Sir-Allen-Jakovich

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From MELBOURNEfc: MELBOURNEfc's Ben Holland announced his retirement from AFL football. Holland, 30, has played 190 games of AFL football, comprising of 125 games for Richmond, before moving to Melbourne at the end of the 2003 season where he has played an additional 65 games for the club. Holland said, "I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at both Melbourne and Richmond. I have given everything I have got to the team every time I competed. I love playing football, I love being involved in football, and I love the team camaraderie. "After Sunday's game, I will look forward to the next chapter of my life." Holland has joined Adem Yze, Jeff White, and David Neitz as retirees this season. Holland started his 14 year career, after being drafted in the 1994 National AFL Draft taken as a first round selection, number 19 overall by Fitzroy. Holland was then traded to Richmond at the end of the 1995 season where he made his AFL debut in 1997. Holland originates from North Adelaide. Holland has kicked 178 career goals.

Hear that sound, Jaded? It's me munching down on humble pie. Earlier this year I bemoaned his lack of confidence in his kicking and inability to take a pack mark (just ones on the run near the wing). Today - and for at least the past month - it's getting harder and harder to fault him on either. He looks a totally different player when he rarely leaves the 50m arc - easily for the better. I know it's easy to praise him after kicking the match-winning goal, but in the past month he has really rid all of the criticisms I had of him. To Jaded - and more importantly Brad - I'm sorry. I've been put in my place - and I couldn't be happier. Go Dees!!

From MELBOURNEfc: Brent Moloney Brent had scans on his dislocated shoulder yesterday. It was found that there is significant damage to the shoulder and it is most likely that he'll require season ending surgery. This will be confirmed when he meets with the specialist later this week. Jared Rivers Jared strained abdominal muscles in Monday's match against Collingwood. He will require further testing over the next week which will give him a better indication of the extent of the injury. Jared will be unavailable for selection this weekend.

From MELBOURNEfc: After a decade of a very successful relationship between MELBOURNEfc and the Sandringham Zebras, the two teams involved in the alignment will be parting ways due to MELBOURNEfc's future re-location possibilities. It has been the most successful alignment in VFL/AFL history since the disbanding of the AFL reserves competition in 1999, with premiership success being achieved by Sandringham in 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006. MELBOURNEfc Chairman Paul Gardner said, "MELBOURNEfc has greatly respected our relationship with Sandringham. We have derived a great deal of pleasure from recent successes. "I personally have been a fan of the Zebras for years and have been kept fully abreast by their Board and Chairman. "We have made no secret we are finalising an arrangement to see us in the Casey region and have been talking to the Casey Scorpions for some time now. "We wish the Sandringham Zebras all the very best and look forward to making our own announcements as part of our future strategy in due course."

From St Kilda FC: St Kilda Football Club will change its VFL affiliate Club to Sandringham Zebras from Casey Scorpions to cement an ownership of the Bayside growth corridor and allow Melbourne’s growth plans into Casey. The partnership will become effective at the end of the 2008 season and is for a five year period. The change is a result of extensive discussions with all parties and the result will secure a long-term future between St Kilda and Sandringham. The Saints and the Zebras began discussions as a result of the Melbourne Football Club’s intention to move to the city of Casey and enter into an alignment with the Casey Scorpions. Both Melbourne and Casey have been advised and updated on the continued discussions.

From MELBOURNEfc this morning: MELBOURNEfc’s Matthew Whelan will accept a one match suspension with an early guilty plea for striking Brendan Fevola, Carlton, during the third quarter of the Round Five match between Melbourne and Carlton, played at the MCG on Sunday April 20, 2008.

From the AFL: Matthew Whelan, Melbourne, has been charged with a Level Three striking offence against Brendan Fevola, Carlton, during the third quarter of the Round Five match between Melbourne and Carlton, played at the MCG on Sunday April 20, 2008. In summary, his two-match sanction can be reduced to one match with an early plea. The incident was assessed as intentional conduct (three points), low impact (one point) and high contact (two points). This is a total of six activation points, resulting in a classification of a Level Three offence, drawing 225 demerit points and a two-match sanction. He has an existing bad record of one match suspended within the last three years, increasing the penalty by 10 per cent to 247.50 points. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to 185.63 points and a one-match sanction.

From the AFL: Brad Miller, Melbourne, has been charged with a Level One engaging in rough conduct offence against Daniel Pratt, North Melbourne, during the first quarter of the Round Four match between Melbourne and North Melbourne, played at the MCG on Saturday April 12, 2008. In summary, his sanction must remain as a one-game penalty due to his previous poor record, even with an early plea. The incident was assessed as reckless conduct (two points), low impact (one point) and body contact (one point). This is a total of four activation points, resulting in a classification of a Level One offence, drawing 125 demerit points and a one-match sanction. He has an existing bad record of four matches suspended within the last three years, increasing the penalty by 40 per cent to 175 demerit points. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent 131.25 points and a one-match sanction.

I was there. The only game I've missed so far was down at KP, and that's because I was not diligent enough to get tickets early in the week and read in the paper it was a sell-out as I was planning to go down. I agree with the post RE the MCC. I am an MCC member but have had both MCC and MFC memberships every year, even when I was skint uni student working part-time. What angers me is this expectation from a fair chunk of the Melbourne-supporting MCC members that the club owes it to THEM to lay on benefit after benefit to convince them to spend their $50 or whatever. I think the biggest illustration of this was when got invited to an MFC business focus-group meeting last year. The topic of our (lack of) signed up MCC members came up and this stereotypical MCC member was whingeing how the club never did anything to try and attract the MCC members to join the club, and that there needed to be far greater inducements to do so. It turned in to quite a stoush when I pointed out to him the number of letters and ads in the MCC newsletter the club had sent, as well as volunteers at the games inside the gate. Even on more the philosophical question of the responsibilities of a committed supporter to a struggling club he still turned up his nose. My frustration is that there are far too many MCC members who are "downhill skiiers" - pardon the stereotype - and are glued to the mindset of "What can the club do for me?", rather than "What can I do for the club?". Passion? Zilch. Committment? Likewise.

I assume your definition of contested is marking on the lead while your opponent tries to punch it away? If that's the case yes, he would be well up there, but how often can you recall him taking a pack mark, or even just one where he's toe-to-toe with his opponent and proves too strong? Unless my observation of matches is awful, hardly ever. I do agree on White though. Was shocking timing for PJ to go down. He has to stay there now.

I am baffled as to why "hardness" is seen as something which makes a player completely immune from (deserved) criticism. It merely glosses over the reality is that Miller is, unfortunately, a player incapable of anything more than strong marks on the lead on the wing, invariably followed by a panicked handball. I do admire his combative approach and agree it's something our players are badly lacking, but even accounting for that does not justify his selection in the team. I held out a lot of hope for him in his early years but for the past two years have been convinced he is trade bait - for anything! The biggest impediment to this was his annoying trait of playing his best game for the year in our last game for the year. This happened at least twice in the past three years and seemingly seduced the coaching staff in to thinking he had turned the corner. In my view, he's just not accountable enough to make it as a defender and not skilled enough to make it as a long-term centre half-forward, because his total lack of confidence in his kicking has meant his urge to handball is at odds with a CHF's goalkicking responsibilities. This instinct to handball which will not change. Yes, he always puts in a lot of effort, but the sad truth is he is just not good enough and should not be kept on at the end of the season. And he definitely won't be alone in that category.

From MELBOURNEfc: MELBOURNEfc is delighted to announce the appointment of Paul McNamee to the position of Chief Executive Officer. MELBOURNEfc Chairman Paul Gardner said, “This is an exciting appointment for the Melbourne Football Club in its 150th year. “Paul brings with him a wealth of experience in the sports marketing and management industry. “Paul has a track record of 20 years of successfully creating partnerships, and a reputation for building strong, effective teams.” ... Paul McNamee said, “It's an enormous and exciting challenge. “I’m excited about the role at MELBOURNEfc and believe there is a lot of potential for growth and success. “The organisation possesses a great heritage and will be a platform for an exciting future. “I look forward to starting with the Club.” ... In what is one of the biggest recruiting coups for the year, McNamee will officially start with MELBOURNEfc on April 7.

From MELBOURNEfc: "MELBOURNEfc’s Brock McLean has been suspended from the Leadership Group indefinitely after being booked for travelling over the speed limit on his way back from Melbourne’s NAB Challenge match in Bendigo. General Manager of Football Operations Chris Connolly said, "This is very disappointing for Brock. He is a highly valued member of the Club, and his training form has been excellent in 2008. He is seen by the match committee to have outstanding leadership qualities, however this behaviour was deemed by his peers to be unacceptable." Brock McLean will, however, be eligible for selection for this week’s NAB Challenge match against North Melbourne at Casey Fields. The Club will be making no further comment on this matter"

Robbo escapes punishment. Just confirmed by the AFL: "The match day report laid against Melbourne's Russell Robertson was assessed. It was the view of the panel that Robertson led for the ball and the Western Bulldogs' Cameron Wight jumped in front of him to mark the ball. Robertson had his eyes on the ball and did not see Wight until contact was unavoidable. Although Robertson turned side on just prior to contact the impact was decreased by Robertson attempting to roll off Wight. The degree of force was therefore considered not unreasonable or unnecessary in the circumstances. The contact was not considered late and therefore no further action was required."