Longsufferingnomore

I agree. A number of times the ball was coming out of the backline but the midfield/forwards were slow to react and should have been running back to position but there was no one home. Hello.

After listening to Patrick Smith and Kevin Bartlett this morning, don't we have enough people (term loosely used) media and other club supporters bagging us on the outside without MFC supporters doing the same. All the players are struggling in that we know that they are better than what they are now. The players know what is going outside of their office. They know what is being said and don't be fooled by "I don't read the newspapers" quotes. I don't mind a relevant discussion regarding a players game but with regard to Shannon Byrne he has come into a team that is floundering. Even with any good team it takes time to gel with the style of play. We need his type whilst we develop other players. We need back up players and you can see by the Casey result we do not have the luxury of back up players that the other better teams have. I've got a sore head this morning listening to other team supporters ringing in to tell the world what is wrong with the Club from the FD to the total administration. What would they know only for what is being fed to them on a daily basis. And for CW to say that Peter Jackson more or less told her that the whole Administration of the Club was a shambles well, just typical CW. Even if Peter Jackson thought this why on earth would he give CW a tell all. Peter Jackson is right we need clear air - less media interference. Rodney Eade's comment to Robbo is also telling me that within the other Clubs there is a bit of sympathy for the MFC and the constant targeting and negative reporting. I need to lie down now.

Also have just watched Matt B's interview with James Frawley. I did not get any sense of disinterest only frustration that we didn't win. He also mentioned "Neeldy". I feel a little more comfortable in that he will stay long term. Well a little bit more hopeful. Just aside I noticed today that Col Garland was quite vocal in the defenders group. I liked his game today and his ability to shirk off tackles.

Just watched the media conference and am extremely happy that Dawes is a Demon. He was extremely assertive even butting in on one of Neeld's answers. He speaks well and seems committed to improving the team's on field performance. He brings another dimension to the forward line that we have been lacking for years. Another light in an extremely long tunnel. Leadership material on and off the field.

He broke his thumb with the Pies. Are you saying that it is broken again.

I thought the Tiges set out to intimidate us today. Maybe listening to too many "easy beat" stories. I was so proud of the boys and the way they went in and helped out mates be it Gawn running in when someone was being targeted, Trengove running in, Neville's hard no shirking contest at the ball (man), Magner's gut wrenching running and sometimes insane tenacity at the ball. I loved the boys putting their head over the ball. This was 200% better than last week and we know that if we had have Mitch, Jack V and W and captain Jack back the result probably would have been different. I hate listening to the radio's biased commentary although I thought Richo's was at least fair. I think Nathan Brown was on another station and he was unbearable so much so I turned them both off. I also can't abide Delidio and what he got away with today and that little trumped up !!!! King and the smirk on his face. I wanted Tappy to wipe that smirk off his face. I hated also that there so few Melbourne supporters there today. I know it has been hard to watch up until today but today was good because the signs are there albeit microscopic signs but at least we saw something today. I liked the Jamar/Gawn rucking option. I know that many again have been critical of the mid field again today but I thought it was better today than it has been. Obviously Magner in there assisting Nate helped. I also liked Trengove going third man up. I often wonder why don't the rucks just belt it forward when we are being held in the mid field. Not happy with losing but much happier with the effort. Skills will get better with confidence and I believe there will be some confidence taken out of todays game.

I know but that was what was reported a couple of weeks ago. He didn't play against Port either.

Injured

I hate to say this but talk Col S into going. Sun, sand etc. He would love the lifestyle......... Not Frawley. He will get his mojo back with a new coach. (With no inference that there are problems between him and the coach.)

Deeluded one of the main incentives for Jim to become President was to make the Club more inclusive and get rid of that exclusive image. Yes there are a lot of us Melbourne supporters in the MCC and we come from all walks of life. Some MCC members save to pay for their membership some don't need to. I could spend the money I pay out for my MCC membership in better ways but I am trying to carry a legacy from my parents and pass that down to my children who I will probably have to pay for their memberships hopefully only in the short term. When at the Etihad I sit with a group of hard core Melbourne supporters not in the MCC members area. Your sense of exclusivity is not well founded. MFC/MCC members bleed the same and are feeling the same pain as everyone else. We do not sit there every week in the hope of getting an insiders tip on the stockmarket. Yes there are conservative elements in the MCC but there are in the general and reserved areas as well. We sit in the MCC like every other Melbourne supporter at the moment feeling helpless, disappointed and frustrated. A few years ago Jim held a forum of Melbourne members. There were young, old, rich and poor but one thing bound us together was the incentive to get the MFC back on track again. Don't tell me that in every other football Club there are those who are there because they believe they can contribute to their Club and there will always be those who are there for self grandiosement. I don't know where you sit at the games but I would be happy for you to come and sit with us and get to know some very ordinary people but with an extraordinary passion for our Club. There will be many in the Northern Stands calling for Neeld's head and there will be others prepared to wait. You have made a general statement tarring all with the same brush. I hope out of the same sense of frustration that we all feel at the moment no matter where we sit.

Gee thanks RR for the encouragement. She has never actually come out with what CS was "doing" to the Club. If she came clean with that her writings would not look to the outsider so completely biased. We would all have a clearer picture of what the problems were and are.

Didn't Ross Lyon tell everyone that he was staying in Melbourne and even his Manager or Garry Lyon who spoke to Lyon's Manager (who happens to be his own) said that he was staying. There may have been a chance but unless you were able to read minds, Lyon /Fremantle made sure that there was no opportunity to interview Lyon.

I liked the way that Dawse took control of the forward line immediately motioning players where to stand. It was good to have a marshall down there. It would have been better if he had the ball delivered a little more often and when it did come in to have it delivered better. One thing when the ball came in, the monster backman was able to spoil so I would like to see him do a "buddy" and stick his bottom out so the backman cant reach far enough to spoil. Just a little thing but otherwise Dawes is and will bring a lot to this team and I like everyone else can't wait to get Mitch and Dawes and the ground at the same time. In fact I am looking forward to 5-7 weeks time!

Geez whatever happened between the two of them. Seems not to be a carry over issue between their fathers but something has obviously put CW's nose out of joint in the time between 2010 and 2012. Ha would make a good topic - would take our minds off current issues. Far more entertaining thinking up reasons why our Caro suddenly turned and became the embittered one.

Thanks for that Dee but I am wondering does that mean if David Schwarz put his hand up you would say no you are an "old boy". Just wondering.

I presume from this that you mean that Todd is actively "rocking the boat" from inside and behind the Coach's back. I also presume that you have evidence of this because these are damning "facts" if true. This is also the type of rubbish that the written media feed off. So much so that a number of them could be charged with plagiarism. Without evidence of what you are saying I have to question why you would want to destabilize the Club any further. If you have evidence please precurse your comments as such. I also have to query as to who of the "old culture" is actually at the club. None of the assistant coaches, development coaches etc except for Todd are from "the old boys". There is Robbo in Admin with Neita occasionally. I cant see that group having such a definitive effect on the Club. I doubt that Garry now would want to have any influence at the Club. What other "old boys" do you think are influencing the "culture" at the Club. Todd was not interested in long term coaching at the Club in 2010 and is not interested now. He has his role which requires interaction with the Coach. I would be happy for him or Craig to come in as an interim coach if that should be required.

How can anyone take CW seriously. Only another opportunity to stick the boot into CS.

Please explain!

Deanox don't even bother. Some here only see what they want to see.

How could he have made changes. He has only been there since 1 May.

Interchange - Sellar, McKenzie, Strauss and Kent

Did anyone see in todays Age from Doc Larkin that Mitch's foot injury is a "long term" injury. Would be interesting on what he is basing this observation. Everyone at the Club including Mitch himself who had a conversation with a Volunteer the other night, says that the operation went better than expected and it was doing very nicely.

I think the Club has already reported that Jack has had a plate put in and that it was a clean break .May be our doctors on the site can elaborate for us.

But if all the players toe the line, EFC have the backing and support of the AFL, EFC have the backing of their two experts that there is no proof that the players took prohibitive substances, then ASADA/WADA do not have a leg to stand on unless - they have other information that they have not revealed to Vlad. Otherwise a lot of egg on a few faces in Canberra. Just another thought - why does there seem to be such a huge difference with what Cronulla (?) took and what EFC said they didn't take. All the initial information was that they took the same substances. Just business as usual at AFL Headquarters.

All the vibes I am getting out of yesterday and todays "drug" articles is that nothing will happen because EFC will ensure that heads will roll (whether guilty or not) which will sate the AFL's need for the footy world to be seen as doing its job and because it is Essendon, a non expendable cog in the AFL wheel (in contrast to the expendable MFC). We are being drip fed by Evans with the AFL's assistance, assurances that the players now have not taken anything prohibitive, that James Hird only took vitamins and melatonin (guilty of wanting a good tan) - all is good with the world but we have got rid of all those nasties that ensured that good governance was not followed. Still no answer on Reid's email and why didn't he follow up his very deep concerns. He was so concerned to write the letter but not so concerned to wonder why there was no direct follow up. We are being conned by the EFC and the AFL (again). Why do I think that we are going to come out of this worse. Why is it that the Club has admitted to JT possibly using the cream but no Essendon player used anything illegal. Even if EFC are cleared I can never believe anything that comes out of AFL PR mouths. I would like all the invoices from the chemist who made up the "vials" to be searched and let's see what other Clubs are also on his customer list. Truth and accountability can never be aligned with the AFL.