Pates

In terms of immediate future i don't expect much from us this year, the fact that some of the players are coming out and actually saying that results and ladder position aren't a focus this year leads me to believe that they can see the areas in which we'll struggle (highlighted by Jarka). The hole left by Neitz was all too obvious last year and i just can't see who's going to help us to kick a winning score. Sylvia is probably the most likely here, he consistent(ish) last year with kicking 1-2 goals but his kicking in front of goal isn't up to it and he doesn't create as many opportunities as Buddy to make this alright. Newton is, well, nothing atm. After late 2007 we all expected him to flourish, and it hasn't happened, the club gave him a two year extension on his contract so maybe they see something we don't. Bate has been earmarked as a target this year, but goes missing. That said, i think this could be a break out year for him and it could come from being a focal point. We all know what Robbo can do, but he's had a horrible injury and will take time to get back to physical and match fitness. Miller was good last year, but i still think his best position is CHF, still needs to kick more goals. The small forwards are where we have some gems; I foresee Davey being more of a midfielder who kicks goals, but it's the likes of Wona, Maric, and Jetta that i'm looking forward to seeing. Will be very interested to see how Aussie goes this year after bursting onto the scene in '08. I didn't mean to make this a negative post, but it sort of came out that way. It answer to your question, yes i think we can get excited and optimistic, but we have to remain vigilant because we are still the most vulnerable club in the AFL and we must give Vlad every reason NOT to make us fold. My prediction of wins is between 4-7 for the year (to win 5 would be a disaster!).

I'm going to start my post a rant, so my apologies to anyone that actually reads it! I am sick to death of the AFL changing rules. I love soccer, it's the post popular sport in the world and one of the key reasons i think it continues to win support is that it hasn't changed. The only rule i can think of that was brought in in my time is an add-on to the off-side rule (which i won't go into). Now i love AFL as much if not more than soccer, but the game has changed an incredible amount in 17 years or so that i've watched it. Some of rules have been successful, others IMO have been completely un-necessary. But for once, FOR ONCE, i had hoped that they would leave the game alone for one season. But no. Now we've got to deal with the deliberate rush behind rule, and IMO of all the rule changes to happen over my years, THIS is one rule too many that just isn't needed. Rushing behinds has been a tried and true method of defense for 150 years, and after one season where Bowden rushed a few extra behinds at the end of the game to win a tight one (brilliant IMO), and the Hawks rushed a ridiculous amount of behinds in the GF, two games where it was in the spotlight, the rules have been changed. The tactics of a defender have to now change, there is no longer a safety with the line, and yet again close games could be decided by an umpire with a rule that leaves a lot up to interpretation. But the ultimate question i'm going to pose is this; did it need to be done? I was all for the outlawing of head high contact because neck injuries where becoming too common. The center circle ruck rule i was against because it hindered White, but it has prevented many injuries to the knees of ruckman. These rules were brought in because they needed to be. The rushed behind rule didn't, and the worst part is that they didn't cave to any pressure, they just decided that they'd do it. They couldn't wait just ONE SEASON to see if it was going to be an overused tactic? Even Kevin Bartlett, who is on the rules committee, didn't think it was needed. The funny thing is that i think all it would've taken is for a team to lose by less than a goal after conceding 10 rushed behinds to realise one thing, you do it at your own peril. So we yet again enter a new season with new rules, i'm still pumped to see my beloved Dees march out on to the MCG, but i just hope i'll recognise the game i loved last year. I'm going to finish the post with a request, what rules do you think they'll have brought in in 20 years? They can be serious or wacky! For me: - a time clock for kicking for goal once you enter the forward 50 - kicking backwards is automatically play-on, the AFL is itching to get this one in - zonal positioning, sort of like netball where certain players aren't allowed in different areas - capped interchange - bump outlawed

I did a short film documentary last year on 5 football fans and Angelo was one of them, he's an absolutely top bloke and really friendly to talk to. But most of all he bleeds red and blue, and he wears his mohawk for home games at the G, i don't think he wears it for away games.

:angry: Dammit! I'm sick of seeing players that i see so much talent and hope in get injured like this! Especially when i put him in my dreamteam! :angry:

Picture says a thousands words! And i agree. I'm a self confessed Colin basher but this is a fairly minor issue IMO. Yes, it's unprofessional and brings bad press to the club just after having some really positive press, but he made a mistake and if it was a big one he would've been suspended for the real season. I'm dissapointed, but not massively angry. Just get it right, Colin!

Finally an article that reflects the fact that we won, not the Lion's lost! Of course, it had to come from the MFC website! http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/newsart...54/default.aspx

What sort of a crowd do you expect for that game? We got a pretty damn good turn out for our intra-club match, and i've noticed that attendance at other MFC events this year are up? I am very hopeful that i'll be able to go to that game and i wouldn't mind knowing if it's worth my while going a bit earlier to get a park. Really looking forward to seeing the boys in action.

Wow, i knew that year was bad, but jeez! Just our luck, we couldn't bottom out in the Judd year could we!

You damn right that's one of the reasons he attracts so much attention from us, we used our first draft pick at no. 3 for him and whether you want to admit it or not it was an investment. Right now i would say we've got very minimal return for that investment, not to mention the $$$$$ that we've spent on him trying to get fit (not his fault i understand). In my first post that i wrote here i said i'm done waiting; i won't stop supporting him or praising him when he does good things, but i'm not going to defend him or be any more patient with him. He could be anything, and i mean possibly the highest high or the lowest low.

I couldn't give a rats about CJ, i'm not massively bitter about the way he left. There was a better opportunity for him at Carlton and i don't think many at the Dees rated him, personally i didn't.

Don't you know, every new gun is going to be our next captain! But Grimes really does look the goods. Over the last few years i've heard about so many players who have come to the club injured going to be stars and not delivered, but Grimes just looks a natural! I think i might take those odds for the rising star.

That pretty well summed up. It's always been uneven, we are getting a step closer to an English Premier League situation where there are 4 "big" clubs and the rest just make up the numbers.

Good to hear, i hope he can back it up for the rest of the year.

I wouldn't trade Sylvia because as many people have said here, he has no value. There are some younger players just creeping up on him though, so he needs to put in or he will be dropped. I felt for a while that he should be in there, even when he wasn't performing great, to get him exposure. But we're past that point now, so if he's going to get bugger all of the ball in the game, he needs to at least be able to kick a simple goal. BTW i agree with others here that his role in a team needs to be defined, is he a forward or a midfielder?

His conduct post-game is not the issue for me, all summer i've heard he's been training the house down and is looking good, i would've thought he'd be itching to get out there and hit the ground running. He did not. I will still be happy when he does good things, and i'll congratulate him accordingly, but i'm done waiting.

I'm sure someone here will give a much more thorough rundown of the day's proceedings but this is what i remember: - The day started with the player hanging around and mingling with the supporters, there was a lady roming around taking polaroid photos which was also nice. - Once everyone was settled we watched two video packages, one which was made by the leadership group and given to all the new players. Jimmy spoke about what the day was about and why they're doing it, then Moloney spoke on behalf of the leadership group, and then the players in attendance did a bit of trivia to give some stuff away. - We then broke up into three groups focusing on Website and communication, Image, and Match day, and we basically just started brainstorming. Things that stuck in my mind were: - Website is going to get an overhaul, personalised settings for a members login, more prominant multimedia, and more photo galleries were the major suggestions for that. Plus chat rooms and forums where you can communicate with the players were also strongly looked at. - One of my favourite suggestions of the day was the get kids walking out with the players, much like they do for soccer in England. Probably Auskick kids, the hope is that by getting them wearing the top and assosiating with the players, we may be able to turn their impressionable minds to Melbourne. - The cheersquad split was again brought up today, Jimmy and Watts couldn't believe it. Spoke to Watts, boy he is mature! A really nice guy as well, and he's itching to get out on the G. Also spoke to Rivers and he's confident he'll be playing in the NAB challenge match next week.

I feel i have and many others have been very patient and understanding of Sylvia's horrible run with injuries, and with that the fact that he wasn't able to gain form. But he is now a senior player and senior players must step up to the plate when the game's in the balance, like kick a simple goal.

I wouldn't say that this was a defining game, but this is his first full pre-season, he has prmised a lot over the time we've had him and he litterally had the chance to win the game for us. I've had faith that he could come good for a while, i've been patient and understanding that he has had injuries. But previous injuries do not excuse him from missing such a shot on goal, and for having such an ineffective game against many 1st year players. As i said, there might be a bit of anger in the orriginal post, but he should be better and until he proves himself CONSISTENTLY, then stuff him.

Marked.

Ok, i know what everyone is going to say to me, "it's only NAB cup, chill out", "give the kid a go". But i'm finished with him, since he's got here he's been given every opportunity to shine, but he just hasn't shown me enough. He had the chance to end the game today against the reigning premiers from 25 meters out on a slight angle, but he missed. If he's a midfielder, he didn't get anough of the ball, if he's a forward then that should be bread and butter. We'll keep him in the side practically all year because he was an avenue for goals in 08, but he's become the player where every time he gets the ball i'll be saying, "oh no, not him". So there it is, if he becomes a valuable player then i'll gladly eat humble pie as i did with Miller, but i'm done. PS, shame the whole team threw it away in the last quarter, well done for the effort though.

Yep you can count me in.

I'm not worried about either of them, even Moloney. I'd say the slightest niggle and a player will be omitted, it's pre-season so there's no point in risking anything. Looking forward to seeing Petterd and Grimes in action, hopefully this'll be a break out season for both of them.

With all due respect to the great man, i just don't think our club can survive with that philosophy, i think the important thing to remember that although it is a business it's also a sporting club with a lot of emotional attachments. The fact is that if we were purely a business, we'd probably be dead by now.

Raises the question of how long it will be before the "hip and shoulder" bump is completely outlawed? I understand at this point that the head must be protected, but it's amazing to look at how much the game has changed since i started watching it, and i'm only 21! 2-3 years ago people would've been marveling at what a great bump it was! Remember Matty Whelan's bump of Hird in the final of 2005? He's probably get 4 weeks for that now!

I can sort of see this as an opportunity to market a different line of merchandise, if it's done correctly that is. All the clubs in the EPL have three strips, their home, their away, and an alternate strip, and i imagine they all see like hotcakes (obviously catering to a larger and crazier audience). Personally i prefer the white one, the demon sinks into the background of the red one for my taste. Still i like them a lot more than the silver [censored] we wore last year!