The Chazz

Dr, there are many reasons why that number drops off. For one (at the risk of speaking on behalf of some), I will not fly down to watch a Melb v Port game at 4pm on a Sunday evening. So there's a member that isn't part of the attendence. Secondly, a "battling" family from say Bendigo, Santa gets the 2 kids junior memberships for Christmas, Mum and Dad by themselves one too. Fairly big outlay, but do it because they are supporters. For them, driving from and to Bendigo for the day, probably spend $50 of fuel, $10 on parking, $50 on food for the family, all of a sudden that "day out" at the footy is costing them well over $100 every time they go. I was disappointed with the comment that Daveytrain made about people being "pathetic" for not spending the extra dollars. To make a broad statement like that is totally inaccurate, but he has since clarified that it was directed at the MCC people that CAN afford the extra. There are a lot of average/battling punters that can only give so much, and we should respect that.

Thank you.

Wow, we're having a conversation, I'm worried. Didn't know anything about Martin's story. The interchange cap may see a left field decision to have a ruckman as a sub. Not sure what the exact quote is and who said it, but the words about how late in the game, the big guys don't get any smaller, it could be something to consider as the AFL try and slow the game down. It could be a player like Fitzy that benefits from this, someone who is tall, can play ruck, has a big motor and can kick goals. He comes on early in the 3rd quarter when his opponents are slowing down and becomes our main ruck with Jamar playing forward/pinch ruck.

I've not seen, heard or read anywhere that Trengove had OP. I would appreciate it if you could direct me where to get clarification/confirmation, as I would like to think that he "managed" some sort of injury through the entire season.

Smiling?

So you could understand why some people don't take that extra financial option up 13th?

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What were the offield distractions you speak about RP? I'm also please to hear you say that the back up ruck should be able to play forward. A lot of people talk about a tall defender being the back up ruck, I don't think you can afford this. A "resting ruck" plays forward, so that would mean if we are getting our back up ruck from the backline, that we would need one of our tall forwards to take that spot until the resting (forward) ruck goes back in.

Good for you RP. Anyway, back to my point, I think it's unnecissary for someone to call someone else "pathetic" because they aren't spending more money than some think they should. I find it quite Nike vs Aerosport. That's my view, I'm not sorry if you don't agree.

Was Hogan in it?

DT, I find this a very ordinary post on your behalf. You don't know the circumstances behind some of those MCC members not taking up the MFC option. You don't have to be a millionaire to join the MCC, the main criteria is patience. I'm in no doubt that some of the MCC members would battle to pay for that membership, let alone adding extra to it. Sure, if they can't afford it they could let their membership lapse (which some do), but that would mean if they want to get back in, the waiting game begins - again.

I was hoping that it might have been an ex-president that said that (Gardner). It would've been comforting knowing that the feeling was mutual.

Some mythical condition that our captain had last year apparently.

Often hard to see as it doesn't stand out as much as "MultiQuote" and "Quote", but it should be immediately to the left of multiquote.

That's what I keep hanging my hat on WYL. The fact that we have removed players from our list that were either cancers of the team, or players that were content with playing seniors (Petterd, Morton). I have no idea if the blokes like Kent, Terlich, Taggert, and whoever else we haven't seen that we picked up in recent years, can play or not, but uf they can give me 100% each week, I'll be back on.

This year, if Jordie can do more consistently what he did to Goddard last year, then he is in the top 5 of "first picked". For anyone that thinks we can't afford to have him in the team, just watch that game again. But as I said, consistently is the key, which will continue to improve under the current guidance.

I can't believe that you can bet on which player will get the most supercoach points. I'm all for a punt, do it quite frequently, but FMD.

I don't think it's that sad Old. Jordie looks to me that he would be a classic finals footballer. Loves the scrap, runs until the final siren, and doesn't get flustered by the occasion. For me, I think we can afford to carry the kicking errors given what else he brings to the team. I laughed at the comment about how Jordie wouldn't get a game in a top team so we should look for someone to replace him. If we went in with that attitude at team selection, we'd have about 5 players playing each week.

Providing we get through the next 2 mock-games unscathed, then by Round 1, the only best 18 players missing should be Blease, Clark and Trengove. If that happens, I'll be happier, but at this stage, I'll take it 1 day at a time!

Arguably, 6 of our best 18 are on that list. That's 1/3 of the team!

Not sure what odds you can get, but I'd be looking at Bulldogs for the wooden spoon, GWS to finish higher than GC, and Kangaroos to make the 8.

Can sympathise with the OP. 2012 was the worse season I have experienced in my 30+ years. It was a season where there was no hope, it was a season that the players were so drained of confidence that it was ugly to watch. It was the first season where I stopped enjoying watching the MFC, mainly because the players weren't enjoying it. Ben Hur mentioned that we should be excited with the inclusions of Viney, Toumpas, Hogan as well as Barry (why he named Barry is beyond me). True, they should be enough to get us off the canvas, but I felt that way when we we had just recruited $cully, Trengove, Gysberts and Tapscott. That draft was meant to be the one that produced a permiership midfield core, and what do we have, 2 left on the list, 1 of which is borderline best 22 (I still have a lot of hope for Tappy). The MFC is a massive part of my life, but it's not the be all and end all. In the past few years I've had personal tragedies occur, so you look to something that makes you happy to get you through some dark days. In the past the MFC has been that for me, regardless of the result. However, in 2011 and 2012 when I needed it most, it wasn't there. Building excitement then within weeks falling back to earth takes its toll on us all in different ways. Currently, where I am in life, I won't let the MFC do it to me this season. Don't get me wrong, the passion remains, the support will never die, but the excitement of a new season just isn't there for me this year. I will watch the 22 games on TV (hope to get to a couple in the flesh), but I refuse to let the results get to me like they have in previous years. I read a great quote on Twitter, can't remember who the USA athlete was that said it, but it was along the lines of "if you aren't there when I'm at the bottom, I don't want you celebrating when I'm on the top". I have mates that are MFC "barrackers" that this applies to, but if anyone EVER accused me of being the same (given my "meh" attitude at the moment), I would like that person to PM me so we don't have to bore everyone on an open forum.

2 things RP; 1. Are you saying Royal butchered the backline in 2011? and 2. Have you made up this "shiny and new" thing, or has someone come out and named names? The only 2 names on this thread that I have seen suggested are Robert Harvey (hardly what I'd call "shiny and new"), and Cameron Ling (who has expressed an interest to be an assistant coach, and is coming from the most successful club in the past decade). Even Malthouse was "shiny and new" at some stage.

Let's not forget that Royal has only been at the MFC this stint sine the end of the 2010 season, making 2011 his first one back. In his first year, he was our backline coach, so we can't really blame the lack of development from "that" group of first round draft picks, as 2012, last season, was his first with the midfield group. That said, what I want to know is why the backline performed a lot worse in 2011. When Wellman was AC, our backline was in my view in the top 3 in the league. Wellman had Frawley at AA standard, and had Warnock and a young Garland as well. Enter 2011, and they just lost it. They didn't work as a team, they did more finger pointing than anything else. Then, in 2012, we saw our midfield play as a group of individuals. There was no blocking, no teamwork, and as we saw far too often, a lot of basic skill errors that should never happen, regardless of what grade you play in. We hear talk of Jones and Grimes having good 2012, well, so they bloody should! 1 is a captain, the other is a true leader. Grimes played his first full season (well, minus 1 game), and has been in the system long enough to start showing that potential that he showed when we picked him up. The game style that Neeld has introduced was always going to suit NJ, due to the type of person NJ is, and how serious he takes his football. Then we have a look at the footage from Darwin, and in particular, the trek through Kakadu. The backline has got their mojo back, that tight unit that worked bloody hard together, and let nothing stop them from winning. Sure, it was only a bush walk, but that's how they were onfield in 2010, and thank Christ they have found it again. Can Royal do this with the midfield group?

I always hate the "pick your team" game Dee, but I hope it doesn't line up how you've got it! * Blease won't be right for Round 1, so Toumpas replaces him. * I'd prefer to have Rodan on the bench instead of Evans. * I think Howe would be better suited on the HFF, therefore dropping Davey down to the FP. * I'm not sure if I have Nicho in my best 22 let alone have him starting on the ground. As I said, it's always a tough gig. Players that have to be considered that you haven't named would include Tynan (I think Neeld likes this kid), Tapscott, maybe Taggert, and they will be competing for the remaining spots with the ones I haven't highlighted above. I'm also not sure if we will play both Pedo and Sellar, and I think Dawes will start deep FF.