Demon Disciple

Honestly, who knows? I remember we were continually fed the line that the footy club was looking for sponsorship with a Chinese connection, yet low and behold, when the EnergyWatch fiasco blew up in our face, only then did one CS reveal that we had absolutely nothing on the line. Our recent success of attracting sponsors through our own means is rather poor. First we had Hankook with De La Rue, a long-time member, then came kaspersky which was brought about by a supporter telling his boss, we finally look to shake the hold with EnergyWatch (too good to be true), our final major sponsors webjet and opel, come on-board out of sympathy because of the situation we found ourselves in (and no doubt at a discounted rate). Times are tough yes, but the likes of the filth would never need to look, because they have potential sponsors lining up (even Port Adelaide can nab one). Why do we always find ourselves in the same position?

Good topic this one. I was a big Tapscott fan from when we first drafted him up until about mid-last year. I have cooled quite a bit on him though, because he has done nothing of worth on the football field. I am still waiting............. He doesn't get it enough to have much of an impact. He showed some good signs against Adelaide in round 21? last year during the first quarter, but then did nothing afterwards (similar to the rest of the team though). He needs to find consistency as well as consistent ball, but then again so does the rest of our team (i guess that's why we are where we are). I love his size and he can be quite physical at times (which we all love) and would like to see more of it, all be it controlled. His hit on Reece Shaw was a thing of beauty, but other than that, he hasn't done too much else. Time for him to step-up or just be another could've-been.

well the saying goes, "nothing hard has ever come out of Brighton Grammar".

Don't think you can draw too much from it either way. Just remember, sure Scully ran away as fast as he could, whilst at the exact same time, Trengove signed a 3-year deal (straight away).

A good idea, or put up membership an extra $20 next year, explaining the obvious reasons. Either way, i'm pretty sure our foundation members will see to it that this $500k is wiped off pretty quickly, be it now or at the foundation heroes dinner event. Don't thank the likes of Schwab, Connolly, Neeld, Bailey, McLardy and even big Jim (to a much lesser extent), thank this select group of supporters who continually dig deep into their own pockets to help bail the club out of financial woe, and will no doubt again pay off the largest part of this debt. I have little doubt that without Jim coming on board when he did, this club would cease to exist. But i have no doubt that without our foundation heroes, this club would cease to exist.

Ok, so the MFC was fined $500,000, but what impact will it have on sponsors who don't want to be associated with a club who employed 2 people who have been found guilty? For starters, i'd being suing CW and fairfax media for defamation, $500,000 minimum.

Remember being at the game, was definitely a wild night. We had some Crows supporter sitting behind us and every time they kicked a goal in the first he would say "ooohhhhhhhhhhh yyesssssssssssssss". Then came the fight back. When Vardy slotted that goal from the left flank, the Crows supporter lost his [censored] "he never did that for us"!!!! But alas, we came to a stand still, remember looking at the huddle at 3/4 time thinking they looked stuffed. Ah well Was only last week i watched the Melbourne V Kangaroos 2000 PF on name-a-game. Man, we had some good players in that team, underrated by many in the AFL, but many underrated by our very own. We played on at all costs, we ran, but we also kicked the ball long backing our pillars in Neita and Schwartz, then the Wiz was there to crumb (kicked seven that night). Our midfield was dynamic, and we haven't had a CHB as good as Ingerson since (i count Frawley as our FB). The run from defense was fantastic and we never went sideways or backwards in our defensive part of the ground. There is only one better feeling than knowing for all of the second half that your team will be playing in the grand final, alas it didn't come the next week, and it doesn't look like it will be coming any time soon

If i am not mistaken, the last time we won our first round game was all the way back in 2005! So odds are we won't win, but then again, we are long-overdue. I have NFI!

might just be me, but when Mark Neeld first came to the club, in the videos uploaded on the MFC website he would often remark "the Melbourne Football Club", whereas now he says "we".

The last time we were that ruthless and dominant for an entire game would have to be against Carlton back in 2004.................long, long time ago that was.

Agree Gonzo, amateur hour indeed. Schwab has done some good things for the MFC as CEO, but he also has done things not so well (sponsorship being one of them). I have for quite a while now held the view that choosing Schwab over Fox as CEO is just as big a stuff-up as selecting Lucas Cook over Darling.

How is it that he never won a Brownlow? And bloody DiPierdomenico gets one! Best and Fairest player in the competition my ass.

Indeed they were. I remember at the time we were reluctant to offer any contracts in excess of 3 years. We yielded, foolishly so.

Think it was a 4-year contract, but agree with you. Held us over a barrel and got his big contract he demanded, but has done stuff all since. Should bow out and return the favour to a very generous MFC.

Rookie draft happens after the PSD.

Or maybe it could be to ride shotgun with new recruit Dean Kent, back to Melbourne.

Give it a week or two, and a few reports on training in which we seem to be progressing really well. There will be posters' bemoaning the length of the pre-season, given their excitement for the season ahead. The season finally gets underway, which after only a few short weeks, starts to not go as hoped. Next comes the pleas for the pain to end, with prayers for said season to quickly come to horrible conclusion. The final stage is the wait between end of season and the trade/draft period, where optimism and excitement is once again restored. It is all a too familiar feeling, with many unfortunate souls continually getting sucked in, with some pessimists getting pulled along for the ride, yet some remain steadfast in their refusal to see the light. It is the MFC seasonal cycle in all it's beauty. A very vicious one indeed, and not for the faint hearted!!!

If Toumpas had hip problems, somehow i doubt he'd be able to jump around like that.

He might fit the '4 pills' criteria!

FWIW, i just asked my mum who we should pick up at pick 4. She doesn't give a rats about AFL, nor the draft. She believes we should pick up Ollie Wines, when i asked why, she stated because she likes his name (she is not an alcoholic). Not much, but she currently has the hot hand, given she was the only one to back Green Moon in the Melbourne Cup in our family, where again she just picked him on a whim.

If the unlikely situation of both Wines and Toumpas are gone, i wouldn't mind bringing in Grundy. Not only can he play as a big forward as well, but aside from our needs in the middle, our ruck stocks aren't exactly all that flash. Jamar is not getting any younger, plus has only had one good year (back in 2010), Gawn is no sure thing, Martin has been traded, Spencer i still don't rate all that highly, and Fitzpatrick well.............. There is Clark, but he is our KPF, plus i don't think the club is being totally honest with us, re:his foot injury. Grundy would become our 2nd best ruckman, almost best ruckman, the moment he might get drafted by us. We'd then need to make it our mission to bring in nothing but quality midfielders for the next 2-3 years.

I think it's fair to say that Wines will be our pick #4. Of course, we get Viney at 27, but what's left? I'd love for us to get our hands on Nick Rippon at our next pick (50ish). Hopefully he will still be there.

Tom needs to work on his disposal and decision-making. The latter i expect to improve as he gains more experience, should he be able to really improve his disposal, then he would just about be the next up and coming back-man in the league. Get him into the gym over the enxt few seaons to really build a body and strength to go with his tank, he could be anything! We've had could've been anythings' before, lets see how Mark Neeld goes with such players!

Well he can't do much worse than our most recent (excluding Viney Snr) recruiting manager. I take that back. He can't do any worse than our most recent recruiting manager.

My thoughts went straight to Newman!!!