The Chazz

If I were McGuire, and I handed my toy boy one of the best lists in the league, one that won a premiership 2 seasons ago and made the final last season, I too would expect him to win a flag. "Expect" doesn't mean have the attitude that you just turn up and it happens, you still work your arse off. I wonder what the reaction would be if McLardy came out and said "don't worry if we don't make finals in 2012 boys, we've got a brand new coach, an entirely different looking football department, a brand new game plan, and we're still fairly inexperienced on the field". I expect to win the premiesrship every year, as I would our entire playing list. Good sides expect to win, mediocre sides hope to win. Robbie Flower was part of some pretty ordinary sides in the 80's, every time he ran out on the ground he expected to win, and put in 100% to make sure it happened. Sometimes, actually, a lot of the times, it didn't happen.

V12 - Might be best to read the pending announcement in the paper when it is published. If you rely on D'land forum to hear about the sponsorship details, and it isn't above $1.9m a season, there will be some angry people on here.

No! How dare a club put pressure on a first year coach... Shouldn't ALL presidents want their coach, regardless of years of service, to win a premiership at the start of a season???

While we are $300k ahead of last year, according to some, that will mean bugger all as the 2 sponsors last year got bargain prices...

While it's possible we could try, over time, to change the colour of their logo to suit the MFC, I just can't see them agreeing to replacing the red with pink...

So does that mean you accept my response RP?

There's some 22 real games until the end of the season RP. We were offered a deal to have Bate taken off our hands at the end of last season, and we declined. For us to benefit out of the Free Agency is not much different to trade week. We need a player that is wanted for us to benefit, I'm not sure if Dunn will be able to help us out with that view.

$cully got word that it was going to be Costa Concordia, and that was a big factor in him leaving. Something about not wanting to be involved with a sinking ship...

At this stage, we let go of no-one. Jamar is a prioirty to have signed as quickly and quietly as possible - will give us that extra spot on the Vet's list. Moloney, assuming he can build on his B&F year last year, is also a required player. Who do we go after? I think a better question would be "who wants to play for Melbourne"? I still think we're a quality mid or two short, but we have to try and get one to come to us for a start - something we haven't had a great record of (I appreciate Clark came at the end of last year). The other thing is that I hope the current playing group realise that with Free Agency, it may make it easier for us t otarget certain types of players, so that may make them step up at the fear of being replaced. While our club is underperforming, it will be hard to expect an upper echelon player to want to come to us. Maybe we look at the teams below, or who are on their way down. Bulldogs, Adelaide, Port, etc.

Well said RR...

Good post Sat, but I will pick you up on one thing, and this goes for anyone who had/has this in their heads. Dunn and/or Syliva should NEVER EVER come in to calculations as far as a pinch hit ruck goes. It is embarassing to see it happen, and I can't really see Neeld allowing it. We want to be treated like a serious team, but will use a midfielder/hff start in the centre ruck? Seriously...

So you agree with most of what I wrote then? I'm of a neutral opinion as to where Cale is at. I'm not as critical as Cale's performance as some on here, but I'm not happy with his progress, esepcailly last season. A lot of it is between the ears (I think B59 said as much), and if/Neeld/whoever can get in the rigth frame of mind, I'm sure he can be a valuable player for the MFC. It's at a stage now where he has to take steps forward, as anything less will not be tolerated. Edit: The bit in itallics.

Thanks DD.

Hi bing - sorry, where's this written? I haven't paid much attention to D'land over the past few days. When I think of Cale's recent efforts, 2 particular games come to mind. The first, and most recent, against the Gold Coast at the Gabba in 2011. He played on the wing in front of me, and just appeared to get cheap kicks and not really include himself in the game. But, as another poster mentioned, was it more clever play buy getting in to the clear? If that's the case, he really needs to work of his defensive efforts, and I'm sure this has been addressed with the entire team and not just Cale. The other game that stands out is "that" game at the MCG against the Swans in 2010 when he went head to head with Goodes. Apart from teh fact that Goodes kicked 4, I thought Cale played an amazing game, and had him in my best (although I think I did have "team effort" listed under the best players for that game!). Cale chased and chased one of the best players of recent times, and would've/should've learnt a great deal from it. If he can play at that level more consistently, and improve on some of the areas that Goodes exposed, he has the potential to be not only a starting 18 player, but quite possibly in the top half dozen on our list. At the end of the day, he was a pick 4 (I think), there was obviously something there, and I hope like hell that Neeld can get sometihng out of him over the next 12 months to then attack 2013's preseason with great confidence that Cale will consolidate a spot in our premiership sides in years to come.

And by the time Junior suffers from general soft tissue soreness and takes 8 weeks to get over it, that will really reduce the average.

I had a non-bet with my wife back in about 2005 that eMelbourne would win a flag before Geelong, and that Geelong had no hope of winning one for 10 years becuase they had no stars in their team. For obvious reasons, I don't make bets with mates whilst under the influence. I do have a carton with a mate who's a Carlton supporter about who will finish higher - that's been going for about 5 years and I'm yet to receive one from him. It is a tradition to buy it for GF day and help him drink it, so it's not all that bad of a bet! I like that $3.50 for us finishing in the top 8 though - very juicy odds.

Why didn't Mark Stevens just quote me... "It may be difficult for the Demons to match the size of the Energy Watch coup. The man behind the Energy Watch deal, which has given the Demons significant breathing space, is believed to be a Western Bulldogs supporter. Ben Polis, a 30-year-old who kicked off the energy broking business with a $400 website in 2007, was impressed with the business networking opportunities offered by having an association with Melbourne". Perhaps not as "uneducated" as some thought...

Off topic, but seems everyone is in this thread - see Le Cras is out for the season? Big loss.

Sounds like Clark is killing them.

Was that the year he got BOG in a losing team for the GF?

Not putting monkies on anyones back. Just reconfirming to all that we can't use anything as an excuse anymore. We have things in place on and offield to make us a better team, and we have a draw that should ensure supporters get to see a number of games, and that while a lot of work has been done by Stynes & co, we can't rest on our laurels. Maybe in 2013 RR we can use it. There are absolutely no excuses...no first year coach, no poor facilities, no reason for a melbourne follower not to financially support the club - especially with improved onfield performance in 2012. Not sure what your call re impatient motto is all about. Go and ask Mr Neeld if anyone (player or supporter) has any excuses this year.

I think playing Stef down forward will; 1. Make our forward line bigger (Captain Obvious talking there!), and 2. Put pressure on Jurrah, Green, Howe, Petterd, Dunn and to some degree Sylvia. Point 2 is the area that will see a lot of supporters have different opinions about who gets the HFF spots on offer. By the looks of things, Davey may well play our crumbing FP, so that's teh Forward line sorted (Martin, Clark, Davey), which means we have 6 players vying for 2 spots on the half forward line, assuming Watts is played a CHF (please play him there Neeldy!). The more strings the above 6 can add to their bow, and those who can play the certain role that the coach wants them to, will ensure their selection. Personally I think Sylvia can and will do that, as he can be just as effective rotating through the midfield, but will need to get his head right. Then it's hard to pass on Jurrah, especially if he is compliant with what he is required to do. As you can see, the Stef-going-forward move is putting us in a great situation, and competition for spots is as strong as ever. Those players just have to ensure they have the attitude that the hard work starts when you make the team, rather than thinking the hard work is done when you make it.

Sorry HT, I read it that JJ didn't want a slogan like that becasue it was putting pressure on a new coach (ie. already making an excuse). Apologies if I read it the wrong way.

My slogan was No More Excuses JJ, and what's your last sentence?

No offence BRFE, but I find it interesting that you still believe he is a better defender, and doesn't have the football smarts to play forward, especially when the link above clearly shows that those in charge have a totally different opinion.