praha

I've made all three. Only stayed to the end in two, though: Port and GWS.

We are a chance in the same way we were a chance against Port. I am surprised by Brisbane's capitulation tbh. A win against them IN Brisbane would be absolutely superb for this team. A loss, even a tight one, would demonstrate that not much has changed since last season. Must win imo. If this team wants to demonstrate how hard it has worked, it's round 5 and it must win to show that.

Without wanting to take any credit away from Jaded for their contribution to this forum, I am the blog's curator

IMO generalising that men are going to treat women lesser because of their sex is akin to the sexism you suggest might be occurring. Even saying it's "possible" relies on misconstructed social theory that sexism is rife in society, which I don't accept. That's an unfair assumption to place on the umpire just because they're male and the goal umpire is female. You're basically saying, "Well, she is female, so maybe she's a victim of sexism?" That in itself is sexist. If the goal umpire says, "It appeared to be a goal, but I can't be sure", then they go to the replay. If they are 100% sure, there won't be a replay. She wasn't sure, so there was a replay.

Updated with winning goodness. http://beingademonsfan.tumblr.com/

you're being far too apologetic towards a poor team. If Melbourne were up and going, or at the least a decent side of the North variety, the media would lap it up. The media focuses on good teams, not necessarily big ones. Cotchin went unnoticed for a while there while Richmond languised. Did anyone hear of Swan pre-2006? With success comes respect. if you're a good player in a crap team, no one cares. The best thing for Jones is to just keep the eye on the prize rather than lap up good games against teams still with a pacifier in their mouth and expect to be noticed. When this team is flying, he will be the league's poster boy, bookmark it. He'll get his time.

I found "cheap seats" to mean casual fans that speak up and criticise the loudest when the club is falting. he might not be referring to any melbourne fan in general, but a fan nonetheless.

Jamar scored very highly in Dreamteam. He did enough for the tap ruckman he is. not his fault scraps in the center almost always went GWS' way. he doesnt do enough around the ground but he is a great tap ruckman. His time is up but he has been a great serviceman for the club. let's not ostracise him like we have older players in the past. Gawn was great. Hope his knees hold up.

Jack played like the rest of the team today: erratic and buckling when under pressure, loose and confident when not. Time to stop looking at him as pick No.1, and rather simply as the player he is. if you figure out what sort of player he is, let me know.

Which "whole thing"? The fact the board admitted it hasn't met any of its targets?

On top of that: McLardy on December 3: 1. "We were able to take prudent steps in our financial management at that time, although challenging as it was, the actions taken meant that we could maintain a sound financial base and manage our cash flows effectively despite the critical issues we faced." 2. "The players and coaches head to Darwin later this week for a training camp that will test their mettle, both physically and mentally. This is an important investment in this group made possible by the improved financial position of the club." McLardy on February 14: 3. "We have dealt with financial setbacks in the past, and we will meet this challenge." Melbourne FC on April 18: The Board is the first to acknowledge that today the Club as a whole, both on and off the field, has not met the goals we set 4 years ago. This is unacceptable and must be addressed. Few questions I have: 1. What "goals" did the club set? 2. If the club has a "sound financial base" and has managed our "cash flows effectively despite the critical issues we faced", then how is it that it "has not met goals"? They are seriously losing the plot. It's all lies, spin.

"The Board is the first to acknowledge that today the Club as a whole, both on and off the field, has not met the goals we set 4 years ago. This is unacceptable and must be addressed." In which world do you live in where Presidents, CEOs and boards aren't held accountable for not reaching targets? The ex-CEO of Electronic Arts (I am a shareholder) resigned a few weeks back for what he says is "accountability": he was holding himself accountable for the company's inability to reach financial targets in his time as CEO, 2007-2013. A "weak" supporter is not one that demands change: it's one that DOESN'T demand change.

"The Board is the first to acknowledge that today the Club as a whole, both on and off the field, has not met the goals we set 4 years ago. This is unacceptable and must be addressed." Absolutely shocking. The last time this club hired a well-known CEO, he wanted to throw money at a superstar and we dumped him because we wanted to go the youth route. That has worked out superbly. The ineptness of this club never ceases to amaze me.

It's actually a great idea, and great for Pies fans. I hope that one day Melbourne is in a position to have its own commentary team. Flower, Schwartz and Lyon.

Where did you hear this?

It might... My point is that...well...I'm unsure as to how having an extra target would improve delivery. I am certain it would enhance our capacity to score goals when the ball eventually goes there -- two tall targets is something most teams dream of -- but I am unsure how you're going to address the issue of our midfield's inability to mark zones in the middle of the ground and rebound off the defensive 50 fast enough for damaging delivery. In every game this year (and most of Neeld's coaching career) our forwards are dragged up the ground because our midfield is unintentionally flooding the defensive 50 -- they are dragged in because the ball goes in there so frequently. When you're flooding unintentionally, you have no purpose, no position, which is why the opposition looks continuously free and spaced out in comparison to our midfielders. Do you watch our games or just snap at people you disagree with? Maybe I'm going crazy?

Sylvia and Watts, and soon Blease, are downhill skiers. Put them in a crap side and they'll crash and burn along with their teammates. Put them in a finals side and they're Brownlow-vote getters. We haven't seen the best of Watts because he's been in consistently crap sides. He needs a good team around him. Not sure they're ideal people to have around a club that is struggling for leadership, because they've both failed to lead.

I watched some of the Melbourne v Sydney game from 2010 the other night. I was in Greece atm so I missed what many say was Melbourne's most dominate win of the past 6 years. A quote from Bruce: "Oh they're gonna be something! The Dees are gonna be something!" The team was unstoppable that day. They players' attack at the ball, confidence in one another, overall effort and competitiveness is something I don't think we've seen since. I don't get the whole, "it's a culture thing", but it clearly is, that players can't perform when the team collectively isn't performing, that "leaders" and experienced players can't lead from the front when the team folds. I question Neeld because he says so much was wrong, but yet there's more wrong with his team then there was before he arrived, or while Bailey was coach. It's not that I don't have faith, I just think we need to hold him more accountable to what he says. "Give it time" is something you say when you're sure there will be outcomes. In the mean time, if you're not reaching goals that bring you closer to your end goal -- the "time" -- then there is something wrong.

I think that both Grimes and Trengove encapsulate this football team atm: they're great blokes with outstanding endeavour, but they're not Brownlow winners, or potential superstars. They're the kind of guys every Premiership team has, though. Best to have a champion team, then a team of champions.

Would be even better if we could get the ball forward...

lol funny you say that. Melbourne seems like the new Fitzroy, support wise. I think the contemporary Fitzroy crew are adopting it as their team. I went to Melbourne Uni in 2012, trust me, I've seen it. It's an "underdog" thing. The club should DEFINITELY invest in the Fitzroy Brunswick Street area imo. Have a shop on Brunswick Street. Makes sense considering the proximity to East Melbourne and that it's basically a directly line from the street to the MCG. But I wouldn't expect the club to invest in the city of ... Melbourne. Casey makes much more sense. /sarcasm

Games against interstate clubs always sound loud ... at least for the small crowd. Good that Melbourne fans sit so close together in one half of the ground. From AFL Members it sounds very loud.

Kind of getting sick of these, "I know the club isn't performing better but let's get out there and support the boys" threads. Most people have already made up their minds. The pity and sympathy around here is getting too much to handle.

No, I'm crying too.

Oh wow, I just listened to that. Shocking that people here are still being so apologetic for this club and the players. Long way off. [censored] of Frawley, Watts, Sylvia, all these "experienced" boys that think they're God's gift to the league.