Little Goffy

In further news - Todd Viney inducted into the Melbourne Hall of Fame at the B&F dinner. Come home Todd!

Y'know, it's conceivable that Bruce did an awful lot of work at training and as co-captain. It's also conceivable that his constant effort was noted as important. Maybe even, some of those handballs into trouble were partly the fault of the receiver not working clear properly and waiting flat footed (looking at you, Matthew Bate). I raised an eyebrow when I read Bruce had won it. But this ridiculous tirade of abuse at him and the coaches is just stupid. He worked damn hard and it was visible. His kicking at goal let him and all of us down, and his general disposal sometimes flunked out. BUT - he was one player who constantly worked to rectify his own errors, and had a first class on field and off field work ethic. And it was his birthday on tuesday, so gotta be nice...

Isn't Todd Viney's son named Jack Viney? That'd make it three. Any other promising Jacks coming through the system? We could be the first club in history to have four jacks, and hopefully they will all be... aces... I can't believe I wrote that.

You'll be pleased to know that Koschitzke did do the reaction awareness tests. Was among the worst for that year on peripheral awareness. Fill in the blanks, I guess...

Lifted from article at - AFL Draft Camp article - 1.15pm-5pm – Psychomotor testing (Reaction time, decision making and peripheral awareness) Jack Watts – Sandringham Dragons, VIC "There were some weird exercises that we had to do. In one, we had to hit the lights that flashed against the wall. We had to see how many we could hit in one minute. I did alright at that and scored 130, which was the best in our group. We also had an exercise with some flashing buttons, so it was good fun and challenging. I was fortunate enough to be in the top two in reaction time. Tyrone Vickery and I faced off in a competitive reaction time challenge and I got up. So I claimed the No.1 title in that," he said with a laugh So, uhh, he's got subtle qualities as well as marking, speed, kicking, fitness... Mind you, Tyrone Vickey's name is popping up all over the place. Ah well, can only have one.

Don't forget the rookie list extension all clubs get in compensation for the loss of picks to Gold Coast. Absolutely no harm in giving the kid a go, especially if it is a case of him being out through injury rather than demonstrably no good.

It's worth noting that of our older players, more than half didn't make much of a contribution this year, through form or injury. The actual team that took the field was crazy young/inexperienced. It particularly stands out when you look at the number of games played this year by players who started the year with less than ten games. You can start that off with our entire set of tall defenders! Last year, we were one of the oldest teams. This year, we're about average. Next year, we'll be amongst the youngest. By the time retirements and delistings are announed at the end of 2009, we'll very likely be the youngest (Robbo, McDonald, Bruce, Wheatley, Whelan all possible departures, and Carroll definately by then, if not this year) So we're getting younger all the time. It was interesting to see that list of Geelong players, I didn't realise how many of their core group were starting to get on a bit.

That would be the Green and Bruce whose massive efforts got us into the 2000 GF, after a come from behind win against Carlton, in their debut season? Or the Green and Bruce who were our most consistent players this year? Or are you thinking of a different Geen and Bruce?

Cats for me. Hawthorn are already considerably more arrogant than the Cats, and they haven't won anything yet. My ideal result would be not so much a massive blowout but rather the Hawks giving their all, doing their best, putting in 110% and bleeding for the jumper etc... and still never really having a sniff. Margin of 31 from start to finish would suit me.

Huh? Melbourne have almost no profile in the 'soft' market of people who aren't really into AFL. Essentially, the less 'into' football someone is, the more they will onyl see/remember the highest profile, most promoted, most often repeated clubs. You've got us completely backwards. Melbourne have the smallest supporter base in the competition, and the highest proportion of that base to take out memberships, and to go to games. We're a pack of die-hards, we are. If collingwood's supporter base was an intense as ours, it would translate to about 120,000 people turning up every game! That's where you'll find the 'supporters' who really just has a housemate once who said 'go for Collingwood' so they say they do, and know the name Eddie Mcguire, and occassionally act enthusiastic when they catch up with their old housemate. You might want to lay off the 'you know as well as I', as a general thing. Not just because you look like a [censored] when you then get it completely wrong!

Watts played back and in midfield during TAC cup. Did well midfield, not so great down back, by all accounts. Is a star up forward. Should go number 1. Has no question marks like Naitanui does. Stop obsessing and relax - any of those three are a good pick up, though Watts seems to be the general first choice.

The actual trip to China cost about $100,000. Part of the reason the China program overall has cost so little is because it has been, to date, done in a pathetic half-arsed manner. There were more announcements about it and publicity efforts back home than there was actual, diligent effort at covering all of the bases (stakeholders, promotional options, networks, etc..) But there's still a bit of life in it, and it could still be a big positive if done right, and targeted to the right areas of China.

I just... It doesn't quite make sense to me. There are so many reasons to keep Green and for Green to want to stay. Veterans listing to begin with. Possilbe B&F winner traded over one year on a contract? And CJ out, just as he's getting some form and maturity, when his market value still hasn't moved up to match, and he's a frickin' father-son selection with good skills in a team crying out for skills? In fact, two of our better skilled players leaving when skills are our number one issue just seems odd all over.

Ahhh... 2009 finals is possible, always. I wouldn't expect it, but there's enough to hope for it. But I think the long term picture is good. I've felt pretty good about the future even since nutting out the finances and realising just how little off-field improvement we need to hold steady next year while we keep developing. Just glad we're not the dogs. Talking about bringing in Barry Hall; not that there's anything worng with him but that kind of loads up on the 30+ guys. Their build a big stairway but if it crumbles under them, they'll be dropped in the poo from a great height. And I'm glad we're not North. Still no sign of the 'White Knight' and they simply didn't get the boost to attendences that they needed, even after these consecutive years of playing success. They are also in the poo once a few older guys are gone, and that poo has a bitter edge to it. (erk, not a good mixed metaphor there)

Issue is Green will likely be our top salary earner, Prismall will be averagish. Then throw in the relative ages, thats the reason for the different lengths. I mean, we gave Meesen a three year deal (as I recall it) and didn't really expect that much - calculated small biscuits risk. Mind you, I personally think there isn't much risk in giving Green a three year deal. He's shown that even if his tank begins to shrink a bit he'll still be a handy forward/half forward, as he started his career. And there's no denying his consistency, even for those who don't really rate him that highly. Deep down I think he can go on and on for years yet.

Provided it's not on an inflated salary or anything destablising like that, I'd love to see Prismall in Red & Blue. Like others have said, a big NO to trading an early pick. In fact, 35 might be pushing it. Maybe pick 51 if we're lucky? Or some kind of complex shuffling of 51,35 and a pick of theirs. Remember that the Cats will be perpetually under salary cap pressure, and don't have Visy to pick up the slack. If Prismall is out of contract too, then our PSD pick comes in to play. And let's face it, he really hasn't had the opportunities he perhaps deserves. He got 32 disposals and three goals against Melbourne on that awful friday night. But then again, who didn't? And a good age, too. The upside of him being out next year is that we'll still be very much playing youngsters in 09, and by the end of that year we'll probably have seen the retirements of a few more veterans, (Carroll. Robertson? Bruce? Whelan? McDonald?) as well as saying goodbye to any of the current crop of 'relatively young' players who don't step up next year, so he won't be clogging up any development plans for the really young lot. Let's face it, he's a sound pick up on merit and by 'the plan' - if we got a draft pick of his quality at 35 we'd be well pleased.

The $5mil statement is the target to kill, which includes all leftover debt that the Gardiner/Harris administration didn't manage to kill (remember that they did knock down something like $4mil in their time) plus the 'between 1.5 and 2' in losses this year. So $3 mil down, $2million to go. The 2008 loss of... lets split the difference and call it $1.75mil, includes $200,000 for Travis Johnstone in Brisbane. (now finished) $250,000 payout of Steve Harris (a right call, nonetheless) Around $100,000 'dead loss' on the McNamee hiring/firing, and the costs of transfer and information exhange etc with new boards, administration, securing new CEO, etc.. this is after acknowledging 'Super-Spargo' who saved the club tens of thousands of dollars by stepping in as interim CEO without payment. So there half a million we shouldn't have to worry about next year. Hmm... Neitz, Yze, White, Holland... that'll be another million off the expenses ledger, even after a few other players are offered a little more. So now the tally is one and a half million in expenses we shouldn't have to worry about next year. Also, of course, we've made progress at killing debt. But on balance, our debt position has moved from about $3.2 million to about $2 million. So it's probably about $100,000, plus however much more debt we can kill over the summer. So, after clearing out all those things, we need to make about $250,000 more in revenue next year than this year and we're back on an even keel. That, ladies and gentleman, is all rather do-able! Pause and think on that. We can do it, it's right there to be done. All else being equal, it's about 1,500 extra attendences per home game. A margin that small means every extra effort by an individual counts.

Actually, I checked those figures with the club, and Caroline Wilson, along with a few other media outlets in the last few months, has mis-stated our debt position. Her mistake is taking the $5mil declared as the debt demolition target as being the current position, and then she's added this years operating loss to that. Very dissapointing, lazy journalism. I can confirm the $5mil as the end of year anticipated result, as last years debt statement was $3.2mil (in the official, audited financial reports) and add to that the expected losses this year and you get the $5mil debt demolition target. The point of concern raised by the auditors was Travis Johnstone's 'payout' - MFC is paying approx $200,000 of his salary this year as part of the trade arrangement with Brisbane. The club accounted for that as a 2008 expense, the auditors thought it should have been a 2007 expense, which would technically have meant a loss that year. Note that this 200k is part of our losses for 08 now, and will not recur. It also goes alongside the retirements of Neitz, White, Yze and Holland as a step clear in our total player payments.

Ya wha? How does the club have 'more debt than it thought'? I guess the failure of the $200 raffle is part of it, but only another $100,000. How about they start presenting a coherent plan for growth and development, that might help motivate a few people. And I'm getting damn tired of being guilt tripped 'come to this came because if you don't we'll cry' doesn't work, annoys people, and surely must drive awat sponsors. I'm sick of seeing my club begging. I want to see action.

It's funny, but just now I've gone off Robbie Warnock completely. How can we expect existing players to help keep a tight rein on player payments then bring in a guy on $300,000+ entirely paid on the basis of 'potential'. I'd want to see a whole lot more before I screwed up our entire salary planning structure. Remember his stats - 2008 - 9 games, for 11 disposals, 8 hit outs and one tackle per game. 2007 - 12 games for 10 disposals, 10 hit outs and one tackle per game. As much as they are fine and dandy stats for a young ruckman, they aren't even remotely in the realm of 'major player'. I understand that he has been in Sandilands' shadow and all that, but seriously - we're talking a salary higher than most of our B&F top ten will be on next year.

I agree. (bet you weren't expecting that to happen on the internet) Melbourne does it's best to play at a truly breakneck pace... unfortunately at the moment it quite often does break it's neck. My crystal ball (blessed as it is by the Invisible Pink Unicorn) is telling me that this will be a fun and crazy ride the next few years. There will be horrible blowouts right up until we're perfect. There will be the occassional big win too (hopefully more over time) And there will be a good number of games where the score see-saws from one quarter to the next, as one team gains the ascendency and the other gets the fumbles again, and the counter-attacks come thick and fast. Think of the Freo game... that was definately fun. There will be some massive shootouts, too, games with 40 goals kicked in them. I'm kind of glad I'll get to be a part of this, now that I think we're gonna survive and maybe even get our act together again. Also, you're quite right, the umpires are rubbish everywhere you look. And I can't completely blame the umpires themselves - the AFL is putting money in the wrong places, an extra million dollars a year to support umpire at the mid to upper levels would make a huge difference to the talent pool, 'selection pressure' and confidence of umpires, and would help limit one of the main things people don't like about AFL - the 'what happened? Huh?' factor. I noticed there were'nt any players from Sydney headed to the draft camp. Just two from NSW, both from the Murray Bushrangers. So there's still more AFL talent coming out of Wagga and Albury than Sydney. Put that together with the Swans playing their reserves games in the ACT league because it's at a higher standard than they can get in Sydney, one might be led to the ever-so-tentative conclusion that a bit of grass-roots investment and support of local level clubs might help the long-term West Sydney expansion plan... How did I get on to that? Oh that's right - places the AFL should be spending it's money.

Well, based on the write-up there, he sounds ideal. Practically a description of what Bailey likes, as I understand it. Also a pretty good description of what I like.

Whatcha talkin 'bout? The main Melbourne group on Facebook has over 3,000 members and is just about the largest going round. There must be about 100 different 'buffy the vampire slayer' groups and 50 for 'I heart tacos' - don't expect every group or application to be full.

From current team 25 and under only, we need to get about three, quality players on each broad category. tall backs from: Rivers, Garland, Warnock, Frawley, Martin. small/medium backs from: Petterd, Grimes, Bell, Bartram. 'Inside' midfield from: Mclean, Jones, Moloney, Dunn (tagging) 'outside' midfield from: Morton, C. Johnson, Buckley, Small Forwards from: Davey, Maric, Wonaeamirri, Sylvia (rotating midfield) Tall Forwards: Miller, Bate, Newton, P. Johnson (rotating ruck) Ruck: Jamar (rotating forward) ... ... The trouble with making any kind of predicition is that Melbourne easily led the competition for number of games played this season by players who had less than 10 games experience. We also, once again, had all sorts of horrible injury disruptions, including young players who we are still waiting to get a clear picture of. For the next couple of years at least some of Green, Bruce, Whelan, Wheatley and McDonald will be around to help things along. But there is clearly a need for a first rate ruckman, a first rate full-forward who can kick bags of goals, and a pile of skill across the board. I think we can make it, if this draft and next years give us two high quality players each, we've got a bit of a team going on.

Hello runandcarrysucks! Welcome to Demonland. Have a merry time but remember the following rules - 1. Chris Judd is not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy. 2. Don't get into an argument with Yze Magic about the relative merits of Cameron Bruce and Colin Sylvia. 3. It is considered a rite of passage to at some point complain that Nick Sauntner took all the development opportunities from our young forwards. This must immediately be followed by "By that's not to say anything bad about Sauntner, he's probably the greatest player ever to not play at AFL level" 4. Daniher is not personally to blame, but the 'Daniher era' is. 5. Ditto Paul Gardner. 6. Don't try to suggest that blindsiding someone off the line of the ball is gutless; you will be branded a wimp who wants to wreck football. There we go, we're off to a start. But really, it's a very forgiving place here.