Pates

Good news, it's been a while, but lord knows we deserve it. Webjet now officially my first port of call for booking flights!

I feel we have a massive opportunity to turn things around here, there were signs in the WC match that we had some of an idea of what Neeled wanted us to do but in the end conditions, our still new game plan, and WC's slickness got us badly. As long as we continue to stay out of the media for anything other than football and if the guys can get their heads on straight I think we can burst out of the blocks and beat Richmond. Our start against the Eagles wasn't as bad as the score suggested, we actually dominated play for about half the quarter but failed to put it on the board then some soft and undisaplined frees ended up giving them a comfy quarter time lead. We've got the team to match (and beat) them in most positions, and hopefully we'll click this week. God knows we need (and deserve) a little good news.

Fitzy was a spud pre-season, Gawn was consistently in the Casey best before we gave him a go. Jamar went up against two giants last week, and I thought competed a lot better than the other week, he'll get back to his best soon enough. I like the idea of dropping Green, he was undisciplined and useless following up from a putrid round one. He must play at Casey. Not act as a sub, not an emergency, Casey. (Something which we should've done with Davey, how does taking him to Perth as an emergency get him back to form?) For me Bennell stays, a big ask for him to come in and get in the best when playing as a HBF v WC in Perth but he's walking a tight rope. Joel Mac I think it's time to drop him, I love his attitude and that he's one of few that thrives on body contact, but he continually makes the wrong decision (yes pressure makes a difference too) and I feel that he can be spared. My changes: INS - Tapscott, Moloney, Morton, Martin (if right) OUTS - Joel Mac, Bail, Green, Sellar I like Bail, but he does not seem to be right just yet. Give him a week in the VFL to get his head in gear, will be back pretty quickly. Moloney picks himself and people that feel he should re-earn his are just being silly. Big bodies are needed to get the clearances, and like it or lump it he is the best at it at our club. If Stef is right to go put him back in and drop Sellar, just because I can't see a direct opponent for him. Morton in is a gamble, especially because I'm not a fan. BUT we have retained him and we have been repeatedly told he can be something special. Give him a job, don't complicate it or give him license to be his usual lazy self. Give him targets to meet in the game, but again make them simple. I truly feel he is so much in his own head that he forces himself to make bad decision, so send him back to basics and build it from there.

I dream of the day that people will look at a Melbourne team and admire them for the sort of guts and determination I saw from Geelong today. They don't know how to lose.

I agree, I don't think this is the end. Our fans have proven we will not go quietly into the night, if we have to have another "debt demolition" or something of the sort, it will happen and we will dig deep to fill the possible hole the Polis may have created. But all the work that has been done to get us in the black may be undone by this latest story. It would be too much to ask that the media back off to give us a chance to breathe, FCS just over a week ago we were laying Jimmy to rest. Talk about a baptism of fire for Neeled!

Does anyone know when all these comments were made? The only reason why I ask is because it's too convenient that all this has come out just after the Neeled/Mifsud/Davey BS, I don't usually hold the view that the media is out to get us but are they trying to jump on every little story to do with us?

Not concerned, time and time again he's said that he wants to repay the faith Melbourne showed in him. I think he wants to be a one club player

With the AFL being on their high-horse about racism lately I reckon they should be offering to assist us financially so we can drop EW. These comments are disgusting, I'd admit to saying a few things in my which are not PC when it comes to racism, but what kind of an idiot repeatedly puts that kind of garbage on their FB page. Especially someone in charge of a major company. FOJ sponsor just became massive again.

Two years we were the best young list the AFL, Leigh Matthews said it would be his choice of lists to coach. Now recruiting in the past might have been poo, but I still think the list we've got can be good enough to get to top 4 some day.

I'd just like us to be in the hunt by 3 quarter time. A big ask over there, but it'd be a great place to start.

I simply took Aaron's comments as the fact that he is the defacto leader of the indigenous boys.

I have refrained from posting on here after the weekend because like so many I was completely gutted by what I saw. We've all seen bad loses (we saw the worst of the worst at KP last year) but some how this just left us with a really empty feeling. But much of what is in this thread is true, I sort of wondered whether some of the players had played the game in their head before Saturday (something that was pointed to Pre GWS v Swans that the young players had to prevent). None of this excuses the extremely lackluster second half from the boys, but it points to what Trenners and Grimes said that they will honour Jimmy by getting the club to where it belongs long term. This week reminds me of 2010, in round one we got monstered by a Hawks team that was heading onwards and upwards, and everyone was contemplating the margin against the pies in round 2 with many predicting 80+. We came out the following week and took them right to the final second, and arguably deserved to win. I'm not saying that I expect that to happen, but I hope the players get their heads right and decide to show some effing fight. The great thing about football at this time of year is that every week has an opportunity for redemption.

Magner, Watts, Howe, and Bartram for me. Only ones that I could give a pass mark for.

Couldn't agree more. Buddy would've struggled with the disgusting delivery coming in, not to mention the crowded forward 50 how the hell was he ment to get a good run and jump at it? Not a good game, but overpaid and underperformed? Awful?

I'm hoping that each game has been sort of focusing on certain aspects of the game plan, and rnd 1 is about bringing it all together.

I tell ya what, the idea of Melbourne fans being arm in arm before every game singing an altered version of Danny Boy gives me goosebumps.

I seem to remember an interview with Bartel with regards to how the Geelong players approach contests in a game and their mindset. I think he said something like they have hunger to win every contest, and if they didn't win that one then they would make damn sure they'd win the next one. I know it's a simple idea and it's kind of just words, but I sort of feel for a while the players have been thinking ok I want to win this contest but not having any burning desire, and that if they didn't they'd get a pat on the backside and start again. What I'm hoping is the Geelong sort of mentality that has been drilled into the brain of every Melbourne player, it seems to be what Magner bases his game on and I can't wait to see him put it on display out on the G. On paper, we should win this. And I think we will.

I'm really glad that the club has gone down this road instead of a minutes silence. The rest of the games (as far as I know) have been doing a minute silence and I think this does put us in a different category when I comes to Jimmy. I've seen it done at EPL matches and it just seems right. In Jimmy's case it seems even more appropriate because his life and his achievements should be celebrated. In terms of a song, I would think an Irish song of some kind would be the way to go. Danny Boy comes to mind (with changed lyrics), but I reckon I'd tear up every time I heard it!

The segment with his sister paying out on him was good value. But the Sam's mailbag bit with him doing puzzles was stupid, half the references were things outside his generation.

I really wanted to be there today but I have recorded it and will watch it when I have a chance in the next couple of days, I have a feeling my eyes won't stay dry. From what I have seen it was beautifully presented by everyone. My deepest condolences to Sam, Matisse, and Tiernan, it's not right that he was taken from you too soon but I hope you know the Melbourne Football Club will be there for you through these tough times. RIP Big Jim

Didn't realise but St Kilda are also without a FOJ sponsor going into round 1. Interestingly the article (albeit a small HS piece) seems to have a feel that we're in a better position given our excellent BOJ sponsor in Energy Watch. Worst case I feel we will honour Jim's memory by having Reach there for the year.

A little bit disappointing we're behind this year on memberships, although not completely surprising given our dog of a year in '11. Hopefully a win in round 1, coupled with the sentimentality surrounding Jimmy, we will push towards our target. I'm thinking of signing up my cat on a pet membership!

A fantastic tribute to him, some great memories in there.

Clint Bizzell is one that comes to mind, Powell as well. I'll admit they're not exactly recent though! Swans have been able to some absolute bargains over the years, for me Jolly is the best one. I really didn't want him to go and was filthy with ND for just giving him chop-out ruck duties, had he been given more a chance I don't think he would've gone. They've done well over the years the swans.

A fantastic idea, I might even travel for the game. Great excuse to go to Ireland.