3183 Dee

They were, but went to lengths to keep him at the club.

Great OP - I've always liked Wattsy, mostly for the silk he brings, although I recognise there have been a few games where he has gone missing. However, there were 4 or 5 moments of absolute class in yesterday's game, 2 of them in the opening minutes, where he sold candy to 3 or so GWS players before dishing off a perfect pass. As the OP says, his 4Q lifted the whole team (I have to say, I thought we were done at 3Q time) and the crowd. We talk about the development of players - well, this guy has had it harder than most and is still up and fighting.

Ugh! I still shudder thinking about that game. Felt sick to the stomach watching Port kick goal after goal, with no resistance, except for JV.

Out of interest, I have general admission membership and sit on Level 3 Olympic, right next to the Members. Last year on QB, the first 15 or so rows of this section had been reserved for Pies fans, for some reason, which meant we were well up in the nosebleeds: maybe better to reserve ahead.

I saw this too! Re-reading, I think he is referring to the leadership group, as it's mentioned in the previous sentence or two, I think.

Thanks for the photos. I sense a growing belief amongst this group of young men.

Wow! Looks great on mobile app - well done ?

I thought this, too, Dazzle. The mark followed by the push away of the opponent was Hogan-like. I don't know who you'd try to snare with the earlier pick now.

For me, the best thing to come out of this trade period was the canny-ness of the FD and recruiters, who have quietly played a great game of cards, with a bit of bluff here and there, to put us in a better position than we were 3 weeks ago. That's all you can ask - it's up to the coaches to turn it into on-field success.

Yep - good on him, could very well snag the Norm Smith.

Definitely - they'd found some rhythm up front before Peds got injured.

What it says on the tin: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2015-09-11/jamars-time-at-melbourne-comes-to-an-end

Apologies if mentioned elsewhere, but according to AFL site, Brayshaw and Harmes will be rested this week, to give them a breather. Roos wants players to start playing and getting angry, he believes that they feel too sorry for themselves. Pretty much sums up what most on here have been saying, which is why I think possibly Garland, Howe, Dunn(?), Grimes (?) as the old guard, may be moved on. Not sure about contract status of Grimes and Dunn, but you get my drift.

I'm proud of our club and its indigenous players, past and present.

A few things: I wonder if Mackenzie will get a contract at Casey next year? According to Justin Plapp's reports, Jordie tears it up almost every week in the VFL, but it seems as though his first team days are through. Might they offer him a contract to help bring the young Melbourne lads on? He's a grafter, great work ethic and puts his balls on the line, if nothing else. I'd say you definitely re-contract Crossy. I think he's been one of our best free agency/trade gets - essential role model for the young fellas. Is Pedersen's contract up this year? He's really blossomed under Roos and was proving a great foil for Hogan and Garlett - we've missed him since his injury and I never thought I would say that.

I know - I realise that there are media obligations, but maybe just let the coaches do them. I'm sick of these ramp-ups and then a performance which is exactly the opposite. Then the obligatory photo of the team looking dejected as they go back down the race. I don't understand why this team cannot take momentum and inspiration from a game like Geelong and build the rest of the season on it. It's like [censored] Groundhog Day!

Yes - because after the first year or so, we got rid of the likes of Bruce and MacDonald. Even if they only had a year or two left, they would still have been around to mentor the young guys. Then we tanked for a year or two to get the top draft picks, which the hierarchy believed would be the making of our club. Then we appointed two kids as captains and expected them to create a new culture under Neeld. All this, whilst the new expansion clubs - GWS especially - have had an obscene amount of trade and cap concessions. At the same time, the off-field administration had been run by an apparently self-serving dummkopf, a number one draft pick has [censored] off to the AFL's pet project and we have been rogered with a $ half a mill fine for the aforementioned tanking. I don't know what the answer is, but I can't fathom how we can tear Geelong a new one at their place and then not have the momentum or will to hand a hiding to the Bombers and avenge the previous Saints defeat.

Correct. This is why the Doggies and St Kilda have bounced back after a couple of years of bottoming out - they still have a nucleus of experienced players who have played finals footy.We are starting from a point way back from these clubs - effectively the same as GWS and GC but without the massive concessions. IMO the only option is to bring in players like Daniel Cross, who I think has been our best pick up overall, to nurture our potentially great young guns in the right way to go about their footy.

A win is a must today, if we are to maintain that we have improved. Sure, our footy is a little better but the results speak for themselves. We should be confident of beating the bottom placed team on our home turf - no questions. If we are to improve, we need to stop the jitters and get the job done. As an aside, I see M Robinson is named for Brisbane. Hopefully Jack Viney will ask him whether he thinks we're still bruise-free. Come on you Demons!

Say 'Neal-Bullen' five times really quickly.

A bit misty eyed to be honest. Just told my 5 year old, one eyed Demon that days like this must never be forgotten. They say the darkest hour is right before the dawn....

I have just tuned in and seen the result. I am very, very fookin surprised.

Be very fookin surprised.

Where was that?

Before all the negativity starts, we are a side with little depth at the moment, with 7 of our first 22 out. Not making excuses, just stating the facts. Unfortunately we still have a couple of tough years to go, whilst we build the required depth to be a finals-competitive club. Whilst it's undeniably frustrating to watch, we have to bide our time as the processes are now in place for the future.