John Crow Batty

He was alleged to have interfered a lot in the FD and drafting(sounds familiar). Have a look at their drafting record when he was there. Pretty bad. Getting Des Headland for picks 3 and 19 comes to mind.

In this regard things are not running well. The evidence is clear to see by our performances. Just as bad as the Barassi days where the overbearing attitude and big name recruits only made things worse. It took 5 hard seasons then before we got back to basics with a clear focus.

Good to see him play out a game with full responsibility for a change. Finally starting to look promising. Time is on his side.

Maybe the club did off field and the supporters certainly did. Even the media, government and football public did but not reciprocated by the players in the tribute games which were quite pathetic.

I hope his development continues. I worry though that he is going to seriously injure himself one day. Tends to take the big leap all too often and he is not a power forward. I woud like to see him develop his skills for a more mobile lead up game.

In the game, players require that little bit extra to get an edge to at least keep up to the competition. All the drafts, talent, money, facilities will not help if players dont have the psychological desire, loyalty and commitment to make it all work. At the moment we are a hollow club spiritually and nothing over the course of the season has shown that we have improved in this regard. The players couldn't even raise a yawn to honour the passing of Jimmy. Somehow I dont believe anything will change whilst CS and his grand master plan remain. Most evidence points to him for creating an environment that is divisive and mistrustful amongst the players and they perform accordingly. I thought the board may have had some wisdom and seen this but it appears not. This saga is not over yet.

I await the day the club can claim to have regained genuine respect in the football world. I have a made a lot of right calls on how we are traveling over the past year or so and copped a lot flack from guys like you that just cannot accept the truth but want to believe in fantasies.

I will defer to guys like you. I am not a member of the MCC but was a Redlegs member around the time of the split. There was a lot of dissatisfaction then. And I do remember the dark days of Junction Oval and few friends for the club. But I am concerned with the long term viability of such a relationship with an organisation that may not support us a 100% down the track. it's up you guys to keep them honest.

Since I have been on this forum, I have seen this club go from bad to pathetic to near hopeless. I am sick of the garbage we have had to put up on and off the field. I will continue to voice my displease. If you read my posts from earlier 2010 I was a most even tempered hopeful supporter until I saw all the crap that was being dished up.. I won't change until I see positive changes happening. Hopefully not too long away. I don't give a rats what you think.

Well glad that you are laughing with yourself. I don't really care what you do but if you are an MFC spin jockey your boss should be proud of you. Have to go now, too many plots to thicken, webs to weave and conspiracies to hatch. Supporting this club is such a drudge.

Maybe a not so good public servant but a very dedicated poster. I would advise against a career in comedy though.

At least it is a releif she is not. Impossible to live with. Glad I found that out. And you must be a public servant if you earn 80k at a desk. Only they could earn that much and still be able post non stop 9 to 5.

My opinion on tanking is that it is comparable to theft. To put it simply ranges from minor to severe. From like stealing paper clips at the office to armed robbery at the bank. If a side is having a bad year and eases off when all hope for a successful season is lost so as to improve draft position or to blood new players then thats not so bad and has a positive net result in the medium term. If a side however goes into a whole season(or two) with the aim of playing poorly so as to manipulate the cream of the draft then that is bad. I am of the opinion we tanked for two whole seasons as part of some flawed grand strategy which did not go down well with the FD and players and now has come back to bite us. Most instances of tanking fall into the minor necessary evil category but in our case and with Carlton we invoked bad Karma.

Not like you to speak in nuances and holding back your forthright opinions. Do you have something to lose?

Only one thread and nothing recent to update? Not up to your usual productivity. I suggest all other posters should have a look in case they don't know where you stand.

How come we never hear your opinion on Schwab WW? Most unlike you for one who has a strong opinion on everything and everyone. Acknowledging he has detractors is as far as you ever dare go. Always strangely silent on such a controversial figure who may or may not be responsible for all our current ills. Why dont you tell us all the good things he has done and how much he is loved and respected by all the players.

I have been underwhelmed by the lack of success generated by the relationship over the last 5 decades. Not that I have anything against the MCC but their support seems like token help to satisfy their largest minority. They would prefer to ignore us but they can't.

Sounds like they are hinting a statement may be made on the field. Perhaps wisely a reason young Cook wont debut. Of course if we win it will turn out to be meaningless hot air. But I am starting to hear a faint rattle from the bones of 186.

I would like to add that this is perhaps not the right time but a full split must be considered some time in the future once we restore on field respectability and the brand becomes viable enough to not be overly dependant on handouts.

We could not get any dryer at the moment.

Problem is the MCC is not there anymore for us with only approx 20% support. This club has failed to forge its identity with a GREATER MELBOURNE and is becoming increasingly irrelevant as an anacronism. Being linked with toffs is also a turn off for future support growth. If we had some real on field success over the past few decades it would have easier to cast away the apron strings though.

Better to try and make it on our own than rely on the begging bowl

I wish there could be permanent and irrevocable split. We will always be Cinderella monstered by MCC ugly sisters.

Some people are more intuitive and have more foresight than others. Fact of life.

Thats why it is so strange. To make such sweeping foreboding statements. Even Blind Freddie could see this is an irrelevant and inconsequential game on paper.