Pates

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.

That's why it's imposible to take you seriously 90% of the time.

Ah no, he's done it again! Well i don't have to worry about us winning the premiership in 2008, mind you i don't think that was ever on my mind. I think we'll push for the bottom two positions of the 8 next year, but i just want to see more development from our kids and to see the older players pass the mantel on to them.

It looks amazing, but i'm just waiting for construction to begin on it now.

Moloney will be an interesting player to watch next year, i really hope he can shake his groin problems because his first year at the club showed what he was capable of and he was only young then. If he can stay fit we will be able to see some very good performances from him IMO.

Could be a good thing!

I was hoping that while the club uses our 150 anniversary as a marketing campaign, i think this is also a chance to re-invent the club, give us a bit more of an edgy look. We're meant to be the demons, but we're looked at as though we're the bunnies, we should try and appeal to a younger market of about 12-22. Get 'em while they're young, because right now i don't think we're an attractive club for the kids, like the footy team we should be building around the youth and ensure the future rather than retain same old. Maybe we should publish a comic book! Where a demon sent by the (footy) gods comes to earth to take it back from the evil magpies, tigers, cats etc. of the (footy) world!

I'd take a punt on either Bradley or Watts. It's a PSD pick so it's not like you're expecting these guys to set the world no fire, but if they do than it's a bonus. (I'm working under the assumption that even if Brennan nominates for the PSD, he'll be picked up before us)

Perhaps indicating one of the reasons we let him go? It was a hard trade to see go through, but i trust CAC and i just hope we look back on this day and think, "that was a gutsy but right move."

I find it funny that for so long the supporters of our club have called for us to show some balls and make tough decisions. Well we made a big one yesterday. Am i happy? Happy is too strong a word, i'm content with the clubs decision. I've gotten comfortable with seeing Johnston coming and going from the team due to his soft tissue injuries, and i've always felt that if he could stay fit for a whole year and with the right coach he could carve up any side he wanted. But i have been waiting too long for this to happen, and while i was willing to give him a chance to prove himself with a new coach, evidently the club wasn't. And now Bails is trying to build us a side from the U/23 crop, and to do that we must give quality to get good picks. It wouldn't surprise me if Johnston does extremely well at the big cats, but it probably wouldn't have happened here. He has been a disappointing no.1 pick, and now we must move on.