Pates

Ah this old chestnut. I also like the "we stand for nothing". These two points that keep cropping up are the most pathetic nonsense that goes around. Reporters and columnists can make this comment and base it on nothing because they don't have to. The mere fact that they're saying it apparently makes it credible.

Well we have proven that there are no guarantees, our picks haven't been the best and your right that it cost us culture wise and we are yet to reap the ability rewards. As said, this is very rich that Brock is now a Carlton player, and this is a team that began the ultimate tank. It pisses me right off that we are always mentioned when it comes to tanking but somehow the Blues seem to miss out.

Probably because he's not going to be dropped by Neeld when he's captain. Also I thought he was serviceable yesterday, plenty more needed from him though. Out: Jetta (sus), Bail, Joel Macdonald/Sellar, Dunn Ins: Gysberts, Couch, Watts, Morton Watts is a no brainer if fit. I think it's about time Gysberts got a game, his talent is unquestioned and he's been in the bests for long enough now, he's earnt a recall. Morton should be given a last ditch chance to salvage his career with Melbourne, and it really costs us nothing. If he goes long and direct with his kicking he looks ok, the moment he starts to get cute that's when he gets in trouble. Couch has gone back to the VFL and seemingly done what he needed to go, I want to see him get another chance. On match ups, I want us to send Jordie to perhaps Bennell, fact is Ablett is likely todo as he pleases no matter who we put on him, no make sure he's a lone soldier.

Would probably be about time for Gys to get a game. I understand the idea of making him earn it but he has been a regular in the bests for Casey and has plenty of talent in him. It's not like our seniors are doing great things.

I'm glad that we've stopped with the idea of gifting games to players who aren't ready. Gysberts I'm surprised still isn't there but I really hope he will be soon, Cook I reckon will be given a game at the tail end of the season just to give him a taste and to wet his appetite for 2013. I imagine Neeld and Brown are having regular meetings with Cook to discuss what he needs to do and what their plans are with him. Persistence must be the key with him.

Of the list you've put up I reckon Jetta and Spencer will be retained. Jetta still has much to offer (and from what I saw was OK first game back v Port), and Spencer I see us hanging onto more for coverage and depth. Bail seems to just get games, so he may be a favourite of Neelds. In The Age article this morning Green spoke about the future and retirement, and he mentioned the words finals. So if is to retire I imagine we will be retiring him, and we know how well that worked out the last time we did that. Is Bartram out of contract? If he is then I'd say it's unlikely he'll get another contract, sounds like his knee is shot. Shame too, may not be the most graceful or skilled player but one on one against small forwards he rarely got beaten. It's just wrong that he was so good in his first year and played every single game except the final. If all those listed are coming out of contract then I can't see them in a Melbourne gurnsey next year. And those that aren't out of contract should be moved on if possible.

Reading about their history on wikipedia and on their website it's kind of confusing. They still seem to have held on to the history of Springvale and relocated to Casey (ala South Melb/Sydney). That's at least how their website has written it, it could be a case of the winners writing the version of history. In any case they have held on to the name of Springvale football club, in fact they retain the SFC on the back of their gurnseys. In my mind us taking over that club would be detrimental to the relationship we are trying to build out in that area. If we were to go down a path of merging I would like to see us taking the name the Casey Demons in the VFL/reserves league (which ever happens) and making sure their history is recognised. And I still see Casey as our best chance of developing a local foothold. We're in there, the next step is to become a team kids will actually want to support, in other words WINNERS!

He WAS pretty skillful. He USED to be hard working. He USED to be passionate. He WAS courageous. He CAN take a speckie. He CAN kick a goal. He looks like he just doesn't want to be out there for us, I still think back to that Collingwood game (which will go down as his most influential game for the club) and I remember how gutted he was. Then he got injured and was being courted by GC, but he signed with us and we were all so happy. Now he can't even crack into a side that is decimated by injury everywhere on the ground, but especially in the forward line. It's just sad.

I'm not really sure what record that is on, it was always reported as him wanting to leave. Usually if it was the other way around it comes out fairly soon afterwards. I liked him as well, he's in a long list of players who I really thought could be a champion player for us. He would walk into our midfield and be probably second only to Jones. More of a reflection on us rather than him. Would take him for cheap, but not who we should be chasing.

I think Melbourne should make some kind of arrangement with Beyond Blue, because this year (and let's face it most other recent years) have been the very definition of depressing. And unfortunately I can't see that changing this week. We as Melbourne fans have to look for small victories in amongst the bad, the emergence and development of some younger players, improvements in areas, players like Jonesy giving it their all week in week out. Hopefully Jordie and Watts will be right, and if back I'd like to see Jack put forward again. He's developed well in defense and shown some of what he's capable, hopefully he's begun to learn about using his body win the ball and not just kill the ball (as a defender must some times do). Surely he's a better option than Rivers who is no doubt a better defender than forward.

Was going to argue the point but just had a look thought the years and a part from a year where we were on par, they've mostly been better! Once or twice we've come in with. Better form, but still haven't got the points. Point is our record sucks! That much I think we can agree on!

Jeez I'd be interested to hear what KC from Caesy would say to that. I'm not so sure Casey would want to do that, I mean this isn't as simple as rebrand and give them credit from their history, you would be wiping them off the football landscape. Casey may be VFL side but they are a football club with members and their own set of fans, how would you feel about a bigger Victorian club walking up to Melbourne and saying, "we want to merge with you, we won't have any part of you left in the brand, but we'll keep your history somewhere". You'd be [censored] and insulted. As a club they've earned better than that, and as our affiliate they deserve better than that. I'm not saying take the merger completely off the cards, but it has to be a way where they preserve some part of themselves otherwise it's not a merger it's a takeover, and we'd be essentially killing a football club.

Although the Simpson verdict was not guilty it is widely believed that he was in fact guilty. Thus your reference suggests that you believe Liam will get off despite being guilty. That's at least how I read it.

That's how I interpreted it, it wasn't a trial to determin guilt, it was to determin whether the evidence was worth being heard by a jury. Fact is we have heard the evidence through the papers, there may have more said than reported or put into better context. From the outside it sounds like he has a good chance to cast reasonable doubt on the evidence, but we don't know enough.

I actually don't disagree with this, if the AFL allow us a way doing this so he doesn't have to go into a draft then that would be great. Not saying others would pick him up, it would make a complicated problem a lot simpler. This way he is still on the list, have him available to promote to the senior list, he still gets the support from the club and gives him an opportunity to play under less pressure.

It's worth pointing out that before he got his wrist injury last year he was for the most part very injury free. The wrist was thought be repaired but something went wrong. No fault of his own, ironically if there hadn't been that set back he might not be in this mess. Then the knee injury was an unlucky impact injury that just happens in football. This alleged assault issue is the first major problem we've had with Liam, albeit this is an incredibly serious issue. All that aside if he is injury free he is one of our key players, and he hasn't had soft tissue problems so we just need luck on that side. The court appearance will sort itself out, guilty or not. So I certainly don't agree with you.

Bugger, hopefully the trail can begin prior to Xmas. The sooner it's sorted out in the courts the better. As demoniac said, innocent until proven guilty so no one condemn. Whatever the result, it's just a really sad situation.

I'm actually starting to think the VFL has run its course with affiliation to the AFL. I feel a reserves competition is the only true way to have an equitable competition, and this farce that is the foxtel cup is causing way too many byes. Also if you have an extended it could create an opportunity to upgrade reserve players to the senior list for individual games if needs be. The AFL would need to help with getting it set up but having situations where players returning from injuries only to have a bye in the completion their meant to come through is clearly not right.

We have more season ending injuries than they have injuries, this is bulls#&$.

Lucky but I think it was the right result. When he gets reported next it'll count against him.

Sickening, especially when there have been years when we've been equal/better then them. I hoping we'll start to get a similar run going against the bombers.

Wow some interesting developments there.

Frawley, with Tom Mac dropping off to help out when possible. Chips still our best defender and his AA abilities are still in there, I've said it many times but being a defender for Melbourne is the toughest job in the AFL because our midfield has very little defensive pressure and they don't give the guys anything to kick to outside the 50. Also Rivers must go back to defense and STAY there, I've liked a fair bit about Neeld (including Col Garland as a forward) but for me the experiment for Rivers is over. He is a defender, a good one, he is not a forward.

I just saw the incident for the first time, IMO he should get a reprimand of some kind and a fine but weeks for I think is a bit harsh. It was even more bizarre than Judds, I mean I'd love to be a fly on the wall and know what the hell he was thinking. I think where Buckley's was malicious and done as a measure of payback, Howe's I think was a weird brain fart, perhaps thinking, "if they see the blood I'll have to come off".

No early plea, he gets what he gets.