Demon Disciple

The problem is, when the game starts to turn against us, we have got not one player able to make a stand and change the outcome. Not one player who can turn a game. Our leadership team is [censored] weak, mentally soft and aren't willing to get their bodies hurt but make a stand at the same time. Where's our Pavlich or Judd or Selwood or J.Brown or Goodes or Franklin or Reiwoldt. We don't have one. Until we develop one or get one, we will be hopeless in trying to stop or start a momentum swing.

Most MFC players - Didn't turn up Newton - Great first quarter / the only highlight Martin - Great first quarter / the only highlight Davey - turnover merchant, F#%k! Melbourne supporters - Were rarely sighted (those who were there made some noise in the 1st and when the umps decided to put on a circus) Bailey - Dead Man Walking Josh Mahoney - Be honorable, walk. (BTW, what's with the 10 assistant coaches in the huddle at 3/4 time. They are getting away with daylight robbery, being on the MFC payroll)

Yep, agree with all of it. And why oh why do me muck around with the ball by kicking it sideways and backwards before we try and kick into our forward 50? Why not just get it in there quick? Sure no ones there, but if we get it in there quick several times, surely it will click with those in the box to have someone in there at all times! There were only 2 positives today from our perspective today. Juice and Martin in the first quarter. Other than that it was a crap game on our part. Umpiring was woeful, both sides got some rough calls (thanks ump round my ass). Crowd was woeful too. 23,000 for 2 Melbourne teams on a Saturday arvo and indoors. There would have been no more than 10,000 Melbourne supporters there, probably less. The next month will get very interesting. We verse Saints, Carlton, Essendon and Collingwood. The way we're playing, they will be 4 loses. I reckon Bailey will be a dead man walking after this and good riddance. Not one player on our list has the ability to stand up and grab hold of the game. Jurrah needs a rocket sent up his arse, so too Watts, so too half the bloody players on the ground today. It's not that we lost, it's the way we lost. We gave away some stupid free kicks, we turned over the ball way too often, we just did the bad things bad, and the good was few and far between. Sure that 96 point win was great, hopefully it just doesn't cover up the cracks that are obviously there. Things need to happen, or else our list will simply only be seen as one that has potential. Bailey is not the man to get the best out of our team. Move him on come season's end, and question the player's commitment to this once great club. Too many passengers, with only one man driving the train (and he is ridden with cancer ffs).

Quite simple really. Those who could have gone (had no prior engagements), but chose not to must question their loyalty to the club. Even under the most trying of circumstances. Those who did turn up, were treated to a 4-quarter effort of pure hunger, brilliance and domination. Those who showed were rewarded for their faith, those who didn't weren't. As for Mother's Day, weather, previous weeks showing, etc. These are just excuses, plain and simple. 19,987 were there. Of those, there were some, not many, but some Crows supporters, some supporters who probably are not members of the club (and i even saw 2 Essendon supporters at the game). We are supposed to have over 35,000 members. Half did not show. It's when the chips are down, that we must rally behind the boys. The 3/4 time standing ovation from the fans said it all. As well as when Greeny went over to the Southern Wing and thanked the supporters after the game. True appreciation, from players and fans. That's what you go to the footy for. It's just too bad so many chose not to show up. For what it's worth, there wasn't much rain throughout the game. Just a trickle here and there.

God, lol. I'll do you 1 better. We have to get Chuck Norris on board. Sign him now, before other clubs start sniffing!

You talking about CC Bub? I reckon he's been told to pipe up by CS, but yes he has been unusually quiet of late.

One way or another, a message will be sent. If few turn up, supporters are obviously telling the club that what they are doing isn't worth turning up to see. If a decent Melbourne crowd does turn up, and the team puts in another poor showing, you can be damn certain that the crowd will let Bailey, Stynes and Co know that what is happening simply isn't good enough. Whilst i was extremely frustrated by that display on Thursday night, at least it became a tipping point for many supporters of the club. We have had enough, and we are finally voicing our displeasure, strongly. Either way, that can only be a good thing. FWIW, i too will be there.

I said exactly the same thing to jayceebee at one of the footy matches this year. He got his 4-year contract worth the big bucks. Now he doesn't have to pull his finger out until it is up for renewal. It may seem like a long bow to draw, but i strongly believe that it is an accurate one. Put it this way, if it was Aaron's final year on his contract, he would be putting in much greater effort. Sad really, seeing that this is one of our vice-captains.

CC has been very quiet of late. I wonder what that's down to?

Gotta agree that something must be done. He is softer than margarine, makes butter look as tough as nails. I've long held the belief that he is not a part of our best 22. In his defence, last night i couldn't find many worthy of a start for next week in our 22. He like too many of our players, refuses to put his body on the line. Not sure what he'd be worth though.

Whilst i was very disappointed after the Lions game, i still sang the song. This was purely because i thought that i might not get to sing it as much as i thought i would at the start of the year. Little did i know how right i would be. As for the no singing at the Bulldogs game. Are you serious. As poorly as we had played that night, the comeback was still something to behold. I remember thinking if Giansiricusa kicked the next goal, i would leave. Low and behold, he hit the post, and so started the fightback. What about when Danners came running down the stairs to share the moment with the boys. That's when we truly cared about winning football games. The same can't be said for tonight.

I get where you're coming from mate. I truly do. My old man has been following the club for close to 50 years. He was 4 years old when we last one a flag. He went to all those games through the 70's and 80's where he would celebrate a win like it was a premiership. Then came the late 80's early 90's. He talks of such times with passion, joy, hope. That infamous day, where the outer wing of the Western Oval was packed by 10am, full of Melbourne supporters. All hoped for a miracle. The roar when Melbourne hit the front, then again when Dunstall put the Hawks up against the Cats, who had led all day. How he would go to games just to see Robbie Flower play. This period has become folklore in our home. Now he feels like he's back in the late 70's/80's. He has gotten to the stage where he loves and hates this club, who can blame him. It's amazing how much importance can be placed on a game, in terms of life. But he has been hoping for so long, that it has become a big part of his life, many are just the same, myself included. Yet it is this game that brings me and my father closer together. He is rapidly becoming of the belief he will not live to see a Melbourne premiership. This fear is driven on hope, which is yet to be rewarded. He has often talked about being solely an AFL member, giving away his 35 consecutive-year Melbourne membership. I doubt he ever will though, and i doubt you will ever give up either. You're already in too deep to turn back now. This club means a whole heap, to a hell of a lot of people. And In a sense, this club owes a lot to it's members, particularly those who have been through the rough times. Both the 70's/80's and of recent times. Yet we still announced record membership. We all hope for better times, we are told that they will come. Will they? Who knows? I believe they will. They must. This club has a duty of care to win for it's members, particularly those who have waited all 46 years......... and counting. You might think that if you leave now, you will live a happier life, one with less frustration. But i know that my father will only truly be happy, when we finally lift that elusive son of a [censored] aloft. WIth each passing second, another second draws nearer to when we finally do taste that success, whenever that may be. Stick by the club, you will be rewarded. Dare to dream. Go Dees!!!

We are at a crossroads, plain and simple. It was Jimmy's board who continually backed Dean Bailey, glowing in their appraisal of him. It has now become obvious that the board was tricked by an impostor. Do we go into hiding, hoping it will all work out for the best, or do we take a stand and say "we will be the masters of our own destiny". It's time for the board to stand up and be counted, when it most needs to. As Beamer passionately said, "we are on a straight line and we will not deviate", so be it if it costs the coach his job. No one man is bigger than the MFC. As for the player's, what more motivation does one need than to know that, should they win the ultimate, they will become immortals. Talked of for generations, forever the 22 that brought an end to our premiership drought. It's a scary thought, but does anyone realise that there might soon come a time that the MFC has no surviving premiership players?

+1 with Nasher and Red Sox. However, i have a thick & luscious head of hair!!

Ding Ding Ding Ding. We have a winner. As furious as i am atm, knowing that with each passing week (and another dismal display) Bailey's tenure is drawing to a close provides a calming influence for me. In fact, i might laugh myself to sleep tonight, unable to contain my excitement, knowing that this will be so. Like the countdown to the draft, i am now counting down the rounds until Bailey will depart. We've played 5 games, meaning there is only 17 to go. Lets start the clock! 17

Well it goes 2 ways really. From what i gather, someone had a real go at Nathan Jones a couple of weeks ago after the Hawthorn game. Imagine what the followers are going to say tonight!!! Criticism is warranted after such a woeful display tonight. All talk, then not even a whimper come the bounce of the ball. There is a boundary that shouldn't be crossed, as the players go out of their way to interact, but FCS, the boundary is disappearing after a performance like tonight.

Agree with all of it. As for those who will defend Bailey and say it's the player's fault just as much, either Bailey can't cut the mustard, or the players will simply not play for him. One way or the other, Bailey simply cannot be coach of the MFC beyond this year. I'm getting tired at these press conferences where Dean says "we didn't do this we didn't do that, we should've done this better, it was disappointing". Well Dean, you've had 4 years now to turn it around, you've done squat. Let's end one of the most darkest hours in this clubs history and get this imposter out before he does further damage to our supposedly "talented" group of youngsters.

I remember at the time of looking for a new coach, many were strongly against Connolly. But compared to Bailey, having him as coach would be seen as a stroke of genius. At least Connolls has some passion for this club. Bailey looks like he couldn't give a [censored]. Time for change, don't wait til seasons end, sacking him now will send a strong message that we will not stand for mediocrity. Connolls to take over for the rest of the year, then try and get a coach who has some idea of a gameplan that works, and has a plan b&c should plan a not be working.

Dean Bailey has got to go. Period. How many times this year have we given the opposition starts? Apart from Hawthorn, all of them. That is the coach. Because what he is saying isn't getting through to the players. Bailey cannot inspire the players, if anything he puts them to sleep. Our players don't play for him, we refuse to man up, our disposal is shithouse, we stuff around with the ball so much, that when we finally decide to kick the ball we cough it up immediately. 4.3 from our turnovers, this is one stat we haven't improved on. Take a long look at it Bailey. Now to the players. Sure the basket case of a coach is one thing, but desire is another. What is wrong with showing effort? I have long held the belief that half of our list could be replaced by passionate supporters with no football skill whatsoever, as the players clearly aren't that well credentialed in that area either, but at least us long suffering supporters show heart and bleed for the jumper. We have a ton of coaches, all of whom seem to be having little impact. Not good enough, then get rid of them. Simple. I don't care if we are a young team, enough with the bloody excuses, they are for a poor man who refuses to see the truth. I want results, i want a team that gives a [censored], i want a coach who knows what he's doing.

Yep, those notorious return trips home from WA should be rendered mute when we play Adelaide, as we would have had a 9.5 day break. I like it from an MFC point of view, not sure why it's on a Thursday though.

Of our coaching list, excluding Viney, Connolly, Harrington (more off-field, not match day coaches) i'd say a complete review is needed in terms of our coaching department. We have no gameplan. Todd Viney readily admitted that in an interview not that long ago. How can we not have a gameplan, no matter how inexperienced or developed a team is? That is simply inexcusable, no wonder the player's don't have a clue of how to play to Bailey's gameplan - he hasn't got one. Should he and half the coaching staff be moved on at year's end (cough Mahoney, Royal cough) i wouldn't be losing any sleep, put it that way. This ain't a gentleman's club. If you're not good enough, then move on, we're in the business of winning premierships, not friendships.

Sure he showed some signs, but Jack Riewoldt didn't really announce himself until last year, similar to Frawley. That's in their 4th year of footy and both had bodies more ready for AFL footy. Watts was a year younger when drafted. Going by that logic, i wouldn't expect him to really come on until his 5th year of footy, aka 2013. Sure most MFC supporters are getting tired and frustrated that Watts hasn't shown anything yet, i don't give a stuff what the outside world thinks (their viewpoint is mute, as far as i'm concerned). Similar to the dreaded 'p' word (potential), what is needed with young Jack is patience. He will reward us eventually, when his body is ready to consistently stand up to AFL footy. We all can't be Chip Frawley's, Hurley's and Tapscott's, the moment we walk into a footy club. They are genetic freaks, in terms of young body size. Watts, like Cook, first need to grow into their bodies, then learn how to use them. Have no fear, both will be ready when the MFC aim to have several serious cracks at our elusive 13th, maybe even 14th!!!

It was recently stated by Todd Viney (i think) in one of the melbournefc.com.au articles, that we aren't really focusing on a game-plan atm, more so getting games into kids. I find this deeply disturbing, as the game plan drilled into a young team will surely pay massive dividends when the team matures (with some adjustments of course). But to not even focus on practising, let alone playing to a particular game-plan is mind boggling. No wonder many of our players don't know what to do when we have the ball.

at the beginning of the match where barely any of our players wanted to get hit/earn the hard ball, it was Gysberts who was standing up. Went in very hard for such a skinny and inexperienced kid. That's good for him and the promise he shows, yet embarrassing how a 4th gamer was showing up basically everyone else on the field for us.

I actually thought Martin wasn't much good up in the forward line. However, he is a completely different payer in the backline. He came into the game more when he was moved to the backline and he acquitted himself quit well, IMO. He just seems more composed with the ball coming to him. Whilst in the ruck, he didn't play well, but didn't play poorly. Maybe the backline is his niche. It would be good if it is, as our KPB depth was highlighted as being rather poor if Chip goes down. Apologies to Garland, he's the only decent one left. Martin could be very valuable as another KPB. If he improves his ruckwork, maybe he can become a key versatile player in our team. For the moment, play him in the backline where he can get some confidence.