3183 Dee

Lifetime member

Agreed - even if he makes the sub's role his own. He's not afraid to come on, play wherever he's told and do the grunt, whether it's shoring up the defence or adding another dimension to the forward line.

A couple of things I took out of the game: - Watts' run down the line, with a couple of bounces before a pinpoint delivery to Trengove(?) brought one of the biggest roars of the afternoon - shows how long we have been missing this sort of flair. - The changing around of the forward/back lines is a stroke of genius. Not only do we get two big extra options up front in Garland and Rivers, who can play high and on the ground, but it adds to to the defensive capability of the forward line. Likewise, putting Watts behind the ball, adds the class aspect to a tough defence. - Loving Tom McDonald, just needs some work on his delivery and he will be a superstar - Mitch Clark is the epitome of what we needed at Melbourne, he has it in spades. On a more general note, I liked what I read in Mark Robinson's interview with Neeld in Saturday's Hun. Recruiting a few hardened players Moneyball-style mixed with some good draft selections is the way to go forward IMO.

To the tune of Nellie The Elephant: Tom Scully packed his trunk and said goodbye to the Demons Off he went with a cheque in his hand C*nt c*nt c*nt

I thought McDonald did some outstanding work last night - a few dodgy disposals, maybe, but that Zaharakis tackle plus another great spoil in 4Q which were both fist pumpers for me.

Special mention to Jack Grimes - real captain's game tonight. Led by example.

Not bad 1Q - much better defensively, just need some run and spread to capitalise. The longer we can stay closer to the Bombers, the greater confidence it will give IMO.

Good start, quite enjoyed it. Keep it up!

Yes - look at the guys who have thrived under Neeld - Magner, Clark and Jones. Tough, uncompromising players who put the effort in. IMHO Neeld has also worked out how to get Watts going.

Holy schizen! A great coup, Opel are the GM brand across most of Europe (Vauxhall in the UK). Fantastic get.

On the train back home, my thoughts: Too slow around the park, run and spread non-existent, hand passing woeful, where was the midfield (N. Jones excepted)? Positives: Watts was good again, some deft touches and grunt when required. Howe good playing back. Clark did okay given the service. Jones tried hard. It wasn't as if we were particularly insipid - we just aren't good enough. The return of Moloney, Sylvia and Jurrah may improve things, but interestingly they didn't miss Green, I felt. I'm not sure how you pick up a team that are so low on confidence. It's going to be a long, long road even after this year, but we'll get there.

Any idea what time it will be announced?

And also lost Bomber Thompson at a crucial time. Just goes to show that if the culture is right, the rest will take care of itself.

This is a quote from Teddy Roosevelt and a favourite of mine. I often think of this when certain journalists decide to give a particular young player of ours a constant trial by media! “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

This is a quote from Teddy Roosevelt and a favourite of mine. I often think of this when certain journalists decide to give a particular young player of ours a constant trial by media! “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

Got back a little while ago now - took my 2 and a half year old boy, who loved seeing all the red and the blue. Just sat down to write this after having a whisky as Jim recommended! It was a beautiful service - a real celebration, I felt. There was also a great feeling of camaraderie amongst the Demons faithful. In his life, Jimmy gave so much to our football club and, in his passing, he may have galvanised the club even more than maybe he knew. We'll see - roll on Saturday.

Jim Stynes - A life well lived. God bless you and your family.

Ha ha! I hadn't thought of it like that, I just get bored of knee jerk reactions from certain sections of the media - both good and bad. I get the fact that he was a #1 pick and the baggage that comes with that. Time will tell if he fulfills expectations but, in the meantime, I think he deserves his chance to develop properly and not have his career judged from game to game.

Mark Neeld made the point on Triple M that Watts had not come through the more traditional route of TAC Cup and therefore the adjustment to senior footy was always going to be harder and take longer for him. We saw more than a few glimpses last year of what Jack is capable of. In Neeld we trust and I believe Watts can thrive under his stewardship. Also, to be canned by sections of the media before he's hardly kicked a ball in anger this season is a bit desperate.

Really good. Clear and simple - thanks!

Love it!

My thoughts exactly. The Scully move will hopefully prove to be the hiatus of a scrappy, patchy few years. We've seen this year that the club, despite the huge strides made by Jim Stynes et al, has some deep issues off the field in its culture. The exposure of these problems will, I hope, ensure that they can be faced up to and addressed, to clear the way for a successful new era on and off the field for the Melbourne Football Club.

I've said that I'd like Roos, with Brett Kirk as #2. If that isn't possible, then Lyon and MM are the only A Graders available. We do have a potentially good young list, but there is a huge job to do with bringing some of our senior players into line as well. Is Lyon the sort of coach who will come in and lay down the law a la MM?

Roos and Captain Kirk as #2.

I like it, as it's being played at the Oval, it adds something to the fixture. It's about being magnanimous to those SA boys and the game in general.