praha

Zero chance. That said, I've got $50 at $11 for the Melbourne win. I'm a delusional [censored].

It's arrogant, and kind of mean, but the guy's not wrong: this club is very lucky to have survived such a downright awful period. Undoubtedly one of the worst teams of all time. Even Carlton, after "winning" three wooden spoons in the 00s, was able to come back in season 8 to make the finals. They were able to turn their back on a losing, poor culture.

I think also it's important to look at who won't be at the club by the end of 2016: Frawley McKenzie Clisby Blease Strauss Riley Nicholson Evans Tapscott Barry Gawn Spencer Bail M. Jones Terlich Fitzpatrick Included in that list is our entire ruck stock, which is quite damning. Roos has his worked cut out for him. 16 out of 40 players gone by 2016, not factoring in retirement of Cross next year, and probably Jamar in '16. The club absolutely has to nail drafting and trading this year and next otherwise it'll be in the exact same position it is in now for another 5-6 years. EDIT: And Watts should be traded. We keep having this discussion and I think he still has trade value that can bring the club someone that is more suited to the type of style Roos wants to play.

Jimmy did many a great thing for the club but he was still part of the problem unfortunately. The boys club came back in and ruined this club.

Came to the club knowing Clark was there, with Hogan in the shadows. Turns out he's our only forward at least for the rest of the season. Teams just need to stop him and they've stopped our forward line. Imagine if we still had Clark and Jurrah? We'd be a 6-7 win better team. Easily. Even with the current crop of spuds missing from 5 meters out.

That was just lazy Buddy. He has brain farts like that. On one end we have Buddy: immensely talented, sometimes lazy. On the other, McKenzie: undoubtedly committed, but so bad and lacking in skill that it doesn't matter.

Watts, Vince, Frawley all share that. Watts is a downhill skier. He needs his teammates to win him the ball so he can drive it forward. He won't win ball himself. He's a guy that needs to be in a good team.

"Melbournised" makes it seem half-okay. He's being "Melbourned". I prefer that word. Bernie Vince is now officially "Melbourned". Did he butcher the ball like that at Adelaide? One of our worst offenders in the second-half of the year.

A week ago I thought I'd be livid. After yesterday I am just over it. It doesn't matter if they finish last. Yesterday was breaking point for me. I'm done for the year.

Frawley - Gawn Tapscott - Gawn Blease - Gawn Strauss - Gawn Bail - Gawn Byrnes - Gawn Terlich - Gawn Nicholson - Gawn Clark - Gawn I suspect one contracted player will be traded, at least. Watts should be traded to up draft position, and then pass on those draft picks + top 10 pick for an experienced, committed player. Or maybe even one of Patton or Cameron. No point sticking with Watts anymore. Guys like Watts, Dunn, Frawley, Grimes, Garland, they are unfortunately, losers and will never be at the forefront of a successful Melbourne team. They define this era and ultimately, they must be slowly chopped and moved on. Yes, the likes of Dunn are one of our best, but we need game winners, not passengers. Boy oh boy, year on year we have the same discussion: the entire list needs to be turned over!

1. Melbourne was awful 2. Etihad is awful 3. Melbourne is awful

So many players going through the motions today. Roos comments sum it up perfectly: the players wait to lose. The likes of Jones, Watts and Vince continue to disappointment me. Jones works his butt off but he simply isn't the kind of guy we need to lead us to victory. We just need that one X-factor that has the drive and will to push everyone around them to win. Tyson looks to be the only player with this quality. Maybe Viney. But they've played bloody 20-30 games each! Our biggest problem is not guys like McKenzie. It's that our leaders are no-shows when we need them, and they're the ones making the worst errors at the worst times.

Saints will run over the Suns. Suns seem spooked. Tomorrow is big. I'll be devastated if we fall to last.

Can't say I'm glad to see a young kid with well-known knee issues having to go under the knife again at 23. For as much as I hate the bloke for leaving, I can't take pleasure in seeing someone go down like this.

Roos and Thompson has a coaching duo is enough to make ANY football fan salivate. Unfortunately, I can't see it happening. IMO this saga has had its toll on Thompson, and I doubt he'll coach again in the near future. He's damaged goods.

Of course not. Probably closer to 12,000,000%.

"Am I a bad Melbourne supporter?" No, just a tragic one. Aren't we all?

1. Players cannot veto trades. <--- This invalidate the players' call for more freedom in choosing where they wish to work. A player should be able to determine whether or not they want to go to another club. Removing the veto option means a player could sign a contract thinking they are part of the long-term club plans, only to be traded with no say. 2. Contracts cannot be signed until the October they expire. <---- Agreed. Completely ban any discussion or contact with free agency until their contract is up. Current system is a farce. As it is in the NRL. 3. Lists are not finalised until two months into the season. <---- Get rid of list finalisation. Clubs should be able to sign and waive players as they wish. 4. Injury replacement players can come from outside the AFL. <---- Agreed. VOTE rpfc.

Why does he need to go through the draft? Can't the club just contract him?

Saints, Dogs (both times), Port (both times), and even the Suns matches were games that got away simply because of a lack of refinement and class at pivotal moments. Last year it was a matter of lacking urgency and desire to win. This year it appears to be a matter of not KNOWING how to win.

If this club is pushing for finals in 2016 I personally can't see Roos jumping ship, no matter what he's said.

Ladies and gentlemen, the illustrious Melbourne supporter *facepalm* Exactly. Finishing 16th is not that different from finishing 18th, I get that, but it's naive to suggest the stigma associated with being the absolute worst team in the comp -- by either wins or how many points you concede versus points scored -- isn't that important. Baby steps, granted, but finishing last would be absolutely disastrous. I can't even imagine how guys like Jones would react mentally to once again being the best player in the worst team in the comp. It must truly wear thin on the mind of someone that works so hard. The season must absolutely end on a positive note. Finishing last is the antithesis on that prospect.

If Melbourne has improved "100%" on last year, but finishes below where it finished last year, does that really signify improvement? It might in some capacity, but it suggests those below Melbourne last year improved more year-on-year in 2014, which would be quite damning and a massive indictment on the inroads made. It's absolutely integral this team beats Brisbane and GWS. They are absolute must-wins. Anyone that can't see that has rock for brains. Being able to step and stand above those on even footing is a step the team needs to make. Performing against North and Hawthorn (and to a lesser extent, those pretenders in Perf) are important, too, but winning those games isn't all that important in developing this team. Winning when the team is expected to win is a hurdle this team simply hasn't been about to surpass, because they've rarely been in that situation. Absolutely must beat Brisbane this week. The likes of Jones, Frawley, Dunn, Grimes can't let the team lose. It's their time to step up. Been around for far too long to continuously let this team be stepped on. It really is time for Jones to take the next step.

I will be absolutely devastated. Finishing last and below GWS and GC at the same time and after so many high draft picks would be the worst thing that could possibly happen to the club at this time. The likes of Jones, Watts, Frawley, Dunn, Jetta, Grimes must be absolutely sick of it and they can't let it happen. The club has to stand up and not let it happen. If it does, it may be very hard for me to get up for next season. GWS and Brisbane are absolute must-wins. IMO, for the sake of the club moving forward and gaining respect, not finishing last, and holding their own against the Hawks and North are integral in the closing weeks. Finishing last would be a true indictment on the improvement the team has made, and it would demonstrate just how hard it is going to be for the club to move forward. This is the chance to move forward and that means getting off the damn bottom of the ladder! The Saints are a legitimate chance against GC. I am not confident anymore going into the Brisbane game. If we are last after the next round, I fear the team will never get off it.

Missed it by THAT much!