Dr. Mubutu

Nice article from Col Garland on Jones' 200th: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2015-08-28/garland-pays-tribute-to-200gamer-jones

There's no way the AFL would have parachuted Jackson in unless we were as deplorable as we were.

Come on now, they give people that know nothing about footy (or statistics) a chance to look like they know something!

AFAIK, a kick for a behind is still an effective disposal. So is a kick >40m? to a contest. An effective disposal is not always what it seems. Lies, damn lies and statistics.

I have no urge to see people beaten up by professional footballers.

Scarily, on 98 games, Jeremy Howe has played the 6th most games for Melbourne of any player currently on the list.

Sorry od, what was I thinking! Good luck against Port next weekend, Freo. You're gonna need it.

If the Dockers win this week, they're guaranteed a home final. If they lose (I know), they HAVE to beat Port in Adelaide. I don't think they'll be taking the chance. I don't think we'll see any of the 'creative' team selections from Freo that we have in the past. They'll be looking to win, and win well. Melbourne are seriously going to have to turn up ready to play.

Jeff Garlett (with a record of 5-3) and Chris Dawes have. Pedersen hasn't.

Given our previous best for the season are 99 against Richmond (with vandenBerg contributing 12!) and 88 winning against Footscray (another 11 from vandenBerg), perhaps a more achievable result is in order? 84 tackles averages to one per player, per quarter. I'd be very happy with that, especially considering the pace of our side, and the size of Subiaco.

From the quote, it sounds like he's blaming the players for not being able to separate their performance from the doom-and-gloom of the supporter base. "That's just something they have to get over. I'm sick of talking about it." Of course, if you choose to look at everything negatively.....

Is anything they said actually incorrect though? Nobody has come out and said: "All Melbourne supporters have to be happy and everything is sunshine and rainbows." If they have, I've definitely missed it. Roos and Jackson have simply acknowledged that the mindset around the supporters is predominately negative, and have stated the reasons why. Nothing more. At no point were the supporters 'blamed' for this, that was the usual suspects in the media, looking for cheap ratings. Don't get me wrong, I was as incensed as anybody at the time, and agree that it wasn't a good look, but the only thing wrong is the timing. If they'd brought it up during the off-season, with no performances fresh in the mind to compare it to, this jumping at shadows wouldn't have happened. Given time (and probably because I don't live in Melbourne, so the AFL media isn't quite all-pervading here), I've been able to calm down, and actually look at what was said rationally. What has happened, though, is the self-serving prophecy, because we are, in fact, negative, that as a supporter group we assume that we are being blamed for the shortcomings of the playing group. This is simply not the case. We can be negative. We are allowed to be negative. In fact, one could argue that we have the right to be negative until the team shows us otherwise. But don't jump up and down when someone says "Y'know what, they're negative." As a senior coach of an AFL club once said: "It is what it is."

The difference is that this time, the CEO isn't among that group.

Now where have I heard something similar to that before....... Oh, that's right: empty platitudes served up after round 1, 2013, when, surprise, surprise, the players couldn't be arsed. Why even bother emailing the club when you know this is all that you're going to get in response. (In my defense, I was just made redundant when I sent my previous misguided email, and I'm sure you all remember that particular trainwreck of a game.) I'll believe we've turned the corner when I see it. We've seen glimpses, but obviously, they're still nowhere near it.

Well, he's planted the seed of the idea already..... Be prepared for some Demonland favourites to be cut adrift......

Come on, people, positive thoughts! Melbourne will beat Freo by 200 points on the weekend. Jesse Hogan to kick 20 goals, before being chaired off the ground by surprise guests Allen Jakovich and Liam Jurrah.

Counter offer: $83 240.

What a KPI to hang your hat on.

I think you forget how deplorable we were under Royal. I swear to god, one centre bounce had the group: Spencer McKenzie Nicholson Bail Ergh. Just thinking about it gives me nightmares. (I'm not kidding. It was round 22, 2012.)

[censored] me, if we can't joke about losing, every single supporter of this club would've necked themselves circa 1981.

Something something Lucas Cook, something something Jordan Gysberts. I hope that wasn't too negative.....

Good on ya, Roosy. 98-point loss, insipid loss to the wooden spooners who didn't want to win a week later, then blame the fans. I pity the staff in membership right now.

You've got to give up something of worth to get something of worth.

There have already been hundreds too many.