Grandson of a gun

Clearly the games best commentators are not the ones on tv (although Tim Lane is). Brian Taylor is streets ahead of everyone. The MMM crew worked together fantastically before he left and they have suffered because of it, Rex doesn't hold a candle.

Good on her for having a crack. Good on Channel 10 for trying something different. THANK GOD it is over.

As someone said above, it is simply what happens. No team can go through a season without having injuries. Even the best teams lose their star players for a period of time each year. What is more important is how this team responds when one of their stars is out for a sustained period of time. There is no point wallowing in misery, it cannot be changed. It happened to Jurrah, Sylvia, Petterd and Grimes last year. In the future it will likely happen to another young star. Yes Frawley's loss will hurt, no doubt about it, but if the backline resolve themselves to minimise the impact and the midfield pressure the opposition harder when they have the ball then we can cope. This is how young teams learn what it takes to be the best- winning when you don't have all your best players out there.

I agree that in previous years we certainly managed things for draft picks. But you never said previous years, you said 2010. For what gain did we 'manage' wins last year? Truth is our finishing position was a fairly accurate reflection of where we're at. That is exactly what I said, it is/was a mental attitude that let them down. It is quite reasonable to expect that we will be out coached on occasions, as long as our coaches learn as much from it as the players.

Ha. Kerry O'Keefe you ain't. I would have thought better of you Verbal Kint...

I don't care if we struggle in stoppage games or get beaten because the opposition sides are more physically advanced, but regardless, if our players still attacked the pill and the stoppages in the same manner as those bigger bodied opponents, even if they got beaten, they would still provide a much closer and harder contest than they have shown previously. I go back to my previous post about the mental attitude of the players... "It's about ruthlessness. An attitude of saying Fcuk you, you are not better than me, you do not want that ball or that tackle as much as me, i am going to take it off you and make you pay" It is arrogance, in a good way. It should not just be the team motto, but the heart felt belief of each and every player. That's when our team will transform into a real force and a finals team...

Would love to see my fellow MCC members decked out in MFC ponchos with horns and thundersticks going nuts..... What a sight that would be!

I think you are living up to your name here.... How exactly did we prepare for those non-targeted games then? Coach didn't speak to players? players didn't really train? Ridiculous. Whilst there are times when players and teams will get themselves up more mentally than others, your suggestion is absurd that we were pacing ourselves and effectively giving games away last year- for what possible benefit (unlike previous seasons)??? I firmly believe that is not the case. It is simply the case that the players did not have the required self belief in certain games that led to such horrid performances. It is entirely mental. Look at the Sydney game. Look at the North game. It harks back to ruthlessness. An attitude of saying Fcuk you, you are not better than me, you do not want that ball or that tackle as much as me, i am going to take it off you and make you pay.... That is how Geelong and Hawthorn have treated us, that is how premiership teams win, that is how we must play......

The only question really is whether you were experiencing some dampness during this dream.......... cause after 5 flags i'd be more than a little excited!!!

Thanks for that C & B. It is disgusting but it is skewed slightly though as during that time we just entered the post Dannaher era with a shizen team and we were in list clean out / development / win management mode to ensure the best chance of long term future success. Even during that time we matched up well against some teams, but with others it was the apparent lack of mental application and physical attack on the ball and man that was sorely missing. Hopefully in 2011 we will end some of these pathetic loss streaks....

You have most right there i think DP. The Hawks flat out just bully us. Have done for years. It is the same way Geelong play against us and until we can bully back we will not beat either of them. It is mental as much as physical but Melbourne need to come out and have a relentless attack on the ball and the man when they have the ball. The saints on the other hand beat us because of their superior ability to play shut down footy. We hung well with them last year, their talent beat us in the end. As we get better at executing our game plan and skills we will get closer to a team like the Saints. I honestly don't know what it is about the Kangas. We have the talent, no question to beat them. It is purely mental this one. Probably the same as our ability to match up well with Collingwood and Essendon. The blues probably have a more talented and experienced list (at this stage) but i agree we should be able to play better against them. I think they are in the North boat a bit too. You left the Bombers off the list and i believe we have matched up well against them for a few years now. Will be interesting how we go when they play under Hird's game plan but we should still beat them... For a lot of these teams, it's just a matter of us playing our better footy more consistently and for longer periods. Our best is great. Our worst is horrid. More consistency and being more ruthless are the two big keys for me.

Yeah....then unbeaten through the finals towards our 13th flag... It's about as realistic as hutchy's tweet! Whoops, i got on such a roll i got my venues mixed up- yes indeed i meant the game at the G.

Well he's got a great example in Jack Grimes who knows all about it and is still doing everything to overcome it... I know he will have been perfect JCB, but humour me and tell me how my man Jack trained / looked. (And for that matter, Killer Watts too)!

Yes North have had the wood on us. So too have Hawthorn and it would be great to embarrass them the way they have embarrassed us early in the season of recent times. A win at AAMI park as this is the particular venue that we struggle with the most....The crows would do nicely. Collingwood on Queens Birthday, Carlton and St Kilda too. Geelong always beat us up so that'd be nice to reverse. Continued dominations over Richmond & Essendon. Get back at West Coast for the Dome game in 2010. And the Dockers at Subi too with a Jack Watts goal after the siren. We owe the dogs one for their escape last year- perhaps with 50 possessions to Scully. We've tamed the Lions, and would love to rip the heart out of Port in Darwin again. Teach Gold Coast that they are nothing more than a glorified VFL team and finally another demolition of the Swans should just about do it.... That would be a pretty good season i think...

It is simple C&B. I am not questioning a players desire or effort on the field. Nor their dedication to the team plan. But that is where you have missed the point. As you say, every coaching panel does their homework, but it is the tasks that are assigned where things alter between good teams and bad. Take Collingwood for example, they may look at the Melbourne forward line in 2010 and say "ok we back it in that rather than playing tight on our man, we can play zones and run off them, yes they may get a few touches, but allowing Maxwell, Shaw and Harry O to play loose then transforms our ability to attack with more speed and precision." However, when they play against Geelong, they may tell Shaw that they are prepared to sacrifice his running game for a more close checking game on Stevie J. And Maxwell must stick closer to Mooney because Geelong go through him at every opportunity. Collingwood accept they lose a bit of attacking drive, but that is outweighed by negating Geelong's forward weapons... As Melbourne improves and our forward line sees more inside 50's the opposition will try to adapt by assigining different, tighter tasks than they do against weaker teams. They may realise that Melbourne's first option is always Watts when coming out of defence and Jurrah when going inside 50. And instead of zoning off, they play tight and ensure they always spoil, forcing Melbourne to change their targets and put them off their game plan. That is what i mean by more attention to our forwards. That is also how and why teams play a "defensive forward" on players like Shaw, Gilbert, Griffin- to quell the attack and drive that these players provide off half back. Don't be surprised to see someone tag Grimes like that soon. That was the point of my comment C&B, hopefully it is clearer now.

I thought your original post was good and highlighted some really exciting things but you said it yourself Sylv, they haven't won a premiership or achieved ultimate success. I bet they would trade in those last 6 years for one year like Collingwood. I agree they have been really good for a sustained period and run into some tough opposition, and i agree Melbourne are setting themselves up for the same run at it. But ultimately, nobody remembers second place. Two seconds and three thirds in 6 years is great, but not as good as one first- and that is what we are all aiming and hoping for. That was the reasoning behind my post and why St Kilda is a great example of what we want to do better than... Yep luck will play a part, but you have to make your own luck and i believe those who work the hardest are often the luckiest...

Love the positivity, but i think a dose of realism is required... Yes we have a draw that is perceived as easy but we will still drop games we 'shouldn't' because we are a young team who is still learning how to win regularly and play consistently. The club "always" has its best pre-season and everyone "flying". We have one great ruckman and another ruckman who could be handy. Remember how long it has been since he played AFL and his body hasn't yet proven it can withstand the workload. We have an exciting forward line that will get more attention this year as teams start to pay us more respect. Petterd is returning from a really long lay-off and Watts is still developing. Grimes and Davey were fit and firing this time last year but both got injured- let's face it, injuries will happen and could have a huge impact on our performance through the year. Let's aim at 10 to 12 wins, possibly a spot around 7-8 on the ladder and let anything else be a bonus. It's Hutchy after all who is saying this...

Whilst i think he will be promoted, i still believe that Spencer may get first crack in the team with Jamar until Campbell gets a few matches at Casey into him...

It certainly is exciting times Sylvinator and granted your list makes great reading but America is right when he says 6-9 of them probably won't develop or improve or will be cruelled by injuries.... Delistings also factor in as at least 3 have to go every year plus others for rookies. But on the flip side we will get a couple of good picks and Viney to come.... I always have St Kilda in the back of my mind though as about 5 or 6 years ago they were in a similar position and everyone expected success, but so far they have failed to deliver. The MFC should have their team up on the wall as a constant reminder that it will take nothing more than 100% dedication and hard work, otherwise they'll just end up like another St Kilda, lots of expectations but no achievements!!!

It isn't that complex WYL. If they are obtained and distributed illegally then the person who obtained them or distributed them illegally can be prosecuted. As for remaining images in cyberspace, if there is a court ordered injunction on their publication then that is what stands. It is a matter of then enforcing that injunction which is where your issue comes in. Will they go after every forum, every user who publishes the photos- it would be an expensive exercise, a nightmare. It isn't worth the time nor money. As long as all the media outlets and websites don't publish it then they are satisfied i believe.

Wow, an extremely difficult enterprise if we work on the list being 100% fit and available. Having to think about team balance, matchups and interchange rotations i have come up with the following: B: Bartram Frawley Garland HB: Grimes Rivers MacDonald C: Morton Moloney Davey HF: Dunn Watts Sylvia F: Jurrah Green Bennell R: Jamar Scully Trengove Int: McKenzie Jones Campbell Sub: Bail Emg: Wonnaeamirri Bate Strauss Warnock Reasoning: I believe with the loss of Bruce and McDonald, experienced heads and bodies are even more important- especially early in the season. I was tossing up in regards to Campbell as it is yet to be proven that his knee will stand up to the rigours, but then again he was drafted for a reason and i don't think they will waste him down at Casey too much if he is right to go. He can always be subbed off during the second half of a game. I believe that because Petterd was out for so long, he will require some match fitness through Casey first. Likewise but to a lesser degree with Gysberts. With experienced players like Wonna, Bate, Warnock and Petterd in the ressies it creates great pressure on spots and they will be desperate to get back to their best and get back in a team on the improve. Then along with young players in Gysberts, Blease, Tapscott, Nicholson (who i back for the mid year rookie promotion), Gawn, Spencer and Howe there is hunger and drive to break in and cement a spot. Then there is those on the list who have been around a while and need to start performing in Jetta, Maric and Martin and it makes for a really interesting season with some substantial selection table headaches. I tell you what, Casey will have a fair team this year too...

Doesn't bode well for Fevolicious ... But then again, with such a large exodus of players recently, can they really afford to lose another one? At this rate they'll finish below The Suns!

I don't think it is too much information, I doubt anything said here wouldn't have already featured in opposition player analysis in games- the research they put in to that is astonishing! It is also fantastic the way the club is keeping supporters/members up to date and involved in the off season with great informative articles and interest generated through their website. I presume this is Matt Burgans influence... I would love to see Sammy get involved early in the nab cup/preseason games. I really like Bail and hope his improvement has continued. And if Mastur can get back his fitness and confidence I still see an important role for him this year...

Not to forget one J Watts too...

Agree on both fronts. Won't be 2012. At best we will have played one year of finals footy before that. I would love it, but reckon it is a 1% chance at best. I was one who originally thought 2013 but realistically 2014-2015 is the real big window i see. That way we can continue to develop in 2011 and maybe make the finals, in 2012 & 2013 we get two good solid years in the finals to gain the required experience of both finals footy and what it takes to become better than "just" a finals team. 2014 onwards is where i see the real opportunity...