hardtack

People tend to forget that people of Chinese origins have been in Australia almost as long as people of Anglo/Celtic origins and I think you will find that they are already quite well represented in the crowds at the footy on any given day. For this reason I am not so sure that just because we have (assuming we get) a China based sponsor, we will suddenly have a surge of members from Australia's Chinese community. Hopefully it will mean more inroads into China for the AFL (and the MFC) which will see further benefits flowing in the form of more sponsorships and media deals.

Considering one of the main local teams established in China as a result of AFL/MFC involvement is called (I think) the Tianjin Demons, I don't think they are likely to be too concerned. http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20111011135253854

Don't say that WYL! Now you have given Mono and olisik additional ammunition...LJ is moonlighting! Anyway, having read RudeBoy's excellent Liam Jurrah Story, I believe that he and his community are together committed to his having a successful AFL career. He will be back in time to start playing once his injury has resolved itself.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Evans a rookie himself?

Then couldn't we then extrapolate from that, that the Dees are equally not serious about this, yet we still beat the Pies and so we are still better than them (even in a half hearted contest) ;-)

Well, there are a couple of ways of looking at it. Yes, the coaches are experimenting with players (rookies and new starters getting game time), game plans, and player positions and hence it is not a true reflection of how any team will approach their games in season proper... but then again, the coaches will be sending their players out to implement genuine strategies and to play to the best of their ability in doing that. Look no further than the performances of teams like West Coast (I think), Essendon and the Dees in last year's NAB Cup... their performances in the pre-season were pretty much representative of the way their respective seasons panned out.

I agree... although he may not have had a bag-full of possessions, Bennell did some good things... in particular one spectacular pick up of the ball running out of the back line which he directed to a team mate and then his handball in heavy traffic from deep in the back line to Jones who then handballed over the top to set up what eventuated in a Dees goal (to Dunn I think it was).

I suppose it's possible that there will be positions that have no elite players in the competition; for example, there may be no full back who could be considered as being in the top 1% of all players in the AFL.

does it really matter?

Some people are just too hard to please. A win in any form of the game and at any time of the year at Etihad is going to do their confidence an enormous amount of good, let alone a win against a team containing a good number of GF players from last year.

Etihad hoodoo put to bed!! Great win against a reasonably strong Pies team.

Have to be pretty happy with that considering we are playing a pretty strong Pies line-up.

MelbourneFC tweet: "Tom McDonald & Rohan Bail will be our subs tonight. Gysberts, Dunn, Blease, Fitzpatrick are not playing tonight from initial 29-man squad" Disappointing that Blease isn't getting a run.

Steve Johnson's tweet was interesting: "Surely there was no need 4 a flight 2 Wang... takes 2 hours 10 minutes (on speed limit) from CBD. Hope the cats get 2 play there next year!"

Judging by the attendance (or lack of), it looks like those in Tassie feel the same.

The Sydney Demons usually gather at the Camelia Grove Hotel in Alexandria which is not too far from the city. Catch a train to Erskinville (two stops from Central on the Bankstown Line) and walk down Henderson Road for a few minutes (or, if you're cashed up, grab a cab).

Excellent stuff! Almost made me take out a second membership :-)

I wonder what might be the likelihood that a new sponsor will be announced at the Family Day?

Ohm my god! Usually I will just switch off, but I must say it's good to see a thread that is generating positive energy as opposed to all of the negatives we usually see on here.

?

Yes, and while we're at it, let's also do away with the ceremonial aspect associated with the handing on of historically significant numbers such as 11, 31 etc; oh, and let's move to have the Norm Smith medal renamed to something more contemporary. And while we're at it, let's change the club song - it's too old and no longer relevant (actually, truth be known, I would be happy for us to replace the original with the David Bridie version )

But the post you were responding to stated: "So after this game who are the ones who havn't had any match time?" - unless you are assuming that Cook won't be given time on the paddock ;-)

Cook is listed for this weekend's game.

Or like the VFL of old... two reserves and that's it.

I don't mind it... could give the players more of a sense of "belonging" to a club and its traditions.