The Chazz

No problems WYL, you can come and beat your chest next to me! I don't think we'll be very lonely though!

As I said earlier (replying to B59's comments about Neeld not seeing him as a must-keep), if we are not willing to take up the Pick 39 (which I agree, seems terrible overs to me), then our coach must see a role for the Master. Good luck to Matty if that's the case.

C'mon Dees, get this one done for Bater. We've flexed our muscles quite well over the past few days, we have arrived, let's be the good cop too!

And to help B59 understand what we are trying to tell him WYL, where did this perception (albeit quite minimal!) of yours in regards to the Bulldogs come from? Was it from reading the views of Sheehan, etc?

What the hell are you talking about? Where do these people get their opinions from? DO you know for a fact that it's from reading what Sheehan thought of our performance, or is it from teh fact that they actually watched the game themselves and have their own views? I have a perception about every football club in the league. I can assure you, this isn't created from reading articles about them, it's about what I see out on the field (or if I don't watch the match - I get results - not articles/opinions, from media sources), and what I've grown up seeing. Most people that I know that are interested in footy absolutely have an opinion. But this opinion is based on nothing but 2 things, 1. Results, then 2. The standard tag that we've had to deal with about us going to the snow. Perhaps B59 if I, and folk like me that beat our chests, continue to say that we gain our own perceptions this way, maybe, just maybe that's what we do - ever stopped to think about it that way? If you need to read the opinions of the "experts" for you to gain a perception, then so be it, but most people I know aren't that sheltered. I'll go one step further B59, let's talk about the non-footy followers. Every Monday morning when I go to work, as a general conversation starter, we'll talk about how Melbourne went on the weekend. Guess what...they don't read articles, they look at the score and that's how their perception is generated. We could lose by 10 points and have had 15 injuries, they wouldn't have a clue, their perception is "ah, the Demons lost again". Get my point? I don't understand why you would think I'm in denial, I've never even been to Egypt. (Love this joke, and am glad I finally got to use it (kudos for the person that used it first on here!).

Brisbane are in mediation with the Bombers and Gold Coast. If we are in the ear of Brisbane saying that we are keen, they will go in to bat for us if the Mombers can't agree to things. Big hour and a bit to go...

Well done to all parties on getting this deal done. We were able to respect Matthew's wishes by finding a suitable home for him, and he would obviously be grateful for this. Thanks for the contribution over the past few seasons Matt, and good luck at your new home (although I hope the team doesn't taste too much success!). The Gold Coast would be happy with the deal, and they hopefully will have confidence dealing with the MFC for future trades. This might benefit us in the next couple of hours with Caddy!!!

Well smart ass, if you re-read my post, I clearly said they don't read "articles". Publishing the scores in a paper isn't an expert throwing their spin on things, it tells a clear picture. If someone reads the score sheet and sees the MFC getting flogged by 31 goals, they wont need to read what Sheehan or Fat Robbo write, they'll have their own perception. And further to this, people actually watch most games every week, even if it isn't their team. They will gain an opinion/perception of how a team is playing by bloody watching them! You may find it hard to believe, but other teams supporters aren't obsessed with the Demons like we are, therefore don't read every little sentence where our name is mentioned. I couldn't tell you half of what happens down at Geelong, I just look at the results, look at the ladder, watch the Grand Final and that's enough for me to know they are a great team. Do yourself a favour B59, go down the local shopping centre and do your own version of Street Talk. I bet most of the people you talk to couldn't give a toss that we landed Clark, and if you showed them a photo of Neeld they'd have no idea who he was.

If they are asking for a first round pick fo rhim, obviosuly someone within the Club wants to keep him. I appreciate this is a part of the negotiation process, but still... From memory, Harrington said he was absolutely a required player. Again, may be trying to push his price up, but I wouldn't be surprised if Neeld has a role for him.

Gawn should aspire to get jumper 11. I would give Sam Blese 31. Clark, well, he can have whatever free number he wants - which will most likely be number 1.

The greater football community, well, at least a massive majority of it, don't read newspaper articles to create their perception of how the Melbourne Football Club are travelling. They get this by looking at the results after each week, and while we have a 31 goal loss as recently as 11 weeks ago, we are still the laughing stock of the AFL. Going out and landing Mitch Clark via an agressive trade will not change others perception of this Club. Simple.

If you read the oricle's (aka B59) posts, Mitch Clark will be happy to come to Melbourne via the National Draft, should Freo/Brisbane not complete the trade. He hasn't said no the the MFC, it's just that he didn't say yes. Make of it what you will...

Ah, B59, this is where I really get a chuckle at your expense - thank you! So does that mean he may still play for us - becuase he didn't say no to our offer? Own-team-loathing? Expressing disappointment is far from team-loathing. Let's take a look back at some of your Bailey-bashing posts (while he was still in our team) shall we?

Going to throw one from as far left-field as you can get...Geelong? Only thing is they are a Vic-based team, not Melbourne-based. Theory; * Ottens has 1 year left * Mooney has retired - if Pod or Hawkins goes down, they have West and Vardy (can't see either of them being the best option in September - not for 2 seasons at least). * Condition would be that he lives in Geelong * Would be odds-on for the flag if he got his shite together Source - none. But if it's true - you heard it here first!

That's why I posted on the Goddard thread about targeting him this year. That way, the Saints will get access to the compo picks (that we trade this year for him) next year, rather than having to wait until 2013 should they lose him to GWS. Also shafts GWS which would be just lovely! You're right, I'm disappointed about MC, not wrist slashing, nothing that beer o'clock wont fix!

Love the smiley face B59. and if it wasn't for Judd's facination with cardboard, he'd be wearing the red and blue too? Again, I admire Clark for refusing our deal because of his home-sickness, maybe you need to get that B59? Simple question - did we or did we not make an offer to Clark which he said "No" to?

Good post. But don't worry, I'm not going anywhere. It's taken me 30-odd years to get to this point - I'm not throwing that away! Bit like when Ben Cousins spent $10k on a 5-day bender, and a bloke told him to slow down, to which Ben replied "I've spent $10k getting to where I am now, I'm not stopping yet". If we targeted Goddard/Buddy/etc, I'd appreciate them staying put. The fact is that it was Clark and Dawes - these blokes aren't superstars (I'm actually glad we dodged Dawes).

Ah, feel so much better. FMD. Edit - spelling.

As I said in my post Old, I appreciate the fact that he wants to go home. reality is, we made an offer, he rejected it. It would be like me asking Jen Hawkins out on a date. I know she's not going to leave her bloke, even though I rate myself as a bit of a sweet-talker, still gives you a kick in the ass when she knocks you back!

B59 - It's not about understanding it, I can perfectly understand that he wants to go home. BUT...we wanted him, we made him a great offer, but still couldn't convince him that "home" is going to be in Victoria for the next few years. All credit to Clark - he knocked back an outstanding offer, I respect that. Doesn't mean it's not a kick in the guts though that we targeted someone, offered them something good, and they still rejected it.

Bloody spewing to be honest. It has been determined that we need a KPF, we've targeted 2 this trade period, and have failed on both for various reasons. But seriously, why the f**k can't we land a player that we target? I would have to say in the 30+ years barracking for Melbourne, this has been the most disappointing for so many reasons. The loss to Geelong - the way the players showed no respect for anything associated with the MFC was disgusting. For me, losing Scully was a tragedy. We are not a 1 man team, but this bloke had the makings of a superstar, and the way he treated the MFC was also disgusting. And now during trade week, we were told at the start of the week we were going to focus on the mini draft selections - MISS. Then we focused on filling the key forward role, offered great dollars/contract - 2 MISSES (Dawes, Clark). No doubt I'll get my ass chewed off about this post, but FFS, what next?

Oh dear, for those weak in the stomach - DON'T READ ON!!! Sylvia will be joined by Brad Green, James Frawley and Jack Trengove in the Australian team. Oh I can hear them now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jacey, as I've said, do you really think Rawlings/Neeld & co would spend big money on a guy that is a makeshift forward? Do you think Rawlings, in his first month of being an assistant coach at a new club, would put his balls on the line and say "Mitch Clark is worth throwing $500k a year at. He's really a ruckman, but we could probably get him to play forward if that's where our hole is"? Rawlings is a guy that spent the last 2 years working with Clark, you're a guy who probably watches the odd Brisbane game on TV and maybe the one game a year when they play Melbourne at the MCG. I think I know which opinion has the most substance.

I can't take your "disposal concerns" seriously when you have Jordie, Morton, Dunn & Scully as your favourite players. Might as well chuck Grimes in there for good measure!!! I would expect him to play AFL at 83kg if given the opportunity to be a full time footballer. Can't help but think of anyone that may be the next Barlow, this is the man.

I will agree that Pick 12 + a compo seems to be a bit rich. I thought that combination of picks would go close to getting us Goddard - a proven A-lister. But, this is where I have total faith in the Club - if they believe he is worth that, then they have obviosuly seen enough to believe he will make that level. They weren't willing to pay "overs" for Crouch, who most think will be a great player, but, if the 12+compo offer is right, they seem (in our view) to be paying overs. Harrington to me seems to know where to stop - he has proven that over the past couple of years, so if he thinks the 2 picks is worth it, I back him. I wouldn't be surprised if it was one or the other - not both. I'm not reading one bit in to the go-home issue. Mitch is heavily invovled in property development/real estate, an offer like ours would help him set up his future.