Pates

As much as i love Neitz, and if the team of the century was named now i would have him in there, the team of th century is for those who played their best football in that period of time. When it was named, Neitz was a decent forward who had played very well at CHB but not good enough to warrant selection. I love the guy, but he just missed out.

Sad news, here's hoping that you saved your best till last. Good luck in your new role, but i hope they all fail! Side note: I think it's a mark of the man that he chose to do it AFTER the national draft so as not to screw Melbourne over.

Amen man, i'd love Beamer to have a good year, he's had such an unlucky run with injuries. If he can get over his OP i really think he's got a bright future for us.

I suppose it should be fair to say that the AFL aren't calling this State of Origin, but when they involve the Big V they need to remember how it was seen and respected. This is nothing but a glorified exhibition match, maybe they'll even make it NAB cup rules (9 point goals, no kicking backwards etc) just to give even less credibility. I'd be interested to see HOW the AFL came to this decision, i mean the reaction on this board would surely be emulated on most other forums, and i wouldn't this the average supporter would have must interest in this so i'm sort of wondering what market they are looking at for this to be a success. It's a puzzling one because i think it was most people's opinion that if the AFL wanted to resurrect the big V they should do it properly and not in a hammy exhibition match.

I knew they would do this, i knew they'd create a watered down version of SOO to commemorate the football's (actually our) 150th birthday. They should've had two games, SA vs VIC and WA vs All Stars, the first one in Melbourne on Friday night and the second in WA on Saturday night. But there is no passion in this game, it's a exhibition game, like the ones we see Billy Brownless and Straughnie running around in only now our players could get injured in them. They needed to have a pull to get the players willing to come, now it's just a show for the cameras. Waste of time really.

I know i few people on here feel that Paul should be help accountable for our dismal profit this year but i've always liked him and i'm glad he stuck up for us because i don't want the president of our club to shy away from a fight (verbal of course). Kennett has always been outspoken so i'm not surprised to hear him make these ridiculous comments, but if i was a Hawks member, i would not be happy about us having to sell these games in order to make such a profit. I was finding it hard to deal with one at the GABBA every year, 1 at Canberra still isn't great but it's an improvement. The day you can make to those profits without having to sell four games and make a sponsorship deal with another state is when you can gloat Kennett.

Pfft the AFL has a hard enough time jutifying the unbalanced draw they give Collingwood every year, this would take it to a match fixing level. No away games at Adelaide or Perth is ridiculous and it takes out the whole idea of competition, it's all well and good to perform on your own turf but if you can't back it up away then your nothing but pretenders. Melbourne is sill learning that hard lesson. The fact that the AFL is considering this proposal is an indictment on the game. One things for sure, you can loath and despise their arrogance, but you gotta admire their ability to come up with these ideas.

Round 3: V Geelong at KP. I know it sounds like i just like punishment, but it's a match i always look forward to cause it's our last connection to local Football and i LOVE going down there, screeming until my throat is sore, and getting dirty looks from the local ferals! Round 11: QB, DUH! Round 14: Our first match against Brisbane at the MCG since 1999(?). It's been too long, and i'm so increadibly happy it's over with. While i'm still not comfortable with us selling games to Canberra, it's better than the GABBAtoir. Round 19: Our ONLY Friday night game, thank you very much AFL. Against Geelong, if we are in contention for the finals it could make for a big night.

boulevard of broken dreams - Green Day

But that's TonyMelb's point, the roos haven't agreed to go and the AFL is going to put a team up there either way whether it's the Roos or a brand new team. Should a new team be installed there it would make us more vulnerable if we if not in a strong financial position as the AFL's media pie would be spread thinly. I think we're taking the right steps to get us in a good position should a 17th team be created in the future, but it still doesn't look good for the Roos. Clearly the AFL doesn't think they can survive on current form.

I think it's now clear that his attiction is at a stage where it's making him act in ways that are completely detrimental to his life. What seems stupid to us, seemed impossible for him to resist. It's gotten to a truely sad stage now.

He's one i'll look at quite sharply next year, we got him for pretty cheep (given his high draft pick selection) he's athletic and tall so there are the ingredients for a good player. But only time will tell if he's the gem of a recruit from CAC.

Sandy's loss is our gain, good luck to him in his new role for the MFC.

What the 2008 draw has shown me is that the AFL is happy to tollerate and prop us up, but in terms of really trying to make us sustainable for the future and making it so that we can support ourselves they aren't going to help us get to that position. Maybe this is a conspiricy theory, but a theory none the less, i think the AFL want to keep us under their control so that if there is a market for relocating a team they have us as a team that cannot function without AFL hand outs. It's essentially what they are doing with the Roos, they're saying if they don't move up they won't continue to support them.

I'll be there, i love going to KP. (although the lack of wins makes it a sad train ride home!)

Posted this on the "AFL insults" thread. I thought i'd break down the grounds we're playing at, from that point of view it's pretty good IMO. MCG: 12 games TD: 3 games (no home) AAMI: 2 games GABBA: 1 Manuka: 1 (home) Gold Coast: 1 (v Kangas) Skilled Stadium: 2 (1 NAB) SUBI: 1 (v Freo) Days, not so good. Friday: 1 (only night game) Saturday: 5 Sunday: 15 Monday: 1 Plus i'm glad we'll finally get to play the Lions at the G!

I thought i'd break down the grounds we're playing at, from that point of view it's pretty good IMO. MCG: 12 games TD: 3 games (no home) AAMI: 2 games GABBA: 1 Manuka: 1 (home) Gold Coast: 1 (v Kangas) Skilled Stadium: 2 (1 NAB) SUBI: 1 (v Freo) Days, not so good. Friday: 1 (only night game) Saturday: 5 Sunday: 15 Monday: 1

And for the record, Collingwood get 10 night time slots, Essendon 9.

One bloody night game, that pathetic. Even after the years of 2001 and 2003 we got at least 3 night games, even if we weren't the home side. It's the highest rating time slot and we have one of them, how the F are we meant to attract sponsors? Bloody AFL!

Maybe one other initiative they should implement is cheeper memberships for the other codes, eg if i'm a MFC member than i get $20 of a Storm Membership. But this is a good idea from TEAMelbourne.

Awesome, i was just thinking that we should go for a much tougher look.

They can rebrand us MELBOURNEfc for the sake of memberships and crowds, but we will ALWAYS be the Demons. Simple as that.

I'm going to be interested to see how they market our 150th anniversery, i mean with the whole changing of the gaurd thing i would hope they'd have a slogan like "celebrate the past, look to the future". I will certainly get on board again, and i would think most people here would as well, i'm hoping to get a couple of my mates who are Dees fans and MCC to joing up (i may even pay the $50 as a birthday present or something).

Gardner has done a very good job IMO, if this were to be the reason he steps down now or in the future i'm sure most of us would be happy. I'd be very surprised if it were to happen though!

Good comments by him, i'll take him at his word if he say it was self defense but i would like him to make sure he doesn't get into those situations.