Grand New Flag

I like that team.

I think Dunn and Grimes should be swapped. Dunn in the forward line Grimes running off the backs when not in the midfield.

I am not sure Watts will be ready. He really needs to play the next two NAB Challenge games to be a realistic chance. Likewise with Garland.

My Guess:

Bell, Warnock, Rivers

Joel Mac, Frawley, Bruce

Grimes, Silvia, Trengove

Davey, Miller, Jurrah

Green, Bate, Wonna

Jamar, Moloney, Jones

IC Scully, Martin, Dunn, Stuass

8 wins must be the target. Anything less must be considered a failure.

Saying that our first 6 rounds are very tough. In my opinion we are playing 4 of the top 6 teams for 2010 (Hawthorn, Collingwood, Brisbane, Adelaide) plus our bogie team (North). It could be a disaster!

I am particularly concerned with Round 1 v Hawthorn. Maybe it is bad memories from 2 years ago. But I really rate Hawthorn (even without Buddy), I would not be surprised if they won the premiership this year. Add Burgone and Gibson to an already awesome line up...... its very impressive. I think its between them and the Dogs with the Saints in the mix for this years flag.

I think Hawthorn will want to make a statement in round 1 just as they did in 2008 (their premiership year) with a thumping win in round 1. In 2008 this win went a long way to setting up their premiership season and I have no doubt they will be looking at our inexperienced team as an opportunity to repeat history.

Honestly, I will be happy with a competitive loss. A 100+ point destruction followed by a likely thrashing by the pies could set the tone for a terrible season (like 2008), our kids confidence could be destroyed, it may not be repaired until 2011 and in so set our rebuild back years.

This is what I fear most!

So it seems our game will start at 8:30pm Melbourne time on Sunday, which I think is just down right rediculous. I understand that Victorian sides often have to travel west in the NAB cup/challenge to compensate WA teams who have a heavy travel burden during the regular season, I also understand that it's best to start games late - ie. 5:30 Perth time to avoid the heat. I don't want our players ending up dehydrated for the sake of the NAB cup. But come on AFL, we're a club trying to attract supporters (especially young supporters) so I don't see why we get hidden away at a time that restricts young viewers and old viewers as well with the game likely to finish after 11pm. Hardly ideal to see Trengove and Scully in action for the first time.

How many parents are going to allow their kids to stay up late when they have school the next day. Plus it is a foxtel game so I don't see a family outing to the local pub as being a popular option. Would a 1 hour earlier start really make a major difference to player welfare? I hope that the management of the club have voiced their concerns over this fixture as it puts us at a disadvantage to the other 15 AFL clubs (the game works out nicely for Freo who last time I checked have a predominantly WA supporter base). I would expect certain advantages in other fixtures and/or financial compensation for this matter.

The only benefit is that at least if we're getting pumped Richmond style it won't attract so much attention!

I completely disagree. 8:30pm Sunday night is the peak tv watching time for the week. More people will watch the game because it starts at this time not less.

Although he has played just 9 games I think Jurrah he is now too old for the rising star. Can someone confirm this.

I would have thought that Silvia was underrated by the football community outside MFC.

I placed a wager on the dees for a long lunch at the Italian on Flinders Lane with my boss. Loser pays. Probably cost about $150 - $200.

If Melbourne comes bottom 3 I lose and pay.

If Melbourne comes 13th we go dutch

Anything above 13th he pays.

I think its a fair bet.

I think 8 wins should be the target for the MFC.

How sure are we that Jack Viney will decide to come to Melbourne under the father/son rule?

I have it from a very good source (his old coach) that he is almost certain to come to Melbourne.

If the 2011 National Draft was today he would be the number one pick. Therefore it is likely that he will be a very high pick in the 2011 draft. Western Sydney will scoop the pool in the 2011 draft with almost all the first round picks similar to Gold Coast this year. That being the case Jack Viney has a simple choice of going into the draft and being almost certainly picked by WS or taking a father/son rule and becoming a demon. My understanding is that he will take Melbourne over WS.

Unfortunately Jack Viney is a Hawthorn supporter (due to his dad being assistant coach there when growing up). However, expect him in the red and blue.

This is very exciting.

2010 Ladder position and record 9- 11wins 11 losses

B & F Winner: Brad Green

Most Brownlow Votes: Colin Sylvia

Most Rising Star Votes: Tom Scully

Most Improved: Watts, Pettard, Dunn

Our 5 most important players at the end of the season will be: Sylvia, Green, Jurrah, Morton, Scully

2010 Premier: Bulldogs over Hawks in GF

Wooden Spoon: Tigers

Brownlow: Judd

Coleman: Roughead

What sort of cost are you looking at?

Awesome!

Perhaps did not hurt the most.... but deserves a mention.

Brian Wilson to St. Kilda.

I know he was past his best and at the end of his career, but it was still very painful. Especially on the day the following season he kicked the winning goal (plus several others) for the Saints and then turned to the MCC members and properly gave it to them.

He was not happy to be asked to retire (I think this was the case). What ever the case he felt he had something to prove...... and he did just that.

Yes i think we will actually over take Carlton....IF the MFC get it right this year.

Our backline is better than theirs.

Correct me if i am wrong...is that the 2nd time Judd has been done for eye goughing??

I agree that we will take over Carlton in coming years............ and this will break Juddy's heart.

However, two years ago, when this decision was made, Carlton was clearly well in front of Melbourne on the rebuild. An AFL career is short even for the elite. Juddy made the right decision. More importantly, as I said, we would have never got a list good enough to be better than Carlton..... to be a potential, future premiership threat if we did not come embarrassingly last................ if we did not get our priority picks. This simply would not have happened if Judd came to Melbourne.

I can't believe some of the crap I am reading about Judd on this thread.

Some of you guys are still so disappointed and angry that he did not come to Melbourne that you are letting your emotion cloud your judgement.

From what I can read no one here has ever met Juddy let alone know him. However, I do. I know him well. I speak to him a couple of times a week and regularly have meals with him. Let me set a few things straight.

Juddy is a credit to the game, a credit to his club and a credit to himself. He is an outstanding individual on every level. He is the complete professional athlete. He is a highly intelligent and honourable and an absolutely impressive person, player and leader.

However, it may be true that Juddy is not a natural leader. Instead he leads by example both on and off the field. He is learning that by example, with a young group is not always enough. He is the sort of person who is very critical of himself and always trying to improve himself in every way including his leadership skills. I can assure you that Juddy will have learnt from his leadership failure in this instance, he will learn from this and only become a better leader as a result. He will continue to learn and grow into the role and mark my words he will become an outstanding leader. By the end of his career he will be remembered as much for the quality of his leadership as he is for his professionalism, talent and wit. He is still learning leadership in exactly the same way Neita was learning in his early days as captain. Are all your memories so short that you can’t remember significant anti Neita as captain campaigns in the early 2000s by supporters on this very site as well as the media.

Now let me set something else straight.

The only reason he is not playing for Melbourne today is that he desperately wants another premiership (money was secondary) and when assessing teams correctly determined that Melbourne was only beginning their rebuilding (end 07) and as such Melbourne would be no chance of being in its Premiership window until he was at least 31yo......... and that’s if everything went right. Where as Carlton in 07 was finishing its rebuild already had a strong young list of early draft picks and was as such far ahead of Melbourne. In reality Carlton end of 07 was in a similar position to Melbourne at the end of 09. Thus Carlton was assessed as being at least two years in front of Melbourne. Guess what Juddy got this right.

If Juddy had have come to Melbourne we would have won more games in the last two years, probably not have finished last and as a result would not have received priority picks or number one picks. Two years on it is clear we are better off that Juddy did not choose us. It is also clear that Juddy is better off not being a demon.

Now get over it!

Here is my guess:

Western Bulldogs

St.Kilda

Hawthorn

Geelong

Adelaide

Brisbane

Collingwood

....................... clear 7 teams who each beleive their premiship window is open. All other teams at various stages of rebuilding.

West Coast

Carlton

Melbourne

Essendon

North

Sydney

Freo

Port

....................... Day light

Richmond

Brings a tear to my eye.

I listened to my grandfathers stories of the GRAND old flag in the 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s. I still listen to my fathers GRAND stories from the late 50s and 60s........ This is what it is all about.

I have never seen a premiership myself as a 37yo. I am not a greedy man..... (not yet at least in football terms)... I just want to see one premiership so as I am able to forward these wonderful stories, these detailed emotions, the euphoria, to my kids (first due March 3..... male) and grand kids (........... if I am as lucky...... so help me god).

Today, I have hope again for the MFC.

I genuinely feel our new team can bring the premiership back to the MFC and MCC in coming years. I feel we are on the right track.

However, I will not lie........... this is far from the first time I have felt this way................. only to be left in despair.

So come our new demon soldiers, reclaim our glory, put your names in our history books for all us MFC/MCC lovers to adore and love forever.

GOD BLESS THE MFC, AND ALL THOSE WHO PLAY OR SUPPORT IT.

ITS A GRAND, GRAND OLD FLAG

i dont understand ? youv made 600 posts in 3mnths, only a student would do that, im trying to interact, why come down on me in that way?

I have to back you on this "apple".

Good Call!

Your comments are constructive and your opinion is in line with mine.

Newton = dud.... waste of space!

Our FD is honourable......... and thats the ONLY reason he has a guernsey .............. be it a Casey one.

On a serious note, Lynden Dunn needs to step up imo to keep his spot.

And i want to see more of maric.

Dunny did step up in the second half of the season. He was without question on of our best players in the second half of the season and was rewarded with a new 2 year contract. So Dunn not in delisting risk in 2010. If Dunn can continue his late 09 form he will quickly become one of our top 10 players. If he starts playing the crap we saw from him in 08 and early 09 he can look forward to a two year hard slog with Casey. I think Dunn will suprise to the up side.

I am expecting Watt, Wonna, Blease, Spencer, Strause, & Maric to step up with solid rookie seasons from Watts and Trengove.

Surely this depends on pre-season form and fitness only.

Nevertheless its going to be a very different looking team next season.

Why do so many Melbourne supporters hate Bruce?

Are we all watching the same games?

Bruce has be fantastic for us over the years. An awesome rookie pick who has played consistently good football for 10 years. Thank goodness the FD have better eye site than some on this thread as otherwise Bruce would have been shown the door just like so many other of Danihers men.

Bruce has been in the top 10 for Bluey every year since his debut......................... enough said.

To those anti Bruce, there are 15 other teams and about 600 non Melbourne listed players that your venin would be much better targeted towards. If you are going to have a shot at our own players surely lazy, duds like Newton deserve a swipe rather than a solid, seasoned, steward of our club such as Bruce.

I can't beleive Richmond dumped/retired 12 players yet somehow kept Jordan on their list.

That would suggest Richmond have the worst list in the comp by a long way.

Please no one take offence at my blunt appraisal of the situation.

Newton will never make it as an AFL player. He has neither the attitude nor ability. Yes kicking is a required skill. Now that we are not tanking he is of no value. MFC should go back on their word and not rookie draft him, instead pay out his contract.

Similarly Meeson despite showing something in his three games before getting injured this year has under performed at two clubs and managed just 4 games in 5 or is it 6 seasons. MFC should seriously consider paying his contract out as well.

With so much talent still in the system it is far better to give the rookie opportunity to a player like Grimes or even Patrick than to waste our time with these dead wood list cloggers.

Time to build for a premiership. Time to be ruthless.

From our picks I think it is obvious that the plan is to play Green forward much more often. I think he will be a full time forward by mid season 2011.

I have been calling all year for Newton to be payed out. Now we are not tanking he is a worthless, waste of space. Other clubs have paid out contracts (Haw - Thorpe, etc), so we can too. Newton will never make it, as certain as night and day. Get rid of him and free up the space for Grimes or Patrick.

I thought Meeson showed something in his 3 games before getting injured. Nevertheless with two new ruckmen and his failure to deliver at two clubs I would not be against paying him out either. Lets be ruthless.

Dump the duds!

Go Dees!!

Can someone tell us about this kid?