Pates

My my we look pretty in the pink and white! On a serious note, we've been doing some good things. We've done well to be 4pts behind in this game with port having the breeze and being fresh. Whatever happens I'm happy with the hitout tonight, bring it home boys!

I think that's what Bomber did with Ablett, worked out really well for Geelong didn't it? Best player not on speaking terms with coach for much of the year, interesting tactic.

I think we're all going to have to resign ourselves to a frustrating year when it comes to Scully and his contract. There's going to be a truckload of speculation, people will constantly be telling us he's going, and they may be right, but there is nothing we can do about it until the season's over or he randomly agrees to terms. One thing we can do is give him the benefit of the doubt when it comes to the speculation and make sure that he feels like the MFC is his home. Hopefully if he is offered the insane amounts he will cinsider melbourne as his best chance of success, and to leave a legacy worthy of the history books.

Predictable, but unlike in the past with predictable decisions this is an excellent choice. I think it speaks volumes of where we've come that i reckon each one of the guys short-listed i feel would've been good choices, however Green has earned this appointment after a great 2010 showing courage and leadership, and of course kicking goals! Congratulations Greeny, I can't wait to see you lead the boys out onto the G for the first time!

Don't love them, don't hate them. I think the "Cheeky" Demon is a great idea, give the kids their very own mascot to draw on, i'm not as sure about the teenage one but i understand the reasoning.

Really like the clash strip, i didn't hate last years but i feel that ours is actually creative. Rather than just the typical white with the emblem that most clubs come up with.

I'm of the opinion it's a bad thing. We are still a very young team and require experience and leadership to steady us at times. IMO he has actually had a very good 2010, i know he is widely criticised on this forum but he is a consistent performer week in and week out. That said, my disappointment is not directed at the club. They have a hard line policy on players over 30, Bruce knew this going into the season, and i think it's a fair one. If he really felt that insecure with his position that he needed the guarantee of a second year than i think that's more of an issue with confidence in his ability to perform into his 30's. At his age i would've thought he should be happy with the career he's had at Melbourne and stick around to lend his experience and guidance to the young boys. Poor form from Brucey, especially given that we get nothing out of it.

Our option and "draw" is clearly the worst. I know it's NAB cup but FFS is it really impossible to give us just one year where our first game is in Melbourne? And how can they see any fairness in putting us at an interstate venue with BOTH home teams? I already disliked the new NAB cup format, this just adds more hatred to it. If we manage to pinch a win somewhere in there, it will do great things for our confidence, but i won't hold my breath.

James Cook comes to mind. He joined us after a stint with the Doggies and kicked 6 goals in one match, looked like he could play and then got an ankle injury and had to retire.

I just checked out the AFL website and i agree that our emblem shouldn't be used in that capacity, while i absolutely LOVE what they've come up with it has far too much going on to be used as a button. If we were wanting to go with something like that i would simply remove much of the paraphernalia inside the emblem and just leave the red and blue in a shield with our name above it (instead of below). Having said that, you look at the tigers logo, which has been around for yonks, and it's barely recognisable but ultimately it's the colours that stand out and that is much the same with ours.

The only "highlight" was Rich kicking a goal. Surely they would've kept the cameras rolling the whole game to see Jurrah's brilliance!?

Forgetting about Jack for a second, i reckon this is a fantastic get for the club. He is one of my favourite all time players, loved the way he went about his football and was a great, albeit short lived captain. Whilst i'm not 100% on his role, it sounds like young player development is one of our major focuses at the club, and understandably so. Apart from the fact that Jack sounds like a fantastic prospect, bearing in mind he is only 16, it's a real feel good story for the club with the son of such a well respected club great joining us in what we hope will be a successful period for the Dees. I hope he can forge a name for himself in his own right, i'm sure his dad will be giving him a few pointers along the way!

Ha my mistake you (and the others) are dead right, and for the record my dad didn't say it in a vindictive way he just joked about it. But so far as i know he didn't hear me!

One could argue that he's set the foundations for our defensive unit, i think our biggest issue in defense was kick-ins. So if we can get someone on board to get that right we will look a lot better. Still Wellman spoke very well at the before the bounce function that featured him, the funny part was when my dad whispered to me, "where is this guy from?" and i said to him "Essendon's 2000 premiership side, he's the guy that hit Green in the throat", and he whispered back, "oh that weak [censored]!".

Man this thread has turned extremely bizarre, i don't know if Davey would be my first choice as captain but if he was to be chosen i know he was be extremely honored to be our first aboriginal captain in over 150 years. The only concern i have with Aaron is that he is a spark player and when there's no spark in his game he looks lost. Green and Moloney are proven consistent performers and will always put their bodies on the line for the team. Green for me, with Davey as VC. But having said that, if the Flash gets the nod i'm sure he'll do us proud.

It's not undeserved, but i don't think you can say he was the best & fairest player in the league this year. As has been already said, he polled because he was Carlton's only dominant player and the only one that the umpires would notice. This is an advantage in going for the Brownlow, but will get you nowhere in September. They won enough games and he was always the catalyst for them getting up, whereas when the Pies won Swan would have to contend with Pendlebury for votes. And for the record i never got caught up in the hype of Swan, he i always felt he'd struggle to get enough votes in a very even team. Collingwood should be proud of the fact that they have such a team that isn't reliant on one player, it's why they're in the GF this Saturday.

I can feel a Mighty Ducks moment coming where the Saints need inspiration for the second half and come out in their traditional apparel in the 2nd half to the tune of We Will Rock You!

These "clashes" are a storm in a teacup that yet again the AFL created. If they are dead set on this, which by making the saints wear the alternate strip they must be, they must get the Pies and the Bombers to create truly alternate tops. We have been denied our bid for the reversed guernsey because they said it must be predominately white, we where's Essendons white top? Disgrace that the Saints had to even ask if they could wear their real top if they won.

You're right that award is there, but i would be making it a MFC only award. I like the community service award, seems very fitting.

The Jim Stynes Bravery medal perhaps? Given to the player constantly putting his body on the line for the team.

I am not a religious person, but by his own admission this terrible experience has made him a better person and has touched a lot of complete strangers in a way that i doubt anyone could even imagine. They (religious people) claim a grand plan, so while there is a lot of merit in your argument, i'm sure that they would claim an equal argument for the opposite. That 1 hour was probably some of the most powerful television i will ever see, every scene sent me on an emotional journey and i was certainly choking back the tears for much of the doco. Well made, and tastefully done. My heart goes out to his family, his wife was incredible and i can't help but get a pit in my stomach imagining her having to raise the kids without him. Not that it needs to be said, but keep on fighting Jimmy!

Saints are pretty much geographically my closest team so i've always had a bit of a soft spot for them. I missed out on the years at Moorabin so i can't speak to their fans back then but i haven't encountered too many problems with them since i've barracked for the Dees. I like the idea of the Pies streaking ahead and then choking.

Jeez tough is an understatement! Ever since his debut my heart skips a beat at every contest because he is so bloody courageous! Can't wait to see him out there next year, if anyone deserves a full successful years it's him!

I went to the youth summit a while ago and that was one thing that was a common theme, we want more media available to us on the website. Now obviously a lot of the specific thoughts and ideas that were proposed were for the most part unrealistic, but it certainly the club has listened regarding coverage available on the website.

I was a Dunn Mo-hater, not anymore. That is one of the best posts i've ever seen here. THE MO STAYS!