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This is such a big misconception. All players who have signed deals in the last 2-3 years have a clause in their contract for their wage to go up in line with the CBA agreement. If you signed for 500k last year but the CBA goes up 10%, you'll be on 550 next year. It's a convenient excuse for supporters to stop worrying about players who are delaying contract talks, but there is absolutely no reason for a player to delay awaiting the results of the CBA- they'd be applied to their contract regardless. \ Source: Current player

Purchased $3,500 worth of gear for a tick over $900. The quality is fantastic and even better, the brand awareness NB would receive from everyone wearing their New Balance gear is crucial. Nike's biggest asset is the fact everyone is constantly seen wearing it, so fingers crossed we're all chipping in to help NB. Cannot wait for next year. As for the above re Melbourne drop down menu, it was there on the first day of sales, it was only removed as there is no stock remaining relating to Melbourne.

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Makes sense! Thanks and can't wait for the stubby holder

Hi DL, Look great. Just wanted to confirm- if you're a life member does the $5 automatically come off at the check-out. I was under the impression I'm a life member but it's still requesting $25. The $5 doesn't bother me but could you confirm what my membership status is? Thanks!

Part of supporting the club is also supporting the companies who help keep us afloat. New Age Caravans, New Balance and AHG were able to get on board when we were a pathetically run club 2 years ago with no real commercial potential for them. It's not like sponsoring a winning Hawthorn or big Collingwood. I'm happy to give them a leg up whenever I get the chance as I'm sure heaps and heaps of companies I use day to day told us to bugger off. Embrace supporting the sponsors who helped keep your club alive.

Hi Deevoted, BDM from R Flower League and keen to go again also! Count me as confirmed

These sorts of injuries are inexcusable!? He was shooting a basketball in his backyard!! On his time off!! Holy moly

Are you serious?! Can't believe how many people have the same opinion as you on this. He's an athlete playing sport in his off-time- what do you expect he does?!?! "Sorry sir, you're on 70k a year and a bunch of middle age Melbourne supporters rely on you being good to keep their life sane so no sport or potential risk of injury other than AFL all year round." I get everyone is upset that he's missing pre-season, as am I, but surely we can recognise that part of playing good football is not just a good football club but it's happiness outside of football as well. I only hope he was shooting hoops with Brayshaw, Hoges and Viney as they enjoyed a cold beverage building a friendship.

Legally we can't copy whole articles but the general gist was that recruiters were preparing for Weideman to be the 'slider' of the draft. There were large concerns that he ran a 10.5 on the beep test which is considered a par result for a typical 18 year old let alone a professional athlete who should be mid 12s. There were two anecdotes suggesting one recruiter who said he believed Melbourne could still pull the trigger at 7, whilst another said he wouldn't be surprised if they took him at 3 knowing they'd get to pair him with Hogan. All in all, a genuine fluff piece that now I've finished typing has me seriously questioning why I pay $10 a month to read this rubbish.

Edited

I seem to be on my own here but I'd really love Parish and Balic. Parish seems to be the polish outside type that we've always desperately wanted. Viney Jones Brayshaw Vince all dishing off to him along with his hard running sounds amazing. Balic is the type of player Melbourne have never had in the last 10 years. Reminds me a little bit of Shaun Burgoyne at Port who looks a really smooth mover, has that extra class than others and kicks goals. Here's to hoping!

Howe and Toumpas for Kennedy, pick 29 and pick 50. I have to say I believe this is another poor deal. Howe for Kennedy and 50 is unders and Toumpas for 29 is stupid. I'd prefer to keep him and see him struggle than trade for 29 at age 21 in a weak draft. This 2 weeks has not filled me with much confidence in next year or going forward.

Is that the same 'mate' who told him Ablett was being traded from Gold Coast to us... He's had some funny ones that's for sure.

They've since said Pick 25

... Shane Savage was highly rated coming out of Hawthorn and he actually got a game. He's been pretty poor at St Kilda since. People constantly overrate average players at good clubs. Clinton Young is another example of a rubbish Hawthorn player who looked good in a good system. Melksham has runs on the board at AFL level, Anderson has 'potential'. As a Melbourne supporter, I'd think more than anyone you'd realise the downfalls on making decisions on the latter.

Redden must be an idiot. West Coast are about to play in a grand final with a young midfield brigade that runs pretty deep. Selwood can't get a game and they are very similar players. They don't exactly have an older team where some will be pushed out the other end either. I'd enjoy see him ignore us only to play WAFL next year. Some players just don't get it.

I haven't heard the quote, but I believe all Connors did was confirm Hawthorn were not interested and than went to say at the moment it's between Geelong and Adelaide. I think the press inferred those comments

Grimes very good?! Better than White?! White at 16 very clean possessions yesterday and blew away my expectations. I was disappointed when we subbed him off truth be told. It's incredibly lucky Grimes has a year left on his contract, his decision making and execution were nothing short of embarrassing yesterday. He dropped two basic marks that cost us goals, his handballs always put a teammate under pressure. Not too mention the most frustrating thing about him is whenever we switch, or he received the ball in a dangerous position he doesn't move on the ball with any pace at all. Backwards ball movement or slowly jogging back and kicking a 35m down the line are his only options. Incredibly frustrating player and respect his service to the club, but will be happy when other players have overtaken him.

Disagree with the majority of this. I played junior footy with James all through my younger life and he won club and league best and fairests every year. The premise that he wasn't a natural footballer is false, he was a great runner because he trained so hard for his footy. Furthermore, if Melbourne hadn't selected him at 19, WC would've at 20. The way the cards fell, we ended up with him and the Eagles with Shuey which has been particularly beneficial for them. Who knows what Luke would've been like at MFC or James would've been like in a different environment. You've mentioned AVB who has been a revelation for his tackle pressure but his skills are not even close to AFL standard. He's had a large number of critical errors by hand and foot that show why he's taken until 24 to be drafted. Thankfully his appetite for tackling and contested footy makes up for some deficiencies. AFL Drafting like all sports will always include some risk of drafting players who clubs think will develop into the best player. Some will make it, some will not. Unfortunately for us, in the last 10 years far far too many have not. It appears we are starting to see that change.

The irony of the last sentence there is an early candidate for Septembers best post.

A poor mans spelling of Puopolo one would assume..

You only get a tackle stat if it ends in a stoppage, direct turnover or the ball comes out in the tackle.To use an example I can remember a chain where Melbourne laid three very strong tackles all resulting in a handball that put the next recipient in more trouble than the last. This all wouldn't receive a tackle stat but clearly had an effect on the eventual turnover. Our pressure was clearly better than Collingwoods regardless on the stats

I don't boo him but I don't like him as a person. If I were to boo him it would be because I consider him an incredibly weak footballer. A brownlow medallist, a premiership player and by all reports a good bloke but putting your face out in the media on a regular basis means you open yourself up to being heavily liked or disliked. I respect Goodes for making a stand, but I don't believe because he stands up for a good cause, I'm required to like him as a person and be immune to me choosing to boo him if I see fit. I have forever boo'ed ex Melbourne players because it's an expression of my disappointment in them leaving us. I did it to Jeff Farmer and so did 40,000 others and thankfully I was never called a racist.

I rated Taylor's 32 possessions as close to the worst 32 possession game I've ever seen. That bloke doesn't kick more than 20 meters, just does rubbish dinky kicks and his disposal efficiency was putrid!