Pates

A chance because it's pre-season cup, and we are definitely in better shape than last year, but if Hawthorne play half as well their capable they should take the chocolates.

It appeared as a news item at one stage, and it was sent out via the members email.

I hope the key word there isn't awful! Seriously though i think we're in a much better position in many way than last year, Sylvia getting his first full pre-season is hopefully the key for him and all those kids that were making up 80% of the 22 last year will be more experienced and mature. And the hope that Jack Watts brings us will be good to watch.

I was agreeing with you for a second there, but unfortunately Geelong is playing Adelaide there in the evening. A nice idea but not going to happen. And i couldn't agree with you more, angryfijian, those guys are heroes and every one of them deserves to be applauded.

I think they had some good idea's in terms of initiatives and getting the supporter feeling apart of the club again, but this is the crunch moment. We need a major sponsor, without it the media will be standing there waiting to declare us circling the drain, especially tosspots like Fatrick Smith. Surely the AFL allowing gaming companies to sponsor us can get us what we need. I guess the only thing that's making us look attractive is that any sponsor who takes us on will have a "goodwill" vibe and be seen as a morally good company or something. Something like Mars was for Tassie.

Not at all, i see this as a recognition that we lack representation in the younger age groups and the club is calling on that generation to tell them what makes their heart beat red and blue. I'm 22 so i'll put my name down for this and if i go i'll make a report for everyone here.

Port Adelaide's song is easily the worst, terrible tune and terrible lyrics. Freo's a close second. The GC17 song isn't the worst, but it could definitely be better!

I wanted McLean, but i'm not unhappy with Jmac as captain for 2009. I can't see him going on after this year, though, so it's a clear they have someone in mind to succeed him in one year and they aren't ready yet (I'd just about bet the house that it's Brock). What i am a little dissapointed about is that they didn't name him a VC, even if it was a co-VC. Still it's well deserved by Junior, and once and for all i'm glad it's not co-captains!

Answering the first post, we are certainly still in a very precarious position. I firmly believe that it's so bad that one false venture could prove to be a fatal one. In saying that i see a lot more hope compared to where we were last year, and a lot more supporters are willing to pledged their support financially. There's no doubt that the most important thing we need in the next 2 months is a major sponsor, otherwise we will be severely rationing what little we've got, and that can only lead to more mis-management both on and off the field. The amount of money we lost this year is a very worrying situation, but there were many extraordinary costs that are very unlikely to happen again this year (eg. 2 x CEO Pay-outs, TJ, Carroll etc). Not to mention in the last couple of years we have had a pretty crappy run with injuries, perhaps finally we'll catch a break. Guess what i'm say is that it's OK for you to have these concerns, but if you would like to help in making this club viable it's up to all of us to try to get more members on board then ever before. On Casey vs MCG precinct, i've got to admit i'm torn. I guess at this stage i see this summer movement into Casey as a trail run of sorts, we have already found the area to be MUCH better than what we've had in the past but can we afford to abandon our physical link to the MCG. Of all the things that i love about this club, having the MCG as our home is right up the top of the list and i know you're saying that we'd still play there but still being near it when we train i still see as an important link. However, that is an emotional reasoning, and thinking with the brain and not the heart i actually feel that is quite possible in the not too distant future for us to establish Casey as our permanent base much the same way that Hawthorn have done with Waverly. It makes sense in many ways, and while i don't think it would be popular initially, i get the feeling it might be for the best in the long run. Just one question, is Junction oval to continue being our winter training ground?

To be honest, i think the club might be looking for something different to the supporters at this stage of the captaincy debate. Most here want the club to show it has balls, and back a player that has great ability but is injury prone, has in the last 12 month been in the papers for off-field problems, and has relatively shown very little to be considered as a captain. We basically all see that he has it in him, but it's not definite yet as to whether he'll get there. Now if they chose Bruce it would be for reasons such as this: - He is one of the hardest trainers, and is very vocal with his teammates during the drills - He has proven media capabilities and keeps his nerve when asked difficult questions - Despite some peoples opinion of him here, he is one of, if not our best player (probably a good reflection of where we're at!) - He has had experience as captain - He works his ass off during the games - He's never been in the news for off-filed issues Now those are just some of the reasons, and if i really thought about it i could come up with plenty more. Just for the record though, i want Brock McLean as captain, My only concern with him is injuries, if he gets that right i have no doubt that he'll be the player we all want him to be. The club is at a crossroads, and putting him up the front as the leader sends a strong message to the competition that we aren't going to take the "safe" route anymore. Unfortunately i think the club will make something like this: C: Bruce Co-VC: McLean Co-VC: Green

Great to hear that each party has been able to get past their differences for the good of the MFC. At this point there really doesn't seem to be any negative news for the Dees, we've got some really exciting talent for the future, the members are signing up in their droves, and now we've just been given $2million for Christmas!

This is all good news, despite the fact that i'm expecting another "down" year i feel i will get plenty of enjoyment out of watching this team that is chock full of talent develop.

I think you might be reading a little too much into it, Freud. The only happy ending was the premiership cup we were holding at the end of the dream!

Randomly staying on the topic of Davey, I had a dream last night that our Flash became most dominant player in the AFL. A good dream indeed! :D

Best of luck to Ooze, he was a great servant of the MFC and given the right circumstances i think he could make a real contribution to an AFL list.

I've never really liked Thomas, but this is a really good article and a completely different perspective. I delves more into Jack as an individual and how he will cope with the pressure that comes with being a no. 1 draft pick.

Dees - Major sponsor Brock - Captaincy Jones - Better disposal Sylvia - Realise potential Moloney - Full Season

Extremely lame, but the first thing i thought when i heard Jack Watts was "doc", as in Bugs Bunny saying, "what's up Doc?" "Doc" Watts is my only contribution! I get what you're saying, but McLean got his because Dogga Brown wanted to call someone "Chooka" and it stuck with Brock. IMO nicknames should give a playful insight into a players character.

Pretty much exactly what i think, co-captains is such a soft option. If it is between these two then so be it but i want them to chose ONE of them. But Brock gets my vote. PS. Good on Green for staying true red and blue!

I asked this question on demonology but didn't get a response, but aren't the funds going into redevelopment of the ground? I didn't think we were getting ANYTHING for this except a roof over our heads and a ground we can train on in the summer. In response we have a heavey community involvement in an effort to gain a foothold in the suburbs. I was under the impression that we come away with no assets. Therefor, the money that they are talking about is not money to the Melbourne Football Club but to Casey Fields.

It's not hopefully, we need to get to 30,000. That what the club has apparently budgeted for. We we can definately do it, those who are on the fence need to get on board, because if they are waiting for the team to become strong before signing up then we may not be around for long enough! Well done to all those in the membership department.

That is good news, I hope the major sponsor is sorted out soon as well.

I really hope so, this'll probably be the best chance we get to have some really positive press about the club and to double it up with an annoucement of our major sponsor. You could scarcely ask for better publicity at this stage of the year.

Believe it or not, i am going to defend the Collingwood cheersquad of 08. I did a documentary for my university Film and TV course, and one of the fans i interviewed was a mad Pies fan. Naturally, he was also a cheersquad member and so i managed to go into the area to get some really amazing footage for during the games. Now, they are every bit as feral as everyone says they are, but they love the club. Most of the those who are in the cheersquad are the ones who do the banner making, and i'll be very interested to hear whether the "new" group gets involved at club level like these guys did. The amazing thing for me is the price, how can they expect the blue collar members to afford $800 every year? So while i'm always happy to see Collingwood make asses of themselves, this sort of thing is not good for the game.

I'm certainly not looking at West as the messiah, but the fact that other clubs were after him and we were the ones that snagged him is nothing but a positive for us. He has a mountain of experience and will no doubt a good source of knowlege for our very young midfield brigade. Now the only coach i have ever seen come to our club and leave his mark is Ratten, he single handedly changed the way our mids went about their game. He was probably the biggest loss of a coach ever.