Pates

Usually when i've pre-booked tickets at ES it comes as a PDF attachment in the email. Not sure what's going on with yours.

The club sent out an email to me and a few others who showed disappointment to the club at having to pay the extra bucks detailed that had they done the memberships after the release of the fixture the same cost would have been included in the membership anyway. But they chose to get the membership packages out as early as possible and when it was realised that we were to play a home match at Etihad they had to request this from those members now. Now it's possible that this is all a smoke screen but that is the reason why we have to pay extra for a guaranteed seat. Personally I'm just going to take pot luck at one of the designated spots, I reckon I'll be alright. This is a crappy situation, I hate the venue with a passion and I'm just about done with going to away matches there. But this is our home match, like it or not, and at the end of the day boys are going to play a home match there so it's up to us to make sure it feels like home for them and a hostile venue for the Weagles.

Couldn't see a topic devoted to this on the front page, but the club has issued an update with Jimmy's condition. Jim Stynes update Really doesn't sound good, thoughts and prayers are with the big man and his family.

Bloody brilliant, Trenners has shown so much maturity this year and has been a bright spark for us in a difficult period. Fantastic news on all counts with Tappy, Gawn, and co.

The reviews have always been extremely upbeat even after big losses, mostly talking about roles being played in the team and workrate etc. It's an insight possibly into the "teaching" modle we have in place where players are set tasks to fulfill rather than just go out there and win the ball (and hopefully the bloody game!). I don't expect them to rip into the players on the club website especially when they always show them support in other mediums, but I wish they'd show a bit more disappointment in the teams overall performance.

With westpac atm, if this is true I'll change my accounts to BoM. Shouldn't be too hard, I think their essentially the same bank!

This is a good move from the club, does make us reserved seat members feel a little more appreciated. Not really looking forward to it though, might go to the wharf hotel for lunch to support our match day sponsor, I certainly won't be giving ES a cent.

Sounds all good to me, if only it could all happen though. I would really like to know what was on that report, and if it's true that we almost completely ignored a lot of key aspects to it.

Also got to look at the opposition that they're coming up against, ie. this year us against the Hawks we probably weren't going to win. Might've been worth an extra few goals, but we have been so bad lately it's hard to know. I'm not so much concerned about the matches following, more so the matches themselves. Richmond proved the danger of selling those games, they could've been pushing for the 8 if those games had been played in Melbourne. Fact is we roll this dice every time we go up there.

Liverpool fan so probably biased, but that was simply THE GREATEST performance from a captain in any sport i have ever seen. Sent shivers down my spine watching that. That is on field courage to come back when all hope is seemingly lost, i'd love to see the Dees have that kind of courage once this year. (Btw, You'll Never Walk Alone is the most amazing fan song)

My assessment: Davey - Started the year poorly and then got injured. I feel a lot of people are quick to forget how valuable he was last year, fans talk about how we don't have any experienced players and yet want to get rid of him. Give him a chance FFS. Jurrah - Has gone backwards, name one player apart from Judd who hasn't had a backwards year. He'll be back. Bennell - Has been disappointing, flashing in and out of games, was good early one and looks great when he backs his pace but has doesn't have good awareness. We'll persist with him, but will be interesting to see where he is in two years. Jetta - similar to Bennell but has also been injured. Sounds like he's been valuable at Casey, hopefully he can stay injury free next year and show us something next year. Wonna - Impossible to judge this year, has clearly had a tough year physically and mentally. My thoughts are we'll give him another year, perhaps reduced salary or even rookie list him if he's still a bit unsure of his plans. But if he WANTS to play for us, give him a go because we've barely seen him and LJ together, and i reckon the could light it up!

16000, that'll be a good turn out in my books. I hate the joint, a few Melbourne mates arn't going because they hate it that much. I'll go to support the boys but no frigging way am I paying a dime in there.

People calling for Davey to be dropped are kidding themselves. He's just returned from an injury that's kept him out for a long stretch of time and while he looked off the boil in the first half i thought he came into it in the second half and did his classic Davey cutting kicks. Out: Strauss, Bate, (Tapscott, if no good) In: Morton, Jurrah, (Sylvia) I initially had Blease in instead of Morton, but I think a like for like is going to happen here. Morton can play tall, and DOES HAVE THE ABILITY (whether or not he chooses to use it) to be a valuable player. He was in the best for Casey so we should reward form. Jurrah in is one i'm not sold on, doesn't sound like he played well, but it was a toss up between him and Sylvia, and in the end I felt that it sounded like he was better than Col. I have him replacing Bate as I just don't think Bate is a viable and smart option going forward. He probably wasn't our worst, but I just don't think he should stay. If Tapscott doesn't get up, Col comes in, I think we need a mature hard body in if Tappy goes out and Sylvia is that.

Shocking stuff for the poor guy, as has been said he was starting to string games together and really find his place in the team. Breaks my heart to see this kind of thing happen to any footballer. Really hope he can come back from this. All the best with your recovery, James.

I totally agree, and I was trying to phrase it a certain way that didn't seem like I was having a go at him. I genuinely believe he just wants to play footy.

I'm sold, that highlights package reminded me of why he was one of my favourite players outside of Melbourne. The young boys couldn't have a better role model.

It's late and I just got home from work but i can't seem to sleep, so i've been thinking about the five things I'd like to see at the game today. 1. An honest performance from every single player in a Melbourne guernsey. I want each player to be able to look Viney, the fans, and more importantly Jimmy in the eye and say, "i gave it all i had today". A win is secondary in my mind to this, but i reckon two and two will go together. 2. The ruck duo of Stef Martin and Max Gawn to beat Warnock and Kreuzer. 3. A classic Davey rundown. I know he's just coming back from an injury, but I think this sort of thing would be good for his confidence, remind him of what started him as a player at Melbourne. 4. Watts to be our leading goal scorer, and it to be 4+. With Jurrah and Sylvia dropped, and Green out of form I want to see him become our forward focal point. Even if we are getting beaten I don't want him to go into our defensive half. 5. Scully to be in our best players, get out there and do what you're contracted to do for us. Not having a crack at him, but most of what we've got out of him is destabilising rumours, pay us back for at least that much.

This is devastating to hear, I was really concerned when I saw his presser on Monday and this triples it. Please take it easy Jimmy, you've given us so much strength lately, leave some for yourself and focus on what's important. Thoughts and all the best wishes are with you.

Love the logo, and as said before, concerns over it are the least of our issues.

I'm really glad to hear that at this stage he's not interested in the position after this year. Partly to do with a fear of losing Jack, but also because I think he's a great person to have around the club and with us likely getting a brand new coach next year, it means a much cleaner transition rather than the typical clean out of all footy department people. I think there is a need for new blood in a lot of positions, but Viney's definitely one I want us to keep around. I think he's a perfect fit for us for the final games of the year. A club legend, someone that knows the meaning of tough footy, and a person that demands respect. What's great is that we're hearing a lot of club legends saying I want to help to do what's best for the Melbourne Football Club. Jimmy has embodied a spirit that we need to not get behind but go forward with.

Every time Dale Thomas is brought into the GWS debate Eddie immediately turns the topic back onto Scully. Maybe Thomas will stay, maybe he won't, but I reckon he's got more to gain than Scully. Thomas has already won a premiership so even if he going to GWS is means he doesn't get to do it again, he's already been there. Scully would have to be weighing up premiership chances as a big draw card to either club. On topic, IF this was the case I would simply say to Tom that his job is to play footy not decide who is in admin positions. If this really was the be final tipping point, and the club was happy with Schwab, then I choose Cam over Tom. Purely because he is not in a position to make those kinds of demands/requests. Perhaps a different situation if we were thinking of giving him the flick anyway. All that's hypothetical, and I kind of feel this is one of the more far fetched claims re: Scully.

I'd certainly be taking Grimes out of the leadership group, nothing to do with the bloke but the poor bugger should focus on getting himself right and the rest will come. Like Moloney, he doesn't need a "title" to be a leader. I'd be making one of Moloney or Trengove captain. Trenners is young but he has such a great head on his shoulders; he's a smart player, courageous, and when it's his time to go he does so with full conviction. I'd be concerned with him being such a young captain though, so I feel the that Moloney would be our smartest choice. The guy bleeds red and blue, he knows the struggles to club has been through and he's a no nonsense type player that will bust his gut every time. He didn't do anything last week, he was ill and shouldn't have played. Maybe he should've said so pre-game but he didn't and i'm sure he knows that was a mistake. Bottom line is i think the players would play for him. Frawley, Jamar, Jones to round out the group. All of them guys that teammates rally behind and are important cogs in our team. I wouldn't hate them for leaving Green in there, he's a poor captain but he was almost AA last year and in the leadership group, not a leaders leader but still a very experienced player. Bottom line is though the players will vote who they want in there, and they are the best judges. Would've been interesting to know who they wanted captain out of the voted group. Summary: Moloney © Trengove (VC) Jones Frawley Jamar (Green)

That is my only fear, traditionally caretakers don't stick with the club after taking over the helm, and given how much effort we've put into securing Jack Viney I'm concerned we may jeopardise it by putting him in this role. (Although I must admit, there is a certain amount of romanticism about Todd coaching his son to a MFC premiership!)

Sad day for the club, the players disgraced the club, the supporters, and the coach. The last part of that has been the biggest victim of all. It was the right call, Bailey has clearly lost the players, but it certainly doesn't make it any better or easier. Thanks for some interesting memories Dean, and I'm genuinely sorry it had to end like this.

I must say I'm very surprised to hear this sort of chatter about Schwab, every time I hear him talk about the club it is with nothing but love and devotion to getting us back on top. He, along with Stynes, has been able to get us from being on the verge of death to out of debt and surely that is his job, if anything I would just tell him to keep out of the football department if there truely is a rift, and given his staunch support of Scully I'm a little shocked to hear him going could make a difference.