Salems Lot

It is an interesting proposition; as a very young developing list there are so many unknowns that could develop over the next couple of years. One thing that has not been put in place over the past few years is a leadership succession plan. After Neitz retired there was literally no obvious leader to take over. So now we find ourselves in this situation again. I have never really thought much of the co-captain idea but seeing how it has worked and benefitted the Saints this year, it may be a good fit for our team. A rotational list of Green, Davey and Moloney would certainly provide excellent leadership experience for all of them and spread the load. I am also interested in taking leadership from the different strands of the playing group. We have a group of older experienced players, a growing group of young indigenous players and of course a lot of down right young and inexperienced players. To draw from all of those areas, whilst it may be trying to be all things to all people could be worth considering e.g a leadership group comprised of Green or Moloney, Davey and Grimes could well do the trick. A couple of options that manages to keep Flash front and centre in any future leadership team. Having just reread this it is slightly of the topic - apologies

It is an interesting proposition; as a very young developing list there are so many unknowns that could develop over the next couple of years. One thing that has not been put in place over the past few years is a leadership succession plan. After Neitz retired there was literally no obvious leader to take over. So now we find ourselves in this situation again. I have never really thought much of the co-captain idea but seeing how it has worked and benefitted the Saints this year, it may be a good fit for our team. A rotational list of Green, Davey and Moloney would certainly provide excellent leadership experience for all of them and spread the load. I am also interested in taking leadership from the different strands of the playing group. We have a group of older experienced players, a growing group of young indigenous players and of course a lot of down right young and inexperienced players. To draw from all of those areas, whilst it may be trying to be all things to all people could be worth considering e.g a leadership group comprised of Green or Moloney, Davey and Grimes could well do the trick. A couple of options that manages to keep Flash front and centre in any future leadership team.

It does not look like the two "W"s will be fit so give them an open top ride around the boundary before the game and let Robbo have a last game send off. If he plays like yesterday, he is not exactly being a passenger and he may just kick a few, you never know.

Something which had escaped my attention until this morning is that it is possible to have a kick on the G after the game tomorrow. If you didn't do it last year, I can strongly recommend it. Brings back memories from a by gone era and is one of the great new initiatives from the club. Bring your footy and have a bit of a laugh http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/newsart...80/default.aspx

Hi All, I just had a look to see if the old DD website is still running and it is set up for 2009 : www.debtdemolition.com.au/ I haven't heard much about it except for the dinner coming up later in the month. It is not on the Mfc website which I thought a little curious. The current amount raised for 2009 is $000,0000,000 (I like their ambition with all those commas!) Quite clever really because I thought that I would kick it off....sadly its sensitivity is too high for my $100.00 so nothing has changed on the counter. Anyway, I thought that we needed a little diversion from the T word. Both are good for the future after all

A west coast mate of mine has said for some time that they are really interested in Morabito with their first pick. Clearly the home sickness issue is a major one for all clubs. With the strength of the WA team at the Nationals he was talking up their local crop as having some great options. Scully and Trengrove for mine - -Maybe Butcher might sneek through to our second round pick (19 I guess), wouldn't that be the perfect result! ( I know, dreaming)

A weird week end for sure - tipped 7 (Hawks let me down) but the Weagles was a left field one to make up some tips on the leaders and they have delivered us the goods - well and trully. Still feel hollow from this afternoon.

I saw a fairly clumsy tackle from Flash in front of the interchange bench, I would not be surprised if it went to the tribunal, he has also been reported for wrestling in the first quarter

This is a link to an article about young Shane in the Sunday Age. If all our players had his dedication and determination we might not be too worried about PPs at this time of year. His is a case of a player who just doesn't seem to fit into any of the easy boxes of modern footy. http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/rfnews/it...8977241388.html

True, as one of the 14000, I look forward to seeing the toig fans cheering for ninth position on the ladder...again.. it is still mathematically possible

That was fantastic DA, mind you it did nothing for my insomnia, watching the link ups between Col and Flash as well as the Wizard tackling marking and finishing completely woke me up!!!

I got this from the AFL website (I hope it works as a link but otherwise cut and paste it into your browser) and it seems to say less than 5 wins. That to me suggests less than 20 points. Have a read and see what you think. http://www.afl.com.au/development/nabaflri...14/default.aspx

I hate it and I hate the system!!! There I was yesterday, talking to my brother about going to the footy tomorrow and hoping that we lose. Don't get me wrong, I am all for chasing the PP's and want the Dees to List Manage as best as they can, I also realise that to do that we can only win one more game...I understand it all and i know that it is for the benefit of the club long term,but.....it does not change the fact that I hate feeling like this.. My 5 year old comes with me most weeks and to him he just wants the Dees to win...maybe it is that simple..I just want the Dees to win. A bit of a ramble, this post but I think that it might sum up the feelings of a lot of us. The PP system is counterintuitive to competitive sport and now that we are right in the thick of it, the contradictory nature of it i.e. to win we have to lose, is really starting to hit home, for me at any rate. I read posts where we attack each other for our respective views on this most contentious of issues and it saddens me. We must accept each others point of view as there is no right or perfect answer to this most vexed of issues. Once again, sorry if this is a bit rambly!

I hate it and I hate the system!!! There I was yesterday, talking to my brother about going to the footy tomorrow and hoping that we lose. Don't get me wrong, I am all for chasing the PP's and want the Dees to List Manage as best as they can, I also realise that to do that we can only win one more game...I understand it all and i know that it is for the benefit of the club long term,but.....it does not change the fact that I hate feeling like this.. My 5 year old comes with me most weeks and to him he just wants the Dees to win...maybe it is that simple..I just want the Dees to win. A bit of a ramble, this post but I think that it might sum up the feelings of a lot of us. The PP system is counterintuitive to competitive sport and now that we are right in the thick of it, the contradictory nature of it i.e. to win we have to lose, is really starting to hit home, for me at any rate. I read posts where we attack each other for our respective views on this most contentious of issues and it saddens me. We must accept each others point of view as there is no right or perfect answer to this most vexed of issues. Once again, sorry if this is a bit rambly!

I refer you to the Wake in Fright thread, you could do a lot worse than get along to see this great film. Also I would recommend Not Quite Hollywood as a great introduction to the Australian Film industry. I realise that I am starting to sound like a Aussie Film zealot but they are great films in their own right.

Has anyone an update on Scully, I have noticed that the last couple of weeks he has not featured in the "Best" for Dandenong. Is he on school duties?...he does play for Dandenong doesn't he?

I don't know about you but I have started looking at the run in to the end of the season. If one buys into the notion that we can only win 2 1/2 more games for the season here are my thoughts on who and why: All of North Melbourne, Richmond and Port are very beatable but we have already beaten the toigs once, Port will bring their Flat Track Bully game plan to play us and probably sneak a win and we are playing the Roos at the Dome (enough said). We are also playing a couple of other teams who we will do well to stay with for the whole game: eg The Cats at Skilled. This brings me to the ones that I hope don't get away: After a number of very close and honorouble losses, I hope that we come up against a rampant Freo and beat them from 54 points down at half time (just for old times sake) Don't forget, they did put us out of the 2006 finals campaign so we do owe them. The following week we come up against Carltank (for the first time this year) I don't need to go into all of the history of this club but suffice it to say that it would be so sweet to be the team that derails their failed finals campaign with an upset win. Finally we have the Sainters who could very possibly be undefeated when we meet. It would be nice to be the team that spoils their perfect record for the year by finishing with a draw against them. This would take us into the end of the season without a loss in the final 3 rounds and quite a lot of belief to take into the preseason still keeping the PP in tact.

Don't be so sure that Wheatley will be delisted, yes we are a young list and we are all wanting to see the young kids come through but they do need support. A good list has a wide range of ages on it and Wheats is surely one of those older bodies (he is only 27 I think) that we must keep playing. Our draft penalties from a few years ago have really starved us of talent at that age group and I just think that our youngsters won't benefit from a complete clean out at the top end. I also think that Robbo is needed as long as he takes the first defender. Both of them will benefit from a proper pre-season so hopefully they will go around again

For goodness sake, get over yourself!! this is not about the MFC, this is about Jim and his family. Ludicrous statements like yours have no place on these forums at this time. If you have ever dealt with this sort of affliction, you will know that at this time everything else becomes irrelevant and it becomes all about the idividual. And anyway, a great man like Jim would cringe to hear such pathetic utterances.

I just turned on the channel 9 news this morning to hear them report that Jimmy Stynes is stepping down due to illness! Has anyone heard any more about this? Apparently he wont disclose the nature of the illness but it is with immediate effect. If this is true it is an absolute tragedy for him and his family. FWIW it has been confirmed on channel 7 as well Get well Jimmy

Young Master Watts has just become the player that I would most like to haver at a dinner party. He dealt with the hosting panel with ease and almost completely free of sound bites. Yet another example of what an impressive young man he is. As Hutchinson said, he is likely to be hosting the show in a couple of years and who would doubt it. He seemed to lick his lips at the prospect of Scully and Butcher coming to the club

I do feel that people like Rohan connolly can do better. A short read of the team line up today has him dishing out a real back hander "...Melbourne of 2009 looks more competitive than last years version, the kids showing enough signs to keep what faithful there arecoming back....." Pity he couldn't get a crack in there about 4 wheel drives and the snow for gods sake. Doesn't the fool realise that we have just passed 30,000 members in an extremely testing time for our great club. This is some achievement when some of our rival teams with a few more wins on the board are doing worse in the membership stakes. On a more positive note, there is a great article about Flash on page 5 of the Age today, (sorry no link from me). He is impressing me more and more, he is showing all the leadership aspirations that a club like ours is crying out for. Maybe the next great Melbourne skipper? Go Dees!!!!!!!

The thing I like about the looks of Butcher and Scully is their apparent readiness for the top level. With another season under our current recruits belts, we are looking at starting next season with: Watts Butcher Scully Blease Strauss and Jurrah ready to go. Not a bad influx of talent.

I am told that Robbo is in the lineup for Sunday A little bit of experience in the forward line won't go astray. Maric is picked on a half forward flank as well. Some good inclusions!

True I'm afraid, its on the MFC website. Out for the year and preparing for 2010