hardtack

And to you too Biffo... hope you're enjoying a christmas nip... err, I mean tipple.

For mine, this is one of the greatest xmas songs ever written...

Bernie Vince just tweeted: "Nearly 25000 members for @melbournefc already. A pre Christmas record! Good to see everyone is as excited as I am about 2015!!"

I think now is a good time to reflect on the 12 days of christmas:

Still think that Mad Dogs and Englishmen was one of the great concert films along with Woodstock, Rust Never Sleeps and Stop Making Sense. Don't knock Kylie... she's made the occasional foray into the world of good music... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbcTp6hvhsU

Yep, another great gone too soon. He was a superb performer, but unfortunately, in my opinion, he never again reached the heights of his Mad Dogs and Englishmen period.

Just watched the 3D BluRay of Jean-Pierre Jeunet's (Amelie, City of Lost Children, etc) The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet. Stunning film, beautiful storyline, and great acting (including Judy Davis and Helen Bonham-Carter among others). Highly recommended.

I would have thought that if they are all found guilty of the same offence, then they would all receive the same penalty... anything else and I would think that WADA would have something to say about it.

Yeah, those $1 players are going to be the straw that breaks that camel's back!

You're an undertaker?

Yep, I give him another 8 years and I reckon he'll walk!

Well, lets put it this way... if a fundamentalist Christian kills a doctor/doctors at an abortion clinic in the US (which has happened on more than one occasion), iis it called an act of terrorism? No it is not. So, why is it that terrorism seems to be related solely to the actions of adherents of the Islamic faith? Yes, I would agree that in all cases of an individual taking such action with no affiliation to an organised militant group is a nut job first and foremost. And yes, my perspective would be different if this was a well organised attack involving numbers of gunmen, because it would be reasonable to assume that they would be just a few of a much larger organisation and would more than likely have affiliations with other larger militant groups. The other half of my post that you didn't seem to consider worthy of discussion, highlights the greater threat of organised militant Islamist groups such as the Taliban... lone wolves tend to be fringe dwellers who probably would have committed heinous acts regardless of whether they were driven by religion or not.... as was apparent from his apparent involvement in the murder of his former wife. The fact that he used an Islamic flag to push his own agenda, does not make it an act of terrorism. The fact that he was Islamic does not make it an act of terrorism. However, the fact that he had a history of mental instability and had apparently been getting worse, would indicate that he was more likely a ticking time bomb that had reached the end of its fuse. Anyway, that's just my take on it... and I still find it abhorrent that the press seemed to focus solely on this and did all but ignore the events in Pakistan. A sad reflection on what they perceive to be the relative value of human life and its relationship to the selling of news.

All is well... but my son and I look forward most to Easter and our annual sojourn (well, 2015 will be the 2nd year on the trot) to Melbourne to celebrate his birthday and watch the Dees opening game at the "G". The only thing he's hanging out for more than that, is the start of his next season at the Newtown Swans.

Winner of the coaches award for the Newtown Swans under 11's in 2014. Booming left foot that usually hits its target.

Have to say that at my age, any kind of a stroke is appealing.

No, the winning goal in the 2020 grand final will be kicked by a young 18 year old Demons midfielder by the name of Liam Fleming, streaming down from the wing and booting a 45 metre goal over the umpires hat, from the boundary line.

What terrorists? The only person I saw was a nut job who happened to be Iranian and Islamic... it was hardly an organised terror attack. And as for the media, where are they when there is a genuine terrorist related attrocity going on... that is, 132 children murdered in Pakistan by Taliban gunmen... barely rated three lines on the front of any national paper. It's a [censored] sad sad world we live in!!

I think there are a few who posted in this thread who should be feeling a little ashamed... or do they now see his upside as opposed to the downside they were espousing when they had convinced themselves he was gone? It's a shame some supporters (and I use that term advisedly) can't show the same sort of loyalty and fortitude as our Mr Jones.

No doubt he will be using the "vibe" defence.

And 9 News took things to a new low with there little piece comparing this to the 9-11 attack, Bali bombing and London Tube bombing. I despise the mainstream news media.

I wouldn't bother if I were you... the thread has already taken a turn for the worse, and it hasn't even officially started yet :-)

I'm expecting him to pull off a complete recovery soon.

Well for someone to get 27.73 disposals (average), 137 clearances & 255 contested possessions in a bottom side where he has been doing most of the work unaided, to dismiss him like that is unbelievable. Compares rather favourably to Dangerfield's 24.91 disposals (average), 136 clearances & 341 contested possessions don't you think? I never cease to be amazed at the lengths people will go to dismiss a player once the MFCSS kicks in and thoughts turn to free agency. Seriously! The MFC should be doing everything in their power to secure his signature... he is the heart and soul of the club and that is something it just isn't possible to put a price on.

His what?

And the diagnosis is...?