future debt . As long as the club needs equipment and replacement equipment, money donated to the Foundation will assist the club financially. Donate $1000 to the Foundation - and pass on half of the resulting tax refund , typically $380. This will enable the club to spend $1190 on equipment - of which you will have contributed $810 - and the community $380. Good result all round!!

We do have a problem. Bartram is the only out of contract player most of us would delist.It seems our only options are undesirable - Bite the bullet with McNamara; - Pay out a contracted player; or - Pass up Pick 34 ( or PSD)

Hard to believe? What's the source ? I'm with Rhino - they should be a bit more cautious and stick with Biffo

Has to be Bartram for one. If we are not going to pay out anyone then McNamara will have to be the other. Herein lies the problem - because at 19 McNamara has shown enough to have his contract renewed. Presumably we would try to re-rookie him...........

That's fantastic Bruce... If you can do that then you must be paying some income tax .You should be aware that if you had channelled these donations through the R&B Foundation, you would have got some money back from the government ( $5 plus per month ) - to keep or pass on to the club as an additional donation. Why don't you contact the club and ask them to arrange it for you from now on?

Unfortunately the lazy $800k is not enough. If it had been donated through the R & B Foundation, the Govt. would have chucked in another $300K-$400K Don't forget that as soon as we demolish the present debt, we'll have to turn around and incur some more to upgrade our facilities. Why not get the taxpayer to cover 30% -40% of that for us - and why not start now? Never look a gift horse in the mouth!

I'm not sure about the total numbers incl veterans either. But if you assume that our numbers were right last year when JMac was also a veteran, we presently have just 5 vacancies ( Whelan,Wheels, Robbo,Brock,Bucks) - to be taken by 1,2,11,18 and PSD ( Ball). If Spencer is promoted, then we don't even have the space to use 34. Bottom line is that if we want to use 50 and keep Spencer) , we've probably got to delist 3 more .

You are right of course To be precise , the taxpayers will contribute $30 if your annual income is $35000 to $80000. Above $80000 it will be $38 ..... and if you are one of wealthy supporters earning over $180000 per year (equals $3500 per week) it will be $45.Give the club $10,000 and the government will give you back $4500 !! I really think Don McLardy should get on to this for the next campaign

The Debt Demolition plan has been brilliantly executed and well received. At long last we may be able to get on our feet financially. But after 2 years the campaign appears to have run its course. Unfortunately to capitalise on the generosity of these donors - we are going to have to ask supporters for still more money to meet the cost of fitting out the new facilities at both Casey and the Bubbledome. With this in mind I am surprised that the club has not strongly promoted the Red and Blue Foundation. The Foundation was established to take advantage of tax incentives to develop the State's sporting facilities. Donations to the R&B Foundation are fully tax deductible. For a net (after tax) outlay of $60 , you give the club $100 with which to buy state of the art gym equipment. I wonder how many supporters know this - and I wonder how many would put in $60 if that knew the taxpayer ( including the Collingwood taxpayer!) would contribute $40 to MFC facilities as a result? I'd just be interested in peoples'views

Sorry Danny ..you are 23-24 - and you have now had 3 years on our rookie list. [Edited] You are not up to it - and I will be very disappointed if for any reason the club keeps you on. Best wishes for your career outside the AFL

First things first. I'm afraid I can't get too excited about the balance of our picks at this stage . I just wonder how many picks we are going to have. If we promote Spencer and leave a spot in the PSD, then we are going to have to delist three more players. I just hope hope that we can pick up 2 quality talls at 11 and 18