Pates

I wouldn't say he's done, but everything has to go right for him now. To this point it's pretty much been the opposite so he's due for some good fortune. He's gone for this year, contract comes up at the end of this season so will be interesting to see what's put in front of him by us, and for that matter any other suitors. For now his focus would just be on rehab, but jeez I hope he comes out of this.

I know I'm getting in late, but anymore spots available for Supercoach?

I reckon this probably sums up most Melbourne fans feelings this pre-season.

This was exactly what we didn't need before the start of the season, a loss to the replacement bombers. It should however be noted that they still had quality out there, but what they had over us for pretty much the entire game after half way through the second quarter was intensity. They wanted the ball, they wanted to tackle and they wanted to win. Now all three of those last things you can actually put down as a product of it being pre-season, but if this was really about us preparing for round one and being up and about for it then that is very concerning. Decision making is still our biggest issue. It lost us the game in the end. Viney didn't sum the situation up well at all and gifted them the goal to win the match, that is one of many instances of us doing silly things that will hurt in the H&A season. Top that off with still plenty of suspect deliverers of the ball, we are still a long way off the pace. Positives: Garlett and Lumumba continue to be excellent pick ups. Frost keeps showing good signs, but are we going to play him as a defender or as a forward? Get him settled. Jones seems to be taking to the sole captaincy like a duck to water, shame he had very little support in the leadership department. Hogan keeps showing he's a footballer, he'll have a break out game this year that will leave the competition in fear. Salem's tackle on Chapman was awesome, and the look on his face was brilliant! I'm going to try to put this loss behind me quickly, it's pre-season and you take every result with a grain of salt. I can handle us doing stupid mistakes now and even losing to the (replacement) Bombers, but FFS we need to learn from these mistakes, and know who's going to progress with the side. A lot of players have question marks over their heads.

Glad to hear the young boys are getting on board for the future. Good stuff MFC!

Not to be on the negative bandwagon, but this is such a frustrating game for our club. The risk/reward scenario is so heavily favoured in risk for me; playing against players that view it as a last opportunity to put themselves out there, the possibility of injury (although always there whether it be game or training), and of course the potential embarrassment of losing to a team half made up of top ups. I'm glad we're approaching this like round one, I want us to come out of the blokes and be up by 5 goals at quarter time and unlike last week I want us to go on with it. I want the team to view this as a statement to the competition, we are a new Melbourne.

So much like the game on the weekend a thread of two halves! On the topic, for me the turnaround hasn't happened yet but it's on the right track. As someone said earlier we're in a pretty familiar position to Bailey's final coaching year. We've got promise, and seemingly good things going on behind the scene but it still relies heavily on the team performing for everything to click. As much as Roos doesn't like the idea of the kids being messiah's reality is that our club's stability rests on a lot of their young shoulders. Hogan, Salem, Brayshaw, Tyson, JKH, Toumpas, Viney, and Petracca (although not for this year). We need at least half of these guys to take significant steps this year in order for us to seriously improve our win/loss record. That said, I also think the recruiting has been first class (and I don't think I've ever said that before). Garlett and Lumumba look to be excellent senior pick ups, and Frost seems like could could work out as not just a player for the future but for the now. Then there's the rough pick ups of Michie, Vandenberg, Riley that may prove to be great value from this year and last year. Point is I believe we have the ingredients, but it's still only in development.

Well I flicked on when I saw the score of us being 40 something points up, the moment I switch on we played like, well, us! Worrying lack of leadership when the s--- hit the fan. Lumumba showed a bit in the last quarter in the middle, but very bad decision making is still something we need to work on. Anyway, hopefully Roos gets something out of it but jeez we're still a long way off the pace.

Just as they were pumping up Toumpas's tyres he did a silly turn over. Can we please teach the boys that if there is a 50/50 shirt kick, DON'T GO FOR IT!!!!

Not wrong, I hear that the conditions are difficult but there are certain times where skills are only a secondary concern. Some poor decision making in the backline. Only saw second half of that quarter though so not sure how the rest has gone!

I felt like the media initially was in our camp, they felt like Mitch owed us and we got done. I think that part of the story is over for them, in fact if anything they will probably kinda rub it in to us how well he's doing. Certainly for them the story will now be him managing to beat his affliction. I've never truly hated any player that's left Melbourne. I was gutted by the Wiz leaving, I was annoyed (but actually understanding) about $cully going to GWS, but Mitch really does burn. I would have the biggest smile on my face if he failed at Geelong, unfortunately because I want it so much it'll probably go the totally opposite way.

Glad to see the club responded, this is a silly mistake to make but they must learn from it. As we have noted though the time stuff up was one part of it, I hope they also take on board the views that there needed to be more in terms of membership and merchandise.

I won't be too critical of the BBQ gang. It's a volunteer group who gave up their time to do this and raise funds so the cheer squad looks the part for the year. I can only imagine they underestimated how many people would be there. They can learn from this for next year (or future such events) just as the MFC should as well. Mistakes are ok if you learn from them, I have more confidence in the Demon Army learning from this event than the club. I think the problem was with absolutely nothing happening, and the smell of the BBQ going on there wasn't much else for people to do.

I don't really see this as a panic stations decision. I see it as both club and player committing to each other long term. Good move from my point of view.

The people that are calling this an overreaction clearly don't get it. There was a bloody good crowd, I was really happy for the club, they had finally managed to advertise and promote something to get people out to it. The images of the kids running with Howe were hilarious, and it was a great atmosphere. I suspected it was a footy department decision to push the training back, and I understand they are the ones out there under pressure, but the time being shifted is only one part of this massive blunder. - No membership tent: if they at least had a membership tents they could have signed people while they were waiting, particularly the kids that trying to decide. They could've also had the likes of Trenners and Tracca in there as well to chat to them. - No merchandise tent: again, while people were waiting they could've bought caps, tops, scarfs etc and they could've had sharpie pens available as well so kids could get autographs. - Terrible communication: Twitter.....are you kidding me? That's all they think people need to get the information out. Email, Official Website, Facebook, SMS (I always get my membership payment SMS), and when that's all said and done they should've had someone from the club, or even better a former player or two out there explaining what's happened and running a few drills/games with kids and/or getting photos with them. I have emailed the club, and to me I'm not the main issue. The fact that I left is just a frustration for me. It drives me nuts that we had a real opportunity to engage with the younger fans and get them pumped for the season, and they totally blew it. And also just on it being a footy department decision, part me actually thinks the business part of the club should've said too bad. I know the footy is the no 1 priority, but there are times the club actually needs to put PR and fan engagement first. The time was already later that usual, what was so important that it needed that extra hour that was decided that morning?

I think this is how the tribunal usually make their decisions. https://youtube.com/watch?v=wz-PtEJEaqY

I've given up, my highlights: seeing the kids running along side Howe and the 2 snags I had. Can't even get on the track for a revised start time. Nice big waste of time.

Training was actually moved to 1pm. Only tweeted through Demon Army about 11am. Not a good thing to do from the club, I know the training/conditioning etc of the players should no 1 priority but when you advertise for a family training day it's not a good look to change things like this at the last minute. Anyway, that's my labour day winge.

I just got here, players aren't out yet but there's a good crowd (and a big line for the snags!).

Viney Gawn Toumpas Probably the three I really want to shoot up in terms of improvement but I also believe that in timing terms this could be about right for all of them.

Agreed, his career is just starting. No need to rush it!

If he was stunned by it it must've been a good whack. This is the guy who got up straight away and attacked the ball after colliding with another who broke his jaw. He is the anti-Morton!

I will give credit where credit is due. The AFL has listened to the thoughts of the regular fans and actually tried to act on it. They recognised the terrible fixture at times last year and brought back the big Saturday day games at the G. They heard us all say how expensive it was to eat food at the games and they have worked on the stadiums to reduce prices. And credit to the G as well, they haven't just dropped prices by a menial 50c or anything they have taken a fair chunk off. They will still make big profits on the mark up, but they have dropped a fair amount of annual income. Will be interesting to see how much Etihad follows suit.

I noticed Libba jnr had the ACL confirmed. Terrible news for the doggies and certainly diminishes the "curse" thoughts going through the brain with Petracca. Best of luck to him with his recovery as well, sounds like his dad will be able to help him along the way.

Will be interesting to see the clubs response. This is a very silly setback for Garlett, I imagine the club and Roos would've asked for total honesty and professionalism when coming across and this is clearly a failing on both sides. Missing a court date, silly. Not informing the club of this charge, silly. I'm excited for him getting out there for us, but this sort of crap has to be behind him.