Pates

I'm sure that quote is a massive regret from Mark, but did he say, "in 2012 we will be the hardest team to play against"? No. He said it is his aim to make Melbourne the hardest team to play against. We are the very definition of a work in progress. And IMO weare better than last year, not much but improving.

He's an interesting one. There's a lot to like about him and I reckon he's got a good future with us, but clearly he has issues with Neelds non negotiables. I hope he stays in because he has excellent speed on him, something we really lack. IMO a better option the the likes of Bail and Davey.

I'm a Neeled fan, but that Watts/Brown match up was shocking and cost us goals. We've done well considering, but we look directionless in the forward line.

Good call, it happened last year with Casey where they got into the finals and we pulled all our players out for surgery and all the rest, and it crippled them. I remember back when we were with Sandy we helped them to win 3 premierships, and I thought it created a strong bond with them but the moment we started doing what we're doing to Casey now it started to fall down. I reckon your idea of starting and finishing early for the VFL is a very good idea.

This is definitely a point that leads me to believe if GWS do nominate him with their top pick we will take him at 3. We already know much of what we're getting with Jack; hard working, hard at it, fierce competitor. Whereas we pass him up we're getting a more unknown commodity. Sure we'd do interviews and review the tapes of him playing but Jack has been inside the club. I'm glad we've leaked this hardball stance to Barrett, but at the end of the day if he is rate 3-7 we should take him if we have to.

Not that I want to turn this into another tanking debate thread, but the Blues were the first of the modern day teams to truly tank (St Kilda rebuilt with high draft picks, but I wouldn't say they tanked) and look where it has gotten them. Add on the fact that they got Judd with the Visy deal and it really makes you wonder. I hate us being classified as the biggest tankers, Calrton mastered it. That's why I get so much pleasure out of where they're at.

I had a feeling there was a reason to watch the footy show tonight. Damien Barrett believes that if GWS nominates Viney as a first round draft choice we will let him go. Perhaps we're playing a bit of poker here, who's bluff will come off!? I actually think this is great to hear, I really want Jack at the Dees but we need to start playing hardball and the fact that Todd is apparently on board with it is fantastic.

Really happy for Jetta, hope he can get some footy into him. Jurrah doesn't seem to have improved in his prospects, I imagine they'll really take it easy with him.

Good news, after we've had all the rising stars against us it's great for us to get one back. Well deserved.

I really think they're taking their time with Cook and I don't see them breaking that course yet. I'd imagine Stef will come in for Clark more out of necessity then form, Sellar has shown himself to be able to play a role in defense but forward he looks slow and a liability. Eventually Jurrah will get fit again and hopefully come back in, but his role can't be what Mitch was or else he'll flounder like he did last year. Stef stepped up last year, hopefully he can do it again.

I'm just gutted by this. All the best for recovery Mitch, come back bigger and stronger in 2013.

This may be a privilege and role of being an active cheersquad member, but if you guys are really struggling to get numbers to do the banner every week is it an idea to maybe post the details of the banner making on demonland? Perhaps if you had a PM system where people interested PM you or another active member you may be able to get a few extra to come along. I personally haven't done it before but I did a short film doco on footy fans and one of the people that was featured was involved in the banner making for Collingwood. It's a thankless job that you guys do for the love of the club, but I imagine the pride of seeing the boys bust through it at the start of the game makes it worth while. Also, quick question: How do you guys do the banner making for interstate games? Make components in Melbourne then build it up interstate? I've always been curious.

Went down and was very happy to see the Scorps get the win (especially since a mate was playing his first game in the seniors), but I couldn't see anyone who demanded a call up. Gys was good, but still needs match conditioning and I reckon Bennell showed good signs as well as bad signs.

Yeah pretty much agree with most of them, Chip being the only one i'd give a higher mark but I understand your reasoning that you mark him with higher expectations. I think the start of year wasn't great but for the most part hes turning it around, the other tough thing for him was that the ball was coming into the defensive 50 with alarming regularity. Being a defender for Melbourne would have to be the toughest job in the competition. Hopefully that will change in the second half of the year. Jones and Clark I would have about on par, I reckon Jones has been more consistent and his improvement has been a real highlight. Surely monty's for 1 and 2 in the B&F.

One thing I've been trying to decide on is who we send Jordie Mac to? Most side's have their "guy" that a tagger gravitates towards, I would argue to a certain extent Beamer would be ours, if he has a day out on Sunday we will win big. Who do we tag? Wards the only one I can think of. And how will Sheeds/Williams play Scully?

I reckon one of the best things that could've happened for us is GWS pushing the tigers last week. They should not be underestimated and I hope we come in with an attitude to what we had for 3 quarters last week. Hit every contest hard, play with instinct and passion. Give them a hard welcome to the MCG.

I think we really need to change this losing culture. Get the players wanting to win at all costs, what has losing gain us? After so many years down the bottom we're still contemplating draft picks.

It was going well until he said this: Wrong number! I reckon #31 should be retired from all "good prospect" and reserved for battler players that just go out there every week and bleed for the club. Still a good emotional read, pretty much sums up how I feel about the bloke. Enjoy the homecoming $cully!

Terrible news for Barty, he's a great competitor and has had really bad luck for much of his career. I hope he can come back from this, it doesn't sound great but he's a battler. Good luck with recovery, Clint.

His salary may be pricey, but pick 12 has been a bargain for what Mitch has brought to the Dees. I reckon we're going to be a big player in a lot of these player movements. Boak surely must be our first choice of big name, biggest problem is his desire to go "home" home to Geelong and the fact the cats can offer him finals footy and challenging for premierships. I reckon Caddy we're a big chance, we definitely have more to offer GC than the bombers and there is the PSD factor where (at this stage) we'll have first pick of the Victorian teams.

I'd say they've "lost" it, they won't make finals. I've still said a loss but Richmond are a funny lot, a win there wouldn't surprise me (and would be oh so sweet!). I've said 5 with the wins against GWS x2, Freo at Etihad (upset to finally break the hoodoo), Port, and GC. North, Richmond, and the Lions to me present as chance wins. Even St Kilda we've shown we can match them, get some confidence, who knows? We get 5-6 and the media will be praising Neeld and his crack team.

Got a good little chuckle out of that one! On throwing monopoly money at Scully, got to admit I think that's being a touch dramatic. For me the lying was the biggest issue for me. I get Skills32's point on why he did it, that he would have been concerned about Melbourne's reaction to it, but I think our desire to win would've outweighed any thoughts of putting him in the VFL. Again I agree that the AFL is very immature with players moving on, fact is we're a professional sport so that should work at both ends with Scully playing is best while at our club and the club respecting his move and playing him because he would've been in out best 22. We were paying him, why wouldn't we make him earn it? I do harbour ill will towards Scully, but not for the money he went for. None of us can honestly say what we'd do in his situation because it is a completely ridiculous situation that GWS put him in. He lied to us, lied to Jimma's face, and I'm sure the players (and supporters) will make sure he knows it come Sunday.

From what i've seen online Jurrah has been dropping steadily, so i'd say progress is being made at a reasonable rate. Nev Jetta has jumped down a bit though, wasn't he at about 4-6 weeks just last week? Would really like to see him get back playing, not so much for the team but just for himself, I hate seeing players lingering on the injury list like he has.

Can't we do both? Be mad and lay him out with a heavy bump (not saying belt him unfairly), and get even with GWS by beating them.

I don't care who does it, I'd like him to be laid out on the turf at some stage in the game. Just as a reminder of where he came from.