old dee

I've thought the same for a while - for all teams. Makes it a lot easier and gets rid of all the stupid white jumpers! Fair enough for the likes of sydney, freo, carlton, collingwood etc where their secondary colour is white, but would like to see our away strip being red again. Anyway, all been done to death already!

You are right Demonator done to death and I don,t mind the latest white away strip.

You never know it might be red one day and not pink.

At best, he would have to be the oldest mature age rookie in the AFL. Father Ray is 66. The Groom boys are very smart. I'm sure he will be a welcome addition to the management team.

Ray could play a bit, he left at an early age to return to Tasmania.

From memory I think was the Premier of Tasmania at one stage.

From AFL Website:

Melbourne

Robert Campbell (achilles) - 4-6 weeks

Jack Fitzpatrick (foot) - 4 weeks

James Frawley (pectoral muscle) - 6-8 weeks

Jordie McKenzie (groin soreness) - 1 week

Cale Morton (finger) - 4-6 weeks

Michael Newton (broken wrist) -4 -6 weeks

Ricky Petterd (hamstring/back) 1-2 weeks

Frawley still 6-8 and Morton 4-6, quite sad to see.

Never quite sure what you can take from The injruy lists on club web sites!

They usually take liberties with the truth

However the first two worry me.

Foot injuries in big guys are often disasters just look at Messen the last two years.

Campbell was always a big gamble and he was the last rookie taken but it does not look good

Achilles injurys are shockers.

I serious doubt we will see either until mid year and Campbell might be never.

Where would they relocate to?

I'm not sure Darwin could support an AFL team, neither could Ballarat.

The only option is Tasmania (albeit a good one for them).

Would Perth be able to handle a 3rd AFL team..?

How about another amalgamation with Brisbane.

3 million loss last year 5-6 players of AFL standard,

NO CEO and none on the horizon.

north has a good CEO and their players would bolster the lions,

You never know it might make the Brisbane /Fitzroy / North team a finals contender!

Worried about the jumper and emblem though not sure how we get all that to work out.

Perhaps they could play as the Lions in Brisbane and the Roos away!

Then in another 10 years we could send the failed GWS venture up there as they will need another rescue by then.

Dare I say it.... but seeing as the AFL have named Melbourne as the home side to play Essendon, would that at all mean we get to wear our traditional guernsey on Thursday night ? Would that mean Essendon get to wear their "clash jumper" ?

Good question HT but perhaps an even better one is will the AFL have the umps in red and black like last friday night.

Can they screw it up more the St. Kilda red, white and black, Essendon Red and Black and umpires red and black!

Who wants to be against Melbourne in the white clash jumper?

agreed

most of the people that get stuck into him probably make a mess of themselves every Saturday night too

the difference is nobody is watching them like a hawk wherever they go

I agree Too C&B he who is without fault cast the first stone!

I just feel sad such a great talent has been wasted!

Hope he can gets his life in order for the first time!

Don't really blame the Lions they really in the end had no choice, it was a Voss based disaster.

God only knows why he thought it was worth all the trouble two years ago.

In the end it will probably cost him the job at the lions.

Yeah It'd be fantastic to break Geelong's home streak of 20-something games. Well I know they havent lost there since 2007 since that classic game V Port Adelaide

The biggest Challenge for the DEES, we have not won there when we had good sides.

However 2011 is the year.

The Cats are IMO on the way down.

A couple injuries and we have them by the throat.

If we can win in Adelaide ( admittedly a mickey mouse game ) anything is possible!

I like that Jeff has come out and stirred them.

Nothing to do with Jeff, I just like stirring the Roos.

Their supporters will be up in arms, just like ours have been when he opens his big mouth about us...

That is my point I think he does it purposely to get the members off their bums and into action.

my point is you shouldnt be ringing up the radio slagging off the demons when you barrack for the worst club in the comp

sorry for offending your love of North :<

Sorry to disagree C&B but I think Brisbane might actually take that honour at present!

No CEO and cannot find one.

$3 million loss from last year.

Salary cap that is full and they cannot make offers to their 3 best young players

because the Favola farce.

A coach who's decisions on recruiting have result in a low quality playing group.

e.g. They take Trapper and we get Grimes as a result!

Five ageing stars that will not be around in 2 years time.

On that basis the Rooos look positively healthy.

One of those exceptionally rare times I love Jeff Kennett...

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/kangas-boss-hits-back-at-report/story-e6frf9jf-1226007447976

We were the same 3 years ago and Jeff said similar things including we should become GWS or the West Sydney Demons.

I think he trys to stir up member support.

Any way I hope they survive in some form!

I actually have a lot of sympathy for the shin boners!

They are fighting against the odds with a low membership and little money.

Surely as Dees suporters We all know how that feels.

And remember they have had a lot more success than us in the last 40 years.

They are my "second team" and one of the few I do not feel bad about losing to.

Lets Have a little grace and Sympathy for the Roos.

Watch the game. Then comment.

Of course, if you have watched it, then you aren't the greatest analyst of cricket, in which case ignore the latter instruction.

I don't need to watch the Game TU as it is a forgone conclusion.

He is the darling of the of CA end of story.

All through the ashes he was "out to a great ball" "how unlucky was that"

"his captainsy tonight has been good" pity he just went out for 7.

Give me a break he gets more chances than the rest of the team put together!

Clarke was unlucky that he got one that didn't bounce and chopped it on. White's was a brain fade.

The best news was the form of Ponting. Looked a bit average early but really started looking good for most of his innings.

Will be a tough World Cup if they keep producing bunsen burners like that one, though. India were able to play about 10 spinners because of the 11 bat/11 bowl format of the practice matches, so they could play 3 specialist spinners + Yuvraj Singh. They only bowled 9 overs of pace (combining for 1 for 55 at over 6 an over).

This is exactly what I mean, Clarke is always unlucky everyone else played a bad shot!

Guys I feel sorry for NB, having dealt with the ancient culture of the Chinese in getting product I have some sympathy for them.

The culture is to never admit you have made an error as that is a massive loss of face!

From my dealings, when an error occurs they ignore all discussion on the subject in the hope it will go away.

Usually the only way of getting the problem solved is to ask for the production be done in a different colour ( i.e. the orginal request )

and next time they get it right.

90% of the time you wear the error, the only exception is if you have very long relationships with the supplier and know the people at the very top.

The result it may take a while before we see the right colour red!

"If the Demons truly want to set themselves up as one of the power clubs of the next decade, they'll have to take the prospect of losing a promising and important player on the chin. "

That doesn't even make sense?? If we want to be sucessful we have to let promising young players leave the club?

Crap article, but I doubt is is going to have any effect on Scully's decision.

The whole thing is poor, you can drive a truck through some his reasoning!

This suggests to me that the AFL are feeling the heat on the Scully affair or why would they write this article!

Their article is also full of holes.

Yes we got White when he wanted to come home but at a cost of draft picks etc.

We did not have an expanded salary cap and special conditions bestowed on the MFC

But what about the ones that went the other way e.g. Scot Thompson back to SA.

This looks to me to fall into that old saying

" If you appear to be a fool open your mouth and put it beyond all doubt"

No I don't mean he is worse than Clarke.

Form ruts are just that. Ruts. Both Clarke and White are class players with the long-term form to prove it. Short term, neither of them is playing well, but they are terrific ODI batsmen.

White needs to lift his game, no doubt, but if he does the team lifts to another gear (keeping in mind we just beat England 6-1).

You are correct White does need to lift because he will get dropped!

Clarke won't even if there were more zero's.

Played well in the warm up against India for about 70 overs. Then we were owned by decent spin.

Clarke, White, Hussey, Ferguson all dismissed by spin for 8 or less. White is in an horrendous form slump at the moment. Not great timing.

We bowled well, but let them get from 8/138 to 214. But the batting needs work.

You mean he is worse than Clarke!

Another big effort last night.

A big fat ZERO.

One score in six months the guy is a champion.

I hope we play StKilda. Beating Essendon just doesn't excite me as much as it used to.

Beating anyone excites me

I totally agree, But injuries and all kinds of set backs are part of footy.

Excuses never won anything..we all have to toughen up if we are to go all the way to premiership glory.

I have been hanging tough for 44 years WYL not sure I have many "tough" years left in me.

Could we not have an "encouraging" year in 2011?

Here is a report from the Melbourne Leader dated 11 Aug 2010:

'Melbourne chief operations officer Matt Green told the meeting the Bentleigh Club’s profitability had fallen 92 per cent since 2000 and up to $3.7 million was needed for an upgrade.

Mr Green said the venue had been unsuccessful in attracting new and younger members, and that its location on residential Yawla St was the biggest problem.'

The MFC have now revised their offer to the members of the Bentleigh club. Here are exerpts from an open letter to Bentleigh Club members received today (10/2/11) from the Bentleigh Club subcommittee.

FACT

Club has lost money for last 3 years

Has Debts of over $1.8m and bank seeking solution as no repayments are being made

Has Gaming machines 2012 commitment of $1.3 mil

• Is faced with new legislation in regards to gaming machines and ATM’s. Both are

considerable risk to the club if it operated as a an independent

Most gaming venues are now part of bigger groups to “share costs and risks”

Given the potential personal risk it will be difficult to get board members/ management to

be involved if it remains an independent club.

MFC REVISED DEAL

1. Minimum 12 Year commitment to location unless original BC members vote to move

2. Never moves unless members vote to (all members included after 12 years)

2. First $100k of profit goes to capital upgrades every year

3. 2 positions on sub-committee to oversee management and financials

4. Commitment it will be run as a “club” going forward

5. MFC takes over debt of $1.8m and gaming machines liability.

In summary, we are proposing to swallow up a poorly situated venue that is losing money and dropping in revenue. We are willing to cover the Bentleigh Clubs' debts to the tune of $1.8 million and the gaming machine expenses of $1.3 million, plus the venue needs another $3.7m in renovations. But what is the point of renovating a club that is regarded by Matt Green and every consultant as a dud venue?

One option is the possibility of selling 2 blocks of Whitmuir Road end of the car park to reduce the debt by approximately $1.5m, but there are significant planning issues around selling the blocks.

Another option is moving to a new venue. However the current Victorian Commission Gaming Regulations make it more difficult to transfer machines to other zones compared to a transfer within the current zone (Caulfield, Carnegie, St Kilda East, McKinnon, Bentleigh, Elsternwick, and Bentleigh East). So it seems a transfer to Casey Is unlikely.

In the original proposal by the MFC last year, the club stated 'There is a clear incentive for MFC to relocate to a venue within the zone.'

Yet here we are committing to at least 12 years at this venue, unless the original Bentleigh Club members vote to move. And what are the chances of that?

We have finally paid off our debts and turned a small profit. We are now planning to sink our football clubs profits into 'Melbourne's hidden treasure' that is the Bentleigh Club. This could cost us more than Tom.

I agree with your concerns DD however the management of Stynes, Schwab, and the board have done a very good job over the last three years

and I trust them to do the right thing.

However I would like to know how the MFC intends to solve some of these problems

What other Club doesn't have injuries right now???

Don't you dare chuck in the Towel yet Mate.

If we are to reach the Top it's going to be long and bloody hard. No one is going to hand us the Holy Grail, we will earn it.

Toughen Up C & B!

WYL sometimes it is hard to be tough!

After a lot of very lean years ( the majority of the last 44 years )you do wonder will the worm ever turn.

The pies had one long term injury going into the finals last year.

In my living memory that has never happened at Melbourne.

In a competion that gets tougher and more even by the year

injuries can be the difference between winning the flag and finishing eighth.

Take Swan, Didak and Pendlebury out of the grand final side and they would not have made the GF let alone drawn the first GF.

After being down a long time to loose players like Morton and Frawley to serious injury this early is deflating.

Carn the DEES

I really wish this Scully stuff hadn't happened. Throw in injuries to Morton, Frawley and Petterd and we are off to an unsteady start. Also missing Scully, Jones, Wonaeamirri, Warnock, McKenzie has us pretty damn weakened

Just bear in mind whatever happens tomorrow night simply doesn't matter

It does matter C&B.

I hope we give a good showing after all the hype about TS this week

I hope at the least we see some evidence that a few of our recuits who have had injury plagued starts at the MFC

show us a few glimpses of why they were drafted e.g. Blease and Strauss

as well as a couple of this years draftees displaying some skill that gives us a little confidence.

Agree.

For all the promise in our list, it is very young and we have lost a lot of experience.

We've taken a temporary step back, to take 2 steps forward.

Few seem to recognise this.

Hopefully we can ride it out, but preseason predictions of top 4 are outrageous.

I knew it could not last e25 I cannot agree with most of your comment above.

We have the best draw we have had in 10 years,

Our young guys have more games of experience and we have addressed a couple of problems

Everyone tells me that Watts will have 10 good games this year.

Anything less than 10 wins will be a big disappointment to me.

If we do not get more wins than last year

I think we have to serious consider that our list is not as good as we think.

However I do agree top 4 is ridiculous!

Frawley was/is the only long-term one with an initial 12-week ommission from footy.

Newton and Morton both 6-8 weeks.

Having said this though, it is FAR better the injuries occur now rather than during the season proper!! Morton (and Newton) will miss a MAXIMUM 2 weeks of the 2011 season. Petterd should be fine after tweaking his hamstring in the intra-club game - plenty of time to have recovered.

I'm concerned about Frawley though... and Campbell is a concern also.

Fitzpatrick may take a while to recover.

I hate to split hairs Deezman but 8 weeks is a long term injury in my view.

Ok he may be available early in the season but if you miss 8 weeks of practice matches and early season games it will take 2 - 4 weeks to get back to where you should have been at the start of the season.

What is wrong with Fitzpatrick?