Dr. Gonzo

Yeah because our list is so chock full of talent that we can afford to be picky about which AFL-grade players to keep or ditch when we have numerous VFL-grade spuds taking up space. Don't know if you noticed but we've struggled to meet the cap minimum recently because our team is so [censored] there's no one worth giving much money to. I don't think forking out for Rivers would've made us any worse than we are now.

I won't say Frawleys gone but I will be very surprised if he stays. I mean look at the [censored] this team serves up year after year, were rusted on tragics who were for the most part born into this and have no choice but for a player entering the prime/back end of his career why would he waste it playing for a club who may play finals before he retires? He would fit in well at any of Hawthorn, Gold Coast, Richmond, Carlton, Essendon, Geelong etc etc all of who can make a legitimite sell that they can have a crack at a flag with him in the team.

I was adamant McDonald at least would be a late withdrawal but you were right sue and I was wrong.

Andrews Report and then again before 186.

You're a clown. No one is saying he would've solved our problems but he would've performed better than Gillies or Pedersen. He has one thing they don't - the ability to play footy.

Makes me sick watching him tear us apart what the [censored] were our recruiters on? Shuey also while Blease can't even get a game. Then there's NicNat.

2015 No members 2016 No club

Richmond did it to Adelaide in 2006 as well.

This will get ugly. I'd like to see us play a completely [censored] style of football to make it a soccer-score style of match and see if we can outscore them 8 goals to 6. More likely we'll lose between 80-120 points though.

Rivers would replace Garland who is currently injured and would be a back up if all 3 we're fit. He could also play forward considering our injuries at the moment, would do better than Pedersen. Players should not get involved in club politics but don't forget they were ASKED to get involved by the last admin.

Geelong obviously had their reasons, doesn't mean they were right though. Just because they have been extremely well run doesn't mean they can't make mistakes. Agree on Moloney his time had come, Rivers not sure, could've been a handy back up down back, would do better than Pedersen or Gillies.

How do you know he hasn't tried though? To be fair we only see what's happening on the field not what goes on behind the scenes. He is in the leadership group so you would assume he has some leadership qualities. The comparison to Jones is fair but I'd also argue that playing midfield for MFC, while not easy, has been easier than playing FB for the last few seasons.

There is truth in that but it's hard for one player to change the direction of an entire club if he has no support.

Premiership captain who has played 200 games over a career spanning more than a decade. Thanks for proving my point.

I agree Soidee. Footy is 90% above the shoulders and if you have the mindset right often the rest will follow. Of course you need the talent etc but all things being equal the psychology is the most important thing to get right. Last week we came out and played pretty well for the first 10-15 minutes but as soon as we missed a few shots and St.Kilda took some momentum there was a noticeable shift in our players attitude. Getting this right will go a long way to improving our side. By the way Melbourne sides have been mentally weak for as long as I've been supporting them (since late 80's). During the Northey era we would often kill our season with a string of poor losses meaning we'd have to struggle into the finals and have to fight our way through from the Elimination Final. '94 we began 5-0 and only just snuck into the finals. Same thing would happen during the Daniher era (particularly 2004-2006) when we would either get into a good position (1st after R18 2004) and then drop gimme games which would see us tumble to the bottom half of the 8 or lose games against weak opposition (lost to Carlton twice in 2006 and they only won 3 games for the season!) that would cost us a top 4 spot and a genuine chance at the flag. Even during our 2 GF years the teams we played knew they were never in trouble because all they had to do was play a hard physical game and we would go to water. Some will say we came up against two "generational" teams and while there is some truth to that the other truth is that they are perceived that way in part because we never took it up to them on GF day. For example in 1989 Hawthorn were just as impressive yet Geelong only went down by a goal.

I don't mind the shield/emblem but they need to get rid of the southern cross, the script writing in the background, the flame above the "M" and probably the football/trident as well. They could maybe replace the southern cross with another trident but he point is if they simplified it it wouldn't be too bad.

Before last season the AFL mooted introducing a rule where a player who suffered a concussion was automatically ruled out of the following weeks game. Perhaps they didn't implement it, I was under the assumption they did but I could be wrong. No need to be a [censored] about it.

Fitzpatrick suffered a concussion last week so I'd say it's more than likely he's not going to play if the AFL's concussion rules are abided by.

Yeah but look at his hair-cut. No way he'd get a game with us looking like that. Shave those sideburns hippy!

I said the same thing on Demonology and was ridiculed out of the building - "oh yeah, we should just get rid of all our good players because they have high trade value!!" At the time it was a decision between Jamar, Martin & Gawn from memory and I thought we'd get more value from trading Jamar and not much less output from Martin if we kept him. Martin went to Brisbane for not much, Jamar was re-signed for 3 years and can barely jump off the ground at ruck contests, taps it to his feet when he does, gives us nothing around the ground other than a get out kick to the half back flank from kickouts and is back to living up to his "donuts" nickname which is the norm rather than the exception throughout his career.

C'mon you don't seriously think McDonald is going to play on Sunday do you?

Gawn is still young and big blokes take time, I'd be sticking with him for another couple fo years. Jamar should have been a year to year proposition, whoever gave him a 3 year contract should no longer be employed professionally. We have made so many BASIC errors in drafting, recruiting and list management over the years that we really have no right to be considered a professional club. Even armchair experts can see the routine amateur mistakes we make again and again. Add to OD's list those who aren't/are no longer up to it - guys like Pedersen, Byrnes, Nicholson, Bail. That's 10 players, or more than a quarter of the team, who give us nothing year after year. Replace some of our NQR's with guys like Shuey, Zaharakis, Sloane, Talia, Darling, Wines and our team takes on a vastly different character.

He's had ongoing hammy issues for some time now.

That's a negative in my book because now I feel compelled to go - if it was in WA I could ignore it and pretend it didn't happen.

Contract extensions for Roos and Jackson to show they are in it for the long haul would help immensely. Knowing that Roos could/will be gone in 2-3 years would also have to have an impact, it puts even greater pressure on that we have to improve/win now before he exits the building.