Bagdana

With apologies, I haven't gone through this entire thread but do not want to start a new topic. A quick question if I may, why do we get pick 1 (on the presumption we get a start of first round priority)? Doesn't GWS qualify for priority too (or have they raped and plundered drafts enough) and is there a rule that stipulates against them?

I agree. Would love both him and Aish, and I know the recruitment staff do their best but seriously, if they're going to get it wrong, at least get it wrong with a player that had the attributes to excel in the first place!

"previously the week after Darwin hasn't been too kind." Add our favourite venue to that and a disrespected opponent in the media, desperate to show their ability, and there's a recipe. I'm heading in with a Roo's mate and am very nervous. A mild pasting I've grown to accept and I only hope we can keep it fewer than 10.

And from that group I reckon he's got the least to worry about. His major concern will be the contract renegotiations after those 3 years. Pretty hard for him et al to play some cards with no game time.

Just quietly, I reckon Pedo, Burns, Rodan and Gillies would all be a bit upset / nervous about Neeld's departure.

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Forgot to mention a couple of things. Mike asked Jack about the round 2 clash and how he thought he went on Jobe. Asked if Neeld sent him to him from the bounce. Jack said he wasn't and it was just the way the structures were set up that had him go to Jobe. Said he got the first clearance and that he felt good to get off to a good start. He mentioned how big Jobe was across the hips in stature and how hard it was to bring him down. He said that the physicality he played with as a junior was something he really enjoyed and definitely wanted to bring this across the AFL level. Admitted that on mature bodies he's got a lot of work to do. Showed genuine hunger to get the body required to take on your "Jobe's" of the game. Smiled and said although he'd probably never be as tall was working on getting as big. Mike said he'd had a great start to the year and wanted to know if he was happy with his progress thus far. He said, definitely not, he has a hunger to get better. I got the feeling that we are going to see impressive things from this lad with that attitude.

Whoops! There I go showing the perfect blend of my age (or lack there of) and ignorance! Any chance you could pull the guernsy back on and snag us a few more Tim?

Okay, I'm a habitual onlooker and rarely post but I can't sleep and wanted to share thoughts of a lunch I attended at Kooyong. First up I will say I knew too few people at the venue and I'm afraid my view may have been skewed somewhat through the bottom of my glass but here goes... Mike Sheehan was the MC and although I've always disliked him he had a red and blue tie on and hung nothing on us. He asked insightful questions all day, cutting the line between relevant and rude. Never did he cross into rude. He's earnt my respect. I will add at one point he made me chuckle by adding that he liked where our favourite Caro had placed herself as "now as the heat was right off him". First speaker Jon Ralph. To be honest, I knew little about him and paid little attention. Seemed a nice bloke. Next up, young Jack Viney. When asked where the moon boot was and said that he was allowed to have it off for two hours. All strictly regimented. Should be back one week after the bye by medicos estimations. First game, asked about "bitter / sweet" good personal game / poor team performance. Spoke of feeling glad to fulfil lifelong dream of donning the Red and Blue. Felt he played a good game and enjoyed finding good mate Ollie Wines to leave the field despite the scoreboard disappointment. Didn't understand the boos at the end of the game as he "didn't feel the umpires had done that poorly but then, as they got closer to the race, realised it was for us". He spoke about being at the club for pre-season 2012 and confirmed reports that all facets of 2013 performance were improved. Is very suprised that the club as a whole hasn't followed suit. Not much insightful stuff, all in all, a well drilled professional. At a free grog function (he wasn't drinking), at 19, I reckon I'd have mistaken the microphone for a taco! By the way, from a strictly heterosexual point of view, what an impressive rig that lad runs! Then came Todd Viney. When asked about the biggest regret of the off season (bait) said that none of the players lost had made them hurt and then said... but Moloney. I know there is a whole thread on this but he spoke of how he and Neeld "never saw eye to eye". He said that from the moment he was removed from the leadership group he had his back up. Then when Moloney was asked to lose weight (bulk) to increase mobility and asked to play a mentoring role the poles moved further apart. Ironic considering losing weight to increase mobility was the first thing he did up north... I digress... He reported that he resisted every instruction. He defended Neeld by saying he was nowhere near his B&F form and he also (more interestingly) by no means blamed Moloney but simply stated that not everyone was going to get along with a new coach. He mentioned there was not much they could do to retain him with free agency. He also regretted losing Riv (nothing more said). He was asked about recruiting and stated the loss of so many top 20 draft picks (named Morton, Cook, Scully & Gysberts, in that order) created the need to "fill a few holes". Talked about his days at Hawthorn as coach and how Clarko was in the barrel after results weren't coming. Top draft pick Roughy hadn't fired a shot in 18 months, recruiting was considered poor, they'd lost talent to retirement and things looked glum. He spoke of the days when Akka (and others) got to Brisbane under Lethal and built a powerhouse. He said that young Jack needed to look at that. He inferred that Melbourne find themselves in a similar position but we need to stick fat. He said that the club had plenty of talent and rated themselves fortunate to land all of Tompas ("who they rated as one of, if not the best in the draft") Hogan and of course young Jack but needed support around them. This is why they recruited short term, culture building professionals like Burns, Rodan and Gilles. We all know that but the comment that interested me was "they are there to chop out when the young ones need a rest". I won't waste a paragraph... He was asked about Jack Watts and stated that he "is not overly competitive by nature" thus the placement of him in the backline as he doesn't have the agro to demand the ball in the forward line. He cited days of old that if he was a combative forward he'd have liked to "snot" a Matty Scarlett type. He described him as a great reader with exquisite skills and the move was to help him show his constructive talent. He has hopes he will find some agro but seemed unsure that he will. He admitted rival clubs would be sniffing around but stated MFC was completly devoid of 100 plus gamers (I know he hasn't played that many) and he was required. He then stated that more or less loves Chunk and that Sylvia also was required to help extract the pill. With less admiration (my read) on the 100 plus gamers was Jamar. He also stated that Davey was "at the end of his career". Then came lunch... glug... glug... excuse my lack of specifics from here... Ron Barrasi spoke of the lack of executive level leadership at the club. When asked since when, basically said since they sacked Norm. Didn't believe in hoodoo's but believed this has been our downfall. Made no regrets for leaving the club after the way they treated Norm. Said Norm asked him to stay after to take over his job for one more year but he'd already committed to Carlton and that he wouldn't go back on his word. He appeared very emotional (good red). Cheers, Jono.

I've read the last of my Caroline Wilson articles. She can keep her opinion. My breakfast is better served where it is.

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/2013-02-12/maia-westrupp-interview Nice to hear from Jason. I wonder if the Filth will say, "this kid was identified when he was on our payroll and we desreve him". They had a crack for Jurrah.

Sorry. Right you are. Apologies. I do also believe it is Friday some time at casey.

Olisik, that'd be 'cause he's been pumping the protein powders and not the peptides, trust me, they can help produce a formidable scent. Geejazzer, 3pm, Casey fields this Friday would be the go if you could make it. http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2012-02-16/a-different-approach-to-intraclub.default?

Care to expand on that for me?

Told by whom? This is the collingwood recruiting 2IC that they had us hold off a year for contractual reasons wasn't it?

Clearly a pile of poo. At his height and weight needed time and at the age of 21 (22 in March) is going to have a breakout year this year. More Melbourne stirring.

And wasn't Ricky Bobby having a dip with Richmond?

I liked "The strength and conditioning and football education moves into phase two, with a more sophisticated game plan being implemented next season." Shows that the club was aware that we were going to be bad this year but are building. Please, let it be so as they were right, we were BAD this year.

9pts - Dees. Ummm, what are fishermans pants?

JJC, he looked the goods early from every angle but was found wanting against mature athletes. This in conjuction with the fact that he pyscially developed like a unick and at the same time developed a dodgy knee due to overload have severly effected his ability to perform. Let's not even get into his personality deficiencies as that is off topic but I reckon that Dipper story / dummy spit is a ripper (sorry I couldn't help it). Whilst your theory may have some merit, I think it may be a bit dramatic.

Spot on Jaded. At the time I was disappointed in his decision to leave but was filthy in the way he handeled it. Going for money? Be honest and under the circumstances I could have understood it. My anger would have been leveled at the AFL. The way this goose handeled himself was a down right discrace and I hope he pays for it, in full, Sunday (and again, in full, every other time we play them). What a time for The Bull to be on the sidelines!

Like fox footy? I've got foxtel with fox footy but would like to cancel this and get just the footy with a kickback to the club if this could happen. Is that what this is?

What's the deal?

I agree the sample is too small, fair point made. But I'll have a flutter this weekend on the whim as Wadda We Sing nearly did last weekend. Hopefully the small sample size means it hasn't affected the odds! D 4 Life, yes there are other variables that add to the formulation of a correlation between variables (winning and losing), I understand that. My hypothesis is, being knackered effects the outcome much more dramatically than most other factors. Collingwood resting half its team and Essendon travelling to Perth would examples of these "other variables" that one would need to consider. I do also understand that the outcome really doesn't matter and am just keen to have a look at the boys and whatever game plan is on show but, at the end of the day, just hope we escape without injury. I only mention it as I find the format... interesting.

I know this competition is just a gimmick but how is a team who've just played a half of footy supposed to be competitive against fresh legs? This weekend, every team that played a consecutive half lost. Match one - works, even match, better team triumphs. Match two - whom ever played in match one (against the fresh team) loses. Match three - whom ever played in match two (against a freshened, one match off, team) loses. Correction, one exception, Collingwood beat G.W.S. but they're not really an AFL team are they? By this logic, next week I expect us to beat GC and lose to Brisbane. Can someone please tell me it's not all this simple?