jimmy sandral

Goddard has been a champion player at St Kilda and his best form would be great for us. However, this season he has become moody and angry with his team mates which doesn't look good on the field. This has affected his ability to contribute to his team. He might well regain his form, especially under Ross Lyon. With our luck this year he'd be paid a fortune and contribute SFA.

Maloney and Bizzell And yes, you are a pessimist. But that doesn't mean you won't be accurate; I just hope that you aren't. Actually, Brian Wilson, I have usually been optimistic about Melbourne. Having started barracking for them in 1955 I have experienced many great moments but also my fair share of bad ones. Regarding our playing list I cannot remember it ever being as bare as it currently is. I can't see players flocking to express interest in joining us and I have negative views regarding our 2013 season. I can only hope that my current dispair is in fact 'pessimism' and not 'realism'. The sad thing is that with the more successful clubs their new recruits have good, experienced players to set the example and give support week in and week out. We, on the other hand, become disappointed when our new recruits do not become champions overnight and saviours of the club in their first or second season.

That's a big 'apart from'... He's our best player. We recruited our best player. That says two things - we can recruit good players, and we don't have many good players... You're right, RPFC, Clarke is our best player. But the point I was making is that at this time every year we hypothesize and drool over who we might recruit. With very little success. Who else have we recruited from other clubs in the past 10 years that has been any good? Year after year we have been 'successful' in recruiting five eigths of f..k all, and that isn't much! How can we turn this around? I attended the 1964 Grand Final and don't expect to get to another one. Or am just a pessimist?

For more years than I care to remember we have been 'less than ordinary' as a team. How many of the players named in the above threads would really want to play at MFC? I would suggest that if they had a choice of a Melbourne or a Geelong they would not come to Melbourne. Players want to play in successful teams. We are a long way off that. How do we attract 'top' players? Throwing bags full of money might appeal to the more mercenary. Our likely winning record over the foreseeable future is not an attraction. Apart from Clarke, we have had zilch success with recruiting 'top' players for many years. Realistically can we change this for next year? I would suggest that our only chance of improving our list is intelligent and lucky drafting of kids. We would need to improve on our past efforts here, too.

Jimmy Stynes was pretty handy on a consistent basis. He didn't miss many games through injury either.

Player attitude is one area needing a significant improvement. We appear to have a number of players who know they are amongst the 'regulars' each week who seem content to coast along. It would not surprise me if Neeld trades or delists one or two of these to make a statement. Was it Malthouse who got rid of Sav Rocca early in his coaching days at Collingwood? We have more players on our list whose places I'd question than we can afford to get rid of. But I do expect a couple of 'big names' to be axed.

I've seen and read enough about Jack Viney these past twelve months to know that he is exactly the type of player and young man that we need. We know what he can do on the football field. We know he is hard at it and takes no prisoners. We know exactly what we are going to get which is not what has happened in past years when we hoped we knew what we were getting. How many of our early draft selections in the past five or six years have lived up to the expectations we had for them? I'd hate to see us pick up another player who ends up not performing to our level of expectation and then get doubly shafted by seeing Jack Viney perform wonders at another club. We must use our first pick on him if this is what is required to get him.

I heard a rumour this morning that most of the Freo players are very sick with food poisoning following their meal on their flight back to Perth last weekend. It is unlikely that at least 12 of them will be well enough to play against us on Saturday.

The only David Mackay I know is the one who played with Carlton many years ago. Neil Craig must know a bit about him and think he's OK if MFC is prepared to throw that sort of money at him. There are other more well known onballers that I'd rather see us chasing.

I have been a member of Demonology for several years, but can no longer get into the site. It would seem that many others also have this problem. Can someone please tell me what is happening? Are they aware of this? Will the fault be remedied? If so, when? I have seen some angst here on Demonland regarding Demonology. I find this unfortunate as both sites involve people who love our football club. It is not as though another club is involved. I would guess that people from other clubs would be laughing when they see Demon supporters ripping each other apart.

I also think that Cloke jrn and srn are selfish crazy bastards, in that they want top dollar and would be prepared to swap Melbourne-based clubs to get it. Nose despite his face, sort of. It's like they have some mad Spanish blood in their lineage. Is Travis really as good as what David is pedalling ($1 mill plus p/a), partic in a bottom 4 club? Do we really want David hanging around the MFC sticking his nose in more than he should? Is it value for money if he gets very little supply? Very true comments and ones that should be heeded. Cloke is averaging 2 goals a match in a team that has great deliverers of the ball to the forwards. He has family baggage that you wouldn't possibly want to have around the place. Steer clear of him. get a gun on-baller if we can attract one. I would think our brand is currently 'on the nose' and i couldn't see too many players wanting to join us, worse the pity. Still, money talks all languages. Just think of Judd and Scully.

Sam Blease is a bright light at the end of a long and dark tunnel that is MFC. His potential is enormous and he is one of the players we need to ensure remains a Demon. Those on the list marked 'to be signed in October if we can't recruit better replacements' are not in the same class as Blease. With Blease, Tom McDonald and Howe all having had good seasons and with Clark, Jurrah, Jamar and Watts to return from long term injuries I think we are showing positive signs. Some top draft selections will be 'icing on the cake'. A couple of tough, ready to go types like Jack Viney would be a good start.

"Hmm, with no Frawley you would think Sellar would have to go back. With no Martin/Fitz wonder who can play that forward/ruck role." I don't know that it will matter a great deal who fills the forward role as I expect that our backs will be doing the bulk of the work tomorrow, as sad as that is.

As is often the case the AFL might be forced to act in response to the relentless trial by media that is here now and will continue to occur. As we are the ones in the gun, don't be surprised if penalties are handed out. For example, having our compensatory picks for losing Scully withdrawn. Forget Hawthorn, Collingwood, Richmond and Carlton, who have all reaped the benefit of tanking in the past 10 years or so. I've been wrong before, but I've got a sick feeling about this one.

The MC for Ian's funeral service was former Channel 9 commentator, Tony Charlton, who performed the role in a most professional manner. Many hundreds of mourners attended the service and listened to tributes from former greats such as Hassa Mann, Barry Bourke, Brian Dixon, Paul Callery and Jim Stynes. Cameron Schwab also spoke exceptionally well. It was indeed a fitting farewell to a wonderful Melbourne man.