DirtyDees DDC

Please correct me if i'm wrong, but if Junior is on the veterans list, then selecting him for another year will not make any difference to our quota of draft picks. It will affect how many rookie spots are available in 2011, but anyway we will possibly clean out our rookie list at the end of the season. If Junior stays we can keep Miller on the rookie list. He's 34 in October. If Junior and the club agree that he should stay on another year, and then he struggles physically or mentally in the first few matches, will we lose much if he pulls up stumps half way through the season? He might copy Simpson of North Melbourne who left the building half way through last year on his terms.

We now have our new training facilities at AAMI stadium; we have our summer base at Casey; and we have an estimated $2 million profit for this year. The next stage seems to be the redevelopment of the Bentleigh and Leighoak clubs. I wonder if this includes a relocation to Casey - one of the fastest growing areas in Melbourne.

Wasn't there also a great chase by PJ in the 1st or 3rd quarter? He was busting the boiler to catch his man. Great stuff.

Yes it costs a packet to fit out a new gaming club. The worry is if turns into another Collingwood hotels fiasco. Hope we get this right.

The Board of the Bentleigh Club has received a proposal from the Melbourne Football Club for the Bentleigh Club to merge into its operation with the MFC. Reasons include the Bentleigh Club’s spiralling downward profitability trend, the challenging post 2012 new gaming regulations and the future capital expenditure projections required to maintain an attractive and viable venue. The proposals include relocating to an alternative commercially viable location, in close proximity to the existing site, but in any case remaining at Yawla St until at least until 30 June 2012. Key issues include: · The substantial profitability decline of the Bentleigh club, over the past 5 years · The ongoing and increasing reliance of gaming to fund our existing operations, and facilities. · The ongoing reliance on The Melbourne Football Club for survival · An ageing venue that will require extensive capital expenditure, to meet regulatory requirements, and to try to maintain an attractive and competitive venue. · The uncertainty but inevitability of ongoing and substantial changes in regulations and taxes of clubs and gaming venues in the future. · The certainty of an even greater substantial investment in other venues, which will create even more competition and pressure on our finances. (This has already begun with the upgrade to the Bentleigh RSL, and will escalate as 2012 approaches) and · The ongoing difficulty and inability to attract new and young membership numbers. The board approached many consultants who have all come to the conclusion that the current location is a significant impediment to its commercial success. The Board has reviewed the proposal in detail is giving an ‘In Principal’ recommendation to further investigate the proposal. This proposal can be found and downloaded from the Bentleigh Club website front page from Friday 23 July after 12 noon, at www.thebentleighclub.com.au Be interesting to see the affect of this merger proposal on the MFC's bottom line in 2012 and beyond.

Good to see that Strauss is not on the injury list. He's almost been the forgotten player this year along with Martin. I hope he gets a game this sunday with Casey.

Well done Maric. He's the 39th player on our senior/rookie list to play AFL football this year. Is this more than any other club? I have a hunch he may not be the last. McNamara and Tapscott could also get a call-up if they can show good form at Casey. As for Bate - He had an interrupted pre-season and has played most matches on the flank. He's currently 91kgs. I'd like to see him lose about 4-5kgs. I'm not saying he's fat, but losing a little muscle may improve his pace off the mark and reduce his turning circle. I reckon he's at his best when he runs hard and bursts into space. The average weight of AFL players is 87kg. I don't think Bate needs an extra 4-5kgs to play his best game. Another option is to play him in midfield where he spent some last year. I'd be surprised if he doesn't take Moloney's place this Sunday.

For the next 10 years, Jack will get the chance to train with one of the best defenders in the league in chip Frawley. I hope they bring out the best in each other.

I wasn't a big fan of Damien Hardwick. He tended to try anything to gain a competitive advantage (EG; conning a free kick against Jonathon Brown in the 2004 GF), however I'll accept that his tough attitude made him a very important player in two premiership sides. I was worried we'd picked up another lightly built outside player who may be brushed aside in contested situations, but you're right TD - Blease seemed to enjoy 'getting involved'. He's still listed as only 70kg and 184cm. I hope he can get to 80-85kg AND retain his pace. Good to see Maric get a few goals. I don't think he got a lot of posessions in the first half but 3 goals from a small forward is a fair return. Maybe a chance of a call up next week.

I noticed something else about our 70kg pick 18 draft selection - he may have a bit of the 'Damien Hardwick' about him. There were 2 minutes left in the match. Casey had kicked a goal and Blease was lined up on the wing for the recommencement. Just before the next bounce of the ball, Sam was busy trying to push his direct opponent across the line so he could con a free kick from the umps. He also hassled a couple of other opponents by restraining them on the ground. The Port fans were going off at him, calling him mongrel number 47. Luvved it. We could have something here.

They beat us 97 to 50 in the NAB cup earlier this year. We went into that match with high expectations and brand new recruits in Scully, Trengove and Fitzpatrick, and copped a first round thumping at Subiaco. I hope we get closer this time.

PJ did a good job at the G last year on Sandilands, so they may give him another crack on Sunday . Picking PJ will also help avoid the temptation to play Dunn in the ruck. Dunn did well against Pavlich last year and he's a good physical match for Freo's best player.

Don't worry mono. I have a feeling they were reluctant to bring two players back after a long injury (Jurrah and Bail). If Bail has a good match against Frangers then he should be picked for round 16. Jetta had to go. 10 possessions and 1 goal a match doesn't cut it for a small forward. Bennell, Cheney, Bartram and MacDonald also have to do more this week. Go Dees

We've got our new training rooms. Maybe we can also recruit Mrs Tapscott as our diet and conditioning coach. I know he's built like one, but should we call him 'tank' tapscott?

We currently have 33,349 MFC members. If each member donates $23 dollars, we will wipe off the $767,000 debt.

Pathetic. Let's ignore the fact that we played the top defensive team in the league and got within 18 points at 3/4 time. We lost by 35 points. This round two sides got beaten by > 80 points. 2 years ago we lost 7 games by > 75 points. How quickly we forget those dark days. Yes we have players on our list that may not be up to AFL standard, but I saw improvement in Watts, Trengove and McKenzie, and we converted 20 of our 33 entries into the forward 50. We tried hard at getting our running game going; they were just too tough with their tackling and pressure at the contest.

Any idea who won the Larke medal for best player?

Jcb31. why were you not surprised that Jack Darling was not selected? He has been rumoured to go in the top 3 draft picks this year.

Which team are werribee tigers affiliated with in the AFL?

Thanks WJ! I've spent 45 years trying to get over that match, and you brought back all the bad memories!!! I remember Ian Cooper taking the mark of the season. The match was a turning point and changed St Kilda's fortunes too. They realised after thrashing us that they could be a genuine finals contender.

There's a tall kid at Geelong who hasn't played a game. Mitch Brown. 195cms. Slight build but good mark. He was a first round draft pick in 2008. played with Jack Watts at Sandringham Dragons. Also, what about Matt Little for Williamstown? Looked v good today against the scorpions. He's a true forward who can kick a goal.

Is he purely an outside player? He does a great job as a tall wingman or linkman who can find space and set himself up as a free target for our defenders. I just don't see him win enough contested possessions at this stage.

Great video. Interesting that he was predominantly a right foot player (not a bad other foot either) but bounced the ball on his left. looks like opponents had trouble reading his change of direction. Can we still sign him up?

Morton certainly provides good value as an outside player, but how many contested possessions does he win? Understandable considering his slight frame, however there are times when you have to go in hard like Moloney and Jones and take the hits to get the ball to a better position.

3 - Moloney. he was everywhere. 38 possesions - his best game ever for the club. we were looking at a thrashing and he willed us back into the game. Proud of him. 2.5 - the big Russian - took on 2 opponents and beat them both without support. 2. Davey - 28 possessions but missed at least 4 targets coming out of the backline. He DOES get the hard ball. 1.5 - Garland - 24 possessions -and took the initiative to kick a goal in the second. 1. Jones. tireless - always working so hard at the coalface. .5 Frawley - a rock in defence and good to see him drift down into the forward line. Morton did well as an outside player. Hopefully next year he can put on some beef and start winning contested possessions.