hardtack

http://www.afl.com.au/match-centre/nab-cup/2013/2/port-v-melb

Sorry Stuie, in all fairness the same could be said for bagging out Neeld on the back of a single season, following which he has turned over almost half the playing list.

I think what that means is that anyone who says anything at all positive about the MFC, is referred to in sports journalism circles, as a "Melbourne defender".

AFL Predictions: Brownlow Medal: Marc Murphy (Carlton) Coleman Medal: Buddy Rising Star: Toumpas Grand Finalists: Carlton and Geelong Premiers: Geelong Wooden Spoon: Western Bulldogs Biggest AFL Story of the Year: GWS to become implicated in drugs in sport scandal The Biggest Improvers: MFC The Biggest Sliders: StKilda FC MFC Predictions: B&F: Nathan Jones Leading Goalkicker: Mitch Clark Best First Year Player: Toumpas Most Improved: Jetta Final Ladder Position: 10th Biggest MFC Story of the Year: Mark Neeld voted coach of the year.

Isn't that what you do to kittens and puppies?

I received a response from MFC who tweeted to me the following: "we've offered to replace Imogen's guernsey with all her signatures but she'd prefer to get her original back if possible."

Maybe as many as possible tweet @MelbourneFC with Pates' suggestion? I just tweeted with a link to Pates' post... would be nice to start the season with a feel good story.

I'm pretty certain that the 5aa broadcast is being fed through the AFL website (or was it MFC?), so if anyone is unsure of using the TuneIn Radio app or want to use PC instead of portable device, then just go to the website (i'm sure a link will be tweeted by the AFL or MFC). To get TuneIn just go to the apps store on either the android phone or iPhone (iPad), search for TuneIn Radio and download... simple.

.This is one thing I really cannot understand when it comes to the anti NAB Cup sentiment. Yes, they ARE like glorified practice games, but if we are preparing for the season ahead, what would you really rather do... - practice in-house so that your new players get no exposure to any players outside of their own group, and more importantly, no exposure to any other game plan, or - practice against real opposition with the added incentive of getting some money at the end of it (well, we already missed out on that part of the pie) Regardless of what we think, I'm sure the football departments at most clubs probably relish the opportunity to get valuable insight into their players (the newer players in particular) and where they are at in terms of exposure to real pressure and countering opposition game plans.

Any coverage of lawn bowls would have to include a lot of bias.

Cue "Duelling Banjos" (squeeeeeal like a pig!! - "this boy's got a nice prayin' mouth Floyd") - courtesy of Rundle Mall on any day of the week.

I listen while sitting at my PC so I can follow the twitter comments as well, not to mention join in any match comments going on here at D'land.

Gee, look what I started :-) My comment was relating to aerobic fitness only, but you are all probably right... anyway, this is why I'm not coaching in any form of the game.

Yes. Well at least they aren't lying when they tell you that they (5aa) will be broadcasting the Port Adelaide game.

You might be right OD, but if he can take a stationary role at full forward or CHF and lets Dawes do most of the running around that he tends to do, then running fitness shouldn't be too big an issue... he could do those short sharp sprints to take a big mark/spoil a pack; that is, as long as our midfield isn't feeding him too much ball of course :-)

Not having a go OD, but just curious as to why you think Port would "need to win badly" and not us? I would see a win being equally as important to both teams and so we can maybe expect to see a real contest.

Ageist :-)

The rules weren't written specifically for Jessie.

Yes, could just imagine all of the other clubs taking out a class action against the AFL for draft tampering :-)

You take a bag full of exaggeration, throw in a pinch of rhetoric and a dash of figerospeech, mix them all up in the Hyper Bowl, pour into a lined cake tin, refrigerate (or overheat) for 30 minutes and voila!... you have the perfect slice of hyperbole.

"Wet Toast"...

Forget Carey and forget the Ox, I see him as having the physical attributes and aggression of one "Plugger"...and that's something you won't hear me complaining about.

You are right DC, but the reason I raised the subject of gambling was that the AFL is now more accountable than ever. Yes, these players have a "moral" obligation to their team and supporters, but once money is involved, their responsibilities and the affects of their actions are felt much further afield.

Ok, firstly let me clear one thing up.. I have NEVER stated anywhere in this thread or anywhere else on this or any other site, that I am in favour of a zero tolerance stance; in fact I am NOT. Secondly, yours is a very spurious argument as it it "supposes" many possibilities, but provides no solid facts... it IS however a known fact that drugs (regardless of whether they be marijuana, speed, smack, alchohol, nicotine, performance enhancers etc etc) DO affect performance levels for better or for worse. My whole line of argument was that if players are using drugs, then they are affecting their ability to perform (either artificially enhancing it or reducing it) and so on the day, this can affect the outcome of a game. Whether we like it or not, agree with it or not, a lot of money is passing through gambling agencies and a lot is riding on the results of matches... the last thing the average punter wants, is for his money to go down the gurgler because players were either be pumped up artificially (those on the team being bet against) or unable to perform at their best (those on the team on which a bet has been placed).

I thought it was pretty obvious I wasn't commenting only on performance "enhancing" drugs when I said: "Possibly because drugs (and alchohol) can have a direct affect on on-field performance and as a consequence affect the outcome of a game... and when you take into account the amount of money being bet on AFL games, the affects can be far reaching..." Drugs such as marijuana, alchohol, LSD etc. as you rightly say, "adversely affect performance", and so still can have an affect on the outcome of games - that was my point.