Binmans PA

Oh, you're not the only one. Fremantle and Port Adelaide brought about the demise of Fitzroy. If the AFL had put more money into saving them instead of setting up these new clubs, the Roys might even still be around. I just hope we don't loose another club to bring in a club like GC, which is likely to attract about 10,000 (if they're lucky) a game and potentially fold in a decades time. Furthermore, I doubt that Western Sydney will go ahead. There's simply not enough interest in those parts. The Swannies can't even get enough along to games, let alone a new club based in the NRL heartland. The AFL would be down right stupid to go ahead with those plans and if they do, it'll backfire.

Ditto! :D That said, the next few months will be exciting nonetheless.

Just on this, Martin's defensive capabilities are his strongest attributes, personally I'd keep him down back. He's quick, tall and one hell of a spoiler. He, Garland and Warnock are all developing into much the same player. This is a credit to the recruiting and to Sean Wellman. We've recognised that tall, pacy forwards are the go in modern day football (the Franklin's and Pavlich's) and therefore styled a backline that can account for this shift in the game. We're also developing key defender depth down there. Clearly one of the stronger areas of our squad to date. The beauty of our boys is that they could play on just about any size too. The slow Anthony Rocca type forward, who sits in the goal sqaure is becoming a thing of the past. It's only height and pace these days. I'd add Jetta in there as well. The future looks very bright. As long we we sign our uncontracted guys up mid way through next season, then in theory, GC shouldn't be able to touch them.

This wouldn't and won't happen. We've just realligned ourselves with the MCC, as one of their clubs. We're not going to then move over to Docklands. Especially, for the fact that the whole point of Casey was to provide the club with more supporters and members over the next 30 years.

On the injuries thing, how do we account for that? Is it purely bad luck? Or are our fitness staff to blame? Or is our coaching staff to blame somehow? Or is it just the fact that the game is getting faster and therefore all teams are prone to these injuries?

Either support the club or don't. It's about going and watching your team. It's two seconds away from the G and if you've got a membership you'll get in. Jeesh, no wonder other supporters call Melbourne supporters fair weathered supporters.

If you've bought an MFC membership, then you'll be able to get in. It's still our home game. Furthermore, on the compensation thing, buying a membership is about supporting the club. Why on earth would you want to take money back off them? I'm an MCC member, so most of the time I don't even need an MFC one, but I still bought the $180 membership, because I wanted to support the club financially. I'm only a Uni student, so I could be spending my money on something else, but as I love the club, the money doesn't even factor into my thinking. It's simply a matter of support.

The thing about Williams was that he played in the 80s and 90s. The game's changed. It's so much quicker than it used to be, so although I like Brock, this argument is rather useless. Players without pace these days get caught out. Especially midfielders. That said, I still believe he has lots to offer us, in the ball winning and leadership stakes.

We were on top with only a few rounds to go. In '04 (or was it '05?) particularly, there was no stand out team, so that was probably our best crack at a premiership since the 80s. If memory serves me correctly we were 14-5 after Round 19, but unfortunately faded in the last few games, just as we did the following year. You're not going to sway me, we were certainly one of the 4 top teams for the majority of that season.

Maybe Brian's been reading the Demonland forums?

I was joking...

Remincising. I won't even bother arguing that one.

If I remember correctly, we were sitting first by Round 15 and Round 18 or 19 in both respective seasons. Any team that does that is a good team in my book.

Yeah, I'd agree with your assessment entirely, Doggo. He's got beautiful blance for a big man.

I would have thought it's a bizarre time to rest him though. Perhaps, Bails think he'll win the game for us this week.

For arguments sake, kicking can be linked so heavily with confidence though. Hence, our disposal inefficiency over the past two seasons. I'm not convinced he'll miss as often, if he too becomes part of a stronger team, that is flying. I suppose it's a bit like the Sylvia situation. Johno has such raw athleticism, combining that with height, he just seems like he has all the potential in the world. Stick him in a good team and you never know. Stick Jamar in a good team...well he was in one, in '04 and '05...he was just damn right frustrating.

I probably shouldn't comment on this, as I've not read up on it and therefore I'm not particularly well-informed, but don't the GC have the right to come in and attempt to sign any un-contracted players they want? So ie Jack Watts, Same Blease, these types, who are only on two year contracts. I'm just thinking of Barrassi to Carlton. Obviously different situation, but it ruined our plans then and something quite similar could happen again with Watts et al, could it not?

I vividly remember him playing up forward against the Pies (even full forward from the goal square) in '07 and he could have had 5 by half time. Just his kicking let him down that day. I think that's where I might have got it from. He also leads very well on occasion. Mind you, he doesn't finish a lot of his opportunities.

We would have picked up Cruiser that year if we'd lost to Carlton, so the Nat probably wouldn't be as relevant. Furthermore, we could've had a bloke by the name of Chris Judd also. Still, if we get Butcher and Scully, we'll be set for a premiership anyway.

I understand there wasn't a choice between he and Jamar. My point was, however that Jolly is and always has been the far superior player out of the two. To be honest, I would have kept White over Jamar...

Exactly! Ten points.

I'll go where ever it is. Not turning up just because it's not at the MCG is stereotypical fair weather supporting and it's why some of us who go week in, week out get labelled fair weather supporters. Who gives a [censored] where the game is. Get out there and support them. I'd rather play at the 'G, of course, but suck it in.

Yep, it is his problem. If he'd got his kicking right earlier in the season he might have already had 3 bags of goals. As for the Casey match, he might have almost kicked 9. If he fixes this, then he might still be a player.

Yeah, you're right about Newton. If he's good enough he'll rectify his kicking problem, if not, he'll do as you say and dig his own grave. Afterall, Newton only became a semi regular contender in 2007 and it's only 2009. This is the year he has to prove himself, but I'd say give him the rest of the season. Stick him upward, let Watts play up the ground and see what he's got.

Oh, I agree on PJ. He is one of my favourites, because has done the courageous things in the past (I'd point to the shoulder injury he received on the wing against Sydney a few years back). However, this season he's been dreadful and has struggled to find form. The Eagles game was probably his best game so far, this year. He has great potential, as a second ruck and up forward (the Collingwood game in '07 is an example of what he could do up forward--obviously needs to fix up his kicking for goal though). Persist with PJ, but I still can't believe we traded Jolly and not Jamar.